Portosin
Thursdays Child
Robin & Joanna Minchin
Thu 11 Sep 2014 22:20
008:56.787W
There is something deeply satisfying about jumping off the boat for a swim before you've woken up properly (only recommended whilst at anchor and not whilst sailing...) what is particularly pleasant is that the water temp doesn't take the breath away any more.
The children tried crabbing from the boat after 'school' but sadly only brought up a rather revolting collection of snails with long proboscises and a lot of mud. The wind was due to increase so we came into the marina to a very organised and friendly Portosin Yacht Club with a very pleasing afternoon's activity;
Harry and Isabelle had been trying to catch small fish as bait and found their nets were catching prawns instead so they continued catching prawns before being befriended by a sweet elderly Spanish chap who was doing similar. However, he was dangling dead mackerel in the water which increased his catch hugely, then to their amazement the children found one of his mackerel in their net, he had donated it to them! They couldn't believe their luck and increased their catch hugely too.
Thanks to sister Caroline who answered the Skype call home this afternoon as she could confirm what to do with the 60+ prawns the children caught (all the cooking genes went to Caroline not me!) Both children loved eating their catch but quickly saw why we suggested they only keep the big ones as the smaller were so difficult to peel. A great success and no doubt they will have another go in the morning.
We have been asked about 'school' which we begin after breakfast for a few hours. It can only be done when at anchor at the moment, it is too difficult when we are sailing.
We have English and Maths books and have made a start on the Maths, it needs 1-2-1 and then works well.
We brought with us 2 reams of white paper so have plenty to work with.
Through Shalfleet School we obtained 50 little exercise books which are half blank/half lined so they can do drawings as well as writing and these are working well. These are used for:
Daily Diary
'Animals We Have Seen On The Trip' Log Books, (Harry has finished his first book, they have 32 pages)
Spelling Book (very unpopular)
Spanish/English phrase book; we are (trying to) attempt 5 Spanish words a day. Harry was very chuffed with himself today as he said 'Gracias' and 'Adios' to the friendly prawn man, this was particularly pleasing as he said he was NEVER going to speak ANY Spanish to ANYONE three weeks ago.
We also have books on Columbus, Cook, Nelson and Drake, and books on Navigation for children and also the History of Navigation.
I came across "Lesson Plans Afloat" which has plenty of ideas for alternative schooling afloat and using what is around us every day which is very helpful; we used it the other day when I dissected the mullet.
Plus Mrs Grainger at school kindly gave me info on what Harry is missing which is helpful.
We have other things too but those are what springs to mind. What is nice to see is their interest in the navigation and also starting to do little jobs on deck.
We have marked their heights on an upright, we will do the same again next July!
A huge blow came through while we were in the marina so we were pleased to be tied up alongside a pontoon. We can see rather unfriendly weather coming across the Atlantic on the forecast so will be keeping a close eye out.
