We spent today on and around Brindabella starting with amazing snorkelling. Just peering over the side of the boat we could see brightly coloured fish just below the surface but underwater was fantastic. Luckily Santa had given CJ a disposable underwater camera similar to ours and he has hopefully been able to capture some of the incredible sights. Si also dived down to take some close-ups of the tiny bright fish around the coral. Meanwhile I was engrossed as shoals of angle fish swam past in front of our noses, pipe fish poked out of the coral and shoals of the brightest blue fish patrolled the edge of the reef. How wonderful to be moored just metres from a coral ledge and how lucky we are to be sharing such amazing experiences. We were also lucky to have snorkelled in the morning as wind and swell built stirring sand into the sea and little of what lay beneath could be seen during our afternoon dip.

   Tonight being CJ’s last night, Si treated us to a scrumptious meal at the Hummingbird Restaurant. All dressed up we managed to land the dinghy against the concrete dock as large waves bounced us dangerously around. ‘Daniel’ appeared announcing that he was here to help and look after the dinghy while we were having dinner. Was he employed as a free service by the restaurant we asked – of course not, but in these conditions it seemed wise to have someone keep an eye on things. We tied the dinghy between two small finger pontoons to avoid it bouncing against the concrete then walked along the sandy beach under the palm trees to the resort’s beach bar for sunset drinks before dinner: Definitely one of Si’s better ideas. The sunset was beautiful with a silhouette of a palm tree framing the photo of Brindabella at anchor. All that was missing was Daniel who had disappeared from dinghy watching duties on the dock to the side! Happy Hour seemed to also have been abandoned and we were charged full price for our drinks.

  While the boys waited for their oriental calamari and I for my chicken satay, the mosquitoes tucked into supper from my legs and it took great restraint not to rip them apart they itched so much. I could feel the skin slowly tightening as I tucked into my fish poached in coconut milk, Si into his shrimp curry and CJ into his seafood spaghetti. The wait for Si’s dessert seemed a lifetime for someone in need of ‘Stingoes’ and a boy in need of his bed. CJ fell asleep in a lounger by the pool and I sat on my hands. The wait for the bill was then even longer and I wondered afterwards if they were trying to find Daniel to send him back to the dinghy before giving us the bill or whether service was always that bad.

   As we descended the steps we were met by not only Daniel but also another man who insisted that despite Si having two torches we needed him to show us back to the dinghy. He shined the torch in front of me saying I would have undoubtedly cut my feet or tripped over steps if he hadn’t been there. Of course he demanded money for his ‘services’. Daniel was even more annoying as he demanded much more money than quoted for looking after the dinghy which was just about secured as our bow line had almost chafed through on the concrete but was conveniently covered with a scrap of cloth. One of the oars was also badly bent and later snapped when straightened. Si was not happy, especially as wanting to depart from the situation as quickly as possible he didn’t pull in the extra stern line which fouled the propeller. Luckily he freed it and we sped back to Brindabella feeling totally ripped off by the people of St. Lucia. It totally ruined our lovely last evening with CJ as we all became very quiet. My tummy promptly knotted up and with legs still swelling I had little sleep.