Boat yard weekend in Olhâo, Algarve

I know the cake on top of the can resembles some kind of sun hat, but its not. It is in actual fact called a pastel de nata, which is a custardy filling inside a cup cake of light pastry. In a word its lush and I was looking for a sugar hit, to boost my wavering energy today.

I think everyone here wanted to take the day off, seeing it is a Sunday and the yard was eerily quiet. One yachty had an accident with a dish of red paint and precarious scaffolding collapsing. She fortunately landed on her feet but the red paint, well, it went everywhere! Most of the scaffolding has been taken to the adjoining yard to paint a huge vessel, so what's left are incomplete pieces you have to put together in the hope that you will be able to elevate yourself safely. It's like something out of the krypton factor, (now who remembers that programme?).

I, on the other hand use step ladders. They are even more precarious, especially when they don't lock and you position one of the feet on a loose stone. You get to the top and the thing tilts and you just have to reach for part of the boat to steady yourself. I love it! The best area is mid-ships between my neighbours boat and mine, whereby there's only enough room to pass a bucket and you somehow have to squeeze yourself up the ladder with paint laden roller to apply, without getting a mouthful or eyeful of the stuff!

I switched to the mohair roller and low and behold it doesn't shed but leaves a more enhanced orange peel effect. Now whoever said you simply run it off with one swift brush stroke is having a laugh. The idea behind this is to eliminate the orange peel effect. Trouble is you would be left with an ugly brush stroke instead. Or the brush stuck to the topside, glued with the two pot paint. I left my brush in its plastic wrapper under the boat.

Right then, one more to the NIB. No its got nothing to do with bank identification numbers. Its called nibbing and its simply a bucket of soapy water and some 240 grade wet and dry, so I can rub down the freshly painted topsides that I coated yesterday, to re-coat tomorrow. I can't wait.