Elaine, on the other hand, enjoyed a lovely long chat to Maria off Cattiva, by which time Roy had returned. After breakfast, donning our swimsuits, we set off to Coco’s Pool & Café to enjoy a lazy day at the pool. There was just one tiny, insignificant, little detail; due to the continuing increase of COVID-19 cases in Thailand, further lockdown measures had come into effect, which, you guessed it, included all public swimming pools being closed. At this stage we’ve given up on trying to enjoy a swim altogether, anywhere!
Shortly thereafter, a message arrived from our agent, informing us that no one can get into Phuket Province now without being fully vaccinated or having a negative PCR test, so it seems a decision has been made for us; we won’t be leaving Phuket Island and the immediate surroundings once we’re splashed, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, since, yesterday, announcements were also made confirming that everyone on Phuket Island, including all foreigners, will be vaccinated before 1st July 2021, so that this tourist destination can be opened up to fully vaccinated travellers.
We also enjoyed a nice long chat to Keenan again who was still in Atlanta for his training, although the family had returned home to Arizona.
Other activities have included morning walks through the residential neighbourhood of the Boat Lagoon Resort and Marina, enjoying all the spring flowers in bloom, which is a kaleidoscope of colour and it has been interesting to see the array of huge homes nestled behind all the tropical vegetation. After our walk yesterday, we stopped for a cooked breakfast at the Hardstand Café and then Elaine continued her efforts on our latest video, “Magnolious Malaysia - Our Unexpected Return to Penang Island”, which she eventually completed today and which completed the Malaysian series. With time to spare, she uploaded all the videos she’s created these past few weeks. Enjoy!
Yesterday afternoon Roy returned to Paw Paw again to check on progress, to discover two very clean and sanded saildrives and propellers, gelcoat work progressing on the topsides and the sealant removed from all the keel bolts, ready to be replaced. The workmen are definitely no slouches! On his return walk, however, he noticed most of the restaurants in the complex were closed and no one was serving alcohol; it was strictly takeaways only. Regardless, reading about the latest COVID-19 situation in Malaysia, with cases increasing dramatically, ICU beds at capacity, field hospitals having to be built and, in some areas, shipping containers being converted into hospital wards, as more cases of the South African and Indian variants have been detected, being in Thailand is proving to be the better option after all, even if we’re back in lockdown.
This morning, after Roy had enjoyed a video call with the grandsons earlier, when Elaine surfaced, it was her turn, specifically to wish William a very Happy Birthday, following a video we’d sent him of us singing Happy Birthday to him. Having Brayden ask if we could send him a video too, was just the cutest, but having William thank us for his video, but misunderstanding our birthday message and thinking we were going to be at his birthday party, was heartbreaking, especially seeing the disappointment and sadness written all over his little face, when we explained that we were still “locked up”. It didn’t preclude him from responding, though, with: “Grandma, I love you”, which had Elaine doing everything in her power not to crumble into a heap of tears. The rainy day, reflected the tears she wanted to shed, nonetheless!
Of course, having a rainy day when Paw Paw was ready to have the antifouling applied was not what we wanted and just so typical! We’ve had sweltering heat and sunny skies for weeks and now when we need it, we get rain instead.
Another perusal of Paw Paw this evening indicated that the gelcoat repairs had continued, but, unfortunately, rain had prevented anything else from progressing.
To break up our day, we returned to the Hardstand Café to enjoy their special as a midday “dinner”; a Thai lamb curry. Delicious!
Our day was wrapped up with a nice long chat to Elaine’s folks in Ireland.
It’s fair to say, however, that dealing with this pandemic and the endless lockdowns is hard enough on a day to day basis, but on special days like today, being William’s birthday, it is difficult to hold back the tears, especially when it’s been 2 1/2 years since Elaine last hugged and kissed him and this is the second birthday that has come and gone without us being with him to celebrate. Worst of all, we have absolutely no idea how many more years will pass before we can see our loved ones again.
Happy Birthday sweetheart. Grandma and Grandpa love and miss you loads!
