Have finally managed to get internet access!! Woo-hoo! Albeit an unsecured network in the centre of town of Grado. We attempted to leave Monfalcone on Friday after taking the boat up the river to the town centre to make a final visit to the Bangladeshi internet place and to wash our dirty clothes. We successfully executed our first tie up to a fixed wharf without a problem, although the water was filthy and disgusting and it really wasn't a place to take our pride and joy.
The town quay is built of stone and was only 1/4 metre above water height when we tied up. The mediterranean does have tides and the tide rose to the height of the quay. The fenders started to float over the top of the quay!!! Thank goodness Craig stayed with the boat while Lesley walked around town in the POURING rain....
We poked our head out of the harbour and about 2nm into our trip were experiencing 30+ gusts on the nose. I piked out as we are not that familiar with the boat yet and the pilot guide suggested that it wasn't a good idea to enter Grado in high winds. We returned to Monfalcone and anchored (successfully without shouting at each other!) in Bazino Di Panzano near the marina where we were originally staying. Sounds grand, however we were actually in the middle of an industrial area with swamps at the back. Anchored in 10 metres of water about 15 metres from the shore (a little bit different to Moreton Bay where we are used to sailing). Was a nice secure and safe anchorage so we decided to stay the next day and night too as wind gusts were still reaching 30 knots even in our little haven. As we couldn't get a weather forecast over the net and haven't worked out how to get one in English on the VHF radio, we rang my son in Brisbane who got on the net for us!! Don't you love technology....
It poured with rain the whole time we were at anchor, however when we woke early this morning the sun was shining, the temperature was minus two degrees and there was sheet ice on the decks... Craig braved the elements and slithered to the bow of the boat to raise the anchor and we set off at last for Grado. Zero wind unfortunately meant that we had to motor the 12 or so nautical miles to our destination. We are now tied up at a public quay in the centre of the city with cafes and pizza shops all around us. People are walking past less than a metre from the boat and we really have no idea if we are meant to be here. An Italian gentleman informed us in broken English that someone may come by for our papers at 3pm, however as it is winter they may not bother! We really need to learn how the moorings work in these places!
It is a little like being a monkey in a cage and we had little children on board for a tour of the boat!
On the home front, we finally decided that the easiest way to get a new computer in English was to appeal to my lovely son's good nature who is now purchasing one for us in Brisbane and sending it by courier to Monfalcone! Phew... learning to live at this pace is a little bizarre, a little terrifying and thoroughly enjoyable overall! Maybe in 3 trillion light years, I will get good at this.... :-))
Anyway, love to all and keep in touch.
xxx Lesley and Craig
Had problems posting my commments yesterday. wrote a long chatty note and it didn't go through. Ahmed is well and truly back in the fold perfumes, dish dashes and all. He is not so happy at work so I can't wait for .
ReplyDeleteIt seemed to work a treat the last time. All work and no play at the moment. That used to be your life too didn't it. Must be nice to leave that all behind even if you are freezing your braken bits off at the moment. Remember things can only get better till next winter. I have stopped since I got back. Just got an invite to a conference in Taif. ANother water side town I think. I am going to bed in a minute as we are in the middle of an ISO audit and my nerves are shot. Didn't sleep last night. Love you and leave you.
Fatma/joan xxx
CAn't wait for Craig to give Ahmed another pep talk was what I missed out.
ReplyDeleteOK I give up. Did the internet not work or are you just keeping us guessing. love you miss you, Starving for news xxxxx
ReplyDeleteMum says the snow is back and it is even colder with a biting wind. She has the central heating on full and it is still freezing. I hope it is a bit warmer where you are. Look after yourself. The weather here is still quite nice - can still just about handel the steering wheel in the middle of the day without glovea actually I have a cover on it but you know what I mean. Ahmed is definately back in the flat full time - cleaning requirement up 200 % food consumption up 200% sleep down 50% - no I don't mean that way he waaakens me to ask where his socks are and puts the light on wjen he goes to the toilet etc. I have withdrawn fmo the biomedical science Masters as I don't have a mentor. I have started work on the infection control modules. I will pick your brains when I see you.xxx
ReplyDeleteHigh winds here at the moment - would that be good for sailing or if they are too high is it a real problem. I took my friends little girl to ballet on Thursday morning. Brings back memories. The teacher was a prima ballarina with the 'Borchivoise' is that how you spell it. Her deportment is fantastic the body of a 17 year old and the face of a 50 year old. Only 'a little English' but a real star. She can't explain what to do very well but they all pick up her posture and look like real budding ballarinas in just a short time. I went to a wedding on Wednesday evening. A bit different here. A big hall nice tables a buffet but the thing starts at 8:30 in the evening, the bride arrives alone about 10:30. Only woman invited and she wears like a traditional bridal gown. It is all about taking photos but only for the bride we are not allowed to take them. They have very loud taped Iranian music and a few of the young ones do belly dancing but fully clothed with a scarf tied around their bum to show it moving under the flowing garments. The groom came about 11pm. He stayed about an hour and then whisked her off. He couldn't stop kissing her - not snogs but enough for it to be embarassing in Arabic circuits. Bedoor has actually been married they read the Nikas - right to sleep together - Koran about 2 months ago as that allows them to date and if anything happens it is OK as they are married all but for the party. At the party he basically comes to take his bride to his home and no-one is allowed to visit for one week if she is a virgin and four days if she has been married before. They have a breakfast at the end of it but as they are living in Suwaiq - quite far away - I don't think I will make that. After the week at home, they usually take a 2 week honeymoon away. That leaves us without a secretary for a total of 4 weeks so what is new. I am goimg to UK in July I think so if you need anything sending out or bringing from Oman and sending out let me know. I would love to visit but I think I need to save my money for this year and visit you either in the Med or in Australia depending where you are either winter in Australia or summer in the med next year, You seem to have plenty of takers for this year - it could be wall to wall visitors couldn't it. The other thing I might do is meet you somewhere like niece as there is a direct flight from Glasgow I think. Of course, Niece is very expensive but is lovely from March onwards from what I remember. Anyway. I will get in touch soon. Looking forward to hearing from you. xxxxx
ReplyDeleteI guess we could get loads of members and give the definative world weather report on a daily basis. Sunshine, no clouds, still high winds but less than yesterday.xxHow is it the med, in UK and down under???
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