Old sea dogs

I had need of a plumber and called up a local man I hadn't met before. He rolled up in the yard, looked around and recollected that years ago he'd  helped a mate repair boats here. (Like most local tradesmen he doubles as a fisherman.)

I pointed to the old wooden vessel marooned in the grass, gradually sinking into the ground under its own weight.
Yes! he said, I remember her! He's even been out  in her,  and he remembered the  name, Milgi, which means greyhound. She'd had a twin called Dyfrgi, otter. That must been back in the 80s he thought (although this traditional clinker-built craft was probably a good deal older.)

We have been here almost 19 years and found the old boat was stowed in the barn full of bits and pieces of timber and junk, long past salvaging. In 2006 a visitor spotted its potential as a landscape feature and with the help of my sons dragged it to its final resting place. But we knew nothing about it. Now suddenly the boat's acquired a name and a history and even a reunion with one of its erstwhile crew.
 She must have been a nippy vessel once but there's not much speed left in the old greyhound now.

As she was.