After a long waiting time for us, finally a visiting vet came to the vet-less clinic in Honiara and we used the chance to take Smurfy for a vaccination boost AND to have him neutered. People were assuring us that he’ll be tamer without testosterone in his system, but I have my doubts as he was more aggressive as a kitten than he’s now as… Continue reading »
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2025
31
Jul
2025
30
Jul
Tsunami warning last night
Ever since we set out sailing we’ve relied on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for weather info and warnings. But NOAA data and warnings on storms, earthquakes, climate, etc. are not just important for sailors, but for everyone around the world. That’s why the orange administration thought it was a great idea to cut their staff and budget brutally down. Yesterday there was… Continue reading »
2025
25
Jul
Birds in the Solomons
We don’t see many sea birds here, but when anchored close to shore the chorus of birds consists of an amazing array of different voices! The most raucous and visible are the groups of white cockatoos that flit from tree to tree and always seem to have something to quarrel or chat about. We hear lots of different warblers and pigeons, but they mostly remain… Continue reading »
2025
23
Jul
Sewing projects
While I was in hospital with the staph infection Smurfy gave me (okay, indirectly as the bacteria entered the blood through a Smurfy scratch) he thought it was a cool idea to pee on my bed, so Christian (who was overwhelmed by the boathold already) spent a day washing sheets and pillows. Fortunately the mattress cover was due to be replaced anyway–we had bought the… Continue reading »
2025
20
Jul
Back home!
Still standing! Battered, swollen, but happy to be back home and out of the dirty harbour of Honiara. 1 week since the surgery to clean out an abscess on my kneecap after a staph infection from a little scratch on my ankle… 6 more days, then we can get the stitches out and I’m allowed to dip into the Pacific!
2025
14
Jul
Bacterial Infection
The western Pacific islands are notorious for bacterial infections. Despite constant disinfecting one of my many Smurfy scratches got infected while we were working at Simon’s Nature Reserve. A nasty bug got into my bloodstream, chills, fever and then my knee spontaneously went melonsized. A day later (July 2) we went back to Honiara, antibiotics IV at BS Medical, ultrasound at Frontier radiology–thanks to all… Continue reading »