One tough Cookie.

Those that know Cooks, know that she has a bit of a 'thing' for creatures.

Spiders, ants, slaters, slugs, snails, beetles. Her creatures have been collected from the sea lately - fish, prawns, squids, crabs, pipefish, sea worm thingos....

and moon jellyfish.

Jellyfish must be her current favourites. She spends hours collecting them in her net, popping them in a bucket, unfortunately sometimes squishing them through her fingers.

Well apparently the moonies, have exacted their revenge.

They've called on their cousin, the blue bottle. ONE SOLITARY STINKING NASTY BLUE BOTTLE to do their dirty work.

Cooks was floating around the boat, in her floaties, minding her own business when they put their 'plan' into action. All of a sudden, Cooks started screaming and swimming back to us ferociously fast.

We had NO IDEA what had happened, as we were watching her the entire time.

The poor little mite had been stung all over her tummy, bum, chest, shoulder, wrist - she must have swum in a circle and wrapped the tentacle around her...

Lots of hot water, followed by copious treats, and she was fine.

Today she's covered in red dots (which were white raised dots after the sting). It really did do a number on her.
.. and today we're checking for them prior to jumping off the boat.

and Cooks, true to form, couldn't give a rat's arse. She's back in the water now, proud of her dots.

She is one tough Cookie!

Alterior motives?...

So I guess it's no suprise about the lack of nautical miles we've covered...

TRUE. We've been on the water since June, and away from home since Sept, but, um, we're still in Pittwater.

Started here. Went (all the way!) down to Sydney. And, now we're back here. Again.

Granted, Xave wanted to spend New Years Eve on Sydney Harbour, and we did that. But it's now the end of Jan and he's making noises about staying here for Feb too.

My suspicions are setting in.

Do you think, perhaps, that my husband is planning, and for that matter, has intended to all along, STAY HERE FOREVER?

Well, it is one of the most beautiful spots around, and I could think of worse places to be, but are we not going to go even a little bit further? Xave?

XAVE?

In the meantime horever, we have just had a lovely visit from our photographer friend anna.lord - I finally got to meet Molly who was the CRUISIEST boat guest ever! The following pics are courtesy of Anna.

Cookie in a Kingfish Costume.

A friend recently gave Cookie the most adorable pair of sparkly silver swimmers.

We have however, banned her from wearing them whilst jumping off the boat into the deep water.

WHY?

Because she looks like a very. tasty. kingfish.

(and we certainly don't want to attract any unwelcome kingfish eating visitors).

..... the swimmers are now her 'dancing' clothes.

Little Penguins.

On a recent ferry ride to Patonga, the driver (pilot? captain? skipper?) told Xave that Lion Island, just inside the entrance to Broken Bay, is the northern most habitat for little penguins in the southern hemisphere.

Fabbo.

Yesterday morning, whilst lying in my cabin, on a sparkling windless morning, I heard a strange 'call'.

I hopped, actually clambered, out of bed to investigate.

The sweetest trio of penguins, were cruising around our boat, and they were very vocal.
- apparently, they were working in teams, signalling to each other, letting each other know where they were so as to optimize fishing performance.

They spent the day fishing around Dark Gully where our boat is moored. Coming together from time to time to check on each other.

I took a photo but it didn't work - was more like a kind of 'see that speck on the water? well it's a penguin' type photo. (Not worth uploading).

Thanks for your company lps, we hope to see you again.

Mum and Dad

We've had a busy boathold of late...

Firstly, Xave's niece and her fella came on board for a sail up the coast, then our mates and their beautiful girls arrived from home for a night on board, and finally, Mum and Dad, who have just spent a week or so with us.

It's been LOVELY to finally fill that front cabin.

Our week was spent relaxing, drinking, & swimming. We showed Mum and Dad the beauty of Pittwater and the surrounds. We had a lovely couple of nights away, during which Mum and Dad celebrated their wedding anniversary with a bottle of fizz and a perfect sunset... We caught a ferry on an overcast day to the Patonga Beach Hotel for lunch, ate fish and chips on Palm Beach during a balmy evening with friends, and Xave and I, actually had an evening out, sans children. Such a treat. but most of all, the kids enjoyed the extra attention from their grandparents. We were sad to see them go...

Below are a handful of pics taken through [mostly] their eyes. It's interesting to get someone else's perspective of our current existance!




coffee anyone?


hair washing duties


Dad on pirate watch


Dinner preparations

A little bit of common courtesy goes a long way.

We're back in Pittwater. It's certainly a lot busier than it was the last time we were here...

The moorings which we 'borrowed' prior to Summer, are now highly sought after, and so consequently, we were unfortunate enough to be kicked off one recently.

Now, this post is actually about MANNERS.

M.A.N.N.E.R.S.

You know, those things we were brought up with. The pleases and thankyous.

One evening, we were moored in The Basin. We were happily preparing dinner, when a yacht sailed by slowly, it meandered around, then sailed by again, this time mentioning, almost hesitantly, that the mooring we were on belonged to the RPA YC. Now, these sailors had every right to ask us to give up our mooring, instead, they very kindly - and politely - asked if we'd mind if they rafted up beside us for a few hours whilst they had dinner.

OF COURSE.

The next morning, an altogether different version:

A yacht arrived, did a few laps around the boats and all the vacant moorings, then announced to us, with much savvy and unnecessary attitude, that we were on a RPAYC mooring, and that we are not members, and therefore, [move]. NOW.
(whilst we circle you menacingly). Interesting.

The system works well most times, and borrowed moorings, are happily relinquished when requested, but a little bit of manners and courtesy goes a long way.

Cookie's pearls of wisdom...

Cookie, jumping excitedly into the companionway : "Mum, MUM, MMUUMM, a bloody cor re ment has shitted all over our deck. It's disgrusting!"

She is all class, and clearly her mother's daughter.