What's going on with the boat?

After ten years living on Tarquilla we have moved to land. I'm often asked if we love the house or miss the boat and the real answer is - both. We still have Tarquilla and we are open to all options at the moment as far as her future is concerned. We will carry on working on her, it would be great to be able to sail her again. The Scilly Isles, Portishead marina, Bristol harbour and Falmouth are all places we have talked about as well as many others further afield. But, on the other hand, if a family was looking for a boat, ready to do the preparation she needs and wanted to take her on then we would sell her. She is not ready to sail off into the sunset but has a lot of life left in her. If you or someone you know would be interested then please contact us. She is 3 ply cold moulded, 42 foot long, one off design built in the 1960's. She has 2 double cabins and 2 single berths, a good size saloon, a decent size galley, head and a covered cockpit. She has two engines and a full suit of sails. We have lots more photos and can provide more details or answer questions. In the meantime, this blog has come to a natural pause for now as we take on new adventures.

My 2016 books

'End of year reviews' crop up all over the place at this time of year. Goodreads have done this lovely round up of my reading matter over 2016. There has been an interesting mix of biographies, real life stories, novels and reference.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amongst the sea and boat related books were:
 
Back door to Byzantium - A trip from the North sea to the Black sea by barge along the European rivers
 
Survive the savage sea - An incredible story of survival. One to read when you are landlocked to save terrifying nightmares whilst on voyage
 
 
Back Door to Byzantium by William R. Cooper     Survive The Savage Sea by Dougal Robertson
 
 
As far as stories related to places we have been A brilliant little operation was a fascinating look at the story of the Cockleshell heroes which took place on the Gironde.
 
Walking on Dartmoor includes useful maps as well as loads of information about one of our favourite places.
 
 
A Brilliant Little Operation by Paddy AshdownWalking on Dartmoor by John Earle
 
 
If you like your books to make you think of sailing and the sea I have to highly recommend the books by Normandie Fischer which have more than a hint of salt about them and are extremely evocative. Libby Purves is another favourite of mine whose writing is heavily influenced by her love of the sea.
 
 
Heavy Weather by Normandie Fischer
 
 
 
 
 
Continental Drift by Libby Purves
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
And here are some of the others - a random mix but mostly very good:
 
Indian Summer by Marcia WillettDear Fatty by Dawn French
My Sister's Keeper by Jodi PicoultIt's All News to Me by Jeremy Vine
The Bay at Midnight by Diane Chamberlain
Wedlock by Wendy MooreMy Dear I Wanted To Tell You by Louisa Young


The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey NiffeneggerWalking Home by Clare BaldingHow To Read A Church by Richard Taylor

Touching Distance by James Cracknell



The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark HaddonThe Shepherd's Crown by Terry PratchettIf I Were You by Julia Llewellyn
Village Fortunes by Rebecca ShawThrough Thick and Thin by Gok WanOne Small Act of Kindness by Lucy DillonOn Writing by Stephen KingUnscripted by Alan Sugar
The Missing Husband by Amanda Brooke
No Child of Mine by Susan Lewis
Memoirs Of A Fruitcake by Chris   EvansLife, Interrupted by James McConnel
The Devil in the Kitchen by Marco Pierre WhiteMy Animals and Other Family by Clare Balding

Gypsy by Lesley PearseThe Slap by Christos Tsiolkas
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

All the pictures are from the Goodreads site (My year in review)
 
 
Feel free to let me know if you loved or hated any of them or have any recommendations for me to add to my ever lengthening list of books to read. Happy New Year to you all, fair winds and happy reading.

 
 
 
 
 

 

Comments

  1. How lovely to be included in your list! Thank you for your kind words and recommendations.

    ReplyDelete
  2. You're welcome, I love reading your books :)

    ReplyDelete

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