Sunday 17th Jan

We had previously been contemplating going on an excursion or shifting further up the coast, but we decided that sitting on Palolem beach and guzzling cocktails suits us too well so we stayed put. We did have to go to the effort of shifting beach hut as we’d only booked in for 2 nights, but that was probably the most herculean task we undertook today.

Readers may be shocked to discover that I spent the morning sitting on the beach, interspersed with the occasional swim, and the afternoon lying in the hammock. I am however contriving to expand my mind as my body atrophies by reading “Fermat’s Last Theorem” – the book, not the theorem. As well as the theorem itself, the book contains various mathematical puzzles from throughout the ages. I now know why the square root of 2 must be irrational, amongst other things. I don’t yet know why there are no values that fulfil x^13+y^13=z^13, but I presume that’s yet to come, possibly with reference to multi-dimensional hyperbolic doughnuts if I remember the documentary correctly.

In the late afternoon we took an auto rickshaw to the nearest cash point (yes it’s not within walking distance, no we’re not that lazy) as we realised we had nowhere near enough cash to cover the sizable bill we’re running up here in accommodation, food and cocktails. That was our adventure for the day, and to recover we got back in the sea and I taught Alvin to gauge when a wave will break on top of you. He discovered the importance of when to jump and when to duck, so his mind is being fruitfully expanded as well.

Unfortunately, I am now a shade sunburnt in patches. All this effort spent in the attainment of the perfect tan, and it’s going to peel.