The end of this adventure is nigh
27 March 2013 | Mooloolaba and Penang
Catherine
I had stopped writing my blog because for a while there, all i could think of is what information potential buyers might glean from the info I gave. And now I realise that, actually, I don't really care! But that's probably because I'm not cleaning the boat on a daily basis and polishing this, buffing that. Mark is now solely responsible for Pegasus and he hasn't ever written a blog so I can write with free abandon. Mostly so I don't forget when it comes to the kids writing their diaries again.
So, let me fill you in. Truth be told, it wasn't much fun trying to school the kids and cook when the broker would phone up and ask if they could bring a PB down to see the boat. I am quite a messy person. Now that may come as a surprise to you but the kids have inherited my genes in that department. I shall work on this when we get home. However, Mark and I decided that if the messy three were off the boat it would be so much easier to show the boat and that has been the case. I can't say so much what Mark has been up to whilst we've been away but this is the adventures of the Jackson Three....
Our good friends from SV Goody have been in Penang since the birth of their 5th crew member, Lelei. Since we always fly home with Malaysian Airlines, we thought is would be a great opportunity to pop in and say hi on the way back to the UK. It's snowing in the UK at the moment, so there is another reason not to fly straight home!
It's hot hot hot here....regularly 35-37 degrees and most of the time is spent trying to find air conditioning. Even though the homestay where we are living is basic, it has air con, so as far as I am concerned, that's all that counts!
It has been so lovely seeing Goody and then things got even better when SV Luna said they could also come to Penang on the way back to Thailand. They are on a pretty exciting overland adventure for the second half of their overland trip. But then, they've sold their boat! Trekking in Nepal, yoga in India and the trans-Siberian railway feature in their trip home. Jealous!
So, 8 kids and 5 adults trooped to Langkawi, an island resort for a reunion of nostalgia and rest before we all go our separate ways again.....until the next time...South Africa?? Denmark?? Australia?? Funnily enough, Scotland didn't come up in potential reunion venues in the future....I'll have to work on that!
It was so lovely to see everyone again, though I realised that my British parenting style seems so uptight compared to the Danish and South African equivalent. This is probably reflected in my kids reluctance to try new things or be quite as adventurous as the others. At times I was frustrated by their keenness to bury their heads in their books; something I've been pleased about in the past, rather than just go off and play. But, whilst Lochy will always be Lochy (those of you who know him know what I mean by that) I did see some progress in his ability to socialise with the others. Having said that, it was probably more to do with the other kids' tolerance of him rather than him being any better. Ah, the joys of being a parent!
Anyway, fun on the beach, warm warm sea, Emil's birthday celebration, fun on the banana boat and delicious food with good friends all rated highly in Langkawi. Now we are back in Penang and trying to work out just how cold it is back in the UK so we can get the right combination of clothes in our hand luggage. Somehow, I don't think flip flops will be enough?