France
Tashi Delek
Mike & Carol Kefford
Mon 11 Jul 2011 17:31
|
02 – 11 July 2011
Firstly the photographs to go with the previous
‘Quick Update’ blog.
When we put to sea for a longer trip we now have a
board to fit across the hole at the back of the cockpit to stop us being
‘pooped’, ie a wave coming at us from behind and drenching us . Bolting
this in place is best done by a small child – the yachting equivalent of putting
children up a chimney.
 Annie’s ferry in the background leaving Calvi and
steaming past us.
 Arrival in Nice.
 First job in Nice was to load the provisions and
equipment that we had left in Ben and Suzy’s loft in March. It is always
fun to pick up new stuff and feel we are getting Tashi Delek just that bit more
safe, comfortable or stocked. We now have a Sodastream (huge space saving
over carrying bottles of soda, tonic and coke around) and yogourt maker,
 and a great deal of Marks and Spencers tinned food
purchased for 1/3 of the marked price in Chester thanks to a combination of
vouchers that Carol’s Mum had and a 3 for the price of 2 offer on at the same
time.
  Two of the children did a dingy sailing course
during the week so we had lots of time to spend on the beach. First time
for years and we had a great time. To Carol’s delight the beach is pebbles
and there are plenty of fresh water showers so the usual horrors of sand in
everything and itchy salty skin were removed. It was a lot of fun and,
sadly there are no photographs, but Carol was persuaded into a sea kayak and had
awesome fun paddling around in the surf with children jumping off and
on.
 Another treat was to take the children out for a
short sail. We took the three youngest first, life jacketed, clipped on
and under strict instructions to sit still until told it was OK to
move.
 and then the bigger ones for a slightly more
adventurous sail around the bay.
 Bens surprise party was on Saturday afternoon so we
needed to hide some of the visitors who were arriving on Friday evening.
Lifelong friends of the boys, Alex and Jon Webb-Peploe stayed with us. It
was fantastic to catch up with them properly after too many years and even more
fantastic to meet Alex’s fabulous new wife Hilly.
There was a busy car park directly behind our berth
which gave much entertainment. Cars parked randomly and with no
consideration for others meant queues and very irate drivers. One
particularly ill mannered bit of parking was tackled by another irritated driver
by getting out of his car to bounce the offending vehicle out of the way.
Will, Alex and Jon were only too delighted to help.
 Suzy had pulled off a spectacular surprise for
Ben. Ben had become increasingly irritated through Saturday morning as
everyone in the family seemed to have other plans. He even volunteered to
take Mike to the chandlers to buy some marine ply and was grumpy to be turned
down. He thought they were going to spend the afternoon at a friends 20th
wedding anniversary party and they duly arrived at 1pm with the assembled masses
hiding round the corner. Friends had travelled from Australia and New
Zealand as well as UK and continued to arrive during the course of the
afternoon. It was great.
 The party was held at a friends house in the
hills. Glorious.
 All too quickly our week was over and it was time
to leave on Monday morning but first we managed to put all eight grandchildren
into the sailbag for a photograph.
 |