Ode to the bitter side of paradise

"not all that glitters is gold"
From the start, our adventure was bereft with difficulty, positive thought, stubborn determination and a drive to make a success motivated us beyond the nagging disappointments. "it will only get better" we told each other. Our journey to the spice island was in full swing there was no turning back.
Believing we had a supportive base of friends we delegated a certain number of  important tasks to certain close members of our "tribe". This turned out to be an epic fail and left us close on a $1000US out of pocket.  In this part of the world a $1000 is not such a large sum, coming from a country with a poor exchange rate it is another story. So we take it in our stride, all we got to do is work harder and live smarter.
Taking the road less travelled allowed us to explore and wet our appetite, it has also made it harder to renew visas and move easy between islands, why? Well the immigration wants to know that you can leave. In other words you need a flight off an island or be signed on a boat that is leaving. It's not the end of the world it just makes it a little more complicated.
We have been in paradise for 3 months now, 90 odd days and all though we have done no sailing it has not been plain sailing. Our first port of call and the reason we were here in the first place turned out to be a test of patience and confinement. A clash of personalities and underhand dealings left us stranded on a deserted island, "literally". Thanks to positive thought and stubborn determination we were rescued by an unlikely couple and offered refuge on a spectacular Yatch. It seemed the wind was in our favour and the sailing was to get better. This however was not to last and within a short time we were stuck in the middle of a crazed ranting and raving individual, who's only thought or priority was with one self, regardless of the circumstances and so we quietly carried on doing what we do, being mindful that we have a 4 year old. And all this is a very new experience for him.
For every high there is a low and for every low there must be a high, I am not sure if they work in such an order and I would like to surmise, that they don't. At times it feels like the deck is loaded and not loaded in our favour. However we carry on regardless.
The heat is all encompassing, we live on a strict budget, having a shower is a gift and being able to charge our Blackberry so we can inter act with the outside world has the same value as one puts into owning a car.

We eventually organise our own boat! Our own space, shoo! our own silence, Priceless!
Again the winds of change and it feels like the current has changed as well. Wooohoo were making headway. Haha of course it doesn't last, we don't have water, we don't have power and we have no money but we have extended our time in Grenada so all is good? We no longer have a dingy and now need to paddle a kayak every were. No problem its a great way to keep fit, not the best place to load your weekly shopping especially when the winds have picked up. Collecting water in a kayak is also a challenge especially when its an hours paddle and you can only transport so many liters at a time. No problem we are determined I am an African, piece of cake. HAHA the first week was Ok the second week not so OK! every day is a mission now, our comfort levels are directly related to our energy levels. Simple things we take for granted have now become important survival issues. Water is rationed, food is rationed, hell even the light at night is rationed.

The sand flies and mosquito's continually attack, Toni and Joshua are covered in bites and heat rash and spend there time scratching. This 32 degree heat during the day and 27 degrees at night saps your resolve, daily the motivation ebbs away, we sleep in the cockpit at night because its to hot in the cabin, but lately it drizzle on and off, so we wake in the morning like Zombies, sleep deprivation added to this list of never ending survival all takes its toll. It is difficult to remain positive when not even your neighbours wish to interact with you.

There are highs and lows in every journey, we have had some awesome times but for the most part we have worked really hard for every thing and the last 3 weeks have been a serious test of character for all of us. But we have survived. So hold onto your seats there is more to come. Eyes up!