CATCH UP

We have been out of wi-fi range for over a week so unable to keep the blog up to date. First thing was a trip down to Oban. I had been referred to the hospital by the local dentist who was a bit dubious about attacking one of my teeth over here as it might be a problem extraction, and Dave kindly thought of taking our home down so I would not have to get the ferry back it it was too horrid. We were also able to fit in a few other things that needed doing, like seeing the solicitor to make sure all was set for our departure and getting the last of the survey completed. I can tell you I was the most grateful person alive to be able to get the taxi to the boat and fall immediately into miserable patient mode; it was one of those never again experiences. The surveyor came down the next day and did his thing and Spirit passed everything with flying colours, so we set off home in the snowstorm that had been going all morning. This could only be undertaken after brushing the snow off the deck and wrapping up in every woolly thing we had. No wind again so it was a motor home.
A day back in Tobermory and we decided to take the boat down to Ardfern where there is a marina and chandlery as we have been planning to upgrade the bower anchor. Only 7 hours down and an overnight and back again. The weather has been calm but freezing - -6 - -8 deg C every morning and heavy frost over everything. So 6.30 saw us on the deck throwing salt water everywhere to let Dave walk up front to let the mooring go and off we motored - no wind yet again. The dawn came up into the most beautiful blue sky and the mountains were heavily covered in snow and further down the Sound the sun touched the Cairngorms and made them a most glorious pink. Couldn't wish for a more spectacular trip. We threaded our way down the islands to Ardfern to find that the marina had frozen over that morning and a fishing boat had had to act as ice breaker. There was still floating ice when we arrived but caused no problem. We now have a very fine new anchor and woolly gloves. The next day was a repeat of the previous - get rid of the ice and motor, except this day had regular squalls of sleet and snow. Back to the mooring just as the light went.
We had just picked up the mooring buoy when I heard the phone ring down below. Nothing I could do at first, but as soon as possible went to see who it was - our Rachel. Little Alex had a really high temperature and snotty nose, poor little chap, so commiseration and a bit of what to do and said good night and fretted till the next day before i found out that he had eventually settled once he had exhausted his parents by being miserable all night. He is nearly 1 year old, impossible to believe, and this is the first time he has been unwell, so hence the worry. He is such a special little chap.
So now we are back in Tobermory doing last things.
We have a plan now. Dave has decided to go to the Bridge Congress that he used to run as a farewell gesture - this is over the first weekend in March. He will stay in the hotel with the other visitors who come from all over the country. I will have a whole weekend to turn the boat upside down (or have a party). Then we wait a week till the tides are right and if the weather agrees we will set off. The first destination is Swansea just before Easter as we have made arrangements to stay in Swansea marina and hire a car to go visit the family and have Easter in Oxford. We will spend a week doing that and then set off again and make our way to San Sebastien on the north coast of Spain. All we have to really do now is get the kedge anchor sorted, which is in hand if we can get hold of our resident engineer to make up a bracket for us, and the rest is food and off. It is starting to get to the scary/excited stage!