Spring 2011         

Entertaining and maintaining

The spring has entailed a lot of maintenance work on the boat. The entertainment has consisted of social activities with friends and life long learning, i.e. we never stop with our individual development and learning new things.

Below you will find examples of both, which I hope you will enjoy:

Sewing

Before we left we listened to a lecture organized by the Mediterranean Sailors. A sailing couple told us about their adventures in the Med.  Afterwards I asked the wife: “Is there something you wouldn’t have been without when you were sailing?”  She thought for a while and the answer was: “A sewing machine!” Just what I thought. But all the same the machine stayed at home. We bought this one in Malta with money saved by hand washing and not taking the washing to the launderette.

I was sitting and thinking to myself and wondered how a machine really worked and how old it could be. After a search on the net I found out the following (a summary):

Hand sewing is an art form that is over 20,000 years old. The first sewing needles were made of bones or animal horns and the first thread was made of animal sinew. Iron needles were invented in the 14th century. The first eyed needles appeared in the 15th century.

 Through patent applications you can follow the development. From 1755 and onwards several people have applied for patents for needles and different machines, which didn’t work successfully.

 The first functional machine was invented by a Frenchman called Barthelemy Thimonnier in 1830. It produced a seem similar to the chainstich in embroidery. The inventor was almost killed when an enranged group of French tailors set fire to his factory fearing mass unemployment.

Isaac Singer produced the first commercially viable machine in the 1850s. On these the needle had an up and down movement and was powered by a foot treadle instead of being hand-cranked.

Since then the machine has developed to the computerized machines of today. Our machine isn’t that advanced – but it manages all the basic things. Thank goodness!

Sewing projects

Spinnaker bag

Here is Mike at the machine sewing a bag out of sail cloth. The bag is hung onto the guardrail. The idea is that it will make it easier to hoist and take down the sail. (If it works future reports will tell!)

The bag hung up. A sturdy thing with a bottom made out of ply and eye-lets for drainage.

We are trying it out and it seems to work. At least while we are still in the harbour!

New windows for the spray- hood

I am sewing new windows for the spray-hood.  During a winter storm with hail the window, with its old and brittle plastic, was completely shredded. A tricky job – but it worked out.

The secret is to remove the outer seam first and cut the edge down to the inner one. Then pin on the new plastic (or use double sided tape) and sew. The old plastic is then removed and the new inner seam can be sewn.  The window keeps it shape.

Mosquito nets

Mike makes a mosquito net for the companionway. Nice not to have to close up when the weather is hot.

I made a net for the forward hatch.  Should get a nice draft through the boat – without mosquitoes!

“Boat covering”

As we are going to put the boat up on the hard for a longer period of time, we would like to protect it with a cover.  We chose a material used on building sites. It is a weave of plastic closely knitted together, but still with the ability to “breathe”. I am sewing edging for it.

It has been an extensive job with a lot of precision measuring, so that all the gaps for the stays are in the right places, etc. But it is very satisfying when it is all done!

Flag for the Dan-buoy

A flag for the Dan-buoy also got made. We used the same parachute silk as for the wind-scoop.  You can see it at any rate!

Generally there has been repair work here, there and everywhere, e.g. a new zip for a jacket, etc.

We have to concede that the sewing machine has been a very good investment! We have saved a lot of money while producing things we have never done previously. Makes you proud of yourself!

Spring is here!

It surely is! It has been here for quite a while already, with its’ flowering orange trees where oranges still wait to be picked. The blossom has a sweet and “heavy” scent. The whole valley is filled with orange groves and there will be a lot of fruit come Autumn.

The strawberries have been put on show for quite a while already. But now they taste a bit sweeter than before.  A kilo costs 2TL, which is about £1. We have ended up eating a few of them…

The tortoises have woken up and are sauntering along at their leisurely pace. Sometimes you have to lift them off the road back onto the pavements.

A walkabout

A beautiful day we went out for a walk in the surroundings of Finike.          Some pictures:

More maintenance

The winches have had a proper going over this year.  Apart from the usual service, Mike has scraped off all the old chrome which started peeling off. Now the gold coloured bronze is shining nicely! Sure, it will need a bit of polishing - but what the hell? Mike has also varnished the wood under the winches.

The old nameplates had cracked in the strong sunshine, so Mike made new ones.

Study circle

“To find yourself and to find your way in life is the only thing that can be called education/refinement/culture and is of any real worth.” /Ivar Lo-Johansson/

I have always wondered if I can paint. That is, apart from painting the boat!  In the sailor’s club house “Port Hole” there has been all sorts of activities.  Art has been one of them, where the sailors have formed a group that paints. Most of it has been water colour painting, but also pastel and drawing has been practiced.

So with the attitude that if you don’t try, you will never get an answer, I went there with my little water colour box.

A motley group had gathered and the level of knowledge was very varied. Some were producing pictures conveyor-belt fashion whilst others took longer. I was the only beginner and was well taken care of by the leader and the participants.

“The basic principle has never been questioned: that it is the participants themselves who decide what is studied, how it is going to be studied, and what teachers that should be engaged – if one is going to be used at all”  /Oscar Olsson/

A few of us gathered around Ewald Kool, our leader, who explains why shadows exist where they are. Above all how they are created.

Gerd Wennergren from the boat “GIM” is getting some help and advice.

Ewald is a leader who helps you to understand the principles of constructing a motif, e.g. where is the vanishing point? The composition of colour is also an art in itself. At the same time he lets us develop within our different styles. Very good leadership. We have also learnt from each other.

“The goal for the work in a study circle is not just the gathering of knowledge, but also the spirit and the atmosphere which leads to endless seeking and enquiring.” /Oscar Olsson/

Apart from the fact that we have learnt a lot during our time together, we have also had plenty of laughs in an easy atmosphere. And the questions have been asked thick and fast…

 Some participants in the group:

Ian Paterson

Trish Landamore

So, how did I get on? I do feel that I have learnt and developed a lot.  Apart from anything, I have found out that I enjoy it and I am going to carry on painting.

This is my first “work of art”…

… and here is one of the later ones.

“All educational work is basically self-educating work -  and work that the human being is never “finished with.” /Oscar Olsson/

(The quotes are from “A little Study Guide” included in the Adult Education Parcel written by Gunnar Adelstam, Siri Greger and Tommy Lindberg. I have freely translated the quotes myself.  There is no straight translation to the Swedish word “Folkbildning”.  Basically it is adult education, but it also describes the qualities you gain as a person through education.  For instance knowledge, refinement and culture.)

The waffle day

The 25^th Mach was the big Waffle Day and Milla and Hans Olsson off the “Blue Marlin” invited all the Swedes to elevensies with this delicacy. Here is Milla busy making waffles.

They sure do look scrumptious! A Norwegian couple gave a tip about including a pinch of ground cardamom in the mixture – very nice too.

Mike ate with a hearty appetite…

Here is the rest of the gang full up and content.

Talking about food

We have tried a lot of new recipes and used exciting ingredients. Here is a recipe for pickled beetroot which we enjoy very much. And it is ready to eat in just a couple of days!

BEETROOT

Ready in:  2 days 15 mins

Method:

 Ingredients:

1.  Wash and brush the beetroot and cook until soft. 

   0,5 kg       beetroot

               Approx. 20 – 50 minutes

 1 dl           vinegar

 2 dl           sugar

   3 dl           water

                  point and pour over the beetroot. Small beetroot can

10 pcs       cloves

                be pickled whole, large ones are best cut into slices

  1 pc         small piece of horseradish

                or wedges. Make sure the decoction covers the

                beetroot.     

  Tip

  The beetroot will keep between 6 – 12 months.

          3.   Store in a cool place for at least 2 days.

We found it difficult to find vinegar, so we used apple cider vinegar instead. We also omitted the horseradish.  Lovely!

Entertainment

St. Patrick’s Day

On the 17^th March it was St. Patrick’s Day. St. Patrick is the patron Saint of Ireland. Although we didn’t have an Irish person amongst us, we celebrated anyway! The “Porthole” was packed with people and we sang our hearts out. A tear trickled down more than one cheek when we sang and played “Danny Boy…”

The guitar group, strengthened by Belinda Chesman on clarinet, entertained us. The Swede Håkan Wennergren can be seen to the right…

We thank Clive Green, responsible for the guitar group,  for a most enjoyable evening.

The Porthole Pub

Mike took on the responsibility for the Pub Night on Saturday evenings.  The evenings were very much appreciated and people turned up in all weather.

We played darts every time.  This became very popular and as there were a lot of Swedish boats in the Marina, the teams were often divided into Sweden against The Rest of the World. And Sweden won quite often! Here is Vic and Marge Saunders from “Ice Maiden” keeping an eye on the scoring.

In February we organized a proper Darts Tournament with prices and certificates. The winners were:

Mixed Doubles:  Håkan and Gerd Wennergren from “GIM”.

10 couples participated.

Men’s Singles:   Mike Mousell from "Windy"

12 participants

Ladies singles: Barbro Berglund from ”Sandra"

6 participants.

Mainly Swedish winners!  Well, Mike could be counted as a half Swede…

Mike is thanking everybody for making the Pub Nights the success it was.  A special “Thank you” to Ian & Mo on “Arcadian Quest” and Vic & Marg on “Ice Maiden” for taking it in turn to stand behind the bar.

Cheers to you all and “always look on the bright side!”

Line Dancing

This is a way of dancing performed mainly to Country & Western music. As the heading suggests you are dancing in lines. Line Dancing is spreading fast and the advantages are many:

*      You do not need a partner

*      You prevent brittle bones

*       Your muscles are strengthened

*       You cheer up

*       You feel togetherness

*       Your level of fitness improves

I would like to take the opportunity of thanking everybody dancing during the winter; Håkan, Gerd, Sune, Ulla, Barbro, Jos and Marge.  We did have a lot of fun!

Goodbye to Finike!

It has been a privilege to spend some time here in Finike, a town just the right size. The centre of the orange growers with its’ “Big Orange” on the round-about. The people have been very helpful and I haven’t found more honest people anywhere.  We have been to other countries and places where you have had the feeling that you have been cheated… but not here. The market is well known and people travel long distances to come here to buy their fruit and veg and everything else connected to a market.

In the marina we have got to know people from all corners of the world and friendships have formed. The world has shrunk and who knows where and when we will meet again?

We are now looking forward to a sailing season before we wrap up Windy for a longer rest in July – but more adventures beckon before then.