Our crazy dog

As it is the TT fortnight on the Isle of Man, here is the Beast ready for the off.

First steam day of the year. I have volunteered to be one of the steam crane crew. More complicated to work one of these than I thought, but got it in the end. Very warm inside as you are next to the boiler. Great fun and looking forward to more.

Seeds like confetti

Elm trees have so many seeds this year, drifting seeds not good for any painting jobs. A week or so and they will be gone, but they do get everywhere.

It's snowing Elm tree seeds

Had a barbie again today with our Kiwi next door neighbour Nicky. the seeds that are falling off the trees are everywhere, must get a picture of it.

Different socket and plugs here

We have British electrical sockets as I like them fused, Dutch ones are not. So when we buy new things here with a Dutch plug we have to convert it somehow. I can't just change the Dutch plug until the warranty has run out, as its null and void if you change anything. Silly but that's it. Anyway here I am making our own converters, safer and cheaper!

We found this very nice British anchor light on the Queen's day market. I don't think they knew what it was! Needs a little TLC and new light fittings but will look nice on the terrace.

Sewage tank finished

We used to pump our stuffies straight over the side. Now it goes into a holding tank before going over the side. Reason is that when in dry dock we can still use the ships loos and when in a place where the water is clear, I do not wish to make it muddy! One day will come anyway that it will not be allowed to put Richard the thirds into the water!

Lightship on it's way to dry dock

I should have posted this last week, sorry. This landmark has been in the harbour since we were here and probably longer than that. Here it is just squeezing past our ship. Hopefully it will be back with a clean bottom.