Today we had to go on the rib to The Hamble to pick up the liferaft for Rowena, on the way the motor torpedo boat tried to race us! Paul was made up he got to go as fast as he could, I just shut my eyes and held on tight!

Paul has been working hard on Rowena, we now have oil and temperature gauges up top, so now more checking all the gauges every time you go downstairs. He has also fitted stop buttons so he can now stop Rowena from up top. Can't think why they where never fitted in the first place.

We are leaving here tomorrow, but will be back for Easter to try out Rowena, any volunteers for crew for then or the summer just call us, or we will be press ganging people again!

Now while all this work has been going on on Rowena, I have been doing the cooking and also walking the dogs, so I thought you might like to see some of the sights I see every morning whilst out with them. We have been here so long that the crocus carpet, of which there was no sign when we arrived, has flowered. Yes there is plenty to see.

Here's a very proud man with 2 new sea cocks and a new anchor! No excuse for anchoring now, its a very special anchor apparently, a rocna, if you want to google it, hopefully it should dig in and stay dug in, not jump out of the ground the minute you think it is safe to sit down for french bread and cheese.

Rowena is safely back in her berth now, looking very shiny and bright, all is shipshape inside, but Paul is still finding little jobs to do, I think he has almost rewired the boat.