Working hard, playing hard - when we can stay awake!!

Seaduced
John & Jane Craven
Fri 24 May 2013 18:59
This last week has been a hard one! We arrived on the dock early Friday morning last week - Glenn was in the anchorage with his boat Sylvia, so we docked our boat and then went back for Sylvia.  After being on anchor for the last 90 days, docking two boats in an hour was definitely stressful, especially as we have no bow thruster! 

image.jpegAll three boats resting on anchor

Once we were both safely tied on, the real work started, the lists came out and over a cup of tea or two, we realised just how many items have been added to the lists since last time, also every time we got together with Glenn, tea breaks, smoothie breaks, beer o'clock, both our lists got longer as we compared notes!
Our biggest job this time was the new saloon windows.  We have had water between the two panes on two windows for about the last 2 years, and this time, they were to be changed out for new ones. 
Jamie arrived on Saturday evening, a bit tired from the long flight and on Sunday got started in earnest. What Discovery had failed to tell us was that the only way to get the panes out was to basically smash them out! The first thing to be done was to tape up all the windows prior to taking a hammer to them, to try and minimise the amount of glass flying about. 


image.jpegThe window was taped, vacuum sealed, and ready to go...

 image.jpegJamie starts smashing with his hammer!!

image.jpegThe outer pane of glass is rolled away

What Jamie hadn't realised was that the Caribbean sun can be a killer in many different ways. The first morning, he worked outside all morning, bare chested, until by lunchtime John and I were begging him to cover up as his back was an alarming shade of red - in patches as he had only put the suncream where he could reach, being too shy to ask either of us to do the rest! Also, he found that the sealants etc that he was using were also unused to the intense sun and were drying too quickly. 
It hasn't been all work and no play though! Sunday night is the the big night up at Shirley Heights, and so we all went up, us, Jamie, Glenn, and Pat & Stuart from Brizo. The sunset was spectacular, and the music was also brilliant, a steel band to start with and then a reggae band for later on. 

image.jpeg The steel band at Shirley Heights

image.jpeg Enjoying a beer and the sunset over English Harbour - Jamie, Glenn, John, Stuart & Pat

Monday was my birthday, a bit of a rubbish day actually, it was a bank holiday here and the locals take it very seriously, just about every shop and restaurant was closed, and we worked all day. Things got much better in the evening though, we went out with Pat and Stuart to The Inn at English Harbour, a lovely restaurant where we had a great meal, so it wasn't all bad!
After a great first day, the weather was getting the better of Jamie a bit and the next two days he spent a lot of time working between showers and trying to keep things dry - not a problem he had anticipated here in Antigua. During the week, Jamie has become an expert at reading the clouds and working out how long he would have until the next downpour. There have been lots of squalls and rain storms all week, making working impossible at times. Trying to keep the windows dry, and the sealants happy in the sun has been a week long battle!
For a bit of downtime, between squalls etc, we headed out to the Dockyard for a bit of culture. Unfortunately for Jamie, he managed to break his flip flop on the way there.  He was unable to walk properly and the ground was scalding his feet!  Eventually, we managed to find a shop open where he could get a new pair, but not before we had to go to the sailmakers and beg a bit of string to try, unsuccessfully, to fasten the flip flop to his foot!

image.jpegJamie attempts to fix his shoe!

At long last, about three hours before Jamie was due to leave, the windows were finished and look fabulous, we can actually see out again! They have certainly been well tested by the torrential downpours today! 
I would say that his has been a pleasure having Jamie to stay, but he did take a hammer to 2 of the windows so.....  I think that despite the challenges, he had a good week, he met some interesting people, the first being the cab driver from the airport, who within 5 minutes had offered him a beer and a joint, both of which he was enjoying whilst driving, and Mango Jo, who comes round the docks selling mangoes and herbs, also the lovely roti Sue, who brings lunch! 

An unusual thing happened today, we saw a sun halo! Here are the pictures. If you want to find out more about this phenomena, follow this link - 

 image.jpeg The sun halo

After today, we have two days left to do the final things on board before Monday morning. We are hauling early, at 7am as that is when the winds are calmest - fingers crossed all goes well and come Monday night we are all chilled out sitting on the hotel! 



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