Christmas in Nai Harn - again

For the fifth time Sea Bunny was in Nai Harn bay at the SW of Phuket for Christmas.

Things in Phuket are a little different this year. Firstly, there are far fewer tourists. The fall in the value of the rouble has significantly reduced the number of Russians. In Ao Chalong we were able to rent a car for two days 3 days before Christmas - in previous years, no chance.

Nai Harn beach - no traders

Secondly, a crackdown on the black economy has removed some of the things that attract tourists. There are no masseuses or renters of sunbeds or beach umbrellas on the beaches. Apparently the police have even stopped people putting their own umbrella up, although we do see some. Restaurants and bars on the beach or squatting on national park or government land have been removed - by bulldozer we hear.

This adds up to the local Thai being more friendly to the tourists who are around

Understandably, with fewer customers, the big Christmas Eve party at the Ao Sane restaurant did not happen.

Through the mangroves 10 December 2014

When we were last in the Tanjung Rhu anchorage in March 2011 (see blog entry) we did not have enough petrol for the outboard to risk the 10 km each way passage from there to the "Hole in the Wall".

Red line shows the route

It is quite a tortuous route, with a few branches, so we loaded up an iPad with Google maps so we could follow our progress and check which branch of the channels to take. Following the tour boats does not always work as they often head off down the side channels.

Lots of monkeys - even during the day

 At each end the channel is quite wide but in the middle it narrows and shallows. Apparently there used to be a tunnel at the narrowest point, but it is now a cutting.

House for sale - two careful owners

Mummified squirrel

New back roof

Staying in Asia opened now up an opportunity. Our tenants had moved out so we went back to empty the loft and put the property on the market.

During our visit we got to the top of the roofer's list for repairing the damage from last year's storms.

Not This Year

Day 1 -Ice machine on right shoulder

When the consultant said that a shoulder reconstruction was necessary - too much winching - we laughed.

Then explained that this was the third year that all had been set for the S.A. then halted.
Now issue preventing the elective surgery was nowhere for our home, Sea Bunny.

No problem the surgeon actually phoned the owner of One 15 Marina where she was and arranged that she could stay for the maximum three months - well this is high, high end Asia.

Day 2 On Sea Bunny

Not a very flattering photo - definitely not showing the glorious bruising but hey at least I got my clothes on by myself!

A sling worn without the arm in will serve as a to others warning to keep clear for several weeks.
The flight cabin bag becomes my shopping and laundry trolley.

The downside to this time was that Richard had a fairly new computer stolen in town, this caused more concern than the surgery!

We are leaving for S.A.

So there is only the freezer meat and fresh food to put on board before we leave.

Last minute jobs install new auto pilot, fill dive tanks.

Quite an expense is having the life raft serviced.

Last time one of us saw it opened was back in Australia.

Fingers crossed that there is not a new one to purchase.

The factory is full of the type seen on ocean liners.

Well it inflates - looks like new.

I don't remember such a large boarding ladder or as many details printed on the inside so lots of photos are taken.










Pete and his mate check all fixings and the contents for expiry date.

The usual case is made for a two year stamp instead of the annual SOLAS (safety of life at sea) one - achieved!

UK Visit

An English invention- fan vaulting

As well as family visits, this trip was designed to deal with unfinished business regarding various graves in March cemeteries and to progress a memorial for my mother.

Staying with my cousin Valerie and her husband Robert near Wisbech proved very supportive.

Nearby Anglo Saxon Peterborough Cathredral which is the resting place of Catherine of Aragon and the first resting place of Mary Queen of Scots has a superb Gothic west front which our photos did not do justice to.

Untouched since 1250

.



It was an opportunity to show Richard the only 200 foot long hand painted wooden nave ceiling completed by 1250 that is in the UK

I remember being stunned by it as a child..

On Loch Leven

Our children always make us very welcome.

Nik, Lou and dog Rapha in Surrey.

James, Jane, Joshua, Jake and dog Digger in Hampshire.

Catharine, Steve, Archie,Max and no dog in Edinburgh.

So each visit sees us travelling the length of England.

Hi Guys

A warm Easter in Edinburgh with the castle garden daffodils in full bloom is rather special.

The 10 year project to complete a good track around Loch Leven is now complete so further outings for the boys will be planned. There is even an app.

We snuggled into a Bothy for a few days at Falkland and
had our first mammoth session of monopoly.

Vietnam NW Loop 5 Hanoi Kids

Cross with care

Must make a comment on hanoikids.org.
This is a voluntary English speaking charity (the only one in the world) where local university students offer to take tourists on free tours (you cover entrance fees, transport, food and donation).

On the two days they were with us, we saw the city through different eyes. We did mundane things like getting a SIM card and crossing the road to beat the swarms of bikes.

Handmade Cards

Then the lads took us for our second cup of the Hanoi specialty Ca Phe Trung - Vietnamese egg coffee, in a cafe that was down a long alleyway, up winding stairs and into daylight where you sat on tiny stools.

Alter to Confucius

The highlight was the visit to the Temple of Literature, an original temple to the philosopher Confucius; the site of the country's first university founded in 1070.


.

College Group

Literature Lake