Crew quorum

Barry and I ‘took a turn into town’ and it is quite clear that Bermuda is a really lovely, organised destination – or so it would seem from our current experience of St. George’s island. The town of St. George was originally the capital before it was transferred to Hamilton and it dates back to the early 18^th century. History abounds and it is a World Heritage Site with a museum to support this accolade.

An interesting feature of the island is white roofs on seemingly every building. These are apparently made of limestone with a cement serving over the top. They all have ridges to divert rainwater into underground tanks as there are no springs and this rainwater harvesting is very important to the community.

Taking a break from the culture, we took a beer in the Wahoo Bistro and bumped into Richard and his crew from Thursday’s Child. I had met Richard in Nanny Cay while swimming and such is the nature of the ARC, you keep bumping into people and enjoying a ‘yachty yarn’.

We happened to be in the main square when there was a re-enactment of the punishment of a nagging wife in a ducking stool and entertaining it was too with the dialogue leaving the audience in no doubt that she thoroughly deserved it! (Postscript: Having eulogised about Bermuda when I returned home, I ended up taking a subsequent holiday with Paula in 2022. Visiting St. George, I asked about the ‘Ducking Stool Show’ to be told it had been discontinued, presumably as a result of PC pressure!)

We have booked scooters for the three of us tomorrow so we hope to explore the other Islands which are linked by a causeway.

Ollie arrived to us enjoying a BBQ on the adjacent yacht and he has been press ganged into making his first blog contribution:-

Ollie writes:

Hello one and all.

It’s a real honour to be invited to contribute to this blog.

Over the last eighteen months, I understand Dad’s readership has swelled to literally tens of people.

I arrived yesterday evening, and had barely got my flip-flops off before being ushered to the adjacent yacht for a barbecue.

A barbecue that’s built into the stern, don’t you know, don’t you know. Because the yacht next door, Pure Elegance, is a 56ft luxury giant.

There I sat, Red Stripe beer in hand, and listened to a joint account of the last few days.

I’m particularly sad I missed the dunking of the nagging wife. (see above)

Sounds like a delightful and amusing homage to domestic violence.

Anyway the food was delicious, and the company was even better.

What’s more, we discovered several scary coincidences with the crew of Pure Elegance.

Not only do the yacht’s owners, Graham and Linda, live two streets away from where Barry lived until recently; but their friend Kim used to work with my auntie Lynn at Air Canada; and their son Matt is mates with my girlfriend’s best friend Mitch.

Thus ensued lots of sentences like ‘Crikey it’s a small world isn’t it!’

Good night’s sleep, and this morning I’ve been getting the low-down on the yacht, which seems in great shape.

The plan this afternoon is to hire mopeds and explore the island.

That’s before tonight’s debauchery at the ARC prize-giving dinner.

I’ll report back tomorrow, hopefully after I’ve scraped the vomit off my new Hejira polo shirt.

Ollie