Dont you hate it when you write a whole screed and think you have posted it, to find that it fell into the great wide blue yonder?
We have been having internet problems! Tried everything, but the computer kept dropping out. of course this happened every time I posted something.
We now have a Wifi antenna and we haven't dropped out since:)  So, I am more motivated to write here once again. I cannot remember what I wrote about that fell into space, so will take up where I imagine I left off.
We have been in the USA one week tonight.
The sales literature and the agent who sold us the boat felt obliged to keep telling us that the boat had been owned by an Engineer. Well, I think they must be a bit like carpenters and electrician who cant be bothered, or dont have the interest in maintaining their own homes etc, coz the longer we live on this vessel the more we find what said 'engineer' didn't maintain...everything!!

We met the fellow who is going to compound, wax and buff the whole boat (outside), today. We had previously dealt with Gary over the phone from NZ. It was a pleasure to meet him and discuss what the boat needs to bring her back 'like new'.  According to Gary, this vessel has been sadly neglected.
We swapped notes on the level of neglect...he on the outside, and we on the inside. It seems that every time Waz finishes one chore, there is something else 'going wrong' that needs immediate attention.
The last one was the Master en-suite loo (head). It has been making slightly disturbing noises for a few days, then 24 hrs ago, it quit altogether.
Before that the forward head didnt work. It now works, but the master one doesnt. we have ordered parts which will arrive on Friday, all going well.

I took a drive to the local Randalls supermarket this morning. On my own. I wanted the time to peruse ALL the shelves and find products that will travel well, not need refridgeration, and will store for extended time. I was happy to see many Safeway brand items which I used to purchase when I lived in Hawaii for 20 yrs.
Happily I came back with half a dozen bottles of a NZ wine that was on special...and if you bought 6, you got an extra 10% off! :)

Life Jackets are on sale at West Marine, so Waz and I are going over there when we have finished our cup of tea. we like that most of the stores are open until 8 or 9pm, at this time of year.

Not sure why Texans like living in thi awful heat...and funny that, because so many of them ask us why we left a gorgeous country like NZ to come here!!! weeeeeeeeeeellll. we own a boat!!and it lives here for a short time.

We are still waiting for the fabrication fella to bring the Eisenglass surrounds for the Fly-deck. We are enclosing her to give us further living space under cover, and to protect the furnishings that are otherwise sun bleached and not in great shape...like so many other things here.
We know this boat originally had surrounds on the fly deck, and the zippers on the bimini (sun top) show that there were...so heaven only knows where they are or what the former owner has done with them. We have photos from a couple of years ago with the upper deck fully enclosed.

Well, it's time to go get those life vests... talk to you soon!'