16th July - life on an angle - Spot On Marine - Darwin Days

Tuesday 16^th July

Just this minute I was sitting on our slopey SLOPEY deck

 talking to the Wakefields in Cremorne (Tas) when Angus said, There’s a big bird behind you!  And indeed the sea eagle was whizzing past my head.

This is a very wonderfully bird-y place.  A big jabiru is striding past, so elegant. A flock of small tweeting birds is wheeling up out of the mangroves, and then straight back to safety.   The eagles are swooping and diving, and another flock of small egret- like birds just sped past into the sunset sky.

And it is pretty…

I still hate HATE being on a slope.  It is nearly enough to spill one's drink…but not quite…

Pete has been working away; when I saw him at the end of the day he was totally exhausted, totally pink (pink is a polite word…) with exertion, having ridden his bike out to Jaycar and beyond and back again, with a laden backpack.

Last night was surprisingly bearable, on our slope.  We both slept, at our weird angle, and didn’t fall out of bed.  Amazing!  In the evening, our lonely little ramp was suddenly full!  Fishing people!!

All happily crabbing and fishing and chatting in a variety of languages, none of them English.

It is HOT HOT HOT here in Darwin.  But look what I have at my disposal, right next to slopey 2XS:

It is not all that flash; in fact it is also bang-up against a big catamaran out of the water, with three workers aboard, going WHEEE and BRRRRM with various powerful grinders and drills.  But it is clean, and cool and…I LOVE it!!

While Pete labored and rode to Jaycar, I had a more pleasant day.  I rode to the sailing club, tied my bike to the railings, and then tried to catch the bus, which glided past, early.  So I walked, a long way – well as far as the casino, by which time the next bus was gilding up to let me on.

All very nice – lovely foliage, flowers…

I do like the architecture in Darwin.  Colours!  I think it was Tom, on our Sunday excursion, said that the architects in Darwin aren’t very highly regarded.  I’m not so sure…I think the buildings generally are bright, cheery, pleasant.

On my way back from town (I had my hair cut, not such an unusual event…) I called into the sailing club to pick up my faithful bike and to check the mail – and, oh joy, there was a parcel for 2XS – the bearings for the rudders, from Townsville, express post.  All to make Pete happy!!  He is working SO hard…