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Boxing Day and on

Boxing Day (ie the day after Xmas) involved a trip into Marigot for the kids. They all walked from the road near where we are anchored. They wandered around the town and climbed up to the fort and saw the view. On the way back John didn’t feel too well so they requested a pick up in the dinghy. This was our first attempt with six in the dinghy and it was a bit slow.

Boxing Day dinner was curried turkey. Very well done and big thanks to the chef Helen.

The work installing the radar was also largely completed so now all our navigation aids are ready and rolling.

Today the family went to Philipsburg to have a look around. The trip was quite short. John stayed back with me as he still wasn’t well but certainly improving.

The weather remains windy keeping us here in St Martin. A number of boats have had issues out in the channel so we’re glad we’re inside in the lagoon. Progress has been made on the parts from the manufacturer but we’re not quite complete yet. We’re almost ready to go so eyes remain glued to the forecasts.

While we’re excited about the prospect of leaving the old problem of leaving good friends will again present itself. It is part of the life and it’s never really goodbye – just au revoir – till we meet again.

It’s nice now that I have email working so well over SSB. Contact should remain simple.

Xmas 2008

Wake up was later than normal due to the lateness of our prior nights bed time as well as all the traveling on the previous day.  Morning started of lazy.  Later in the morning, Jess, Ben and Sam were dropped off on the beach where they explored and played volleyball with local guests.

At lunch, boy did we eat.  As per Thanksgiving, Turkey was cooked on the grill.  We were very full afterwards so the afternoon was a sleepy one.  Evening was dominoes with Jim and Anne to accompany us.  Helen kept us fed throughout the evening so today we’ll need to exercise to start the process of working all the excess off.

Here are a few festive pics for your perusal.

Merry Xmas

Everyone was picked up ok and we celebrated Xmas by being awake at midnight. A feat for all of us in our various ways.

This morning, I couldn’t resist it. While waiting for the younger ones to wake up I finished the wiring for the SSB power. This is my first transmission with the setup in full working order.

Merry Xmas one and all.

Leave Island Any Time (updated)

I was told today that LIAT (the airline that the kids are using to get from Antigua) is often refered to as “Leave Island Any Time” due to it’s reputation for flights being late.  Well, it’s been confirmed.  Got a call from John to say their flight is delayed ‘indefinitely’ with no indication of how they’re going to get here.  Now we’re waiting for another call to let us know whats happening.  I’m half thinking of going over to the airport anyway so I can get an update from this end.  This is life in the Islands.  We’ll be together soon.

8:30 footnote.  I was just about to go to the airport to find out what was going on when we got a call from John to say they were just boarding and would be in SXM in 90 mins.

Old friends

Solved my internet problems.  Now I’m left wondering how it ever worked in the first place.  I’m actually better off than before by which I mean I don’t have to open the box to reset things whenever they don’t go my way.

Now I’m less grumpy I can mention yesterday’s highlight.  I was able to meet up with John, Ziggy and family aboard Windancer IV who were flying through St Martin on their way to the Virgins.  They have completed their Atlantic circuit – all kudos to them all.  Blog readers may remember I crewed aboard Windancer IV earlier this year crossing the Atlantic from Bermuda to the Azores.  They will be spending Xmas and January in the Virgins and will head down the islands starting Feb.  With a bit of luck we’ll meet up again on some nice beach.  It was great to see them all again settled into their current lifestyle.