Catching up with Nicola and John

Inside look at a Sydney to Hobart Racing Yacht

My good friend, Nicola, took these wonderful photos earlier this year during The Sydney to Hobart yacht race.  It was so cool to be able to see inside the boats.  As I said in my earlier post, they were very much made for speed rather than comfort!!

And here is Team Garmin out on the actual race.  It was a thrilling start.

Sydney to Hobart race

Nicola's husband, John, was one of the sailors in this year's race. It was fantastic to watch some of the behind the scenes and even get to see inside the boat.  Not exactly comfort!!  The loo, shared by 20 people, is something that would make a pygmy claustrophobic and the narrow bunks are angled at 40 degrees to the wall, so you're pinned in like a tinned sardine. Amazing that some of the competitors spend a whole year on the boat. They'll never take space for granted again.  Still, an amazing experience, I'm sure to be on the open ocean, pitted in combat against other yachts in their class.

At the harbour, before the race

Nicola and John

Watching the start at Watson's Bay

Some dolphins swam past.  Well spotted, Nicola!

John's boat (Go Team Garmin!)

Email from Nicola

Thanks again for an inspiring few days, some wonderful laughs, for being such a great friend & for making the Sydney to Hobart start such a memorable one. Hope I can repay the 'couch' favour (amongst others) one day :-) Keep believing in yourself G, you have so very much to offer this world!  

hugs Nic

Nicola and John visit us in Sydney...

...much to our delight!! We went to Watson's Bay for fish and chips. It was fantastic to see them again and catch up. Nicola and John are recently engaged. So wonderful to see a couple so much in love.
.

Nicola and John

Two weeks in Cape Town

Highlights

• Seeing our wonderful family again. I cannot get enough of Sammy and Matthew. They are absolutely adorable and we are having so much fun together.
• Seeing all our friends at our Pudding and Punch party
• A visit to St Jame's beach with Jo and the kids
• Ring a ring a roses on the trampoline with Matthew and Sam and many games of hide and seek
• A lovely lunch with Russel, the Boet and Lucy
• Geocaching with Russel, Aaron and Nicky (the professional photographer) at Betties Bay - running down the dunes, climbing the hill at Gordon's Bay, the Botanical Garden and penguin colony, and walking in the reserve
• Dancing to Abba songs with the Boting clan
• Jesus Christ Superstar at Camps Bay theatre
• Ice skating, "horse racing" and go-cart racing at Grand West - and Anthony's winning of "Hot Stuff" the devil for Matthew
• Catching up with Julian who has just had a new son
• Jeans shopping with Sally. Stretch jeans rule. Thanks Sally!!
• Sushi dinner with Jo and Anthony
• Madagascan steak with mum and Mike at Barristers - steak and pepper sauce doesn't come better
• Delicious SPUR meal with Robyn - with peacan nut sundae
• Lovely dinners at mum and Mike's
• Dinner at Marrianne - and her adorable dogs
• Dinner at Jo and Steve and seeing their beautiful new kitchen
• More of that amazing strawberry juice - thanks Steve!!
• Appletizer - how I miss it!
• Playing with the kids at West Lake and rolling around on the castles
• Visiting Nicola's new house and catching up with her and Shirly
• Getting Skype (at long last)
• Jo's amazing biscotti and date balls and mum's chocolate mousse and soup
• Some icey dips in the pool (done to impress Sammy and Matthew)
• Taking Sammy to school
• Packing the boxes
• Watching Annie with the kids
• Taking the kids to visit the fire station and getting to ride in the fire engine and blow the siren - not sure who was more excited, Antony and me or the kids!
• Seeing Ivor and Janice, Jessica and their new baby
• Snogging in the car wash
• Gardening with Sammy
• Dinner at James
• Mike's birthday party where we got all the family together
• Burning all my papers from way back

Flying into Cape Town




Outing to St James

Punky Sam

Partying to Abba music with the Boting clan





Visiting Nicola's new house




Geocaching with Russel in Betties Bay








Check out the heron eating a rat!



And we saw some very cute penguins





And a dassie. Apparently dassies are related to elephants.



Family Outing to Grand West - ice skating and fun fare









Dinner at Marianne






Out for Sushi dinner




Playing at West Lake









Visiting Ivor, Janice, Jessica and their adorable new baby. The cutie in the photos is Jessica.




Visiting the fire station with the kids and getting to drive in the fire engine with the siren on (very exciting for us adults, let alone the kids!)




Mike's birthday party