Beez Neez now Chy Whella

Villa Week 22

Big Bear and Pepe Millard

Sat 22 Aug 2020 23:57

Week Twenty-Two at Sleeping Indian

Sunday the 16th of August. As usual gorgeous eggs, perfectly cooked and presented by the chef who had not a sniff of any egg events. Second coat on the stairs walls and ceiling. While the paint dried we moved the dresser to the front bedroom – first time it has left our room since the end of May. Bear scraped up paint splodges from the floor as he remains on sit down duties (ankle still a little sore and swollen).

While Bear was busy I laid out the chaps on the bedroom floor for his approval and for him to choose the queen (yellow lady near the bottom) and then I put up the first half of the butterfly swarm, all the smaller ones in the top right corner flapped into place. Late swim.

Monday the 17th. We woke and breakfasted and at ten past eight Bear set us up to watch Sue Lawrey’s funeral live. The service began at a quarter past with beautiful entry music. The lady conducting the service asked us all to call to mind a memory of Sue as the second piece of music played. Bear recalled the time when he had to take his white coat off to stitch a patient in A+E, Freedom Fields Hospital, Plymouth (when he was a mere whipper-snapper of a GP trainee). Once he had finished, on went his white coat – but Sue had sewn the cuff ends and filled the arms with KY Gel. I remembered her mile-wide smile. After the service we chatted and reminisced about a deep, happy friendship that had spanned forty years (twenty odd as casualty officer and nurse once a week).

A loaded cappo to raise the spirits and up went the second half of the butterfly swarm. Now known as Sue’s Swarm.

To the left of the swarm is the blue guard bringing in the male leader. Outside our bedroom door are the blue scouts bringing in the laggers.

Not wanting to start a heavy job or begin painting I opted for us to settle to making the bedroom curtains. Eight pieces of 116 inches long by 52 inches wide became two big curtains. Bear helped me with the stretching and pinning, gathering the weight as I cantered along on the sewing machine. The fun part was adding the curtain hook tape to the now ‘top’, that used to be the bottom. Not ready to press and hang until the walls are painted so they have been stowed for now. Bear took the seam withered yellow curtain down and I repaired it as one of the cleaning ladies wishes to have them. The picture sees me having ‘borrowed’ Bear’s eyes to thread the needle..... It was nearly five by the time we had finished, definitely a soak in the sea to ease the aching shoulders and back.

Tuesday the 18th. Shopping began at the hurricane shelter place, Bear went in to pay the last little bit so I took the opportunity to nip next door to look at signs. Lovely bits, bobs, trophies, memorials etc. I came out having ordered a set of leatherette coasters and will send a design on the morrow. Also spoke to one of the poster ladies, ditto to send a design of a silhouette of The Sleeping Indian Hill to go on the car port overhang. Outside is an Inukshuk (In-ook-shook) – not what you expect to find...... and an explanation about the National Flag.

Not so many shops today, paint and screws so we popped into Courts. Over to the Optical Department at one o’clock. “Come back at two thirty” the lovely lady said. Straightaway I saw the very glasses that would suit himself and then we filled the interim time by shopping at the big supermarket. Near sight not changed but distance quite a bit. New glasses will be ready in two weeks, made in Trinidad.

Back to see Dr George a tall Nigerian who has been working here for two year. We wished him luck in getting permission to bring his wife, daughter and little boy (his wife was pregnant when he left and it “kills me to be apart from them.” In a minute it was half four so we made our way back to fill the three buckets with more excess chippings for Sharmone. Quick dip, showers and an episode of The Alienist to have a break from Gotham that has gone very silly.

Wednesday the 19th. I started with cleaning the stairs and then planted the frangipani next to the outside air con units whilst Bear put up the little trellis fence – hopefully to put a stop to the load of leaves that blow in on a daily basis. San Diego has found her legs and sent up some new growth with pink buds, Miss Alice White is still thinking about it. I popped in to get us some iced water.......

.........I was gone just a couple of minutes and came out to a face not suitable for small children and old ladies.... It was a milkwood cactus, it jumped out on me. Can I suggest you wash your face and head as the red dollop about to drip from your beak and the trail of red looks most unattractive......

All washed and cleaned up, I had expected to see a gash but the ‘hole’ was almost non-existent. I was a very sweaty boy though. Mmmm. Not to be trusted further outside and still not allowed to do anything too strenuous Bear found a simple job. He glued the newel post caps in place. After lunch we pottered until swim time.

Thursday the 20th. Email first thing that my coasters are ready. Wow, will pick them up on our next shopping trip. I have a plan. Oh, yes, that sounds ominous. Better get a cup of tea, you may need it. We are going to sail Beez Neez back home. So pleased I’m sitting down, what brought that on. Ten thousand to put her on a ship. Covid-19 brought the market here to a halt and we need to take loads of ‘stuff’ back which will cost an arm and a leg to ship. Well, I always did want to sail into Plymouth. Plenty of discussion, a loaded cappo each and then Bear got on with the upper stair wires.

I decided to have a good sort out in the front bedroom (dumping ground for a few weeks), now able to box said ‘stuff’ ready to be stowed on Beez come the time (if she doesn’t sell between December and May). For now, the attic will be home to it until we load in May. We’ll set off at the beginning of June. The plan will be to sail to The Azores, St. Mary’s on the Isles of Scilly, Falmouth (celebrate with Cecily (Bear’s sister) and brother in law Martin), a stop in our beloved Fowey and finally, Plymouth. I sent an email to a broker in Plymouth just to get their thoughts. Quite satisfied with the sort out. Black bags hold the thin set and grout (no risk of getting wet), decorating materials piled on the upturned bed. Seven boxes in all Bear put up into the loft, all the contents listed in our notebook.

Friday the 21st. Stairs all cleaned and Bear has done a really good job on the wires, the newel post covers really finish the job. We had a test buff-puff on the left-hand kitchen worktop and think we got ingrained grime off, but it was just a quick trial. Will do a proper job another time. I cleaned the appliance fronts, very grubby with dust. Bear set to his pile of wood. He cantered on his circular saw to make the long planks more manageable and stowed them against the wall. I used two boxes to tidy up the rest of the chipping (for Sharmone) and swept the drive. Tropical Storm Laura is brewing..

Saturday the 22nd. First thing we received an email from a broker in Plymouth who says we should try to sell here. Back to plan A for now then. Rain, rain and more rain but at least Storm Laura passed by with no problems. We may feel a slack day coming on after we stow all the patio stuff behind the hurricane shutter, bikes in, troughs and little plants. That done we settled and later enjoyed a takeaway.

ALL IN ALL PLODDING ONWARD

CONTINUED GOOD PROGRESS