So what did you do on Tuesday?

Not a breath of wind in the air today and for once we breathed a sigh of relief. During Port and Starboard's lunchtime naps we attached and hoisted the mainsail. No mean feat. But it was worth it.

Fun in the sun

So the sun doth shine but the wind still doth blow from a Northerly direction. So there is nothing for it other than to hang on until next week and enjoy the world around us in this unique part of the great metropolis. It's really very exciting with the helipad just across the river and 'copters buzzing about like bees around a honeypot. Starboard has taken over the cockpit (now open air) as her playpen and frankly she's impatient to get going. And there's no rest of the rest of us, she's even persuaded her big bro to push her around the playpark on someone else's bicycle. Port, fresh from near concussion having collided with his friend Annabel on the swing (she was swinging, he was aiming for a great big plastic dumper truck someone had left just the other side of the swing) , seemed quite happy to potter about pushing the handle. Talk about little fingers being wrapped.

After a hard day's furling sometimes all you can do is sit by the river and drink cappucino. That's what the Captain said anyway. The boys were happy to eat crisps, spot 'copters, goods trains, rubbish barges and discuss the potential destination of a floating log. Would it reach Port's friend Gabriel's house in Staines by high water?

To furl or not to furl

No.1 sets off down the bowsprit to attach the furling headsail... however he says that the lifejacket that I insisted he wear has restricted his agility so he heads back to try another method.Now this looks a lot safer to me.

There she blows.

A cup of tea, slice of cake... and would you mind lifting the boom?

Golden Mean rigged and ready for sails to be attached. As if by Magic .... up she goes. (No.1 winching below) Andy learning the ropes. Andy and David thought they were just coming round for a cup of tea.....

This reminds me of maypole dancing at school..... those ropes could get in a right tangle!

Canadian Douglas Fir

The Captain is really impressed. No.1 has been working very hard. He has single handedly fished out countless halyards from where they were stowed under the bed in the front cabin, figured out which rope goes on which pulley, threaded them through with the mast still down. With the help of friends David and Andy, Saturday became the day that Golden Mean became properly 'dressed'. I mean rigged, of course. After a hailstorm and countless cups of tea the mast went up and the ropes all seem to be doing what they were intended to do. Then it was time to attach the very heavy boom and gaff. You need some substantial pieces of wood to support a sail area of 1150 square feet!

Our friend Sue popped in for coffee, and between her and David's Mum Denise, Port and Starboard were very well entertained whilst all the activity went on 'upstairs'.

Celeste with Denise and Andy, in a break between rope threading.

Not the local beach

Now these feel a little like the Golden Mean throttles... but where's the steering wheel? Now let me show you how!

Our Knights in shining armour come to the rescue

A welcome diversion from the waiting game: our friend Julie and two little godsons arrive for the day, and we discover a fabulous local playground. If this is the anchor.... how big was the ship??!

The piano's not on board so we may as well use the stool as a lunch table....

Where are we going Driver? Don't forget me!

Getting to know Chelsea Harbour

We're still here! I'm sorry to report that there have been no nautical developments with regard to our moving on to Norfolk. We're still keeping a vigilant eye on all the online weather forecasts but every day promises a different outcome; too windy, not windy enough, wrong wind direction .... and so we still have no departure yet. Even if we were to use the motor all the way (not desirable), going 'into wind' would mean it would be a rough ride, and we are not intending to put the family off sailing just yet! Having to take each day as it comes and not make any plans in advance will probably turn out to be good for us. It's rather like waiting for a standby flight and I've been trying to keep the vittles topped up and the boat ready, just in case we get the all clear to go at the last minute. With no van to hand we've been exploring the surrounding area by foot and bus which I have to admit seem to work very well. Port loves them and Starboard unfailingly falls asleep as soon as she gets on. We've caught up with old friends in the area and had lots of visits from friends and family who have been following our progress and just happen to be passing.

Off the river into the harbour

This afternoon at high tide we moved off the pier into Chelsea harbour, as the pier is expecting other visitors tomorrow. Our neighbour Charmaine departs in her 70 foot Dutch barge for her new mooring in Gravesend tomorrow morning. She won't be going alone though, as the greylag geese who have been 'hanging around' since we got here laid some eggs on her deck this morning, so I think she might have a flying escort.

The tide was just about turning as we untied again for the first time since we arrived on Saturday, but the wind was gusting strongly blowing us upstream. It did confirm for us that it wouldn't be the right time to be at sea. However, despite the challenges, our skipper Paul brought us in safely without even a scratch on the side of the lock. The lifting bridge came up to let us in and the harbour master was ready in a RIB to act as a giant fender should we need it. The lifting bridge Inside the lock (both doors open as the river level inside the harbour and the main river at high tide are the same, although at low tide the harbour is inaccessible as the lock dries out completely)

Golden Mean almost looks small compared to the high cruisers moored inside Chelsea Harbour The next job is to rig the boat to check everything is in place for our voyage, then dismantle and lower mast again until we get past Tower Bridge. We are now just waiting for the right weather window to leave. We have no visitors on board tonight, just us four crew. We're missing Magic but know he is happy on holiday with his friend Morton and Mum Gwen.

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Time and tide wait for no man...

Wednesday morning, 25th March But we have to wait for time and tide.... so here we are still at Chelsea, with friends popping in after work. Malcom who came by river taxi on the off chance we'd still be here and Hamish who popped in after an auction on Lots Road. And as for Uncle Charm, well he's been on the bottom bunk with Port for the last couple of nights. With Force 5 up to Gale 8 forecast it's unlikely we'll be heading off for another few days. 3 - 4 metre waves at sea: not inviting. Watch this space! Tuesday evening's entertainment: (L-R) No.1, Hamish, Grandmajo, Malcolm, Gramps and Uncle Charm.

Rock 'n' Roll at Chelsea

We're still here at Chelsea waiting for the right combination of weather to depart. Today there is a strong Westerly breeze which is forecast to reach Force 7 later on. Far too windy for us to travel, despite being in the right direction. We seem to be rolling around a lot today, to the point where things are starting to roll off worktops. The children are just about managing to remain upright. Good preparation for our sea voyage. Glad I stocked some 'Joy Rides' tablets for Port, just in case.

Tuesday and Wednesday forecast North Westerlies which might work for our Easterly sail but not when we turn the corner North up the East Coasl, so Thursday looks like the earliest opportunity for our next leg, when the wind backs round to the South West. Our skippers are considering Burnham on Crouch as our first stop, rather than Queenborough. Golden Mean in fact first entered the water on the Crouch, for her sea trials in 1995 when she was brought down on a trailer with a police escort from Lancashire where she was built.

Grandmajo has come back to join us on our adventure and is down in the bowels of the engine room fitting some bolts with No.1, where apparently it's not so rocky. Uncle William promises to pop in after work tonight - we've discovered there is a river taxi that will bring him along from Blackfriars Bridge right to our pier. I noticed some suited bods wandering down the ramp this morning and wondered where they were heading, then discovered the water taxi service. What fun!Golden Mean from the lock at the harbour Inside Chelsea Harbour No.1 fought valiantly with the bowsprit yesterday. With the help of our neighbour to shoot the pin in at just the right moment.... he emerged from the battle triumphant, so we are now about twelve feet longer. He then had to launch the dinghy to attach the lower cable. Not easy when you're trying to hold yourself in place with one hand and the tide is trying to push you the other way. The drum is fixed on at the end so the furling head sail can be attached later. Uncle Charm and his friend Fi Fi arrive and entertain Port and Starboard before bedtime.

Golden Mean from Kew Bridge

Thanks Graham for taking these photos from Kew Bridge. Sorry you couldn't come aboard - the Queen Elizabeth had just painted their decks and didn't want to be used as a pontoon!

Golden Mean from the bank at Teddington lock

Thank you Danni for taking these lovely shots of us as we enter the tidal Thames at Teddington.

Who's in charge of this vehicle?

Port and Starboard, Chelsea Harbour

Mother's Day

Sunday 21st March

Mother's Day dawns at Chelsea with clear blue skies and our neighbour is planting her roof garden. I've been making Port a bacon sarnie and it reminded me of my childhood on our boat in North Norfolk where we'd leave early and eat bacon butties at anchor in Blakeney harbour. I'm obviously subconsciously, if not consciously, re-creating my childhood for my own children.

Port is now standing in the middle of the living room floor feeling the movement and watching his glass boat mobile swaying like it hasn't before. I've noticed both children catching the view out of the portholes with a somewhat surprised look on their faces seeing tall flats - their view has changed dramatically overnight!

No.1 is dangling over the bow attaching lines to the bowsprit, trying not to drop tools and fittings into the depths. The tide is coming in again. Since no officialdom is measuring our length, for a few days at least, we will be able to extend the bowsprit later today.

My mother reminded me that she and my father had looked at houseboats on Chelsea Wharf 40 years ago with a view to buying one to live on when they were based in London. It certainly feels as if we're living out the romantic dream, although I'm still getting used to the boat rocking seriously for the first time. It seems to happen when a fast boat goes past!