Launching 31st Jan

4 days before launch
Originally uploaded by darenpackham.

We are launching the boat on Wednesday, the 31st. Everyone is excited. I am confident, in a quietly nervous sort of a way that all corners of my responsibility have been met. The deck team is flat out! It is all happening in the same week. The boat launches on Wednesday and on Friday a gleaming fleet of tenders are to be bobbing happily next to mother duck for the owners visit and inspection.

The bloke has spent nearly $10million dollars on the refit and two days after we launch they are expecting my team to present the ship and tenders to him as sparkling diamonds. Oh goodie! It’s a challenge, lets put it that way..

After the mayhem of a busy week, a few of us will be running in the Tybee Island half marathon! Debbs is the host for the spectators and fan club. (That’s just Debbs probably), the race goes right past her front garden. At least the hot tub is back in action and there is a disco party organised for Saturday night.

Shight and Briney

Bright and Shiney
Originally uploaded by darenpackham.

This week the scafold has come down from around the boat and we have started to unwrap her from all the protective covering. The crew is preparing for a grand launch at the end of this month!

I hope someone remembers to get that last bit of blue tape off from the bow

The winter beach crew

Bocci team
Originally uploaded by darenpackham.

Here is the smiling bocci team. After meeting at debbs house we dragged her little trailer with cooler, and all the beach gear including chairs, blankets and a rake. We spent a few hours out in the cool afternoon sun.

Saturday afternoon Savannah

the court
Originally uploaded by darenpackham.

I got back from Florida and enjoyed a chilled afternoon with some friends at the beach.
We raked a court to play bocci ball and were forced to adhere to Debbs ferocious rules but it was still fun and soon the game had disolved into who can balance the rake on their chin, and then a chair and sitting about under the big sky enjoying the company of friends.

The Road Trip

Florida
Originally uploaded by darenpackham.

One huge planet choking car, the interstate highway, cruise control, some good CDs and some terible radio. Keep driving south on the I 95 for 7 to 8 hours or until you see the sign that says, you are at Fort Lauderdale. Stop occasionally to pump the bilges and to re-fuel self and car. Its really very easy.

I was in Florida all of last week, for a week of intensive eye lid training. It was a training course in, how to keep your eyes open during extended class room sessions. I am now very proud to be a qualified PFSO/CSO/SSO and I have 5 credits towards a degree at the Florida Institute of Technology ( only 65 more to go!) If I did that much, I would then be able to lift 10kg weights with my eye lids!

You had better send Amy then....

Telephone rings....

"Hello this is Daren."

"Oh Hi Daren its Bill from Boatswains locker, I need to schedule Matt or Amy to come and measure your chopper."

"Blimey! In that case you had better send Amy!

Day out on the Taxi

The Go Fast...

Monte
Originally uploaded by darenpackham.

Renee with the Taxi

taxi
Originally uploaded by darenpackham.

Thats more like it!!

Daren
Originally uploaded by darenpackham.

Finally me and the guys got to go boating! Our tenders (ships boats) were launched recently, so we now have to go once a week, to take them out for a spin. This is so that we can get familiar with driving them.

Blog

http://www.lusciousdebbs.blogspot.com

I leave you this link to my friend Debbs Blog. I like it because we are friends, share the same social circle and it will provide a different angle on a small part of my life, over the next few months.

New Year Swim

New Year Swim
Originally uploaded by darenpackham.

Bloody hell. That was chilly. As per usual it was me n Debbs that made it out to Tybee beach for the annual Polar Bear plunge. The others had all made promises to come but never went through with it. I can't say that I can blame them for staying home and Debbs hot tub was not working either.

New Years Eve

NY007

As always an international flavour to to our fun and games here. The New Years party was organised at Diegos house out on the Isle of Hope. A pig cooked under the ground by the Kiwi crew members, some entertainment provided by the Mexican painters and New Years celebrated at 5pm for Ukrain, 6pm for Italy and France, at 7pm for 4 of us Brits. A few hours gap before local midnight but we were hardly standing by then.



The pig was delicious and the party a big success. Happy new year