The winning fish, what a size!

We moved off our permanent berth this week to make room for the boats taking part in the Billfish tournament. About 40 boats arrived, mostly from Trinidad and other neighbouring islands and immediately made themselves at home with dockside BBQ’s and parties. It was a terrific atmosphere especially when they left at 6am the next morning for the start of the competition. Forty boats all lined up across the bay, like a Le Mans start, and once the horn was sounded they were off and within minutes there wasn’t a boat to be seen. They started to return at 4.30pm flying various flags to denote which fish they had caught. The winning fish was a massive blue marlin that weighed in at 657lbs and was over 10ft long! Nothing too significant was caught on the second day and we shall have to see if anything bigger is caught on the last day, Saturday.
Chateau Mygo was the venue for the party last night. All the tables were full and the bar was knee deep in fishermen. We had to wait until they all went home before we could get to bed, as we are berthed on the end of the restaurants jetty.
It wasn’t such a raucous night for me as I have been asked to give Mama Sheila’s husband his Pethidine injections for the last few days. I was called half way through the evening as they thought he might be dying and by the time I got there a few minutes later I was able to confirm their worst fears. He had been very ill with cancer, which had spread to his bones and he had been in such pain for the last few weeks. I am sure his family will be relieved that he is no longer suffering.
On a more positive note, the house is coming on well. We have lots of people on site beavering away. The basement is being painted and once it is tiled and gets its electrical fittings and lockable door, it will be used as a store room for the rest of the tiles and paint. Upstairs is showing signs of moving in the right direction. A lot of drywall is now in place and we are just waiting for the last of the window frames. My next mission is to find door handles and window latches. They are available; the problem is just getting enough of the same sort. It is the same thing with lights and fans, all the shops have them, just not too many in stock and they never know if they will come in again or even be the same. It is something I wish we had thought about whilst I was home. How we long for just one afternoon in B&Q!!
Jeff is having a working weekend, as two of the builders wanted to work to get the rest of the window frames in and also start some tiling. Doreen has asked him to put up towel rails and shower curtains and Maggie has asked him to put together her gas BBQ that came in a box. A man with a tool kit is in short supply on the Island!
Tonight we are off to the prize giving dinner for the fishing competition and tomorrow is roast dinner at Maggie’s. Next week will be quiet and restful; one bean on toast and water to wash it down!

Bedroom Balcony.