It was quite funny starting work on Wednesday 20th, as it was my last day of work last year.Tayo handed over a list of ongoing concerns – not very long as a lot of people are on holiday and then left for Nigeria via Atlanta.
Ian has been working this last week, so has been waking at 05h00, in order to be able to contact the office in the UK, but has been finishing in the early afternoon so has started some exploring.
A view from the Gibbs Light House
Sunrise on one of Ian's runs
On Wednesday afternoon, he came to the hospital and I showed him around, before we walked into Hamilton. On Thursday, the rain cleared enough in the afternoon for him to explore towards Gibbs lighthouse, though he got a little lost and ended up somewhere else!!!! He is finding the winding, narrow, undulating roads rather challenging to run along, but they are a lot quieter than usual so he should be fine. We collected 2 x single scooters on Thursday afternoon. I had entertained the idea of getting 1x double but was informed that it would be too heavy for me, so we each have our own. It is a lot easier this time around for me, and Ian is fast getting the hang of it! My bruises are a lot less, but I still struggle to set off!!!
On Wednesday night, we went to a Christmas dinner with a number of the people I have met and it was great for Ian to meet them. A couple of them will be over in the UK over Christmas, so we will not see them again. I decided to take a taxi to the dinner, as although the Bushes are on the bus route, there is a winter service in place and I wasn’t too sure of the running times. Luckily we got a lift back afterwards.
On Friday evening there was a “Festival of Lights” at the Botanical Gardens, which is right next door to the hospital, so we wandered there after work and looked at the sights after a cocktail on the water's edge.
I found a green man!
Sunset from the cocktail deck
On Saturday morning we hopped on the scooters and took a scenic route to St Georges, and joined the walking tour. It is a UNESCO heritage site and the town is very proud of this. Everyone gets involved and we had one of the town councillors as our guide,which was great as I got a totally different perspective. Ian was one of the strong arms chosen to help with the dunking of the town gossip afterwards!
The dunking team!
We then set off for Tobacco Bay via some of the fortifications. The sea, as in CT has taken on a winter roughness and has a totally different feel to it. It is also a lot colder, at about 19C, so was not as inviting as earlier in the year, plus the visibility was less but we had a fun time snorkelling and saw a number of fish including the colourful parrot fish.
Tobacco Bay
The other difference in winter is that swathes of seaweed get washed up on the beach. It is very different from our 'kelp' as it is much drier and sticky with small sacs on the end. Walking on it feels like walking on a pot-scourer!
On our way home, we stopped off in Hamilton, which was humming, to shop for food, including the gammon, plus wool! The evening ended with a braai.
On Sunday I made some yummy mince pies and we set off for Horseshoe Bay. We walked along the South Shore coves to Warwick Long Bay. Ian was quite adventurous and tried to work from cove to cove, but had to give up as the tide was coming in. We neither of us felt like swimming as it was a bit rough so went for a fish lunch instead. I came home and he went to explore Admirality cove. I sat on the porch and watched the sunset!
Me trudging along the beach - have to carry everything off the scooter as the storage space is not big
Today is a little miserable. Ian went for a run and turned back but it out again exploring. The gammon is cooking and all is well
A number of the photos are Ian's, with his permission!
Tomorrow there is Harness Pony Racing so we will go and investigate and then Wednesday it will be back to work for me, but Ian will be on holiday so will be exploring
Wishing you all a fabulous Christmas
Love Maureen and Ian
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