It has been a bit stressful this week. We took on too much and as a result feel a bit frazzled. The boat has an electrolysis problem where the rudderstock enters the hull. Bavaria have a back log of spares to deal with and they can’t be sure of getting us the bit we need before they break up for the whole of August. It is such a shame as we were hoping to get down to the Grenadines when John and Fi are here in three weeks time. The travel lift is out of use in Rodney Bay so we were going to be thwarted whatever happened.
In the meantime we thought it about time we got ourselves St Lucian driving licences. This required proof of a valid UK licence and proof of land ownership and all the documentation for the land licence. We had a medical and produced the photos they required, paid them the money (£60) and were then told that the machine that takes the photos and makes the licences was broken and that we would have to listen to the radio to hear when it was mended. As it had been broken for some time there would be a big queue, so don’t rush in straight away. That was a semi-success, so in a buoyant mood we set of to enquire about residency. A helpful lady gave us forms and a long list of documents required for the application. Luckily we had most of them from our Alien landholders licence and the birth and marriage certificates were filed on board. Next day we set of again to return filled out form and documents, all of which had to be photocopied and stamped (with $11.50 worth of real stamps) This application will take about three months and during that time we are to expect a telephone call from the police who will want to interview us and we should set aside about 2 hours to do this. The next thing on the list was a visit to immigration. Jeff’s allowed time of 6 months stay in St Lucia would run out in August and as the boat is unable to sail as far as Martinique to renew it he had to ask for an extension. St Lucian immigration officers have the same demeanour as they do in the States, so this was the worst of the visits we did. Lots of grovelling, form filling, photos, photocopying and eventually they keep his passport. He has to pick it up next week and he may have an extension of 6 months granted. This is all done in hot, crowded government offices with everyone vying for attention. Not grumbling really, this is the life we have chosen!
Today the third floor was cast. There was a frenzy of last minute activity by the electricians, plumbers and builders, doing the bits and pieces they had forgotten and cutting it really fine as the large concrete mixers and huge pump positioned themselves for a very slick (no pun intended) operation of pouring grey lumpy goo all over the formwork. It was pouring with rain before and during the operation but stopped just when the concrete needed to be kept moist. So Jeff had to then hose it down a few times to prevent cracking. The plan now is to put up the columns to support the roof so the roof will go on before the sides. This will make things easier once the rains really begin in earnest, or September, which ever comes earliest!
In the meantime we thought it about time we got ourselves St Lucian driving licences. This required proof of a valid UK licence and proof of land ownership and all the documentation for the land licence. We had a medical and produced the photos they required, paid them the money (£60) and were then told that the machine that takes the photos and makes the licences was broken and that we would have to listen to the radio to hear when it was mended. As it had been broken for some time there would be a big queue, so don’t rush in straight away. That was a semi-success, so in a buoyant mood we set of to enquire about residency. A helpful lady gave us forms and a long list of documents required for the application. Luckily we had most of them from our Alien landholders licence and the birth and marriage certificates were filed on board. Next day we set of again to return filled out form and documents, all of which had to be photocopied and stamped (with $11.50 worth of real stamps) This application will take about three months and during that time we are to expect a telephone call from the police who will want to interview us and we should set aside about 2 hours to do this. The next thing on the list was a visit to immigration. Jeff’s allowed time of 6 months stay in St Lucia would run out in August and as the boat is unable to sail as far as Martinique to renew it he had to ask for an extension. St Lucian immigration officers have the same demeanour as they do in the States, so this was the worst of the visits we did. Lots of grovelling, form filling, photos, photocopying and eventually they keep his passport. He has to pick it up next week and he may have an extension of 6 months granted. This is all done in hot, crowded government offices with everyone vying for attention. Not grumbling really, this is the life we have chosen!
Today the third floor was cast. There was a frenzy of last minute activity by the electricians, plumbers and builders, doing the bits and pieces they had forgotten and cutting it really fine as the large concrete mixers and huge pump positioned themselves for a very slick (no pun intended) operation of pouring grey lumpy goo all over the formwork. It was pouring with rain before and during the operation but stopped just when the concrete needed to be kept moist. So Jeff had to then hose it down a few times to prevent cracking. The plan now is to put up the columns to support the roof so the roof will go on before the sides. This will make things easier once the rains really begin in earnest, or September, which ever comes earliest!
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