tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66492381575835586652024-03-24T15:09:59.696+08:00Little Wanderer 2: A Boat LogBoating Fun In Singapore AmyChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843547093156496316noreply@blogger.comBlogger80125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649238157583558665.post-5032044392575724962021-06-14T23:33:00.001+08:002021-06-14T23:33:22.421+08:00Little Wanderer 2 has been sold <h3 style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; margin: 0px; position: relative;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px; font-weight: 400;">June 11, 2021. This is the day we got the news that Little Wanderer 2 has been sold. Eric of <a href="http://www.sgboating.com/" target="_blank">SGBoating </a> called to say that the couple who have taken the boat out for test drives are buying it, after beating down our asking price (but of course). </span></h3><div><span style="font-size: 15.4px; font-weight: 400;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: 15.4px; font-weight: 400;">All in the family felt sad. We can no longer go out in it. All that remains now is for C and A to return to <a href="https://www.rafflesmarina.com.sg/" target="_blank">Raffles Marina</a> soon to remove our stuff from the boat - the things we want to take back. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: 15.4px; font-weight: 400;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: 15.4px; font-weight: 400;">I'll be uploading a video clip that captures our best times on this boat, and some on Little Wanderer, the Chaparral that we held for just about a year before we traded it in for LW2.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: 15.4px; font-weight: 400;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: 15.4px; font-weight: 400;">Watch this space. A bit depressing now to write more. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: 15.4px; font-weight: 400;"> </span></div>AmyChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843547093156496316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649238157583558665.post-20368767584545157542021-05-09T14:54:00.000+08:002021-05-09T14:54:35.302+08:00Two friends on board<h3 style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; margin: 0px; position: relative;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">Date: May 8, 2021<br /></span><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">Weather: Cloudy <br /></span><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">Waters: Flat, like a mirror! <br /></span><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">On board: C, A, A2, N and Pudding </span></span></h3><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">These two friends go back a long way, back to C and A's days in The Straits Times. None of us work there any more. A2's recent bereavement brought us together again, and we said we would go out on the boat before long, so here we were, near the Lim Chu Kang fish farms in 6m deep waters. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">Again, we were the only boat there and they loved it. Away from the hubbub of the city and amid nature, which they were to tell us at the end of the trip gave them a peace and stillness that has been missing from their lives lately. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj59AzDz4_vKRf2gRgY2q_h3URcMKBoUdo2uO8KAX2juMLcz1-rrUlYFp-Jio8AzVCe6-oUedFAAa5DcVdS-VJP8sXsyzXaRBGOTiCZjtjsCYhYxhnIHLWHKhzvhFmCCF1LeTX0JV-kluw/s2048/IMG_8030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1538" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj59AzDz4_vKRf2gRgY2q_h3URcMKBoUdo2uO8KAX2juMLcz1-rrUlYFp-Jio8AzVCe6-oUedFAAa5DcVdS-VJP8sXsyzXaRBGOTiCZjtjsCYhYxhnIHLWHKhzvhFmCCF1LeTX0JV-kluw/w300-h400/IMG_8030.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pudding impressed A2 and N with <br />his friendly and chill personality. <br />A2 has a Jack Russell and N, a cat.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWgSb0pbA0gthox9ewODFVBGLRaFMKmOSGLE8hten2dJPzUcCWyhsiRR1Oll_dXqUcrcRvd7H_NIs3lrsuK9qhecx_pD81XDbR5lEJF88cjK-1HQEBKpscjZpLanuJ3uuo_sgLqszFsV4/s4032/IMG_8034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWgSb0pbA0gthox9ewODFVBGLRaFMKmOSGLE8hten2dJPzUcCWyhsiRR1Oll_dXqUcrcRvd7H_NIs3lrsuK9qhecx_pD81XDbR5lEJF88cjK-1HQEBKpscjZpLanuJ3uuo_sgLqszFsV4/w300-h400/IMG_8034.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivQ-KegXk2ChAR5d1-0bdLc47OTT9WJrdwtQsz9txXyfyfBs3it72UaoV29d4h4JRDO3ktNjWJYdFYcF9ylbtc1T12Eyfo-unYnh7_jz5BYMqcrLKK6xMvlwS1GWfhVElDntP0Q2eSpE4/s1600/IMG_8049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivQ-KegXk2ChAR5d1-0bdLc47OTT9WJrdwtQsz9txXyfyfBs3it72UaoV29d4h4JRDO3ktNjWJYdFYcF9ylbtc1T12Eyfo-unYnh7_jz5BYMqcrLKK6xMvlwS1GWfhVElDntP0Q2eSpE4/w400-h300/IMG_8049.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsDag-ZRsEn60qUm_LJyFYDTlnbocpr-kGY8AbaNZSOVpf2T3xxgGwTJ7iPQqbYxl5OivprETxQbhipyRatQhrDBUP7pI49sv_JL537mAMIfulm-hXdi39fCvYUjUzoFj0343Varzzcow/s836/IMG_8057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="836" data-original-width="627" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsDag-ZRsEn60qUm_LJyFYDTlnbocpr-kGY8AbaNZSOVpf2T3xxgGwTJ7iPQqbYxl5OivprETxQbhipyRatQhrDBUP7pI49sv_JL537mAMIfulm-hXdi39fCvYUjUzoFj0343Varzzcow/w300-h400/IMG_8057.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Q1EISAxpCj6zbtUf0ydQDGVpHUBqp759-FWzqNwYwG1RgpnpYp0YxHrGyGED0RNBEvHn-XobvRQ2xNE7sZb06PZ_zjlNBPRol3cKWsIdw2f-yk12gS7y4jAQeCloXT4kU1U7j6xN7Nw/s1492/IMG_8041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1492" data-original-width="1119" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Q1EISAxpCj6zbtUf0ydQDGVpHUBqp759-FWzqNwYwG1RgpnpYp0YxHrGyGED0RNBEvHn-XobvRQ2xNE7sZb06PZ_zjlNBPRol3cKWsIdw2f-yk12gS7y4jAQeCloXT4kU1U7j6xN7Nw/w300-h400/IMG_8041.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><p> </p>AmyChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843547093156496316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649238157583558665.post-36033237335134933552021-04-27T15:39:00.007+08:002021-04-29T23:47:45.132+08:00One of the last trips on Little Wanderer 2<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;">Date: April 24, 2021<br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;">Weather: Cloudy and cool <br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;">Waters: Choppy at first, then fairly flat <br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;">On board: C, A, J2, R and Pudding </span></span></h3><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGEW9ztk3i1Z0xEj_sJ5TYe5zU9Q6XyHm8jo9akCJrVKx0hQ6WRV7jeR9dtL5fKy7gqj0ZOi1CNfi3ikWKEPjfWE8F8659Loil7DpU8JafBo4R4DRUYbyqfEUcD0-roOxpUhn5KpyENB4/s2048/IMG-7911.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGEW9ztk3i1Z0xEj_sJ5TYe5zU9Q6XyHm8jo9akCJrVKx0hQ6WRV7jeR9dtL5fKy7gqj0ZOi1CNfi3ikWKEPjfWE8F8659Loil7DpU8JafBo4R4DRUYbyqfEUcD0-roOxpUhn5KpyENB4/w300-h400/IMG-7911.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, this photo says it all. <br />Call that number if you are interested.</td></tr></tbody></table> </span></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;">The family has taken the decision to let go of Little Wanderer 2 as soon as a buyer can be found for it. We have enlisted the help of <a href="http://www.sgboating.com/" target="_blank">SGBoating</a> to do that, and there have already been some viewings of this four-and-a-half year old Searay Sundancer 260 (bought late 2016). The body is in very good condition, and it has low mileage; in the time we have had it, some parts (including the battery) have been replaced, and she purrs. (Looks like Searay has lately discontinued the Sundancer 260, but the Sundancer 265 is similar. See the specs on Searay's official website <a href="https://www.searay.global/global/en/models/sundancer-series/sundancer-265.html" target="_blank">here</a>.) </span></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqOHVy8I4juhexu0SPmyhS1OIRjIZ6vsXI3RrTgsaGs5_8GiMcnMBaz5W5VAjvwAP_0rexTEyhxpPj6zLfrLtcuH5W9-SJIi5Nm5BZK1xGqOO9KBF4qLdLpcIo3D2HZ4Y0rOdq3IRFm1Q/s2048/IMG_7916.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqOHVy8I4juhexu0SPmyhS1OIRjIZ6vsXI3RrTgsaGs5_8GiMcnMBaz5W5VAjvwAP_0rexTEyhxpPj6zLfrLtcuH5W9-SJIi5Nm5BZK1xGqOO9KBF4qLdLpcIo3D2HZ4Y0rOdq3IRFm1Q/w300-h400/IMG_7916.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She has a beautiful profile.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div><div>There are a combination of reasons we are doing this, chief among which is that we simply aren't going out enough in it to justify the cost of maintaining it. Work gets in the way, and the only day of the week we can conceivably go on an outing is Saturday. Throw in the vagaries of each family member's schedule, and the wind, tides and overall weather not being in our favour, and you end up with only a precious few windows in a year to make that outing. It's like asking the planets to be aligned. </div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;">In our four-and-something years with this boat, we have logged in only 37 trips, including today's - under 10 trips a year. Not good... though the memories made on her have been great. </span></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;">In an ideal universe, we would have liked to keep her into our retirement years, but if we don't have the time to go out often enough <i>before </i>retirement, then affording the upkeep <i>after </i>retirement would be the issue. Work - damned if you do it, and damned if you don't. </span></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;">We are sad to let this boat and the lifestyle go. It's been a pleasure even if we don't go very far from the marina. The quiet and being at sea, away from the week's cares, if only for three or four hours.</span></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;">So, on April 24, we headed out for what could be the last outing on her on a cool, cloudy Saturday. The water was a little choppy as we headed for the Lim Chu Kang fish farms north of Tuas, but was a lot flatter when we tried to anchor. </span></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;">I say "tried" because the windlass chose not to work, despite several tries. We were to find out later that the relay for the system had gone kaput. Anyway, if we couldn't drop anchor, staying put in our chosen spot wouldn't have been possible. We took a short drive north of the fish farms for a look-see, and then headed back to the marina, disappointed at the truncated outing. We did, however, spend about 15 minutes floating (but still under power) just outside <a href="https://www.rafflesmarina.com.sg/" target="_blank">Raffles Marina</a>. </span></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;">We then made tracks for the flat waters of the marina itself, berthed there and stayed on the boat, drinking our beers and listening to music. </span></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgleN1Dyur5_mN5n7SPuHWSuU16VS4cdOEKnIEdMajO7uoOtQJVTVR1hYqG3LHwOWJXqO_T9nmlo6C2mtaFEkN7FqdmF_A96rGrkW6zfUAfdOGQPwHjKouXJE1zVBKcsGkmqIMYeSd9A2g/s2048/IMG_7915.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgleN1Dyur5_mN5n7SPuHWSuU16VS4cdOEKnIEdMajO7uoOtQJVTVR1hYqG3LHwOWJXqO_T9nmlo6C2mtaFEkN7FqdmF_A96rGrkW6zfUAfdOGQPwHjKouXJE1zVBKcsGkmqIMYeSd9A2g/w300-h400/IMG_7915.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Captain C berthed her effortlessly, and <br />C and J2 lashed her to the cleats on the dock. <br /> </td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;">We are hoping that there might be another outing or two in her before she goes to her next owner. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgqlul-SnvOa5MrZyJH3b3VTyfaWmQVb6Jsjc3HhWHHQRDpIIXXvpQAGqPtcIbiEaW7PS3_0Rs6W89CLqvPZSn189X0RfbRLFqqV4dcw0NBUUyjN5J7phmP597r_-EgbB2ZmvS5ZzLC1k/s1600/9d5ff5bc-3021-42de-bd8d-03dd177f836d.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1197" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgqlul-SnvOa5MrZyJH3b3VTyfaWmQVb6Jsjc3HhWHHQRDpIIXXvpQAGqPtcIbiEaW7PS3_0Rs6W89CLqvPZSn189X0RfbRLFqqV4dcw0NBUUyjN5J7phmP597r_-EgbB2ZmvS5ZzLC1k/w299-h400/9d5ff5bc-3021-42de-bd8d-03dd177f836d.jpg" width="299" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Postcript: This pic was sent to us showing <br />us the bit of the windlass relay that went <br />wonky on Saturday. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></div>AmyChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843547093156496316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649238157583558665.post-83338492406994091832021-02-26T15:19:00.000+08:002021-02-26T15:19:24.539+08:00First family trip of the year, Coast Guard comes by<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;">Date: Feb 20, 2021 <br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;">Weather: Alternately sunny and cloudy <br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;">Waters: Fairly flat, only around 3m deep where we anchored<br /></span><span style="color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;">On board: C, A, J2, R and Pudding </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;">J1 and P are on a staycation this weekend, but the rest of us were available, so out to our usual spot we headed. It was past noon by the time we got to the marina, and finding only a quarter tank of petrol left, we decided not to chance being stranded Out There, so we topped up the tank first (causing a bit more delay). </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;">This is the first top-up since petrol duties were raised at last week's Budget announcement. The tank wasn't completely full and yet it cost $388. That same cost would have bought us a full tank before. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqVNFFx-pk4ufCcWhuDk_3D76x6z-F02oAuLsfC_snba12O8PhbUqe6GuIe4kPAyBB8dlkb-fy2qqYfpbEHYLmyGaTTa9qAJWK8A4n2lqLXGEpGMUchR_AeB-zYhEdDUvZzqcnmyr1Rlo/s2048/RandP.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqVNFFx-pk4ufCcWhuDk_3D76x6z-F02oAuLsfC_snba12O8PhbUqe6GuIe4kPAyBB8dlkb-fy2qqYfpbEHYLmyGaTTa9qAJWK8A4n2lqLXGEpGMUchR_AeB-zYhEdDUvZzqcnmyr1Rlo/w300-h400/RandP.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pudding stayed fairly calm during the ride<br /> though he seemed to be studiously avoiding<br /> a proper look at the roiling waters <br />churned up by the engine! <br />This dog really hates water. </td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0y5sMzYcjNYERWkFiX7c4Y1Qa5-O4XAQCUbyZcBNQ6WDCvhUB6xS5kiCtnilBxyEjNHIAz_ULKdvKjN9v1Uobdk6fQ7x8uguynxVt92fyqX18c-2y6YDE2EcmZ5GNP4vuwBbz2YrJOUk/s1543/YP.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1543" data-original-width="1157" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0y5sMzYcjNYERWkFiX7c4Y1Qa5-O4XAQCUbyZcBNQ6WDCvhUB6xS5kiCtnilBxyEjNHIAz_ULKdvKjN9v1Uobdk6fQ7x8uguynxVt92fyqX18c-2y6YDE2EcmZ5GNP4vuwBbz2YrJOUk/w300-h400/YP.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pic by R. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;">We could have gone to Lazarus or any of the further-away Southern Islands of Singapore, but it was a late start, coupled by the delay from getting fuel, so it was back to our usual spot, beyond which we have never ventured. Further north, beyond the fish farms, would be the seaward edge of the <a href="https://www.nparks.gov.sg/gardens-parks-and-nature/parks-and-nature-reserves/sungei-buloh-wetland-reserve" target="_blank">Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve</a> and also the Causeway. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;">Anyway, we were nicely anchored about 200 m from the Lim Chu Kang fish farms when a Police Coast Guard boat came by, and asked (in friendly manner) through a</span><span style="color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"> </span><span style="color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;">loud speaker told us to move further north, nearer the farms, as we were still within the Singapore Armed Forces live-firing area. We hauled up anchor and complied. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;">The rest of the afternoon passed without incident. We had beer, music and fed Pudding rather too many treats to make up for the fact that we had forgotten to bring his lunch kibble along...</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm_yVG91J4Q9XmrPKNgh5zLMvmCzuaiIuOohBXGnqGt8WDYD8IWc3QAskX14QArc2bOMMmY09emeOv9_aRO1IYWxKRE_kboWthWMxZ_DZ-GPQvLxfwABFZdYHhj8Ax50Os4EDhRsHs5kE/s2048/Puddinghalf.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm_yVG91J4Q9XmrPKNgh5zLMvmCzuaiIuOohBXGnqGt8WDYD8IWc3QAskX14QArc2bOMMmY09emeOv9_aRO1IYWxKRE_kboWthWMxZ_DZ-GPQvLxfwABFZdYHhj8Ax50Os4EDhRsHs5kE/w300-h400/Puddinghalf.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim6jkGHC4X7gxz_HB6L99X14kM_4BTAN4WXbDYz9Y_aI5ejjReEFKv7pqasdFUw_bhsN6s_sls3w9Bt9Wd_YuYhU3Bmri0dy-SVVFCjatZRAmAkzgHkzL0ovSmbPv-zxTe85x32Cs8dTM/s2048/ablutions.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim6jkGHC4X7gxz_HB6L99X14kM_4BTAN4WXbDYz9Y_aI5ejjReEFKv7pqasdFUw_bhsN6s_sls3w9Bt9Wd_YuYhU3Bmri0dy-SVVFCjatZRAmAkzgHkzL0ovSmbPv-zxTe85x32Cs8dTM/w300-h400/ablutions.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">C going through the post-trip ablutions. <br />All this rinsing hasn't warded off <br />corrosion though. Sigh. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></div>AmyChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843547093156496316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649238157583558665.post-82892494006037993852021-02-19T14:32:00.010+08:002021-02-19T15:32:03.040+08:00Three boys on board - and some musings on the costs of owning a boat <div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;">Date: Jan 30, 2021<br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;">Weather: Sunny and windy <br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;">Waters: Peak of an unusually high tide, but turned quickly before return trip<br /></span><span>On board: C, J2 and Pudding </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: left;"><span><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The following entry was posted by C, since A wasn't along for this ride. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: left;"><span><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6MhmCsNdXylBeOlxfyarIBNyyGsXlMqMBYOGh-ZuFH93ncw3nGNm1yY9CYsPy5Ywqt6z4dqEsQFFaMNrXMqjyfXB15UmOwkIxpb0K99nciMaZxzmyBxm6SIWJv88OFrR7OZR2c29j8co/s1600/cp.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6MhmCsNdXylBeOlxfyarIBNyyGsXlMqMBYOGh-ZuFH93ncw3nGNm1yY9CYsPy5Ywqt6z4dqEsQFFaMNrXMqjyfXB15UmOwkIxpb0K99nciMaZxzmyBxm6SIWJv88OFrR7OZR2c29j8co/w400-h300/cp.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_mKzrV8djSMywiCbSw57U3-AkYfmVMaNUkKZgfrieuJESct6CCdMkz30rAqE6ZsTQMI8608pFYXIPAe5YqWixU2LCvtj6xPy4nsICv1cQKHilorg1sza2rYbX02XC5kIMU2j0vGuHQsQ/s821/pee.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="821" data-original-width="616" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_mKzrV8djSMywiCbSw57U3-AkYfmVMaNUkKZgfrieuJESct6CCdMkz30rAqE6ZsTQMI8608pFYXIPAe5YqWixU2LCvtj6xPy4nsICv1cQKHilorg1sza2rYbX02XC5kIMU2j0vGuHQsQ/w300-h400/pee.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There ya go: C with Pudding, <br />and then J2 with Pudding ...<br />the three boys on the boat this round.</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: left;"><span><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: small;">The first trip out for 2021 was one for the boys, literally - only three males on board. It was a hastily-arranged trip, with much of the usual crew sidelined due to last-minute commitments. The weather was a challenge, too: Who can forget the wet, wet weather that greeted the first two weeks of 2021?</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: small;">But a break in the clouds emboldened C and J2 to drag Pudding along and go for it, and, as usual, the trip was well worth the price of admission. A late start meant making a beeline for our usual lounging spot off the SAF Live-Firing Area, and a planned dinner at 6.30 pm with the rest of the family meant there was less time than usual out at sea. The boys made the best of it anyway - good music, beers, and a lively conversation were crammed into three hours or so. </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: small;">Apart from the future of work, property, and the usual discussion about their beloved Liverpool FC, one topic of conversation in particular might pique the interest of boaters: The cost of owning a boat, and how long we might be able to keep this up.</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: small;">The chat was sparked by a spate of repairs over the last few months. Having arrived brand-new in December 2016, LW2 is now just a shade over four years old. Niggly affairs, such as peeling paint, mouldy seats, and general cosmetic issues have required seeing-to. </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: small;">In our years of boat ownership, however, we have found the occasional mechanical hiccups to cost way more. On one particularly hot afternoon in 2020, the air-conditioning refused to work. It turned out to be a minor issue - a faulty pressure switch, but a hefty, four-figure bill was presented, despite the fact that the replacement part cost in the low three figures. </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: small;">An earlier episode of strange power interruptions was fixed relatively cheaply, but the repairs threw up a bigger problem: the exhaust elbows and gaskets had to be replaced.</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: small;">Leaving aside the issue of the condition of LW2 - it is in almost mint condition despite its age, courtesy of a rigorous maintenance schedule and a generous amount of TLC - this has been puzzling. </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; text-align: left;"><span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; text-align: left;"><span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia; font-size: small;">LW2’s engine hours are very low, but corrosion has still managed to set in. We have made only 36 trips on it in four years. (Thanks to this boat log, we are precise about that.) We are not sure of the average among boaters, but if we had made a trip out every other weekend, which seems a reasonable amount for the investment, we would have had to make the repairs in a year or so! </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; text-align: left;"><span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: small;">OK, perhaps that is simplifying it. One has to, of course, account for exposure to the elements and such, but still!</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: small;">Anyway, to cut a long story short, ordering the parts and getting the latest repairs done forced us to pony up that high four-figure sum that would have been better used on Christmas shopping. A GPS fix and other minor repairs pushed the total into five-figure territory. </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; text-align: left;"><span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #686868;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: small;">Far be it for us to complain about what looks to be First-World problems, but ad hoc repairs are one thing. There are also ongoing recurring expenditures - the monthly outlay for berthing at Raffles Marina, a boat-washing fee (OK, in a pinch, we can save on this by doing our own washing), marina membership and petrol for this 26-footer Sea Ray Sundancer 260. </span></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #686868;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #686868;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: small;">Petrol will cost us more, thanks to the hike in petrol duties. It has normally cost about $400 or a little less than that to top up the tank. The next tankful is going to be way more. </span></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #686868;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">So all in, even when we don't go out, we'd say it costs about $1,200 a month to be the owner of a boat this size (which is still pretty modest, we think). </span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">And now, with A and C having fewer sunrises ahead than behind them, the elephant in the room will have to be confronted - sooner rather than later. Retirement, forced or otherwise, beckons, and boating is simply <i>not</i> a leisure activity for those above 65 with modest means. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">J2 derided the idea that we will have to sell the boat soon, promising that the children would pick up the slack, being in good jobs and all. But that would be unfair: Having a boat was our idea. From the earliest days, we wanted, most of all, to give the kids a different experience, and since we are also fans of the great (?) outdoors, a boat seemed just the ticket. I venture that has been achieved, and then some.</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br style="color: #222222;" /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: small;">Each boating trip has been such a great family occasion. Wading ashore on deserted islands, cooking under the stars, chugging beers with abandon under the azure skies ... that's just the half of it. We have decorated our boats (LW and LW2) with Christmas lights and had parties on them while docked, painted anchor ropes in inclement weather, been aground, hoping for the tide to beat the fading light, navigated by instinct through a horrendous storm, and even been adrift at sea in darkness after engine failure. </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; text-align: left;"><span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: small;">Sure, there has been some fear at times, but those are just some irksome memories in a library of good ones. We’d recommend a boat to anyone.</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: small;">Alas, as they say, all good things must come to an end. And for us and Little Wanderer 2, each passing day brings us closer to a fateful decision.</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: left;"><span><br /></span></div>AmyChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843547093156496316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649238157583558665.post-4727369503084628622020-12-17T16:47:00.006+08:002020-12-19T16:27:56.127+08:00Just the two of us <div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;">Date: Dec 16, 2020</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;">Weather: Sunny, then cloudy. Rain to the starboard on the way back. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;">Waters: Fairly flat, peak of high tide</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">On board: C and A </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">C and A, being the only two in the family who have begun their year-end vacation, headed out today. The younger people had plans of their own. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"> It was cloudy up east where we live, but actually sunny at the marina. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMcyNHrPootL3RDP1VG-ldI0rQKpbgS2DO8Pr49lXLLBHBcziYP86KwbLI5EVLMTGvufMO922F364N47LQwJ0nCJ9uMf6SVYDL_I8VsmV_zFvNuWjpvmF1Y8b7AF1NFOdHPC0-U8-Smc8/s2048/IMG_7011.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1539" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMcyNHrPootL3RDP1VG-ldI0rQKpbgS2DO8Pr49lXLLBHBcziYP86KwbLI5EVLMTGvufMO922F364N47LQwJ0nCJ9uMf6SVYDL_I8VsmV_zFvNuWjpvmF1Y8b7AF1NFOdHPC0-U8-Smc8/w300-h400/IMG_7011.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">C picks the music. A snaps a wefie. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">Still, we did expect it to rain buckets at some point, especially in the mid-afternoon; this has been the weather pattern for the past month. This was why we set out earlier than usual - and also, without the younger people with us, we were actually able to do that. If not for the crappy weather, we might have even taken a longer trip, say, to Lazarus island. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">Rain crimps plans, limits options. (It also makes us wary that fresh leaks may be springing in the basement of our home.) </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">We dropped anchor and just chilled to a bottle of prosecco, and put Aretha's Christmas carols on. It was mercifully quiet today, except for <i>Gloria In Excelsis Dio</i>. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">We had only one sighting of a Brahminy kite swooping down to fish, missing the mark, and then flying back to a tree in the army training ground nearby, as C watched the action on the binoculars. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjInMwhTZPC8nBJfYF2J4HFls8XxlL9bLbVi99BDf5Rktg4IEyK9TLSJnBwMuMYX6tosa3EhDiiqrczPMvv3oWz1xTQA8SIjzeAC3dCfgn_WyBGCweRCZkLi5zO6tQqFw2bPjQGPdz3jfU/s2048/IMG_7014.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjInMwhTZPC8nBJfYF2J4HFls8XxlL9bLbVi99BDf5Rktg4IEyK9TLSJnBwMuMYX6tosa3EhDiiqrczPMvv3oWz1xTQA8SIjzeAC3dCfgn_WyBGCweRCZkLi5zO6tQqFw2bPjQGPdz3jfU/w300-h400/IMG_7014.jpg" width="300" /></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">No decorating of the boat with baubles and tinsel this year. We didn't do it last year either. It feels like we have run out of time to do it. (We did it in 2017 and 2018.) </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">It really feels like time is speeding up, like we are barrelling towards Christmas, even though we began our annual leave at the end of the first week of December. A has realised that attending mass through the year, and especially during Advent, is way of marking out the passage of time. It gives structure to the weeks. It's been nearly a year of mass-less Sundays, and this season, we are already in the third week of Advent. Without witnessing the lighting of the Advent wreath a month ahead of Christmas (starting with a purple candle in the first week, another in the second, a pink candle in the third and a final purple candle a week before Christmas), Advent feels amorphous, without structure. It's the same with the rest of the year, when one would mark the start of the week by attending Sunday mass. Watching streamed proceedings just isn't the same.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">As we head towards the end of one Very Strange Year, we take count of the ways life has changed. A year (OK, 10 months for A, and about nine for C) of working from home has saved us time commuting to work and preparing to go to work. We've slummed comfortably in home clothes. Where did the time we saved from commuting and getting dressed for work go? More TV, and with that, lots more snacking. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">We have one home-cooked meal each day at dinner. Lunch has mostly been ordered and delivered by GrabFood or Deliveroo or some such. It is expensive this way, as we have found! In normal times, we would all have lunched separately, as a break midway through work in the office. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">The dog can't believe his good luck. Scritches and pets on tap all day, every day. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">We have to count our blessings, in that we don't seem in immediate danger of losing our jobs. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">After two hours on this day near the Lim Chu Kang fish farms, the sky began turning dark, so we left our spot. It began raining to starboard, where Puteri Cove, Johor Baru is, and also over Forest City, that mega mixed development built on a man-made island off south-western Johor. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGqVvzZFREZdrkbBf62KFsFKoDXxvD_q5zyUUcD2EAjsVmsiQMbNs8y_ee8mlbnoJLwNvoEAbG1CJPl7R1vKFxv-u3h4m2yTnfkOMXReeXY24sFf11vD0qc4NGiWmW51I4u8tdkESfxmQ/s2048/IMG_7017.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGqVvzZFREZdrkbBf62KFsFKoDXxvD_q5zyUUcD2EAjsVmsiQMbNs8y_ee8mlbnoJLwNvoEAbG1CJPl7R1vKFxv-u3h4m2yTnfkOMXReeXY24sFf11vD0qc4NGiWmW51I4u8tdkESfxmQ/w300-h400/IMG_7017.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #686868; font-size: 15.4px;">What torrential rain looks like from out at sea. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #686868; font-size: 15.4px;">We were dry where we were, though the tiniest </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #686868; font-size: 15.4px;">of droplets could be felt. Puteri Cove.</div></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"> </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUp_VydynLtp9s5r4v71mkAYvmw-QIzU56bHNX_Hbx-ViAQpN7cREeckUP07slkcLGEw9YtnUz6_w7xvKsiR7Dzbqqx5Bur3vO67oHLaWHaSkxR5sZgiwZYCoh8lZPd0HrML7AB8jWITk/s2048/IMG_7020.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUp_VydynLtp9s5r4v71mkAYvmw-QIzU56bHNX_Hbx-ViAQpN7cREeckUP07slkcLGEw9YtnUz6_w7xvKsiR7Dzbqqx5Bur3vO67oHLaWHaSkxR5sZgiwZYCoh8lZPd0HrML7AB8jWITk/w300-h400/IMG_7020.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Forest City being pelted.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;">After this trip, the boat goes in for some fixing. The risers need to be fixed. We turned on the AC below deck to check on it, and it seems to be working fine, despite having been on the blink on <a href="http://wandererlog.blogspot.com/2020/10/air-conditioning-on-blink.html" target="_blank">the previous trip out</a>. </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></div>AmyChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843547093156496316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649238157583558665.post-70803118937421005542020-10-26T16:13:00.006+08:002020-10-27T00:44:37.690+08:00Air conditioning on the blink <div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;">Date: Oct 24, 2020</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;">Weather: Cloudy, then blazing hot </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;">Waters: Flat</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">On board: C, A, J2, R, Pudding and a guest, C2 </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">It was a late start, near 1pm, so we went for our default destination near the Yio Chu Kang fish farms instead of the longer trip to Lazarus Island. After we dropped anchor and through the afternoon, a hired boat which had set out from <a href="https://www.rafflesmarina.com.sg/" target="_blank">Raffles Marina</a> with wakeboarders shattered the peace of our spot and sent us bobbing in its wake repeatedly. A nuisance. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">It was a smooth ride out and the waters off Tuas were otherwise like glass. Today, we had C2 on board, the older brother of D, who joined us on <a href="http://wandererlog.blogspot.com/2020/09/two-guests-on-board.html" target="_blank">the last trip out</a>. C2 is 15, skinny and restless, talks fast and jabs frenetically at his iPhone. He asked lots of questions too, about the features of the boat, and also why other boaters waved at us. A told him it is a maritime tradition. More about that <a href="https://boatplanet.com/the-captains-blog/why-do-boaters-wave-at-each-other" target="_blank">here</a>. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">At our anchored destination, his keyed-up energy found release in leaping and somersaulting off Little Wanderer's bow and swimming around her. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqat05sXOslT6yYWAI9B7f_qQJRPBmzi9AdTAJmKN-TK5Kmtwo3zkfDLzvxdeKxhVbcMUX2dHPhK5-YXdaGPqdp2msIkcRhDVuwT9sdW0tULU2p4ARolOULPdDJEVpsV4SzXrvNlS-Y2E/s2048/IMG_6863+3.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqat05sXOslT6yYWAI9B7f_qQJRPBmzi9AdTAJmKN-TK5Kmtwo3zkfDLzvxdeKxhVbcMUX2dHPhK5-YXdaGPqdp2msIkcRhDVuwT9sdW0tULU2p4ARolOULPdDJEVpsV4SzXrvNlS-Y2E/w300-h400/IMG_6863+3.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">C2 catches up with his aunt, R. </td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">The cool, cloudy day turned into a broiler soon enough, and Pudding responded by retreating below deck. We wanted the air-conditioning on but ... nothing happened. A short consult by phone with Eric of <a href="http://www.sgboating.com/" target="_blank">SGBoating</a> later, C got instructions to open the hatch below the rear seats to do some trouble-shooting. Turns out the air-conditioner was low on coolant - either from neglect by the marina maintenance crew, or a leak, which could mean another bill to pay! (Repairs were done in July for separate problems. See entry <a href="http://wandererlog.blogspot.com/2020/07/sea-trial-after-repairs.html" target="_blank">here</a>.)</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiR8Ipf2g4xzjVnyfyX0TTLaDLhA-jyOpMfk7zKiggzrhIRmK4dqlxBm9xKpir2wPGJEwb0ck-tbllfOa4mi5PJCQbJup_n951FfIxmT1Laph8KkGjFsy4-8hxwBwSr5ZOlRHli3jx1fk/s2048/IMG_6514+2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiR8Ipf2g4xzjVnyfyX0TTLaDLhA-jyOpMfk7zKiggzrhIRmK4dqlxBm9xKpir2wPGJEwb0ck-tbllfOa4mi5PJCQbJup_n951FfIxmT1Laph8KkGjFsy4-8hxwBwSr5ZOlRHli3jx1fk/w300-h400/IMG_6514+2.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pudding had to lean in for a look<br /> to see what was wrong too. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">Back at the marina later, Capt C roped in C2 for the after-trip ablutions. It's become a sort of tradition on board Little Wanderer 2: Her young guests are asked to help hose down the deck to clean away the dirty footprints, spilled beer or random globs of doggo saliva. As Capt C says: "You've had fun at sea, now get to work. There's no such thing as a free lunch." </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">And so C2, like the young guests before him, obliged. He had no option, actually. In truth though, our little "tradition" is a recognition of the fact that kids like to play with water. So this bit of "child labour" is actually fun for them. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxh2sXZ82OarbfB9X8Qj5b3vStBNfww6SUJtapEdt8z137itUHshZ5WVrGH2Kkir6hVnxlHA2ehLUhX_dtm0A' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">After the boat was hoisted out of the water (below), C was reminded that it was time to book this year's grooming. Dry berthing has spared us the curse of barnacles, but the hull needs protection from a polish with glazing so that stains don't stick. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEVXgYwNMQ8mHLjShVJWRA6dq5Cm1f6WCW1E-bzsEfTLBJwlj4G7_f_3oelf8mQRRg1K2HKgtzaqZjoEAtRmyWdx5WdrkpwueSp7eBNWxiHwREeL-z0Ted861jHZ1qhuorBNKJlyHK8jA/s2048/IMG_6461.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEVXgYwNMQ8mHLjShVJWRA6dq5Cm1f6WCW1E-bzsEfTLBJwlj4G7_f_3oelf8mQRRg1K2HKgtzaqZjoEAtRmyWdx5WdrkpwueSp7eBNWxiHwREeL-z0Ted861jHZ1qhuorBNKJlyHK8jA/w300-h400/IMG_6461.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LW2 is a little over three years old. <br /></td></tr></tbody></table> </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinzpJpUaXIKwu8gqQNRsrl2spb6GTdstuAcjWDRBnyKFuDhZz9vAf-Zav3KF_Rl8eRmJ3F4BcwQdKsulO5E2htqkED8yMbaDrcngd198y08kEZS-8zyKb4_ApzubiIV8Y0ftoHz-Ty29E/s2048/B1CE7000-AAE5-4618-8968-919CB3F58D40.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinzpJpUaXIKwu8gqQNRsrl2spb6GTdstuAcjWDRBnyKFuDhZz9vAf-Zav3KF_Rl8eRmJ3F4BcwQdKsulO5E2htqkED8yMbaDrcngd198y08kEZS-8zyKb4_ApzubiIV8Y0ftoHz-Ty29E/w400-h400/B1CE7000-AAE5-4618-8968-919CB3F58D40.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The wake by LW2 on the way back to the marina, <br />just below the Tuas Checkpoint (Second Link).<br />A fine Saturday to be out at sea. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></div>AmyChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843547093156496316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649238157583558665.post-38331487348162923392020-09-27T17:53:00.003+08:002020-09-27T17:54:37.196+08:00Two guests on board<div style="text-align: left;">Date: Sept 26, 2020</div><div style="text-align: left;">Weather: Cloudy, slightly overcast, cool and windy </div><div style="text-align: left;">Waters: Choppy (after a morning of threatened rain)</div><div style="text-align: left;">On board: C, A, J2, R, Pudding, and our guests, M and his grandson, D</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The entire week has been rainy, so even on the morning of this supposed outing, we weren't sure if it would happen. This intended trip had been planned for last week, but was cancelled then because of threatened rain. In the end, the rain didn't come, but it was too late to head out already. Call it arse luck. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">R's dad, M, had been invited last week, so when we decided to bite the bullet and go today, he was asked again and he could make it, and brought D, one of his five grandchildren. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The waters in the marina and just outside it were an uninviting brown and choppy. Without the usually-seasick J1 with us today, we had planned on a longer trip, to Lazarus, perhaps, but with it being so choppy and windy, we chose safety and headed for our usual place near the fish farms.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="M, we were told, isn't a big dog fan. We laughed when R said that Pudding seemed to know that, and deliberately planted himself right up close. " style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1535" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTzld_v-VJbEwGGgXCZGZjru3YvIOlRdly5I1DYCrOMFHLBJOTCYIKUhrV39vLlqpg_Jy75WwCry-du1bstK4CgeBMS_vMz516f7CkbhRY-V2wt41urKCJCGrBE5MJOfMMV5eMKeoFdSg/w400-h300/puddsmike.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: philosopher; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: start;">M, we were told, isn't a big fan of doggos. R says Pudding <br />probably sensed this and deliberately planted himself close. 😜 </span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">With the weather so cool, the dog seemed a lot happier. He spent most of the time with us on deck. As usual, he whimpered when J2, R and D leapt off the swim platform into the water, but this time, he barked for good measure as well. We have often wondered what his whimpers mean. Is it that he was transferring his dislike/fear of the water onto his humans and concerned for their safety? </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This Web site <a href="https://wagwalking.com/behavior/why-do-dogs-bark-when-you-jump-in-the-pool#:~:text=Your%20dog%20can%20see%20that,and%20know%20how%20to%20swim." target="_blank">here</a> suggests it may be so. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">C pointed out, though, that the doggo seemed really excited (in a good way) - his tail was wagging happily as he barked and whimpered, and as he alternated between clambering on the seat and going to the swim platform for a better view of what was going on in the water. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The "Yacht Rock" playlist was on, beers and wine were drunk, and conversation was had. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP6NCw2aFnMYp7RyvjZjiNYOy0aOQ-OZi2UDWlBZNnzCoqBFcyu0ROoqoSRhsTTmcVeQ50U2NHctnHI0Rh7W-AJMc7_6H3coRfNeli8ftpr9J86KtG5Peu4Hj0C_8NTm_hljhRxuNKuzE/s2048/rachdylan.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP6NCw2aFnMYp7RyvjZjiNYOy0aOQ-OZi2UDWlBZNnzCoqBFcyu0ROoqoSRhsTTmcVeQ50U2NHctnHI0Rh7W-AJMc7_6H3coRfNeli8ftpr9J86KtG5Peu4Hj0C_8NTm_hljhRxuNKuzE/w300-h400/rachdylan.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">R catches up with her nephew, D. He and his <br />siblings miss R, now that she doesn't live with them. <br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>AmyChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843547093156496316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649238157583558665.post-11607026125657766892020-08-16T16:42:00.006+08:002020-08-16T16:54:58.154+08:00Dead fish... and rain <span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;">Date: Aug 15, 2020</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: philosopher; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">Weather: Sunny, then rainy, and then clear</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: philosopher; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">Waters: Slightly choppy, but looked clean - except for the fish kill</span><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;">On board: C, A, J1, J2, R, P and the dog </span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;">Hundreds of milkfish flashed their bellies of silver on the surface of the water as we approached our usual mooring spot north of the SAF firing range. </span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;">What happened? The water looked fine today, quite clean and clear, so if it was some kind of algae bloom that sopped up the oxygen from the water and killed them, it wasn't apparent. We were wondering about the fish in the floating fish farms just 80m from where we dropped anchor. </span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;">A similar thing happened in May 2019. Here's the <a href="https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/fish-near-lim-chu-kang-may-have-died-from-lack-of-oxygen#:~:text=The%20warmer%20weather%20in%20recent,and%20in%20nearby%20fish%20farms.&text=Mr%20Ho%20said%20deaths%20like,the%20oxygen%20in%20the%20water.">news report</a>. </span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;">We used our boat hook to bring a fish on board for a closer look, and Pudding was curious, his nose probably in overdrive. Our human noses, however, didn't pick up any odour. After J1's droll idea of bringing them back for dinner was roundly rejected, the sport of fish flinging (using the boat hook) gave no more than a few minutes' amusement. Now you know why it's not going to make it as an Olympic sport... </span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;">Nobody was going to swim in these waters today; memories of a resident croc and box jellyfish provided other good reasons not to.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH7E4wzi2JqEwJXKW9aOCgDV3F52GaGT7bwk5YRBBwLzGvzm0VOalnd93-0Vjk6SHzd95ZDitL3y2xC7WoBQgCrpi0EqXz87pnzeBr7DfQ1yJJj3jsvKpkGko8SzB9yETx9dvlPghSAaw/s2048/fish.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="625" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH7E4wzi2JqEwJXKW9aOCgDV3F52GaGT7bwk5YRBBwLzGvzm0VOalnd93-0Vjk6SHzd95ZDitL3y2xC7WoBQgCrpi0EqXz87pnzeBr7DfQ1yJJj3jsvKpkGko8SzB9yETx9dvlPghSAaw/w469-h625/fish.jpg" width="469" /></a><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We don't know when these fish died. Their bodies were beginning to bloat. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There were fewer of these where we dropped anchor, perhaps about 100</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> near the boat. Most were further south, nearer the Second Link. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The day's outing had begun in sunny weather, but about an hour after we dropped anchor, the skies above distant Johor Bahru turned gloomy. It began pouring there and the skyscrapers disappeared. Soon enough, a drizzle began where we were. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">J1, P and the dog had retreated below deck by then. Only C, A, J2 and R stayed out, with J2 giving his Very Expensive Raincoat, a <a href="https://www.musto.com/">Musto</a>, a try. By appointment to Her Majesty, The Queen, and also to the Duke of Edinburgh, he sniffed, reading its label out. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A video of the stormlight just before the rain came. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwdtydoT3nxgHYC0K-RfiABp4WVW-PhqbtRAg3Xv_SDPM_k_oQXhiveQ-NiNuC8J5_qgKLKqEE5zUb0yTHTCQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ywEhy5wTT1UjlpDlNna5muv8gRPHr1CkGeSL0eLIfTTUcPu2MAF9Ligr_QhJRMFuCwFaLtdIpdZkgtkItpQa54fIqtxqITZJYpJCwShNilNZPoQfqXOq3mA30kklb-lPNZ_y9WHw6P8/s1167/orlebar.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1167" data-original-width="656" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ywEhy5wTT1UjlpDlNna5muv8gRPHr1CkGeSL0eLIfTTUcPu2MAF9Ligr_QhJRMFuCwFaLtdIpdZkgtkItpQa54fIqtxqITZJYpJCwShNilNZPoQfqXOq3mA30kklb-lPNZ_y9WHw6P8/s640/orlebar.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Those awesome <a href="https://www.orlebarbrown.com/new/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwsuP5BRCoARIsAPtX_wHlpu3JD_ze3Hfo37CqqdDxKHYLZPLMFZEgD9MW_BQ1F8bNJCOMpskaApN9EALw_wcB">Orlebar Brown</a> shorts.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJsh8R4KH6VmEay2wAgb5asCjhu6SPRDISoosp9luvTV7VDLzZtqxhuhQFkb76daqoHoY_7ZcU1x3C3DU2D62bWLqt4RbZbGv1hIwUVE3axrQh5lrcrsqnRwzOj3YRWIM7y5nyKHLDU_o/s2048/lw2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJsh8R4KH6VmEay2wAgb5asCjhu6SPRDISoosp9luvTV7VDLzZtqxhuhQFkb76daqoHoY_7ZcU1x3C3DU2D62bWLqt4RbZbGv1hIwUVE3axrQh5lrcrsqnRwzOj3YRWIM7y5nyKHLDU_o/s640/lw2.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fresh from repairs to flush a choked manifold, the boat purred today. <br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzGI5X8dHojxDoorBEM4aGhb6DDsh3591g4p0Mx0BEU34DgK8582gf5xICaK4vHVdXBfkF2O8gn0RZjCXNJ7g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;">The journey back was uneventful. </span></div>AmyChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843547093156496316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649238157583558665.post-20884382598383240532020-07-31T17:11:00.008+08:002020-08-01T15:33:27.224+08:00Sea trial after repairs <span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;">Date: July 31, 2020</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: philosopher; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">Weather: Cloudy</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: philosopher; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">Waters: Slightly choppy, absolutely filthy and brown-foamy within the marina </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: philosopher; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">On board: C, A, Rodriz (the repair technician) and Eric of <a href="http://www.sgboating.com/" target="_blank">SG Boating</a> </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: philosopher; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"><br /></span><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: philosopher; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">Little Wanderer 2 has been giving off really loud warning beeps when the speed hits 22 knots in the last few trips, though it hasn't given any serious mechanical problems. It's not like we've been stranded at sea or anything... </span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: philosopher; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: philosopher; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">So into the repair shop it went. Turns out the manifold on the starboard side needed to be chemically flushed because it was choked, and water couldn't flow through it. Result: an overheated engine which tripped the sensor, hence the beeps. </span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: philosopher; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIdwwl6f7cZF07YuVg6Ng5167TPxAaLWJlBAln26YdX7puY_V-fBCOaFIzv5G9QJRmXhgzo4P8jjLXkILe-F_yEKzb6La-W9oXJVzWceGhqxM85urrF-vSJ2VBlcA_21NMA142e6ZaMiQ/s1600/45bcb362-8bee-4500-be97-2075707ea842.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIdwwl6f7cZF07YuVg6Ng5167TPxAaLWJlBAln26YdX7puY_V-fBCOaFIzv5G9QJRmXhgzo4P8jjLXkILe-F_yEKzb6La-W9oXJVzWceGhqxM85urrF-vSJ2VBlcA_21NMA142e6ZaMiQ/w384-h512/45bcb362-8bee-4500-be97-2075707ea842.JPG" width="384" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The portion that was choked (arrowed).<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwr5Vid9hCrTeJPRgOMrhMHQUCSOjg1sTxbGQ75hpNqcJwAEe_RIB7WaJ3adGDlF_Ki_gQv0T018pRjRkdMWQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;">The repairs turned out like the worst nightmare for any hypochondriac who goes to see a doctor for Problem A, and finds in the course of scans and checks that there's also Problems B and C: The repairman also found the two batteries on board in bad shape, literally so - their sides were bulging out. They will need replacing. </span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: philosopher; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: philosopher; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">There was also an issue with the risers. They will need replacing, perhaps in six months or so. The replacing is in itself a two-hour job. It's the process of ordering the parts and waiting for them to arrive that takes a while, no thanks to Covid-19 disrupting shipping and delivery lines. So we made arrangements to get the parts ordered now, before replacing these parts become a matter of urgency. Sounds like a <i>kerchinggg</i> business, what with manifold + batteries + risers. </span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: philosopher; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: philosopher; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">After today's fixings were done with the manifold, Eric took the wheel and we went out for a spin. He hit 22 knots and beyond in the waters outside the marina and things looked fine. </span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: philosopher; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: philosopher; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">All A did was sit out back for a Friday wind-in-her-hair ride. </span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: philosopher; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: philosopher; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir4kusJ5r0aa5FpGhcy4qDbUGBD6r5crCdsj17griZ1F9DD8d_TdYJOK8rlLdaH936Lhk_foqMoZqHJSjhvWcUZileteFdRTENUyVBcizkHRWMPmW-bIG1K4u-SErlM4ImDpIqKkityFM/s2048/seatrial1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1534" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir4kusJ5r0aa5FpGhcy4qDbUGBD6r5crCdsj17griZ1F9DD8d_TdYJOK8rlLdaH936Lhk_foqMoZqHJSjhvWcUZileteFdRTENUyVBcizkHRWMPmW-bIG1K4u-SErlM4ImDpIqKkityFM/w374-h500/seatrial1.jpg" width="374" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From left: C, Rodriz and Eric at the wheel, <br />gunning the engine in the waters <br />just outside the marina. <br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqBAAcxPzB-8BSGFmn1WN8a7tc1E_Fzd4E9jy3X9Gip30H6Iu2QjdmRDVv11hztQZ_ehVOz_PkpL4dexW1z_THGW0XyAeWmc1iaJHqGewstXMXGqtTsIueMdkY5FraaafpS7AD-RTlO0k/s2048/seatrial2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1539" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqBAAcxPzB-8BSGFmn1WN8a7tc1E_Fzd4E9jy3X9Gip30H6Iu2QjdmRDVv11hztQZ_ehVOz_PkpL4dexW1z_THGW0XyAeWmc1iaJHqGewstXMXGqtTsIueMdkY5FraaafpS7AD-RTlO0k/w376-h500/seatrial2.jpg" width="376" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A gets a Friday afternoon boat ride.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>. </span></div>AmyChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843547093156496316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649238157583558665.post-32953143097717118002020-07-19T15:50:00.002+08:002020-08-03T23:19:03.398+08:00First outing since Singapore's lockdown - and the batt is flat<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;">Date: July 18, 2020</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: philosopher; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">Weather: Gloomy, slightly drizzly, then sunny</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: philosopher; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">Waters: Flat off Tuas</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: philosopher; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">On board: C, A, J1, J2, R, P and Pudding</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: philosopher; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">New gear on board: C's stylish swim shorts by <a href="https://www.orlebarbrown.com/men/swim-shorts/?start=24&sz=24&loadmoreproducts=true" target="_blank">Orlebar Brown</a>, haha. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: philosopher; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #686868; font-family: philosopher;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;">A marine crocodile poked its snout out of the water just off the Yio Chu Kang fish farms, where we were anchored, and caused a bit of a tizzy on board <i>Little Wanderer 2</i>. We have hung out at this peaceful spot so many times in the last couple of years, but this is the first time we have seen anything beyond a <a href="https://singaporebirds.com/species/brahminy-kite/" target="_blank">Brahminy kite</a> up in the sky, terrified fish leaping out of the water, chased by some predator, and wild boar by the water's edge. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #686868; font-family: philosopher;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #686868; font-family: philosopher;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;">The croc didn't seem too large, but we were so excited that nobody thought to whip out a phone camera or the binoculars. So, no pic, sorry. There was some general musing about whether it would be safe to swim in these waters - this afternoon, or ever again... </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #686868; font-family: philosopher;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #686868; font-family: philosopher;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;">And crocs aren't the only problem, apparently. <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/invertebrates/group/box-jellyfish/" target="_blank">Box jellyfish</a> have been reported in Singapore waters too. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #686868; font-family: philosopher;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #686868; font-family: philosopher;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;">We had been late getting to the marina, as usual, because of the usual tardiness. Then when we got to <a href="https://www.rafflesmarina.com.sg/" target="_blank">Raffles Marina</a>, another delay awaited us: The marina staff who have been keeping the boat's batteries juiced up forgot to turn off the batt after the last top-up of power earlier this week, so every last bit had drained out. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #686868; font-family: philosopher;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #686868; font-family: philosopher;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;">It was a sinking feeling as the ignition was turned and the boat didn't power up. It reminded us of our old (fifth-hand or something!) boat, which broke down with alarming frequency, disappointing the kiddie-versions of J1 and J2, who were swim-suited and goggled, and all ready for a ride out and picnic on the beach of some Southern island. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #686868; font-family: philosopher;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #686868; font-family: philosopher;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;">I guess we have to be thankful that today, it was just a flat battery, not some mechanical problem. All we had to do was wait until spare batteries were installed on board, and our flat ones were sent to be charged in the dockmaster's office while we were out. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #686868; font-family: philosopher;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #686868; font-family: philosopher;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;">This is our first outing since the circuit breaker was lifted, although with some conditions, such as masking up, keeping a metre apart and gathering in groups of no more than five. As Singapore emerges cautiously from that partial lockdown, owners of private pleasure craft are allowed to have a maximum of five guests on board, excluding the boat captain, in our case, C. So we were five plus <i>le capitan</i>, and the dog. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #686868; font-family: philosopher;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #686868; font-family: philosopher;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;">We spent a couple of hours out at our usual spot north of the SAF firing range, just chilling. On the ride out, we were met with a fine drizzle. We were just on the edge of a rain cloud, which quickly blew Malaysia-ward. It got blazingly hot after that. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-A4hH2M_wxOlt49akdZZZs0lZHXRCeLVXS1XP1qFTmB9JclK9iE2uALRHR0vzs6wy5byNylddQQQJaYLr3cmCCmQUfLOkAFqWTf8enK-FYJmnaO3QUGyoJjB9k0NP3xIxwO2jia4dQKA/s1600/orlebar.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-A4hH2M_wxOlt49akdZZZs0lZHXRCeLVXS1XP1qFTmB9JclK9iE2uALRHR0vzs6wy5byNylddQQQJaYLr3cmCCmQUfLOkAFqWTf8enK-FYJmnaO3QUGyoJjB9k0NP3xIxwO2jia4dQKA/s400/orlebar.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Le Capitan with his swank swim shorts. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikkW31kT9c8S8v6QUtOMrSJr0yaiIBEV3EpIM4BcTw55tCWuCeJ1Fzjq4r04dYl_PuC3WACUM3gSbTNDYeFRg2QimPGJMZuW9mEx4b8GlK3uLXeiu_BJyJrcssOdsLClvMso7-3V6AZNw/s1600/unnamed-4.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikkW31kT9c8S8v6QUtOMrSJr0yaiIBEV3EpIM4BcTw55tCWuCeJ1Fzjq4r04dYl_PuC3WACUM3gSbTNDYeFRg2QimPGJMZuW9mEx4b8GlK3uLXeiu_BJyJrcssOdsLClvMso7-3V6AZNw/s400/unnamed-4.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">J1 and P</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaJfqBOiy4h3JrXv6t6peJJTxjpIKwkZxkucY305VNDjAPSQOSNvzzWrbifjWDGCji5UEZ4Eu9liSLjchcbA7MRQbLLGcUTyBL_Y-Z5JgxTURsa-NW98K_1fqzaJ6NqLX6R9scr_dE11g/s1600/unnamed-1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaJfqBOiy4h3JrXv6t6peJJTxjpIKwkZxkucY305VNDjAPSQOSNvzzWrbifjWDGCji5UEZ4Eu9liSLjchcbA7MRQbLLGcUTyBL_Y-Z5JgxTURsa-NW98K_1fqzaJ6NqLX6R9scr_dE11g/s400/unnamed-1.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">J2 with R</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinwL2DHaDV7FuQXX3WDYMSDZ8ZEQty_bHvp_Y-4M7W9dQ24-OU1d25gv8MWSRh-mmTZ1SnCRMe-Y1kxJueuhUzRAhHXSG1jPcnmbqvtbpcZ-7lA2BeOCP4bEuyqovD0WFyoKEYXcF0Pwg/s1600/unnamed-2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1450" data-original-width="1087" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinwL2DHaDV7FuQXX3WDYMSDZ8ZEQty_bHvp_Y-4M7W9dQ24-OU1d25gv8MWSRh-mmTZ1SnCRMe-Y1kxJueuhUzRAhHXSG1jPcnmbqvtbpcZ-7lA2BeOCP4bEuyqovD0WFyoKEYXcF0Pwg/s400/unnamed-2.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#dogsonboats</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaXbQlGKnSd_Hzob9RrM1jJZVZs68mvd7PUB7p7AIudQ0bc8Zcvs7m82YaxjaSBRpu8TqSUbaxAtfeUxI50vClcRejoi3oqfqmFvvzHVSRPCaLJlPmPDAzbMKHy3JO1SvT22zoVNqp_mo/s1600/unnamed-3.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1140" data-original-width="855" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaXbQlGKnSd_Hzob9RrM1jJZVZs68mvd7PUB7p7AIudQ0bc8Zcvs7m82YaxjaSBRpu8TqSUbaxAtfeUxI50vClcRejoi3oqfqmFvvzHVSRPCaLJlPmPDAzbMKHy3JO1SvT22zoVNqp_mo/s400/unnamed-3.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by P</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #686868; font-family: philosopher;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;">And so this was the Saturday that was. Good grief, it was only the <i>second </i>outing in 2020, and it is already past mid-July! No thanks to the coronavirus, which shut down the marina. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #686868; font-family: philosopher;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #686868; font-family: philosopher;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;">How about playing catchup with outings for the rest of this year?</span></span></div>
AmyChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843547093156496316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649238157583558665.post-5041458072644779952020-04-05T11:32:00.001+08:002020-06-20T14:28:36.493+08:00Coronavirus 2020: First outing for the year ... and the last (for a while)<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px;">Date: April 4, 2020</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">Weather: Hot and sunny</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">Waters: Flat off Tuas</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">On board: C, A, J1, J2, R, P and Pudding</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">New gear on board: Collapsible cooler for the beers </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">This modern-day scourge, the novel coronavirus or Covid-19, is sweeping the world and making its presence felt in every last sphere of human activity. Most governments have imposed lockdowns to curb the spread of the flu-like illness (fatal for the aged or the immune-compromised) within the community. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">In Singapore, the number of cases is still rising. There is still no total lockdown, although the government has announced a near-total one, effective Tuesday, April 7. All schools will be shut, and workplaces have only newly been told now - get <i>all</i> your staff to work from home with very few exceptions. Only supermarkets, wet markets and essential services will remain open. Restaurants can stay open as well, but only to offer takeaway or food delivery services. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">Meanwhile, the following words and phrases have been heard often these days: Wash your hands. Don't touch your face. Social distancing. Work from home. Flatten the curve... (Singapore's curve has yet to flatten, and C and A believe it's the direct result of the government's super-calibrated (<i>too</i> calibrated?) series of moves to limit people fraternising. The schools, for instance, have gone from staying open to okayy, one day of home-based learning a week, to (and only two days ago), okayy, we'll shut the schools. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">Marinas... of course, aren't "essential" amenities, so with <a href="https://www.rafflesmarina.com.sg/" target="_blank">Raffles Marina</a> being shut from Tuesday, the family took the chance for one last outing (at least for a while). This also happened to be the very first outing for the year 2020. I can't exactly remember why we haven't been out - we just haven't. Our last was on Dec 30, 2019. Read that log <a href="http://wandererlog.blogspot.com/2019/12/a-new-drone-takes-off-from-boat.html" target="_blank">here</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">We went to our usual spot in the waters just north of the Sungei Gedong military-firing area, and saw at least two Police Coast Guard boats there, ever ready to tell us to move away from the area. </span><br />
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The dog didn't seem too nervous, despite the long layoff since the last outing. (See video of him with P, on her second outing on Little Wanderer 2.) If it hasn't been mentioned before, this doge has his own Instagram feed. Find him at @pudding_thegoldengod.)<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">As usual, we dropped anchor, broke open the beers, turned up the music and let the sun bake a new shade of tan into our skin. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjReTCHbi1oS0cTM0OR-RF_KLttive-ESQ8t-4Pz4Kfn2jOl-Lim5Vl4Qq_PMICzdf0zp0wDu4sxP-A2iq2bVuXTQ9zjs5I4FS2C0-dvs5K5K8aHDYii37SSPlWGj_xSfYmoKlf9bwWQq0/s1600/beer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjReTCHbi1oS0cTM0OR-RF_KLttive-ESQ8t-4Pz4Kfn2jOl-Lim5Vl4Qq_PMICzdf0zp0wDu4sxP-A2iq2bVuXTQ9zjs5I4FS2C0-dvs5K5K8aHDYii37SSPlWGj_xSfYmoKlf9bwWQq0/s400/beer.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pudding, as usual, getting in the way of <br />
the main event, opening of the beers. <br />
All pix and video shot on iPhone X.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTVY83TyTeFHc_7GlKRDi3DRKT_nL1fFKcyJ99X61C31lHFdaect5qrDD9SLwEy24E-UkY7XTC6r39aFivYL-5KIVLaikLITnxnWmUZaif8i2IGUbjAtZKyn0qypKQmgNKSmcf55UY6Xo/s1600/doge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTVY83TyTeFHc_7GlKRDi3DRKT_nL1fFKcyJ99X61C31lHFdaect5qrDD9SLwEy24E-UkY7XTC6r39aFivYL-5KIVLaikLITnxnWmUZaif8i2IGUbjAtZKyn0qypKQmgNKSmcf55UY6Xo/s400/doge.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pudding dons a <i>lei </i>for the holiday vibe. <br />
A lot of people say he's handsome, and we agree. <br />
(The vet has pronounced him overweight though,<br />
at 33.1kg. A diet of reduced kibble portions <br />
is ongoing, and treats have been greatly cut down.) </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8nveZJoKDlbsN3OzS-GJsYxsQnveKHYZ_Xz-j-R9ltY_kDvrrmthUP393XgNBjrfX2iFEquXeCCN-GvMRXWZ_L2jELfEjrhTRVUdJWMtnoQ_XBpZBrg8LU3oJqXEAp_VOUtKy-d1e4rQ/s1600/three.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8nveZJoKDlbsN3OzS-GJsYxsQnveKHYZ_Xz-j-R9ltY_kDvrrmthUP393XgNBjrfX2iFEquXeCCN-GvMRXWZ_L2jELfEjrhTRVUdJWMtnoQ_XBpZBrg8LU3oJqXEAp_VOUtKy-d1e4rQ/s400/three.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first three in the water, which was clear of flotsam,<br />
but looking uninvitingly olive green and opaque.<br />
From left, P, J1 and R. <span style="color: #686868;">Filter by Pixlr</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZi35uSPpJMZKDIEqcRamDf0k3B0UKWDqhWOaQOz_qXDVfvcLmawQQHy63-FOEbxbN6m8hGZB_ufrmUO1otI3EPnG5c21-rOOHrUDuYW27I-SVwo6GEbiqVTH-oLikLWlWg-ibkpAwZk8/s1600/four.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZi35uSPpJMZKDIEqcRamDf0k3B0UKWDqhWOaQOz_qXDVfvcLmawQQHy63-FOEbxbN6m8hGZB_ufrmUO1otI3EPnG5c21-rOOHrUDuYW27I-SVwo6GEbiqVTH-oLikLWlWg-ibkpAwZk8/s400/four.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From left, P (in water), J1 and R (on the swim platform) <br />
and J2, half-in, half-out. Filter courtesy of Pixlr.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCSGcqQyXcpaKCPaf33cNQmacsMyzeYfPxHA1fEBmnY07Fvn_3RKcAOv-iFzUY5aGcWRhsniF2n7zhppKIZvRMYYKbh438fGDC15HcXuSxySlhFQ-j23PmHiUwSCEZ2BfmeGEbC403LEc/s1600/carlanddoge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCSGcqQyXcpaKCPaf33cNQmacsMyzeYfPxHA1fEBmnY07Fvn_3RKcAOv-iFzUY5aGcWRhsniF2n7zhppKIZvRMYYKbh438fGDC15HcXuSxySlhFQ-j23PmHiUwSCEZ2BfmeGEbC403LEc/s400/carlanddoge.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fair is fair. Everyone on board on this <br />
sunny Saturday is pictured here. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbQDgSGs7waV974NguRFdUSW6mrOTHC5KnXraD82bKlwR09wtR7kut3KsDWhKUfwRmVOOm_0m5M8KS8AJZcG9xzwfTTno1wovSk2TyU29Jw_I6-0HcDV9N1OCcLnOfyWd4UE7QOddCseA/s1600/yp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbQDgSGs7waV974NguRFdUSW6mrOTHC5KnXraD82bKlwR09wtR7kut3KsDWhKUfwRmVOOm_0m5M8KS8AJZcG9xzwfTTno1wovSk2TyU29Jw_I6-0HcDV9N1OCcLnOfyWd4UE7QOddCseA/s400/yp.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A with Puddng. Shot taken by P. </td></tr>
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AmyChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843547093156496316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649238157583558665.post-37288805508901104402019-12-31T21:10:00.002+08:002019-12-31T21:12:27.545+08:00A new drone takes off from the boat <span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px;">Date: Dec 30 2019</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">Weather: Sunny and searingly hot</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">Waters: Choppy, especially out in Sinki Fairway</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">On board: C, A, J2, R and Pudding (the dog an afterthought) </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">New gear on board: The DJI Mavic Mini drone </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">The last outing for 2019. We made a total of nine trips this year, going out at least once a month except in January, July and September. We had two outings in October. Wishing we could be out on the water more often. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">We are missing J1 on board today. He's laid up with a bad throat infection. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px;">We hadn't planned on bringing the dog along, but he put on his best "sad face"... Of course, when he realised we were at the marina, this aqua-phobic doggo must have regretted his Oscar-winning performance of grievance heartily. While leashed, he was doing his darndest to pull away from the dock, away from all that water. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px;">Anyway, he was part of the crew for the day, so he bore his suffering for the next one hour 10 minutes as Little Wanderer 2 powered towards St John's Island. Without the usually-seasick J1 on board, we picked the farther-away destination. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px;">It was blisteringly hot as we pulled into the lagoon between St John's and Lazarus Island and dropped anchor. Pudding ducked below deck. As R says, we can just jump into the (rather chilly) water to cool off, but the poor boi cannot just shrug off his fur coat and jumping into the water isn't much of an option. Maybe his doggy mind has made a note to himself: If hoomans are dragging out the icebox, do not - I repeat, DO NOT - put on sad face and beg to tag along. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px;">C brought out his newest toy, a DJI Mavi Mini, which took off from the back seat of the boat and flew rather self-assuredly into the sky. Both stills and video clips were taken. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-tcY6AI-zypsq2pJEz51N8rxANa5LFQTcF5Ad98GmzV9WTmjyFDB_wxXzzpplCLd8j0SkHYSZXxyebFxvOWqpTQOKq6qst3AxLkpaWU7cjkamipLVwoVhghyphenhyphenQAxj-EowAcg9uZwv0DmE/s1600/IMG_4692.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-tcY6AI-zypsq2pJEz51N8rxANa5LFQTcF5Ad98GmzV9WTmjyFDB_wxXzzpplCLd8j0SkHYSZXxyebFxvOWqpTQOKq6qst3AxLkpaWU7cjkamipLVwoVhghyphenhyphenQAxj-EowAcg9uZwv0DmE/s400/IMG_4692.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">C piloted his Mavic Mini without problem. His earlier <br />
drones seemed more difficult to control.<br />
Advances in technology since the earlier versions ? </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLw9f2I36YALN1lKO0ZaI-Dm3fKvM1hbfw_msEavNV-sUzvcCdgPY69SrQhjwumrUuTfeXcUJcZvPJW8g9XTv9zWiXAIiF-HWYsXo0_5sk2NCuYZkAx4oW98jw52K5yQ0RhmV8hpEg2JI/s1600/IMG_4694.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLw9f2I36YALN1lKO0ZaI-Dm3fKvM1hbfw_msEavNV-sUzvcCdgPY69SrQhjwumrUuTfeXcUJcZvPJW8g9XTv9zWiXAIiF-HWYsXo0_5sk2NCuYZkAx4oW98jw52K5yQ0RhmV8hpEg2JI/s400/IMG_4694.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can just make it out in the centre of <br />
this shot. Pic by C</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCcaYkO90warJ4DXs4LnvEKoTju3b_03X9VAlM3Fv9mfH4HCZK3JJ5ur0SDPUxkI73Ded3CmkyvSaDVufZPmkT0L8Taino-TDOMP8_MK5g6TjAMLIOzYFSxBqUvtjsSu0huQXHRzw98vg/s1600/fd09fed6-e9d3-44ee-a2f1-84b2c2cfb699.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCcaYkO90warJ4DXs4LnvEKoTju3b_03X9VAlM3Fv9mfH4HCZK3JJ5ur0SDPUxkI73Ded3CmkyvSaDVufZPmkT0L8Taino-TDOMP8_MK5g6TjAMLIOzYFSxBqUvtjsSu0huQXHRzw98vg/s400/fd09fed6-e9d3-44ee-a2f1-84b2c2cfb699.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's us in the BIg Blue off St John's/Lazarus islands. Pic by C.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAzIk7Y43pqoR1YnuY58CunSieuO_NM5dYcLAOBGA7rMAkyRYh-idoLaSg-KuZJ_V2iFvPki4guxsTJdUYazDUSlbAY0ffRWg_sKjdw8asV8_FS3K1CzdgQ04YYWUzUAeBaueRVAQohqs/s1600/IMG_4699.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAzIk7Y43pqoR1YnuY58CunSieuO_NM5dYcLAOBGA7rMAkyRYh-idoLaSg-KuZJ_V2iFvPki4guxsTJdUYazDUSlbAY0ffRWg_sKjdw8asV8_FS3K1CzdgQ04YYWUzUAeBaueRVAQohqs/s400/IMG_4699.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We are wondering now if the dog won't be as keen <br />
to join us if only he can find out in advance <br />
where we are going. We all know he's not keen<br />
on the water or swimming or any kind of <br />
water-based activity. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJsFlI_VWPoZ0gwtvFSZuQKf2uryUbT0aD1aMbZp86fOTDRRg2Jltks41IYKZbyhiqCFL-qPRZ_gnoGA2wkiKlgRg7DkpBWSMYDTQH7nQTmT-vhsSr8s8GMFdSM1Xzw5VYG2I2AFAw8K8/s1600/IMG_4701.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJsFlI_VWPoZ0gwtvFSZuQKf2uryUbT0aD1aMbZp86fOTDRRg2Jltks41IYKZbyhiqCFL-qPRZ_gnoGA2wkiKlgRg7DkpBWSMYDTQH7nQTmT-vhsSr8s8GMFdSM1Xzw5VYG2I2AFAw8K8/s400/IMG_4701.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Portrait time. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGl9AFxu3U9mX_5b_1_tDOD2ddRtfmScy5xOkEjtXbC-E_RNOOA11ULC5nGm2sUBbEBEgGfgg-bPUZc7hshOgQNGpiHNjM_4yuRVIKXuwudapTlZpxBNjbKjC3omXKih3gMccBkgaifVc/s1600/IMG_4702.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGl9AFxu3U9mX_5b_1_tDOD2ddRtfmScy5xOkEjtXbC-E_RNOOA11ULC5nGm2sUBbEBEgGfgg-bPUZc7hshOgQNGpiHNjM_4yuRVIKXuwudapTlZpxBNjbKjC3omXKih3gMccBkgaifVc/s400/IMG_4702.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Portrait time Part Deux. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjZ1Wan3q55rzpzRUYH1BELGuJrdyVi8tVVvBgxibR3EBEhRoJXanirtVUANobGtQtxdhmsddtzLLEcsHtMhajYfsZ9LWdejcdmxOWwRyL8o6GYrs7D7ExFCUE1ERtznvVtHdqa_EJpiE/s1600/IMG_4710.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjZ1Wan3q55rzpzRUYH1BELGuJrdyVi8tVVvBgxibR3EBEhRoJXanirtVUANobGtQtxdhmsddtzLLEcsHtMhajYfsZ9LWdejcdmxOWwRyL8o6GYrs7D7ExFCUE1ERtznvVtHdqa_EJpiE/s320/IMG_4710.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The doggo chills on the journey back, seemingly more<br />
relaxed than during the outward journey, when he <br />
cowered beside A for more than an hour.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Back at the marina, the drone was sent up again to capture one of Raffles Marina's legendary sunsets.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipv5f2LYknhKTGrLK50h1ikHbfnWSGIM0iM7WGT3K39g1AHnQz8YIr4Wmye_o_aG2RzWvw-blfpiQU0ifSC9AhQQMYMyD339fibE9SGy1zEFdz1oIAV5aI2K8XkqBagNKeNs0ey3sXhxA/s1600/eee665d9-d9e0-44d2-9a33-80d8e6566760.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="1600" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipv5f2LYknhKTGrLK50h1ikHbfnWSGIM0iM7WGT3K39g1AHnQz8YIr4Wmye_o_aG2RzWvw-blfpiQU0ifSC9AhQQMYMyD339fibE9SGy1zEFdz1oIAV5aI2K8XkqBagNKeNs0ey3sXhxA/s640/eee665d9-d9e0-44d2-9a33-80d8e6566760.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's the environmentally-damaging Forest City condo development on the skyline, built by a Chinese developer with zero regard for the effect of the construction on the quality of the water in the Strait of Johor. Pic by C.</td></tr>
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AmyChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843547093156496316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649238157583558665.post-33625738907015803152019-11-10T16:20:00.001+08:002019-11-10T16:21:11.083+08:00Back to Lim Chu Kang, a first-time visitor on board<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px;">Date: Nov 9, 2019</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">Weather: Sunny and hot, cloudy and cooler later</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">Waters: Slightly choppy</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">On board: C, A, J1, J2, P and Pudding (R is away) </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5W-6ZrvEkBYIHkiKXmOl1wBeHR1a26VFamy0ozYVWUb1uytJEqphwSJz1e6UlcXemf7F8vBOwO47VaxQUGeLMZVNluAiLmokpIJDUmGjubINZboUy1zcwYe1Uwjd9TyQzfsA0l55wLfI/s1600/IMG_4429.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1190" data-original-width="1600" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5W-6ZrvEkBYIHkiKXmOl1wBeHR1a26VFamy0ozYVWUb1uytJEqphwSJz1e6UlcXemf7F8vBOwO47VaxQUGeLMZVNluAiLmokpIJDUmGjubINZboUy1zcwYe1Uwjd9TyQzfsA0l55wLfI/s400/IMG_4429.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taken by C who was treading water with A's iPhone X.<br />
Little Wanderer 2's impressive profile. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The plan was to go back to St John's, but of course, the young ones didn't wake up early enough...<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So back to the Lim Chu Kang fish farms it was. We had P on board, a first-timer on board LW2 and a first-timer on a sport cruiser like this. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMrG7eThRKEhPnO5Iw-iCCDf5nXxg5FCknlkIaJZGAlnsOwaJsjXXOI5r1BMPzcNB8pCyxj8NW1c2r908kxRGEzrm8711Kn7PV4lxt93gQwzK4MsSS4_0l3Toqe5lqiI199edyMETtph8/s1600/IMG_4433.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMrG7eThRKEhPnO5Iw-iCCDf5nXxg5FCknlkIaJZGAlnsOwaJsjXXOI5r1BMPzcNB8pCyxj8NW1c2r908kxRGEzrm8711Kn7PV4lxt93gQwzK4MsSS4_0l3Toqe5lqiI199edyMETtph8/s400/IMG_4433.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First time I've seen the rabbit-ear thing done to a doggo. And said <br />
doggo didn't seem the wiser about what was happening. </td></tr>
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<br />
<div>
J1 and P jumped off the swim platform to cool off, and Pudding, hearing the splash, went to see. Maybe his doggo brain understood them to be in some sort of trouble. He began to whimper, like he did two weeks ago, when C dived off the swim platform. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglSidLcCwIcD43K8N0k9dYopgHaLaf_7XOZRQ-DW3Il87gUw9ErmhXq5E81D-dvr4fMKDlskCfE2Zq-mYTm-iAhDDi1evOK3wNt-YWsCK81e_FcqXLl-JJpMyHnYBhEosAyifXmW4Usco/s1600/L1001006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglSidLcCwIcD43K8N0k9dYopgHaLaf_7XOZRQ-DW3Il87gUw9ErmhXq5E81D-dvr4fMKDlskCfE2Zq-mYTm-iAhDDi1evOK3wNt-YWsCK81e_FcqXLl-JJpMyHnYBhEosAyifXmW4Usco/s400/L1001006.jpg" width="400" /></a> </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzERLl6HFDOY0TET5AN1Ebs0p_JsKfKq31PgPi9l6GyUlKgCz8IxuOSUL3g0oaT8N16R85VTN9uKokSl7Po2EswFu48V09Som4GrQbZ9D8FRjx1lia0_NMyBoO8aOuVlINHPdkDij-MCE/s1600/L1000999.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzERLl6HFDOY0TET5AN1Ebs0p_JsKfKq31PgPi9l6GyUlKgCz8IxuOSUL3g0oaT8N16R85VTN9uKokSl7Po2EswFu48V09Som4GrQbZ9D8FRjx1lia0_NMyBoO8aOuVlINHPdkDij-MCE/s400/L1000999.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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AmyChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843547093156496316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649238157583558665.post-88966401105624419702019-10-30T11:59:00.002+08:002019-11-11T18:42:56.090+08:00The empty nesters head out for a trip <span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px;">Date: Oct 27, 2019</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">Weather: Sunny and hot</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">Waters: Choppy, especially on the return leg; anchored off St John's Island</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">On board: C, A and Pudding </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">With J1 and J2 spending time with their girlfriend and wife respectively, we (C and A) found ourselves with an empty nest this long Deepavali weekend. Well, OK, we still had the dog, who has come to expect outings every weekend, so why not head out on the water with him, right? </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">Neither of us wanted to let this long weekend go to waste, sitting catatonic in front of the TV and binge-watching Netflix series. And since we can wake up earlier, it seemed to make sense to try for an earlier start - seemingly impossible when young people are on board - and head out towards the Southern Islands. This is a route Little Wanderer 2 hasn't taken in a while, not since September 2017, when a <a href="https://wandererlog.blogspot.com/2017/09/" target="_blank">trip</a> was made to the waters off Pulau Bukom. Thanks to J1's chronic seasickness and the family's habitually late starts at noon, this longer route has been ditched in favour of going west towards the SAF live-firing area instead. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher";"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;">And so on this sunny Sunday, after a little over an hour hugging Singapore's western coast, rounding The Elbow near Jurong Island and going down Sinki Fairway, we found ourselves floating in a calm lagoon (pic below) just about 100m off the causeway linking St John's and Lazarus islands. The dog was by then panting under his fur coat and nervous from the much-longer, bumpy trip. </span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFSLkgTiO0L36VsmQVwGguFahUMM3XbMBzWReNYahZKa9qVBmJ22fPIvi9tNNHxbtQgP0V1cEBlrsLT_MNN0XVEPnNDTmK3Kw_j1C-ffaQLRv7DHx4Qbojq0LS88n3zAZAZhaFe0NFtjY/s1600/IMG_4332.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="750" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFSLkgTiO0L36VsmQVwGguFahUMM3XbMBzWReNYahZKa9qVBmJ22fPIvi9tNNHxbtQgP0V1cEBlrsLT_MNN0XVEPnNDTmK3Kw_j1C-ffaQLRv7DHx4Qbojq0LS88n3zAZAZhaFe0NFtjY/s400/IMG_4332.jpg" width="400" /></a> </div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px;">The plan had been to anchor the boat just off one of Sentosa's beaches, but when we got to just off the Tanjong Beach Club (scene of the Wedding of the Year in July), the waters just outside the floater lines cordoning off the lagoon were choppy and over 20m</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px;"> deep at that - too much anchor line would have to be paid out. St John's became Plan B. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs1ITioPids07j46LPqRdsVV5KiSgNntd3SHu-854feHcLHt2H3cjq1XTa8Fnefw_NiA6InsSOLl-gQiXpgYYmTxyY16GkeoJEBEJEKvim4Hyyi9yBb0PBItvmwMds9elkFXOnI8fzg1k/s1600/IMG_4359.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs1ITioPids07j46LPqRdsVV5KiSgNntd3SHu-854feHcLHt2H3cjq1XTa8Fnefw_NiA6InsSOLl-gQiXpgYYmTxyY16GkeoJEBEJEKvim4Hyyi9yBb0PBItvmwMds9elkFXOnI8fzg1k/s400/IMG_4359.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hot dog being cooled down with a wet chamois. </td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px;">At the place where we anchored, there were two other pleasure craft; on the shore, a surprising number of day trippers were walking or using their PMDs (no escaping these nuisances on two wheels) between Lazarus and St John's islands. Not many swimmers on this scorcher of a day. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpeHPPBp5E1gEdJDCJekYO_6S-MeWEieamF81aHJxgJUwH1hSEKJaxGeSQKPkfi6vZ7FnoPKmFBORCk8nlI4q787SZTzaNkB0M2eHHmtLhJxlqnGwc2VyH1tgrm-FqsN96f9UVvbDxlZ4/s1600/IMG_4360.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpeHPPBp5E1gEdJDCJekYO_6S-MeWEieamF81aHJxgJUwH1hSEKJaxGeSQKPkfi6vZ7FnoPKmFBORCk8nlI4q787SZTzaNkB0M2eHHmtLhJxlqnGwc2VyH1tgrm-FqsN96f9UVvbDxlZ4/s400/IMG_4360.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lazarus Island to the left and St John's to the right, and <br />
the causeway, dotted with people, in between.</td></tr>
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<br />
It was much quieter today on board as we floated there, and I was reminded that we are going through that rite of passage that many, many couples undertake - to try to reconnect with each other after the children have grown and go out to make their own lives, on their own time. For many years, the logistics and the effort of raising children typically consumes both halves of couples, who would also be navigating through their careers. Then when this time rolls around and they have only each other (most of the time anyway), what do they do together or say to each other? After 20-some years in marriage, there's not that much that's new to report anyway. Are they going to find an activity to share? Live separate lives while chasing disparate hobbies? And what about financial security and health? Will they remember (and celebrate) day to day the reasons they came together right at the beginning of their story? This leaves couples hoping that the intervening years haven't changed either of them too much that they are practically strangers to each other in their later years. Or, at the very least, they would hope that if they did change a lot, then the people they have become would still be tolerable!<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Anyway, wine was drunk and Dire Straits and the Allman Brothers Band crooned. At around 3pm, we hoisted the anchor and made tracks for home, tanned some shades darker (C) and sunburnt (A). </div>
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The return leg was even choppier and the boat captain had to slow down to a sedate 18 knots and even nearly stop at times. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5QJukWMDZ-pNUDrkYFq3VvB-b9D4TydMjtcoExcz4ZJJK6n3jgwlWVTJBqLmjVKWWTjeeOHKKDmUueRJ4afD4sIeU9vBf7jZ1u4sLBJfHMHwm40eBkChu3o41qP0NXxYZJ2vff-dIHpQ/s1600/IMG_4348.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1203" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5QJukWMDZ-pNUDrkYFq3VvB-b9D4TydMjtcoExcz4ZJJK6n3jgwlWVTJBqLmjVKWWTjeeOHKKDmUueRJ4afD4sIeU9vBf7jZ1u4sLBJfHMHwm40eBkChu3o41qP0NXxYZJ2vff-dIHpQ/s400/IMG_4348.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Once more, the dog was afraid, and planted himself <br />
on A's lap pretty much all the way home. You know he's<br />
nervous when he refused the offer of a treat.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOka3DBfnaPPXQeY4z6Ld99RM87elArd2RNk6BRkMNOx-EQWl41aSCTJKXGVMpPOGe8DdulH3YaiB28BsPuttS4eEoUW0SOLhtkr-CtQQ7bexATQmJk093G04f22igtHt08Yog_fC_ei4/s1600/IMG_4343.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOka3DBfnaPPXQeY4z6Ld99RM87elArd2RNk6BRkMNOx-EQWl41aSCTJKXGVMpPOGe8DdulH3YaiB28BsPuttS4eEoUW0SOLhtkr-CtQQ7bexATQmJk093G04f22igtHt08Yog_fC_ei4/s400/IMG_4343.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pudding (check out his Instagram feed @pudding_thegoldengod) <br />
happily accepted treats again back on terra firma at the marina.<br />
He will be two years old in less than a month, and now weighs 32 kg. </td></tr>
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One thought that struck us on this trip: How will boating change for us when Singapore's busy port starts operations at Tuas? The waters will be busier for sure, and making our way down the west coast and towards the Southern Islands will become a little more dangerous, with our small boat ducking around the massive container ships. Or we might have to swing out wider to avoid all this traffic, which will certainly add to travel time. </div>
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The time might well have come to consider moving to another marina, the <a href="https://rsyc.org.sg/" target="_blank">Republic of Singapore Yacht Club</a> nearer Sentosa, for one. We have come to like <a href="https://www.rafflesmarina.com.sg/" target="_blank">Raffles Marina</a> a lot, the long east-to-west drive for us notwithstanding. The marina is home base to many anglers, and though we don't quite "get" the joy of fishing, we like the laid-back, unpretentious atmosphere there. </div>
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The downside to Raffles (aside from its location near the future Tuas megaport) is that it's anti-dog... which we have discovered only in the last year and a half that Pudding has come to join our family. We take him from car park to the boat and back, slinking around the edge of the marina, unable to go enjoy beers at the Discovery Pub or to have a meal at the bistro. We have offered to take tables far from other club patrons, and the dog - always leashed - is quiet and doesn't bark.<br />
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However, we have consistently received a "Rules are rules" response from the wait staff... </div>
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Boating, the great outdoors... and dogs. They just "go" together. But a member of our family, sadly, isn't welcome here. </div>
AmyChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843547093156496316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649238157583558665.post-44190207155746687592019-10-06T16:19:00.002+08:002019-10-09T14:33:37.751+08:00Sitting out a short shower<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">Date: Oct 5, 2019</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">Weather: Sunny, then a rainstorm, which cleared up fast </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">Waters: Our usual spot north of the SAF firing zone, off western Singapore</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">On board: C, A, J1, J2, R and Pudding </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">This was an outing best told in pictures, since we didn't do anything out of the ordinary. There were all good intentions to be at the marina by 11am, but as usual, a few of us were slugs about getting out of bed. Toss in a topping up of the tank, and it turned out that we couldn't leave the marina till about 1pm. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Jdqt16U_mpAI4V-EE1AmJvW1zKtmctRL7gHV3Eor6qZoLvUj1g6hdAB6m6bq3jqrlOunHn3J687JcQ5egsl1NqkFLq92wTfD0wlcYMN310jzCPR8X2O9sS7w2uijyuUX9NjQ8UV6dN8/s1600/IMG_4243.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Jdqt16U_mpAI4V-EE1AmJvW1zKtmctRL7gHV3Eor6qZoLvUj1g6hdAB6m6bq3jqrlOunHn3J687JcQ5egsl1NqkFLq92wTfD0wlcYMN310jzCPR8X2O9sS7w2uijyuUX9NjQ8UV6dN8/s400/IMG_4243.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pudds tries to wrap his head around the concept of <br />
sunscreen, which J2 applied as we pulled out of the marina. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFLmLqsZa7v4Dz98fSLMmw9PgbXJXUNlAs0WMzgifayUY1NxprWgKdWLYFzkoFARhlhTNvXhxHmmRFq4Yv6x6GaLoq6v-tHv3w2VQLL9v0EqGAXsIKb-3kR4f6tmAYeEa9eQ89eBJYw4M/s1600/L1000906.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFLmLqsZa7v4Dz98fSLMmw9PgbXJXUNlAs0WMzgifayUY1NxprWgKdWLYFzkoFARhlhTNvXhxHmmRFq4Yv6x6GaLoq6v-tHv3w2VQLL9v0EqGAXsIKb-3kR4f6tmAYeEa9eQ89eBJYw4M/s400/L1000906.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The baby needed a bit of calming. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL_Jo7caRgJDXtVs6585D9UMt4OumehKsdUhCNvHA6xQKFn3j47WWgpyN7Y_qTBxNsFKnj_26tKR3rcMUaM7sRPxcah8pp7fYIKZAtW-lWQqFTMozb2eT5FF4L_4TeXiL_VLqlpzi99Ro/s1600/L1000915.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1068" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL_Jo7caRgJDXtVs6585D9UMt4OumehKsdUhCNvHA6xQKFn3j47WWgpyN7Y_qTBxNsFKnj_26tKR3rcMUaM7sRPxcah8pp7fYIKZAtW-lWQqFTMozb2eT5FF4L_4TeXiL_VLqlpzi99Ro/s400/L1000915.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beer in one hand and wine in the other. 'Nuff said. <br />
Pic by R</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLn_dBXzyl2dLbLI6KJ_9X_5jmT-dLz3eBJ-KiMF5Iq-FaUXtKxXYS_DsZfGn0uaSEeRFSEWv1-uZJHhPMcQQC9lqhO-gRCmPPiZGc63-yKMzsTpjKMRLA_PrDYi-UUYOW4OZ87PsdrMY/s1600/L1000923.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLn_dBXzyl2dLbLI6KJ_9X_5jmT-dLz3eBJ-KiMF5Iq-FaUXtKxXYS_DsZfGn0uaSEeRFSEWv1-uZJHhPMcQQC9lqhO-gRCmPPiZGc63-yKMzsTpjKMRLA_PrDYi-UUYOW4OZ87PsdrMY/s400/L1000923.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A has chosen this as her Shot of the Day. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPtGCiD7cgr2k5jCEb8r8CeQXEK1UEWs3gngFHTbNlFB3YtPpb9TTw1xasin3l2e3YbV0DfY0dh2jJr0tNN_M7O8KyKPMFzqCyYZNcmCaYZMS1KEMmuifJLJGhYnHhsEfl1QyKDc-PlYs/s1600/L1000943.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPtGCiD7cgr2k5jCEb8r8CeQXEK1UEWs3gngFHTbNlFB3YtPpb9TTw1xasin3l2e3YbV0DfY0dh2jJr0tNN_M7O8KyKPMFzqCyYZNcmCaYZMS1KEMmuifJLJGhYnHhsEfl1QyKDc-PlYs/s400/L1000943.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The doggo creates work with his presence. First he wants to be <br />
where R is on the top deck. He's carried up because he can't "do" <br />
that step ladder. Then he wants to come down, and <br />
dog daddy J1 has to carry him down to the main deck...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9D0z6pOsP120yMB3wp9IE_koEAxsrJoZ6UKI428Mom3S_weC4R_jLwxQa5oXyUQGoZ_pcBUShOjFSSvwOefv095QwyHpW7MGsaNRtVGfIe8begCo3OpTgyy3VOVgqXSmhNJvtvlyJno0/s1600/L1000926.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9D0z6pOsP120yMB3wp9IE_koEAxsrJoZ6UKI428Mom3S_weC4R_jLwxQa5oXyUQGoZ_pcBUShOjFSSvwOefv095QwyHpW7MGsaNRtVGfIe8begCo3OpTgyy3VOVgqXSmhNJvtvlyJno0/s400/L1000926.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Then the grey clouds gathered. The storm light was strangely beautiful. </td></tr>
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The family retreated below deck during the short but fierce shower. The waters outside stayed relatively calm. It's a source of fascination for A that the boat's capacity is listed as 12 people, but it already feels crowded with just the five of us plus Pudding. There is talk about getting a bigger boat, the <a href="https://global.searay.com/page.aspx/pageid/163647/pmid/999339/Sundancer-290.aspx" target="_blank">Searay Sundancer 290</a>, the next model up from what we have, the <a href="https://global.searay.com/page.aspx/pageid/163647/pmid/366338/Sundancer-260.aspx" target="_blank">260</a>.<br />
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But we are just kidding, right? RIGHT? It's not like we own a mint. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYDyWsFCQ7YSpXjU9qn4isLXrz4c35npjY4ATjvlmES3JUAu9tmhEr6U0TKdUSHbUcvh7cquzIx5gRxiQjjL32qRZkjjAXFvv_sRRzab_Fu_oAOcAQnc1hhNivtAobcpDT1QS_1V4mSwY/s1600/L1000929.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYDyWsFCQ7YSpXjU9qn4isLXrz4c35npjY4ATjvlmES3JUAu9tmhEr6U0TKdUSHbUcvh7cquzIx5gRxiQjjL32qRZkjjAXFvv_sRRzab_Fu_oAOcAQnc1hhNivtAobcpDT1QS_1V4mSwY/s400/L1000929.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Post rain. It's near end of the day. Such calm. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizPmd990692oks4wlG3aYefRXfKnTeXTFmcQZX5CR5d_4sUmHYC4rNpFVFC2xb5kLonP81jJ7eocjIHw28tsQyT_ws984-MjNvbedEfr9PaoOsknZ-rzUveqaXnlPCODWCBtJllXeZFkQ/s1600/L1000948.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizPmd990692oks4wlG3aYefRXfKnTeXTFmcQZX5CR5d_4sUmHYC4rNpFVFC2xb5kLonP81jJ7eocjIHw28tsQyT_ws984-MjNvbedEfr9PaoOsknZ-rzUveqaXnlPCODWCBtJllXeZFkQ/s400/L1000948.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Le Capitan. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLMNhJ6hpKNp4nPyYXpjFjQltCm2dJeX6zWfGVz7sSL5cVqHBQPEEQQ1Fw6-1BptncevfzNTTVBUEUxeOmg1KyAVMCN29icoeZoKbQAgNhyz6RmAWXsWQGM-khi7ajLTE7vX1tVs0s8pA/s1600/IMG_4250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLMNhJ6hpKNp4nPyYXpjFjQltCm2dJeX6zWfGVz7sSL5cVqHBQPEEQQ1Fw6-1BptncevfzNTTVBUEUxeOmg1KyAVMCN29icoeZoKbQAgNhyz6RmAWXsWQGM-khi7ajLTE7vX1tVs0s8pA/s400/IMG_4250.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pic by R shot off her three-camera iPhone. <br />
We got out on the deck again after the rain. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGXSyIsPUbJfhpf9bIvYK21SF-1ML9l6WWJvVw4oQByCScS9XKiVxXjAStjt6Bngpsv7JnkaVd-8KoRp6EvUxXtBPd364qHUqHAHKUpDLzCNroc9QH36FWERRHazEc3FikhRo35a0z3t4/s1600/L1000965.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="902" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGXSyIsPUbJfhpf9bIvYK21SF-1ML9l6WWJvVw4oQByCScS9XKiVxXjAStjt6Bngpsv7JnkaVd-8KoRp6EvUxXtBPd364qHUqHAHKUpDLzCNroc9QH36FWERRHazEc3FikhRo35a0z3t4/s400/L1000965.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back on terra firma. We suspect the dog is glad. </td></tr>
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AmyChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843547093156496316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649238157583558665.post-46298798532579349802019-08-25T16:21:00.002+08:002019-08-26T19:50:37.149+08:00Back on the water after FOUR months<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">
<span style="line-height: 21.56px;">Date: Aug 24, 2019 </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">Weather: Sunny, searingly hot </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">Waters: Our usual spot north of the SAF firing zone, off western Singapore</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">On board: C, A, J1, J2, R and Pudding </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">What's kept us away from the water for so long? An assortment of things, mostly, finding a date when everyone was available - not travelling or having work to do, or getting married (as J2 and R did, yay!) - <i>and</i> getting the winds and tides to be in our favour. It's almost like asking for all the planets to be aligned. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">But here we were on a scorcher of a Saturday, with everyone out of bed late, as usual. It's really hard for us to be on the water any earlier than noon. So we set out for our default destination north of the SAF firing range because it's a much shorter boat ride than going to the Southern Islands. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">It has been so long since the last outing that Pudding was a bit un-nerved by the roar of the boat engine. We can tell because he was moving about restlessly a lot more than on the last outing in April, when he made himself comfortable on the boat seats, across laps. This time, he stayed firmly on deck, drooling. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsDdpaPX0B5RGyJ2bpbDovIIaiS2nJKLijULmR8Hr59JcdV0hFjDWIno9RicITpnlwHpcj8K9CP2xPrmzyACTdLeXVIHY4mRg_7TSnA73cBm1bw7aha3dPRSJwyVio2gqRCQIAk2IdGDk/s1600/IMG_3964.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsDdpaPX0B5RGyJ2bpbDovIIaiS2nJKLijULmR8Hr59JcdV0hFjDWIno9RicITpnlwHpcj8K9CP2xPrmzyACTdLeXVIHY4mRg_7TSnA73cBm1bw7aha3dPRSJwyVio2gqRCQIAk2IdGDk/s400/IMG_3964.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Liverpool's lucky charm. Nine hours after he donned <br />
this red cap, the team blew Arsenal away 3-1 at Anfield.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp9-ca2STq7ol1TUSNP96uKTWY_bVUAEXzGS7211HWp4oPsd8IPbxKKMVrMn5OI6jAqmxoqVkfUV3AZhkw_fWkovOvgxbRwK0GsNs60JDe_xYpBE_oQIe4Zc9hfpQRZXrxYqiK3tOAiQ0/s1600/IMG_3966.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp9-ca2STq7ol1TUSNP96uKTWY_bVUAEXzGS7211HWp4oPsd8IPbxKKMVrMn5OI6jAqmxoqVkfUV3AZhkw_fWkovOvgxbRwK0GsNs60JDe_xYpBE_oQIe4Zc9hfpQRZXrxYqiK3tOAiQ0/s400/IMG_3966.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He hates wearing hats, but had no choice with this one.<br />
It stayed on. </td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px;">J1, bested by the heat and his own son's dander, retreated below deck ... but the dog followed, which kind of defeated the purpose of taking a break from his dog. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px;">On board this blistering afternoon, we ate Royals Cafe mini pies and Grandma's banana walnut bread and listened to songs off Bruce Springsteen's <i>Western Stars</i> album. (OK, there was Toto's <i>Africa,</i> Taylor Swift's <i>Lover</i> and some Fleetwood Mac too.)</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmRAFI6zvcRV-gO-d2rhvcctnDZM7XmJXVugwVWUd6ccN3rjfGI2tgfUGsUas9eoSomnw5oC9XdMF1stOtrfoMkqBjK-zPR-0ufYe61s4Dd2NX0XoFKxKfvH5_ll1oDJ05yWUALq0UsFc/s1600/IMG_3971.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="758" data-original-width="1010" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmRAFI6zvcRV-gO-d2rhvcctnDZM7XmJXVugwVWUd6ccN3rjfGI2tgfUGsUas9eoSomnw5oC9XdMF1stOtrfoMkqBjK-zPR-0ufYe61s4Dd2NX0XoFKxKfvH5_ll1oDJ05yWUALq0UsFc/s640/IMG_3971.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A rare family shot, given how everyone hates photos like this. Photo taken by R, so <br />
we simply had to have another shot with her in it, hence the following one: </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxY6xrW4Bpwu3r3z9thO758V1ENIwiHzF74qgIBhbz6Jjzdj_EOHYa6vmSpkCImK1hSHRodSwiWy9QZFWo52hhXZjEcEfsYSP6s5IoFxKWBPolRgErlVA3FQfNFhBdE__5PoSQQ6zy3Ro/s1600/IMG_3969.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="933" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxY6xrW4Bpwu3r3z9thO758V1ENIwiHzF74qgIBhbz6Jjzdj_EOHYa6vmSpkCImK1hSHRodSwiWy9QZFWo52hhXZjEcEfsYSP6s5IoFxKWBPolRgErlVA3FQfNFhBdE__5PoSQQ6zy3Ro/s640/IMG_3969.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pudding, front and centre, puts on his best photo face. Photo by C.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWSUlA1LqjhVjxjuIa9DjxumctqmeAUBZ_LeItc7ozb5s_S3nYUHyC-G_iV02jgyjccotm77I1d1wTLENmVS2nmv_MTWbbIOlaKgGuvB28jIXQcPeyRhKAdQv0T0YFn7a3tp2A3sCLlKg/s1600/IMG_3967.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWSUlA1LqjhVjxjuIa9DjxumctqmeAUBZ_LeItc7ozb5s_S3nYUHyC-G_iV02jgyjccotm77I1d1wTLENmVS2nmv_MTWbbIOlaKgGuvB28jIXQcPeyRhKAdQv0T0YFn7a3tp2A3sCLlKg/s400/IMG_3967.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Past-trip ablutions for LW2. </td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"><br /></span>AmyChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843547093156496316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649238157583558665.post-37037596583942098362019-06-03T20:20:00.003+08:002019-06-03T20:22:33.663+08:00Minor spring-cleaning for the boat<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">
<span style="line-height: 21.56px;">Date: June 1, 2019 </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">Weather: Sunny, hot </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">Waters: In the marina, fairly flat</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">On board: C, A and Pudding </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">With J1 and J2 away on holiday, C and A made the trip to the marina with cleaning tools to give the below-deck area a clean-up, and to see what stuff could be thrown out so the boat would be tidier. We kept our options open about a trip out on the water. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">Pudding was just along for the ride, because leaving him home alone wouldn't have been very nice of us. It's almost like he's come to expect outings on weekends. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">Horrors. The head was filled with dark brown water, and it took a few flushes for it to all go away. Elbow grease with toilet detergent and stain removers was applied, and the rest of the tiny shower stall wiped down. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">Some unused equipment (stand-up paddle board, a dinghy, probably stinky from being incompletely dry from the last use) were chucked out. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px;">The throw cushions and raincoats were sunned briefly and the shelves and seats/bed were wiped down. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">Pudding stayed above deck, rapidly wilting from the heat, so that was another reason to make the clean-up fast. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px;">An hour and a half later, it was almost 1pm, and A was feeling pretty sweaty and unkeen on a trip out. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px;">C and A chilled for a while with Pudds at the bistro and headed home. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px;"> </span>AmyChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843547093156496316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649238157583558665.post-17005810096362958582019-04-20T22:25:00.003+08:002019-06-01T18:49:19.493+08:00Fishing: Catfish caught<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">
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<span style="line-height: 21.56px;">Date: April 20, 2019 </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">Trip #21 (#41)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">Weather: Cloudy but bright, cool. R</span><span style="font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px;">ained upon our return to the marina </span><span style="font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">Waters: North of the SAF firing range, a little choppy</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">On board: C, A, J1, J2, R, K, B, D and Pudding </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">It rained in the east coast in the morning, and there was a danger the trip would be canned. But we drove out west and it was fine there, so we headed out. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">B and D, R's brother-in-law and nephew, were guests on board today. D, aged nine, is the only one of B's four children who has taken an interest in fishing. Father and son came with their own rod and tackle, which they set up as soon as we had dropped anchor in our usual spot. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj95IgDm819RynAqpX0SO5YT28bJjVP1Lzxbq6rS-D9UJrg_HaQj1cTDmrDAI0WFLOJzLThNx6zSAocZbaDD8W5s4u9l2ycvUTYsQE__YPN6FJSN9DMaAb-acK3jA9em4gEF-ICDBE3IrE/s1600/L1000220.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj95IgDm819RynAqpX0SO5YT28bJjVP1Lzxbq6rS-D9UJrg_HaQj1cTDmrDAI0WFLOJzLThNx6zSAocZbaDD8W5s4u9l2ycvUTYsQE__YPN6FJSN9DMaAb-acK3jA9em4gEF-ICDBE3IrE/s400/L1000220.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">We turned on the boat's fish finder and it showed disappointingly fish-less waters. D, enthusiasm dampened, jumped into the water as an alternative sport. Several dives later, he was emboldened enough to jump off the side of the boat, a considerably higher launch point. His dad, J1, R and K joined him for a spot of swimming. After the broiler heat of our last two outings, today was pleasantly cool, with the sun behind massive cloud cover. (Sunglasses were still required.) </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">Pudding generally got in everyone's way until he was given a hoist to get to the upper deck with A, who just chilled there and watched some predator birds take dives into the water. (Hm, there must be fish there, she thought.) </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhusVGVid1nBKjM3t7XWnUzxjpyw1OKuTNHPKKXJ7xJ2D0ImsLg010tOrhm_VqUKF0fuQDNT6tBOhNZ9mKoyHInYB1pvvRfHBYkC0ciyy1gqCJLZPhrhiJ7nBn-GjdiE-hLdLPeU-AkWM0/s1600/L1000223.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhusVGVid1nBKjM3t7XWnUzxjpyw1OKuTNHPKKXJ7xJ2D0ImsLg010tOrhm_VqUKF0fuQDNT6tBOhNZ9mKoyHInYB1pvvRfHBYkC0ciyy1gqCJLZPhrhiJ7nBn-GjdiE-hLdLPeU-AkWM0/s400/L1000223.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pudding surveying his kingdom from his perch.</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">Then came a shout from aft. There was a bite on the line. It was a <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/vertebrates/fish/ariidae/ariidae.htm" target="_blank">catfish</a>. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhyphenhyphen01p9kGtsJMAU3RHDS_ej-lQMSdorq1iGMdpO5LD8Y5Y0xfS8cAXqMzMuanR7YSyknoxT5xiQKQ8rm66CtibQ9wtXqwb1LcfGlEkzANdt1whB89sWB2ZyX3NDNDdYYNQ3UBmRT1Oq1E/s1600/L1000231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhyphenhyphen01p9kGtsJMAU3RHDS_ej-lQMSdorq1iGMdpO5LD8Y5Y0xfS8cAXqMzMuanR7YSyknoxT5xiQKQ8rm66CtibQ9wtXqwb1LcfGlEkzANdt1whB89sWB2ZyX3NDNDdYYNQ3UBmRT1Oq1E/s400/L1000231.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was a joint effort in landing this catch. </td></tr>
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Mindful of the poisonous barbs on this fish, B, with his left hand protected by a flip flop, removed the hook. He released the fish "because catfish aren't good eating", he said. These bottom-feeders taste muddy.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjSqbtYa8Ql2g4RFmMHrYaBEj9mV4-ApmXsS1o4m3yAbmF8UEfsUj2M3UV49ACIEFpU3WcB8Amsws6DetJpYvM0ntWCVFwj_Ojw_8g_0WO-f0sgot1iP6HC3RL0OHpbzNpOUSrB8cUB3k/s1600/L1000236.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjSqbtYa8Ql2g4RFmMHrYaBEj9mV4-ApmXsS1o4m3yAbmF8UEfsUj2M3UV49ACIEFpU3WcB8Amsws6DetJpYvM0ntWCVFwj_Ojw_8g_0WO-f0sgot1iP6HC3RL0OHpbzNpOUSrB8cUB3k/s400/L1000236.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Seeing a storm front coming from the direction of the Lim Chu Kang fish farms, we hauled up anchor and headed back for <a href="https://www.rafflesmarina.com.sg/" target="_blank">Raffles Marina</a>. We idled for a while outside the marina so the anglers could make another try for a catch, but they came up empty.<br />
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The rain caught up with us again as we turned into the marina's no-wake zone. C did the post-trip hose-down while the rest took shelter in the bistro. After the boat was cleaned and returned to the boathouse, we had a meal at the marina. None of the waiters who came by with the orders seemed perturbed to find a dog there, though our table was far from where most other customers of the bistro were. So we stayed for the meal.<br />
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AmyChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843547093156496316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649238157583558665.post-74385188267752058382019-03-11T22:14:00.002+08:002019-03-16T18:26:39.475+08:00A longer trip, canned <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="line-height: 21.56px;">Date: March 9, 2019 </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">Trip #20 (#40)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">Weather: Sunny, bright </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">Waters: North of the SAF firing range, flat, but stormed on the return leg </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">On board: C, A, J1, J2, R, K, and Pudding </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">The plan was to head east from <a href="https://www.rafflesmarina.com.sg/" target="_blank">Raffles Marina</a> to go to the Southern Islands, but everyone (excepting C and A) got up too late. It is a rather longer cruise, be it to Sisters' Island or to Pulau Hantu, and we would have returned to the marina too late, probably in semi-darkness, so the plan was canned. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">We are starting out from the marina no earlier than noon or even 1pm these days, so our choices are seriously limited. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">We do miss going to the islands. The previous boat, a Chaparral, had an outboard motor [see the 2019 model of the Suncoast 230 that we had <a href="http://www.chaparralboats.com/Chaparral-Boat.php?id=460&action=tab_highlights&country=" target="_blank">here</a>] which could be raised in shallower water so it didn't hit rock or coral. We would get right into the shallower lagoons in the Southern Islands and just wade to shore, carting our stuff for a picnic. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiom89Fhrai106ikFvfqbEtxeEA2r3JTTDDHkFaUTcuH9BP73eBcF64Mo6QPhhlMSDjRZwx9rQhkbG38u1zbG_j762aYr-Vw9DB-4_EMgNS1Qch6N3Zs_xTbKXxGvk1xsXHsyKqWaZiLX0/s1600/IMG_3716.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiom89Fhrai106ikFvfqbEtxeEA2r3JTTDDHkFaUTcuH9BP73eBcF64Mo6QPhhlMSDjRZwx9rQhkbG38u1zbG_j762aYr-Vw9DB-4_EMgNS1Qch6N3Zs_xTbKXxGvk1xsXHsyKqWaZiLX0/s400/IMG_3716.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The trusty Weber grill with gourmet sausages on Pulau Hantu, <br />
November 2015</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC34t21RLYf9MCRqyAVY1QvGITLbo8wDr964IBjXEppeTdAtXQ6bnfFamqHZcQ_CaHzBuH-UqP3d3BUHs6ZUQLLrxp1G11mQqRYnFNXzmh71dOa5ZF9q-j0quZmJbakdjXW4omQGSRpEA/s1600/IMG_0013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC34t21RLYf9MCRqyAVY1QvGITLbo8wDr964IBjXEppeTdAtXQ6bnfFamqHZcQ_CaHzBuH-UqP3d3BUHs6ZUQLLrxp1G11mQqRYnFNXzmh71dOa5ZF9q-j0quZmJbakdjXW4omQGSRpEA/s400/IMG_0013.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Wanderer, a Chaparral Suncoast 230, <br />
anchored in the low-tide lagoon off Pulau Hantu, 2015</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-lOdbCApHsCw1GdnRyUCbRlUxUxJ2rzejRkD8UOtdEmQGqIAFqi9R0d-w4obHRYR5fRBXt60PIm8C-q12pA5uK8JEcv13wYGuls5jfNid5Z4Av1XwB6e-KLc9j86c_ooiADo_iiZNbiw/s1600/IMG_7581.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-lOdbCApHsCw1GdnRyUCbRlUxUxJ2rzejRkD8UOtdEmQGqIAFqi9R0d-w4obHRYR5fRBXt60PIm8C-q12pA5uK8JEcv13wYGuls5jfNid5Z4Av1XwB6e-KLc9j86c_ooiADo_iiZNbiw/s400/IMG_7581.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A picnic on Pulau Hantu <span style="font-size: 12.8px;">while the boat is anchored </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">just offshore, December 2015 </span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px;">This isn't an option with the </span><a href="https://www.searay.com/page.aspx/pageid/160944/pmid/366028/Sundancer-260.aspx" style="font-family: philosopher; font-size: 15.4px;" target="_blank">Sea Ray Sun Dancer 260</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px;">. If we go to the islands, we'd have to drop anchor outside the lagoon and swim in - not a very exciting prospect for water-phobic A and Pudding. And swimming in towards shore also means we can't carry a BBQ pit, or speakers for music and a hammock ... you know, the mod cons. [Looks like having a dinghy would be a solution?]</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">That's why the five or six of us have been pretty much stuck on the boat north of the SAF training area. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoyBtJ4Sj8aDamd2y8GoFBWQTZwahuQSnj7itr72mkYdKS8efw_AdId_DVdFuuEGXilSQ_1iO7XTDAtuEeGo5p3ZxKzEhzF8ugp-Lix7xHyfvQ6YO9EeZPeMvCKjuZZ3-wkZQZ7yB2Iq8/s1600/L1000145.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoyBtJ4Sj8aDamd2y8GoFBWQTZwahuQSnj7itr72mkYdKS8efw_AdId_DVdFuuEGXilSQ_1iO7XTDAtuEeGo5p3ZxKzEhzF8ugp-Lix7xHyfvQ6YO9EeZPeMvCKjuZZ3-wkZQZ7yB2Iq8/s400/L1000145.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the way to our usual spot, March 9, 2019. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB4_gKGTWBKCYx14sFGR0-ng7oeSLHucSl0qBiNPBCJUdlHXXkYJdCFt1_JphHrp_X-CcOchtuKrm8aeTM4ddD5fvGDSMeafNX65MQkYWdiUoSkt0dIxWU3uTjFi0O-gx7DwA6yByLCcs/s1600/L1000158.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB4_gKGTWBKCYx14sFGR0-ng7oeSLHucSl0qBiNPBCJUdlHXXkYJdCFt1_JphHrp_X-CcOchtuKrm8aeTM4ddD5fvGDSMeafNX65MQkYWdiUoSkt0dIxWU3uTjFi0O-gx7DwA6yByLCcs/s400/L1000158.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Derpy dog below deck, in air conditioned comfort. </td></tr>
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On this particular trip, it rained quite hard on our trip back to the marina and we were mostly soaked through. We just took quick showers back at the marina and headed home. We don't stay long at the marina post-boat trip nowadays because the marina has made clear its no-dog policy. They have no objections to dogs passing through the carpark and the marina grounds to get to the boats, but going to the bistro or pub after a boat trip is a no-no - <i>even</i> if we would be happy to take a table far from everyone and out <i>al fresco </i>so as not to annoy other dog-hating people. </div>
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So the bistro and the pub have lost our custom. The dog is part of our family and if you outlaw him, we won't stick around, Raffles Marina. </div>
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AmyChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843547093156496316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649238157583558665.post-80588188680950041522019-02-11T23:18:00.001+08:002019-02-12T14:41:19.315+08:00Could a boating day get any hotter?? <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="line-height: 21.56px;">Date: Feb 9, 2019 </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">Trip #19 (#39)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">Weather: Blisteringly sunny, bright </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">Waters: North of the SAF firing range, flat, but choppy on return leg </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">On board: C, A, J1, J2, R, K, Grandma and Pudding</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">The mercury climbed well into the high 30s on this Saturday afternoon, and it was the hottest anyone in the crew could remember a boating Saturday to be, and even those individuals prone to thinking themselves immune from sunburn obediently slathered on the Banana Boat (and laughed at the pointlessness of any SPF beyond 30). </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">But the sunniness made for great photos. The colors popped. Sample this: </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy4RxqSS2Q_Wfdt-WET8MJuord94VMsmrOxs83J9MxL_XBRMg5t7Shdmc1G9yVm5_n308cJHuixE7XskhpL1Rh_sTJKSYbGSu0qe__nZVDzzOfG88xU5wW6HEJvrOL8-F48wWkvkBQUqQ/s1600/topdeck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy4RxqSS2Q_Wfdt-WET8MJuord94VMsmrOxs83J9MxL_XBRMg5t7Shdmc1G9yVm5_n308cJHuixE7XskhpL1Rh_sTJKSYbGSu0qe__nZVDzzOfG88xU5wW6HEJvrOL8-F48wWkvkBQUqQ/s400/topdeck.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pudding with his consorts, R and K <br />
(first-time on Little Wanderer II, welcome, K!)</td></tr>
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Yes, the sky was that blue. What's with the weather these days? Isn't it supposed to be cooler at the start and end of each year?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNRAt6sypOJ9W8gRf8PIDe36FgDlE6_1YErzi0lqHRQwQ9JGJWl84AkA9ScTPnwyur5dbaAsrpjuINMtnCTPUdGDjWexX-WLAJRg6VLiQ9StuPIjlbVawwV_Bui196IqofyVsAQmljko0/s1600/all.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNRAt6sypOJ9W8gRf8PIDe36FgDlE6_1YErzi0lqHRQwQ9JGJWl84AkA9ScTPnwyur5dbaAsrpjuINMtnCTPUdGDjWexX-WLAJRg6VLiQ9StuPIjlbVawwV_Bui196IqofyVsAQmljko0/s400/all.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Only J1, A, Grandma and Pudding stayed out of <br />
the water, which was relatively clear. The currents were strong, though. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOtiFOrRWG-Tg5RNtnsLru8fj_hPvm4rJUn9RXJuOgj9uoRAKJrygWwyQoKyFSwsXnnGDXCrtBsCDeBpw6JU8N-GdT_I8NN80KfFEffbxN9513F5MrYL09d78f6Dskm4YEY3OGYUkgsIk/s1600/6013d182ed13b497f5854602f64d2cc8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOtiFOrRWG-Tg5RNtnsLru8fj_hPvm4rJUn9RXJuOgj9uoRAKJrygWwyQoKyFSwsXnnGDXCrtBsCDeBpw6JU8N-GdT_I8NN80KfFEffbxN9513F5MrYL09d78f6Dskm4YEY3OGYUkgsIk/s400/6013d182ed13b497f5854602f64d2cc8.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grandma a trooper in the heat, though she too sought<br /> the comfort of the below-deck space to rest.</td></tr>
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The heat was really front and centre, to the point it was uncomfortable. And nobody showed this more than the resident canine, who chewed on ice and looked for every bit of shade, especially below deck.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA5AdnGfp3nSoyVS0uad6TLGoSSqASnX2Li2XpRMpvOcVBUjh7OlykISzRd47dKZztMYjiK2brkqd9Bf0ZEhkkeS7OwvwroJXGTUOmnbtBA9Tz_iVOcefPkAXIrHLb8rorudsp7oGeyJ4/s1600/belowdeck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA5AdnGfp3nSoyVS0uad6TLGoSSqASnX2Li2XpRMpvOcVBUjh7OlykISzRd47dKZztMYjiK2brkqd9Bf0ZEhkkeS7OwvwroJXGTUOmnbtBA9Tz_iVOcefPkAXIrHLb8rorudsp7oGeyJ4/s400/belowdeck.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We had the air-conditioning turned on, and <br />
Pudding knew where he preferred to be - below deck!<br />
I guess it is no joke wearing a fur coat he can't<br />
ever take off and having no option to sweat to cool down.</td></tr>
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We hadn't even expected to be out on this day, but our calendar suddenly cleared when a family gathering was cancelled, and the weather and tides were in our favour. What with so few trips having been made especially in the last half of 2018, we jumped at the chance. After all, berthing the boat still incurs costs even if we don't go out, so we would really head out to the water more if we could. If only work and other obligations didn't get in the way so often.<br />
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[Cue here C and A's refrain: 'It's time to retire.']<br />
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Extreme heat aside, there's something pleasurable about powering up the stretch west of Tuas, and then dropping anchor in our usual spot. There is the fenced-in greenery north of the Singapore Armed Forces' training area, where we have spotted macaques and an occasional wild boar, the Lim Chu Kang fish farms to one side and Johor's Puteri Cove further south; the waters, out of which we have seen frightened fish leap in arcs to escape predator fish; and overhead, flocks of smaller birds and the occasional Brahminy kite. </div>
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[Today, however, the birds disappeared. We imagined them wilting in the shade of the trees and trying not to fall off their perches.] </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEZG0HSe6SmE_NBliP47RgLY6wXmiPANKyvA7qu326yNgA7oFQVmOMEISNtsJuEkfqt_DTAT83h06UHZxD9GGATvyIVzkefb-X6DVv-KKtIBG88Q98S_i82YaXiukE6eQuXzx6z2teAW4/s1600/tongue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEZG0HSe6SmE_NBliP47RgLY6wXmiPANKyvA7qu326yNgA7oFQVmOMEISNtsJuEkfqt_DTAT83h06UHZxD9GGATvyIVzkefb-X6DVv-KKtIBG88Q98S_i82YaXiukE6eQuXzx6z2teAW4/s400/tongue.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pudding revels in a scritch from J1. What a change<br />
from the dog that came on board for his maiden trip, <br />
tail between his legs and shivering in fear. <br />
But he still won't dive into the water. </td></tr>
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We have to agree that trips out on the boat have become even better with Pudding on board; it's as if we are viewing the experience through his eyes, whether he is going from one person to the next in search of ice cube, treat or a pet, or enjoying a quieter moment with his Grandpa at the bow (after getting a helping shove to his butt to climb up there).<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's to more boating Saturdays in 2019. </td></tr>
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We keep this blog as a log book for our trips. Sigh, and from checking the stats, A reckons that readership isn't very high. Time for some research into SEO - search-engine optimisation. <br />
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AmyChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843547093156496316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649238157583558665.post-83904541507890511292018-12-30T16:53:00.002+08:002018-12-31T13:12:29.365+08:00Pudding definitely has his sea legs (but not for swimming) <div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">
<span style="line-height: 21.56px;">Date: Dec 29, 2018 </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">Trip #18 (#38)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">Weather: Cloudy mostly, occasionally sunny </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">Waters: North of the SAF firing range, flat </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">On board: C, A, J1, J2, R, L and Pudding</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">New gear on board: Leica DX7, Fujifilm X-T100 (Christmas presents!) </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">Wow, it's been three months since our last outing. A combination of having this or that commitment on our designated boating Saturdays, or bad weather, or both, has seen to that. Just life getting in the way, in other words. We were thus looking forward to being on the water again as the year draws to a close. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L (left) is a dive master and marine biologist. </td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">L the marine biologist joined us on this outing, but no, there was no chance of her showing us sea critters and telling us about them. The waters north of the SAF firing range looked clean enough, but weren't clear. Seems it's too much to ask for when you are talking about Singapore waters. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px;">And I say emphatically <i>Singapore waters</i>, because the Malaysians have unilaterally decided in recent weeks that these waters are theirs. A couple of their vessels have been recalcitrantly dropping anchor in these parts, triggering a war of words between the two states through the media. On this Saturday though, we didn't see any Malaysian-flagged vessels there. A Singapore Coast Guard boat made its appearance once (as they usually do in our outings), but only to tell us to drop anchor 50 m further north because we were technically still in the live firing area. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px;">What a dramatic international diplomatic incident it would have been if one of those Malaysian boats detained this Singapore family for their "incursion" into "Malaysian waters". But nah, it didn't happen. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px;">Meanwhile, Lord Pudding seemed really happy to be on the boat this time. He moved from spot to spot on board, with none of the fear he had on his first two outings. It got a tad hot for him though. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#dogsonboats</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px;">However, he is still fearful of water. This pic says it all: </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He was curious, but appeared to take their word for it that the water was<br />
lovely. <span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Not even a liver-flavoured treat could lure him in. </span></td></tr>
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Looks like a few more swimming sessions at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/thenakedpet/" target="_blank">The Naked Pet</a> are in order for us to be the owners of a doggo that would take a flying leap into the blue beyond. Friends have suggested that we just chuck him in (which in itself is getting to be a challenge since he now weighs 28 kg or so), but we don't want to traumatise him. <span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"><br /></span>AmyChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843547093156496316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649238157583558665.post-21332468574888601192018-09-27T23:31:00.002+08:002018-09-28T20:53:15.445+08:00Mutability <br />
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<span style="line-height: 21.56px;">Date: Sept 22, 2018 </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">Trip #17 (#37)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">Weather: Sunny, then overcast (very overcast), then sunny again </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">Waters: Slightly choppy just outside the marina and on the way to the anchor point, but calm after dropping anchor north of the SAF firing range </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">On board: C, A, J1, J2, R and Pudding </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">The following pictures say it all about the fickleness of the weather on this outing, our first since The Big Move to our new home in Siglap. (Since then, it's been six weeks of dealing with the interior designer and the developer for the various fixings needed around the house. Truly, one never knows what needs to be done around the place until one moves in and starts living there.)</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Time: Around 1pm, searingly hot, just off Raffles Marina. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Time: Around 3pm, north of the SAF firing range. Beautiful storm light. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Time: 5pm, back at the marina. Blue skies. </td></tr>
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The mutability of the weather was kind of surprising on this Saturday. Heavy thunderstorms had been predicted for the afternoon, so at first we canned the idea of going out in the boat. But the day dawned bright and clear, so the plan was back on. It was still sunny as we got underway; the heat was so searing that everyone applied sunblock with some diligence (except for C, who thinks himself immune from UVA/UVB).<br />
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It has been about three months (THREE!) since our last outing, and Pudding seemed to have forgotten the business of boating. He was restless as the engine roared, either because he was freaked out or because of the heat or both. <br />
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After we berthed at our usual spot just south of the fish farms, the grey skies swept in, and brought with them the tiniest drizzle. Nobody moved to go below deck; I don't think anyone even thought of the possibility of the boat being tossed like a cork in a rainstorm. J2 put on his raincoat, but realised it wasn't worth how hot he was feeling under it. The light was all grey and yet orangey; it was dark and yet quite bright, this storm light.<br />
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We stayed put, calmed by the silence of the waters, the silence broken by our choice of music, washed down with beers. This is our Saturday oasis, one that we never tire of coming to.<br />
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We hoisted the anchor at around 5pm, partly because A had forgotten to bring along Pudding's lunch, and everyone figured it would be around 7pm before he would get his first meal since breakfast. A felt #contrition, though J1 said that as the dog gets nearer his first birthday, he should be getting used to having fewer meals a day anyway. We plied him with more treats than usual to make up for the oversight. The things we do for this dawg.<br />
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The drizzle blew over soon enough and we cruised back to the marina in bright 5pm light. It was as if the threatened bad weather was never there at all as we went through the post-outing ablutions.<br />
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Mutability, change. This family has been buffeted by it in a big way this past year, and I think we seem to have come through it with some grace, despite it having been change that was unsought. But we are finding our own new level after it and maybe even liking it, though, on a day-to-day basis, some of us still find comfort in doing things the old way.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, one has to look back, sometimes. Pic by J1. </td></tr>
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We don't want to forget our old home, and so have brought along with us some pieces of furniture, some knick knacks, to remind us from whence we came. We have these things to tie us to the past, but we also need to look forward, all of us ...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMiVbz8bL0sK5WOwpNcLDAl1jVAXJ_CxkurbyuiqzTfcWgwfU9LbVShrAyCI0BGEEmUIJTRKgr2CpXA5e8f_VyURlNLLRJxbtxRVj7IyxafkGgiSWpi1NhkZD8Re-T1d1OIbBLNTjk2vo/s1600/kids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="752" data-original-width="564" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMiVbz8bL0sK5WOwpNcLDAl1jVAXJ_CxkurbyuiqzTfcWgwfU9LbVShrAyCI0BGEEmUIJTRKgr2CpXA5e8f_VyURlNLLRJxbtxRVj7IyxafkGgiSWpi1NhkZD8Re-T1d1OIbBLNTjk2vo/s400/kids.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">... both the young... </td></tr>
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</div>
<div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq8YWsrtbAXGkjYy8pBgx5MWYjIB9N1oK4f3nZ3Msdem9gB0A4IGS37BKPBJj21U69c8NFg56OtgYp9q5fk_n6FJSc8A_WC200QZ6W8eW-yQbNRZWcjQIev8NfEmVLrHmFCq1tmBp8F3w/s1600/oldies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="752" data-original-width="564" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq8YWsrtbAXGkjYy8pBgx5MWYjIB9N1oK4f3nZ3Msdem9gB0A4IGS37BKPBJj21U69c8NFg56OtgYp9q5fk_n6FJSc8A_WC200QZ6W8eW-yQbNRZWcjQIev8NfEmVLrHmFCq1tmBp8F3w/s400/oldies.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">... and the not-so-young. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
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AmyChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843547093156496316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649238157583558665.post-6190157401302077452018-07-22T12:40:00.000+08:002019-02-25T19:57:41.957+08:00It's so hot out here!<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">
<span style="font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">Date: June 21, 2018 </span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">Trip #16 (#36)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">Weather: Sunny, very hot and still </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">Waters: Slightly choppy just outside the marina and on the way to the anchor point, but calm after dropping anchor north of the SAF firing range </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">On board: C, A, J1, J2, R and Pudding </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">New gear on board: Non-slip mat for the dog (Grandma's gift!)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">This is how we remember mid-year weather to be - sunny, sun-burningly hot, in fact, searing. We just broke out the beers, turned up the music and chilled, our way. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRw2LRKUZXmp1L37juFpOkb0ICDxgOTNcpb3tzfMcuBhPW1zuCXrCsCaMoCcbd8sev67RyQwlmV9NlbY-2zPRz3aooEjzmpEWUsgffuo7rvYajCx0mD75DvIO7pxFFjfou6PudjpNrYHQ/s1600/d2e0cd85f915274c8745685f15e1bb86.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="752" data-original-width="564" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRw2LRKUZXmp1L37juFpOkb0ICDxgOTNcpb3tzfMcuBhPW1zuCXrCsCaMoCcbd8sev67RyQwlmV9NlbY-2zPRz3aooEjzmpEWUsgffuo7rvYajCx0mD75DvIO7pxFFjfou6PudjpNrYHQ/s400/d2e0cd85f915274c8745685f15e1bb86.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pudding uses the non-slip mat that Grandma bought him.</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px;">The dog, on his third outing on the boat, was restless. Then we realised he was desperately in need of a cooler spot. Unlike us humans, he doesn't have a built-in system of sweat glands to cool him off. Wearing that coat of fur doesn't help. He was chomping gratefully down on cubes of ice tossed to him from the cooler, and moved from place to place on deck to find a cool spot to lie on. Then J2 doused his head with water from the hand-held shower head on board. He didn't even fuss - and this is a dog who everyone knows hates bath days. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSlGJNFyamP7u41f-TqKtizsV09Q9Mhu5pE33Fbh-bxuR1lvY2j-aJ7U-xdDnEFqNXQMm9eUlo_VDNYba1_VClt1n_bdEoJOiGKmDLWNM2J9mOU1V89tl1wPAZ4fz5gVNhJrI6wNEvnqc/s1600/e87a8696a25f332ecd753497c9c1d996.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSlGJNFyamP7u41f-TqKtizsV09Q9Mhu5pE33Fbh-bxuR1lvY2j-aJ7U-xdDnEFqNXQMm9eUlo_VDNYba1_VClt1n_bdEoJOiGKmDLWNM2J9mOU1V89tl1wPAZ4fz5gVNhJrI6wNEvnqc/s400/e87a8696a25f332ecd753497c9c1d996.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wet (and glad) dog.</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"><br /></span>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWeTL4NtoT8I8M_YOsli2vm_w3ncVpN1S2RFcuCoAnNoShA2fNTTDIPPCWN4DfUDCoqjqpGx8JfPz-rTWqzcIj-C_HFuINiv0rHqfiXweNPfbmMgsfqqdxHGZTaJwNtxLisdaIF5AAwL0/s1600/hat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="751" data-original-width="563" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWeTL4NtoT8I8M_YOsli2vm_w3ncVpN1S2RFcuCoAnNoShA2fNTTDIPPCWN4DfUDCoqjqpGx8JfPz-rTWqzcIj-C_HFuINiv0rHqfiXweNPfbmMgsfqqdxHGZTaJwNtxLisdaIF5AAwL0/s400/hat.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The hat didn't stay on for more than a second <br />
after this shot. How do all the other cute Instagrammers <br />
get pix of their doggos wearing the coolest head gear? <br />
And this "Spraying & Praying" hat was put on him<br />
with the best intentions - <span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> to keep him cool </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">this hot day at that... </span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px;">When J1 went below deck into air-conditioned comfort for his customary nap, the dog followed him readily. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjfIJdyKw-bV4WOw063ywXqWjO0vAAwnooXqySbG3silVJb0TH5yNuZ3iX2TfQfDGIavGxf0jAtKzhNuc9oXN0a0Waq09SxlukYVFgmyb-nv_o2AnRwGHqm90ZR5UAngfDFMv4AjVWYkg/s1600/7a538ba64f5a2f38da973a2444cea178.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="752" data-original-width="564" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjfIJdyKw-bV4WOw063ywXqWjO0vAAwnooXqySbG3silVJb0TH5yNuZ3iX2TfQfDGIavGxf0jAtKzhNuc9oXN0a0Waq09SxlukYVFgmyb-nv_o2AnRwGHqm90ZR5UAngfDFMv4AjVWYkg/s400/7a538ba64f5a2f38da973a2444cea178.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dog-dad J1 in a happy moment.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidNv_HW1eWmZw5mTaJmnZ7q0RYTYfCONyU4yYRNZWTkYSTif1havcbU5272SAWvObaSEgXIwPJhOy6Z7rNy8kITv35V39mteuPg1oRG0dtHxHisTRPuHVYU__iDy1_cKIWhXB1T9Ou8aE/s1600/rach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidNv_HW1eWmZw5mTaJmnZ7q0RYTYfCONyU4yYRNZWTkYSTif1havcbU5272SAWvObaSEgXIwPJhOy6Z7rNy8kITv35V39mteuPg1oRG0dtHxHisTRPuHVYU__iDy1_cKIWhXB1T9Ou8aE/s400/rach.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">R cosies up to her pal. </td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px;">This was a really chill afternoon - strange use of the word, come to think of it, given that it was anything but cool. But the flatness of the dark green, murky water, the stillness of the secondary jungle onshore, and our having that whole stretch of water south of the fish farms to ourselves was a wonderful Saturday respite from a hectic work week, which we undertook amid the hub-bub of renovations of our new home. So many things to tend to, some in consultation with the interior designer: </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">Where do you want the grommets on the study desks? </span><br />
<span style="color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher";"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;">Do you prefer the bedside power points above or behind the bedside tables? </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher";"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;">Has the fan for the front yard been ordered and paid for?</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher";"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;">When do we install the awning if we are unsure of the Building & Construction Authority rules? </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher";"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;">When are we going to start packing? </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher";"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;">And where do the boxes sit in a home that is still pretty much lived in? </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher";"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;">Will Move-In Day run smoothly? </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher";"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;">What about the leaks in the basement of the new home - will that continue to haunt us and break our budget down the road? </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher";"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;">What other things are left to buy? </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher";"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher";"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;">We are all looking forward to moving - well, more precisely, settling into - the new place, and finding our new routines and rhythms. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher";"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher";"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;">And it's not just us. The dog too, four months into his life with our family and after graduating from a Puppy Start-Right programme, will have to find his own new level too. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher";"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;">We really don't understand people who keep moving house, either because of circumstances or because they get a good offer on their existing home. The unsettled-ness is awful to us. That sense of Place is key, the feeling that when you come Home, you know where all your things are; it's also where people important to you are. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher";"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbDcaMHWV3trhRJabsC2tazrRqc8IqiioUaa4Zf2PtAPl6hnZqanRcjvzo_BGTcV6hoNCz-EI7y4cav3o1sCHQaP4Fdg-382kd0Hjmb2CMk9JxBRfDDl7zlTZ0grLQYxOCumDjzsA4Tm0/s1600/86d2dc86cbf49323e78b6777e1e0a7cf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="752" data-original-width="564" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbDcaMHWV3trhRJabsC2tazrRqc8IqiioUaa4Zf2PtAPl6hnZqanRcjvzo_BGTcV6hoNCz-EI7y4cav3o1sCHQaP4Fdg-382kd0Hjmb2CMk9JxBRfDDl7zlTZ0grLQYxOCumDjzsA4Tm0/s400/86d2dc86cbf49323e78b6777e1e0a7cf.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the close of yet another great day out. <br />
Raffles Marina dock</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher";"><span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher";"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></span>
AmyChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843547093156496316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649238157583558665.post-19145554165852034992018-06-17T15:33:00.001+08:002018-06-17T15:39:18.529+08:00Pudding gets his sea legs (we think)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #686868; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">
<span style="font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">Date: June 15, 2018 </span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">Trip #15 (#35)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">Weather: Cloudy after a brief drizzle</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">Waters: Slightly choppy on the way out, but flat where we anchored, north of the SAF firing range </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">On board: C, A, J1, J2, R, Pudding and Grandma! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher";"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;">Finally, Grandma said yes. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher";"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher";"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;">We have been asking her to join us on the boat for a year or more, and we think she had always thought that we had to swim out to the boat or something, and she isn't fond of the water or swimming. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "philosopher"; font-size: 15.4px;">We promised her that she would board the boat from the dock and no swimming was involved. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSkq4BUpREcdWvZhKL3bTjsYC4Z2a5H7uU0HU6W6oBx5U1gam1KAlj1U9PiFnrg79H4sY0Jnzc0EedpoYw-nqGdbqnhgs1d8Q3g4UCDMC7M5E0DZwlN6F6gwAdGM7cUT6tigfNR6yyulY/s1600/IMG_0758.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSkq4BUpREcdWvZhKL3bTjsYC4Z2a5H7uU0HU6W6oBx5U1gam1KAlj1U9PiFnrg79H4sY0Jnzc0EedpoYw-nqGdbqnhgs1d8Q3g4UCDMC7M5E0DZwlN6F6gwAdGM7cUT6tigfNR6yyulY/s400/IMG_0758.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We think she enjoyed herself! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
It was Pudding's second boat outing and he seemed a lot calmer this time. He had spent most of the last boat ride taking refuge in J1 and J2's laps, shivering. (See post <a href="http://wandererlog.blogspot.com/2018/05/puddings-first-day-out-at-sea.html" target="_blank">here</a>.) This time, he switched between being on the seat with Grandma and A, or lying at Captain C's feet. He happily chewed cubes of ice on deck and often raised his head to take in the salty air. His tail: definitely not between his legs.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqpZFSHALxwdwUkyLwXBqHQVWzFL-53cex38R8nvVl_qbtVBKr0qRvwExDN2yvabfwg_GP2bMD0YA0wsznCrFT8YwtFgpU7iuYrYFlJ13iyp2kZyJGJ0FjV5GAcUPHbeBqsfrsKvKwcCU/s1600/4af7e66d-6ff5-47a7-b976-a0c2a5be26a2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1198" data-original-width="1600" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqpZFSHALxwdwUkyLwXBqHQVWzFL-53cex38R8nvVl_qbtVBKr0qRvwExDN2yvabfwg_GP2bMD0YA0wsznCrFT8YwtFgpU7iuYrYFlJ13iyp2kZyJGJ0FjV5GAcUPHbeBqsfrsKvKwcCU/s400/4af7e66d-6ff5-47a7-b976-a0c2a5be26a2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Who's havin' a good time? </td></tr>
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Now to make him jump into the water from the swim platform. Hahaha. Baby steps, baby steps. </div>
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The weather had threatened to tank this outing. It was drizzling all the way to the marina, but by the time we got there, it had stopped, but it stayed cloudy. We had to top up the tank for the boat, so that delayed our start a bit. </div>
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After we anchored though, it was all good. The waters north of the SAF firing range were an emerald green, clean and flat. We just kicked back and relaxed, glad that this was a long weekend, courtesy of the Hari Raya public holiday. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi196E6O66c8TYVxL6QqMbqh1Py8bL8nrO8vOgZniiAtMKAKw7pFhGugH_PjadzGoQHt65f-T7sAepITzSoUMiSrkfsYuPb2sCXvmaKo71GnCRL6bqcr2Qd9D8qJbryR7XEB94drIpz3IQ/s1600/IMG_0767.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi196E6O66c8TYVxL6QqMbqh1Py8bL8nrO8vOgZniiAtMKAKw7pFhGugH_PjadzGoQHt65f-T7sAepITzSoUMiSrkfsYuPb2sCXvmaKo71GnCRL6bqcr2Qd9D8qJbryR7XEB94drIpz3IQ/s400/IMG_0767.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our kind of afternoon, away from the madding crowds.</td></tr>
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J1 needed his nap, either because he might have been a little seasick (again) or because. So the air-conditioning below deck was turned on and he retired. Pudding followed him.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8rnEQKggrwxc6cbWd7Os987uHgKbJ-ZHs6NIo9rk-pg7F3iOcx9WJMLydPPmhBWCloc9dkdIogp_Ua3JzNNtXNk7Z15mgJmxTtgZoKzj5abZlquIqE_ucdMjTUyBVwdLCKdk_7DsgdJw/s1600/IMG_0770.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8rnEQKggrwxc6cbWd7Os987uHgKbJ-ZHs6NIo9rk-pg7F3iOcx9WJMLydPPmhBWCloc9dkdIogp_Ua3JzNNtXNk7Z15mgJmxTtgZoKzj5abZlquIqE_ucdMjTUyBVwdLCKdk_7DsgdJw/s400/IMG_0770.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buddies.</td></tr>
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AmyChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843547093156496316noreply@blogger.com0