My days consisted of waking up at 6am with the sun in my eyes and drenched in sweat as I was cooking on the deck in the heat. I would put a thin sheet over my eyes, take off the quilt and then sleep for another hour or 2 if I was lucky. I would wake up to a cup of tea beside me. Fred took good care of me and always joked he'd make a fantastic house wife. I always appreciated the teas in Fred's as did the other boatys who made a regular appearance each morning. Mark was the regular. Fred said it was because he had a really good water filter systum on his boat, better than most boats, so the teas and coffees always tasted better. It's also becuase boatys have an awesome community and they made sure Fred wasn't lonely and the couch surfer (me) was given the heads up on Fred. Chili told me he can be a bit touchy feely and they've all told him how inappropriate it is but he doesn't think it's an issue even though he's had a previous complaint. Now, I liked Fred. He had a big heart, which chili also said and hes totally harmless, at this point I felt like she was talking about Fred as though he was a grenade or something... apparently all I needed to do was blink at him if I had an issue and he'd back off.
Work was going really well, it was really busy and I was loving it, it paid well and Fred would pick me up on shore each evening in his dingy and take me
Back to the boat. I was concerned at one point at how long he'd stay on the island for as boatys tend to move around but he explained he had a girl stay with him for 3
Months. she was working on the island also. so I felt secure, which is a rarity when your traveling solo!
Once we arrived back after my shifts Fred would have freshly caught fish and vegetables ready and that would be our evening meals.
The days meals consisted of chocolate. Lots of chocolate. Unless one of us was hungry, usually me, then I'd make rice noodles on the stove and stir in some sauce or eat rice crackers and fruit and climb to the top of the boat with my meal and enjoy the view and the slow rythem of the rocking of the boat. I'd See if I could spot a turtle or two. I'd sit and appreciate the breeze, where I was In the world, how lucky I was, how beautiful this place was and how it's a shame most backpackers only stay a short time on the island. To me it was a second home, a paradise. And although I could have some big long chats with Fred and I could take the piss out of him and we could have a laugh together, sometims j did just relish those quiet moments to myself as it was otherwise difficult to have that in the confined space that was Fred's boat.
Fred also had a hammock Which was amazing as the breeze was the best here and the rocking of the boat would cause it to swing. It was like being rocked in a cradle. Sea sickness would have been an issue for anyone else but I loved it. So relaxing. Fred would also keep bringing the teas too so I rarely had to lift a finger. I was so incredibly lucky to have met Fred and for him to have put me up for the length of time he did.
My first morning I remember he did all of my washing and hung it out to dry. This included all of my underwear on show for all the Boatys to see. Brilliant, that and some strange man (Fred) with the best intentions and a kind heart, felt up some of my intimate belongings... Not the best morning but I slowly realised Fred is completely oblivious to knowing what is socially acceptable and what isnt.
we were kind of lazy in the maintenance of the cleaning. I offered to hoover once but it didn't come to anything, instead Fred told me there was fungus growing from the carpet from lack of cleaning. Made me laugh. He was so laid back, so different to what I was used to back home. The kitchen area was cleaned at the end of the day and Fred would be on top of the general wear and tear of things on the boat on the odd days he felt it was really necessary or maybe when he was bored. Apparently cockles start forming on the bottom of the boat and weigh it down so you use up more fuel traveling. Fred said he'd get down there with a snorkel kit and do it all, rather than get it on land and have it done professionally (far too costly). As the days passed I got to Know some more of the errands that needed to be done to maintain life on the
Boat. Considering half of the boatys were retired or semi retired it seemed to be quite a tiring task to keep up the lifestyle, but then again from
Experience, the secret to longevity is to always keep going, no matter what ailment or how tired, just keep
Going. So I guess it works. Even chili managed to keep it all going when she broke her leg and her toilet was down the ladder. True independent woman! then I saw lochy, another boaty with almost a full leg cast and he managed to keep going.
One day mark offered to teach me How to use the dingy since I was Going to be around for a
While and every morning he came I would use his dingy and fail to park it along side Fred's boat so they usually had to pull me in and rescue me.
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