After a long period of radio silence at last an update:
A wilderness canoeing trip in Canada, an attic conversion and a baby room got in the way of progress for a while but now there's progress to report. All the bits and pieces (seat slats, centerboard top etc) have been finished (varnish/oil). The topstreek and hull to the water line have been faired (at least until my patience ran out)and have received a couple of coats of topcoat (Epifanes two pot, black for the hull and for the topstrake started with red but switched to burgundy-see photos). Everything within reach in the cockpit has been finished and everything almost out of reach (seat sides and floors) primed. At the next opportunity I intend to fit the centreboard (now finished with epoxy-graphite) and then, the worst job of all, cut the outboard well hole (gulp!). Then, bribed with beer, I hope my friends will help me turn her over to mount the fins and to finish the hull. While she's on her head I also intent to apply the last coat to the decks and coamings and to get to finish the places otherwise too awkward to reach at the moment. Still quite some work but the end is in sight. I had aimed for her to go to water in April but a new baby will almost certainly get in the way. We will however, certainly enjoy her this season.