We assumed we'd be going to Corsica pretty soon so started to get all our stuff into the DMS office so I could pack and Patrick could start to get the boat ready for a winter. As we don't know how long the repair will take we needed to take all we need for the winter as we may not return to Laurin until spring. This meant that as well as clothes for slightly colder weather we also needed to take the basics of schooling materials with us, although having good internet in Corsica meant that we didn't need to take quite so many books. Not sure what we will do for the whole winter but Corsica gives us some breathing space to make plans. Monday 11th.
A phone call to the insurance confirmed that they didn't need us to stay for the surveyor's visit on Thursday so we were all systems go for Corsica ASAP. We contacted brother-in-law Rory to see if he could get us on a flight for Tuesday morning. By now I was absolutely exhausted and sneaked off to have a quiet drink of Coke Zero at the bar! Those of you that know me well also know I was addicted to Coke/Pepsi and that I have hardly drank any at all since January but I don't drink tea or coffee and was in dire need of caffeine!As I was on my way back Patrick appeared to tell me that we were all go for the 9:15am flight.
Thankfully Lynita dropped by just after lunch and offered to take both kids back to her place and entertain them until we went over for dinner later. We now needed to finish packing and complete our last boat job of emptying the holding tank. The holding tank is where our toilet waste goes to be held until we can either dump it out at sea or get it pumped out. Normally before lifting out of the water we would empty this and clean it out, but as we planned on only being out of the water for one day we didn't bother. Now we had to deal with it!!!! Luckily DMS had a big container we could borrow so Patrick donned his protective sunglasses and big gloves to do the cleaning out job.
By 5:30 we were almost packed, the holding tank was done and Matthew had sanded back the hull around the cracks a little more. We took a look but in reality nothing can be done until the surveyor has looked at it. Matthew has booked the travel hoist for Thursday as he also wants to look under the keel.
After well needed showers Lynita turned up to give us a lift to her flat and we relaxed for a pleasant meal of "Volcanos". AJ loved Lynita's bean sauce and I think the meal will be adopted by the Gregory clan. It was a strange goodbye meal as hopefully we should catch up again soon, but it maybe next year in Greece, or even never, although I seriously doubt that. I felt a little guilty as we were getting out of there as we found it too hard to live ashore with the kids, but Lynita is left at Port Napoleon with 2 kids smaller than ours. I know they have an apartment rather than living on the hard like us but Port St Louis is a pretty boring place for kids and this makes life hard work!
Tuesday 12th
After a late night finishing packing, and a 5am alarm call, it was going to be a long day. We were relieved when the taxi arrived on time and there were no delays on the way to the airport.
The kids were very excited about their first flight and were delighted to find a free table football table in departures. After a while it was announced that our 9:15 flight was delayed until 11am. I quickly messaged Laurent who was supposed to be picking us up and he called back, requesting that we call him when we were leaving. We were then told to go the bar and get free drinks with our boarding cards because of the delay. No sooner had I returned, our flight was called and we were leaving at about 10am. I rang Laurent back and we were off.
The plane was tiny and had propellers! This was to be our kids first flight! With hindsight I think what the pilot probably said in French was that the delay was due to high winds and we were going to have a really rough ride, however I didn't really catch this when he said it which is perhaps just as well.
AJ really hates anything new but seemed to be ok about flying. He held my hand during take off but soon settled down. The flight was very short and then we were on the descent which was where it got a bit hairy.... actually a lot hairy, in fact it was the scariest flight I have every been on. I was actually terrified whilst all the time trying to appear calm for AJ who seemed to be taking it all in his stride. Patrick's comment that he thought he was an ex air force pilot was not as reassuring as I think he meant it to be. I was really glad when we landed!
Out into the tiny airport to find Laurent. I knew we had a lot of luggage and despite his comment of "I don't have a truck!" he took it all in his stride. We had a minor disagreement on the best way to fit us all in, he wanted Esmé on my lap but Patrick and I re-arranged things so that at least we all had seatbelts on, however Patrick was left crouching under the rear parcel shelf with an enormous bag on his lap!
If I had thought that the flight was scary, that was nothing compared to the ride to Campomoro. Laurent kept cursing other drivers either calling them "escargot" or saying they drive too fast and that he didn't drive like that any more... he drives safely now, at the same time as tailgating the car in front and then overtaking on a 30kph limit road with no barriers to stop us going down a cliff!
Eventually 90 minutes later we arrive at Jenny and Rory's place. It is beautiful and big. The kids have their own big bedrooms with a terrace outside (with table tennis) and we have a lovely Moroccan themed one with an ensuite and dressing room. Upstairs is a large open plan living area with a large terrace. Funnily enough though, there are no baths so we'll have to wait until Christmas for that luxury!
As there was no food in the house we went out for a pizza lunch and then got bread, butter and jam for tea at the local shop. Kids went for a swim in the sea followed by a game of football with the neighbours kids. All in all a good day and we are extremely thankful for family!
Wednesday 13th
So the first job today was to take the car to Propriano to go food shopping. The kids were so excited to go in the convertible car but unfortunately we couldn't figure out how to get the top down! I refused to drive so Patrick braved the scary roads trying to ignore the screams from AJ in the back saying he was on the wrong side of the road. When we eventually found the Casino supermarket our nerves were fried and I still had a weeks shopping to do. What seemed like about 8 hours later we emerged with a boot full of shopping and braved the return journey... still no open top!
School this afternoon was challenging, neither kid was particularly in the mood but we persevered and I enjoyed that Patrick was free to share the load. Then another swim and an early tea before starting to build the model engine that my good friend Leonie bought me one Christmas. We thought it would be a good family winter project and here is as good a place as any to build it!
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