Dear Val,

Thank you for your postcard.

Mid-January Kent had high winds and was on flood alert so we stayed on our barge to nurse it through the high spring tides.  Since then, we’ve had a period of high pressure and below freezing temperatures which seemed an excellent chance to leave Vertrouwen and test out the hospitality of Naomi.  We travelled up on Saturday last and settled in.  Got the fire going although it took us 24H to really get the hang of our little stove.  Your heat-logs turned out to be great and while it was minus 2 outside for much of the day we were enjoying 18 degrees in the saloon!  I was able to prove a batch of sour-dough and bake a loaf in the oven.  In spite of the condensation in the fore-cabin we slept comfortably on our memory-foam mattress topper with sleeping bags and a duvet and were not cold.

Jobs we got done: There was an issue with the starter motor which we told you about before you left.  French Marine had been on-board and removed the burnt out one.  We got the call today to say they’ve fitted a new one and that the engine ran smoothly.  This is good because Brian fitted the new engine batteries while we were up there so now we know they work!  Brian also mounted the Tri-star unit ready to link up the turbine to the domestic battery when we have acquired the right sizes and colours of dc wire.  Meanwhile I tested a number of boat menus I’ve been working on; ways of getting a nutritious low-carb diet when we run out of fresh food.  We ate well and enjoyed all our food so these ideas will be submitted to you for approval and input in due course.  I also looked at all the test things I’d put into various cupboards months ago to see how much condensation damage they had incurred.  We do appear to have a condensation issue and things will need to be stored intelligently.  However, I don’t think it is at all unusual and am not worried or discouraged.  I measured up several lockers to buy materials to test a couple of improvements I have in mind: namely glueing carpet to the inside surfaces of the lockers or (my favourite idea at the moment) making a wooden grating for the bottom of each locker and lining the sides and top with glued on closed-cell foam such as old carry-mats etc.

I rove the main sheet – you remember Brian and the boys got the main sail on after Christmas – which means you won’t have the sound of the block rattling above your head when you finally sleep in your berth.  Brian “chopped wood” – read hit heat logs with a hammer to break them up – and fetched water as the pipes froze on all the pontoons and water had to be fetched in jerry cans by trolley from the boat yard.  Both mornings the water in the jerry cans froze and it was tricky to pour.

One of the things that pre-occupied us was how to keep safe while the stove and chimney are hot.  After some to and fro of ideas we decided that a second hardwood pole near but not too close to the chimney would help prevent people grabbing the chimney for balance and we have designed a simple method of creating a wire mesh guard around the fire itself on three sides.  We also realised the need to look at heat-proof flooring in the area as it is too easy to drop the lid when putting more fuel in the stove.  We came home with a long list of things to research, order, buy, bring and make for next time.  Yesterday, while we were out shopping for hats and scarves for migrants we found a perfect little brass poker and grate cleaning set depicting the Mayflower in relief on the handles – £4 in a charity shop.

Both of us are slightly dreading the moment of cutting through the hull to fit windows in your cabin – only because it’s a big job and slightly circular in terms of whether to line the cabin or cut the holes first given that once the holes are cut there is a certain imperative to get the lights fitted and sealed within the same day but then the cabin lining would have to be in place, but how can that be fitted before you have cut holes in the skin….if you see what I mean.

The views were stunning on deck.  Pastel skies at dawn and dusk with almost warm sunshine on one of the days.  While we were up there we heard that the last obstacle to buying my flat in Margate had been removed and so with great relief we celebrated by drinking your bottle of wine.  We will replace it!  Both days were nice enough to eat lunch on deck in our hats, coats and gloves.  The day we ate tinned herring in mustard sauce we noticed a herring gull observing us minutely from the top of a very high piling.  I wonder how long it is since a herring gull actually ate herring?  We didn’t give him any.

Over all we gave our lovely boat full marks for being spacious, clean, fragrant, dry, warm and cosy in the middle of January.  I think we shall be comfortable in her in most conditions.

We both hope you continue to enjoy your adventure in New Zealand.

Love and partnership

Ruth and Brian