A lovely evening was spent huddled together, gin and tonics in hand, getting in the Christmas mood watching Love Actually, a bit of a ritual where we chime in with the best lines before the actors do, while the lightening flickered around us, the boat creaked and groaned in the strong wind.  Such fun and very cosy!  We slept fitfully, despite the anchor drag alarm being on all night, imagining we were on the move again.

This morning we pottered around, got organised, hoicked up the anchor with great difficulty because it rather contrarily seemed to be very well stuck in, and set off under a blue sky.  We gently sailed up Saint Martin, a 10 to 12 knot breeze puffing us along at a not very remarkable 5 to 6 knots.  I didn’t dare comment that it was all so peaceful mooching along after the last time I had commented prematurely, it turned out.  The wind picked up as we rounded Anguilla and we sailed on a close haul along to Road Bay.  A short, sunny and relaxing trip.  We parked nicely in a proper Caribbean bay surrounded by low houses and crazy beach bars called Elvis and suchlike and toasted a lovely morning with a beer.  Lunch was delicious and we lounged around soporifically.

The dinghy was efficiently set up and we headed ashore after much discussion whether or not cagoules were required.  I looked at the fluffy white, half full clouds and decided not.  Bob the half empty pessimist packed his in the blue bag.  We puttered ashore and checked in with the friendliest, happiest(and probably thinnest as well) customs and immigration people in the world.  Afterwards we wandered in search of our Christmas dinner venue, as it happens in completely the wrong direction, and it started to rain.  We sheltered under a leaky lean to, attached in places to a line of smelly containers but realising that we might have to wait until Christmas for the rain to stop set off boldly, Bob in his cagoule, me not in mine.  A nice jolly policeman stopped as he drove by to admonish Bob for his lack of chivalry with a cheery chuckle.  At the very first bar sighted, we took refuge and had to have a beer, it would be rude not to.  On discovering it had wifi, I went on to Facebook to send a quick Christmas message to all and Bob set up his new Kindle.  Once all his books had downloaded he was super keen to return to the boat to read the last elusive 3% of his book.  Off we went, Bob eagerly, me rather soggily.  Until the outboard stopped.  Again.  And it wouldn’t start, again.  Bob frantically reached for the oars but of course the new one didn’t fit the rollocks so it was impossible to use in its rightful manner.  He rigged something with string.  It failed.  I was designated to be the rollock replacement, it didn't work just squashed my fingers.  We reached Windy by a combination of me paddling with one oar and Bob rowing with the other. 

Bob then drilled the new oar to fit properly and frantically put a new spark plug in the engine.  Rather fretfully and bad temperedly we tried to park closer in to the dinghy dock, without being grounded on the very scary shallow bit, but gave up and returned to safer parts of the Bay, kissed and made up and had a beer.  The answer to everything it seems.  We will try going ashore this evening for dinner, we have a table booked.  Hmmm, is this a good idea?  But be sure that I will be taking my cagoule.