We went to Australia and I got leeched. It wasn’t the only thing to happen in the time we were there but it was memorable and unpleasant in equal measure. It took 36 hours for the “attachment point” to stop bleeding fully. 

We were treated like VIP’s by our Queensland chums. And were entertained by their chickens and goats. We hopefully reciprocated their generosity a small amount by doing some work on the land, clearing trees from a recent storm and also the gutters on their drive way. 

Andrew is a Middlesbrough fan so he and I talked North East football. Carolyn has the energy of a fleet of Duracell bunnies. She is awe inspiring. We walked in the bush, swam in swim holes, had campfires, walked the goats, moved the electric fence goat pens and celebrated the Melbourne Cup with their neighbours. I think we had 5 nights in Australia. I like the area around Kenilworth.

Then on to North Island to near Whangārei first, then the Coromandel peninsula, Tauranga and back to Auckland. All to catch up with sailing friends. Cyril and Janine have 80 acres of bush and paddocks, an impressive lake, a self-built house, endless fruit and veg and a warmth and generosity to impress all although their pet water buffalos are disappointedly no more.  

Brian and Sue continue to inspire. They are about to build a house on a steep section overlooking the ocean.  In decades they are closer to their 8th than than their 7th. We all need to be more B&S. I got to have a go on Brian’s digger. It was a fun but my lack of computer game joystick experience meant I felt consciously incompetent as I nudged piles of earth about.

We’ve been back on South Island for a couple of weeks now. Arriving to the marina, many people said, “welcome home”. Grace was in great shape after six months on her own. Engine started first time, outboard second pull, and the generator wobbled into life after a little persuasion. It’s a Fischer Panda and I think their marketing strap line is ‘Temperamental’. We put Grace back together, sails, running rigging, life raft etc. Dave refreshed some engine parts and our cooker has headed to Auckland to be refurbished. Back to two camping stoves.

Not moving for six months, Grace’s hull had become a minor mussel farm. We hired some dive kit and Dave spent a couple of hours brushing away slime and bivalve molluscs. I bought bright yellow fins as part of his birthday pressies this year and it’s certainly easier to spot him underwater now. 

We had a great summer in the UK. It’s good to back in the NZ summer.