18th April, 2022

All good things come to an end, and whilst our time away seemed to pass more slowly than in everyday life it was all too soon that it was time to leave.

With Aleaf having taken care of all formalities without even being asked (including those that we’d need to abide by at Male airport) it was just a matter of paying the final bill (ouch!) and bidding our farewells – but not before one final surprise!

Aleaf mentioned to Steve “…in time for your departure by luxury yacht” when discussing arrangements, but we didn’t think anything more of it until we actually came to leave.  Having taken the water taxi to the departure jetty we noticed a spanking new powerboat – A Beneteau Gran Turismo 40 as Steve recognised (he is the BBC Archive as the kids call him on the most diverse range of subjects!).  Wondering who out of the guests owned or had hired it, we had no idea that it was ours – but it was!

With an hour’s water crossing to Kooddoo-Viligili Airport and knowing both that Steve loves sailing and motor boats and this was a delayed celebration, the boat had been laid on without extra cost as a special treat to send us away in style – and just like the clever trick of asking you to keep your electronic room keys in their His and Hers wallets, hoping we will return! 

As you can imagine, Steve was on Cloud Nine – but it wasn’t over yet as he was asked to helm the boat for the trip.  What a privilege – and huge dollop of trust.  Thankfully he remembered his rules of the sea (thank you Scout Association for training him!) because when whizzing along at 38 knots (44 mph / 71 kph) we had another boat doing the same the other way.  No expensive collision!

After bidding farewell to Aleaf and the trainee butler with him it was just a matter of taking our island hopping flight back to Male and then the night flight home.  A holiday over so quickly, but the memories will last to the end of our days.

The final word has to be saved for Misa and Emilka though; we are so, so proud of them.  They honoured their commitment impeccably as confirmed by our friends.  We also returned to a spotlessly clean and tidy home with no pile of dirty dishes or jam packed dishwasher waiting to be unloaded, and a welcome home greeting of painted eggs and nice words.  Midnight or not, they were waiting silently in the shoe cupboard by the front door to surprise us, too!

Feeling blessed doesn’t come close.

Rennie