HAPPY TURKEY DAY

We very truly impressed with Martin the mechanic and knowing that he wants to go cruising himself we invited him and his wife and 6 year old daughter to come for a visit on Paradise. We had such a wonderful time and maybe we convinced his wife Norma that living on a boat is fun?! His daughter Isabelle had no problem with it at all.

22. November Anne and Steve “Fine Line” came back to their boat and brought us lots of goodies from the States including our part for the fridge, yeah there is a light at the end of the tunnel. We called Martin the following day and even though he was very busy that day he showed up at 5 PM and fixed our fridge teaching Sid so he can do it next time himself. He left at 9 PM and we couldn’t believe that the bill was as low as it was. We truly found one honest and hardworking friendly guy!

Fridge was fixed just in time for the Thanksgiving leftovers. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving feast on Fine Line. Judy on Clair de Lune cooked a juicy turkey and wonderful gravy with chunks of meat in it. I hate Brussels sprouts, but the way she cooked them (bacon, onions and sour cream sauce) wow, she disguised them really well LOL. Judy also made a pistachio marshmallow thing that was interesting. Anne on Fine Line made the thickest mashed potatoes I've ever had and yummy green beans with almonds. Christa from Germany, it was her very first Thanksgiving, made a wonderful bread with all kinds of nuts and seeds and a green salad with a delicious homemade honey balsamic dressing with dill. She truly enjoyed Thanksgiving and was amazed on all the different dishes. I made cranberry sauce with fresh cranberries, apple and orange and also tipsy sweet potatoes. For dessert Judy made to die for pumping and peach pie. Anne topped the feast off with home brewed coffee and a delicious dry port wine, which made us only want more to drink. We all were so full that we had a hard time getting off their boat and made it home just in time for another nasty squall erupted over us. It was a very very nice Thanksgiving, actually the best we've had while cruising. Steve was very thankful for his health (last June he fell on the boat and hit his head, a couple months later as they were in Peru he had signs of stroke and was flown home immediately and had surgery, a blood cloth was removed that was caused by his fall in June. He’s doing great and they finally were able to return home to Fine Line). We were all thankful that we have such good friends to share an important family day with each other. Ed was funny he was thankful for Skype so he can talk to his grand critters.

Hard to believe it’s been almost 3 months in Curaçao we had only planned to stay 2 weeks. It shows once more that cruising plans are written in Sand at low tide.

Weather has been awful, lot of nasty squall and rain keeping everybody from sailing to other destinations, including us. The mosquitoes worse than ever and I’m surprised the stores haven’t run out of bug juice yet!

We will provision on Wednesday, Howard on Lady Hawk is returning Thursday from his one week stay in the States bringing us some parts and on Friday we should be underway to Aruba.  Unless we get stuck now with the water maker, Sid changed the seals but the salt count is still at 1200 so keep your fingers crossed that we can fix the problem and leave.

Just received this in the email, don’t know who wrote it but all I know it could have been me because that sums up our stay in Curacao:

Cleaning Poem

I asked the Lord to tell me
Why my house is such a mess.
He asked if I'd been 'computering',
And I had to answer 'yes.'

 

He told me to get off my fanny,
And tidy up the house.
And so I started cleaning up..
The smudges off my mouse.

 

I wiped and shined the topside.
That really did the trick....
I was just admiring my good work.

I didn't mean to 'click.'

 

But click, I did, and oops - I found
A real absorbing site
That I got SO way into it -
I was into it all night.

Nothing's changed except my mouse.
It's very, very shiny.
I guess my house will stay a mess.....
While I sit here on my hiney.