Happy New Year to you all. Welcome 2015

Neil and I have just had our first Christmas on board Gleda. Maybe not where we originally planned but still, Cornwall which is stunning.

It was a quiet Christmas but we did what we wanted to do at our own pace which was relaxing.

We had put up some coloured lights around the deck pod and Neil had hoisted them high on the mast and I had two festive window stickers which showed pontoon side so we looked festive from the outside. In the galley side I had put up some tinsel. I think it was Kirstie Allsopp who said all you need to make something look Christmassy is a bit of tinsel. I also had my Christmas tea towel which had been a Secret Santa gift one year (thanks Ali). Maybe not so Secret Santa then.

Christmas Eve we had visitors from Yacht Peggy, Rich and Clare, who came aboard for a drink to toast the season. I got the presents ready under our “tree”. I did have a 3ft pre-lit tree but it was still too big for the galley. My nephew Harvey had drawn a card of a tree so I stuck that on the “wall” above the pile of pressies.

Gone are the days when I am up at 5am Christmas morning. Up about 9 to a bright day. Breakfast of scrambled eggs, smoked salmon, creme fraiche on breakfast blinis and then Neil and I opened our pressies to/from each other. We then headed up to Neil’s parents where we were having Christmas dinner. I noticed on the way that there were no children out on bikes, roller skates etc. I guess most were sat in front of a new game or tablet.

It was great that I spoke to both my brothers, Mum (from Lanzarote) and my Dad from his home. Lovely to get to speak to all the family on the day.

We had a great dinner cooked by Ray and assisted by Betty followed by a fabulous Christmas pudding. I don’t normally like the traditional really dark pud but this was lighter, Almost sponge like, with masses of fruit and nuts (courtesy of Asda I believe).

In the afternoon Neil, Ray and I went for a walk along Gyllingvase beach. To be fair there were a number of families out. A couple of girls were on the beach with Frozen Princess Elsa dresses on over their coats and with their wellies on. They were having fun. Then after a cup of tea Neil and I headed back to the boat before it got dark.

I got changed into my pj’s then we opened our presents from our friends and family. We had some fab gifts. I’d settled in for an evening of Dr Who, Miranda, Call the Midwife and Downton. We had a cold supper of leftover turkey, ham and pickles.

Boxing Day wasn’t as nice weather wise but we had been invited to a fellow live-aboard boat, Cape Cornwall, and we spent a few hours chatting with Tony, Mary,  Janette (see Janette’s Etsy shop here) and Paul all of who have been living aboard and travelling for many years. It was a good couple of chatty hours and I’m sure they all have more stories to tell.

That evening I cooked us a “Christmas” dinner with a 3 bird roast, parsnips, roast potatoes, Brussels sprouts and carrots. It took some juggling with the oven. Although we have 2 gas burners, which is enough, there is only 1 shelf in the oven. I got there and we had a good dinner.

I then developed a cold picked up from Neil who had been coughing before Christmas so a quiet time while I snuffled, sneezed and felt sorry for myself (still sniffly today). We had a couple of really cold nights where the temperature dropped below freezing and a couple of mornings we were greeted with a hard frost.

Heat and keeping condensation and mildew at bay is a constant and frustrating battle. However with a couple of fan heaters with thermostats and electric blanket, we are comfortable in the galley and in our berth. It was just the outside bit in the middle which wasn’t so cosy.

For New Years Eve we had a huge piece of pork which had been reduced at the supermarket (we had 4 meals from this) and we had another roast along with a bottle of Prosecco. Neither of us were bothered about staying up. I happened to be just about awake to hear the fireworks and what sounded like a couple of cannons.

Neil’s daughter, Nicole, and her Mum, Paula, came down for a few hours on New Years Day and we managed a beach walk and lunch before the wind and rain came in.

I’m not one for making resolutions. However similar to Neil I will say that I will be moving forward towards our goal of taking Gleda to the sun, meeting new people, having new experiences and enjoying our new lifestyle to the full.

Wishing you all a prosperous 2015.