In the sea. In the navy. - dimanche, 10.06.07

dimanche 10.06.07 In the sea. In the navy.

I speak English!

Me too.

Me three.

A group of Dominican’s greet me in this way this morning as I bob about the ocean. They know Kelvin the taxi man in Scot’s Head and promise to pass on compliments from the Irish after their guffaws and thigh slaps subside. It’s always the little jokes which get me and after a super night out and a great doze the banter in the sea they just keep coming. Ossie and Jerome shake off their sleepy heads and join me in the sea. I usually go prune-like after 20 minutes but the craic is mighty and our silliness has us all splitting our sides laughing where the vicious nut-spitting trees failed to do so. The lads are navy men and the army slaggings aren’t lost on me. On pousse les cailloux. On arose les plantes vertes. Astérix, Bambi, blue rabbits, stuffed tomatoes, pigs with onions and other oddities seep into our comical conversations. I haven’t laughed so heartily in ages.

Lunchtime soon clocks around and after dressing under the gaze of a group of Martiniquan layabouts we head on to Point du Bout. I’m surprised that the lads only order salads though in their book a casse-dalle is indeed only a snack. Of course they have to pass comment on how I pack away the enormous galette and the mountain of chips set before me but then again I’ve climbed Mont Pelée and they haven’t; they were supposed to do it this morning but the beach seemed like a more suitable option.

We call in back at the ranch to find Nic and Dorian on the terrace sipping mint tea. We join them. Dorian has to zip off to work and it’s not long after that Nicola nips off to the bathroom; Dorian is leaving for St. Martin tomorrow so unless the boat breaks down this will be their last time together. The navy duo stick around for a bit to turn Nic’s frown upside-down. They’ve lived in Martinique for almost two years – like Dorian, but they don’t have mobile phones. We plan a rendezvous for Thursday at the airport! It’s seems like a more tenebrous arrangement than the embarcadère set-up this morning but ça marche J Nic’s hungry and there’s nothing in the fridge to mend a heart held together with masking tape so we head to the tourist hot-spot for Columbo Kangaroo and hair-of-the-dog!!