The last couple of days have been a pretty good example of life aboard La Sirena at the moment. We are now entering the preparing rather than the fixing phase. There’s still a lot of parts in transit and yet to order, but, in essence, La Sirena can set sail tomorrow if necessary. The weather is really good right now, I am hoping that the window will stay open for several more weeks, this will give me options.
Birnie is never far away.
He’s settled in to boatyard life like an old sea dog, he’s still not particularly impressed by unexpected alarms, beeps, power tools or strange noises coming from somewhere inside the boat. His solution is generally to stick as close to me as physically possible.
So while I’m halfway inside a locker trying to follow a hose, Birnie is usually somewhere behind me supervising proceedings. If I move to the engine room, he moves. If I go into the cockpit, he follows. If I disappear down the ladder, he’s waiting for me to come back.
He’s become my little full-time boatyard supervisor — slightly nervous, occasionally underfoot, but determined not to miss anything.
It’s funny how much of restoring an old boat isn’t really about fixing things — it’s about getting to know the boat.
Somewhere in the middle of the tools, filters, hoses and half-finished jobs, Birnie and I are slowly making this place our home.
There are still plenty of mysteries aboard. But we’re getting acquainted.
And, getting much closer to departure.
