Where does the time go?

Wow......the last blog we posted was in February and we are now nearly at the end of April – phew! Time does fly at times. We had a great trip to the UK  including an interesting tour of Aberdeen, as documented on Facebook, and spent some quality time with the family which was wonderful – the grand-children are all growing up amazingly well and we are exceeding proud of them all. Phill even had a new job – a bit of a surprise! It was really nice also spending some time with Tanya – last summers’ wedding was busy and our time with her and Chris all too short. Still, we hope they will be able to get to visit Andromeda in the autumn, here in the sunny Algarve!

Since the last blog we have had to be lifted once again due to a failing sea-cock – not good – this was another one that was replaced/refurbished in Trinidad, so we are getting a little twitchy, as we have already had to have two replaced. We found that the forward head loo kept filling with water even when both the sea-cocks involved – one inlet, one outlet – were closed. This is not good. So we had to arrange to come out of the water and into Sopromar for a few days– not cheap, but very necessary. Once again the magnificent line-handlers helped us reverse into the travel-lift – one of the most stressful and challenging manoeuvres we have to do with Andromeda as she does not necessarily go in reverse when and where you think she should, particularly when cross-winds are involved, and with Sopromar, the travel lift is 90 degrees to the prevailing wind – what a great idea!! However, there we are. We got in ok and had to wait for 4 days, as someone forgot to mention there was a bank holiday involved, to get the sea-cock replaced! The bank holiday was for the Carnation Revolution, which is when Portugal became a Republic after the downfall of the Salazar regime. So a few days on the hard, which meant up and down ladders – this is ok, but we are getting on and night time bodily function calls do occur quite regularly, so it was up and down ladder..........in the night, when you are not necessarily at your best, fortunately we were very near the facilities and it didn’t rain

So it was a bit of surprise when some friends bounded up to us on Sunday morning saying “we’re so glad you are ok!” We, a bit taken aback, said we were fine. ­­­­­­Apparently on Friday night two ambulances had come into the boat yard complete with flashing lights and sirens and had stopped very near where we were. We both had heard absolutely nothing, zilch, nor had the blue flashing lights impinged on our collective consciousness, we were away with the fairies and completely zonked following the Sue and Paull’s visit and the stress of another lift – no matter how often Andromeda is lifted, we are always a bit nervous. We were even asked about the ambulances by a local! Not sure what had happened, but we are ok – no-one has fallen off the ladder!

This was after a great visit from Sue and Paull who escaped the Essex spring with a trip to Lagos where they found some sunshine every day – sometimes it did pour, but there was always a little bit of blue! We took a trip to Alcoutim on the Guardiana River, a place we mentioned in the last blog and somewhere we would like to take Andromeda, and had an interesting return road trip through the Algarve back country! Some of the roads were fine, some like those in mountainous country with many switchbacks and some downright bone and suspension shattering. Another day we visited Aljucar on the west coast between showers, including a walk on the beach and a tour of the ancient castle, followed by delicious cake, so I am told( very tasty – S). We also managed to see flamingo’s in Alvor along with hoopoe’s and bea-eaters – who were amazing. In addition the countryside is awash with colour from the wild flowers in bloom at the moment, sustained to some extent by the recent rains. It’s a challenge to get photo’s to do the meadows and colours justice – reds, blues, purples, yellows, whites – all juxtaposed and almost like an impressionist painting at times – quite, quite wonderful. We managed lots of walks and quite a few meals so are on rations for the next month, well, at least until Pill and Ruth and Ollie arrive!

The marina is almost empty of the winter community and it will be interesting to see who returns later in the year – friends Lynn and David have now bought a property here-abouts but plan to keep sailing Scarlet, on whom we sailed last year and in the Blue Water Regatta – and we have been asked to crew for this year’s regatta as well – excellent! We are looking forward to seeing their new home – it has a pool!

We packed a lot in the last few weeks and  had a very interesting experience with fine and private dining! Lynn and David got themselves on the mailing list of a couple who host “private lunches” for selected guests, thus getting round various rules and regulations, all for 25Euro’s per head, including wine. Well, we thought, why not try it as Sue and Paul were with us. So armed with an address, taken it has to be said from the interweb, we asked a taxi driver to take us to the venue. Well, he couldn’t find it and we had to call for assistance – “I have been driving in Lagos for 17 years..........” – anyway, it turned out that when he turned round to find another way to the address (near Barao Sao Joao, scene of the Split Pins famous May Day gig in 2015, as featured in the YouTube video!),  it was in the drive way of the farm where the lunch was being served – but we (and he) didn’t know it and we arrived after an hour long tour of the hinterland of Lagos – lots of vineyards in evidence. To the same drive way we had already turned in. 20Euros lighter. Secret venues, selective fine dining......hhmmmmm.

Anyway the lunch was a 5 course affair with a major theme of strawberries. (Hmm).  And it took all afternoon. And there were some complimentary carafes of a rather nice red wine from the vineyard next door. And there were upwards of 30 people in attendance. It was a lengthy affair. David kindly shuttled a few of us back to the marina, including Lynn there and back twice,  where 9 folks congregated in Andromeda’s cockpit – bit of a squeeze but all seemed to enjoy themselves, though some were a little groggy the following day. Ahem and ‘nuff sed. Don’t think we’ll be looking to get on the mailing list, but it was an interesting and enjoyable day with some great folks, dodgy jokes, lots of wine and an experience to file away.

As to normal (J) life – we continue to get through the boats maintenance and participate in a whole range of activities.  The genoa has been re-stitched and is looking good – servicing the winches and the gas supply are next on the list. The VHF Net will end shortly – whether we do anything in the Autumn remains to be see. Andromeda will remain in the marina during the summer while we have our trips away and we have taken another annual contract, so she can remain here until mid-July 2017 – so maybe a decision on what to do next has been postponed for a while?! Once again!

Phill, Ruth and Ollie arrive on the 2^nd of May and will be staying in some friends apartment, about 10 minutes walk from the marina – so looking forward to a fun-packed 10 days. After which we should be getting ready for the Madeira/Azores trip with Paul and Jackie, and then the trip with Bill and Aly to the UK – phew, it’s a hard life this retirement lark.

PS: the temperature today was 18C, with blue skies and lovely sunshine – should we smirk J ? Perhaps not.

More in due course,

Andrew and Susan

Andromeda of Plymouth

Lagos