You know it's been a GREAT day when...

...your most noticable tan lines are the laugh lines on your face(not unlike the all too common racoon tan)!

Soo it is yet again time for my (monthly) blog update.

They say time flies when you are having fun, I can't believe that it is only 1 more week until my SA holiday!

With the yacht being back in the yard, we are finally in one place for a fairly extended period of time. Summer has come to an end and everyone(a huge percentage of them SAFAS) are returning to Fort Lauderdale. With the boat show and Halloween next week everyone is in full swing.

We are currently recarpeting the boat. The yacht looks like a cross between a crime scene and a smurfs tea party. Last week Lindsay and I covered the entire interior of the boat with blue-diamond(a protective plastic covering). No one can live onboard for the time being, so Tiem, Dave, Fish and I have moved into a house just a few blocks from the yard. It is such a treat to have my own room and a massive bed so I can starfish to my hearts content!

I recently spent a weekend in Miami visiting a friend I haven't seen in months. My time in Miami consisted of days of lazing on South Beach, and evenings in some of the most exclusive clubs in Florida. My last day in Miami I went to a regatta. Basically what this means is hundreds of boats head out to a sandbank anchor off and tie up to one another, and you can swim and walk from boat to boat. Everyone jams out their music and the beers are cold and endless. Needless to say the next week was spent recovering from too much sun and too many late nights.

The following weekend a bunch of us stinky SAFAS rented a car and drove up to Sebastian for the weekend. We spent a super mellow day hanging out at the airport where we later proceded to jump 13500ft out of an aeroplane. Experience of a life-time, but never ever again! I was so frightened that I felt like I was going to throw up! I don't think Mark, my tandem partner, would have been to pleased.

This weekend began on Thursday, with a Chandlers Pre-boat show party at the local pub Waxy's.

Friday night we rented a black Hummer limo. We started the night off with oversized(aka american sized) margarittas at the beach front, then onto Downtown for some live music, and ended off at a techno dance club and some gambling at the Hardrock Casino-what a night-thanks Linds for organising!

I was in retail heaven on Saturday. Tiem and I drove out to Sawgrass Mill Mall, which is like Access Park on steroids! Some of the outlet stores included Gap, Lacoste, Guess, Michael Kors, Tommy Hilfigure, The Body Shop...I could have spent three days there had it not been for a phonecall from a friend saying a couple people were heaeded out the the Florida Keys for 2days. The conditions there are not unlike Shark Bay Langebaan. A narrow beach stacked with kites and calm shallow warm water. The wind was steady and fairly light, so perfect for me to get a lesson in. By the end of the day I was up on the board and tacking up and down the beach for a solid 25min. It gave me more of a rush than skydiving.

Back at the house now and feeling sunkissed and sleepy. It has been such a great weekend, and I'm greatfull that the time is nearing for home.

See you all SOON :)

What goes up...must come down!

Today, October 2nd 2010, marks the first day of the LAST trip of the season, and most importantly one month until my arrival at Cape Town International Airport:)

I am happy to report that I am feeling alot more positive since my previous entry. Every day I am learning and growing and am better able to take on new challenges.

After an extremely busy, and exciting, season in New England, we are back in Florida.
We had a fairly challenging trip, dancing with the hurricanes, on our way back down the coast. We embraced every day (and every huge swell) with brave faces as we slowly but steadily made our way back to Florida, knowing that with each mile we were all nearer to "home".
At times we had to duck off into docks away from the rough seas which further delayed our journey-this proved to be a blessing in disguise, as we were fortunate enough to spend a few days in Savanah Georgia where I delighted in all the antique shops, beautiful weepy trees hanging over the side walks and cobble stone streets. Of all the cities I have seen over the past 8months Boston and Savannah are closest to my heart, and I hope to return there someday.

On September 24th we reached our final dock at Bocca Raton, Florida. We arrived in the rain- everyones children and wives were on the dock to welcome them home - I suddenly felt a little less excited, and I little more lonely.
What better cure than spending the weekend in Fort Lauderdale(the town where I started my journey in March) with a bunch of South Africans....so that is exactly what I did!
It is amazing how a combination of good company, biltong and retail therapy can soothe the soul! Thanks Lindsey, Kylie, Pat and Breeny for a great weekend, and welcoming me into your home.

After a great weekend in Lauderdale I returned to Moonraker and we all set out in full force to get the boat in supreme condition for the bosses arrival at 2pm on Saturday....well today is Saturday... and it is 6.30pm now, and no one has been able to contact the boss man, and we are all somewhat concerned???

That aside, we are all excited for the upcoming "yard time" where we will be "dry docked" for 6weeks. We will be replacing carpets, and having other work done on board. Our girl is a little tired after the long season and is in need of some TLC.
During this time, we will be staying in a cute house in Lauderdale. This will be great as I will be closer to friends (currently it is a $150 cab ride to from Bocca to Fort Lauderdale-ouchie!).

With all that said, there is much to look forward to in the near future...top of the list being my visit home in November. I often see names of restaurants, eat foods or have experiences which trigger memories of home, and bring to mind family and friends, and each night when I monkey climb up into my bunk and look at your faces collaged on my wall I am at peace and know that no matter how lonely I feel at times I am never ever truly alone.

See ya soon amigos!

Love love love X