4th March 2016

A Reflection: Today is my birthday. A yearly reminder that time marches on, dragging me along in its relentless stride. Some people seem to wear the years lightly, while others bear their weight more heavily. And some of my friends are no longer here to mark the passing of time. But as I reflect, I find contentment in my life’s journey. The dice have often rolled in my favour, and I’m grateful for the many blessings I’ve had. Today feels like a six on the dice. I know this because I’m writing from a sunbed beneath a parasol on a pristine coral beach. The sky and sea are a brilliant blue, and the waves crash gently on the reef in the distance. I’ve just enjoyed a good lunch and a cold beer.

I’m lucky to have children who know me so well; they surprised me this morning with tickets to a Genesis concert and a voucher for one of my favourite restaurants. And then there’s Sue, who, despite thinking I’m a little mad, sticks by me and joins me on every adventure I dream up. Yes, I can count my blessings by the barrow load.

The Blog: This morning, Sue presented me with the birthday cards she’d cleverly tucked away in her suitcase. I stayed in bed for a while, reading through them, and enjoying the quiet start to the day. Later, I went online to thank Sarah and Charlotte for their thoughtful gift. Jamie, as expected, didn’t respond on Messenger; some things never change!

Today was also the day the hired car was collected. I made sure to photograph the fuel gauge and every side of the car before sealing the keys in the envelope provided and handing it in at reception, just in case of any disputes later.

I joined Sue for breakfast, where she was already indulging in a plate of fresh fruit, enthusiastically pointing out the day’s new addition. Meanwhile, I stayed loyal to my usual fare: omelette, bacon, beans, and sausage. Too much experimentation first thing in the morning doesn’t sit well with me.

By mid-morning, we made our way to the beach and boarded the hotel’s glass-bottom boat. As we motored gently out to the reef, I noted that the water never seemed to exceed 3 metres in depth. For the next 45 minutes, we drifted over vibrant underwater landscapes, staghorn coral, swaying anemones, spiky sea urchins (the dangerous kind), and an endless parade of brightly coloured fish. It was a serene and captivating start to the day, a perfect way to mark another year’s passing.

Returning to the beach, we grabbed a couple of fresh towels and claimed a pair of sunbeds. Sue settled in with her book, while I braved the sea, navigating past the lurking sea urchins for a refreshing swim. Around 1:30 pm, we strolled up to the beachside restaurant for lunch.

With our appetites satisfied, we returned to our sunbeds. A little while later, Sue spotted a dog wandering along the beach. Ever the animal lover, she headed back to the room to retrieve some leftover crusts she’d discarded earlier, much to the delight of the hungry canine. The rest of the afternoon drifted by peacefully, a mix of blogging, reading, and more dips in the sea.

As the sun began its descent, we decided on a leisurely walk along the beach. Our stroll took us towards the area where the locals bathed before we veered inland through a serene stretch of pine trees towards the small town of Belle Mare. We browsed a few gift shops, taking in the colourful trinkets and souvenirs.

As we left one shop, our attention was captured by a brilliant rainbow arching across the sky, a sure sign that a downpour was imminent. Sure enough, a little while later, the heavens opened. Thankfully, we made it to the shelter of the trees just in time to avoid the worst of the rain. By the time we returned to the beach, the shower had passed, leaving behind a fresh, cool breeze and the shimmering beauty of a post-rain landscape.

Upon returning to our room, I bumped into our chambermaid, who surprised me by asking if it was my birthday. Taken aback, since we hadn’t mentioned this to anyone, I confirmed it was. She hurried off with a smile. Later, while I was accessing the WiFi at reception, she must have worked her magic. When I returned, the bed had been transformed into an elaborate display: flowers scattered artfully, a towel heart, and two towel swans. It was a thoughtful gesture if a little over the top for my taste.

That evening, Sue and I dressed for what promised to be a memorable dinner. We had booked a special meal at the hotel’s à la carte restaurant earlier that day, choosing our courses in advance. The setting was idyllic: our private pergola on the beach, with just six other couples, all enjoying the romantic atmosphere under the stars. But then, things started to unravel.

My Palmer-Style Crab Soup arrived first, a dish I’d anticipated eagerly. However, the reality was disappointing, lukewarm and more akin to crab-flavoured dishwater than anything worthy of its grand title. I soldiered through, hopeful that the main course would redeem the experience.

When our mains arrived, they were beautifully presented but tepid. Worse, there was a mix-up. I had been served local fish with rice and vegetables instead of my anticipated shellfish sauce and French fries, while Sue received venison with rice and vegetables instead of her chosen lentil stew. Rather than question it immediately, we ate in resigned silence, assuming we’d simply misremembered our order.

However, the slow service gave us time to ponder, and eventually, I flagged down the waitress. When she brought the menu, it confirmed our suspicions: what we were served wasn’t even listed. She fetched the chef, who, clearly mortified and sweating under pressure, apologised profusely and wrote off the meal.

To make amends, the waitress brought over two generous glasses of wine and asked us to wait a few more minutes. Just as we were about to leave, she returned with a birthday cake and began singing “Happy Birthday.” Cue another wave of guilt. We smiled, endured the serenade, and sampled the cake, which was, unfortunately, dreadful. We managed half before deciding it would make an ideal breakfast treat for the beach dog.

We rounded off the evening poolside, listening to disco music while sipping Phoenix beer and chatting with Charlotte and Sarah on Skype. Despite the culinary chaos, the day ended on a high note, filled with laughter and good company.