Yes, this is - in spite of the inappropriate picture - the log of Narrow Boat Albert (and crew), and NO, Albert did NOT navigate the waters in the picture above.

Albert is still - I hope - tucked up in Decize.

Meantime Albert's skipper avoided the European winter - to some effect this year - by heading for Western Australia (invariably known as WA by locals) for a splendid stay under fair weather skies, enjoying the fellowship of family and friends in the outdoor life under a bright sun, by the the swimming pool, or on the beaches. There were wines needing tasting - and were - liberally, the Australian Open Tennis in Melbourne was followed breathlessly, the South African cricketers were cheered on - albeit sotto voce - as they showed Ponting's boys they knew a thing or two about the game, and although there was a great sadness and distress over the ghastly fires in the East, and a frustration over the "credit crunch", the great Australian feeling of extreme friendliness, (accompanied by the standard Australian salute), and "she'll be right, mate" were still evident in abundance.

As a result, apart from having gained weight and a tan, I have failed to get our splendid new highly professional web site going, and so have reverted to hybridising it with the old. The learning curve/time ratio of the new design programme proved too short and steep, and took second place to the inevitable lotus eating - how can anyone sit inside at a computer when there is the whole Indian Ocean plus it's beaches waiting outside the window, so at present we have the aforesaid hybrid, which I'll try and tidy up as we go. 

No one wants to read long texts all about it - so here are a few random pictures taken whilst not on Albert, offered as mementos rather than works of art.