Wednesday 3rd February (Lini’s Journal)

Brindabella's Web Diary
Simon Williams
Fri 12 Feb 2010 15:52

   A change of wind in the night necessitated relaying the anchor. I really don’t know where the wind comes from: One minute it’s a dead calm, the next it gusts 20kts. Si wasn’t sure if the anchor was dragging or we were just swinging on a longer scope near to our neighbour but we moved anyway. The wind then settled and I at least got back to sleep. We left after breakfast for Grenada leaving Carriacou and its tiny surrounding islands behind us. It was a grey day and at times parts of Grenada vanished in the cloud. The major Caribbean islands are so well spaced it is almost as if they were placed for perfect day sails. The beautiful tiny islands around them make sure there is always something wonderful to entertain the eyes with a great assortment of wildlife too. Today’s sail was to be around six hours depending on wind of course.

   We rounded the exclusion zone of volcanic activity by Ronde Island with ‘Kick em Jenny Rock’ behind and as Grenada (Spice Island) came into focus through the cloud we thought it more lush than the islands we’d visited recently. A treat was also in store for us as the immortelle trees were bursting into vivid orange flowers amongst the variety of greenery lining the hills. Some very impressive houses with amazing views sat up in the hills and overlooked the numerous tiny beaches along the coast. Then around the headland was, heavens! the dirty great rear end of the ‘Caribbean Princess’. We had arrived in Saint George.

   The whopping great cruise liner obscured the view of the harbour entrance and anchorage, but once clear we could see that compared with the last few weeks this was a very grown up town with large brick buildings fronting the harbour, a small stadium and houses lining all the surrounding hills. We dropped the anchor, showered then set off in search of a doctor.

  We tied the dinghy onto the harbour wall and conveniently the hospital sat just on the headland. A good a place as any to find a doc we thought! Luckily they said I could be seen there but goodness knows what my blood pressure was after we had just climbed up the hill by the fort in the baking heat. The hospital looked newly painted from the sea but inside it reminded me of those few old Victorian hospitals still in use in England with high ceilings, mopped painted concrete floors, crumbling plaster walls and ancient looking equipment. To provide ‘ a sample’ necessitated a trek outside, round the building, through the open air waiting area for the plaster room with views out to Brindabella, through the plaster room (luckily no one was being set at the time!) and into the rear end of the casualty department. The washrooms were more what you would expect in a public convenience in an old town. Back in the waiting room Tom and Jerry entertained children and adults alike, all with gaping jaws and the occasional guffaw. Si looked happy for now anyway. Eventually I was led off, out of the building, round the corner and into a consulting room.

   Dr. Keita seemed to be of this century however and was very nice. He asked questions, he prodded and tapped my abdomen, he asked about my alcohol consumption!!! Ooops! I had to confess to one or two parties over the past few months. They took blood for testing, prescribed medication, said to continue with my fat free diet for now and gave me an address to go for an ultrasound. Do they not do this in a hospital? I was assured that I could do no harm to the football inside me by bending forward and squashing it and heading back to Brindabella I felt most relieved.

   Cooking, for now at least then, shall continue to be a bigger challenge than ever as I not only have to rustle something up with whatever we have/can find while trying to be economic with gas/electric, but also cook one fat free version or something different. I continue to eat lots of tomatoes and bread in one form or another for most meals. Bobbing about in the anchorage we watched a silly film after dinner.