Saturday 9th January (Lini’s Journal)

Brindabella's Web Diary
Simon Williams
Fri 15 Jan 2010 19:54

 

   England blanketed in snow was quite a picture as we came into land and a shame this was not our view for the next three quarters of an hour as we waited for a ‘parking space’ at terminal five. There was then only one shuttle bus to transfer us to the terminal, so around an hour and a half after landing we finally walked through arrivals to be met by CJ’s mum Jennifer, step brother Matthew, Si’s brother Guy and wife Annie. CJ was very excited and ran off playing with Matthew while we chatted and sorted out boat spares sent to Guys. Although brief it was lovely to see them and we were able to catch up without that awkward four second delay with Skype. My lovely Dan then arrived to whisk me off for a manic two days with family and shopping.

   I chatted to Dan and rang others during the picturesque drive to Guildford. Icicles hung from his fascia boards and heaps of ice he’d cleared from the path looked like paving slabs stacked in the front garden. Inside was warm and cosy though and while I sorted things to stay in England Dan made some lunch. The BA website instructed us to consult our travel agent about moving my return flight but they were now closed until Monday. We decided to make plans to see everyone in two days in case no changes could be made. We were going to be very busy.

   By mid-afternoon I was clutching Dan’s arm on icy pavements in the town centre as we shopped for drugs and insect repellent (£110 worth!), shorts and vests (wishful thinking with this weather!) and a lightweight waterproof jacket (on the shelf but out of my price range). We then flew into Tesco where Dan gathered a few items for dinner and I coffee, green tea and some toiletries for the boat. We arrived back just after a shaken Catherine who had skidded off the road on her way home from work and needed a large glass of wine to recover. I helped her out while we watched Dan cook a wonderful game casserole for dinner! We were all desperately tired as we chatted with full bellies.   

(Meanwhile in St. Lucia, Si waited for confirmation that we had arrived safely before sailing Brindabella in variable winds from 0-F6 back to the anchorage in Rodney Bay.)