Christmas has certainly arrived at Puerto Mogan and all the boats in our row (mostly Norwegian) are bedecked with flashy decorations. 

We’ve had a supremely busy week getting everything prepared and there remain just a few last minute things to do (get the exit papers, bend on the sails, attach the jackstays, pay the boat mender) and then we’re off.  We had intended to do some of the above today but Bob and the boat mender spent all day on one of those 5 minute jobs that take 5 hours.  Bob was checking through everything that moved to make sure that it was moving, and everything that was meant to stay in one place wasn’t, when the generator appeared not to be whooshing out water (as it was meant to do).  Checking this out (a non return valve on the water intake apparently) showed up that the impeller was on its way out and needed replacing and that the exhaust hose was knackered and needed replacing too.  A nuisance yes but thank heavens that we found out now because doing anything to the generator requires dismantling of the boats innards and then houdini contortions to get at the right bits which would have been impossible under way.  While Bob has been doing jobs I have been shopping and shopping and shopping and then cooking and cooking and cooking.  The freezer is now filled to the brim with suppers.

We are now sitting here decked in our finest awaiting the arrival of the crew: Haley who came down from Lymington with us and her flatmate Fleur who we have not met yet.  Their advent calendars are on their pillows ready for the countdown, after all someone has to keep track of the days.