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Been a busy period since I last wrote. We received our first packages from Germany and as it included a new PC Sven has been busy installing it and creating an internal network within the boat so that all the computers are linked. In addition the parcel also contained a Christmas present for Caryn in the form of an e-book. Svein has already uploaded some 1800 books so there is plenty of reading material in the days ahead. We are still waiting for a package from Germany that has pingponged its way between German towns to such an extent that the supplier has sent out another package so it looks like we might end up getting the items twice over. Lastest news the goods were in Athens so we are keeping our fingers crossed.

The new structure for the solar panels and wind generator is also complete and we are waiting for their arrival from the UK. Again we hope that it will not be too long so that all the winter projects can be completed in time.

Caryn is busy preparing her trip and has booked a boat trip from Nisyros to Athens and then a flight to London. It will be interesting to see how the journey works out. Svein could not resist the temptation and has ordered himself an underwater camera – well he has not had a present for a long time and with all the work he is doing deserves it. Hopefully we shall have fun using it when it comes.

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The weather has turned very mild and the wind has at last dropped after a week of Northerlies. It has been so good that Svein has been able to start work on the davits. The new elements duly arrived as planned so he has been busy dismantling the old parts and welding on the new. The new structure should be much stronger that the previous one. We are now waiting for the new solar panels (2 x 140W) to arrive as well as the new wind generator. We shall be fixing the old panels (2 x 80W) to the doghouse roof so that once everything is installed and connected we should be very self sufficient for energy once the new season starts.

We are still waiting for some supplies from Germany that were shipped on 22^nd December but until yesterday have been ping ponging backwards and forwards between Munich and Nurnberg. We were assured that they have now left Germany and are in Italy but have no explanation for the delay.

The mild weather has brought out the spring flowers that are filling the roadsides with colour. Let’s hope it lasts as it really is tee shirt time when the sun is shining although temperatures drop very rapidly when the sun goes down.

Caryn has planned another trip to the UK at the beginning of February so is busy ordering the supplies needed from there on internet so that they can await her arrival.

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We thought we had chosen a good day to take the trip over to Kos island. We duly caught the ferry and had a calm crossing but on our arrival we hit torrential rain. It was so heavy that we managed to miss the turning for Kos town and instead ended up taking the complete opposite direction and ended up on the South West tip of the island. We had to drive through flooded roads up and down hills twice as we had to retrace our steps completely. Eventually the rain let up and after an uncomfortable drive we started our shopping list for the day. Our first stop was the stainless steel shop. A real Ali Baba cavern where Svein went to town and bought the new elements for the davits as well as the ancillary stuff needed to weld. He made arrangements for the new elements to be delivered to the ferry the next day so that he could collect them on their arrival in Nisyros. We then drove down to the marina to see if we could find some replacement oars. The first shop was shut but we then went to Pavlos and found everything we needed including a few extras (as usual). We now have “wings” for the outboard, a shackle for the anchor and anchor chain markers.

Finally we were able to concentrate on the food shopping so visited Carrefour and Lidl and the Chinese shop between them where Svein found a very nice Canadian shirt that he is forbidden to wear when working on the boat!!!!!!!

We duly returned to Kardamena with the boot filled and the pockets with big holes and had a delightful lunch before taking the ferry back to Nisyros.

All in all a very nice day (apart from the rain) where we had managed to find everything we needed plus a few extras.

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We had some fun and games with the electricity this week that suddenly went down in the harbour after the rain. We spent 2 days without but the town worked hard to get it back on and after a few hitches they have at last located the fault and sorted everything out. It came just in time for us to have some heating for New Year’s Eve.

The local band came round the village again playing music in the afternoon together with the mayor whom Svein met.

Svein has also been very busy on internet ordering the equipment to replace the damaged stuff. We have a new wind generator and solar panels on their way together with a new main PC. Caryn has also been treated to an e-book.

We celebrated the New Year quietly on board Charisma. We had done the shopping in Mandraki earlier in the day when the strong North winds were blowing although the sun was shining and out of the wind it was beautifully warm. We enjoyed a very good meal on the boat and after seeing the New Year in Svein and Carmen went looking for the locals to also wish them a Happy New Year. They came back as they had found no-one out celebrating. Everyone was already in bed!!!!!!!

It is obviously not a cause for celebration on the island.

We shall be off to Kos via Kardamena on the Tuesday ferry so that Sven can order the stainless steel pipes needed to repair the davits that were damaged after the storm. We shall also take the time out to stock up for the next month.