 |
| My parents home, where I had time to re-evaluate. |
After the death of my father in early June 2009 I had time, for once, to reflect on what was important in life. My father died only 6 weeks after his brother and I was left with a feeling of what’s the point in working like mad if it takes over your life and I resolved to change things for the better. I did not bargain for how quickly this would turn into action.
My and Tuulia’s long distance relationship was growing stronger by the day and, out of the blue she said, why don’t you come and live here? Why not. There was work for me to do, she was sure and she was right, but I could afford to cut back to a sensible pace.
The spinners who weave the strands of our lives must have chuckled at the irony of the fact that Jens Kuhn who created the blog Alacrity Sailboat and energetically created the Yahoo group for Alacrity owners lived in Sweden. He had found his Alacrity ideal for the Swedish archipelago, an archipelago that mirrored the one Little Grace was heading towards.
The spinners who weave the strands of our lives must have chuckled at the irony of the fact that Jens Kuhn who created the blog Alacrity Sailboat and energetically created the Yahoo group for Alacrity owners lived in Sweden. He had found his Alacrity ideal for the Swedish archipelago, an archipelago that mirrored the one Little Grace was heading towards.
 |
I made plan after revised plan for getting my gear to Finland but in the end I came back to the first one; I would take Little Grace on her trailer and load her with what remained of my possessions. Other than that two grain bins I owned that were handy as sail storage during the winter were packed and sent by DHL. Everything else was sold on e-bay.
 |
| Birthday celebration |
Tuulia travelled to England in late October, for my birthday (where she met my family for the first time and in force). This was followed by final packing of the grain bins for collection by DHL (that organisation proved to be a living hell; the grain bins should have left at 10am but left at 8pm because no less than three times they sent the wrong type of vehicle), then a drive to a two and a half day conference in Scotland, the drive back to Coventry to pick up the boat and on to Finland.
When we left for Scotland Little Grace had still not been delivered back to me by the retired shipwright who had had her in his garden to refurbish her since the early spring. This was distressing as we had to travel back from Scotland, arriving in Coventry in the evening, and leave for Dover about midday the next day. Because of the late delivery we would have to pack her before we left.
As we approached Coventry one of my sons called to say Little Grace had been delivered and she looked good. However, when I arrived my heart sank. Some things had been done but most had not. Of what had been done much was superficial and should have been done once the basics had been completed. However, there was nothing for it but for us to stow everything with the help of my two sons and their girlfriends, finish cleaning the house and leave.
1.
A boat in the garden - why did it get there?
2.
The old stays where it is but in with the new anyway
3.
What’s in a name?
4. All
change
5.
Little Grace to Finland
6.
The first attempt to refurbish - Winter 2009/10
7.
Launch 2010
8.
Sailing 2010
