Calypso gets a new look

We may well have been stuck in Suva for a lot longer than anticipated but just look what we’ve managed to do.  Paul has completed a myriad of outstanding little projects as well as a few great big ones and Calypso is wearing new clothes.   I’m sure I’ve said it before but we had the most practical saloon cushions in the form of black leather but who says practical is paramount.  I’ve never been happy with them from the day we bought the boat but had to admit that they were very sensible.  Black doesn’t show the dirt and leather can be wiped down and polished up, but oh how I craved for something more attractive. 

 

 

Well, we now have it.  We found some great faux suede in Suva and an excellent guy to do the upholstery at an incredibly reasonable price so things have improved dramatically.  It’s much brighter and more homely and makes it look so much spaceier internally.   

With the old leather, we could never get throw cushions to stay put but now we can so I’ve probably gone overboard a bit but, wow, it just looks so nice.  I had help in designing the last two from Sylvie, a keen quilter, so a bit of artistry was brought in as well.   

Now I just have to figure out how to keep it looking good and away from wet, sweaty, salty bodies.

While I’ve been sewing everything I could think of, Paul has been working non-stop on general and preventative maintenance so things are looking quite spiffy at the moment.  Let’s just hope they stay that way.

 Paul also managed to get his visa for New Caledonia, something that should have been a simple process but….. well, of course there are always spanners thrown into the works somewhere along the line.  In order for him to apply for the visa, he had to prove that he had medical coverage which we don’t.  The solution would then be to just get some temporary insurance.  Simple?  No!  He’s past the age to find this easily and after contacting literally dozens and dozens of insurance outfits, he was turned down one after the other.  Either he was too old, or they only covered Fijian citizens, or they only covered those travelling by plane or, or, or, and so it went on.  Well, finally luck was with us and he found a firm on internet who quite happily gave him coverage and the French Embassy quite happily accepted it so now it’s all systems go.

We hope to leave here after fueling up and head to one of the smaller islands with clear waters so that we can scrape the bottom.  We’ll then move on to the west of Viti Levu and check out at Levuka before setting sail for New Caledonia.

In all the time we’ve been here, we’ve been hoping that Peter on Troutbridge finally gets his boat put back together so that he can travel alongside.  After his accident, he needs to know that his boat is going to be seaworthy and, as he’s now going to be single-handing, he obviously would like a bit of security in the form of some company for the first while.  At this stage, we really don’t know if this is all going to be possible as he’s still got a few major issues to sort out but, unfortunately, we can’t stay on forever.  We, too, have to move on with the start of the cyclone season.  We’ll see what tomorrow brings and hope that he has some positive news so that he can move on too.

We possibly didn’t make the most of touring Fiji this time around but we’ve enjoyed it all the same and will be sorry to bid it farewell. However, bring on the land of French baguettes, brie cheese and wonderful pâtés!