Mogs Travels Resurrected!

For some unknown reason we cant seem to access our blog Pontydocs on Wordpress. Its very frustrating as it has a record of our last bike trips as well as our tours in Wotan, the motorhome. We're now living in Australia and will shortly be setting off for a month or so to explore inland NSW in our new van, Ruby. We'll be posting on Facebook, which is great for photo's but I thought it might be nice to write a bit here too. watch this space!

CONTINUING THE BLOG

The blog continues on www.pontydocs.co.uk

Emilia - Age 5 Days

Friday 16 March


I think I may as well rename this blog Emilia as she's all you're going to be hearing about for a while!. She is delightful although I haven't seen her with her eyes open since the day she was born!  She sleeps....and sleeps...and sleeps!  We spent three hours with her on Tuesday afternoon and she didn't wake the whole time!  It gave me plenty of opportunity to take some more photos so there's a few below.  Other than that life has been very quiet.  The only news is that we have decided to get ourselves a puppy but it will have to wait until after we've been to Silverstone and Stratford in June.  We've decided on a cocker spaniel and are busy researching breeders, training methods , necessities etc.  I think we're all getting broody!

Holding Daddy's Hand

How Many Fingers Can I Eat at Once?

Zzzzzzzzzz!

With Big Sister Mia

Meet Emilia Grace Morgan

Thursday 8 March


Oh dear, a whole month since I last posted.  Well, I've something to write about now as today we became grandparents!  Mel and Huw have a beautiful baby girl, called Emilia, born this afternoon and weighing 6lb 13oz or there abouts.  I was very privileged to have been asked to join them for the delivery although I nearly missed it as things happened very quickly at the end!  Mum and baby are doing fine and curently hoping that the doctor will check Emilia over so they can go home tonight.  Mia has been to visit and is thrilled with her new sister. So here's more than a few photos taken in the delivery room when she was about half an hour old. 

First Kiss

Proud Dad

Weighing

Granny!

Adjusting Slowly!

Well, we've been home a week and I've finally got rid of the post holiday blues. I'm also getting back my photographic mojo.  I have rather a lot of photos on the computer to sort through, which is a bit of a dampner.  I really need to organise both the Australian and Maldives photos both of which are in separate Lightroom catalogues that I've got to work out how to combine. Anyhow I'm starting and will post some Maldives photos shortly


Today, while Ian was having his guitar lesson I went for a stroll at Forest Farm.  It was very quiet there and I was able to put out some birdseed and stand and watch without disturbance.  I took some photos, the first non holiday photos since finishing Elvie's Year.  The water rail was my highlight.  these are very shy birds and you don't usually see them this close to the path.  Interestingly after they'd gone I played their calls on my iPhone bird app and they reappeared!  I'll have to try that again!  Best spot of the morning though were two water voles.  I've never ever seen them in the wild before but sadly didn''t manage to get a photo.

Water Rail

Nuthatch

Blue Tit

Long Tailed Tit

Climate Change.

From 35 degrees to minus 5 degrees in one week.

Male (that's pronounced Marlay by the way!)

Monday 23 Jan
Our sim card ran out half way through the last post and we couldn't top it up until yesterday. It's nice to be on line again though access is very slow. We're settling in nicely to life on board. It's a very unreal microcosm, very sociable, busy and relaxing at the same time.
We spent all of Friday on Theluveligaa with a picnic lunch under the trees.

As usual I spent most of the time in the water but inside the reef. A's really come on with her snorkelling & I was able to take her around some of the coral in the lagoon. We returned to the YP late afternoon to shower & change and then returned to the island in the dark for the weekly BBQ.

The crew had worked hard to set out tables (with table cloths) lights,bar and BBQ and had built a very impressive sand turtle surrounded by candles. After the usual good food it was time for games. We've rather lost the art of party games at home. It's a shame, we had a hilarious time, helped in part by the rampant cheating that went on! The tug of war was extremely strenuous but a good way of getting nearly everyone involved

On Saturday we returned again and this time LB & I snorkelled the outside of the reef. This was the best snorkelling so far with beautiful corals we'd not previously seen and lots of fish.

In the afternoon we travelled to Mahibadou, a local island. A & B went ashore to do some shopping but forgot their money! They were entertained by the captain in a local cafe instead. LB & I had. A restful afternoon on board. In the evening two of the crew took B, LB and a couple of others fishing in a small boat with only the light of a torch to guide them. Only one fish was caught, but what a whoppa! It was a 20kg jack, caught by William, the Glaswegian.
Sunday morning was spent on board although most went to a sandbank. After a hectic few days it's nice to chill a bit. In the afternoon we arrived at Male and did a bit of shopping there. Before dinner Simon treated us to a poetry reading of some of his more humorous poems, which was a nice change. Maldivian evening saw most of the men dressed up in their sarongs with only the odd slippage! The food was excellent, interesting and mostly fishy! The fish soup looked like water with a few chunks of tuna in but was so tasty. I don't know how they got it so clear. LB & I had an early night for once.
Now it's Monday and changeover day. A lot of people have left, there's just a skeleton crew on board and many of the remaining passengers have paid for the optional trip to a nearby island. We're still lazing on the boat with one mother couple, Russ &Claire. In fact everyone has gone for an afternoon nap and I'm enjoying the peace and quiet.
Elvie
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Theluveligaa

Thursday
Yesterday we had a whole day on Meerufenfushi, returning to the Yasawa Princess for lunch.  The snorkelling was excellent,particularly outside the reef, and A & B made progress and saw more fish too within the lagoon. the evening was enlivened by a fishing trip on the Dhoni where I caught a nice sized red snapper.

 

Just now we're anchored off Theluveligaa, having spent the afternoon quietly motoring south from Alikoy sandbank.  There was good snorkelling there but a bit of a current outside of the reef made it quite testing. I made several runs against the current then drifting back to the channel and got some good photos. LB chilled on the beach with A & B. We were impressed by the arrival of the caretaker in his dhoni.  Once ashore he busied himself raking the island but obligingly stopped to pose for a photo.

Tonight all had a good time at the Captains Dinner. He said a few words, we had a good meal and then the dancing started. The crew were particularly keen dancers and it was odd having more men than women on the dance floor. B entertained us greatly with his pole dancing!
The final drama was provided by Tim, our avid fisherman. The others went to bed just before me and as I was following them noticed some excitement on the rear deck. Tim had hooked a very big fish. Three quarters of an hour later after a lot of struggling, the line broke! it was nearly 1.00 when I got to bed
Ps Am having problems with the Internet connection so will have to add the photos when I'm home

A Life on the Ocean Waves.

Here we are back on the Yasawa Princess, and it's hard to believe it was 3 years ago that we were last here. It hasn't changed a great deal. Still the same relaxed atmosphere, and attentive crew, and holiday makers having a good time.
Today we relaxed on a sand bar and chilled in warm water. A and B seem to have got into the way of things quite quickly. Currently B and I are chilling at the back of the boat, while A and Chris are playing scrabble!!!

This sea cucumber seemed to be having a good time when we saw him.




These humbug fish were busily sorting out their piece of coral, and didn't notice us at all as we swam past.
Now must have another nightcap and turn in. I think Elvie may be along later with her take on the day.

Frost!

Sunday 15 January


We're enjoying a gentle introduction to our holiday up in Birmingham.  This morning  we had a stroll around Sutton around Sutton Park with A & B.  This is a wonderful extensive area of wood and heathland just across the road from their house.  It was quite strange to look at the frozen lake there and to think in 24 hours we'll be enjoying temperatures of 30. Here's a few photos for illustration.

B, LB & A - well wrapped up!

Frost

Brrr!