In an attempt to appease the weather gods, Christine and Rob have sacrificed a chocolate Swiss roll in what I imagine was a Hogmanay / Crowleyesque style ritual. Sadly it hasn't worked. I'm afraid more sweet pastries will have to be offered!! On leaving the Hoose this morning people kept saying ' ooo it's very … Continue reading No sacrifice is too great

A day in Goose as the English here pronounce it. When the sun was out it was bakingly hot, when it was in it was freezing, so most of the day was spent taking fleeces off or putting them back on again. The tourist office said the main attractions of the hoose were the marina … Continue reading A hoose is not a Home

We're in Goes which is pronounced in the way Lord Rockingham would say 'house' No sign of moose so far! It's been a bad day for manoeuvring. We left the secluded island and had a nice sail to the huge lock at the eastern end of the veerse meer. There were lots of boats waiting … Continue reading There’s a Moose loose about this Hoose

Another day another island, but first breakfast! Water boiled for coffee and porridge in the pan.. then with no warning.. no gas!! Fortunately we have peanut butter and a brand new jar of strawberry jam Phew! That was a close one !!! I may have alluded to the toilets on the islands with some trepidation … Continue reading We get Gas!

The first thing you learn when you start sailing is to make sure that sand doesn't get in the Vaseline, and the second thing is never to leave lines unattended in a lock! Perhaps I was so busy contemplating the first rule that I completely forgot the second. As nothing seemed to be happening I … Continue reading The first thing you learn

Browsing through the Wateralmanak as one does in between scrabble goes (last night I won 333 to 274, tonight Lynn won 332 to 269 but she had lucky letters) I mentioned to a friend that I was having trouble understanding it (the wateralmanak, not that I was losing, though come to think of it I … Continue reading Genius

We woke to the sound of rain and looking out the first thing I saw was a tour boat full of people all holding umbrellas. A great picture that I just missed. Here's the tour boat later when the rain had stopped. Everyone has to duck to get under the bridges The harbourmaster said it … Continue reading Middelburg

We're here at last!! In Middelburg moored in the middle of the town. Our first attempt at box berthing went completely according to plan (thanks for the advice Gill) and on a quick walk round it all looked very nice indeed. We may stay here tomorrow so more pics then. But most importantly we have … Continue reading Mission not impossible after all

We're through the first huge lock from the sea and now waiting for the bridge for the actual canal. We're tied up at the waiting pontoon with the next lift due in one hour. We'd just started making lunch when I looked up to see the bridge opening! Big scramble to start the engine, cast … Continue reading So nearly there

If there turns out to be a Dutch town called Tiffany's I'll be most put out ! We leave for the Canals. Just 3nm away across what appears to be an aquatic M25 at rush hour.. Holland: Land of the Dutch Masters (painters not golf tournaments), Tulips and Caps ! We're setting sail any minute … Continue reading Breakfast in Breskens