SERENITY NOW

Charlie's appendix successfully removed by the excellent team at the Prince of Wales hospital in Randwick. The fallen palm tree in the garden was removed by Prompt Tree Services who were good to their name. I spent a wonderful week down south, with Charlie, who was taking it easy and recovering nicely. Daily jousting session with each other at Chess, Battleships and Scrabble. ….and all too soon, flew back up to the boat in Townsville. We’re easing ourselves back into it with a short trip from the marina over to Magnetic island. En-route we had a minor mishap: snagging the line from a yellow buoy as we entered Horseshoe Bay. Not a disaster by any means, however getting into the water to swim around and under the boat to free up the buoy, I see the words ‘No Swimming / Shark Danger’. This is not my idea of fun - once the boat was free, I rapidly exited the water keeping the panic and splashes to a minimum. Despite the circumstances - it’s nice to have a swim! Horseshoe Bay is a wonde

I’m starting this one a few days after Charlie departed the boat. The usual post-guest departure gloom was thankfully lifted by the Gingers. With whom we left Airlie yesterday morning and headed back across the shortish hop to the islands, specifically Manta Ray Bay on Hook. There we took buoys and had two really good snorkels. First amongst a shoal of passengers from one of the day tripping jet boats. The second, from a tender buoy we’d tied to previously. The same group of large batfish and a massive, inquisitive Māori wrasse we saw during the first visit (with Charlie) made a second appearance for the Gingers. Graham and Julie, initially a bit wary of swimming with them,were soon in the water. The three of us swimming in amongst them while Chez - watching on from the tender - happily threw bread at, and around us, to keep our fishy friends interested. A great experience. The wrasse, as big as a long human torso, stayed close enough to touch, eying us curiously. It’s skin a wondrous