So – you know the phrase 'you win some, you lose some'? Well, on this trip I definitely came back with a big fat loser's hat on.
It all started off more or less as expected – Nicky & I met the boat fine at Ajaccio, pitched in to help the boys get the boat ship shape for our trip and had one overnight in harbour at Ajaccion to allow them time to dry their bigs & smalls, fresh from the marina laundromat.
And then set off, heading south down Corsica's west coast. All very pretty, lots of huge cliffs and limestone caves. With our first stop being Bonifacio – a stunning inlet harbour, lined with crumbling cliffs and impossibly-perched buildings atop them, surely about to come tumbling down into the sea. Already feeling the delightful effects of 'boat rock' – where you think you are still on the water even when you are walking on land, a rather odd dizzy/swaying sensation.
The weather had finally perked as we left Bonifacio, and a full ball of sun was at last to be seen and felt – nothing better than warming your bones with some fresh Vit D rays. I actually said to Hawksey 'feels like the holiday can really begin now'. Oh dear, famous last words..
As then – a few miles from Corsica, heading to the islands off the north tip of Sardinia, basically in the middle of nowhere – it all went rather horribly wrong.
I headed down the boat stairs towards the kitchen, treading carefully as I always do. Two feet on the top step. Two feet on the next step. Two feet on the third step. And then stepped down all of 8 inches or so from the last step onto the rather shiny floor. Where I could see some ropes dangling – we'd just put up the sails – but did not expect in any way the impending disaster.
I stood on a rope that somehow shot away underneath my foot and I fell very heavily backwards onto the wooden slatted steps. Bashing my right rear rib cage very hard on the step edges as well as the back of my left arm. And let out an unholy scream that really didn't sound like it could be coming from me, but was.
With all manner of thoughts flashing through my head – have I broken my ribs or bruised them badly? Is anything poking through my skin? Am I going to be able to get up? How can I get help? How long is this pain going to last for? Etc etc – but all with the major realisation that the holiday was over before it had begun. And this was going to be my view from the bed in the cabin! As well as sitting up on deck.
To cut a long painful week short, suffice to say I spent the next 5 days sitting very still (as much as you can on a moving boat), knocking back painkillers and waiting to go home. And watching the others heading off for swims and shore walks – good job I packed some paperbacks.. I didn't as much get a toe in the very enticing turquoise Med water all trip.
Not helped further by the boat then getting engine problems – very noxious fumes coming off the not-been-used-for-2-years batteries, so we were stuck on a small island off the north tip of Sardinia – La Madellena – for 3 nights and then couldn't get as close to the airport as planned. That god for Nicky hauling my luggage on the ferry, into the taxi, to the plane and back to home from Gatwick.
Enough said – as you'll see there are some nice photos and the trip itself will be incredible for Hawksey. Endless stunning little bays, small restaurants and time to spend swinging in his hammock in between hours of boat faffing.
I couldn't be more happy to be home. And am now awaiting the results of an X-ray from yesterday. Scrumpy sadly isn't at all well, and I've taken her to the vets twice in 2 days (and twice previously for the same sickness & listlessness complaint, now acute) and she has been admitted. Possible pancreatitis, waiting to hear more today. So the house is pretty quiet – just me and Miss Mojo, much appreciating her furry company. .. x