What a wonderful weekend sailing. It started off slowly, fitting the floorboards and seats after their stay in the shed over winter. Then Ellie arrived and we had a cup of tea, before fitting the main sail to the boom and seeing how the goose neck worked on the new bracket attached to the mast. When all the sails were up satisfactorily..... we took them down again while we got changed.
Then the sailing began. It was a beautiful day, bright sunshine and a steady force 2 wind. We sailed back and forth and up and down, round the buoys, and practised our man overboard procedure. Ellie had just been on a rudderless sailing course, and demonstrated how to turn the boat using the jib and leaning the boat. We had the lake to ourselves in the morning, and at lunchtime we were joined by one laser and one scorpion - a beautiful boat with polished wooden deck. The sun kept shining, the wind kept steady and it was glorious afternoon.
The next day looked dark and gloomy, and quite uninviting, but I was glad to give my new spray top and salopettes an outing. The wind was a little stronger and there was a group kayaking from the nearby Bendigg centre. There was also a group from the scouts getting their boats ready, and they got on the water while we came in for lunch. It is great now that there is more water and we could leave the boat in the water tied to the jetty. The wind was stronger after lunch, and the scouts had already capsized some of the of their smaller boats. We sailed amongst them for a bit and then charted our own course up and down the lake, while the wind grew stronger. There were more white horses about so I guess it was force 4, and the waves were coming over the bows and giving our spray tops a run for their money.
It was me at the helm when we capsized. The annoying thing is that it is difficult to remember exactly what happened. It was just after going about. With Ellie's dry suit and the thermals under my wet suit it was no great shock to slide gently into the water. We were both well trained at Glenridding, and righting the boat, and getting both of us on board went like clockwork. Limping back to the jetty with the boat full of water was not too difficult. The real problem was when the boat was on the cradle pulling it out of the water. Even with a lot of help it was no mean feat. we got it up enough to bale water out without it flowing back in, and then, when it was light enough, up further to let the water drain. Thank you to all you helpful people at Killington Sailing Association.
Altogether a wonderful weekend
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Bootle Tow-bars
I don't expect to meet John Fletcher again for a few years, which is a shame, because he is a nice fellow.
He also provides a very good service fitting tow bars. You can contact him on 07966477009.
It is a mobile service, he came and fitted the tow bar while the car was parked at work. He was recommended by a local garage, and would have fitted it there had that been easier.
His prices are very reasonable, his fitted price was not much higher than the price shown on the manufacturers web site. He was also prepared at my request to fit the Witter product, that did not require cutting the bumper, rather than PCT, his favoured product.
A great service and definitely recommended.
He also provides a very good service fitting tow bars. You can contact him on 07966477009.
It is a mobile service, he came and fitted the tow bar while the car was parked at work. He was recommended by a local garage, and would have fitted it there had that been easier.
His prices are very reasonable, his fitted price was not much higher than the price shown on the manufacturers web site. He was also prepared at my request to fit the Witter product, that did not require cutting the bumper, rather than PCT, his favoured product.
A great service and definitely recommended.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
The Blind Side
This is a a moving and heart warming story, beautifully portrayed. Sandra Bullock plays a successful interior designer, who is moved by the plight of a disadvantaged older black boy who attends their children's school. They let him sleep on the couch for the night instead of sleeping rough, and eventually end up becoming his guardians, and him becoming part of the family.
There are problems, but resentment from other family members is not one of them. Attitudes of friends, and visits to his old neighbourhood cause problems, but here marriage and family life are seen in a wholly positive light, which is wonderful.
The film is also a lot about American football, because the lad is Michael Oher, and it based in the true story of his life. I am none the wiser about the sport having seen the film, but it does provide both raw excitement, and personal interest as the mother understands the key to his performance that his coach has missed.
The film starts with a football injury he caused in a game to another player, and what appears to be an investigation about it, but is in fact about his choice of university, and the injury is never referred to again. That leaves a slight loose end feeling at the end of the film, but the abiding memory is of a humble gentle giant who can turn it on on the football field, a proud younger brother, a loyal sister, and proud fiercely protective kind and understanding Mum. Or should I say Mom?
The father deserves a mention as well, but Sandra Bullock won the Oscar, for a great performance of a great character.
There are problems, but resentment from other family members is not one of them. Attitudes of friends, and visits to his old neighbourhood cause problems, but here marriage and family life are seen in a wholly positive light, which is wonderful.
The film is also a lot about American football, because the lad is Michael Oher, and it based in the true story of his life. I am none the wiser about the sport having seen the film, but it does provide both raw excitement, and personal interest as the mother understands the key to his performance that his coach has missed.
The film starts with a football injury he caused in a game to another player, and what appears to be an investigation about it, but is in fact about his choice of university, and the injury is never referred to again. That leaves a slight loose end feeling at the end of the film, but the abiding memory is of a humble gentle giant who can turn it on on the football field, a proud younger brother, a loyal sister, and proud fiercely protective kind and understanding Mum. Or should I say Mom?
The father deserves a mention as well, but Sandra Bullock won the Oscar, for a great performance of a great character.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Kendal
We went up on Friday afternoon and spent the early evening at Grange over Sands, where we saw the Ornamental Park with the duck collection, the community orchard, and the promenade, looking out over the Kent Eastuary towards Arnside Silverdale and Morecambe bay.
The Crooklands Hotel was very comfortable did a great meal and served both Black Sheep beer, which was good, and Radical Beer, which was even better. Crooklands has that wonderful arrangement with mobile phones, so that you can phone out if you want, by going out top the car park, but the signal is too weak for people to phone you from inside the hotel.
In Kendal we parked in Kirkland, where the church and Abbott Hall are, and walked up towards the town centre visiting shops as they caught our eye. We had a nice up of tea at Farrer's, and then later had another cup of tea at 1657 Chocolate House together with a sandwich. They have an interesting selection of hot chocolate and gateaux to look forward to another time. In between we bought some Lancashire cheese from a very market stall, from a stall-holder who was very enthusiastic about good cheese.
We walked back along the the riverside to Abbot Hall but we decided the leave that for another (more rainy) day. Instead we drove out to Troutbeck where we enjoyed the later afternoon sun first at the Queen's Head which we often pass on the way up to Kirkstone Pass, and then at The Mortal Man with great views looking down the valley. We drove the length of Troutbeck village from the Queen's Head at Townhead to the Townend and from there on the road toward Ambleside, which had some spectacular views of Lake Windermere, in the early evening sunshine. Then we drove past Bowness and back through Crook back the Kendal bypass and home.
The Crooklands Hotel was very comfortable did a great meal and served both Black Sheep beer, which was good, and Radical Beer, which was even better. Crooklands has that wonderful arrangement with mobile phones, so that you can phone out if you want, by going out top the car park, but the signal is too weak for people to phone you from inside the hotel.
In Kendal we parked in Kirkland, where the church and Abbott Hall are, and walked up towards the town centre visiting shops as they caught our eye. We had a nice up of tea at Farrer's, and then later had another cup of tea at 1657 Chocolate House together with a sandwich. They have an interesting selection of hot chocolate and gateaux to look forward to another time. In between we bought some Lancashire cheese from a very market stall, from a stall-holder who was very enthusiastic about good cheese.
We walked back along the the riverside to Abbot Hall but we decided the leave that for another (more rainy) day. Instead we drove out to Troutbeck where we enjoyed the later afternoon sun first at the Queen's Head which we often pass on the way up to Kirkstone Pass, and then at The Mortal Man with great views looking down the valley. We drove the length of Troutbeck village from the Queen's Head at Townhead to the Townend and from there on the road toward Ambleside, which had some spectacular views of Lake Windermere, in the early evening sunshine. Then we drove past Bowness and back through Crook back the Kendal bypass and home.
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