BLUEMOMENT

Not keeping your end up here Donald . . .

His post rate on YBW has really dropped off too. Not trouble I hope.

PS - you've a damn' cheek claiming to be depressed and then showing that view!

Turns out it was trouble.

The Shards were flooded out in the Christmas storms and are facing some months in temporary accommodation. Hope you get it all sorted OK Donald & Charlotte and it doesn't interfere with the sailing season!

Donald, hope you and Charlotte get sorted soon.

If you fancy relocating to Seil for six months our house is for rent cheap to the right person, our current tenants having found somewhere bigger to rent.

Hi Nick

What a very generous offer, and thank you both. I was actually feeling a bit guilty about not keeping in touch with all my sailing friends, so it was so nice to read your mail. Ackshully, we'd been dutifully following your progress when disaster struck during the mid-December downpour (the fifth week of constant rain).

I've been suffering silently in the background while Mme Shard has got on with trying to encourage the varying post-diluvial strands of the insurance, loss adjusting, and building industries to speak to each other. See wummin, see multi-tasking. Meanwhile, I of course managed to contract a fully accredited dose of salmonella. Other things happened, but, like the old Roy Rodgers joke, it'd take too long, and I wouldn't want you crying too much.

Thanks for the offer, but we're well settled in an apartment (upstairs!) for the next few months......

Wish we'd sold up and sailed south with you.

I trust you are both well - thanks for the thoughts. I've had calls and messages from a lot of forum friends like Silkie and Superstrath.

Anyway, looking forward, best wishes for the coming year.

Regards

D

Donald,

Really sorry to hear of your problems. Coping with the aftermath of a flood must be a real nightmare.

Flying back into Glasgow yesterday I couldn't believe the amount of standing water in all the fields. The cab driver said this is likely to be the wettest winter ever recorded - and he may well be right. And the forecast is now for hard frost...

Two thoughts occur: 1. This idea of sailing south to winter in warmer climes is increasingly attractive; and 2. there must be some way of taking away at least some of our surplus water and flogging it in the south of England...

1. This idea of sailing south to winter in warmer climes is increasingly attractive;

- an idea for a late-season chentlemans cruise perhaps??

Donald - great to hear from you and very sorry to hear about all your hassles, but best to get them over with now so you can enjoy the coming gorgeous Summer and spectac ular sailing season.

How's the boat, no watery problems there I trust? The weather will get better (if it doesn't we're not coming back). Keep in touch, a trouble shared and all that bo****ks