tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37549064453605789352024-03-13T09:42:48.236+00:00Tony's MusingsThe collected thoughts and dreams of an IT veteran.tonysmusinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11363506105198233078noreply@blogger.comBlogger55125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3754906445360578935.post-17405542661968961502019-07-04T12:16:00.000+01:002019-07-04T12:16:05.333+01:00Moonfleet is soldMoonfleet is sold. Thanks to help from Duke and the guys at my moorings down Boathouse Lane Moonfleets trailer was salvaged from where it languished in a marsh for years, got towed to Moonfleets new home and got new tyres and its bunks straightened ready for Moonfleets road trip down to Ipswich.
Moonfleet and her trailer are now owned by a lovely couple who have an ideal mooring, similar floating pontoon to us but with a pub at the top of the ramp: Off the boat and drinking beer in less than 60 seconds - can't be bad. My boating interest is now pointed at Miss Darcy, a Dawncraft which needs a fair bit of help to move against the wind and I've still got Gesine, which remains at IBTC and is resisting all efforts to get her refloated - due as usual to lack of budget.
Jane has opened <a href="https://www.beespokebooks.net">Beespoke Books</a> to produce custom childrens books.
I've started learning to play the flute.
That, I think, brings you up to date on my musings.
tonysmusinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11363506105198233078noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3754906445360578935.post-7914570095631551552017-07-03T13:41:00.001+01:002017-10-06T21:43:23.669+01:00Lorema is SOLDLorema is a boat I would love to own. I am not, however, the owner she deserves. Go buy a piece of sailing history. <a href="http://sampsonboat.co.uk/folkboat-lorema-for-sale">Lorema is for sale</a>
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Lorema starred in Leo Sampson Goolden's blog which you can find over at <a href="http://sampsonboat.co.uk/ ">http://sampsonboat.co.uk/</a>. The sale has been forced by him buying something bigger called Tally Ho.
tonysmusinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11363506105198233078noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3754906445360578935.post-26413776689627438982017-06-16T16:54:00.000+01:002017-06-16T16:54:17.669+01:00Lost but not forgottenI have been busy for a few months (more like years - Ed) doing grown up things. Moving back to Lowestoft but working around the UK, trying to get Gesine finished and developing my writing. All of this means this blog has languished so lets get on with bringing you up to date. Over the last year we have finally achieved one of Jane's long-held ambitions, to attend the Edinburgh Fringe and Edinburgh Festival. Thousands of shows, across hundreds of venues with crowds everywhere. In 2 weeks I saw 50 (yes, fifty) shows. Jane has encouraged me to become a theatre monster, devouring shows where-ever we find them. This includes delights from <a href="http://www.easternangles.co.uk/">Eastern Angles</a>, shows at <a href="http://www.theseagull.co.uk">Seagull Theatre</a>, <a href="http://www.marinatheatre.co.uk">Marina</a> and <a href="http://theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk">Theatre Royal Norwich</a>.
We also spent a lot of 2016 at literary events. This meant we spent half our weekends away from home, not counting the events we reached without overnight stays or nights I spent away working. Overall a year where my wardrobe was suitcase shaped, not something I am keen to repeat.
Too much theatre and bookish stuff? Never. But the travel was too much on body and wallet so we are being more restrained this year. We are still busy but concentrating on local events and some cherry-picked further afield.
Events which survived the cut include <a href="https://www.chiplitfest.com/">Chipping Norton Literary Festival</a>, <a href="http://www.nawg.co.uk/">NAWGFest</a> and <a href="https://felixstowebookfestival.co.uk/">Felixtowe Book Festival</a>.
We tried to book late for NAWGs Wentworth retreat having decided late that we would go so Jane could see their wonderful 'dodos' (her pet name for rhododendrons ). Unfortunately we were too late for this year so have already booked for next year.
My books are progressing again with my ambition to publish Wolf 2 before Wolf 1. Weird, I know, but Wolf 1 needs a major re-write so 2 is easier to finish (1 hope!).
tonysmusinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11363506105198233078noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3754906445360578935.post-79924244809046893972015-12-01T15:04:00.001+00:002015-12-01T20:00:36.474+00:00Easticks Meteor #3 Gesine ( Mystery ) ProgressHere is a quick shot of Mystery / Gesine in her stunning new red paintwork. She needs more work to be completed but is, pretty much, in floating order. This is a long way from the scruffy green hulk from 4 years ago. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbFrl0o9SQ0mqkL0WEl_xeDpLcDbaQC0zJ-6nNeeVui8jWR_pYtxE5zGPpCDzQJiK996xTbojaHLWX3WdjpbFt7xBgB4myoTDrYM20i-HV0R81e5ChJrVuvtrSJeEcTYIuMC9BxPIGHYyB/s1600/image_1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbFrl0o9SQ0mqkL0WEl_xeDpLcDbaQC0zJ-6nNeeVui8jWR_pYtxE5zGPpCDzQJiK996xTbojaHLWX3WdjpbFt7xBgB4myoTDrYM20i-HV0R81e5ChJrVuvtrSJeEcTYIuMC9BxPIGHYyB/s320/image_1.jpeg" /></a></div>
My thanks to the experts at <a href="http://www.ibtc.co.uk/">IBTC </a> for all the work completed so far and for permission to use their pictures. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx4KQNFv3eyjCXJAkJptQeAHX4wXUOCulxDY8VonpzP4nOR1N6-60-Laow0y3IzmUXjUD_AqjlQNQumbODT9UcKDCyyYoktL-eki3YGAJncGF-4vzW3Y7FLtqfki04tYX_b96wvzCK7HYn/s1600/image_2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx4KQNFv3eyjCXJAkJptQeAHX4wXUOCulxDY8VonpzP4nOR1N6-60-Laow0y3IzmUXjUD_AqjlQNQumbODT9UcKDCyyYoktL-eki3YGAJncGF-4vzW3Y7FLtqfki04tYX_b96wvzCK7HYn/s320/image_2.jpeg" /></a></div>
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<br>Photos used with kind permission from <a href="http://www.ibtc.co.uk/">International Boatbuilding Training College, Lowestoft, Suffolk</a>tonysmusinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11363506105198233078noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3754906445360578935.post-70605860966320083272015-06-17T19:57:00.000+01:002015-06-18T10:56:04.396+01:00Comparing summers A new summer and I notice my blog has been sorely neglected. Let us take a moment to pause and look back over the last 2 summers. Both feature time spent with my children, both of them growing noticeably between their visits. They are delightful.
So how has 2015 been compared to 2014?
2014 saw us do <br>A single night at <a href="http://www.nawg.co.uk/events/nawg-festivals/nawg-open-festival-of-writing/">NAWG's Open Festival of Writing</a> catching up with friends before a day in London enjoying the sun while my girlfriend slaved away on a course and then a dash down to <a href="http://www.nomadtheatre.com/">Nomad Theatre</a> in East Horsley for their last night of Jesus Christ Superstar, which was so awesome I didn't mind getting back to my little flat after partying until gone 3am.
<br>. That gives you an idea of what our weekends are like. The weeks are spent working with occasional jaunts down to local folk clubs and wanderings by the rivers.
2015 has seen another career jump for me, moving back to Lowestoft, going to the theatre to see both amateur and professional productions and occasionally catching up with old friends. Now I am based back in Lowestoft I expect to catch up with <a href="http://lowestoftlibrarywritersgroup.onesuffolk.net/">Lowestoft Library Writers Group</a> and become active in <a href="http://www.lowestoftcruisingclub.co.uk/">Lowestoft Cruising Club</a> who granted me membership just before I started working away so I have been a member for a while but haven't seen inside their clubhouse or joined one of their work parties since 2012.
Time to go .. work to do. tonysmusinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11363506105198233078noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3754906445360578935.post-58765115019660386502015-06-17T19:56:00.000+01:002015-06-18T11:00:54.630+01:00More Easticks Meteor ramblingsI have recently found a blog post pointing to a former owner of Gesine. Ahh, but is it the same Gesine? A quick search will verify that Gesine is a popular yachts name but the descriptions are similar and locations match the rumours I heard. I am awaiting information from Ann, a wonderful author who will hopefully steer me straight. It would be great if she did own Gesine as she went on to buy Peter Duck ( of Arthur Ransome fame )
She mentions that her Gesine leaked above the bunks but as I have had the deck and cabin re-built I am hoping that problem is solved.
I will add a link to her blog if it is the correct Gesine. More news soon, I hope.
My other boat, Moonfleet, is floating neglected on her moorings. I hope to get out there tomorrow evening to apply her broads licence stickers and maybe give her a clean. tonysmusinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11363506105198233078noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3754906445360578935.post-13235852961632632652014-07-11T00:28:00.000+01:002014-07-11T00:28:19.732+01:00Winchester Writers FestivalA weekend of masterclasses and feedback from an assortment of publishers, agents and authors. It's not cheap but it is worth every penny. Take a wander over to <a href="http://writersfestival.co.uk/">The University of Winchester Writers' Festival</a>. tonysmusinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11363506105198233078noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3754906445360578935.post-85756017002043323402014-06-07T23:32:00.002+01:002014-06-07T23:35:48.306+01:00Abingdon Town Music In The Park and other adventuresSaturday started out miserable. It was raining and neither of us wanted to get out of bed but by 10am I had stirred, found tea for Jane and managed to microwave the remnants of last nights take-away for my breakfast. The light improved as clouds dispersed and we decided to proceed with our Plan A for the day, the tickets Jane had purchased for Abingdon-on-Thames Town Council Music in the Park being held in the Abbey Gardens. We reasoned if the weather turned back to rain we could come home without too much effort.
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Our stroll to the Gardens was interrupted as I spotted a narrow boat trying to pull another off the silted shallows in the Thames. They were canal cruising folks who didn't understand any vagaries of river navigation, indeed the smaller boat was barely capable of moving upstream against the current. I got a coffee for for my help getting them off and met a lovely chap called Peter who owned a small cruiser which was moored further up-river.
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Jane and I went to Abingdon Fun in the Park where we did maggot racing, spent a small fortune on tombola's and treasure hunts without winning and generally spent money supporting good causes. Then time for a wander over the large weir to Abingdon Lock where Jane and I watched more boats messing about including one poor thing which wouldn't re-start and had to be dragged out of the lock by the chaps on board.
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Then a wander back towards the Gardens, being transformed in our absence for Abingdon-on-Thames Town Council Music in the Park except we got a distracted in the Water Garden by meeting Peter with his family who spent a lovely afternoon regaling us with various nautical tales mainly involving things not to do in kayaks and essential boating supplies vis a corkscrew.
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On to the Gardens where we bought pork roll, pizza, egg roll, chips, tea and coffee to be followed by more tea and coffee then crepes. Can anyone guess we were hungry? Suitably refreshed, nothing to do with the alcohol that had lubricated Peter's tales at all, we spent a lovely evening listening to some wonderful music from local bands followed by Abingdon's own prom programme and finishing with fireworks.
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A restful day with lovely people, wonderful sunshine and good music. Life doesn't get much better.tonysmusinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11363506105198233078noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3754906445360578935.post-36166684467756247822014-05-01T22:39:00.000+01:002014-05-01T22:41:19.082+01:00Chipping Norton Literary FestivalA wonderful weekend of first-class literary events. I was delighted to get my first attempt at a romance novel critiqued by uber-scary-agent Carole Blake as part of the <a href="http://wannabeawritertvshow.com/chipping-norton-literary-festival-novel-critique-event/">Wannabeawriter TV Show Critique Event</a>.
Jane and I met our ever-delightful friend <a href="http://morgenbailey.wordpress.com/">Morgen Bailey</a> who attended and blogged about some of the events.
The event ran smoothly thanks to the army of cheerful volunteers deployed.
Now let's see .. places to catch up with me <a href="http://chez-castillon.com/">Chez Castillon</a> in May, <a href="http://writersfestival.co.uk/">Winchester</a> in June . Otherwise you'll find me lurking at a keyboard somewhere.
tonysmusinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11363506105198233078noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3754906445360578935.post-56024315522569168342014-01-21T20:55:00.001+00:002014-01-21T20:55:21.578+00:00My photo is in Jane's weight-loss book<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/100-Ways-Fight-Flab-chocolate/dp/1909520926/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top">100 Ways to Fight the Flab and still enjoy wine and chocolate</a> by the ever-lovely <a href="https://www.facebook.com/janewenhamjones?fref=ts">Jane Wenham-Jones</a> includes my very own diet tip with full credit and a photo. Roll 6 for chocolate is my one. Go buy your own copy to see the other excellent 99 and some lovely anecdotes.
Available from all good Amazon's near you.
PS. Being mentioned in Jane's book has inspired my own weight loss programme. tonysmusinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11363506105198233078noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3754906445360578935.post-89111367885157105912013-12-21T21:52:00.001+00:002013-12-21T21:52:20.658+00:00Thieving gits target Moonfleet twicePoor Moonfleet. Stuck waiting for warm weather and for me to return from working away she's been robbed twice. The first time they nicked the fuel can and this time the engine cover. The engine is securely bolted and padlocked in place but Mark, from the boatyard, suggests the cover was nicked to go on a stolen engine where the other owners had replaced the cover with a 'police issue' outboard cover designed to reduce outboard thefts!
So .. if anyone sees an outboard for sale from some individual who doesn't know his port from starboard let the local police know.
Other boats on the moorings suffered thefts and damage too so these little scroats had plenty of time to go 'messing about in boats'.
tonysmusinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11363506105198233078noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3754906445360578935.post-71370449067518219822013-05-20T18:19:00.001+01:002013-05-20T18:19:19.111+01:00My first writing prizeI'm one of the runners up in Jane Wenham-Jone's <a href="https://100waystofighttheflab.wordpress.com/">100 Ways To Fight The Flab</a> competition I have won £100 off a weeks creative writing workshop at <a href="http://chez-castillon.com/">Chez Castillon</a>. A good result. tonysmusinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11363506105198233078noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3754906445360578935.post-80541850436970091922013-04-15T19:54:00.002+01:002013-04-15T19:54:54.554+01:00Look Ma, I'm an author!I am finally a real paper and ink author. <a href="http://lowestoftlibrarywritersgroup.onesuffolk.net/">Lowestoft Library Writers Group</a> recent anthology <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Books/s?ie=UTF8&field-author=Lowestoft%20Library%20Writers'%20Group&page=1&rh=n%3A266239%2Cp_27%3ALowestoft%20Library%20Writers'%20Group">Colours of the Coast</a> is now available from Amazon. I am one of the contributing authors. While satisfied to see myself in print I need to finish my first novel and get that published soon.tonysmusinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11363506105198233078noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3754906445360578935.post-90255822866825916442013-01-20T13:30:00.000+00:002013-04-13T14:47:40.266+01:00The Accidental AuthorMonths ago I offered to fill in for an author friend, <a href="http://morgenbailey.wordpress.com/">Morgen bailey</a> when she decided to have a weekend off from her daily short story writing. This would be the first weekend she took off in over a year: Morgen writes a short story a day and has written hundreds, so far. Morgen has known me for decades but only recently discovered I had any writing ambitions. She has years of writing experience and here was me, travelling beside her unpublished and inexperienced, saying 'I can do that!'
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We were attending one of <a href="http://janewenhamjones.wordpress.com">Jane Wenham-Jones</a> writing workshops.
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We agreed I would write the stories but she would only publish if she liked them, alongside her own, on her blog, suitably credited to me. I ended up with 30 minutes between arriving, coffee and going out for dinner but in that time wrote the darkest story with a prompt of 'light' <a href="http://morgenbailey.wordpress.com/2012/06/30/5pm-fiction-030-light/">Light</a>
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Morgen's acceptance of Light buoyed me into producing my second effort
<a href="http://morgenbailey.wordpress.com/2012/07/01/5pm-fiction-031-raven-hair-flying/">Raven Hair Flying</a> which Morgen published the following day.
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Morgen recently announced she would create ebooks of her short stories and has included my two efforts. From being sat in the right place with more enthusiasm than caution I have ended up with my stories wending their electronic way onto being published. tonysmusinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11363506105198233078noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3754906445360578935.post-48692793866465252702013-01-20T13:18:00.003+00:002013-01-20T13:18:56.835+00:002012 - annus horribilis 2012 ended poorly with my divorce starting and my job ending but showing glimmers of better things in 2013.
Moonfleets moorings have been taken over by the <a href="http://www.somerleyton.co.uk">Somerleyton Estate</a> so we should see some improvements in the facilities.
We managed to get Moonfleet re-fuelled just before winter and now I am sitting looking at ice and snow out of my bedroom window wondering if I will get to use either boat this year.
Still, my tax return is done and the resulting tax bill paid so now I can look forward to a better 2013.
tonysmusinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11363506105198233078noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3754906445360578935.post-42661792647556483532012-09-26T10:08:00.000+01:002012-09-26T11:33:19.741+01:00Arthur C Robb - Meteor displacement calculationsI now have the Meteors displacement calculations ( including materials list ) and assorted notes from Arthur C Robb himself. They were originally written in pencil so the images received are barely legible in parts. They are, however, certainly my Meteor and link my Meteor to his well respected Lion class and other better known designs.
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The calculations have been dated 5/2/49 which is 5th February 1949. The date is typed in the English ( dd.mm.yy ) style.
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This is all courtesy of those wonderful folks at <a href="http://www.mysticseaport.org/">Museum of America and the Sea at Mystic Seaport</a> where a collection of Arthur C Robb's paperwork is kept. tonysmusinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11363506105198233078noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3754906445360578935.post-17674052084294908422012-09-19T11:46:00.000+01:002012-09-26T11:32:15.407+01:00Meteor is an almost forgotten Arthur C Robb designThe paperwork for my Meteor indicates she was 'an Arthur Robb design' but the design isn't mentioned in the listing found at <a href="http://sailboatdata.com/view_designer.asp?designer_id=92">Sailboat Data</a> or similar. Is my boat a forgotten Robb design or designed by a different Robb to the famous yacht designer?
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Wouldn't it be fun to find out?
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So I did some more searching and found, courtesy of Bartlett Library in Falmouth: Part of <a href="http://www.nmmc.co.uk/">National Maritime Museum, Cornwall</a>.
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"Robb, Arthur C Meteor Yacht, sloop 21 ft LOA - see also CB 2004/04 p 31 Yachting World 1951/03"
This looks like it could be the same as my boat.
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Falmouths wonderful database showed a couple of Arthur Robb' or Robb A's or similar in their <a href="http://www.nmmc.co.uk/iframe/yachtdesigns.php?mode=designer&txtSearch=robb&limit=64&pagenumber=1&yachtdesigns=y">search results</a>.
There may have been more than one Arthur Robb: There is an A M Robb and an A C Robb as well as an A Robb so which Robb designed the Meteor?
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Update 20120921: The articles [copies available from the museum] confirm it's the same design as my Meteor, that the Meteors were designed for and built at Easticks Yacht Station Ltd, Acle, Norfolk and that it was designed by the famous <a href="http://library.mysticseaport.org/manuscripts/coll/coll191.cfm">Arthur C Robb</a>, designer of so many wonderful yachts including the Lion class.
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This has been a fascinating journey to track down both the designer and find out who requested the design be built. It is a great pity that more of the Easticks records havn't survived but it's good to know my little boat is in such wonderful company.
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The <a href="http://library.mysticseaport.org/about/info.cfm?pageid=1">Museum of America and the Sea</a> at 95 Greenmanville Avenue
Mystic CT, 06355 may hold correspondence between Robb and Easticks. I have requested copies of anything available.
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tonysmusinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11363506105198233078noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3754906445360578935.post-51803555278768843262012-09-09T00:50:00.001+01:002012-09-26T11:24:21.002+01:00Canopy down for the first time. Cruise to BecclesYesterday the three of us, tempted by sunny September skies, finally took the canopy down as we took Moonfleet out to Beccles. Both Paul and I revealed our shirtless bodies to the sun on what became one of the better cruises we had enjoyed.
6 hours cruising, coffee al fresco and more fettling on board saw me taught to splice, thanks to Andy and a new mooring rope created, complete with spliced loops.
I'm not sure what most of the residents in the most desirable parts of Beccles thought to our boating or shirtless nature but we certainly enjoyed some of the most desirable riverside properties we had ever seen.
Coming back we were a little too late to refuel at <a href="http://www.waveneyrivercentre.co.uk/">Waveney River Centre</a> so ended up with depleted tanks by the time we got back.
We do, though, now have 2 portable fuel cans so should be able to refuel once we find a suitable garage i.e. one which is open!
tonysmusinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11363506105198233078noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3754906445360578935.post-63008727330412210212012-09-04T17:26:00.001+01:002012-09-04T17:26:36.663+01:00Cruising on Moonfleet - happy friendsI've recently recruited two keen crew for Moonfleet: Andy and Paul. Paul has proved himself a good helmsman [good = even better than me! Ed]. Andy is a former skipper with experience measured in decades and boats much bigger than my little cruiser.
Their experience and enthusiasm is proving valuable: Moonfleet certainly seems happier with more people aboard.
We spent a happy Friday evening finding Moonfleet from under the algae and mould which accumulates depressingly quickly before taking a slow potter out under the swing bridge and off towards Beccles. We were there mainly to make a list of everything that needed doing.
Coming home we proved the navigation lights worked more for a test than because of the encroaching gloom. I knew most of them worked but had been a little concerned about our green starboard lamp.
We returned on Saturday for cleaning mark II 'Algae, meet your nemesis' and maintenance part I 'Look linkages, this is grease!'
Lunch was an assortment of butty's and cake purchased at <a href="http://www.lothingland.co.uk/somerleytonpostoffice.htm">Somerleyton Post Office and Tea Rooms</a>, an excellent and friendly little retreat we visited on our way down to the boat.
The maintenance had used most of the days sunshine but only half the hours of daylight so we pottered off down the broad towards Reedham under clouds and through intermittent showers. We found <a href="http://www.bellinn-stolaves.co.uk/">The Bell Inn at St Olaves</a> for a swift diet coke and then decided to press on towards Reedham to see what was out there. The answer, from our low deck, was not a lot apart from reeds. One advantage of bigger boats with fly-bridges is you can see more over the reeds but conversely have to wait for swing bridges to open while Moonfleet can potter underneath closed bridges.
Our trip back was enlivened by a thunder storm so we used the Nav lights again and appreciated why we were one of the few boats out for a cruise. It was great fun being so close to the storm, just sheltering under a bit of awning. By the time we moored the storm was over, everything had that 'just rained on' freshness and it gave us a great opportunity to enjoy Moonfleet in her glistening cleanness.
We had debated cruising with the canopy down but were glad we hadn't. Maybe we'll save that for a summer day, after all, this was only August! Andy announced the boat is 'much prettier' without it's canopy but the showers and subsequent storm proved that keeping the canopy up was a really good idea, even if it was prompted by laziness.
We now have a list of things to improve, kit to buy and more questions to answer.
tonysmusinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11363506105198233078noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3754906445360578935.post-87742346257774594062012-04-17T01:31:00.000+01:002012-04-17T01:31:05.293+01:00Three Easticks MeteorsMy great thanks to Woodwindmark for providing more details on the Easticks Meteor. There are at least two capable of floating but spread widely round the country. My own, Gesine, is still awaiting restoration. I have received some lovely pictures of Tarka and am hoping for some information about Scintilla soon.
The brochure Mark allowed me to see shows a lovely small yacht. One day my yacht will look as good as the ones on the cover photo.tonysmusinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11363506105198233078noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3754906445360578935.post-40270509117625241712012-04-02T23:37:00.002+01:002012-04-02T23:37:37.258+01:00Calling WoodwindMarkHi Mark,
I am not sure you saw my reply to your blog comment and would love to get in touch directly. My internet connection is flaky at the moment and I an travelling a bit please email the promised information to me at ttibben at gmail d o t com
I hope you can fill in on history of the Meteor class and give me a few clues on what inspired Gesine.tonysmusinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11363506105198233078noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3754906445360578935.post-29500400786284793502012-03-24T19:22:00.001+00:002012-03-24T19:22:42.094+00:00To Saturation Point and beyondI have spent some quality time over the last 2 Saturdays with Darryl from <a href="http://www.peeksdrivingschool.co.uk/">Peeks Driving Tuition Limited</a> in Lowestoft. He has patiently explained, sometimes several times, how to survive on a motorcycle.
Last week I managed to reach saturation point, physically in the rain and mentally processing the advice I was being given. It doesn't matter how gently the rain is coming down you still hit it at 60mph if that is how fast you are riding. I even found puddles which meant my waterproof trousers were being filled from the bottom up as well as the rain coming down. Despite wearing alleged waterproofs I was still soaked to the skin. The rear seam on the waterproof trousers had failed which didn't help me stay dry.
It was so wet Darryls professional biking kit had only just dried out when I went back, which was today: a week after my original soaking. He'd spent the intervening week sunning himself somewhere warm on holiday. I'd spent the week in the office and buying replacement waterproof trousers.
This morning I was woken by Christine from Peeks telephoning to invite me to come back and finish the course just after lunch. The weather was cool, dry and sunny, much improved from the week before. I'd venture it was ideal biking weather. I walked down to the school, got into my replacement waterproofs and jammed my head into the biggest helmet the school could lend me, along with the earpiece so Darryl could instruct me.
I still wobbled a bit but felt so much better. I went round corners comfortably, enjoyed the sunshine and even managed all of the required manoeuvres: I have, at last, completed my motorcycle CBT ( Compulsory Basic Training ).
The ambition to ride a motorcycle had been a dream for decades: Thank you Darryl and Christine at Peeks for finally making one more ambition come true.tonysmusinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11363506105198233078noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3754906445360578935.post-75861227390421847382012-03-11T18:53:00.002+00:002012-03-11T18:53:30.982+00:00Moonfleet re-visitedMoonfleet has spent the winter on her moorings.
Today's weather was glorious sunshine, though chilly in the breeze, so I took a train out to Somerleyton and walked through the woods to the boatyard in order to check Moonfleet and find her trailer. Moonfleet was still floating and her engine is still in working order: Not bad for a boat which has been left alone over winter.
I also managed to finally locate her trailer which had, on previous visits, been hidden by weeds. The trailer needs air in one of it's tyres but otherwise appears in good order.
I now need a reliable way to get a tank of petrol, air pump, wheel brace and other voyage essentials out to my lovely little boat without investing in another car.tonysmusinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11363506105198233078noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3754906445360578935.post-33949241044994564692012-02-15T11:42:00.000+00:002012-02-15T11:42:59.740+00:00Burning Bridges - A Bad ThingI have seen a number of individuals write down bad things about current or previous acquaintances or employers. This is a bad thing, mainly for the person posting the comment. If you call someone nasty names what will prospective employers think you are going to say about them? Will they take the chance that you won't say something similar about them?
I have seen some absolute howlers festering for decades out on the internet so prefer to follow this advice: "Never type when angry or drunk" coupled with "if you can't say something nice, say nothing".
If you write something in a public forum be certain you will be happy if it is read by your partner, priest, parents and colleagues.tonysmusinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11363506105198233078noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3754906445360578935.post-16274296460000152272012-01-09T00:41:00.001+00:002012-01-09T00:41:35.321+00:001950's Meteor Yacht SpecificationsFrom a photocopy of a book which also includes a sketch of Meteor <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-80YMsOp8VqgikhmzXPPSQPr8d_dH30ArRPUmOhMVWUYv82twWPtFvnDlFBVkG1N_9AFZWbDZgIi7rXCxXfG_lPQl2Z0WRy4Uo4XAKHsmrdZbj_zQg_9CJRP0y-wPf_D0K8igIyaYt3jx/s1600/MeteorGesineDrawing.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-80YMsOp8VqgikhmzXPPSQPr8d_dH30ArRPUmOhMVWUYv82twWPtFvnDlFBVkG1N_9AFZWbDZgIi7rXCxXfG_lPQl2Z0WRy4Uo4XAKHsmrdZbj_zQg_9CJRP0y-wPf_D0K8igIyaYt3jx/s320/MeteorGesineDrawing.JPG" /></a></div>
Meteor
"L.O.A. 21ft
L.W.L. 17ft 6in
Beam 6ft 5in
Draft 2ft 10in
Sail area 175 sq ft
This boat, designed by Arthur Robb, has a very large midship cockpit
which provides ample space for the crew when racing or for picnic
parties. There is a separate cockpit aft for the helmsman, the floor of
which is raised above the level of the forward cockpit.
The reynolds Tube aluminium alloy mast is rigged with only one shroud a
side and no crosstrees. The mast is stepped on the after end of the
short coachroof.
The hull is clinker built and the short cuddy at the forward end of the
cockpit in the type "A" provides protection from rain and spray.
Additional "
This is where the photocopy ends but I think there should be more detail. Can anyone identify the book from this passage?tonysmusinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11363506105198233078noreply@blogger.com3