Gryphon was powerwashed by the boatyard removing barnacles and weed. There wasn't a lot there as Chris had used some very effective antifoul but described it as b.....y expensive, however, we are using the same this time as it will probably be more than a year before we can haul out again. We had electricity and water laid on but not drainage of course. I forgot this when washing up the lunch dishes on day one and emptied the bowl down the sink just above where Chris was working – oh well, antifouling is a messy business at the best of times and he was wearing his paper suit!

Working near us in the boatyard was a young Spanish couple who had a nice older Contest 32 yacht which they were refurbishing. They arrived before daylight and worked until after dusk the whole time we were there. There was much animated conversation between them, a little shouting and quite a lot of weeping and wailing by senora as her work didn't always please, then there would be the reconciliation which involved hugging, clinging and patting, all well orchestrated. On the third afternoon senor was seen slumped on the ground and senora wailing at the waterside, we looked across to see their hull streaked and running with the newly applied blue paint. It wouldn't adhere to the coating underneath despite all their hard work involving days of sanding with ladders and facemasks in the heat. They gradually recovered saying they would start all over again, our hearts went out to them and we wished them good luck.

By our third evening we had finished all our work and the boat looked ready for the off: old anodes protecting underwater metal parts were removed and replaced, the fridge/freezer heat exchanger plate was polished to a gleam and its anodes replaced, the bow thruster had been stripped out, cleaned and antifouled, the hull was smooth with new antifoul to the water line with 2 and in parts 3 coats, the boot top line was neatly applied and masking tape finally removed – all this (plus a couple of weeks laundry) really took 3 days. The hull seems really big when you are underneath it. We stood back and admired our work, as you do, it felt wonderful to be finished.

However, like the Spanish couple, all did not go smoothly for us. Fairly exhausted and very hot I went off for a shower as it was getting dark. Feeling cool, very tired and too relaxed I went back to the boat only to slip on the 2^nd step of the ladder, twisting my ankle and as I flailed to save myself smashing my elbow on the steel inner cone of a massive lorry wheel that the boat yard use as props. I lay on my back, annoyed that blood was pouring over my clean clothes and knowing that my foot was damaged, I couldn't feel the elbow it was numb and I suddenly felt very cold. Chris helped me back on board, we cleaned and dressed the wound and bound up my foot and ankle with crepe bandage as per a sprained ankle. We both felt dismayed and annoyed this had happened after such a good 3 days. We were flying home next day so I decided to leave any hospital visit until I could get to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital at home, even the thought made me feel a little better. Overnight my elbow gradually came back to life and I was wishing that it hadn't, fortunately we had powerful Ibuprofen which staved off any unwanted feelings.

The boat went back in the next morning. I sat in the marina office reading and holding onto Ibuprofen whilst Chris dealt with it all. We found our berth in the marina which was excellent, we had already packed for home so after shutting off all electrics, gas and seacocks we left for the airport. We were given a lift to the airport by Craig who managed the Tourist Information Office. Craig, whom Chris met earlier in the week, was from Manchester and has lived in the Canaries for 20 years, his 2 daughters were born in Lanzarote and he loves it here. The sporting facilities here are so much better than home, each village has an astro turf football pitch, volleyball courts, handball courts and access to sailing, diving and canoeing tuition - where is the UK in all this? I feel depressed for our youth! Craig would never go back to UK, his 2 daughters now speak 3 languages and his eldest daughter has qualified for the Canary Hand Ball Team, all at no expense to him, this has involved trips abroad, training weeks in the capital and numerous weekends in island all on the house as it were. No wonder he doesn't see Manchester as an advantage!

Craig gave us a good background to the island and gave us an appreciation of Spain in general. He gave us an informative drive to the airport and we thank him.