HAPPY NEW YEAR

The children were awake as usual at around 6.30am Paul dressed them and took them off for a walk whilst I tried to get some much needed sleep as I hadn’t slept all night. I was up and dressed laying in one of the beachside hammocks when they arrived back for breakfast. Whilst eating breakfast we saw numerous bird life Abigail keen to impress Sarah with her knowledge. Abigail then sat as a member of the staff called Abi plaited her hair, it may be sometime before she gets it done again as it took her over an hour. We changed into our costumes and had a dip in the sea, unfortunately there were no sun beds on the beach to lay out on. Whilst Bradley set about digging Abigail went further on up the beach she suddenly cried out, she had only stepped onto a washed up sea urchin so some spines had gone into her foot. With Paul carrying her we went to the restaurant and managed to get a needle and safety pin from one of the staff which we then sterilised with a lighted match. Alf had arrived back by this time so with Abigail laid on her tummy on a table and me trying to console her Alf and Paul set about trying to get the spines out. With the task completed and some tea tree oil antiseptic applied and Abigail a lot happier we ate a late lunch of fish benechin. By now it was passed 3 o’clock so we quickly changed and packed up and with Alf accompanying us we set off back to the car. Safely across the lagoon we got to the car only to have a flat tyre, luckily Paul had brought the pump so it was quickly sorted. With fingers crossed Paul turned the ignition key and the car spluttered he tried again and on the third try hey presto it started we all climbed in Alf sat in the front to give directions. On the way back he did comment that he thinks the tyre may have been let down on purpose which were also our own thoughts. Just before the main road we stopped as Alf wanted to show us his Batiks and we thought it was only fair after all his help. We were introduced to a couple of guys and offered Atiya tea and peanuts and shown the batiks and ceremonial Kankurang head dress which Bradley decided to put on, they also entertain the tourists with music and dance at the centre. We parted company and set off for the ferry terminal buying our ticket we managed to get straight onto a waiting ferry and across the river all within an hour would you believe it after yesterday’s performance my faith in Africa was restored. We had a nice surprise when we arrived back home as Tom and Lynne had cooked us a chicken casserole for dinner before they left John’s house to stay at Mariella’s.