31 December 2010 Kettering, Tasmania

2010 was a good year for me, something I'd never have thought possible
at the beginning. The sail from Townsville to Kettering was a great move
- from the moment I arrived, friends new and old took care of me.
Illywhacker is now in her berth at the new Kettering marina and I get to
spend several nights a week aboard, usually tackling the endless list of
repairs and improvements but mostly just enjoying the ambience of life
on the water. I sail in Wednesday night races and occasionally get to
enjoy some of the many quiet anchorages in the D'Entrecasteax Channel.
To expand my onboard workshop I bought a large shed, the dream of every
Aussie man. The fact that it is sited on 5 acres of beautiful bushland
has thrown a spanner in the cruising works with me spending many hours
just enjoying the peace and quiet, gazing at the native landscape and
getting life into perspective. All this is just 3 minutes from
illywhacker's berth! But the best part is that I am sharing all this
with a dear friend, Alison who also once lived on Pittwater in Sydney
and has moved to Hobart. For 3 months this year we enjoyed the idyllic
experience of cruising the French canals in a 109 year-old Dutch barge
loaned to us by friends Penny and David. As a fitting conclusion to the
year I was privileged to share my 70th birthday at a great party with
friends from across my lifespan. An event like that does give one cause
to reflect and there is no doubt I have been most fortunate, through
both the adventures I've had and the friends I've met. May all your
dreams come true in 2011.