Da Caribbean News Ledda
These News Ledda have now become two monthly it seems, but what can you expect from a man that types with one finger, has his hair long, is gradully going deaf and blind. I should be wearing a patch over one eye, hobbling on a wooden leg, and have a parrot doing my talking for me.
The season is starting to slow down for most of the crews but Lionheart keeps on going. We still have a few charters to finish up this season which will take us through until the end of August. The whole of September will be charter free, so this will be the month for the haul her out. This year Lionheart will get new paint on her bottom and a real exterior spruce up in preparation for the already increasingly busy 2006.
June - July we once again see the return of all the kids school camps. It's crazy with kids at the moment. There are 12 boats, both catarmarans and mono hulls each with about 20 kids staying onboard. These kids are between 13 and 16 years old and they are here to learn about sailing ,diving and to study the reefs. I'm certain there's a lot of extra coricular activities going on at night though.
The weather here lately has been beautiful, with rain blessing us at night a lovely warm breezes through the day. The rain that does come through during the day is brief and refreshing, just enough to prevent the sweat from beading on the brow. The islands are green, green, green which is great for those who want to grow things but bad for all of us who have to keep cutting the grass back. All our cisterns are full, our cars are washed, our animals have had a bath and all our vegetable crops are starting to bare fruit.
The land that we have had our eyes on is slowly becoming reality. We are in the thick of surveyors, builders and government officials but we know only too well that these big wheels of government roll slowly. I have spent a few days up on the property chopping down virgin scrub, so we can see what's underneath From what we have seen so far, the ground looks good with good soil, loads of trees and a couple of giant boulders that we will incorporate into the house and gardens.It has such a beautiful view of Cane Garden Bay, along with cool breezes and an abundance of bird life.I'm starting to sound like a real estate broker, but it's true.I even befriended a cuckoo bird that obviously lives close by. Hope that doesn't mean anything.
Speaking of birds, our beloved pet chicken is now a fully fledged roster. Each morning croaks his sad crow just once to let us know his awake, then spends the rest of the day prouncing around, showing off to the rest of his hens. At the moment he has a few favourite chicks that he hangs out with but each night he comes back to roust in the same tree above his old chicken pen. Non of us can catch him any more much to Lucie's disappointment but it's a great for Lucie to see him free.
Lucie is blossoming into Miss Lucie Mobbs. She now helps Sarah around the house and loves to be involved with any cooking that's going on. Maybe because it's just an excuse to get the place dirty so she can then help clean up. Sarah is the rock of Gibraltar, taking care of Lucie and then me when I finally get time at home.
At the moment we have our hands full house sitting for some good friends. We have two houses to look after in addition to our own and I was just counting up the animals at the moment that we are looking after. 4 dogs, 5 cats, 4 fish tanks, 2 donkeys, a herd of sheep and two swimming pools. Man- we got to be out of our minds.
We now have Merlin, which is the bosses other boat down here at the moment. He has completed the reconstruction and now she really is a beautiful sight. A 57ft Lagoon Catamaran, that has been rebuilt in a way that makes her stronger and more luxurious than she was new. The out come is a real credit to him. She will come a go for a few years to come but she now calls the B.V.I. her home.
And least but not last, our dog Shadow won a gold medal in the dog show. He was late for the show, but he thinks he won a medal when he got his registration tag, which happened to be gold. So as far as he knows, he's a winner. We haven't had the heart to tell him.
And finally, a big congratulations to Tong Grieg for being a first time dad. Time to warm up the milk and change the diapers my friend. Mum and baby Jay are doing fine in the Philippines. A great name for a kid that is going to have an incredible adventurous life ahead of him. Tony just let me know when you've taught him all you know at Backgammon, I'll take over from there.
I hope these long awaited words finds everyone happy and healthy in your part of the world.
Take care of one another,
Mobbsie