We obviously had too much sun yesterday on our long sail.  (Bob is pink in places that he shouldn’t be even though I really did most meticulously apply sun cream, honestly, despite the squirming).  Both of us were very tired (you have no idea how much it takes out of us sitting all day with just the one tack) so we pottered over the lagoon to the Blue Olive where we know we can get a decent enough meal and the girls serving are really cheerful and cute.  When we arrived at the dinghy dock we were accosted by a fierce black lady who warned us against the dangerous man who often hangs out there, “he stole a wallet for sure.  Just say no if he tries to help you.” Actually we have found him quite entertaining, off his face on ganga, but entertaining and friendly all the same. After a pleasant enough dinner scallops (shared) then ribs for Bob and dorado with a very garlicky sauce for me, very pleasant but not really given justice as we nodded off over a Piton or two, we had an early night and slept like sun soaked logs.

I woke up worrying about getting the laundry to Mrs Suds first thing so that we could get it back in time and surprised Bob by sitting bolt upright and reminding him of same.  He went off muttering to himself having not even having time to brew up the coffee.  He returned complaining that Mrs Suds was not open when he arrived and had had to wait.  Oops.  Mrs Suds turned round the laundry so quickly that we had it back by 11am.  (Sarcastic look from under Dennis Healey eyebrows about the required early pre coffee start).  He then tackled the stiff winch, expecting to give it a “quick service” but it battled back and the usual “5 minutes” later gave in with only a modicum of improvement.  Meanwhile we had a visit from a very smiley Ulrich and caught up with his news and thence from the fruit and veg man and all before I had had a chance to change out of my pyjamas.  Fruit and veg man clambered precariously on top of his wibbly wobbly little boat to dig out Basil III and carefully planted him in the cut off bottom of a plastic bottle to join us on our journey. We added to that a wonderful diversity of fruit and veg including the pink little things that taste like lychees, papaya, pineapple and mangoes.  He kindly presented the heap to us in a woven basket. Lovely. Bob then got stuck into solving the problem of the lack of shore power without the availability of the requisite part. It was a bit alarming when he warned me not to worry if there was a big bang as he experimented with various solutions but he solved it somehow.  What a clever chap.  Our next port of call was the supermarket across the lagoon.  The scary dangerous man was there awaiting us, even more off his face than before, and seemed very friendly.  When we returned he was equally helpful and gave us a very jolly, ganga fuelled, dance demonstration.  He earned his few ECs for his troubles.

Bob then checked in (remonstrated for being rather late to do so), helped pile the tonic and beer back to the boat and we had it stowed away ready for the arrival of Susie and Sara.  And suddenly they were here!  They arrived exhausted, unfortunately they had had the pleasure of Louis as their taxi driver who had insisted on stopping for a Piton, to take a lovely photo of the view as well as popping into the local bakery before eventually getting them to Rodney Bay.  They are getting settled in, the sun is over the yard arm and so a new adventure begins.