However, the earliness of Easter and the freezing nature of the weather here in Suffolk over the weekend put paid to most of these plans. Although the boat is on her trailer in the drive right outside, and we don't have to go far to start work, the cover did not even get untied. But I have lost track of the number of coats of varnish that my other half has now applied to the tiller (in the garage). It looks so glossy I don't think we can possibly take it afloat, it would look nice hung up in the hall as a work of art.

In the meantime, it's his birthday next week, so I'm threatening to take him to the chandlers Seamark Nunn to buy him a tin of antifouling (they've got a discount offer on). He might come if I offer to take him for lunch at The Ship at Levington afterwards...

While we're in that direction we are planning to visit Fran Crowe's exhibition Walking to save some sea, at Languard Fort, Felixstowe. Last year Fran collected thousands of items of litter, mostly plastic, from the beach on Orfordness, and she has made this into an inspirational production. Find out more from www.flyintheface.com