26th November

Tuesday 26^th November

Good news from Tasmania:

Twins, born to Danny Saltmarsh and Dara Robinson (my niece) on the 25^th at 6am.  They are as yet unnamed, a boy and a girl – well they have only had 35 weeks to ponder the many variables… They are both well over 5lbs, a very respectable size indeed.  We are all VERY happy and relieved.

Dara with Pete - I can't find one of Dara and Danny...

For some time we travelled alongside this beautiful Swiss yacht, Micromegas.  It is for sale – cheap as chips, says Pete.  Chantal and Fredi are going back to Geneva – Chantal happily, Fredi a bit reluctantly.  We will miss them… I have already profited from their departure from the sailing world by buying their lovely little sewing machine – cheap as chips…

At our dinner at the Royal Selangor Yacht Club on Sunday night I had a particularly nice time catching up with old friends and getting to know others who have been sailing all the way from Darwin with us.  For some reason, we have only been only nodding (and smiling!) terms but now we have had a chance to get to know each other a bit better.

Cecilie, from Townsville, for example – why hadn’t we ever had a conversation??  It turns out Cecilie is a Penguin Girl, ie from the North West Coast.  She was a modern language teacher in Hobart for many years, and has been to MLTAT (Modern Language Teachers Association of Tasmania, in case you are wondering, breathlessly,) at my father’s house.  We had lots of friends in common, and had both been to Pam Allen’s wedding, and her 50^th.  We also found ourselves at one on matters educational and political.  And to think that all these months, since July 27^th, we have only been on smiling and nodding terms…

A local boat along the way - so pretty!

So was Monday a Day Of Rest?  Well…I did a few more of my Somerset Maugham short stories, and maybe spent an hour or so on the computer.  But in the afternoon Pete wanted to go for a walk…

We went to look at the boats on the hard stands, and to see how they are lifted out of the water.

Nifty!

Then we walked off Marina Island and onto the mainland.  It probably wasn’t very far but oh my goodness it was hot and shade-less… I had a big umbrella with me; otherwise I think I would have collapsed from heat stroke.  Pete is made from sterner stuff; he was quite OK with just his (holey) Tilley hat to protect him.

Today's Singapore orchid

Today we are going across on the ferry to the main island of Pangkor; where we are is just across a little bit of water.  I think it will all be very beautiful.

And...today's Lego Land photo