It is amazing what Bob can do with the right equipment.  A visit to Johnson’s hardware shop gave up a round file that looked the business. That aluminium washboard was grated, all over the floor of the cabin as pretty as Christmas glitter but sharp in the bare soles, and finally after hours of quiet sweating, rasping and gasping the deed was achieved and escape ensured, the lock fitted.

We were a little surprised to return from the hardware shop to find a brand spanking new starter battery plonked in the cockpit.  It would have been better if the Caribbean mechanic, Lawrence, had actually installed it.  Another hot sweaty job for Bob tomorrow methinks.

New neighbours crept in silently during the night but they have turned out to be French and therefore very noisy with much gesticulation, and smoking Gauloises heavily, by day. 

The place is filling up rapidly and the ARC people keep eying up our parking place.  They can’t wait to get rid of us.

I was tasked with sorting out the non functioning satellite phone and got on to Mailasail in London, at considerable fees on the phone call through Bob’s mobile.  It appeared that they had not applied our credit so it wouldn’t work, very annoying.  They claimed that it would be “but the work of a moment” but we managed to have lunch before they got back to us to say that is was “fixed”.  Hm.  All credit due.

The new wifi is spasmodic to say the least but with the satellite phone put to rights, at least we can now “keep blogging”.

Francesca arrives tomorrow.  How exciting is that!