We spent a great six weeks in the UK catching up with friends and family.

Celebrations for Astin’s christening and Riley’s Birthday, Christmas and New Year’s Day at Marwell, Templeman reunions, Indian with the Welsh’s , Munch Club Football meetings, Katie’s Sailing Club dinghy racing and Dinner Dance, Coral & Mark playing live, dinner in Cambridgeshire at the Farrell’s New House, curry night at Simon’s, New Year with Paul & Malc and even a reunion with the Jackamy’s in Birmingham and Wales.

Not to mention lots and lots of shopping.

I loved all the build up to Christmas which we have missed for a couple of years, Christmas markets, decorating the tree, putting up the lights, dog walks to pick holly and ivy, Christmas TV, mince pies, mulled wine and seeing Santa !

Christmas day was very special as our grandchildren Amalia, Riley and Astin spent the day with us at Mum & Dads’ along with Adam & Kirsty and Katie, Sheena and Emily and we were also joined by my sister Alison & Ashley and their boys Matthew and Alex visiting from Boston in the US.

We still missed out seeing some friends – so watch this space because we will be sure to look you up next time.

Mark struggled with ‘man flu’ for most of our stay, after he went down with the first virus, he caught everything going before he had a chance to recover.   

At one point I thought we were starting up a new business in pharmaceuticals !

So, after all the excitement and taking down the decorations we set off back to the boat.

Two days later we flew into our small Greek Island of Leros, and took a taxi to the Marina where it was great to settle back on Blue Magic.  

We soon set about our ‘jobs’ list the following day and put up the new spray hood in warm sunshine as the forecast predicted that a storm was coming.

Sure enough it has been cold and stormy for over a week, even the winter duvet, which has not seen the light of day since the summer of 2009, has been reinstated!

We are however still enjoying our daily walks out from the marina, we walk along the promenade at Lakki and then up to follow the coastal road around the headland which you can see in the photo, behind Mark.

And for food shopping it is back to pedal power !