Beez to 23/12/18

Beez Neez now Chy Whella
Big Bear and Pepe Millard
Sun 23 Dec 2018 23:57
Beez to 23rd of December 2018
 
 
 
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Monday 17th. Having rung Penang Immigration last week, I knew for definite that our ninety-day Visa would be a day over by the time we flew to Hong Kong (booked last January). We have heard horror stories about people being ‘told off’ as only severe folk in a position of power can and do, with the ultimate risk to us of not being allowed back in the country.......... Overstaying can also run to a hefty fine and or prison.......... The lovely lady I spoke to in Penang told me to go to our local office and ask for a one-day extension as it was a genuine mistake. Visas here run from the minute you get them, so if you arrive at 23:59 that is classed as day one of the ninety. If you use a computer model (as I did), type in a date and add ninety – all is well but when added up the authority way.......
We took the nine-thirty shuttle ferry, The Rawlies (Scott-Free) came to lend moral support and as usual Mr Din met us over the other side (Port Cenang) where he handed over the requisite ‘dodgy’ car. Half way to town Bear decided to open the window a little then a little more, it won’t go up. Mmmm. Now why, knowing it was stuck, would he open it all the way.........still stuck. No - - - - Sherlock....... Once parked there was a bit of fiddling, then some serious surgery.
 
 
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It ended with much tugging, eventually there was quite a pile on the ground and gubbins was exposed.
 
 
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I busied myself studying the nest stuck to the radio aerial but by now my already taught nerves needed a coffee and cake, off I went with Chris leaving the boys to their vehicular surgery. They joined us as we were chomping into a naughty, sweet stuff. Some time, it seemed later, we stood in front of a tiny Immigration chap (looked about twelve) who told us to go to the main office six miles back the way we had come..... Once there we were told to go to the third floor where we were told to go to the first floor. Number taken from a machine, we sat waiting. I practised my best downhearted look and a lady called us forward. “My boss is off station, I ring him, not promise but I try, no sure, not promise”, all delivered with much head shaking. More sitting, more gnashing. Ten minutes later we were filling in a form and told to come back at half past two “you pay fifty ringgit at window, I process”. YAY.
 
 
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Now one o’clock we may as well find somewhere to eat. Err no. Bear turned the key, nudda, nunca, nope. Bit of fiddling under the bonnet – makes a change from taking the door to pieces one may think. Mr Din was telephoned and the tooth sucking, flat-footed provider of mostly bangers just hanging on to their sell by dates and every one of the soon to be ‘one careful owners’ arrived. Engine left running of the steed he brought he nimbly swapped the batteries over and off he went. We headed back toward town, stopping at our favourite hardware shop just to get our equilibrium back.
 
 
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We found a tiny eatery and whilst I stuck to simple chicken rice the other went for pork belly, rice a dodgy looking brown thing that turned turtle became a hard boiled egg and some plasticine stuff in the corner that turned out to be tofu. Very nice indeed. Now time to return to Immigration.
 
 
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At a quarter to three we had handed over ten pounds each and were proud possessors of Visas that not only took up a whole page but instead of the one-day we had asked for, but for thirty-six......... Time to finally hit the shops.
 
 
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The rest of the week was spent with Bear working the mornings on servicing the compressor (hopefully to sell) and me pottering and planning a tour of India. Lunch anywhere up to two o’clock and pool at an average of four o’clock. When we briefly parked on A dock there were fourteen boats beyond us, one parked, one sold and the rest for sale. On B dock there are a few for sale and a couple of one careful owners and this lady that looks very unloved.
 
 
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Thursday night we had The Scotties over for a few pre-Christmas mudslides, s+s chicken, now known as stainless steel chicken and a game of Mex Train Doms. Bear was seen swinging about with a bag of rose, bought in Australia and now very cloudy. We all refused his offer and left him to it. A really fun night.
 
 
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Saturday 22nd. A busy day and the evening saw us gather for a cruisers pot luck, this enabled a good excuse to use all the salad in the fridge and take as our contribution. I settled with a sherbet or two and we all enjoyed sunset. A good turnout.
 
 
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It turned into a really pink sunset.
 
 
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Chris (left) and Steve (right) brought the best tasting satay chicken ever in the world because the sauce was simply perfect and sooooo peanutty. We headed home at eleven having enjoyed the evening enormously.
Sunday 23rd. Bear pottered and put his tools away whilst I did the washing and did housework as on the morrow we are off to Hong Kong.
 
 
 
ALL IN ALL ANOTHER ACTION PACKED WEEK
                     THE UPS AND DOWNS OF A SKIPPER IN A VERY PLEASANT ENVIRONMENT