Onwards

Beez Neez now Chy Whella
Big Bear and Pepe Millard
Sun 13 Dec 2009 23:48
Onwards, Conditions and a Nivea Moment.
 
 
 
I'll start by explaining the Nivea Moment. My "friend" who wants to remain anonymous told me a story. She bought a new pot of Nivea Moisturising Cream, a BIG pot. She undid the old pot that had a tiny amount left, opened the brand new full pot and proceeded to fill the nearly empty pot from the new pot, it took some time and has now become for purposes of daft happenings a "Nivea Moment".
 
 
 
 
 
 
Meet the new Microwave. A fisherman in the early morning sun in Roseau.
 
 
We spent a couple of days in St Lucia to do a few jobs and for Bear to buy me my new microwave, the old one blew up - well not so much blew up as faded quietly and silently - the beans danced around like the finale to The Saturday Night Palladium, twirling in the light, but after five minutes the beans remained stone cold. Anyway, in the same shop he bought me a new salt and a new pepper grinder, old one got the lids stuck and he applied brute force with a pair of pliers and decapitated both.
We sat in the cockpit as is our usual habit for a game of Backgammon, rum cocktail of course and a packet of plantain crisps each. I knew them to be a bit sweet, so, chance to use my brand new salt grinder. Twisting away, nothing happened, Bear was too busy setting his men up to notice. I said "Make no comment" as he looked up. I turned the salt pot upside down to find a clear plastic sticker over the hole. He fell about laughing and had wet eyes.
See Pepe fume
Paint Pepe's face a dangerous shade of pink
See Bear duck as he was hit about the head with a wooden cribbage scorer
Duck Bear Duck
 
Now known as a "Nivea Moment"
 
 
 
 
First chum of the season - off Martinique
 
 
  
 
 
Passing by an anchored chum on the approach to Fort de France, Martinique, Skipper keeping a sharp eye out.
 
 
 
 
 
First chap and first friend in the early morning sun
 
 
 
 
 
Roseau, Dominica - this cruise ship taking on local supplies
 
 
 
 
 
Swiss flagged sailing vessel in Rita conditions 12 - now you see it, now you don't, in winds force 7 to 8 making a ten hour journey into seven.
 
 
 
 
 
From Roseau to Portsmouth, whoosh, Bear's replacement hat (first lost inn Venezuela) had to be rescued as it flew off. Petroline, the manager of the Purple Turtle
 
 
 
 
 
I laid for twenty minutes being eaten alive by sand flies - only to have my piece of steak bait retrieved with his back to - suffer for your art - OK I'm running.
See Bear Run, Run Bear Run
 
 
 
 
 
While I was crab hunting, Skipper was slaving over a hot beach for a rare afternoon off.
 
 
 
 
 
Day Hay or Deshaies as it is spelt and a smashing sunset at anchor
 
 
 
 
 
Charliz overtaking us, but still chance to wave, the seas had smoothed a little, wind gusting 42 knots, Beez top speed 8.2 knots en route to Jolly Harbour
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ALL IN ALL HAPPY TO BE THIS FAR NORTH AS THE WEATHER IS SHOCKING FURTHER SOUTH