The quarantine officer arrived promptly, we needed to get it all over by 10am or the tide (Springs) would be too low for us to get to our final destination, a marina just around the coast and we sure as hell didn't want to spend another night in this grim industrial estate between the factories and airport! 

Officer Paul was very friendly but THOROUGH . He went through every cupboard with a torch as we sweated and smiled sweetly saying No no take your time…..gggggr.

Meanwhile Imo and Harry had the giggles fooling around with his bags……..

 

Imo was so relieved that her cabin had passed muster being full of souvenirs. Seeds had to go but some coral was allowed and her many little baskets too, not surprising as she'd soaked them all in bleach!

My job was the galley and of course Paul had a field day. Having scooped away all the remaining produce from Port Vila market he headed for the bilges and bins…….

He got wildly excited at a brown lump of something below the sink bilge which turned out to be a used tea bag. 

He even wiped very hard at a bit of old banana on the stern that Harry had skidded on at one point. Why? …….and confiscated the bead necklaces we were presented with in Nuku Hiva. Damn forgot to post them home. I get so argumentative making him explain what would posses me to plant these necklaces in the garden of the marina?  He said they would be placed in deep burial with the rest of the frozen parsley and other hazards.  Meanwhile Andrew is making 'out of air' signs behind his back. Dear Paul I hope he sleeps well at night. 

Finally we were cleared as non hazardous and headed off as fast as we could to the marina, at times the depth was 1.3m and we held our breath. We heard the coast guard forecasting high winds. Then at last Hebe tied up alongside, Andrew was choked this could be the last time.  We all thought back to the day 16 months ago casting off from Poole Quay with Harry's mother, Irene, piping us off with Auld Lang Syne and Scotland The Brave.  We were all in tears. 

So here we are 17,300 miles later in Australia. We need to celebrate.

Champagne lunch with fresh fish, oysters and the most divine chips.  Well into our second bottle of Bolly we heard bagpipes and there standing in front of us with a massive grin was an old friend of Irene's piping us in. What a brilliant surprise, Harry was so amazed that his mum should have organised this . 

 

We're all firm friends now and are invited to a barbie at the week end.  He even had a birthday present for Harry. 

Hebe's family in Australia. 

Not leaving Hebe out of the celebrations she had whisky poured over her bow, kisses and dressed with Carol KIte's famous bunting.

Darling Hebe you did so well. 

We then slept around the clock listening to the howling wind outside. Boy that was a close shave.