Gosh, it is obviously some considerable time since I updated this, it just goes to show how quickly the year is slipping by!
Our first anniversary came and went in May, in the form of an anniversary dinner at the Petwood Hotel with family and friends, had a super week in Wales at a very nice hotel, www.neuadd.com and were blessed with great weather despite going prepared for the worst.
On arrival at the hotel, however, the signs were not encouraging, we could not get down the drive as there was an air ambulance blocking the way. We half joked that we hoped it was not a case of food poisoning as one of the main reasons for choosing this hotel was the food!
Turns out some poor chap had a stroke in the dining room, we were told a couple of days later that he was fine, and was left with no lasting side effects.
The hotel itself was wonderful, nothing was too much trouble, the chef had cooked for Prince Charles, the Emporer of Japan, and was the head chef whenever the Welsh assembley held a formal 'do' so he came well recommended. The final touch was the washing of the car on the morning of our departure, definately one to be recommended.
June and July are now history, the weather was not that good, we did manage to go to London for a couple of days with Trevor and Sue though, friends from Northampton. Travelled down on a Wednesday and did a tour round Grand Lodge, lunch across the road at Woolfes grill, and then to Sadlers Wells Theatre for a performance of West Side Story.
In the evening we found a very nice Indian just round the corner from the Cavendish Hotel where we were staying, which was a fitting end to an excellent day.
A bit or retail therapy on Thursday morning preceeded the journey home.
Over the last few months we have been very busy in the garden, the veg plots have done well considering it was the first year, a few lessons have been learnt, particularly where catapillars are concerened, but we have had some good successes, in particular with courgettes, onions, chillies, new potatoes and broad beans.
We currently have a box full of tomatoes that we are ripening indoors, and are just starting to eat baby turnips. All very satisfying!
The pond has established well, we are currently overun with baby fish, hopefully Jeff Goodley, the conservation officer at SHDC is going to relieve us of some of them.
A couple of weeks ago Gill and Scott both had trial flying lessons that were bought as birthday presents, and we had an added bonus of a pass up the runway by the Lancaster, and last weekend (bank holiday) we went and spent Saturday night with Scott and Di in a cottage they rented just outside Bridlington.
Next Wednesday the new Masonic season starts, and the weekend of the 6th and 7th sees the European Finals at Santa Pod, so fingers crossed for some good weather.
Where has the year goe? Answers on a postcard etc

Last weekend we spent 3 days in Norfolk, starting out on Saturday morning visiting Frank and Pat Allwood at Mundesley ...   more »

I have had a few days off this week, and we took the chance on Tuesday and Wednesday to make a start with planting some of the bigger items that need two people to handle. We have put a couple of bigplants in the pond area, and a couple along the back fence. We have also planted some roses that were a wedding present from Julie and Joe, and Gill has planted some prims for a bit of instant colour.
I set some Broad Beans in one of the vegetable beds a few weeks ago, and they are just starting to poke through. I have also set some climbing beans that Bruce gave me in pots in a propogator, and drilled some radishes outside. However, with the Easter forecast in front of us, I think gardening is now on hold!
Whilst on the subject of the weather, I think our plans to go to Santa Pod are well and truley scuppered, and I guess if we still had Saratina we would be unlikely to have been able to go out boating.
So it looks as if we will get the chance to do a bit more decorating, the kitchen is next on the list!

I had to make a short visit to hospital yesterday to have cyst removed from my arm, it did not take long and as yet has not caused me much of a problem although the doctor who performed the procedure commented that it was deeper than she thought and so had to make a bit of a hole - I was not looking so I will take her word for it! It has been sent away for analysis.
I took Gill and Jill down to Heathrow this morning, got there in 2 hours without any problem, and was back home in time to note on the departures website that they were half an hour late leaving. They have a 9 hour flight so they are welcome to that bit.
I went down to Crosshall on Saturday to hand the keys to Saratina to her new owner, and was surprised to realise it was a guy that I had met a couple of times at the Seamaster rallies, when I went to the first one (for me) in 2006, he met me at St Neots lock, came onboard and helped me to moor up at the rally site. I am a bit happier knowing it has gone to someone I know, and that he will look after her. Stupid, isn't it, getting attached to boats!
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Work tomorrow, then decorating at the weekend.

I guess this blog would have been better if it was called 'The not always monthly!' but I don't think anyone reads it so it does'nt really matter!
Christmas and New Year came and went, we both only had Christmas day and Boxing day off and it was then back to work on the Thursday. I never mind going straight back, I prefer to have days off when the days are longer and you can get out and about.
Just before Christmas someone put an offer in for the boat which I reluctantly accepted, reluctantly for two reasons, firstly it was a lot less than I had hoped for, and secondly it meant the end of boating. As of tonight, the cheque has cleared so it is all over.
I am going down to meet the guy and hand the keys over tomorrow morning, and probably have one last look over the boat, it will seem strange that it will not be mine, but such is life. Debts have to come before pleasure, I hope the new owner gets as much enjoyment from her as we have done.
Work is very hectic at the moment, there is a lot of stuff going on in the Economic Development Department, watch this space!
Gill is off for a few days holiday from next Thursday, it will do her good to have a break what with work, decorating, the garden, and the traumatic period in November with the death of her brother, I hope she gets the chance to relax.
This Saturday we have Julie and Joe and Scott and Di coming over for my belated birthday dinner that had to be postponed in November, so that will be good.

The guys from Garden Force finished work here last Monday by laying the front lawn and putting up some railings ...   more »

The landscape gardener has started work and has got a lot done in the first week. The back and front gardens have been completely cleared, trees felled, new pond created, fish back in and he has started to put down the hardcore in preparation for the stone dressing.
He has created four raised beds in the front garden, and has agreed to do another two making six in all. Pictures as ever on http://picasaweb.google.com/nigelburch
On the evening of Thursday 8th we received the news that Gill's brother Iain has died, so Gill has been down in Dorchester with her Mother trying to sort things out and arrange the funeral etc. This will be held on Tuesday 20th at Weymouth Crematorium, and afterwards at his tennis club, he was a fan of real tennis.
I have now offered a half share of Saratina for sale, more details at www.yachtfractions.co.uk
The new car seems to be going well, I am very pleased with the economy, returning high 50's wich with my style of driving is pretty good, and seems to perform as well as the coupe did!
I was also sorry to hear of the death of Henry Watson, father of my friend Paul who lives in Formby. Henry had been ill for some years with respiratory problems, probably caused through a lifetime working with wood dust.

It looks as if the boat selling season has come to an end, and we have not had any interest in Saratina despite dropping the price twice, and spending more money on her doing up the exterior woodwork.
I will now have to have the engine and water systems winterised, but will leave her in the water.
I am now considering selling a half share in her, this would probably allow us to be able to keep boating, and give someone the chance of a 27 ' boat at 21' boat price!
On Saturday, I am going to help Scott to put the body on his car, so it looks as if he is approaching the final phase.
We are hoping the landscape gardener will be starting early next week, it is time for a transformation of the back garden and the creation of a new pond, and we intend to have some raised vegetable plots in the front garden with the spoil from the pond.

Winter draws ever nearer, and Saratina is still unsold. I have had the exterior wood taken off, sanded down and re-varnished, and along with 2 price drops, I had hoped this might create a bit of interest but up to today (18/10/07), no joy.
David has put his boat up for sale on ebay, it will be interesting to see how that works out.
We are going to Yorkshire on Sunday for a couple of days to stay with Julie and Joe at boggle Hole, and then down to Dorchester the following weekend.

After much soul searching, we have made the decision to put Saratina up for sale. I was hoping that we would be able to keep her, but it is just not going to be possible. She will be for sale at www.crosshallmarine.com within the next few days.
Last weekend we had a superb couple of days with our friends Geoff and Val Parker on board their 32 ft yacht Araby, cruising up to Woodbridge in Suffolk on the Saturday in near calm, but having a good sail back on Sunday in a force 4.
Only glitch to the weekend was the engine failing to start on our approach back to Shotley, Geoff demonstarting his 30 years experience by sailing into Shotley lock and coming to rest without incident.

On Friday 29th June I was priviledged to be one of 7 people to be invited to a meeting with His Excellency Mr Vygaudas Usackas, Ambassador of the Republic of Lithuania who was on a 2 day visit to South Holland as a guest of South Holland District Council.
The purpose of the ambassadors visit was to gain an insight into the area and businesses that his countrymen are now living and working. His Excellency had a private meeting with a number of prominent business men from the Agricultural, Horticultural and Food manufacturing sectors. The meeting was held at the University of Lincoln Holbeach Campus, and we then accompanied the Ambassador on a tour of the Campus facilities.
You can hear more on the visit by going to Terry Huggins blog at www.terryhuggins.me.uk and downloading his June Podcast.

On Sunday 1st July Gill and I went up to Cumbria for a few days belated honeymoon. We stayed at a superb hotel, The Lovelady Shield Hotel just outside Alston high in the North Pennines. The weather, as elsewhere, was not all that we had hoped for, but I guess we were lucky that it seemed to rain at dinner time, all through the night into breakfast time, but the days themselves were not to bad although sunburn was never going to be a problem!
We had a couple of days in the lakes visiting favourite haunts, a day touring Kielder and into Scotland, and a day at Beamish open air museum. It is a disconcerting part of growing older that whenever you visit a museum, there are more and more things as exibits that make you say " I had one of those" or "I remember that!"
Pics on http://picasaweb.google.com/nigel.burch

We have a busy few weeks coming up, next week is the Seamaster Rally, the weekend after that Tatton Park flower show, and the weekend after that my cousin Rob's 60th birthday, will have to dig the flares and stack heels out!

Due to the weather we have had little chance to spend time on the boat, and with the exception of next weekend, it will be August before we get down there again.

After many months of preperation, Gill and I did the deed at the Petwood Hotel, Woodhall Spa yesterday.33 guests attented what turned out to be a superb day, the organisation and attention to detail by the hotel was everything that we had hoped for, and a great time was had by all.
You can view some pictures here.

As of the 10th Marc 2007 I have taken over the running of the Whitehouse Boat Club website at www.whitehouseboatingclub.org.uk
The club is based in the grounds of Crosshall marine at St Neots where my boat is kept, we always welcome prospective new members.

We have both had bad colds this week, I had most of last week off work, Gilly is about 4 days behind me so has been at her worst yesterday and today.
This means that she has not felt up to coming over this weekend and consequently did not make it to Ladies night last evening.
It now looks as if Saratina will go back into the water at the end of this coming week, so it will definately be without a floor! It is frightening how quickly the lay up period has gone, there were lots of jobs I was going to do, and virtually none of them are done.
On Wednesday evening I am going to Nottingham to Keith Taylor's leaving party. Keith concieved and started the Food and Drink Forum, and until last summer, was the driving force behind it. He then took a step back to the point where he is now to retire, the end of an era.

I have now posted a number of pictures onto my web-album, the link to which is in the previous post.
The reason I have had the time to do this is that I have been off work with a terrible cold. All around me in the office had been dropping like flies and I thought I had avoided it but no such luck! It struck when we returned from Dorchester last Sunday after visiting Gilly's mother, and now Gilly has succumbed as well. We have to get better for Saturday night as it is Lodge Ladies night and I do not want to miss that.
I have tonight posted a comment on the Great Ouse Boating Association website saying that now we are to lose the duty concession on diesel for our boats, I am going to use this opportunity to move over to Biodiesel. I know a chap who produces locally so I can pop over to Long Sutton and get my cans filled, doing my bit for the environment, and getting a quieter, smoother, cleaner running engine into the bargain.
I am having a new cockpit floor made for Saratina, the Marina rang on Tuesday to advise that she goes back into the water in three weeks time, it may well be without a floor!
Plans for the wedding are continuing apace, dresses, flowers, food, wine and champagne are organised, it is just my suit now, but that will not be a problem. Looks like we will have to be at the Hotel the day before as Gill has a number of friends coming the night before, and we cannot really leave them there on their own!

After a number of emails from the Great Ouse Boating Association warning of rising river levels, I went down this morning to have a look for myself.
THe boat is ok as it has been lifted out and is sitting on higher ground, but there is a tremendous amount of water going down the river.
I visited River MillLock at Eaton Socon, and Papermill Lock at St Neots, the Environment Agency have padlocked all the gates open to allow the maximum amount of water to get down the river, and it does look spectacular! (see attached pictures)

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all!!

I had half a days holiday today (flexitime) so I nipped down to the boat to get a few things off, and have a look at the woodwork now that she is out of the water.
The runners that stretch along the side of the boat do not look too bad, so I may be able to get away with just replacing the quarter panels.
She does not look too bad underneath, but there will be a lot of polishing to do in the spring!

I am embarressed to admit that I have been caught out: my bank account has been hacked and every last penny stolen!
I always check for the padlock when I shop online, and I thought that the use of chip and pin had made using cards safe, but someone has managed to get my card number from somewhere!
Nationwide Building Society have been very good, they stopped my card as soon as they detected unusual activity, and have promised to refund all the money that has been taken, but it is going to leave me without any money for a week or so!

Saratina is now out of the water, all water systems have been drained and the engine winterised.
I need to get down there fairly soon to get the batteries off.
If anyone reads this, could you try and add something in reply please so that I can see if the system works?
Thanks

I have now been in my new post at South Holland District Council for 6 weeks, and it is proving very enjoyable.
I am slowly coming to terms with the concept of leaving work at work, and not bringing it home, I even switch my work phone off when I get home, what a change from Forum days!
The office is very crowded, and thus very noisey, something else to get used to, shows what a sheltered life I have been leading for the past three and a half years!
Scott and I spent last weekend on the boat, on what I thought would be my last visit to the boat before she is lifted out, but I am going down today for one last attempt, it is windy but still very mild.

I finally got the go-ahead yesterday morning from South Holland District Council, so have handed in my notice at the Forum.
Have had nice emails from Sam, Paul C and Jo S, I really am going to miss them!
It was Gilly's birthday yesterday, we had a nice meal at the Angel and Royal Hotel in Grantham, bit of Deja Vue as that is where we first met 6th August last year.
Heather starts work on Monday, hope she enjoys her new job.
Apparently Anne and Patrick got married yesterday.
Might go to the boat tomorrow if the weather is ok, need to have a clean up for Keith and Marie coming next Sunday.

Still not had final confirmation from SHDC, hoping it will come tomorrow morning.

Did some painting in the kitchen and dining room,also went to Grantham and did some shopping for Gilly, she was much improved today.

Had a text from Di, they are on their way to Bournemouth.

August has been a disaster weather wise, but I managed to get a weekend away with Scott when we manged to cover 42miles, despite developing a diesel leak which we managed to fix without too much trouble.

I had a fortnight off work with the intention of Gilly and I having 4 or 5 days on the boat but the weather scuppered that plan!

It did stay fine however, for Gillys house warming/garden warming/engagement party, which was a blessing.

I have applied for, and been offered a job at South Holland District Council as an Economic Development Office, I am just waiting for final confirmation before I hand in my notice at the Forum.

I shall be very sorry to leave FDF, I have enjoyed my time there immensly, and will always be grateful for the chances they have given me. I shall also miss a lot of my colleauges, I hope they will keep in touch.

David set off on his challenge, but it never really went to plan. He ended up going from Levington straight up the East coast, but only got as far as Whitby before he had to pull out due to damage to the boat.

I am now looking forward to the new Masonic season which starts next Wednesday 6th Sept.

This weekend Scott and I are booked to take part in a boat handling competion at Crosshall Marine (www.crosshallmarine.com) organised by the Whitehouse Boating Club (www.whitehouseboatingclub.org.uk)

Having just seen the weather forecast for the weekend, it remains to be seen if this will actually take place! There is, however, a horse race event organised for Saturday evening so I am sure we will find something to do.

The laptop has gone to Nottingham but Sam is unable to do anything with it so its back to the suppliers. As I am on a training course for the next three days, and then involved in the Forum AGM on Wednesday, I guess it could be worse.

Seen brief reviews about last night premiere of the Da Vinci Code, and first reports do not seem too encouraging, no great surprise there then?

Have just watched the new Airbus A380 touching down at Heathrow - now I am not an expert, but that did not look like the best landing in the world to me, port side rear wheels came down, then the nose wheel with the starboard rears last to touch! Very impressive looking plane though, and a nice touch to do low level passes over the factories in Wales and Bristol. The comparison in size with 747's passing in front of it is spectacular.

 

This is the first entry in this blog which I only set up 5 minutes ago, not sure what I will talk about but here goes.

 

Today has not been much of an improvement on yesterday when I had to cancel the second in a series of workshops due to the speaker being delayed in Madeira.

Today the work laptop decided to freeze, and in hitting the power button to restart, it would seem that the operating system has become corrupted.

One bit of light relief was listening to David on BBC Radio Nottingham talking about his proposed charity race with Ray North who is going to cycle from Lands End to John 'O'Groats, whereas David is going to sail from Lands End up the East coast to Wick!

The guy on the radio could not understand why he was not taking the shorter West Coast route, and frankly, neither can I. See the photo in the album for a picture of Piglet.

Gilly has got the gardeners in which is a big relief, it has been a major plan ever since she moved in, and at last is starting to happen.