Well it’s been a very long time since the blog has been updated. The reason being is we haven’t done much sailing or even seen our good friend Arctic for long in 2021. We returned to the UK at the end of 2020, COVID still being rife and Brexit with all its issues. Arctic Fern returned back to Licata in January to her home. I’m writing this in Feb 2022 in the UK and Russia has just started war on Ukraine which is worrying. One thing for certain that history tells us is that humans are always at war with someone. Life has little value sometimes….. I sit and think that humanity and people are so very stupid which is a shame as since we started travelling we have learnt that people are wonderful, kind and truly amazing. The people we meet everywhere are brilliant. A complete contradiction. Is it the few that wreck it for the many……no idea… but I hope our children keep safe.

Anyway enough of that, what happened in 2020? Well COVID, meant when we arrived you couldn’t even drive across counties in the UK. Fear of giving our parents COVID meant we didn’t want to stay there and an amazing friend, Mike Stanway offered us to stay with him who lives just North of Ipswich. Another touching moment for us all, as the kindest of friends knows no boundaries. Mike was living on his own and had plenty of space in his home. We got to talk with his family and Xmas was fantastic, full of games, laughter, great food and drink. What else could you ask for. Mike is someone who really pushed the boat out in making our stay so memorable. Making model boats, playing with steam engines, planting onions etc etc etc. Thank you Mike, words can’t express our gratitude.

In January, I went to visit another friend in Bedfordshire who runs a company that was involved in COVID testing. This ended up being a great opportunity for me in helping and contributing to the COVID pandemic. This only started as a temporary contract for a few months before returning to the boat but ended up lasting until September. Within a week I managed to get COVID myself, a bit worrying but wasn’t too bad. Luckily the company I was helping meant testing was easy. I was luckily away from the girls at that point but meant I couldn’t get to see them which was hard when it was Olivia’s birthday. After getting the all clear I could move the family to live temporarily with me. Another Big thank you to Mark Davis, my friend of many years who let us stay with him at his amazing home. Mark a friend with a huge heart. He has a farm in the middle of nowhere and more great memories for us all. One big problem was we all loved his home which meant it was hard to leave but we needed to let him and his family have their home back and have thoughts of returning to Arctic. For us it was 10 months away from Arctic, living on land again which meant we could reflect on what we were doing. Well a family meeting and yes we are all still keen to keep on travelling, although the wife keeps hinting on a motorhome/RV. Caroline loves the trip but the stress of living at sea pushes her a lot and it’s something that doesn’t get easier. Thank you Caroline for keeping us going when it’s not your favourite pastime….

The girls grew up a lot this year and the farming life was excellent for them. Bonding with Mark, his wife and his three lovely girls. Driving tractors, quad bikes and trailers, scramble bikes, learning to shoot, tending sheep, rearing chickens and of course the 5 dogs. Even paddle boarding at a local river was just first class. Our girls joined a local swimming club, the Huntingdon Piranhas, which they loved. This was at my old school and in an area I was brought up in, so a little different for me with many memories coming back of my own childhood. Having a kebab and chips after the swimming did it for me. It was great to catch up with old friends in the area, Tim and Dave and their respective families.

After leaving Bedfordshire, we stayed with my mother for a while before we returned to Arctic late October (all dates are guesses as I can’t remember the exact dates whilst typing). Thanks Mum for always being there for us all. Being home on Arctic was an amazing experience. I loved it. She was very dry and no boat smells. Just brilliant. Thank you Vic and our friends that looked out for her whilst we were away. She had taken a battering from the heat. and with decks probably reaching 50 degrees Celsius some minor repairs and cleaning were needed. It didn’t take long living on her before more things needed to be fixed. From earning some money I managed to buy some toys/presents for Arctic which included creating a new 12V system run from a lithium battery for all the USB points etc, a portable monitor and media system so I could watch TV without straining my neck. I may have enjoyed living on land too long….

We got to enjoy Licata for 6 weeks and the time was soon up. A lot of the people have changed so new friends made. One of the most amazing things that happened was we got to experience a Tornado that came through the marina. I’ll let the you tube videos show the size. I saw the one on the nose first then saw the mother one on top of us. Luckily no damage to us but what an experience. Right on top of us, the size and sound so magnificent….

18 December and back to UK soil. Great thing about the UK is being with family. Xmas was brilliant, with my younger brother and his family and my mother and step father. My niece and nephew keep growing like my girls. My mother always puts in lots of effort to make Christmas fun. The show that the girls put on was excellent and as always the great food that my sister in law cooks is always lovely, although not good for my waistline but who cares…its Xmas.

We had a separate day spent with my older brother and his wife and also had another Xmas event with the in-laws. Family is so important and thank you to you all.

Well although we didn’t have as many stories in 2021 it was another great year. Making lots of new friends at work and working with Mark Radford another Entrepreneur that inspires you with his vision and dreams. As mentioned the girls have significantly grown up, not many years now until they will have their own wings to be able to fly….. This year 2022, we plan to return to the boat in April and then sail onwards to Turkey to ensure we are out of the EU. We are having to learn the new rules for travel for signing in and out of countries. Shame we can’t be as free as we were but hey…

So now in 2022 and staying with the in-laws after a month staying at my mothers. Trying to spread our time between families and keeping the COVID risks minimal to all. For all us it is a good time to see nephews and nieces that are growing up and get to know their lives and for the girls to get to know them better. Even if it is joining together as a clan in Call of Duty Mobile…..Dad has realised that he is now too old to compete with the young ones but he still tries and enjoys trying to win….I don’t think it will ever happen.

Love to all that are reading this, you all have a special place in our hearts.