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South Pacific « Aboard Dignity (Lagoon 420) Blog

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Good/Bad News

As expected, really, the blood test came out good which means what’s wrong with me is beyond the local doctor. You can imagine the dilemma this now presents us.

Waiting

Can’t say I feel good. Double vision and brain state is as bad as ever. We just wait for the results of the blood test tomorrow.

To add to our woes the generator shut down last night due to inadequate water flow, fortunately at the end of the charge. The impeller is due to be changed so that’s probably it. Will be focussing on that this morning and probably use Sam to help out.

It’s pissing down with rain outside right now but fortunately this job can be done in the shade of the bimini.

I go to sleep each evening with the hope that things will seem to be getting better the next morning. It doesn’t happen. Sooner or later we’re going to have to make some very difficult decisions.

Thanks for all the advice received, particularly about not worrying. In some ways I am not worried but I know it could get very challenging very soon. The mind has ways to avoid the stress and anxiety. Usually by finding ways to put off the difficult decisions. The family continue to be tremendously supportive and optimistic. I need this as I don’t really believe it myself at the moment.

Doctor’s visit

Went to see doctor in Nadi in the morning and had a number of tests: Blood pressure, pulse, ECG, brain X Ray, blood test. We have to wait for the results of the last one but the rest came out ok. In some ways encouraging but not knowing cause of current issue nor having any prognosis remains very concerning.

We can hope for the best but we need to plan for the worst and that is very difficult. Worst case (apart from the very worst and unmentionable) is having to leave the boat here and go home or somewhere else (wherever that is) for treatment. That may be a show stopper for our current lifestyle. Planning for all this is very hard indeed and while Helen continues to be very encouraging, I feel a little overwhelmed by it all. I just want to curl up and just hope it all works itself out on it’s own. But life is not like that and we need to take steps to cover eventualities. All very, very hard.

As can be seen from my comments I am somewhat anxious about all this. Helen continues to be very supportive which is really what I need. Thanks to all our family and friends who have emailed advice and support.

Other news from the day is that using special glasses we witnessed the transit of Venus across the sun. Sam managed to take a great photograph of it. We also went for a walk in the afternoon. We got so far then I needed to lie down for a bit before we all returned.

After dinner we watched a couple more episodes of the latest Game of Thrones series. Sam went out in the evening to decompress. He learned during the day of the death of two of his acquaintances. He’s also a bit worried about me too. Poor kid. Not exactly what we sold him for the trip.

Scary thoughts

We made the short trip to Lautoka, anchored, reanchored (due to Ferry coming) in and went ashore to clear in. Fiji is broken up into four areas associated with each port of entry. Each time you leave one port you need to obtain clearance to the next. So we took our Savusavu to Lautoka clearance in and swapped it for a Lautoka area clearance.

After lunch we moved the boat to Port Denarau so I can visit a doctor in town. In the lea of the land there was no wind so it was a motor all the way.

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Once on a mooring Helen and Sam went ashore to get some details on doctors. I have an appointment for this morning.

Things are not getting any better. My double vision seems to be getting worse. The whole trip down from Savusavu was a nightmare for me unable to properly see where we were going. The passage was littered with reefs. Fortunately the chart plotter was accurate but that cannot be assumed so a good watch is required. Helen backed me up on most of my watches which put a lot of pressure on her.

I now worry a lot. If the doctor can’t find a fix for this then we’ve got a lot of problems. I am feeling quite anxious about all this. Questions fly through my mind.

Are we now in end game? Is the trip more or less over?
If we have to sell the boat can we get to Australia? Can we sell it here?
If we’re in end game then what next? We’ve been in denial about this but we’ve got to go somewhere and do something. But what? And how does my condition change things?
What about Sam?
How much will this all cost? Can we afford it?
How bad will my condition get?
Many more questions. Not a lot of answers.

It’s 2:45am and I’m not sleeping. The music ashore is not helping but my worries fly around my mind. I know the next step is a visit to the doctors but I’m not over enthusiastic. Things are changing so rapidly I’m not sure what can be done. Is it something with my eyes? Is it something neurological? I don’t know.

Again Helen is being very supportive and that’s great. But I worry. A lot.

Last night we treated ourselves to fish and chips ashore and wine back on the boat while watching a couple of episodes of the latest Game of Thrones series. Savour the moments.

(3am the music stops)

Vitongo Bay

We had planned to go as far as Vatia Bay but when we got there we found that burning sugar cane was covering the bay with soot. So we move on and made it as far as Vitongo Bay, 5nm from Lautoka. We arrived about 4pm.

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The trip had been a combination of sailing, motor sailing and plain motoring at times. The weather was quite pleasant.

Today we’ll head into Lautoka, do our clearances then move onto Port Denarau where we can finally relax.