Skyping my family commenced at 6.30am Grenadian time this morning: I was determined to try and catch everyone and I almost did: Bob is rarely online. L It was great timing today as mum was at Julie’s and by the wonders of modern technology I could also show them my new dress they paid for. Wonderful!!! After a big day out yesterday any good girl would knuckle down and get stuck into her cleaning. I went out again! Bad Lini!

   Yet again I had an invitation from my neighbours, this time to dinghy round to Mount Hartman Bay for the boat jumble. We ducked under the bridge to Hog Island with Roger’s bar on the beach that I’d heard so much about. Small floats laid by cruisers on the other side marked the shallows then round the headland was the Bay with Martin’s marina tucked in the corner. It was practically deserted. Rumour has it that the owner told the yachties that he didn’t want them in his marina which he fancied full of large motor boats and so the yachties went and spread the word. True or not there were only a couple of boats in the marina.

   Three or four tables were set up in front of the bar and a dozen or so people wandered around. I picked up a book on Bermuda for the princely sum of 5 ECD (just over a pound) then Gayle took me up the hill to see the restaurant and apartments devastated by Hurricane Ivan. The restaurant must have been wonderful in its time but now it had a ghostly air about it. As we approached tall grasses grew up between the paving and through the car park. The bowed roof had many tiles missing and odd bits of furniture were still dotted about. Apparently there’s still paperwork strewn about in the office. Pretty patterned tiled floors were still intact under the debris but scattered with droppings from the hundreds of bats that flew about our heads. Wrought iron chandeliers were untouched and brick arches from each cove looked out to the bay. Although large it curved so the eye only saw parts, retaining a smaller intimate feel. Wine boxes still sat on the floor by the bar. Out the back, terraces lead down to a pool, now empty apart from weeds and to the side sat a tennis court with only one wire end still intact. A couple of the apartments that curved round below are now inhabited so we couldn’t take a good look, but most looked very unsafe with their wooden balconies now wonkily hanging over the drop to the sea. It must have been a great place before disaster struck and how tragic that someone’s successful business was ended in an instant. One of Gayle’s friends said they used to do all their partying there. Further round the bay a really interesting house is built into the rocks with grass growing in the soil on the roof and a wide sweeping drainpipe curving down the front. It really was a hobbit house.

   Kirt suggested we zip round to Phare Bleu Marina so I could see it while he volunteered their help at next week’s regatta. I was somewhat surprised to see a lovely new marina and resort just round the headland from where Si and I snorkelled the other day. An old Swedish lightship houses the office, a small museum/lounge, a bar and high class restaurant. Ashore, apartments for rent sit to one side and a bar/ restaurant, marina facilities, pool and minimarket to the other. The wonderful aroma of freshly baked bread filled the air which they bake daily. The place had a nice atmosphere with lots of people going about their business and the pontoons were full of boats: A far cry from Martin’s Marina.  To one side of the marina was a small beach and out on the water was a hammock under a covered diving platform. All jolly nice!

   Gayle drove us home and did a good job of landing. They really have been unbelievably kind and thanking them for my outing I went back to commence more cleaning. Armed with Viakal I was at war with limescale! Cleaning would be a darn sight quicker if I could rinse everything down with the shower hose but our pipes don’t like harsh cleaning products and they have to be wiped off. I emerged some time later then had the same problem with bleach on galley worktops. Bucket after bucket of rinsing water went over the side before I was finished.

   For the first time since he left I managed to talk to Si on skype this afternoon. I was beginning to forget what he looks like. He had just arrived back in London and looked very tired. The hustle bustle of driving in England must be hell after de laid back Caribbean Mon. I can’t wait for Tuesday when he’s due back. I declined an invitation for drinks tonight to try and paint him a birthday card. I started straight after dinner and copied a photo I’d taken in Mustique. I have to say I’m getting better! But then again I couldn’t really get any worse!! My planned early night ended up a very late one.