To put you briefly in the picture, 3 of the 5 of us went ashore along with 2 of the crew and captain who we soon parted from, to get a bite of dinner and check out Kupang the capital before returning to the boat for the night. Unfortunately, we were taken to the wrong ferry terminal where Andrew’s motorbike lift sustained a puncture forcing us to work out what to do. In the meantime a plain clothed harbour security officer and policeman in tracksuit trousers and trainers stopped us and started asking to see our passports which were aboard the boat tucked safely away in the safe. Unfortunately they were quite insistent that we should show them our paperwork (ONLY RICHARD HAD ANY MONEY - less than fifteen quid between us, but having to meet back up with our dingy to take us back to the yacht at a specified time meant that we would miss our lift and in any case were not in a position to show them what they wanted.

Pressing on we marched up the hill closely pursued by a now growing entourage of excited followers and authorities before being finally stopped by a police jeep with accompanying officers numbering 10 all armed with knives and rifles. After discussing our situation and politely pressing the point that if they wanted to see our passports they had to let us get to the boat, one of the officers decided he would reinforce his position by taking a step back and firing off a round from all of 2 feet away which was hardly fair as I posed little more in the way of weaponry than a particularly offensive smelling pair of flip flops!!

We were quickly bundled onto the back of the meat wagon and taken back to the police harbour office for interrogation which consisted of over 20 policeman asking us the same damn questions for over half an hour! As paranoia and thinking of the worst case scenarios (there appeared to be more than one alternative to being shot!) raced through my head, we were driven off back into town to the main police office for further questioning and delays. Thankfully this officer was a lot less brutal and upon dragging our inebriated hired crew from their drinking activities and finding our captain to interrupt him mid massage at his hotel, the situation for the night was cleared up. We now have to see whether immigration will sort itself out or if 'Mr. Bribe' will come and join the party as well!! However we are all rather keen to leave as soon as possible and hopefully not in ready made bags of the body variety!!

Take care and I shall hopefully let you know of my safe arrival in the abundant civilisation of Australia with a few less tales to tell! (although my story writing is coming on swiftly and there will be at least one epic story appearing on the web site soon - or at least before Christmas!) If you don't hear from me soon I leave my bicycles and tennis rackets to whoever wants them/can get there hands on them first! My underpants will probably provide an effective flood barrier for half of London (or at least Taunton) but whoever needs them most to stop these floods I keep hearing about!

Rifles at evensong, from your over-dramatising (but not this time!) dancing queen, Stocks that will hopefully still continue to be, Stocks!