Friday 27 May Who'd have thought?

lush Fiji

An important part of being a cruiser is being self sufficient to the point of carrying a far better stocked medicine chest than you would ever keep at home.   There isn't a national health service in every town, or a doctor at sea so we have remedies for most eventualities.  In the tropics an innocuous scratch or insect bite can get infected and need serious antibiotics before septocemea sets in.  Most people carry broad spectrum antibiotics as standard.  While we were in Labasa on Wednesday I went into a couple of pharmacies and found they needed a prescription to sell the drugs.

Back in Savusavu we decided to chase up a friendly doctor and ask him to write a 'scipt.  The marina gave us directions to Dr Ishbaque's medical centre 5 minutes away.  It was modern building.  The receptionist was most receptive to our request to purchase drugs and had a dispensary on site.  Did we want to have a chat with the doctor?  Yes.  David and I popped in for a chat and he was very sympathetic suggesting what would be good to have and as it's all so cheap why not take plenty?   Half an hour latter we left with assorted antibiotics to treat a broad spectrum of  infections we might encounter especially infected cuts or insect bites, antibiotic eye drops, steroids to treat cigguatera (caught by eating infected large reef fish) and calamine for itchy arms.  Dr Ishbaque didn't charge us for the consulation (the practice is sponsored by an American) and the drugs cost about £18, that's 2 ½ prescription charges in UK.

Saturday 28 May When in Fiji...

It's my Dad's birthday today so I was up early to get to the internet shop and Skype home.  UK is 11 hours behind Fiji so my 8.30am Saturday was their 9.30pm Friday.  Unfortunately it was a poor connection but good to talk to him and my Mum.

The rain has stopped for a while and instead we have hot sunshine.   I had a leisurely day while David dismantled the steering and automatic pilot to find out why the pilot sometimes 'groans' when it's under load.  The kitchen work top is now a work bench covered in motors and tools. 

Fortunately we had plans to eat out again this time but instead of going to a restaurant we were going to cook it ourselves local style – in the hot steam pools behind the town.   Our friends on Stray Kitty were the iniatiators, they'd caught a large bonito tuna on the crossing from NZ and wanted to share. Chris made a big pot with potatoes in the bottom, a 3kg piece of fish and topped with bok choy.  I'd done ratatouille.  With Chris and his children we walked up to the pools and settld our pans into the almost boilng water.  David's multimetre recorded 98°C.  

An hour later we returned from the bar to retrieve and pans and went back to Stray Kitty to share a delicious meal.  The local people come daily with their pots of bones and meat and leave it in the hot water to slowly cook.   Isn't this a great way to eat?  Free fish and free power to cook it. 

Wednesday 25 May Fecund Fiji

David, Michael & Gloria

We took a day trip on a local bus across Vanua Levu island from here in Savusavu to the main town of La(m)basa two hours north.   Everything grows in great profusion on this island.  It's warm, wet and the volcanic soil is fertile red.   The trees are tall and draped with symbiotic plants.  The Fijians are a tall, broad and handsome people with a friendly smile and hello for all and I believe are the minority to the Indian Fijians who were originally brought to these islands by the British to work in their sugar cane plantations.   From what we've seen the groups mix well.  The Indians are definitely the winners in commercial enterprise.

Bus station

Our bus ride was an interesting one as the poor old Leyland bus struggled up the mountain into the clouds and then descended onto the flatter, sugar cane fields on the north of the island spine.  Along the way we saw the big cows of the paddy fields grazing in the long grass, an odd pony or two tethered on the road side, some goats and one lone pig.   In Samoa and Tonga there were pigs everywhere and roasting a suckling one was a regular feast.  Go into a restaurant here and if they have pork on the menu, it's crossed out as unavailable.  Is this the Indian influence of Hindus not eating pig?  On the north side of the island we also saw our first mosque.  Savusavu only has churches.

The houses we passed were simple wood and corrugated iron structures without fences but with tidy, tended gardens.  Houses are tidy, junk yard abodes are infrequent.   We saw some bicycles but not one motorcycle although the road is in good condition.

Labasa (pronounced Lambasa) is a market town by a river.  A single high street of shops all selling the same ironmongery, the same saris, t shirts, video shops which seem to only stock violent films (not a strong market for the romantic comedy methinks) and at the head of the street is the bus station and the market.   We wandered around and were warmly welcomed, never hassled or pressed, by the store owners.   I can testify to the cleanliness of the public toilets – spotless for 2p to pee. 

We'd gone on our day trip with Gloria and Michael of Paikea Mist and it was nice to share the day with them.  We looked at the market, the shops, had lunch, more shops and still there were 2 hours to wait for the bus back.  To fill the time we went to the local hotel and enjoyed a cold beer poolside.

The trip back left promptly at 4.15pm as advertised.  While we'd been waiting for the bus to leave David and I had struck up a conversation with the Fijian lady, Siya and her 3 year old daughter, Viyana.  Viyana was a giggling sweetheart who left her Mum to come and sit with us for all the journey home.  She sat on my lap, David's lap, fell asleep on me and when she got heavy I passed her over to David.  He was taken with the mite and carried her off the bus when they got off. 

David and Viyana

On the return trip the bus doubled as a school bus.  Thirty minutes out of town we stopped outside a school and 40 children piled in.  All wear a clean pressed uniform.  They politely took their seats, looked at us, perhaps because we seemed to have adopted a local child.  Siya told us it could be we were the first kavi langis, or Europeans (white) people they had met!  We chatted to some, others were far too shy.  What a difference to English school children; no swearing, vandalism or unsocial behaviour and a long journey to get to and from school.  They were on the bus for over an hour and had had to wait an hour for the bus after school had finished.  Add to that the fees their parents pay to educate them and you see the visible difference in attitude to kavi langi youths.  

Tuesday 24 May Let the coiffeuring begin

Reggi the hair murderer

Now we're back in warm weather it's time to get our long locks shorn. I did David's with the electric clippers at the back of the boat this morning and I was going to have a treat and visit the hairdressers. The last time I paid to have my haircut was in Bonaire in November '09. That was where we bought our clippers.

Look at the photo and see why I prefer David to cut my hair despite my mother's horror at the shortness. Reggi the 6' transvestite in a rubber apron and Copa Cabana turban with bleached locks artfully teased from the top, chibbled away to give a short back and sides with unfeasible quiff on top. At least it was cheap because I didn't mind when David re-cut my hair next morning.

Monday 23 May Clearing in

The day began with a series of visits from the departments required to give us customs and quarantine clearance. All were very nice people. We filled in a number of forms, got another stamp in our passports and an invoice for health services but no overtime fees. First came Jackson and a medical student for 'practique' or declaring us free from plague on board. The conservation was the rugby sevens in London and that Fiji reached the finals only to be beaten by SAF. Next up was bountiful Mere from Customs and more forms. One section was about the amount of alcohol we had on board. We declared the maximum limit and everyone was happy. The food and fisheries quarantine guy didn't make it out to the boat – we were cleared onshore with the promise to dispose of foreign generated rubbish in a designated bin. All simpler, friendly and straight forward.

Bureaucracy dealt with we were at liberty to enjoy hearty hellos at the marina office with fellow yachties who we hadn't seen for a week or two and to exchange trip trials and tribulations. A group of boats which had left a week ahead of us had had an unpleasant time with either light wind or strong wind and waves on the nose all the way.

Savusavu is a single road lined with shops. The bank dispensed some cash so we picked a likely restaurant for lunch, dodged through a downpour to the market to pick up fruit for breakfast and then wandered back to the boat. Our wander was a few meters and bump into someone we know for a half hour chat, continue for another few meters and have another chat. It took 2 hours to go 200 metres.

When we finally got back on board we set to to start making our first brew of beer.

Sunday 22 May Are we nearly there?

Not merely nearly but actually in Fiji. For the final miles we slowed our speed to come into Savusavu anchorage after sunset and hopefully late enough not to incur weekend overtime charges. As we turned in past the commercial wharf we were hailed on the radio by the Copra shed Marina offering a mooring buoy and assistance in picking up the line. It was almost dark so we welcomed the help of someone (Bill) to take our line and secure us next to sea plane. Is this the anchorage or the airport? Both it seems.

It was 10 days and 2 hours since we left NZ; we had sailed all but 65 miles of the 1200nm, hove to for 36 hours while a frontal system passed, seen boat speeds up to 11.5 knots, had no breaks or tears (or tears) and stayed dry behind our new cockpit cover. Jackster had taken care of us once more.

What a feeling of relief, elation and achievement. David says he loved every minute. I loved every minute except the night times when we were being bounced along in high winds and lively seas. We sat out in the warm evening air and had a we're here beer and a bite to eat before falling into bed for a well earned sleep.

Saturday 21 May Fiji to NZ day 9

It's David's birthday today but apart from making him a cup of tea for breakfast and giving him his cards there's not a lot of celebrating to do. We plan to make up for this when we arrive in the promised land of Fiji. We're still flying along ahead of the wind and the waves. Daytime is fine – one sleeps and the other keeps watch for squall patches and reads.­

Behind you!

Doing our calculations for estimated arrival time looks like we could be in as eary as tomorrow afternoon. The question we ask ourselves is 'arrive at weekend and be liable for overtime charges from Customs or slow down to arrive Monday morning'. We opt for a sunset Sunday arrival.

One last overnighter in what will be our second longest passage since we began cruising. The longest trip was 18 days from Galapagos to Marquesas. Last Nvember it took us 8 days to travel from Tonga to NZ. This will be 10 days at sea although we did stop for 36 hours to allow bad weather to clear ahead of us. Whatever. I'll be pleased to arrive and have a proper sleep.

Friday 20 May Fiji to NZ day 8

Since leaving our hove to position 2 days ago we've been flying along ahead of 30 knot SE winds and 4m to 5m seas. There have been comedy buckets of seawater thrown at the windscreen and times when we were lying at 30° off horizontal. On watch is fine as the auto pilot takes care of steering and we have only a reefed headsail and mizzen out which balances the boat and keeps us shifting at 8 knots over ground. True boat speed is a knot higher due to a 1 knot counter current. David is thriving on the thrill of sailing while I'm less enthralled and tired because I can't sleep deeply off watch. Just as you're drifting off to the land of nod rocked from side to side as we slide over the waves, we get cracked by a ton of seatwaer breaking on the side of the bow and effectively stalling all forward motion.

Wednesday 18 May NZ to Fiji day 5

Yesterday Prudence joined the crew. Today she suggested her friend Patience might be a useful addition. She was. After a peaceful night heaved to we pulled up the grib files (weater forecast) and it looks like we should have patience until 6pm this evening. By 6pm a band of strong winds and rain should have passed over and we'll have 4 days fine SE winds into Fiji to arrive Monday morning.

Overnight we'd kept a watch popping up top to scan for other vessels every 20 minutes. We saw no one and could easily have both gone to bed for a full 8 hour kip

Tuesday 17 May NZ tp Fiji day 5

Our 5th day of passage and we welcome new crew member, Prudence, aboard. Prudence is fitting in well and entertains us with words of wisdom. Her first task was to look at the grib (weather forecast) files and read the Fiji weather reports and warnings. Her recommendation was to slow down and let an unpleasant trough pass us to the north. If we'd continued at the same speed we might find ourselves in a wide band of 30 knot winds, gusty squalls and steep seas tomorrow morning and through into the night. She also pointed out that a bonus to slowing down now would be to aid our projected plan to arrive during regular office hours. If Prudence's plan works this time we might welcome here aboard again. I'll report in a day or two if we did avoid the bad weather.
Despite reducing sail, at midday we were still making too much speed so we opted to heave to for lunch and an afternoon break. David took his afternoon nap and I wrote our blog, did some reading and enjoyed the luxury of preparing and eating our evening meal while not being tossed like a lottery ball in a basket. Overnight we both had 5 hours of uninterrupted sleep.
On the evening net which was hosted by Dignity tonight the main topic after position reports was the weather and who's doing what. Interestingly it's the three Brit boats, Dignity, Troutbridge and us, who have slowed down to avoid a close encounter with the front. A case of 'Please, after you sir.'
As we're going closer to the tropics the temperatures are steadily rising. It was so warm this morning I took off my fleece and put on a t shirt. However, at 26°50S we're still 3° below the Tropic of Capricorn and one must remain cautious – my fleece is back on this afternoon.

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Monday 16 May NZ to Fiji day 4

3pm (Sun 15 0400 UTC) 28 56S 178 31E 461nm from Whangarei Heads, 346 to Minerva Reef, 171nms covered in the last 24 hours.
Our fourth day at sea and we've had a wonderful night sail. The last effects of the frontal system cleared by dusk leaving good winds and calming seas. We creamed along at 8 to 8.5 knots for most of the night. David took first watch from 8pm to 2am and I pulled myself out of the pilot berth to complete the night through to 8am.
By morning winds had turned from a beam from the west to a behind the beam SW and after we'd checked in with the morning net it shifted again to south and we set the sails for a dead run. With the wind up ones chuff one adopts a goose wing scenario – think of a goose running away with wings akimbo. That's us. Head sail held out on a whisker pole to port, mainsail out as far to starboard as possible with a preventer on the boom to stop any accidental gybes, and the mizzen sail held out to port like the head sail and we're catching all the possible gusts and being propelled by a following sea. It's a very pleasant action and deceptively fast. At one point I saw 9.5 knots on the speedo and it didn't feel like we were moving.
We don't do much on these days. I sleep in the morning while David is on watch reading, we have lunch together and than David sleeps while I sit watch and read or write. David did go out of the cockpit (wearing life jacket and safety harness attached jack line for inspection of lines and to belatedly take down the NZ courtesy flag). Once we reach Fijian international water we should be flying our national ensign and a Fijian courtesy flag. On entering port we add a yellow Q, or quarantine flag, which requests inspection from immigration to allow we are clear of plague.

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Sunday 15 May NZ to Fiji day 3

We should have been playing the Ride of the Valkyries as the wall of death approached us from behind. Just another day at the office with a frontal system travelling from SW to NE over our NNE track. Ahead of these lines of rain squalls we have increased winds so main sail furled away to avoid getting pushed over by a large gust and too much sail is not happy for the auto pilot or us. Having radar is a boom because we can track the approach and extent of the clouds, sometimes we jig 10 degrees to port and the rain passes behind, or slips down the side. The rain is the least of the problems with our new waterproof cockpit cover. There were several times when large waves broke on the bow or just aft of the bow and sent water cascading over the dodger. We cud sit behind the window and not even blink when it hit the windscreen. The joy of a hard dodger.
Our pet albatross wandered back to see how we were getting along, took a disdainful look down her regal nose and glided away.
Evening meal was chilli con carne cooked in the brace position. Bigger winds equal bigger waves rolling us sideways. With the pot of precooked chilli in the microwave heating I had one hand firmly on the rail in front of the stove and the other in an oven glove ensuring the microwave door and the hot contents behind it didn't get expelled into the galley or onto me. Both would have been a mess and tears before bedtime.

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Saturday 14 May NZ to Fiji day 2

Day 2 started with a beautiful sunrise. The winds eased, the seas calmed and I felt my normal self return. This is the worst I've been since sailing from Cartegna to San Blas a year and a half ago. Towards lunchtime and the winds have dropped so we are motor sailing NNE in light winds from the NW. The forecast predicts a front will pass over us tomorrow evening bringing higher winds speeds and gusts in the squalls.
However today normality reigned. We chatted, read, slept and ate a fine roast beef baguette which I'd prepared earlier. In fact the freezer has enough pre-prepared meals for most of the anticipated days we are at sea and 4 days of lunches. David considered putting out the fishing lines this morning. The two questions were does he want to clean a fish and do I want to cook one? Answers not really and no. The lines were not deployed today. Perhaps when we've worked at making some space in the freezer.
There's no one out here except us and a beautiful albatross gliding circles around the boat. So beautiful, she has to be a she. Her gliding is effortless, skimming millimetres above the water without dipping a wing.
Most uplifting news is the temperature – we're up to 22c. I may be casting a clout 'ere May be out.

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Friday 13 May From NZ to Fiji – the journey begins

Customs gate - back door to NZ

Sailors traditionally say it's unlucky to begin a journey on a Friday. Try adding 13th and you wouldn't get out of bed if you superstitious. We may be foolhardy in disregarding this wisdom, and time will be our judge on this, but we looked at the weather gribs and have decided we are going to clear out and leave today. Our friends on Stray Kitty are also leaving today as are Callisto and Dignity from Opua.
The wisdom from weather guru, Bob McDavit, is to wait until the front passes over us at 3pm. When it's passed over the wind will shift to NW and we can make some easting ready to turn NNE when the wind shifts again.
Early morning we called Customs to see if they could accommodate one more yacht clearing this morning. No problem, the man from the ministry was waiting for us on the dock at Marsden Cove marina together with Phillip from Dune to take our lines. He came aboard and I was able to hand him our completed paperwork and we had our clearance in 5 minutes. I think NZ is the probably the easiest and most friendly Customs and Immigration we have encountered on our trip so far.
There are no charges and no ambiguity. We even have our clearance in pack for when we return in November. If only all Customs people were so lovely.
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Thursday 12 May the final countdown

We're leaving, we're staying, we're leaving. We have a unanimous decision to leave Whangarei Town Basin on high water late this afternoon. This is it – time for the last dash to the laundry, last dash to get groceries and counting the cash to see there is enough for a case of beer which is an essential for our 'we're here beer' when we arrive either in Minerva reef or Fiji.
Opinions on the dock have been split between those, like us, who are opting to leave ahead of two fronts coming over this weekend and the alternative camp to wait until they've passed.
At 3 o'clock we've said au revoir and thanks to Brian and Sharon who run the marina so efficiently with their laid back style and the farewell committee, or is that good riddance committee, have gathered to help us with our lines; Joanie and Guy (Pickles), Dirk and Anne (Sail Away) and Yaap (De Ware Jacob). Waves and bon voyages follow us down river.
Two hours later and we're anchored back at MacGregor's Bay opposite the oil refinery. On the way in we stopped to say hello to Mary and Peter on Asor Lare. They are staying in NZ until August and then heading direct to Vanuatu.
Our first night on anchor in a month and it feels good. We both said how much more relaxed and calm we felt. Not sure why. It might be the quietness or the stillness or the removal of any shore side pressure to go out and communicate. We had a wonderful dinner of steak and mushrooms with a glass of wine and then spent a relaxing evening chatting and reading.

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8 May 2011 Things to do when you've done everything

Today we're sitting in Whangarei not twiddling our thumbs while we wait to leave.  After fuelling on Friday morning we were ready to leave for customs clear out down river at Marsden Cove marina.  Everything had been done, David had done engine checks, tools, spare lines, all gubbins were stashed, freezer fit to burst with on passage meals and all bills paid.  Yesterday we were busy organising an application for visa extension so what could we do today?
There's a simple answer - wade into the list on non essential maintenance, the items that have lingered on the to do list for six months or longer.  First up we used the electric buffer and a special compound David used in his GRP business to polish out the surface scratches on the windscreen, deck hatches and side windows.  What a difference!  From cloudy to crystal clear.  

Flying lampshades

I felt inspired to tackle the soiled lampshades in our cabin.  Way back when we were in the Caribbean there was an accident involving a free standing barbecue with lid open, an open hatch above the rear cabin and a sudden gust of breeze.  Result was the dirty barbecue didn't fall in but emptied it's sooty contents onto our bed and the reading lights above.   Close inspection (who inspects lampshades when there are more interesting things to do?) revealed the materials to be plastic and nylon and suitable for full water immersion.  A bucket of water, a toothbrush and a dash of washing up liquid and they came up a dream.  So did the four in the salon.   Washing lampshades is on par with tidying ones sock drawer when it comes down to things to do when everything is done.  Here they are strung up to dry in the cockpit.

Air dried place mats

After finishing lampshades I moved in to scrubbing the non slip place mats.  Amazing how much dirt was trapped in them - enough decaying curry, toast crumbs, squashed cheese combined nutrients start a small indoor garden.   In writing this I've outted myself as proud not to be a first class boatwife.

Saturday 7 May Staying longer in NZ

The weather is a definite no go for the trip up to Fiji.  We'd have either no wind and 3m seas or wind on the nose and big seas.  Why opt for an uncomfortable motoring trip when you can be patient and stay safe, dry in harbour while the non sailing weather moves over us?  The highs and lows pass over approximately every 7 days so one more week and we might see something better, or it might be 2 weeks.  We're time millionaires so why the rush?  
Our only disadvantage to staying in NZ beyond tomorrow is that we need to apply for a visa extension for David.  As Brits we automatically  qualify for a 6 month visitor visa when we arrive which was 8 November last year and expires tomorrow.  I took a trip to England earlier in the year and was given a new 6 months.   So as not to jeopardise any future visits to NZ it seems prudent not to overstay without doing the right thing and applying for a three month extension.  For this we downloaded from the internet and completed a 20 page form then dashed into town to get a couple of passport photos to accompany and finally to the post office before they closed at 1pm to send the package registered delivery.   With proof of sending we have evidence the application was sent before David's visa expired, we included credit card payment of NZ$140 (£70) for processing.  Should we get a departure date before the card is processed we might, stress might, get a by and have the payment waived due to circumstances beyond our control.  This may be a tadge too optimistic.
A final note to our friends who know we are rarely early - time of posting the application was 15 minutes before the post office closed for the weekend.

Friday 6 May The plan didn't come together

Plan to refuel this morning went well.  Plans to then motor down the estuary to Marsden Cove marina ready to clear out of NZ tomorrow morning were defenestrated.  The feckless weather turned unfavourable on two counts.  We awoke to the sound of heavy rain falling on the coach roof and a local forecast of gusting wind.  Checking the grib file, a computer generated weather forecast for the next 10 days covering the area from here to Fiji, we found it had changed.  Tomorrow, Saturday is forecast to have 25, gusting 35 knots from the wrong directions, rain, thunder, possiblyy a plague of frogs, which wouldn't make for happy sailing.
To reach the decision to delay took 9 adults, 2 computer programmes and at least 2 hours of talking.  Who says sailing is a solo sport?


Dave's got a new job on a trawler

 Getting our fuel was a jolly adventure.  As an internationally departing vessel we are eligible to purchase duty free diesel upon presentation of a Temporary Import Exemption document given to us when we arrived.  The TIE has saved us 15% GST due on every purchase of goods and services for the boat whilst we've been here.   The more you spend the more you save and we've saved heaps.

Jerry jugs lined up to be filled

I digress from the fuel.   Casey from International Petroleum backed his tanker across the car park near the fishing boats on the wharf.  We were going to raft alongside one of the fishing boats and feed the hose across to us.  Coming in was helped by having Joni and Guy from Pickles on board to throw lines to John (Tyee) and the whole family from Stray Kitty in position on the fishing boat.  Tied up, our 600 litre tank filled and 12 jerry jugs filled with clean diesel.   It was while we were doing this the leave date was changed.
Reverting to plan F, part II we moved back to our original spot on the quay for another day alongside.
Tomorrow?  Well, tomorrow's another day.

Thursday 5 May Au revoir NZ

It's almost time to leave New Zealand.   The omens are good, the chicken entrails tell of a fair passage to Fiji if we leave on Saturday and the numerous conversations with other cruisers seem to indicate we won't be sticking our necks out on our own.   Of course it could all change when we get the forecast tomorrow morning....
We've contacted NZ customs for official clearance out of the country on Saturday morning and sent an advance notice of arrival to the customs in Fiji with an ETA of Monday, 16 May.  We might have been able to cover the 1100nm quicker than 9 days but to arrive outside regular office hours incurs heavy overtime fees.  The cunning plan is to get above 25S as quickly as possible and in to the relative safety of SE trade winds (nothing gauranteed) and we could stop at the isolated Minerva reef for a day or two where the swimming and diving is reported to be excellent.  It's a dot and a refuge in the middle of the ocean, the final remains of the top of a volcano with one pass through the reef into the shallow calm waters inside.  
Before we can reach that calm we've been a mini whirlwind of final activity; last repairs, fittings, tidying, provisioning, internet.  
Tomorrow we have a 9am appointment with a fuel truck alongside the dock to take on 720L of fuel: 480ltrs into the tank to top us up to 600ltrs and 240ltrs into jerry jugs as spare.  This might be the cleanest fuel we ever fill with as NZ only oil refinery is less than 7 miles away on the coast.  Price is good too, about, just over U$1 / £0.68p duty free though nothing will ever be as cheapest as Venezuela at 1p a litre.
Loaded up with motion lotion we'll take the ebbing tide out of Whangarei harbour to anchor off Marsden Cove marina.  David has the notion to snorkel under the boat for a final check on the propeller to ensure we're in the best shape for our crossing.
It's been a very good, most enjoyable 6 months in NZ, so good we plan to come back in November, but winter is approaching and we yearn for tropical sunshine, beautiful beaches and some of the best diving in the world (we intend to test this claim thoroughly and promise to report on our findings).
Thank you to everyone who bothers to read my meanderings.  Please don't adjust your sets, we'll be back in mid May.

Monday 1 May David's Ark

River borne debris

Telling a joke in the rain

Deluge, flood, heaven's opening and torrents, nay buckets of water has been falling out of the sky since yesterday afternoon saturating the earth and filling the rivers with muddy water and debris.  Here's David in his best Paddington Bear suit using the boat hook to the log jam that had been created between Jackster's hull and the pontoon.  The photo doesn't show the bunch of French children who came to help him.  For them it was mush more fun than doing schoolwork.  Unfortunately Papa caught them and they were sent home to finish book work.  David liked having the help and I was no use cowering inside being 'busy' with internet business.