And Now For A Bit Of Fun ! ! ! !

SHIP'S LOG:

     I had reason to take Pequot Avenue along the Thames this morning and, down at Osprey Beach, waves were breaking over the sea wall! It is really honking out there! Ledge Light is recording a steady wind of 45mph with gusts to 56!! It is quite the storm! When I parked my car along Pequot, the wind was shaking rather briskly.  'Tain't a Noreaster because the wind seems to coming out of the Southeast but if you are out in it, who cares?  Even a trip on one of the Cross Sound ferries today would be rather rollicking!

     I finally tracked down the partner of my former broker and got assurances that I am free and clear from any obligation to his firm.  It turns out that they still have a picture of ABISHAG in the window of their office but the boat has not been active for awhile. The partner couldn't say how long exactly but seemed embarrassed by the screw-up. I also got the idea he was more than happy for me to take ABISHAG to someone else.  My whole experience with them was far less gracious and satisfying that I was led to believe it would be.  The efforts they made on my behalf were poor, so it was a mutually acceptable  and amicable "divorce."

   On to the next broker who works for Eastern Yacht Sales at Hellier just down the street from TYC. The broker, John Zomermaand, wants to go up and see ABISHAG and we'll go up together in the next few days. May need a day or so after the storm to let the mud dry up around her. The snow should be gone after all the rain, but the weather has been  well above freezing for the last few days, so the ground is not frozen anymore. this means that the rain will sort of sink in and make a nice muddy mess. Better to let things dry a bit.

     Of course, the "ridiculous" price I was asking for ABISHAG, $80,000, is going to have to come down, and a lot I am afraid. But at this point, one has to do what one has to do. If I can get a decent amount, perhaps I will be able to pay off the mortgage on the condo, and the real estate broker ( God Bless her long suffering heart) and then the condo income will do more than come into my checking account and then going right out the door HSBC. And perhaps, if I am really, Really lucky,  I'll even have enough for another new(old) boat. I have already found 2 or three candidates, 27 - 30feet,  for under $10,000 but that is jumping the gun a bit. Odds are, I am sad and happy to say, that ABISHAG will probably sell as well now as she did when she was off the market. Such is the boating industry. Now, if I had a a really obscene yacht, 50or 60 foot long with all the toys and electronics, and was asking an outrageous price, I would have little problems selling it. Such are the vagaries of the boating industry today.