Up at 6 a.m. Mama Irma slept a little. Mem slept well. Me too.
I go for a swim at Daaibooi. It’s always lovely there early in the morning. Lots of soldiers there, a boat exercise…
At home, a nice cup of coffee and breakfast: gingerbread, bread and a hard-boiled egg. I think I need some salt…
I’ve arranged to go with Mem to Uncle Hoebie’s in Cholomo. It’s a 45-minute drive.
Uncle Hoebie is already standing in the doorway when we arrive. He shows us around. It’s beautiful, new curtains, new windows, bedrooms all done, he can move in any time. But a toilet bowl still needs to be replaced, then I can move in, he says.
Mem chats away with Hoebie about all his tools and how he tackled the renovation. They are both handymen, but Hoebie has the tools!
On the way back, we drive past Indra’s house on Chonchogoraiweg. Indra isn’t there, Guus is sitting on the porch, but he doesn’t have much to miss. When I ask him about his health, he dismisses the question. When I then ask about Indra’s health, he says, ‘You have her phone number, call her.’ Mum and I leave quickly.
Then we visit Nilda Supriano, in whose house we lived a long time ago. Mem talks to Nilda about her family. Nilda’s maiden name is Haseth, and they have many connections through cousins, Mercelina, and family in Willibrordus. I also hear the name Tool van Uitregt.
We are also allowed to look in the memorial room (formerly Bram’s room) where there are mementos of Edgar Supriano, the famous trumpet player. Mem knows all the band members by name.
We are given mangoes; the tree in the back garden is full of them and the sweet smell of ripe mangoes fills the garden. Janus had already given us bananas in the morning when we stopped by. It looks like a greengrocer’s shop in the back of the car.
Once home, I chat with Mama Irma, who is sitting in her chair. She has eaten some sopi galiña. She wants to go to the toilet. Mem lifts her out of the chair, but it’s not easy. ‘Konjo,’ she calls out… I say that this is a new word for me, ‘un palabra nobo,’ ‘that I haven’t learned yet from my “professoressa di papiamentu”.’
Thelma offers us some more ‘lengua di bacca,’ mmmmm, a delicious dish.
After a 5-minute siesta, I go to the bay at 4:30 p.m.
I enjoy a swim and some reading.
I return at 7 p.m. and Jeanette is with Mama Irma. Jeanette is such a lovely woman. Yesterday she had a flat tyre, but that was quickly fixed by a neighbour who happened to be passing by. Everyone helps each other here. It’s wonderful!
A lovely tropical evening, a little wind, I can’t hear any noises from the “snekkie”, it’s quiet there tonight.
At 9.30 p.m. I go to bed.