29/12/2025 Rest and recovery

There didn’t seem to be as much food on offer today for breakfast, I’m guessing that the supply ship is due to deliver. Out of butter, coffee, no beans and spaghetti and penne pasta to boost the offerings here were extra cereals laid on. We don’t mind the omelet still rock! Also the pancakes sausage bacon are all on. I think Morg might cry if that wasn't on 

When we arrived for breakfast we sat at our usual table and we noticed the tender boat was listing at a definite angle. We thought it was our imagination initially but then noticed the captain sat in there bailing out buckets of water.  He was there bailing continually for around half an hour, and we were slightly concerned by the sheer volume he was throwing out. 

Before breakfast was done we experienced a torrential downpour it didnt start off just spitting, oh no, it came down in sheets. The staff moved like whippets to get all the pool cushions in and offered to put the sides of the restaurant down for us to keep us dry. Morg and I declined because it was warm rain and we wanted to watch it race across the ocean.  As long as the food didn’t get wet it wasn’t a massive problem.

Due to the downpour the bailing out of the boat stopped it seemed pretty pointless to carry on I guess, as the wind picked up and rain was blowing in.   It turns out because it had been so rough over night, the waves crashed in over the side and there was nowhere for it to go. 

There was an island shopping trip on but the cost for Morgan’s I worked out to ridiculously silly money.  To be honest we don’t really want anything on the mainland as it was a souvenir shopping  trip rather than sightseeing and Morg wasn't inclined either way. We chatted to a couple who went on it and they said it was good.  They were a bit late leaving due to the rain but got back laden down with goodies with happy faces. I guess its what you want to do isnt it? 

Morg went back to the Bure ahead of me. As I went to the loo, When I came out it was lashing down.  I made a dash for the beach shelter where we had Si’s birthday meal and planned to  wait it out on a sun lounger.  After half an hour it was showing no signs of stopping and I considered making a scurry for it as there was a break in the clouds coming my way.  I made my break. However I only got as far as the lobby and it started coming down again so I took shelter there, at least the seats were comfy. Another hour later I was still there watching it bouncing off the wooden floor in the lobby. I was getting bored so I decided I just as well get wet. It wasn't like it was cold rain. Omg I was soaked to my bathers within seconds. As I was already wet I stopped by the turtle pools and the big ones were trying their best to get out!  The return to our bure was the longest walk in the world. Also the boardwalk's wood was a bit slippery so I didn’t want to rush and slip!  

Finally made it back but drenched to the skin.  Morg was crying at the state of me, I was like a drowned rat. I dried off and put my jarmies back on and since we weren’t going anywhere for a while, I took the opportunity to do some research for the next part of my trip. Mainly what order I'm going to do it in and which Island to go to first. The prices vary greatly for each Island depending when you go.  That took the rest of the morning and pages of scribbled notes with prices and locations and no decision made yet. Planning for just me requires a little more precision and research. When I did it  with Si we could wing it and if it turned out to be a bit ropey like it did in India at least there were two of us. I think for Morgan's peace of mind too it needs to be a safe place. Usually I find the flight first and then plan around that. This time I'm looking at package deals as well as doing things separately, which to my surprise are working out a little cheaper, especially in New Zealand Dollars due to the excellent exchange rate. I need to wait till we get back to Auckland to book it so i can take advantage of that, and also not go through the expedia app which prices it up in GBP.!  I would rather wing it if I'm honest but, maybe Morgan is right. I've made several questionable decisions so far this year, and maybe now isn't the time to be winging my travel arrangements!  

The sun came out and smiled down on us so Morg and I went into the ocean. Unfortunately the visibility was poor due to the rain so despite seeing some beautiful fish the photos of them were pants.  It was lovely and warm though and i happily floated in here for hours, while  Morg decided to go use the gym. Well he was on his own for that nonsense!

When he returned from working on his guns, we had a cup of tea and decided to go down to the other end of the Island where there are beach shelters with the coconut leaf roof.  Morg had spotted them when he was in the gym and also noted that the area was a lot less rocky than it was outside our Bure. Thankfully there was someone in the one we had Si’s birthday meal so we went further along. I obviously hadn’t told Morg about that, or perhaps he’d switched off halfway through that story. Who can blame him?! Either way it was nice to be sat in the sun loungers and we decided we’d have a beer in the sunshine which turned into 4, but we’re on holiday so it’s ok right?  The water is deeper at this end of the Island and it’s a little more sheltered than where we are. Swimming with the snorkel was brilliant and the fish were amazing. I'm taking my phone case tomorrow to try and get some photos of them. There’s no coral unless you swim out quite a long way, just large stones. Hopefully visibility will be a bit better and. I can get some clear pics 

An uneventful day which is no bad thing really, not so much as a sniff of a sunset either. Rude

Much Love

Mrs Leonard

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