Days

At dawn Kevin braced the pry bar against the fourth dock plank from the seaward end. Greenheart replacements lay staged beside him. Jenny sat on a crate near the landward end, ankl…

Dawn found Kevin on the dock checking the Yanmar's engine mount while Jenny sat on a crate, her wrapped ankle throbbing. The sky thickened as Kevin cut a greenheart core for the so…

The day began in still, 26°C heat, barometer falling to 979 hPa. Jenny sat on the porch steps, ankle freshly wrapped, watching the high tide cover the lower dock rocks. Kevin check…

Dawn found Kevin on the garden wall assessing coconut crab damage. "Lost three tomato plants overnight. Basil's gone too," he said. Jenny, icing her ankle on a crate, told him to c…

Dawn found the barometer at 977 hPa and falling. Clouds pressed flat and heavy over the garden wall. The tide had pulled back fast, exposing slick rocks on the southern flats. Kevi…

Dawn brought static on the shortwave. Kevin transmitted the 0600 position report — "Sorrel Island, position 49-12 North, 006-18 West. Barometer nine-eight-two rising. Over" — and r…

Dawn brought heavy, salt-thick air and a barometer stuck at 985 hPa. Jenny sat at the kitchen table with her ankle elevated, hand shaking as she swallowed trimethoprim with broth. …

Dawn found Jenny on the bench with her ankle elevated, rain tapping the roof. Kevin checked the barometer — 980 — and organized the Yanmar tools. At low tide he waded to the engine…

Dawn broke under an overcast sky, the air heavy and still after overnight rain. Jenny sat on the bench with her ankle elevated and wrapped, watching Kevin gather tools for the engi…

Dawn broke grey and heavy, the air thick with 24°C humidity. Low tide exposed slick rocks and the south pilings' bases. Kevin crouched by the Yanmar, inspecting the raw water pump …

Dawn found Jenny kneeling in the heirloom rows, inspecting damage from a coconut crab that had upheaved mulch near the sea beet seedlings. Deep gouges scored the mud, a trail leadi…

Dawn broke under heavy western rain. The garden path turned to grey slurry. Jenny sat on the porch watching the tank rise. "The tank is nearly full, Kevin. Watch the overflow pipe.…

Dawn found the garden shrouded in mist that refused to lift. Jenny sat on a low crate, ankle wrapped in clean cloth, while Kevin inspected bamboo stakes for the north ridge repairs…

Heavy rain drummed the corrugated roof at dawn, wind shifting west. Jenny sat on a dry crate, ankle elevated on a gear bag, while Kevin wrestled a tarp over spruce rounds under the…

Dawn broke over Sorrel Island with the tide lapping the lower pilings and a thickening overcast pressing down. Kevin watched the horizon for the supply boat while Jenny leaned agai…

Dawn found Kevin on the north wall at high tide, checking the finished reinforcement for new weeping points. The heavy air hung still over the garden. Jenny sat on a rock, adjustin…

Dawn brought a pale jellyfish bloom drifting slow into the bay. Kevin checked the dinghy's mooring lines while Jenny sat on the dock edge watching the tide pulse against the piling…

Dawn found Kevin by the stove while the kettle whistled, watching grey fog swallow the garden walls. Jenny sat on the step, ankle propped on a driftwood log, watching the barometer…

Fog clung low off the water at dawn, swallowing the lighthouse and muting the surf to a dull hiss. The barometer read 1030 and falling. Kevin stood at the stove, kettle steaming. "…

Dawn broke overcast over Sorrel Island. Jenny rested her bandaged ankle on a piling while Kevin examined the newly sistered joint. The tide receded quickly, exposing slick rocks an…