We knew from the start of our cruising life that sooner or later one of us would like more time on terra firma! Predictably, Sandra was first to crack and so it was time to sell the house we had and find the house where we will be happy living.
Selling proved easy and took only 2 weeks! Buying was more difficult as we didn't even know where we wanted to re-locate to! After discounting our first choices of Devon and Cornwall (too busy in summer and too remote for visiting familly) we looked at Dorset. Very nice but Sandra fancied Suffolk! Well, it's close! We eventually found a super house not too far from the coast, which was an important factor in our search - and so on 14th May we moved our belongings and started another chapter of our life in Suffolk.
Since moving in we have been extremely busy doing some urgent maintenance, neglected by the previous owner and bringing the garden back to life. Being without a garden for most of the last 7 years meant that Sandra has an enormous amount to catch up on to satisfy her missing interest in life. A wonderful English summer (we didn't think such a thing existed anymore!) helped her to spend just about every minute of the day working in the garden. Me - I just can't wait to get back to the boat and do some sailing.
That raises the thorny issue of what to do now about where to keep Stratagem. Our present thoughts are to remain in Kemer, Turkey for now as it is convenient to fly from Stansted to Antalya, and it remains our plan to sail in the spring and autumn. The alternative is to bring her back to the UK but we both feel that we would probably do even less sailing given Sandra's dislike of the local weather conditions in this country. We will have to wait and see............
