So here we are, nine days into February already and we're counting the days until those first scents of spring creep into our noses, lift our spirits and brighten our days. We had a foretaste of it this last Sunday. For a few glorious hours, the sun shone and the temperatures crawled their way up to double figures. For us, it was perfect timing because we had to move our Hennie H to a new mooring in the harbour, so the weather couldn't have been better for our first manoeuvring of the year.
Okay, we didn't exactly have to go far, but there's nothing like the feeling that starting the engine arouses. The rumble of our steady diesel motor under our feet, the wonderful exhilaration of casting off the ropes, the delight of reversing out into the harbour, it's all great motivation for planning trips in the months to come.
In reality, all we had to do was move three places sideways and into the corner of the harbour, a new arrangement that suits us perfectly as we've long hankered for this spot. It's more private, more easily accessible from the land and will probably make maintenance easier too. Although not quite the same as lying alongside, I can see possibilities for placing a small pontoon between the boat and the bank so that we can paint the sides. Whatever the case, we're very happy with the change.
The move was made more fun by having daughter 1, Jodie, along for the ride. She's learning the ropes both literally and figuratively, as she's going to be taking over Vereeniging one of these years. She was also a great assistant to Koos while he attached a new mooring pin to one of the poles. Jo has had many years of experience as a human clamp and she's perfected the art admirably. :)
That said, I couldn't help noticing that apart from all the usual maintenance that needs doing, we need a lift out to paint the waterline and the hull below it, so watch this space for forthcoming arrangements in that regard.
Back at the CC Mk 1 again, Zoe and her bestie, Lucy, enjoyed some cuddle time together while we consumed coffee and apple tart (a typically Dutch treat we all love). Don't they look absolutely adorable together? I love these photos of them.
Other than these snippets, there isn't all too much to report. I am busy studying for my Dutch boating license (I stupidly let my English one lapse) and I'm also doing some teaching, as well as the regular training for my examining work, so life is busy and fitting in the more creative areas I enjoy is not quite as easy. That said, my crochet, writing and DIY projects are still simmering away.
Looking out from our world here, I am praying the poor folk in Spain and Portugal gain some relief from the terrible storms and torrential rain they've been enduring. The stories from the region are heartbreaking and, tragically, a friend of mine has lost her home to the floods in Andalucia. Her house and land have been claimed by the river, which burst its banks and consumed everything within range. Her goats and horse have had to be moved onto a neighbour's land, while she and her husband are sheltering with another neighbour until they can find a way forward. They really have lost everything except each other and their animals. A friend of theirs in Spain has set up a GoFundMe donation page to try and collect money to help them survive the coming weeks. If any of my readers here feels like contributing – every little helps – here's the link: GoFundMe
Have a good week allemaal and let's hope the snowdrops I saw this morning are heralding an early spring. We could all do with some of these small signs of hope, couldn't we?
