As the jet lag eases we are like a pair of kids on Christmas morning, re-united with our haul of newly collected belongings. I find Adrian sitting several feet away from the desk so he can see the panoramic view on his new screen.
I consult the dictionary (and Dewi) before dragging him "outside" in search of ragi and tepung terigu. The corner shop has run out so we dust off Mike to get to the Suki shop. Success. But now there is a rumble in the air and the clouds are welling up. This means the chances of a straight 6 hours of electricity are slim. I'll have to wait :(
So plant the second lot of courgettes seeds and back to unpacking. Chris comes in halfway through and starts eyeing the two brimming toolboxes and my saucepans.
We have an easy first couple of days back as Chris has sent all our divers to Menjangan Island. Just need to catch up with what's been happening and what's planned.
At last the weather looks kind enough to get baking. Quick check in the spec that it's not going to blow the circuit - thank goodness only 550 watts, we're safe. Mmmmm, the smell... The most perfect crusty french loaf ready in time for the barbecue feast at Chris's tonight. We have his old mate Michael visiting from LA, he hasn't lived here for fifteen years but remembers only too well about the cravings. He has brought chocolate, pickles and 6 varieties of cheddar cheese plus Chris magics up lamb chops and sausages.
Round 2 of the courgettes sprout to 4 inches and die - suspect sabotage as Nengah shows me picture of his thriving crop of "like labu" from the 5 seeds he snaffled from me during round one.
Chris disappears for a couple of days to Denpasar and comes back with the perfect safe for us - plainly we still have a lot to learn about where to shop. Not sure if it was a good idea for us to set the code after downing several Storm Bronze ales.
The souvenirs arrive (isn't internet shopping great) and all we have to do now is find lighter fuel for the 20 Union-Jack clad zippos before we hand them out.
My laptop is restored to health with a new battery - hooray. But think it's been sitting under the leak in the roof so the < >, < >, < >, and < > keys no longer work - boo. (sympathy with my sister here) Adrian kindly gives me the ASCII codes instead which is great except I still need the < > key to make them work.
Saturday 24 April 2010
Sunday 11 April 2010
Wakey-Wakey!
Amanda's telephone serves as a perfectly good alarm clock as long as it is adjusted for local time. It was - local being Bali- unfortunately we are still in the UK. We are awakened by "SHOULDN'T YOU HAVE GONE??!!"
It's 7am and we were meant to have been at Neils for 6am. You've seen Four Weddings & A Funeral. Remember the opening scene... I don't think Ulric was too impressed at the language of his little girl.
Traffic is kind as we get to LHR terminal 3 still in perfectly good time for check-in. Only Malaysian Airlines have recently moved to T4... B*****ks (you may remember a sketch on the Fast Show where the family, laden with luggage, chase the dad who's shouting at them to keep up - that's us). T4 is remarkably quiet and there are no queues for check-in but the nice Italian chap on the desk assures us we are in the right place and waves our luggage onto the conveyor without batting an eyelid, even says my monitor will be ok as hand luggage. The breadmaker has to go through a "special" channel and we wonder if we'll ever see it again. Say bye to Neil (who's been brilliant) and head for passport control.
Once through there's just enough time for a decent cup of coffee before boarding. The Air Malaysia cabin crew do a lovely job of re-arranging the whole plane so Amanda and I can have the row to ourselves. For those less-seasoned travellers there is a video screen on the back of each seat and a handset that allows you to select one of 250 films, television shows & radio channels - enough entertainment you might think but it usually takes me 6 hours to choose, get 10 minutes into a film & decide I don't like it have a nap and start a really good film which ends about 10 minutes after we land.
Kuala Lumpur Airport. Just enough time for a coffee before I drag myself (and my monitor) back to the departure lounge. KL to Bali uneventful, lots of children but all well behaved. Land, sail through Immigration (thanks to the helpful mrs Ketut who looks after all our travel documents), collect our luggage and head for the green channel...
Customs want to see the breadmaker which we duly unwrap. Chap peers in the box, scratches chin and waits 30s before saying "ok". His eyes wander to my monitor and he decides we must pay import duty on it. Amanda "puppy-dog" Spencer feigns tears and comes up with such an unbelievable story that the guy also breaks down and helps us carry all the luggage out of the airport... I'm trying so hard to keep a straight face that I let out a small fart. Outside into the sun and find the smiling face of Mr Ketut who says we have enough time to go shopping in town before heading back.
We need a safe; the one at Makro is 4 times the size we need & 4 times the price so we try Carrefour. They have 10 models to choose from, some the right size and price but all look like they've been broken into not one in stock. Downhearted we head to the Dive shop. Here, at least, there is something we can buy - a new dive computer to replace Amanda's dead one. A sense of well-being comes over us as she hands over the readies.
Arrive at Reef Seen after short stop in Seririt to order some horse feed. Spend the first day re-arranging our room to cope with all the new goodies we brought back. The refurbishment of our cabin cruiser is complete and looks great, it's shakedown run throws up a small problem with the thrap flange bracket but is easily fixed by the insertion of a three eighths gripley.
It's 7am and we were meant to have been at Neils for 6am. You've seen Four Weddings & A Funeral. Remember the opening scene... I don't think Ulric was too impressed at the language of his little girl.
Traffic is kind as we get to LHR terminal 3 still in perfectly good time for check-in. Only Malaysian Airlines have recently moved to T4... B*****ks (you may remember a sketch on the Fast Show where the family, laden with luggage, chase the dad who's shouting at them to keep up - that's us). T4 is remarkably quiet and there are no queues for check-in but the nice Italian chap on the desk assures us we are in the right place and waves our luggage onto the conveyor without batting an eyelid, even says my monitor will be ok as hand luggage. The breadmaker has to go through a "special" channel and we wonder if we'll ever see it again. Say bye to Neil (who's been brilliant) and head for passport control.
Once through there's just enough time for a decent cup of coffee before boarding. The Air Malaysia cabin crew do a lovely job of re-arranging the whole plane so Amanda and I can have the row to ourselves. For those less-seasoned travellers there is a video screen on the back of each seat and a handset that allows you to select one of 250 films, television shows & radio channels - enough entertainment you might think but it usually takes me 6 hours to choose, get 10 minutes into a film & decide I don't like it have a nap and start a really good film which ends about 10 minutes after we land.
Kuala Lumpur Airport. Just enough time for a coffee before I drag myself (and my monitor) back to the departure lounge. KL to Bali uneventful, lots of children but all well behaved. Land, sail through Immigration (thanks to the helpful mrs Ketut who looks after all our travel documents), collect our luggage and head for the green channel...
Customs want to see the breadmaker which we duly unwrap. Chap peers in the box, scratches chin and waits 30s before saying "ok". His eyes wander to my monitor and he decides we must pay import duty on it. Amanda "puppy-dog" Spencer feigns tears and comes up with such an unbelievable story that the guy also breaks down and helps us carry all the luggage out of the airport... I'm trying so hard to keep a straight face that I let out a small fart. Outside into the sun and find the smiling face of Mr Ketut who says we have enough time to go shopping in town before heading back.
We need a safe; the one at Makro is 4 times the size we need & 4 times the price so we try Carrefour. They have 10 models to choose from, some the right size and price but all look like they've been broken into not one in stock. Downhearted we head to the Dive shop. Here, at least, there is something we can buy - a new dive computer to replace Amanda's dead one. A sense of well-being comes over us as she hands over the readies.
Arrive at Reef Seen after short stop in Seririt to order some horse feed. Spend the first day re-arranging our room to cope with all the new goodies we brought back. The refurbishment of our cabin cruiser is complete and looks great, it's shakedown run throws up a small problem with the thrap flange bracket but is easily fixed by the insertion of a three eighths gripley.
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