The gin sharpened our minds and we decided that we would plump for taking along young Matt as our insurance policy.  He seems a nice boy and unlikely to be a serial killer (we have watched Dead Calm, some time ago but it left an indelible mark on the psyche).  We emailed him offering him the role and went out to dinner so that we wouldn’t obsessively keep checking emails and using up sat phone minutes wastefully. 

Our second restaurant choice proved lucky, the first one’s chef had had an accident and wasn’t coming in, so we settled in next door to a nice wood and bamboo environment and ate sensible sized portions of ribs coated with a tasty bbq sauce  (Bob) and fried fish (me), served with real vegetables cooked gently enough to be still crisp all served by a lovely, efficient and smiley waitress.  We shared a slice of real, cheesecake, not the fluffy horrible thing that masquerades as such, but the baked version.  The spoons clashed as we each sought our fair share.  On our return we found a reply from Matt and he is definitely up for it so we plotted and planned over a night cap.

Today has been mainly taken up with making plans with Matt, a number of Bob’s 5 minute jobs, that actually take 5 hours, such as refitting the door to Matt’s cabin so that he can close it, requiring the shaving off of an enormous pile of wood shavings and Bob’s knuckles, as well as refitting the lock on Matt’s loo so that he doesn’t end up locked in.  (Fall back position is to pass him a screwdriver through the small air vent.  We do like to plan for all eventualities).   Clearing up the shavings that got everywhere like hair clippings at the hairdressers, (and, not wishing to be indelicate, copious amounts of Bob’s sweat), resulted in a bit of a domestic deep clean.  Then all the things that have taken occupation of the forward cabin have been stowed away, the beer in the drinks cupboard, the empties crates stashed in a cupboard, the Christmas tree popped away with the other Christmas decos, the stacks of water under the floor board, my fur coat in the wet locker.  Beds have been made up (with the Peppa Pig the Pirate duvet cover and pillow cases, I hope Matt will enjoy them) and lifejacket laid out.  After all this busyness we booked a restaurant (which became rather complicated in a Caribbean sort of way, difficult to explain), booked the lovely Simeon for a taxi tour tomorrow, (I think we have, we find it hard to understand his accent which might be a bit of a problem as our island guide), booked Simeon to take us to Cay Electronics to retrieve the auto pilot parts on Monday.  Somewhere in all that we fitted in some lunch (and a beer of course)and finally collapsed to read Kindles, Bob promptly falling asleep with complete exhaustion and probable dehydration. 

In preparation, and in respect for the niceties of sharing a small space with a complete stranger, some personal grooming has been included in the busy schedule.  I have, according to Bob, been defibrillating my legs!