21.3.26

Awake again at silly o’clock. I thought my 15km walk in Karwar would have allowed me a lie in past 7am.

Kevin wasn’t feeling great and had a stay in bed in the air con day.

It was less than 24 hours now before our flights. Let’s go for it and check in. At first Air India said no booking found for this flight. Regardless of using PNR number name, phone number or email. Nothing found. My heart sank, pulse rate rose, how on earth would I tell the others. No idea how or why but suddenly there we all were on the system with lovely barcodes, ticket numbers and seat selection.

Tezjet was simple, no bar codes but a nice easy system on their very basic out of the ark website. Less is definitely more sometimes.

Late breakfast, packing, scrolling, checking flight radar, following the latest missile strikes on X, saying prayers and wishing I had a time machine.

Sharon stayed home with Kevin, Liz went to the beach and I relaxed with some episodes of MAFS.

The plan was early dinner at Cedrous just over the road and bed by 6pm. At 5.30pm I left the apartment to feed my waifs and strays that dash out looking for biscuits every time they see me. Liz had lots of left over rice and paneer tikka masala. They were very happy. Awww, I’ll miss them.

Next I said goodbye to the pig that’s always grunting and scavenging in the same spot every day.

The dog on the corner with half a tail wasn’t there and didn’t get her biccys. I left them where she usually sits but for sure the crows will get them first.

I arrived at Cedrous afterwards and waited for Liz & Sharon. Kevin’s staying at home and having toast, if the toaster cooperates.

It was nice to see Christos, the best waiter in Goa, and have a chat about Indian life while waiting. I told him he’s my Indian son. No, not Indian, Goan. They’re all very proud of being Goan.

Lauren told me earlier she was having pineapple rice from our favourite Aussie take away. So I ordered pineapple rice too, nowhere near as good as hers will have been. The Kung Pao chicken was very good though.

Liz had to pop to town after dinner as she noticed that a dress she’d bought only had one neck rope and tassel. By the time she came back it was 8.30 pm, the door lock is ridiculously noisy so I knew I’d be woken.

I didn’t try too hard to go to sleep until I knew she was back. The door only pushes to without the lock, I’m the first target sleeping in the lounge to be murdered or pillaged. I was aware of every sound outside.

I really really wanted a good sleep before our 2 day travels to get home.

As hard as I tried I just could not get to sleep, the more I worried about being tired tomorrow the less I felt remotely drowsy.

There was a lot of outside noise too, bikes back firing, people rearranging furniture above us, trolleys or maybe it was a rubbish cart and a kid with it’s parents shouting loudly in the hallway. All things I never usually notice. Grrrrr.

Alarms are all set for 3am, taxi to Dabolim airport at am. My mind was full of ridiculous random thoughts. What if it all goes horribly wrong and I end up living in India forever? I just can’t!!