Now for a month being spoilt in the UK….

As with many countries, we’re limited to 180 days as tourists before we risk overstaying our welcome. With fewer miles to sail during this part of the season, we decided to leave the boat behind, conserve some visa days, and reconnect with family, friends, and a few clients back in the UK.

And wow, did the UK deliver—though perhaps not in the way we expected. Instead of the usual drizzle, we were met with unexpected sunshine and heat. Still, we embraced it all and made the most of our time, indulging in quintessentially British experiences. Our journey began with a gin & tonic in a can on the train to Bedford—classy, right?

We spent most of our time in Renhold, Bedfordshire, at Pete’s childhood home—a beautiful, centuries-old thatched cottage. The kids enjoyed endless cricket matches in the garden, and we relished the simple joys of land life.

When revisiting familiar places, we always seek out new experiences for the kids—things they can't do aboard the boat. One highlight was the local vintage car and kite festival, where Oscar had the thrill of driving a friend's classic green Sprite around the lanes.

We also visited Whipsnade Zoo, a place we frequented when Annabelle was younger and we lived in Tring. It was a nostalgic trip, and the kids were fascinated by animals we won't encounter anytime soon in Colombia. Then more cricket in the garden……..

We had a wonderful time with friends. Even though the kids don’t often get to meet in person, they always reconnect so quickly when they do. Annabelle and her oldest friend, Oli (who lived next door to her, both pregnant at the same time, and grew up sharing all the milestone moments until they were five), went to the Oasis concert in Cardiff, Wales, as a delayed 16th birthday present for Annabelle—and had an absolute blast! Meanwhile, the younger kids created a whirlpool after we headed to St. Albans to explore the Cathedral. I also had the fun, and somewhat novel, experience of meeting an old friend—who is now also client—face-to-face. Then, it was back to more cricket in the garden...

We also managed to squeeze in a trip to Southwold, a special place for all of us, as it’s where Barry and Judy had their sailboat for many years. None of us had been back for a while, certainly not since we lost Barry last year. Southwold is an old fishing port, and the fishing boats are still very much in use, bringing in their catch. It was the perfect opportunity to make new memories, while also catching up with some old sailing friends who were still around the boatyard.

Once again, the weather was fantastic. We stayed at the Westleton Crown, just a few miles away, and the kids loved exploring this traditional seaside town on the east coast of the UK. We enjoyed drinks at the Lord Nelson pub, dinner at the Crown, and reminisced about happy times. The kids spent the morning crabbing off the bridge with bacon bits. The day’s highlight was swimming with Grandma in the ocean (parents were not included!), with the water temperature topping 64°F! Then, it was back to more cricket in the garden when we got home...

We were excited to get back to the boat, to our home, by the end of our time there. But banking another load of special memories can not be underestimated……. and neither can the cricket skills they all brought back to share with friends here in the marina!