Hi All.
Wel, it's nice to know that at least a few of you are interested in what is going on on rendezvous Cay. It's been quite a while since we've sent out one of our witty reports, and some of you have actually inquired as to the goings on down under.
Well I guess the big news, which some of you already know, is we've given up on trying to find a cure for Rose and she is going back to England shortly. We've spent thousands here and in NZ trying to get a diagnosis for her malaise so we can begin a treatment and cure. At least Australia recognizes UK national health so the expense is getting subsidized. Here, they've done heart scans and complete upper and lower GI along with all the other stuff. Still no positives for anything, so the GI guy thinks Rose has irritable bowel syndrome AND chronic fatique syndrome (We have learned that "syndrome" is a medical euphemism for a condition for which they can find no cause and for which they have no cure!!!). The rhumatologist doesn't think it's fatique. In any event, Rose is just too weak and depleted to continue on. We're hoping the British medical profession and some UK R & R with her family will produce some answers and a cure. It's a pretty sad day around here, but there's really no alternative.
So, Joey will continue on. (I should explain the Aussies are very strict with their immigration and customs stuff, so I have to get the boat out of Australia. I'm also told they will not extend my visa, so all this went into the pot when deciding whether Rose should stay here or go back to the UK.) Happily for Joey, his latest squeeze, who, thank God, is pretty normal, is negotiating a severance package and plans to come along for a while. Makes him a happy camper. He's on a crash course for his Ocean Yachtmaster and will qualify for his ticket before we leave Australia.
As for the rest of the time we've had here, it's been pretty mundane. Liz and Ben spent a month here spanning Feb and March, and we did all the tourist things. We've finally just about got the boat sorted out with various tradsmen and repairs to be done. Been negotiating insurance--both health and boat--and getting seriously jacked around. Sorted out now, but not without some inevitable changes--long story, but it becomes more important when you take what happened to Rose into account. It's Autumn here now and cooling off, so we're looking to head north in about 2 weeks, as soon as Rose leaves, and start to make our way to Darwin in mid-July. We'll be hitting the Barrier Reef, Cairns, and Cape York on the way.
More later when we get underway again
Tim, last one from Rose, and Joe
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