New year safely and quietly seen in, in Grenada, as we were asleep well before the fireworks began! Tea on board NyChea, a Hylas 46 with Gill and Tony – still lusting after the walk round bed and front-loading fridge and freezer!

Thank goodness, the remaining 3 bits for mounting the solar panels have turned up so finally Mr Grumpy becomes Mr Happy as we struggle in quite hard winds to get the blessed things on top of the bimini! By the time they’re connected however the sun has gone down so he’s got to wait till tomorrow to play with his new toys! I bet he’s up really early tomorrow!

Next day he must have been up when the sun got up because I woke at 6.30 and he was already staring at the battery monitor. During the morning it seemed we were going to have a running commentary!…..

”4.2, that’s really good cos the fridge is running, 4.3, 4.6, 3.5” 

“What happened there?”

“A cloud’s passed over!”

Then, to really make his day, I realised it was the 6^th and the Xmas decs had to come down. I only had to mention it, and whoosh, they were down and places where cellotape had touched his mast were wiped clean of unsightly stains in the blink of an eye!

“I just can’t get excited about Christmas, OK?”!!

Working rum station – I think we might stop drinking that stuff!              

I leave for the UK to try and surprise Hannah at panto because I’m going to be a granny in August – can’t wait! And Mike takes over the diary writing

“Trip to the supermarket as the catering manager has left the cupboard bear!

(Note from Ed: I didn’t mean to leave the cupboard bear – I just forgot to take him with me!) The rest of the day spent doing all of those jobs I’ve been putting off.

New solar panels have stopped working ?? Descaled the loo pipes, what a shitty job.

Elect turned up and pronounced the solar regulator dead. New one fitted and back in business. Also popped into the supermarket for more supplies.

14^th Spent the day sanding and varnishing the toe rails

15^th Spent the day sanding and varnishing the toe rails

16^th Came to the end of the sanding and varnishing today, wont say its finished, it’s the sort of job that is never finished.

Planned to have a quiet day doing a few odd maintenance routines. Unfortunately the engine cooling water inlet valve spindle seared whilst I was operating it. This needs to be fixed fairly promptly as we might sink if an engine hose was to burst. So decided to get a lift out and a new valve.

OK got what I hope is the right valve, won’t know if the threads are the same until the old one comes out. Went to the supermarket for supplies, very little veg again but some fruit. Drinks with Chris & Geraldine on Scorch –Catalina 42.

20th Wash day

21st Lift out @ 1100hrs, the job to replace the seawater inlet to the engine was quite a cow but yard did a good job. Scraped the barnacles off and freed up the propeller which had stiffened up whilst at anchor here.

22nd Did another shopping run, but no cucumbers or tomatoes. Kate back.”

Doesn’t he have an interesting life!!

I had a great fortnight in the UK – in the snow- seeing Hannah and Will and the gang et al and, most importantly, my first grandchild’s first ever scan photo and vid! Picked up loads of things for the boat – unfortunately, a lot of them are wrong! Knackered after long day and flight and so to bed early.

Great sail in full sunshine round the islands to Carriacou. 3 grabs at the fishing line – but nothing landed! On the plus side, we didn’t lose any gear!! What a lovely spot, definitely want more time to explore here another year. Old guy rows round drinking rum and selling mangrove oysters, negotiated for 6 at US7.50 for tomorrow – don’t know whether he’ll show up or even remember!

Caught a mad bus into Hillsborough (Driver says to sweet old lady “where’s de bodyguard today?” She replies “Bodyguard? De only reason I needs de bodyguard is when I want him get friendly wid me!” Bus erupts in laughter!) to clear out of the island group, which took some time as the Customs bloke had just “popped out”! Then another mad bus to Windward to see the traditional local boatyard and a beer – because that’s all there is at Windward!

Visit to PO to buy stamp for UK letter – issued with stamp and pot of runny glue, which then spread everywhere! Can only imagine letter turning up in Lyminge with 14 others stuck to it!

 On the way back, met up with Scorch of Wessex – Chris and Geraldine- who Mike had met while I was in UK. They came over for coffee – would be good to meet up again somewhere.

The guy turned up selling oysters having completely forgotten about the order! Just wanted to know whether we wanted limes! Reminded him I wanted 6 oysters so he proceeded to open 13 for me – they are small! Kept trying to stop him opening more but he said if we gave him a tot of rum, that would do! So EC20 dollars (about £5) later I have a plate of delicious tiny oysters.

Sailed round to Petite Martinique, – another very pretty island , again full sunshine. We even caught a tuna but, unfortunately, whilst slopping the blood down with seawater, we managed to immerse my mobile in water and it’s, predictably, stopped working! Most expensive tuna ever!

Set off with intention, again, of going to St Lucia but with bad wind and angle we got into Bequoia by 11.30 having left at 6.30!

Cracking but tough sunny sail all the way up to Soufriere on St Lucia but we are running out of all staple foods now so must find a market somewhere.

 Going into the bay, met by a guy insisting on helping us tie up to a buoy as the only anchoring wasn’t free till 6pm. So we called up Benny on 16 to get into his mooring and restaurant for supper. He sends out someone else to help us tie up. First bloke gets angry and there is an altercation between the 2 boys, then between 1^st boy and us and he wont give up shouting about how he was first! Meanwhile, Benny is trying to help out on VHF! In the end, we got so pissed off with everyone, we politely told them we were leaving! As a result, we spent a further hour motoring up the leeward side in the dark, trying to find somewhere to anchor. Eventually, landed up in Marigot on a dubious anchorage and had the last 4 eggs and baked beans for supper. So much for my dream of lovely restaurant dinner. – No wine either, so last 4 beers hit the dust! Reading loads in pilot book about going out in numbers in the evening for security and paying someone to watch your boat after dark. not what we came here for!

Moved from the anchorage and picked up a buoy so Mike can get a better nights sleep and went ashore to try and clear in to St Lucia. Managed the Customs bit – which cost EC10 –“cos its Saturday, and I should be at home!” Then to the Port Office – EC40 for…. being here, I guess. Immigration bloke nowhere to be found but we did find a lovely bakery selling fresh baquettes and pastries and a supermarket which filled all other needs nicely!

Got to see scan photos of baby bear, aged 12 weeks and 3 days- it appears to be singing to a mic! Out to the local restaurant for dinner – yippee!