August Week 2

Hello again from Bermuda!
Thanks for the replies and the news. It is really appreciated.

I am still safely ensconced on the Island despite fears of the Bermuda Triangle! And the hurricane season. Harvey isn't having any major effect on us, unlike Texas, though we have had more wind and a number of heavy downpours. I am working on the 'Maureen humidity index' - it requires only a pair of sunglasses and will measure both the speed and the depth of puddling of sweat above the lip of the sunglasses as they rest on your cheek!!!! Might have to add in a further measurement - how many times the puddle is emptied!!!! It is being refined before I apply for the patent!!

View from my office

My accommodation woes seem to have settled, though I did have to request a change of TV - the one I now have, at least was made in this century! Though there are numerous TV channels, there is very little to watch - I can't face reruns of 'The Golden Girls' and 'The Cosby Show'. I have also been rather disappointed in the coverage of the US Tennis Open - there are 3 channels covering it, but they all show the same match! DSTV, I miss you!!!!!!!!!!!!

Work continues to be pretty quiet, so I am struggling to keep myself occupied. I have continued to work to and from work and enjoy the flowers - numerous azaleas, in different shades, this flowering tree; I have also some mangrove crabs and a heron or two.

On Saturday, I was invited, together with Barbara, a psychiatry community nurse, to join Alick and Helen on their boat. We set off from the boatyard at Somerset Bridge and putt-putted through Ely's Bay looking for turtles and then moored off Morgan's island and picnicked, snorkelled and chatted our way through the day. The water was unfortunately quite murky but we still saw quite a bit. I tested out a full face mask that I had borrowed, and am much more comfortable with it than the old-fashioned one. It was passed round to the others and declared a hit - so some more will be bought.
We also boated out to the wreck of the Vixen - a ship that was sunk in the 1800's, in order to block the mouth of the bay and watched numerous fish surface to eat bits of bread. Further snorkelling was enjoyed in Somerset Long Beach area where we all lucky enough to be able to swim alongside some of the turtles. A magic day.

Sunday I wobbled down to Hamilton on my scooter, through numerous puddles but between downpours, as I needed food plus a supply of 'quarters' so that I could use both the washing and drying machines.The rest of the day was spent a quietly, catching up and the rainbow baby blanket grew a bit. The scooter and I are still living in an uneasy peace - I both struggle to get moving - the foot doesn't really want to leave the ground on take-off; plus I  have developed a rather large bruise on my right forearm, from trying to get it back on it;s stand after we have gainfully manouvered our way through traffic - slow and steady!!!!! However I did venture out to Horseshoe Bay on Tuesday afternoon and the confidence is growing. It was so nice to get into the sea and I spent some time watching families and couples in the water. There was a group of 3 young girls, playing mermaids - the one even had a single tail flipper which fitted over both feet!

Horseshoe Bay on Tuesday Evening

The 'symbiotic' relationship between my bike and me!!!!

Wednesday evening during the season, is Harbour Nights in Hamilton. This last Wednesday, was due to be the last one of the season but was cancelled due to strong winds and heavy downpours, but a few of us met up anyway and had supper at the Portofino restaurant. It seemingly has been in the same venue with the same menu for at least the last 30 years - Alick and Helen ate there regularly 30 yrs ago - and it reminded me a bit of La Perla (in Sea Point), though the food was better, but the Rum swizzle - my first of this visit - was not up to standard. We had a raucous evening with lots of belly laughs.

I have also paid a visit to the local wool shop and bought some Lionbrand Mandala wool to make a baby's blanket, so am haaaaapppppy!!! though am battling a bit with the pattern that I have chosen!

This coming weekend is the Labour Day weekend, so I am not working on Monday. There is a sand-castle building competition at Horseshoe Bay that I will probably go and see and I want to investigate the Blue Hole and Coopers Bay island - the weather is due to be decent!

Go well and enjoy spring!