Wednesday 27 February 2019

Minor change of plans as local hospital is running a special on knees. Cost is two thirds what Jan paid in Singapore and much less than a third of US. Usually the prostheses are made from titanium and high grade plastic, but to save money they use recycled Red Bull cans and Gatorade bottles. Ecologically virtuous and probably just as good. Expect to lose the creaky old unit for shiny new on Monday. Show time is 0600 so can't sleep in and fart around all morning as is our wont. Very inconvenient. Apparently have time for a nap afterward, but understand they'll pester me to get up in the afternoon for sprints. This will likely put any Dancing With the Stars dream on hold for a day or two. Have all weekend to practice being a demanding patient: whingeing, whining, moaning and otherwise creating a total nuisance. Upside is getting really good drugs and forever annoying airport security when we travel.

In other news located a fridge guy who came today, returning tomorrow morning for complete, ultimate, final fix (you can't imagine the soaring confidence). Rigger took vang for repair. Yanmar diesel mechanic now delayed until Tuesday, but may try to come Friday - will call. Broken outhaul winch stripper replaced. Disintegrating cockpit speakers replaced. Physician appointment tomorrow to confirm sufficient fettle to survive operation. Awards party Friday night at Royal Cape YC for solo circumnavigator, double amputee. (You can read about Dustin at https://thesinglehandedsailor.com. Nice guy. Send him beer money if you'd like.) So it's all happening, right here, right now.

Thursday

South Africans use an electrical outlet the size of a small elephant that is found virtually nowhere else on the planet and definitely not on travel adapters. They don't sell adapters here because, duh, the whole country is full of these crazy things already and apparently nobody cares about locals traveling abroad with their appliances thus equipped. Fridge guy's vacuum pump has this plug and even neighboring boats don't have correct socket for an extension cord. Crikey. Finally had to wire different end on male side of cord (had an extra from Darwin because their inadequate shore power plugs would melt every couple of months, requiring replacement), then put back afterward.

Resultant delay meant they finished only sightly before doctor appointment so we were late (doc didn't seem to mind so much, perhaps because we made a payment on his Mercedes), but old oil flushed out was pretty manky and fridge seems now to be cooling its little heart out. Results to be evaluated in the fullness of time.

Rereading all above then allowing the mind to ponder events last several months brings forth a hint that cruising may not be the idyll that may form one's mental image. This is exactly why not everyone is out here doing this silly stuff. There's always an "issue" and everything costs more, takes longer and is more difficult than making a call then popping down to the local for a pint while the world is made right.

But hey, it's all part of the adventure; wouldn't have it any other way.

Jack & Jan