RMS schedule creates problems

I was supposed to go visit a friend this morning at Knollcombes, but I had to reschedule for Thursday so Nick could take the car in for fixing. We now have a courtesy car, a Ford, I think. Quite a nice looking one, much smarter than the golf we’ve been rattling around in! I haven’t been for a drive in it yet, but I’m sure I will soon. I walked to town this morning with both boys, because I wanted to get some ingredients for some kiddie-baking – I bought sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, bran, oats and smarties (for choc-chip biscuits). We made sesame-snaps when we got home, but they seem to be sticking in the baking tray. I used syrup instead of honey and I think that has affected them. I’m sure the boys will like them though. I also bought two very nice baking trays, one a rectangle and the other a pizza tray with holes in the bottom to allow the base to crisp. Unfortunately the baking tray is too big for the oven.

We heard on the news yesterday that the RMS St Helena schedule for the year is creating difficulties for us islanders. The ship has just arrived at Tristan da Cunha, which was quite a long voyage, and gets back here on 1 March, after six weeks away, bringing with it much needed supplies (milk, onions, you know…) Then it goes up to the UK, and only arrives back from SA, our main supplier, on 2 May. That means that even when it comes on 1 March, it probably won’t bring enough supplies to last until 2 May, since it has to make up the gaps in the current shortages. It does get some stocks from the UK, but not the bulk of it. Whoever did the planning must have been having a bad day.

Nick’s just returned from a swim. Maybe I can persuade him to take us for a drive in the fancy car, before I have to get home and prepare supper (tuna again, yummy).

[Insert a few hours here – now it’s 17h47]

We couldn’t go for a drive together because it was getting a bit late, and if we had gone into the country it would have meant coming back down either via Side Path or Ladder Hill, both of which would have had the rush-hour traffic coming up (that means there would have been about 15 cars on the road at any given time instead of the usual 5, but slows things down terribly). Instead, I nipped out to Spar on my own to get an ingredient for supper, which was a delicious tuna salad. The car is a Ford Escort, probably 2000 or 2001 or so, has power steering, a seat that adjusts easily so I can reach the pedals, and a radio. Sheer luxury, I tell you.