Racing, getting lost, unkingly behaviour, pigs and stolen kisses

Helen: (don't know why I bother to write that - Mr P never writes the blog! Actually, I'm beginning to think no-one even reads it - no comments for weeks and weeks and weeks :( is there anyone out there?)

Still in Tonga - but things have taken a turn for the better. We were disheartened by staying in a not-very-nice hostel (soft bed = back ache, lots of clutter, greasy breakfast & overbearing host) and having not very much to do (there's only so much reading/sewing/watching bad movies that a person can stand) - basically it sucked being somewhere where the main attraction is sailing to remote anchorages when you don't have a boat. But...we met a friendly American chap over coffee a few days ago and he took us sailing to a small island with him for a few days. Great fun (apart from getting hopelessly lost - all the small, green islands begin to look the same after a while and the electronic chart is no use - it usually has us sailing over the land...)

Actually, both C and I breathed a sigh of relief when we stepped back on a boat - it felt so much more homely than the hostel - maybe we have turned into salty sea dogs after all! We even went racing with Wayne on Friday - he has a racing boat and is rather competitive (we had been warned by other cruisers about this...) so we were a little nervous - he is, after all, a single hander, so not used to having 15 people on his boat - but, all worries were unnecessary - we had a wonderful sail and a photo finish - we were pipped to the post at the final whistle (but would have won on handicap...) Turns out yacht racing is pretty much the same deal as dinghy racing - lots of shouting at other boats, constant except there are a lot more people involved, including several who are 'rail meat' (in other words, balast)

And the other good thing that's happened in the last couple of days is that we're going to Fiji after all. Didn't think we were going to make it, but our skipper changed his mind - turns out he's had enough of Tonga too. This place is actually pretty depressing. Can't remember if I told you or not, but they crowned a new king a couple of months ago (can still see all the bunting and signs on the streets) - they nearly bankrupted the county with the celebrations...but he lives in London and doesn't really like coming back here. Apparently, when he turned up at the more northern (remote and poor) island group, the islanders put on a huge show for him...and he sent a representative instead because he couldn't be bothered to go. And when he did show up he was in a tracksuit instead of his ceremonial robes. Hmmmm.

We do like the pigs though - they are everywhere and very very cute, especially the really small ones. There aren't too many feral cats and dogs though, not like other places we've been - one of the other yachties we met this week is a vet and she's travelled through the Pacific treating people's animals - mostly neutering/spaying cats and dogs and treating for toxicity and worms. Very necessary job and it means she gets to meet the locals.

Right, time to go - have hired scooters - I've already fallen off once and stubbed my toe and we only drove round the corner (that was the problem in fact - straight lines are ok - corners are more tricky!)

Looking forward to getting to Fiji
H&Cxx

PS Forgot to tell you about the crazy social rules here - Tonga is v religious (surprise surprise - the Missionaries have a lot to answer for!) so people wear long shorts/skirts and tops that cover their shoulders (I only have 3 of those!) and you're not even supposed to hold hands in the street. C and I steal a quick kiss when we think no-ones looking!!