Christmas Day

Hi every one with Christmas day and boxing day over and I guess you’re all still stuffed with turkey and wine. Hope you all had a really great day. I had my Christmas dinner at The Winchester Hotel along the front promenade at Cape Town. Its was a nice warm day and we sat out side under umbrellas keeping the hot mid day African sun off us. The meal was help your self buffet type and eat as much as you can. When we sat down there was a bottle of champers cooled on the table awaiting to have it’s cork popped which we duly did. Then it was time to hit that buffet table. There was all kinds of very well presented food to gloat over ranging from the turkey to steamed salmon. Plenty of local tastes as well. Hmmm now where do I start. After 3 hours of eating and drinking at a fine hotel came the bad news THE BILL. When I took a look I could not believe how much….no ways could that be right. Please sir could you check my bill again I think you have made a mistake. A few minutes later the bill returned “No mistake sir the bill is correct” For all that food and wine I only paid the equivalent of 27 British pounds. After dinner we did a little sight seeing of Cape Town from the mountains and as we drove up the twisting road to the summit of the mountain next to table mountain. (a visit up table mountain is planned for next week) Cape Town is a very pretty place and what did strike me is how clean every thing is. As we drove further up the mountain and through the fast moving cloud we reached the top. Looking down over the expanse of Cape Town and the bays of clear sea water which I might add is so blue and clear. Boxing day we just relaxed in the hot sun for the day im almost done both sides now and looking quite brown and ….done to a Tee as they say.
Keep checking the blog for up dates in the mean time take a look at the video. Bye for now…..

Arrived in Hout Bay

Just got a few minutes free so I thought I would up date the blog. I arrived after a long flight of 27 hours. I left Manchester airport one hour late at 9pm, changed flight at Dubai for Jo`burg and again at Jo`burg for Cape Town arriving on time at 9pm local time (uk – 2 hours) It was a lovely warm evening of around 18c . My broo and Yvonne were there to meet me . BIG HUGGS all around and then promptly of home for a well deserved drink and chat. I am staying at a place called HOUT BAY just outside Cape Town. The only problem I had dureing my flight was at Dubai airport with security as going through the security check door the alarm rang out and I promptly froze. This 6`0” well built Arab approached me so fast I felt the down stream. “Empty all your pockets into the tray and put it through the xray machine and go back though the door” Yes sir was my reply. Once again the alarm rang out. The Arab looked down at me. “take your shoes and belt off and put them into the tray and go through the xray security door again. Y yes s s sir and promptly did as the nice man asked me holding my pants up with my hands . Horror, shock and other words I can`t say here.the alarm struck like big Ben again. The big Arab said “I will have to search you sir…….lift your arms up” Erm well erm my pants will fall down was my weak reply. Lift your arms up please sir. Hell no my pants will fall down can we not go to a private room ? ARMS UP PLEASE SIR. Ok and lifted up my arms and felt a cool windy breeze below. After I had promptly pulled up my pants he let me go on my way. It must have taken me all of 5 minutes to get myself dressed and sorted before I could get on my way again. Doughnut !!!! The next few days I spent talking and looking at the local scenery and I have taken a pic of the view from my bedroom which I have posted here. The weather is nice and sunny with a tempture of 27c. Keep looking at the blog as it will be updated regular.

Packing for my jollies

Just a short blog today as im busy packing. Im off on my jollies for Christmas. I fly (in a plane) from Manchester on Wednesday evening 12th December. Im off to see my broo in Cape Town. Not seen him for such a long time so I guess there will be a few beers drunk. That`s one reason why I started this blog so I could update it while im away so all my friends can view it at there leisure. Hopefully I can add pictures of my adventures and if I im brave ill try and put a video or two on as well. Ive heard to day my good friend spanner (Geoff) is in hospital so my thoughts and best wishes go out to him and his family also wishing him a speedy recovery.

Why my name`s "Windy"

Hi to everyone who visits my blog. I guess the first thing that those who don`t know me is why im called "Windy" (No its nothing to do with rear gas exhaust) One of my passions in life is my boat and with a group of great friends I have spent many a happy days sailing with them. On this occasion we had just spent a great week away sailing the Lancaster canal up to the upper reaches to Tewitfield. It was on the way back and had just sailed through Lancaster and as I approached bridge number 96. I heard a really nasty crunchy sound coming from under the boat as she stopped suddenly. At that stage the engine made some really awful noises and I thought that the gear box had packed in. I turned the engine off so no further damage would be done. I then heard more crunchy noises coming from under the boat. My first thought was that I had hit a iron girder some one had thrown into the canal. I was on to the two way radio in a flash shouting "May Day….. May Day" as I feared the worst and was sinking. O my god im going to drown. I then heard yet more crunchy noises and realised that the boat was spinning around in the strong wind. Is this the end of my life ? The wind blew stronger and the boat spun faster as I went around and around. It was then I heard Dr Death (a good friend of mine)shouting out to me.” Grab the rope, when I throw it out to you and ill pull you in” “YES …OK ….hurry im sinking”. As Dr Death threw the rope out I realised that it was about a mile short. And then panic set in. Just then to my horror the boat gave another big crunch and I was free. The boat was now being blown down the canal still spinning around and around and I was getting quite dizzy after a few hundred feet I managed to start the engine up and got her back on course. A big sigh of relief was heard for miles I was ALIVE. As I passed the place where I came to a sudden stop I could see a very large rock that I had run aground on. Oh well another episode in my life I guess. When I moored up for the evening and the story was told to all my sailing friends by Dr Death…..The name “Windy” was born. That name stuck so well I was forced to rename my boat to “Windy” so if you see me sailing up the Lancaster canal just give me a wave…..and shout.....”hey Windy” ..