Since I arrived in newport back in November straight from the Mediterranean, I have complained of being cold! Well not really complained, I actually like the cold except for when you are working outside and can’t feel your hands. The usual response from the yard guys is “just you wait winter isn’t even here yet”. I briefly got the green light to call it cold a couple of weeks ago when we got extreme sub zero temperatures but until this week a full blown winter storm had evaded us. Finally this week I got to see what Newport looks like under two feet of snow. Luckily for Dorade she is hidden away in a shed, shrouded in a tent within the shed and has an incredible heater keeping temperatures almost pleasant in there. This would allow people to keep working no matter what but this week no one was going anywhere after the storm as a driving ban meant an enforced snow day. Coming from England I have never really had to shovel snow before as we rarely get more than a few inches. After Juno dumped on us all night long, I had to dig just to find the Dorade truck!
Inside the tent, work is back on track with old cotton removed from the seams on the deck, survey underway, sanding and varnishing in progress, bilge painting complete, a new 40 ft container waiting to be delivered as soon as the big piles of snow can be moved to make room for it and everything all set for the re wiring to commence. We also have a wood block refurb plan swinging into action, new cutting board made up and as i write a template is being made for the new stem head fitting.
With more snow forecast next week and snow falling at the moment winter isn’t looking like its gong anywhere just yet but we survived the storm in good shape and everything is very much on track.
Hannah