It’s been a fun week with several steps forward. Last Saturday night we went to the newly opened cinema in Castries. It has eight screens, the smell of popcorn in the glossy atrium and large posters of soon to be released films, just like any cinema in the world. The guy taking the tickets seemed a little puzzled that we should take our seats before the film had started as there was still ten minutes to go and indeed we were the only people in the auditorium at that time. It started to fill once the film had begun and people continued to pour in well into the film- Lushuns are not good with time keeping. The air conditioning was super cool and another outing would definitely require cardigan and socks. There was a fair bit of audience participation especially when baddies got their comeuppance or a ‘sister’ gets one over a bloke i.e. Yo sister, you tell him, Uh Huh! Sending and receiving texts and phone calls also seems to be acceptable but it is done quietly. All in all an excellent night out and it was good not to miss out on Harry Potter, next time it will be Jeff’s choice.
The window man bought us his sample window and door, all hand made out of greenheart. Everyone agreed they were of a high standard so he got the next 40% of his money to complete the order.
We have purchased a water pump for the house. We need this as we have no mains water and will be relying on our huge water tanks to fill with rain. The pumps are not always available on the Island so buying it when we saw it will save heartache later on when they disappear again.
As you can see from the picture, the ring beam is complete and stud walls are in place ready for the eaves. The house is looking huge after Jeff toiled away removing all the bamboo poles and formwork. This is really hard work, normally done by the labourers but they are both of sick this week with rainy season flu. The electricians have done all their work on the first 2 floors ready for the plastering, the plumbers on the other hand are no where near finishing, probably because they have to re do a lot of their work. They are also bad at not turning up for agreed periods of work and then they supply Jeff with a list of things they need for the job but forget half the stuff and Jeff has to go get it again and again. This drives Jeff round the bend and these guys don’t know how close they are to a one sided chat behind the shed.
I have kept myself busy with boat work. A top to toe clean was needed to get rid of the layer of sand that comes all the way from Africa and is then dumped on our boat when it rains. I also did all the chrome work and got rid of any rusty bits. This was in honour of the new awning that we had made in a light material to cover the length of the boat. It is so much cooler now and we can have all the hatches open even when it rains. It is a bit tricky to get it erected and at the moment the front doesn’t look quite right but the guy who made it is coming over to see what adjustments can be made.
We are still hoping to get the rudder bit from somewhere. Norway seems favourite at the moment as our friend Truls is on the case and thinks he can get it in four weeks. Still too late for the kids sailing holiday but good to know it will happen eventually. Truls has also kindly agreed to us using his boat now and again for the odd day trip. Our day of rest tomorrow is a driving trip to the north to discover new places. Tonight, Mama Sheila has invited us to a surprise birthday party for her son, Van Dyke, who turned 50 last month. These parties consist of mountains of food and fresh fruit juices, lots of family members and friends sitting around chatting and then someone bravely sneaks in alcohol and drops some of the hard stuff into the juices for those who partake. Mama Sheila is a seventh Day Adventist and is dead against alcohol and foresees a lifetime in hell for those who imbibe, but we take our chances anyway!