We always giggle at books and blogs giving 'boat' recipes or how to get your favourite foods shipped by relatives! Living aboard for 10 years there is not much we can't cook. This year for Christmas dinner we had goose, it took up the whole oven! So when she was cooked we wrapped her up and popped her on the top of the wood burner. Then we cooked the rest, roast potatoes, pigs in blankets, stuffing, homemade cranberry sauce and vegetables (no sprouts Mike was most pleased)! Given a little thought there is nothing you have to do without, except a dishwasher :)
After Christmas we visited Southampton friends and family over the New Year, lots of frivolity. We miss you all! The only thing that made leaving easier was the thought of a little family holiday skiing.
As all of you know we love the outdoors, winter always dulls our mood. Friends encouraged us to go skiing with them last year and although it was a stressful parenting week full of different challenges we enjoyed getting out in the fresh air. So this year we ventured out there on our own, we found a good last minute deal to Les Orres 1800 and it was a fabulous resort for the family. Very close to the drop off for ski school and the lifts, not touching the car all week except to dig it out Friday night. Imogen got to join in this year and attended Piou Piou loving skiing and got her little badge, Jacob managed to get his snowflake badge and Mia got her 2 star snowflake badge from ESF. Mike and I enjoyed the mornings on the slopes and a few afternoons later in the week with the children as we all gained confidence.
The children insisted on trying out the swimming pool, reluctantly we agreed to go at least once. It was an outdoor pool and with the temperatures around -10 Celsius our faces were frozen!
We rounded the week off with a lovely Raclette (we weren't shouted at for our pronunciation either) at the friendliest French restaurant La Bouscatière. If you go it is worth every penny.
We all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, (except Mike's bottom as he decided to try snowboarding!) no tears this year and no poorly children made life much easier.
We returned to positively tropical weather (-16.5 degrees Celsius we saw in Les Orres and France didn't get above -10), with a new resolve to finish the inside of the boat. The weather down in Cornwall has been gorgeous, like the spring days we long for (despite the rest of the country having freezing fog) inspiring us and giving us opportunities.
Our plan is to get out of the way for Mike to rip things out and build storage in, finish bulkheads, put headlining up etc. something we have never had the space to do.
So to add to our National Trust membership we have purchased a touring caravan and will be putting it on a seasonal pitch nearby. This has the added benefit that if any of you lovely people would like to visit we can offer you somewhere to stay with a little notice :)
May this blog find you all in good health
x Much love the Pirates x