The problem with naming an inanimate object is that you get quite attached to it and I have to say I felt very sad when Tiny Dancer disappeared, in a way other than just the thought of the expense of a new tender and engine.  Chris felt the same and has lovingly patched her additional wounds and stripped her engine and got it going.  Normally one would worry about one's boyfriend being so attached to an inflatable female, but in this case I totally understand.

Wednesday was Chris's birthday - yup, 21 again - and he was in his element on our sail back to Es Jondals; 12 knots of wind, winch handles in hand, tweaking and teasing every last knot out of DecaDance.  A few weeks ago he dropped a huge hint that he would like Agatha Christie's Poirot and he was rather surprised (and slightly touched) that I'd managed to source (thanks Sara and mum) the DVD boxset.  All 11 series of it.  It's not really my cup of tea but it will keep him quiet for a while and give me some extra time to write my book. 

We all dressed up to go to The Tropicana restaurant for a special birthday meal, but for the very first time we were caught by a wave as we landed on the beach and poor mum was drenched, Chris not too bad, and I escaped totally dry.  The same happened to mum the next morning as Chris took her ashore to get her taxi to the airport.  What's worse than flying home with soggy knickers?  Flying home with soggy knickers and the plane's engine catching fire that's what.  It diverted to Palma and all turned out ok, with nothing more serious than a twelve hour delay and a Burger King for dinner.

We left Es Jondals to meet up with Chris's best friend and his girlfriend back in Santa Eulalia.  Whoever said, "A bad day's sailing is better than a good day in the office," wants their bumps feeling.  After five hours of beating into the wind in the crappiest swell ever we had to abort our attempt to anchor in the bay and motored around to Portinatx where we knew we would have good shelter.  John and Helen joined us here yesterday and we had a lovely day with them.  We'll catch up with them again before they leave Ibiza - maybe a couple of times as the winds aren't looking too good for us to continue westwards next week.

About five o'clock this morning we were woken by some wet stuff coming in through the hatches.  Haven't seen anything like it since I was back in the UK.  It may have interrupted our sleep but it's washed the salt off the boat nicely so Chris is happy...

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