The Perfect Christmas Present

I solved this years annual challenge of getting Mrs DIY the perfect Christmas gift, I have purchased her a really beautiful winch.
Every year I have this quandary as her birthday is only 10 days before Christmas and it stretches my creativity to find some gift that would really be appreciated but this year I had a moment of  shear genius.

Its a Harken Radial 46 2STA Winch, I'm sure she will be absolutely delighted...
A self tailing model, that means Mrs DIY willl not have to ask me to leave my steering duties and heave on the Genoa sheet...as well as keep the boat on course.
It's the ultimate in multi-tasking solutions.
It's the gift that will go on giving.

The Stern Step

The stern step has now been installed, a very tricky operation, sitting in a moving dinghy, drilling small holes very close to the waterline!
I might have overdone the sealant but better to be safe than sorry, it was a very messy clean-up.
Now we will be able to get on and off the boat with a little dignity, without having to hang off the stern ladder, plus we maybe able to load the dog on and off the boat when we are cruising around the Marlborough Sounds.
The design was a combination of information supplied by two Members of the Westerly Owners Association (ZEBEK & Camomile) who have similar yachts, luckily, I was able to see the Camomile model in action in Wellington, while it was on its world cruise.
It makes a very good place to store the dinghy, fits perfectly, more good luck than good management, I can even lift it on end by myself but I will need to install some extra pulleys to make it work efficiently.
Note: I was going to tidy-up the rope-work today but a very large weather front came through so I have to leave for another day.

12 Ton of Lime Chip

After many years of waiting, 4 years actually, we have at last had delivered and spread 12 Tons of 15mm lime chip for the driveway, all spread and delivered in half an hour! Two truck loads.
The question I must ask myself is, "why didn't I do this sooner/" maybe it was the thought of raking the whole thing to make it smooth, then getting a roller to compact it.

Facebook

I have spent the last hour trying to delete my facebook account, a total waste of time you can't!.
Even made a new facebook  page including a new email account, accidently clicked on some little icon and hello, I have sent friend request to someone called Chrissy Hines and some German fellow called Karl Zukkerman, sorry guys.

Perth Holiday - Western Australia

At last we have been able to visit My sister an brother-in law in Perth, what a great visit, wonderful hosts, lots of wine tasting and even some wine drinking.
Went visit to Margaret River area which is about a 3 hour drive from Perth where some very kind friends of my sister had lent us their holiday house for a few days, we were able to use this as a base to visit the wineries of the area, lots of good food and Aust wines were consumed.

Busselton Jetty - Margaret River

Although we had a couple of grey days, the visit was just perfect, a very nice place to live.
The visit coincided with the US elections, which, as my sister who was a AFS student and spent a year at school in the US, now is a confirmed Democrat - her American sister was/is working for the Democrat party, so there was slightly more than a academic interest in the results.

Happily Obama was re-elected president, I hate to think what would have happened if the Republicans had won, considering their past performance with Bush and the Wof MD and the current situations in Gaza and the Middle East.

We had an American themed dinner to celebrate. "Cheers Patty - well done"

Back to real life in NZ and the body clock almost adjusted, I have been working on fitting the boarding platform on the stern of the boat, so we can get the dog on and off, if this doesn't work he's off to dog prison when we go away sailing.

Finally, getting our garden back in order, it's amazing how quickly plants grow at this time of year.
Had to mow our lawns 3 times to get them back under control!

No Splash

At last we can turn the taps on, without being splashed by our trendy Italian Designer taps, it took a trip to Perth, Western Australia and a visit to IKEA (we don't have one in NZ) but now we have replaced all the taps throughout the house, you don't have to stand side on, to keep out of the way of spraying water, now makes cleaning ones teeth a small pleasure.

One Down

Well I shot one dead, a rabbit that is, which instantly reminded me why I let my firearms licence lapse and I gave away my rifle and shotgun.
I really don't like killing things, even rabbits but still I need to rid our garden of these destructive little animals.
Note: Rabbits are classed as a pest in New Zealand

Accuracy!

The airgun has arrived and assembled, then I to fired a couple of pellets to get my eye-in, at this point I would like to say I class myself as a fairly good shot, in fact I made the school shooting team for a short time in my younger days.
Sitting here writing this blog about my experiences of not losing my touch, dead-eye, etc a few words spring to mind, which would could easily describe the results, a few of them are, Barn, at, couldn't, 5 paces and hit.
The result is the pesky rabbits will continue live-long, dig and eat our garden.
I have set up a large target to improve the score and to date have finally managed to hit the target, that's the target card, not the printed bit with the cross and circle....

Pesky Rabbits

Finally the decision has been made, I have purchased a rifle to dispatch the rabbits that are creating havoc with our plants and garden.
After much discussion, Mrs DIY agreed, this was the only way to go as poisoning wasn't an option, we have a Labrador dog that eats anything that vaguely resembles food.
I found the air rifle on 'Trade Me', a NZ web auction site, at good price and less than the same rifle I found on a US site and that was comparing $ for $.
I would have like to get a real one but as my gun licence had expired, didn't feel like going through the full Police interview and home visit for a new one, so it's an air gun, still the muzzle velocity is 1200fps which is fine for rabbits...
All I need to do is aim straight!

Already have downloaded some Hugh Fearnley-Whittingsall (River Cottage) recipes from the UK Guardian web site.
This is a showing of real commitment and optimism on the writers part.
mmmm rabbit pie for dinner...

Head Down In the Heads

For the past two days I have been rebuilding the plumbing system in the forward head of the boat, fitting the new toilet and holding tank.
There's very little room to move around and fit the pipework, because of the limited room you have to work, jambed in a half sitting position, with your left arm threatening to dislocate itself.
Halfway through the installation I made the decision to replace all the existing pipework, it had been there for at least 20 years, Not a pleasant job! I won't continue this description of it's condition any further...
Now we have nice clean white sanitation pipes.
I should have the installation completed with about another 3 hours work, it will be a great day when we will be able to flush.
The next on the 'to do' list is the stern head.

Head n bathroom/toilet-nautical term