L:  Let me start by setting the scene. It is 2300, the children and V have gone to bed and I am starting the first anchor watch of the trip. The shoreline glows with the resorts of the ever popular sailing/windsurfing/kite surfing Mecca of Vasiliki. The music has just started as holiday makers, no doubt, drink off their sores and compare their "big air".  The breeze is up tonight and huge katabatic gusts howl down the hillside across the anchorage.  Unfortunately, the forecast shows no signs of it tailing off.

My eyes are pinned on the dense gaggle of boats that we are anchored amongst - in particular an Amel yacht that we are, at points, a bit too close for comfort with. We are all swinging wildly.  The darkness does not help.  This is going to be a long night.... Fenders, engine keys and anchor controls all at the ready......

So "How are we getting on?". Departing the UK was surprisingly emotional. It was touching to catch up with as many people as we did to bid "a bientot". The usual end of term activities provided really good opportunities for kids and adults alike and it was particularly heart warming to see the close bonds between the children, their friends and teachers - all of whom we look forward to speaking to soon! Friends, family, colleagues - we are all missing you.

We got through the house pack up and just about managed to gather our (10 huge!) bags ready for the trip. Our beloved spaniel OB was delivered to V's sister for safe keeping and more cuddles than he cares to let on.  A well-behaved night in the local pub marked our final evening in the village (thank you to all who turned up - it meant a huge amount to us!) before our close friend and all round legend Andy came to pick us up (with trailer!!) to whisk us off to the airport.

Our first week in Greece has been hot and hectic - hitting the high 30s.  It would not have been possible without the support and child care from the shore crew of Granny, Grandma and JT.   But we launched Canopus from Aktio yard on Tuesday 22nd July and completed the refit across the straight in the town of Preveza.. New anchor chain all marked up and loaded on board, new anti fouling and anodes, new mattresses, bilge cleaning, new boat names, new running rigging (ropes!), rig tuned, new wind instruments fitted, AIS commissioned (including new GPS), new fire extinguishers picked up and fitted, new flares and life raft on board, Radar mounted up mast, both auxiliary batteries failed for the windlass and bow thruster so these have been replaced, water maker commissioned and new thermal fuses fitted........ The list has been huge and it's thanks to support of the amazing Konstantinos our marine engineer, Ianis the electrician, Waypoint the riggers, Aktio Marina yard, Andy at Grapefruit Graphics, Nikos at Ionian Safety and a number of chandlery owners that we seem to have got to know rather well!

We left safety of Preveza and the Grandparents a couple of days ago (having repaired our bow thruster). However, on arriving at the entrance to the Lefkada canal, we also found our windlass to be faulty and the canal has recently permanently shut to boats. So a day and a half on the wall next to the bridge with the other boats who hadn't got the memo allowed us time to repair the windlass, hoist the radar onto the mast and do a good provision ahead of our journey to Italy.  The kids spent the time scootering along the quay, swimming, exploring the Venetian fort that presides over the entrance to the canal, and kicking of the first day of boat school!  And I must mention J's first fish!  

Today was the first longish day on the water.  With the canal shut to boats, we like everyone have had to sail the long way around the island of Lefkas to reach the 'inland sea' - albeit a really uncomfortable motorsail directly into the wind and some very roly seas. A great opportunity to test the watermaker (75 litres/hr!) but the conditions took its toll on L and J after periods down below. S, as usual, spent the passage sleeping!

And here we are now. A nice tea of rice, garlicky beans and tuna that V made, L and S had had a swim and J had spent some (more) time fishing. V keeps reminding me that a lot about this trip is about resilience and problem solving without jumping to the worst case scenario. Good practice tonight I think.

Ok there goes the anchor alarm - I had better go. At least the Amel next door has dropped a bit more anchor chain out, we are going to need it!

Sleep well - you can be sure that neither V or I will.  Still no grounds for sympathy!!!