The Reins in Spain....

Michael seems to know where he's going...out West!!

The Skipper displays his Tool...

It's been a long time in dry dock. The Skipper demonstrates his prowess with his powerful tools, whilst images of the 'Goldstone' are always lurking in the background...and in the foreground...the Skipper is seen relaxing with his crew...Lea, the cook and navigator and the recently appointed cabin-boy, Michael...yet to see service....

Boogie Nights...

Michael shows the world what he's made of...and seems to be enjoying himself...

What Big Eyes you have, Grandma....

Little Michael was walking through the woods, going to visit his Grandma, wearing his brand new winter coat....

Michael cheers up...

It's not his first smile...thank the Lord...but at least, at last, he is beginning tosmile on a regular basis, and wear that oh so serious look a little less systematically...! He is a grand chap, and we're very proud of him...he indicates he is unlikely to be a Spurs supporter...but there is still time...

Happy Families...

I believe this is the first picture of the 'Collinson family'...sure won't be the last!!

...And the leaves that are green...

...turn to red...at least some do!

"Serve Somebody" (You're gonna' have to...)

'You might like to eat caviar,
You might like to eat bread,
You may may be sleeping on the floor...

You may be sleeping in a King-size bed...

But you're gonna have to...'

Barthy-warthy

Michael demonstrates that, unlike his father, bathing can be enjoyed...

This Boy Rocks!

Latest in a line of Elvis impersonators...the early years...please welcome 'Michael'..

this chair vibrates...

This is Michael this afternoon, looking a little confused by the vibrating chair....

Dad lends a hand...

The cabin boy is seen here practising a rousing version of 'The Sloop John B', as the skipper vainly attempts to instil a bit of vigour into the whole sorry saga...

"The first mate, he got drunk..."

Ten Days on...

A couple of snaps of my boy...

He looks better on his own

New Cabin Boy

Michael was born at 12:45 on Tuesday 18th of September, 2007. He makes his Mum very happy!

No Hands on Deck

The Skipper whistfully surveys the untrodden quarterdeck of his new command, the Nebli. The scrapping of the Goldstone still sets a swell in his heart, but with the Cabin-Boy promoted to Commodore, and a new cabin-boy expected any day, there is little time for nostalgia over cargoes and crews, battles and booze...and old family photos.

Windows 2007

I'm working on tidying up the mess caused by builders who have no respect for gardens...should look a lot better by the end of tomorrow...can't get a really nice photo until they remove the scaffolding...but the windows make it look more like a finished house....inside, the plasterers are doing their stuff...

...Doc says Lea and Michael are doing fine....and on target for delivery of the package on 5th September...ironically the day my 'labour' begins...my PSA is stable at 0.1

Safe and Sound...or is it 'Home and dry'?

This is the last photo taken of the legendary Skipper, as he prepares to relinquish command of the 'Goldstone'. There is clear evidence of stress and emotion around the eyes, the untied shoelaces tell the same tale...

The photograph was taken on Tuesday 15th at 11:30 by Tristan Forward; friends for over 50 years, and shipmates for a number of them...there were many shared adventures on the High Seas, and much involvement with emeralds, silks, privateers and corsairs...and dusky maidens too...naturally.

Tate Gallery Prize

Here is the winning entry from Traicey Emmettt....it's called 'interior with pipework'...

Just in case it rains....

The guys came on a SUNDAY to fit the roof tiles...as there were clouds about.

And on the 7th day...

The carpenters put the roof on....

Ron Wood and Keith Richard

Two men sat in deckchairs...

...Where'd they go?

Lacework...

The framework for the roof has gone on in ONE DAY....check out the pillars supprting the eaves...

Granny Flat...

Looks like a mighty growed-up Granny to me....

Amish Country...

As god is my WITNESS....

Day 4

Not such spectacular progress...but soon the roof will be on..

Meanwhile, a thousand miles away, George is making solid progress on emptying the clipper, The Goldstone, of its seemingly endless cargo of green tea. The Pike was sighted, the fourth sighting of the summer, its face contorted with spite and resentment. LtCom Sparkle boarded briefly, and left invisibly, leaving only the evidence of a lit lamp, a cigarette butt in the otherwise immaculate black hexagonal ceramic ash-tray, and a crudely opened bill from O2. The search for moorings goes on. Michael waits patiently for his entry. George was reading a brief history of Malmesbury, written by Dr Hodge...the very doctor who delivered him...

On the Third Day....

Unbelievable...

A Room with a View...

Little Boxes, little boxes...

Scond day of the carpenters on site....It's hard to believe that this is going to turn into a solid home...especially at the pace with which it's rising...

If I had a hammer...

Now that's what I call a decent bit of shelving....

If I were a Carpenter...

This is midway through the first morning of the arrival of the carpenters and joiners...they plan to wwork weekends!! so look out for some fairly startling changes...i shall try to post every day, depending on the arrival of photos from Lea...who, by the way, has had her 'final scan' for the baby...head down, facing back and weighing in at 2.45 kilos...looks in great shape, and so is Lea...

Summertime...

...and the livin' is easy!!

The prettiest flower in the garden.

For a few bricks...

PS...for those with a head for figures...my PSA is still 0.1....and Lea is very round...she is due in six weeks...photo next blog...

Car 54, Where are you?

Ben, try reverse, I think I see it...

EXTREME GARDENING

Lea demonstrates to her absent husband what exactly is meant by the notion of 'extreme gardening'

Mac challenges line call..

That ball was clearly out...

The Rev Green....

...In the Library with the lead piping...

I got you Babe

Make You Feel My Love – Bob Dylan

Here's how i'd do it...

D A Am
When the rain is blowing in your face
G Gm
and the whole world is on your case
D E9/A11
I could offer a warm embrace
D
to make you feel my love
When evening shatters and the stars appear
and there is no one there to dry your tears
I could hold you for a million years
to make you feel my love
G D
I know you haven't made your mind up yet
D G D
but I would never do you wrong
G D
I've known it from the moment that we met
Em A
no doubt in my mind where you belong

I'd go hungry, I'd go black and blue
I'd go crawling down the avenue
Oh there's nothing that I wouldn't do
to make you feel my love

The storms are raging on the rolling sea
and on the highway of regret
the winds of change are blowing wild and free
you ain't seen nothing like me yet ...(my italics)

I could make you happy, make your dreams come true
nothing that I wouldn't do
go to the ends of the earth for you
to make you feel my love

The Eve of Destruction

So it was on the Monday morning that the gasman came to call....

Dry Dock

The Tea Clipper SS Goldstone...later renamed "The Goldstone", was laid up in the summer of 2007. Its owners, Sackville Decorators, had decided the vessel was no longer fit for sea, and she was stripped and sold that summer.

But succeeded eventually....

and all was well again...

Early days...tried to post a photo of Lea...failed

The Goldstone Tapes chronicle the life and times of the SS Goldstone, a former tea clipper, now dry-docked close by Hove station, E.Sussex, a short distance from the former site of Hove's largest cinema, closed in 1971.