26 April Day 35 and I'm feeling bored

Thirty five days of restricted movement and I hit a low point of boredom today. It's Sunday and the island has total lockdown today so very quiet. I'd finished my book, didn't feel like doing anymore worthy boat jobs and I was restless. I knew it was naughty and broke curfew rules by going for a swim, but the afternoon was hot, I felt I needed to move and to cool off so how could a swim, seeing no-one, breathing on no-one but fish really hurt? Roll on thirty minutes and it was a different world. The endorphins were kicking in and I was back to base level happy.

Earlier in the week we'd been busy with our boat projects, items that have languished on the 'to do' list for far too long like deep cleaning the kitchen cupboard handles. The most frequently used handles on the boat in an area where fingers are likely to be dirty didn't bear scrutiny in the harsh light of a bright torch. On an Amel the square chrome handles have a rounded, varnished buffer of wood to prevent the ouch when you catch your knee as the boat rolls. First I undid the screws and soaked the once chromed plastic in vinegar to remove grease and dirt. Next was a light sanding to key for a coat of spray paint. I said this job has been on the to do list for a while. We bought the chrome spray paint in Trinidad 18 months ago. It still works and now we have beautifully repainted, though more matt finish than the high polish we had anticipated. I let them dry overnight and then refitted.

and after

before

David's achievement this week was to empty and sort the big locker on the cockpit. He convinced me everything already in there is essential and we threw away two small pieces of old wood. Though with repacking there is more space, enough space to store the old Raymarine radar which came down last autumn. That's being kept until we get to Trinidad where there is an active market for second hand kit.

I decided we needed a Sunday evening treat to maintain the high level of endorphins and this was going to come from a special dinner of pork loin with the exceptional treat of a bottle of wine. Roll on Monday morning and no work to go to.