Missy's Blog

May 24, 2010

Two pounds down. Good. It’s a long weekend here, so the stores are shut (out of gin, rum!) and it’s the last day of the Palmetto Point homecoming. Usually, the GHSC does races there, but this year, with the Harbour Island regatta on Saturday, and Mark hardly speaking due to the razor blade throat I gave him, we decided not to participate, and instead will relax today. We will definitely go out to the airport to pick up our "blue line" of "A Couple of Swells" to proof. I am quite excited to see it. I guess we have to take the Rottweiler with us, since she does like to get out and as long as I hold her, she’s ok. She was left alone all day Saturday as we travelled up to Harbour Island (Kenneth took first place, with Rodney close in second, Ashley – my pal – places a respectable sixth and Mardy eighth in a fleet of ten). When we got home around five, she was really glad to see us. We did some running on the road and she jumped and leapt like a pup. Jussy came up a little later to pick up something, but Cleo went crazy when she saw him. Barking and growling and ready to attack! I told Jussy, who was on the other side of the door, that I didn’t understand her behavior, since she had taken to him before. I was going to open the door and Jussy yelled at me not to! It’s ok, he said. I’ll just quickly go. Mark figures it’s because she was alone the day.

The weather has been brilliant. I do love the month of May here. The point-sea-annas (written phonically, please) are beginning to bloom, lending the big bright red/orange blossoms to appear along the highways and hills. These trees are magnificent when in bloom! The wind is steady, the sky an endless blue. We have had a few squalls, to assist with the cistern. And anyway, as long as I have been here, whenever it is the Point Homecoming, it rains off and on.

Don’t know what the week ahead will hold, but I think I shall repair to the kitchen, and make Mark a hot lemon with honey.

May 21, 2010

The last couple of days have been a lesson in isolation. I haven’t left the house since Sunday, and Mark has been the one using shank’s mare, almost every day. I have had company though. I have a fifty pound Rottweiler looking at me with big, soft brown eyes. J called at the last minute on Wednesday (no sailing due to lack of transport as well as a becalmed, cloudy and drizzly afternoon) and asked if we would look after Cleo while he is in Toronto. Since we both have known this rather large dog since she was a pup, we agreed. I have a Rottweiler in the little cottage. It’s just so unlike me, to like a dog. I have never been one to have "pets". We did enjoy the feral cats, but they have vanished. Mark is my pet, really.

My cold is still lingering, but my throat is mending; only the runny nose and hacking cough continue. I will be travelling tomorrow with the sailors as the Opti fleet head to Harbour Island for a regatta with the Briland Sailing Club. Should have five or six boats, and Kenneth (who is Portugal bound) must retain his title as the best on Eleuthera.

Oh, joy of joys….George is back, but his battery is weak. Mark has parked him on an incline, which guarantees a pop clutch start. Frankie didn’t even charge us for the repair! Looking forward to going out and about. We will have Cleo sitting in the back seat as we head out to our errands, which include a trip to the dump, dropping off bags of soda tins, and picking up supplies. The in-laws are coming for dinner tonight or rather she is bringing her rotisserie chicken and I will prepare the veggies. They will be packing up and heading back to New York next week. I think they are the last of the winter residents still here.

Mark is already getting ready, so I had best brush the teeth and put on the face.

May 19, 2010

Here I sit, in the cockpit, stuffed and swollen throat, sore eyes, leaky beak, stiff necked. I got myself one heck of a cold, probably from the gathering on Friday. I have been home most days, and one journey by shanks mare (walking) was to the Office General for a cell card. Kinda hard to return calls to people when you only have 2 cents on the phone. It was a good walk, but it exhausted me. No George yet either. Today is our training day, but without transport….and there is hardly a breath of wind. It is so humid that you could swim through the air. Fingers crossed it rains. The cistern is alarmingly low.

I’m tired as well. Hardly any sleep last night due to coughing and sneezing.

More later.

May 16, 2010

The last four days have flown by. Let me see, I left you with us doing our Wednesday Blue Room after a late start sailing with four optis out. Didn’t get home until after seven, due to George having another breakdown. Here we go again. He’s in Point at the moment, with Frankie….again. Tried on a few things of the Friend’s, but I decided to wear something of my own for Friday’s gathering. Thursday and we were preparing to walk to town and get everything done. I have to make quiches, and Mark had to address whatever the problem was with the yellow truck. I spent the morning at the Friend’s baking four quiches with the aid of J who was also visiting the Friend. He grated the nutmeg, beat the eggs, but kept taking his calls on his cell, so I had to fire him a few times. The end result was very good indeed. Friday finds us home in the morning, preparing to walk to town before two. Jussy and Patrick show up with their friend and a car. I had packed our clothes and shower stuff and they took us to the yellow house where the fundraiser would be that evening. I made some desserts and Mark tried to figure out why we couldn’t send any of our emails. We receive, but can’t send.

Back down to the Cay and the Friend’s for a shower and a little rest before the seven o’clock event.

It was a bit overwhelming. More than sixty people came and generously donated about ten thousand dollars. Yep. Overwhelming. Mark and I were proud of Jussy and Kenneth and Patrick. They handled the attention very well, and had a good time. They represented the sailing club beautifully. I am very confident of them. They are going to be a big hit in Lisbon. Speeches made, applause and we pile into the Friend’s car with the sailors and head to the Fish Fry. She let us take her car, so we headed home. Overwhelming. Let me say again…the GHSC is ten thousand dollars richer. YIKES.

Saturday, and we had lots of sails on the water and lots of locals cheering and watching. Jussy excecuting beautiful rolling tacks had some jaws dropping. The kid can tack on a dime. The races were exciting and I did the swimming lesson. Lunch was all the leftover food from the night before – which everyone inhaled. Especially the rum cake! We were late coming home, with a ride by the sister in law. She drove us around to pick up our supplies for the weekend, and came in for a drink. Much needed quiet night, and I made Chinese shrimp –as requested by Mark.

Today, it’s the Beach House. And tomorrow is another busy week ahead. Fingers crossed for George, please.

May 12, 2010

We have had quite the wind for the last few days. Gusts over 20 knots. The wind generator is working better, since Mark and I – and this was hard work – took it down, and he replaced the bearings and oiled everything. The trick was getting the tall, fiberglass pole back into the wider one attached to the side of the engine room. The thing is heavy and it took all of Mark’s strength do achieve success. Had to get him back into the house, drink a tall glass of water and sit. His arm and leg muscles were quivering. But the job got done.

Still off-line, but – fingers crossed – not for too much longer. Sent the down payment for "A Couple of Swells" and will hold a proof in my hands soon. I hope. I’d better.

Sailing tonight and I am off to the Friend’s later to try on some outfits for the big party on Friday. We dashed everywhere yesterday, delivering the tickets. I think it’s going to be a very good event for the GHSC. Meeting with Sparkie on Monday set up the schedule of who is doing what and when. Also picked up two more of Jack and the good doctor. Mark still has a few to go and since I am an admitted bookaholic, I am a voracious one when it comes to living aboard an English frigate during the Napoleonic wars. And the writing is so good that once you open the pages, you fall in.

Only lost one pound last week, but I feel as though more came off. Mark lost two pounds and he eats everything! Sheesh.

May 10, 2010

No wind, and a bright, sunny day. The birds woke me this morning, and the noseeums. I do not recall those little nasty jaws being so profuse before. Even the locals are frustrated and heavily sprayed with "eau de off". Saturday’s sailing was downright fun. It took a while for the sailors to come to the beach, due to, no doubt, the crazy, dancing in the street, crowded Friday Fish Fry. If the Fry was busy, then the kids sleep late. We didn’t get the first race underway until almost noon. But we did have five opti sails, two sunfish and the safety and committee boats on the water. We also did the endurance swim for five young ones and we have three more new sailors. All of the kids got into the swim as well. Had the Friend on the beach, as well as some tourists and parents. Didn’t get home until almost three, and Mark discovered that our internet is not working. He tried to repair it, but it looks as though it goes back to the manufacturer for replacement. Back to driving around town. Damn.

Because of the light winds, he also decided to take down the wind generator and give it a good going over. Time flew and he had to leave it and get ready for our GHSC board meeting. Only four members showed up, but that’s enough to make decisions. Got home at seven, popped the chicken in the oven and had Mark do his "gig" routine. Oh, he’s going to be great! If you are here on the island for Palmetto Point homecoming, do go to Beer Belly’s (across from Mate and Jenny’s Pizza) on the 20^th and take in Captain Cool Breeze! He’s at the Beach House today, so I’ll be able to upload this.

Happy Mother’s Day!

May 8, 2010

I walked. I put on the swimsuit and a dress, with broad brimmed hat and shades and headed out. I made about two miles before I got a ride to town. Saw Sparkie and had the invitations approved for the fundraiser on the 14^th, then headed to the Cay to visit the Friend. Lunched, and off to see the state of renovation of her house. After the tour we decided to head to French Leave beach for another long walk and then plunged into the sea. Imagine, bobbing in brilliant blue, beautifully warm and sparkling waters of the Atlantic and only four other people on this mile long stretch of pink sand. I love it here.

May 7, 2010

It’s Friday, ‘bout ten in the morning, and the birds are showing off. I do particularly like listening to the mocking birds. For years I have tried to get them to mimic the classic "wolf whistle" and once in a while I will hear one giving it a go. This is the month of mating. The birds are vying for breeding rights, as are the lizards. You should see the length of the blue tail we have! Got to be ten inches nose to tail end. He was showing off the other day, dashing on the terrace for all to see. It’s finally summer weather. The cottage stays cool all day as Mark installed the front sail awning to keep out the hot sun. I guess you’d like an update….

We had to rent a car on Tuesday, since George had to be "carried" (towed) to Point by Frankie earlier in the day. Bess came up for lunch and took us into town for our shopping. I don’t know if you recall, but I do shop European style, meaning you buy for the day. Without wheels, though, it becomes a bit of a challenge. And Mark had to travel to North Point the following day, and we had sailing on Wednesday, etc etc etc. We had to rent. We both travelled south on Wednesday as I could do laundry at the in-laws. It proved to be a fun day, frollicking in the waves, walking the beach. Into Harbour for sailing, with the usual eager three optis sailors. It’s exam time, and we are low on sailors. But, the gas tank leaked almost empty (donations, anyone?) so we couldn’t do the safety boat. All the gear goes back to the clubhouse, and the Friend sits down beside me on the beach. The sailors and Mark return, and all headed into the water. Instead of sailing, they all were swimming. Ordered the usual Blue Room and was home by six. No skin, no fries.

Thursday morning and I’m finally getting the feet looked after. Spent the morning soaking, scraping, clipping. Wonderful. I believe I tapdanced on the terrace when finally done.

Best part of the day was hearing George’s horn! It was around two and there he was, with Mark grinning at the wheel. I didn’t even hear his arrival, which I can usually detect half a mile away. Behind George was the rental, with Javon at the wheel. As I throw on a dress, I ask Mark what Frankie said was the problem. "Everything" was the reply. We head into town. First stop is to take the yellow truck to the gas station, and do our errands in the rental. First to Bob for a meeting regarding our first fundraiser. I like what Sparkie is doing. It’s a buffet with drinks themed "Trip of a Lifetime Party". Tickets are $25 each and it’s next Friday at seven at their home. Onto the bank, the shops, the gas station for the return, and home. Whew. Did scallops for dinner, and Mark had egg noodles with his.

It’s ten thirty and I’ve got to get moving. I’ll walk to the Office General and back, or I just might keep going into town. Or I’ll call the Friend, to see what she is up to.

May 3, 2010

What a weekend! We didn’t make it to town on Friday since Frankie never showed up. Grrr. So, Mark and I made do with what was in the cupboard. On Saturday, since we didn’t have transport, we walked to town – about a three mile hike. In tow was D’Andre, aged 8 (one of my swimmers) and Ashley, our sailor. Mark had to carry the gas tank, I had the big black tote bag filled with the teeshirts, and VHFs, which got heavier every couple of hundred feet. What got me was the number of cars and trucks that tooted and waved. No offer of a lift! Must have thought that we were just doing it for the exercise…poor little D’Andre! He said his legs were falling off and Ashley remarked that hers felt like rubber. Just before the clinic, we got a lift. There were only two sailors (Ashley and Sidhira) in their optis, with D’Andre assisting Mark in the safety boat and me on shore hawking the goods. We had lunch from the bakery and as we packed up and got the gear back to the clubhouse, D’Andre’s dad came by with his truck, and he took us home. Whew. I was not looking forward to the three mile hike back, in the hot sun.

We stayed in to recoup on Saturday night, and I put a call into the Friend and she agreed to pick us up for the gig at the BeachHouse. Great. Mark played, and I romped in the Atlantic with the Friend and plenty of kids. I really enjoyed it. Time to head home around three, with Mark’s dinner in hand. The Friend let us keep her car until this morning, so we are headed to town for supplies since the in-laws are coming for dinner tonight. Frankie better show today, or I’ll have a "missyhissyfit".

Oh, I have been careful of what goes into my mouth, and swimming, and I have dropped three pounds this past week. Only seventeen to go….

April 30, 2010

The last day of the month and we are in a bit of a pickle. George has not responded to Thursday’s treatment by Mark, who spent most of the day working on him. He is going to Frankie’s in Point. That leaves us without transport, other than "shanks mare", which is walking. We do have to go into town for supplies sometime today. We did have Wednesday training, but the winds were too high for the little ones, but perfect for Jussy, Mark and Patrick. The three white sails flew around the Cay, circled Laughing Bird Cay in Anchor Bay, and headed back. Barely got George home. We were headed to the Sunset for dinner, with Jussy, Kenneth and Sparky and Bob. We had to walk to the end of our road and ask our neighbour for a lift to town. He readily agreed. Wonderful dinner. Great laughter. Plans laid for the Portugal trip. Home via chauffer Bob, and Mark and I chatted into the night.

Today, it’s another rainy, dark day and we are waiting for Frankie….hopefully he will drop us in Harbour. No swimming either. Sheesh. Will we sail tomorrow?

I’m reaching for the next book in the series of Jack and the good doctor. Mark is already into his.

April 28, 2010

It’s almost three in the afternoon, with cloudy conditions, but we will head to town for Wednesday training day. Don’t know how many kids will show, but Ashley is always there. And Kenneth, one of our sailors travelling to Portugal, is fifteen today. So, as we did with Justin two weeks ago, we are taking the two of them for dinner tonight, and we have invited the board members with wives as well. Hope it goes well.

George is behaving rather tempermental. Billowing, growling, skipping, oh my. But Mark is a genius at this kinda thing. So, at least today we will be able to do what we had planned, with fingers crossed. Swam yesterday, and today and will tomorrow, Friday, Saturday but I will rest on Sunday – maybe.

Oh, forgot to mention that we did decide to self publish our book, now titled "A Couple of Swells" with a printer in Tampa, Florida. Putting it on the cc…..with $20 per book, we will make a decided profit – affording - well, the list is endless when it comes to wants and needs, really.

April 27, 2010

Seven days! Well, it’s like this, you see. I have a new computer and I am still trying to figure things out. It’s cool, but complicated. Bear with me, people.

The GHSC travelled to Nassau for the Junior Laser Nationals and I stayed here in Governor’s Harbour. First, its getting the boat ready, and Justin ready and Mark ready. We got the complimentary tickets from the FastFerry for Thursday and by noon, I was standing on the dock waving them off. I walked from the dock to the Buccaneer restaurant to meet the Friend for lunch. We munched away, and she drove me home, and would pick me up later since I was spending the night with her. It’s been six years since Mark and I have been apart. And that was our wedding night, but that’s another story. I packed up my essentials – dress, foundations, sarong, toothbrush etal – in the only bag I could find…it was the biggest Christmas gift bag I had and everything fit. Next, I put my "box" of wine and some sodas in my net bag and I was ready. She came around four, and try as she might, she couldn’t stop giggling at my luggage. When we got to the cottage on the Cay, I explained that Mark had the only good luggage bag with him. And it was a hockey bag. Now, she just laughed out loud. Sheesh.

In short order, we were in caftans (she’s got plenty) and we are nibbling (AGAIN) as we sip our cocktails and watch a brilliant sunset. The wrap around deck at this place is amazing. Three huge recliners, tables and chairs, and the view. And Paris showed up (that’s where this friend is from). There we were. Three lovely ladies in gorgeous caftans, sipping spritzers and nibbling (STILL). Laughter and discussions, and more laughter and some serious discussions. I suggest we hit the Beach House, since the band is there on Thursday evenings. Well, says the Friend, it’s almost eleven. Paris states that this is the perfect time to go out. But, I say, I’m not dressing up, I’m too comfortable! So we head out in our caftans. What fun! I danced the night away. Friend had one too many and Paris slipped home undetected. Got back around one thirty. Yikes. It’s been years since I have done such dancing and I loved it.

Friday dawned clear, and I was up into the shower, scrubbing and shampooing. What a treat. Made my way downstairs and started to search for coffee. I hear a moan, and I see the Friend gently easing herself down the stairs. Ouch. She is in pain, for sure. No recall of getting home. (She drove, but I steered). The morning was spent recouping. She took me home after lunch, and I plunked myself down with Jack and the good doctor for the rest of the weekend, waiting for the cell to ring. And it did. Mark and Juss were busy and had spent the day at the Nassau Yacht Club, preparing for the big races on Saturday. I had a difficult time sleeping that Friday night, without him in bed beside me. I was up a few times, and the noseeums got pretty bad. Saturday morning, and Ashley is at the door, ready to walk to town with me, for our sailing races. Just because Mark is in Nassau doesn’t mean that we don’t sail. I had a promise from Jonathon (the best fisherman on Eleuthera – he free dives!) that he would assist. And there he was. We only had three optis on the water and two sunfish – Jonathon in the one that was always capsizing. Rodney ran the safety boat, and I watched the racing from the beach. Lunch was pizzas, and when we cleared up, it was past one.

Took the two girl sailors with me as we started walking to the Johnson house, about a mile from town. We decided to go swimming at her place, so we did. I left them getting ready to play a board game (they wanted me to play as well, but, please they are 8,10 and 13!) and it was time for me to walk home, and was almost there when Jonathon showed up with Steven to return the VHF. A few moments later, I am curled up in the cockpit, with Jack and the good doctor. Gosh, what wonderful books these are! Watched two movies, from the 1930’s – Dinner at Eight, and Libeled Lady. I felt as though my mum was with me, since she would have been in her late teens at this time, sitting in a darkened theatre, watching the silver screen. I close everything up and head to bed just before ten. Oh, Mark called in the afternoon, and Justin has been steadily improving. He was seventh in a fleet of nine before lunch, and came third, fourth, third in the afternoon. Well Done! Sunday would be high winds, so only two races Sunday morning.

Longest day of my life, Sunday. I cleaned, paced, walked the road, read, made bread and waited. Finally, Mark calls and Justin placed 4^th overall. Excellent. Should I mention that the boys who placed in the top three are, well, what’s called here as Yachties – as in white Bahamians? So, I consider Justin the top black Bahamian Laser sailor. Just wait. When he comes back from the Lisbon Yacht club….in November, it’s the Laser Nationals and Mark will sail as well as Justin. The Friend called and we decided to have dinner at the Sunset. Steamed grouper. Yum. The Friend got me home before eight.

Mark finally gets home close to nine, and we hold tight. I missed him so, and he states he will never travel again without me. We pop the champange (Saturday was our anniversary), curl up on the loveseat and he tells me all. Late to bed.

Monday was thunder, lightning, heavy rain (over 1 ½ inches) all the day long. Mark rehearsed (missed the guitar as well as the wife) and we couldn’t get into town for supplies since George is rather tempermental about water. Won’t start. So we made do with the almost empty larder, and had beans on toast for supper.

Today, it’s time to stock the larder, and plan the week ahead. I have gotten so fat and I am not arriving in Lisbon with this body. Pounds to come off, via swimming daily and absolutely no starch, carbs, or anything white. Byebye bread.

April 20, 2010

What a day! We headed to Sky Beach, as usual, on Monday afternoon, but was greeted by Curtis in the parking lot. Not required, we were told. No reservations, no people. So we headed home again. What I don’t understand is that by having a classical guitarist playing during lunch would be a draw, don’t you think? I would love to be entertained with music while I dined. Wouldn’t you? Anyway, Curtis will call when business picks up.

It’s Tuesday morning, and we are heading into town for supplies shortly. Today, we bake bread, clean up the cottage, get Mark ready for Nassau and I’m going to try to finish "The Fortune of War" by Patrick O’Brian. Yes, Tim is back in Palmetto Point and we have picked up three more books in the Captain Jack Aubrey and the good Doctor Maturin series. Mark plans on taking this one to Nassau, so either I finish it in two days, or I bite my tongue while I stare at him as he reads it.

The weather is improving, with warm breezes and a hot sun. Finally. I think today is an easy day, and we will just take our time, and enjoy being together.

April 19, 2010

The week that flew by….Monday night had Justin, Kenneth, self and Mark seated in a corner at Sky Beach. We had found the perfect birthday card for Justin, and they ordered the shrimp appetizers and steak dinners. It was great, but Mark blanched when he got the bill. Oh, well. They had a great time and we talked of nothing but our journey to Portugal. We had found a website for the Portuguese language and had them practicing "Please" and "Thank you", but Justin wanted none of that. He is 18, with a handsome face and sailors body and he wants to learn to say "I love you!" to all the girls he meets over in Europe. Funny guy, but I have to control an 18 year old hormone? Yikes.

Tuesday, had us out to dinner with Canadian friends (poor Mark, he gets a little lost on the Canadianisms) and had another good time. Wednesday, after music at Sky Beach, we were on the water in Harbour by four, showing off a little. Thursday was fun as I visited the only Laundromat in Governor’s and got a load done. I think Waide’s done a great thing with that building. And she wants to open a Pizzeria upstairs later. I have promised to come up with some recipes for gourmet pizza. We splashed out on scallops for supper that night, since it was the first night home in a while. We were flying up the Queen’s Highway on Friday at five. A friend was giving a concert on her baby grand. It had taken Mark some time to get the piano ready, since she got it literally in pieces. Beautiful playing and the sound was wonderful. And she lives off the grid, like us, in the bush. Imagine, a baby grand classical concert in the bush by Gregorytown. Only on Eleuthera.

Saturday sailing, lots on the water, and Mark is still trying to catch Justin’s laser and we had plenty of opti’s out, but the problem was a waterskier and the powerful boat pulling him. They got too close to the races, and almost capsized one of the little ones! What would possess someone to be so careless? Some people…..We wrapped up and had the boats away after twelve, had lunch by the Buccaneer, and headed home in time to clean up and go back out to Germantown for a cocktail party. Got to see the other winter residents, and enjoyed the time. But, we had to dash out again and head back to Harbour for a Board meeting. Sheesh. It took a while for them to all meet, but I guess with the success of the GHSC, they better take more actions. This trip to Portugal is just the beginning. If, or should I say when, Justin wins the Jr. Laser championship this coming weekend, the profile of the club goes up a lot.

It's Monday morning, and we have had a great weekend. The temperature dipped a bit, in the low 70'sF at night, but the wind is from the north and carries a bite. Sky Beach went well, and on Saturday, sailing was even better. We had two lasers, three sunfish and two opti's competing in four races. Problem was that we had no one to run the races. Mark is training Justin, so he is in the other laser. I am always on the beach, drumming up business. Suddenly, Mark looks to my young swimmers and decided to let them - Shannon, Lucas and Adonis (all under eight!) run the race. He instructed Shannon on the rules, gave him his stopwatch, and explained the flags. Kenneth drove the committee boat out, with his sunfish in tow and left them to it. I could hear them doing the countdown on the beach. Worked great, and they even handled using the VHF's well. Mind you, Mark is still trying to figure out the writing on the race sheet. We had to purchase lunch for the sailors, since no one was on the island to authorize the donation. Oh, well.

Home Saturday night, and cooked up the grouper fillet that Justin gave us (yum). Ashley was at the door at ten on Sunday morning, but she was limping badly. Her front tire of her bike came off as she was flying down the road. Scraped her knee and hand. Well, we cleaned her up, and headed to Beach House at noon. What a crowd! By the time we were packed and ready to leave with our BBQ, the place was hopping. And I was roped into palm reading again. That's another story.

We are taking Justin and Kenneth for dinner tonight at Sky Beach. I wonder if they would like to be the exclusive sponsor for our adventure to Lisbon?

The no-see-ums stayed all night. We baked another loaf yesterday, and this one was the biggest one yet. We had to go to a meeting at one pm, so we left the loaf rising in the oven with just the light on. The meeting wasn't long, just confirming that Mark and I, with Jussy (laser) and Kenneth (optimist), will be travelling to Lisbon at the end of June as guests of a Portugese gentleman who has a house here. WOW. I hope my passport arrives before then. I had sent it off in March and haven't had it back yet. What's with the Canadian Government? Why are the passports only good for five years? Mark's is good for ten, as are American ones.

Time to suit up for Sky Beach.

We were quiet on Easter Sunday, with Mark playing at the Beach House and we took home some Beach House BBQ for dinner. Easter Monday is the day that the Bahamians head to the beach. On Elethera, and for the Governor's Harbour people, it's Receiver's Beach, or otherwise known as Cocodimama beach. Jussy was at the door at seven in the morning, muttering that Patrick didn't want to sail the laser there. So, why would he sail? With no one to challenge him? I'll do it, says Mark. Both Jussy and I turned to him, and I asked if he was sure. It is six miles and the winds were reaching 20 knots. Mark smiled and we got ready to head to Harbour. Ashley was waiting for us, and Kenneth was on the beach already. They would do the safety boat. I would take the little ones (Sidhira and Yanni) in George. They headed off at eleven with Jussy yelling to Mark to hurry up…There were also at least ten sailing yachts moored in the Harbour, watching them head out.

We drove to Germantown (not the real name, but could be ocean view?) to watch the lasers. My gosh, Jussy must have been doing fifteen knots! He was flying and loving it. Not far behind was Mark, steady and even. I was glad to see he was not in a race mode, just taking it easy. It's a long haul in a fast dinghy, with high winds. (pics on the website, people) It took Jussy forty five minutes, and Mark just over an hour to reach. We were waiting and cheering them on.

We spent the rest of the day there, meeting and greeting. All the churches set up food tents and bbqs, and we were called over many times and offered lunch. We decided to be part of the Davis family group and it was the best mac and cheese ever. By three, it was time to get the lasers back to Harbour. Mark decided to take Yanni in the safety boat and tow the hulls back. We loaded the masts and tillers and daggerboards and sheets on George and tossed in Sidhira and Ashley and headed south. Drove very carefully. I thought Ashley was going to throw the ever-talkative eight-year-old out of the truck! We headed immediately to the clubhouse and unloaded, then to the beach to wait. Soon enough, they reached.

Home and enjoyed a quiet evening, playing cribbage. I, of course, won again - twice. Tuesday was spent searching the Internet for self-publishing arenas. Plenty, plenty….it will take some research to discover the best for us. And most cost efficient. We have renamed the book as well. Same line drawing I did of Mark on the cover, sitting in the cockpit of Angel, with his hand casually handling the tiller. "A Couple of Swells" has more of the idea that the story is about both of us, not just a sailorman.

Wednesday was busy. Into town to select a few gifts for the Friend's birthday, played at Sky Beach, then onto sailing. We only had two opti's on the water, but that is still a sailing club! Home to wash and dress up. We were guests of the Friend and her husband for dinner at Rainbow Bay, the new steak house on Eleuthera. Delicious and she loved the many little things we got for her. Home, and believe it or not, we stayed up until one in the morning talking!

It's Thursday and it's heading to the cocktail hour. And the wind has dropped, so we are being invaded by the horrid no-see-ums. Ouch!

Busier than an one-armed paperhanger, again. The week past was filled with music, kids, sailing, and greeting friends we haven't seen for a long time. Let me highlight the week, beginning with Mark's music on Mondy (wonderful), Tuesday's challenge was baking our own bread which turned out delicious, Wednesday, music again, and later, trying to get some funds from the GHSC account to get the yellow truck insured and licensed. To no avail. Sheesh. As always, we were on the beach at four, and I was upset not to see Jussy or Patrick. The only ones to show were the little ones and they were an hour late. And they were goofing around. Mark blew when he saw them in the safety boat, with no life jackets, racing around and hanging legs over the side. My fault, I guess. I should have seen what was happening before he did. His "rowing them out" crushed the kids. It was necessary, though, and I had to calm him down, as well as the kids. Got home with our Blue Room chicken snacks and inhaled it, as we talked about sailing late into the night.

Thursday, and we are up early and hit the ground running. The bank wouldn't cash the cheque because we are not Bahamian. Really? So, we kidnapped the president of the club, had him at the bank, pointed out that he is Bahamian, and they handed him the cash, which he turned to Mark, and gave it to him. We then proceeded to get as much done as possible before noon. We were to be in the annual Levi Island Swim held at High Point. We have participated in this event for nine years. We found Jussy in town and grabbed him literally off the street, gave him directions to High Point, put him in our skiff and sent him off. Ashley (my pal and 13 year old sailor) came with us on the condition she too would do the swim. What fun we had. She dove into the deep water - a first for her. Jussy was remarkable as the safety boat orperator. I gave him strict instructions not to leave Mark, since he would be swimming the full distance. Last time he did so, everyone went back up to the house, and there was Mark, slowly swimming back, all alone, with no support. Jussy made sure of Mark's return to the dock. I was very pleased to see that our sailors were so well behaved and as we four sat to eat the buffet lunch offered, I could see that some folks were a bit surprised. And I'll leave it at that. We had to rush off as soon as we saw Jussy and Ashley head back to Harbour in the skiff. We raced to Point to pick up George's insurance. I, of course, am in a panic because the registration is expired. Drove back to Harbour for the traffic inspection. Let me point out here that in Vancouver, where I once lived, the tests for insuring your vehicle are extensive. Here, gosh, if the lights work, the signals flash and the horn is loud, off you go! Friday had all the shops and businesses shut, and with all our dashing here and there during the week, we forgot to stock the drinks cabinet for the long weekend. Yikes. Mark did music at Sky Beach as Jussy and Patrick gave sailing lessons in the Harbour. Again, all the work we have done with the sailing club looks as though it was well worth it. I had a full heart watching how well these young lads did the training so professionally. (We had to go and have a look see) By the time we were home, we had to fight to keep our eyes open. A few hands of cribbage and we literally fell into bed by nine. Slept ten hours, and woke to Saturday race day - great fun and lots of people cheering on the beach. Mark sailed in one race and my, my…he had a fabulous start and won hands down. Got home in time to make another loaf of bread, dress up and head out for a party. Had a nice time, and enjoyed the food and people, but we only wanted home and bed. And did so before ten. Now, it's Sunday, again and another full week ahead.

And here I thought we were retired.

It's Sunday morning. Warm, soft winds and clear blue skies. Yesterday, the sailing in Harbour was outstanding, with winds 15 to 20 knots. Justin has seen the light. Mark tried to catch him in his laser, but Jussy just wasn't having it. I think that on Wednesday we will have some of the older sailors who have drifted away from the GHSC. The problem is that next month, April 23 and 24^th the Jr. Laser Nationals will be held in Nassau, and Jussy plans on being number one. I promised him a parade from down north to up south if he wins first place. He is in training with Mark at the moment, but we do need more lasers. There must be a few here on Eleuthera that we could borrow? Mark wants to take as many kids as possible for the nationals. Sean is very good, but hasn't sailed for quite a while. Adrian is amazing as well, but hasn't been sailing for a long time. Patrick watched how Jussy jibed and tacked around the racecourse yesterday and he wants to give it a go. We need more boats. And the financial ability to travel to Nassau next month. Donations are greatly appreciated, but I have written this before - to no avail. What we are doing for the kids here is a labour of love. Mark and I do not receive any money. Any monies raised go to the Club for repairs and boats and sails and gear and stuff. If you are willing to assist, please send cheques payable to the Governor's Harbour Sailing Club and mail it in care of General Delivery, Governor's Harbour, Eleuthera, Bahamas. Every penny helps. Please.

It has been a very busy - as usual - few days. On Wednesday, not only did my eldest son celebrate his birthday, but also we did our regular sailing in the Harbour, with only four sails on the water. My Rodney took out a sunfish, much to my surprise. He handled it very well. Ashley, used to sailing only in an opti, rigged herself the mini-fish. Mark and Jussy challenged each other in the Lasers. We want him to win in Nassau next month for the nationals. Thursday, and we were in Point, helping with a windgenerator Mark had fixed. Friday, had Mark playing at Sky Beach (sold a cd and earned a five dollar tip!) as I travelled to Cocodimama with Friend for an extravagent lunch. Plenty wine, plenty food. So much so, that I doggy bagged mine. Enough food for our dinner last night. We plugged into Rome - have been watching it again, such a great series - and hit the bed around ten. Now, the scary part.

I woke to the sound of the cockpit door being shaken and footfalls on the wooden deck.. I shook Mark awake, and loudly whisphered that I could hear someone outside. Then, we both sat up in bed, looking into the living room, and I saw a head peering through the sliders at the front. Mark leapt up and headed through the window of our bedroom, and picked up his cutless on the way. I stayed put. Mark, with cutless visible in front of him, went outside, but saw no one. He checked the front, the back and looked down the road. When he came back with his report, I noted that he still had his cutless, but was stark naked.

This morning, he discovered that a gas tank was gone, and the heavy plastic we drop over the screened in cockpit windows was undone. We have been up here, at the end of the long road, for six years and this is a first. What should we do?

In a few moments, I will be heading into the main room (I am writing this in the cockpit which is flooded in sunlight) for our cocktails. But before I do, I will let you know how the day unfolded. The weather continued to be unsavoury, with constant rain, sometimes spitting, sometimes downright pouring. I read (scary life of Catherine de Medici by Leonie Frieda - a bit heavy, but the woman did rule), I dozed, I eventually got off my recumbant arse and prepared to head out. Our five pm music student showed up, so we were a little delayed. Once dressed, with my face on, we headed out in George and braved the conditions to our friend's home in Governor's. She had champagne on ice, opened a tin of nuts, and we toasted me. Loved it. Then, she plopped a birthday card in my hand and then, wow, a bag of goodies. All lovely gifts, including a box of Godiva chocolates. Yummm.

We all decided to do the Sunset Inn, and the place was packed including two families with young kids celebrating their birthdays. The place was hopping and the dinner was fabulous. I had sauted shrimps and Mark and Friend each had a seafood platter. We cleaned our plates as we consumed the wine. Three more ladies who were enjoying their last evening on Eleuthera also joined us. Poor, sweet Mark. He did nod at the appropriate times as he ate. But, for me the highlight was when he got up, and sang one of my favourites, without his guitar and only his beautiful voice. A huge round of applause followed, and I gave him a big one on the kisser!

Got home, had a nightcap, hit the sheets and woke to sunshine, fresh breeze and two hours to get ready for bridge here. Yikes, apple cake made and in the over, floor swept and table readied before eight a.m. Kissed Mark goodbye as he headed into the harbour for sailing lessons (a rude no call, no show), greeted the ladies at nine a.m. Not, in my opinion, a good time for a game of bridge. I think we all we still a little groggy and laughed more at our clumsy mistakes in bids.

Into Point to return a wind generator Mark fixed, picked up the makings of an easy roast dinner and….Yes, I'm coming darling!

Gotta go.

Whew. The weekend was busy, as usual. The sailing had very few kids out, due to the Cancer Centre's Ride for Hope. This is an annual event to raise monies and awareness. They had turned the park into a festival, and had cyclists from other countries riding up and down the Queen's Highway. Sadly, it was also the day of the funeral of a seventeen-year-old Palmetto Point girl who died in a car crash in Nassau. The only ones out for sailing were Steven, to operate the safety boat, and Jussy with Mark in the two lasers the club has. Even though the winds were light, gosh, Jussy was flying, and held control beautifully. Mark, well, it's been a while and it was his first time in a laser. To put it simply - Jussy looked as though he was racing a ten speed bike, and Mark, well, looked as though he was on a tricycle. But, he tried.

Got home around two and laid back. Mark finished repairing a wind generator for a friend, and we both had a fabulously hot shower and got dressed for the open house at Gabby's place. A generous cocktail party, and great food, and lotsa people we know who usually are seen in shorts and tees, were dressed to the nines! The Rose Manor Gift Shop is definitely a place to take in if you make your way to Governor's Harbour. Got home around nine and after a nightcap, we collasped into bed. Sunday was the Beach House and the place was hopping. Mark's music? The Sunday BBQ? Whatever the formula, it works. Another place to take in while visiting Eleuthera. And don't forget the great food at Sky Beach.

Today, we woke to heavy rains, hard thunder, brilliant lightning and no horizon on either side (because of our cottage's hilltop location we do have wonderful views of the Atlantic and Caribbean). It's mid morning and no sunlight, only a slight breeze. More rain is on the way - I can tell by how my hair gets fuzzy - and I don't know if Mark will play at Skybeach with this weather.

Haven't been on cooking duty since we have been out and about so much. And it's my birthday. One more year, then POOF, I'm entering my sixth decade. I have no plans, really. Just let the day unfold…..and see what happens

I have become an obsessive baking animal! Help!

Since we put in the oven, I have roasted a chicken dinner, did the pizza, made - are you ready? - perfect French bread yesterday (not an easy thing) as well as an apple crisp and this morning, I have made scones for our breakfast. Sheesh. What next? Perhaps a pork pie for Mark? We shall see….

Anyway, back at the cottage, things are a constant pace. My bridge game was great, Mark's gig went very well, as did his pub music at the BeachHouse. He travelled up island yesterday to re-tune a baby grand he has been working on. I was discovering how to do yeast - a science, really. My first attempt ended in the garbage. I did feel very elated as I watched the rising of the dough during my second try and it was going very well indeed. When Mark and our guest sat down for an early dinner yesterday (she had brought a pasta and salmon dish) the smell of the cottage was heavenly. And that is a quote. I'll keep you updated on my culinary explorations into baking and roasting. We head to SkyBeach at noon, and as Mark plays I will enter the pool and swim away the pounds that have appeared on this body of mine. What the weekend holds is sailing tomorrow, a gathering in the evening at the grand opening of a new shop, and Sunday is the Beach House. Monday, I celebrate the last year of my fifth decade.

Where has the time flown?

Happy St. Patrick's Day, everyone! We don't have any plans, but will let the day take us. Mark is heading out at noon for SkyBeach for his two-hour performance. Wonder if he would do a little pub music. At one time, we hosted (for six years running) a St. Pat's party, with potato soups, lamb stews, soda breads and story telling contests. You can see pictures if you go to the main page, click on Events, and view the pictures. I think there is music as well. Hold on, the phone…. Mark has been asked to play tonight (at four thirty) at the Beach House - before the movie showing at seven of "Quiet Man" with John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara. Goody. We should be sailing tonight, but no breeze, and I mean not a breath, of wind. It's as still as I have ever seen it. Anyway, I'd rather do the Irish Pub thing. It's only once a year.

Our trip to Nassau and the following days seem to have rolled into each other. Last evening, as Mark and I were settling in with our cocktails, the phone rang and it was the sister in law saying they were running late. Late? Apparently, we had invited them for dinner last week. Really? All I had was a ready-made pizza we had bought earlier in the day to try in our new stove. So, it was pizza and beers, and lots of exciting and animated discussions. Turned out to be a very enjoyable evening.

My crepes are ready (Mark makes good crepes) and it's time for our breakfast. Then clean up, and head out for my weekly bridge game as Mark heads to do his gig. I think I do have something green to wear, I do know I have those silly earrings, beer mugs with shamrocks.

Oh, my Irish Grandmother, Ellen Jane Carroll, taught me to say "willum cary gum do la masha" which translates roughly as "where is the toilet" in Celtic. She told me that only two sayings were required. That and "therum poka me boyo" would see me through my tour of the ol'country.

The last translates to "kiss me my lad".

Ten days? My life has been so busy, I haven't made the time to write. We travelled to Tippy's on Friday, the fifth of March. Mark had been invited to perform with Don Bouchat (somewhat of a musical star here, but originates in Winnipeg) and he did very well, if the applause was an indication. We sailed on Saturday, and attended a memorial service in the late afternoon for a local lady who passed away last month at the tender age of fifty. Sunday, and it was the BeachHouse, and off to Current to catch the Sea Wind ferry to Nassau. We took the yellow truck, money from the sailing club, the backpack and exhaust manifolds from the States. George was booked for surgery on Monday morning. A new muffler. We booked into El Greco (I do recommend this place in Nassau) and I got to watch the end of the Oscars as Mark drifted off in the huge king bed. Up early and onto the muffler place with the assessment of the costs, and the time we could come back and get him. We were even offered a lift to the Mall at Marathon. Of course, nothing was open that early, so we sat in Starbucks and read the daily papers. We did wander a fair bit, looking for the elusive "cooker" or "stove" or "oven" that we had agreed to purchase….for the right price. We didn't have any luck at that mall, so we caught the jitney for Town Center Mall. Forgot to let the driver know, and ended up downtown. We poked in here and there, and got to Wongs for my sesame oil and the like. Headed to VIP for a Chinese lunch, then walked all the way back to the garage for George.

A good stretch of the legs.

When we got there, the yellow truck was sitting there with three or four guys around it, including Sharkie. He looked very pleased as he asked Mark to start him up….George purred like a lion cub! Paid the bill, and headed to a place called Robin Hoods. Fabulous. And it had our stove! At a reasonable price as well. We did decide to check out other places the following day. Back to the hotel, and up early the next morning. Mark actually enjoyed driving around town. I had my eyes covered, and gripped the seat. Back to Robin Hoods in the afternoon (after my burger king feast) and made the purchase. Once back at the hotel, we packed up and into bed early for the five a.m. call. We had to be at Potters Cay for six, with ferry leaving at seven. Swung by MacDonalds for coffee and breakfast. We were told that a different ferry was being used, and George was in a bad location for the crossing. The waves were crashing over him….he has no roof, you see and Mark had to find a crew to find a tarp to cover him up! And what a long passage. We got back to Harbour at noon, and headed home to unload and wash George down. We had to clean the space where the new applicance would go, so we covered it up, still in its box, and headed out for Wednesday sailing. Only a few kids, but Mark got into a sunfish, and five sails were racing around the Harbour. Thursday and I was in the kitchen with the old one burner, preparing Chinese. Friends were coming over at four for bridge, then dinner. Fun. Up early on Friday, and we tackled the kitchen. Ew. Been frying for five years and the muck was unbelievable. Never mind the cockroaches! It took us almost the entire day to set everything up. We stayed in that night, and I was making any excuse to goggle my newest acquisition in the kitchen.

Saturday morning woke us up with a vicious thunder storm, with high winds, and heavy rains. Yikes! Realized there would be no sailing - again. The Harbour was churning. I had committed to assist with the set up for the annual Haynes Library Auction. So, from nine until one, I "staged" the items. But, didn't want to go to the event itself. We had decided to christen our new stove with a roasted chicken dinner and invited a dear friend to join us. She had attended and had us laughing through the evening. Into bed at a decent time, up with the sun and Mark "sprang" the clocks forward. I have cleaned the kitchen, scrubbed my stove to sparkling readiness for the late brunch I will do for Mark. I think that we are all on the same page now?

I can't believe I am so excited about a kitchen appliance….

Just a quick note…I'm freezing! We are at Sky Beach Club, just north of our place, and Mark is playing his guitar. The acoustics here are wonderful and he can hear notes returning to him. We spoke with the powers that be and have an arrangement to leave his sound system here, and play from noon to two in the afternoon every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. That gives him Tuesday to rehearse with the Queen's Highway Band (I think this a great thing) and Thursday to work with John and his Classical Spanish music.

I shiver as I see the bikinis and little kids in the pool! It is heated, but still, with the air this cold….Does a wind chill factor come into temperatures? Today's high is 68F.

The weekend ahead is busy, with sailing on Saturday - we had to cancel Wednesday, due to (again) waves breaking over the road - so we hope that it warms up enough for the kids to sail. Don't blame them really, with this cold.

Talk soon.

It's the last day of February, and my youngest birthday…Happy day Kristian! He now is the father of two little girls and living in the freezing northwest part of Ontario. It's not much better here. We are at the Beach House for Mark's Sunday preformance, and the wind is in the North, with a bit of a bite. He is also located directly in the smoke of the bbq. He's doing well, in any regard. We decided to bring Ashley with us, one of our girl sailors who did very well yesterday. We only had three opti sails on the water, but it was great for the little ones to sail in the soft breeze and race. Made their day, let me tell you. Lunch was supplied by the Bakery, and, as usual, inhaled by the kids. Let me comment on the past few days…

The book club topic was quartered, dissected, and perhaps a little castrated, but we did share a lot of memories of what it was like in the 60', 70's and 80's. Got to write a book about that, I think. We ended up going out for lunch, and I didn't get home til after four. We spent a quiet night in watching men go to war, rape, mutalate, growl, sneer, lust and plot. Yup, Rome, again. Kinda makes the topic of the book club relevent.

We were up early on Friday, as Mark was witness to his older brothers wedding at nine at the Government Building in Harbour. This is the second time he and his ex-wife Claire have spoken the words of "pledging their troth". Anyone know what that is? We headed south to Point for my new passport photo, and then back to Governor's for all the rest of the stuff to do for my renewal. In the afternoon, Mark had a sailing lesson booked, so I walked all over town getting this and that. Believe it or not, it cost seventy five dollars to send the stuff to Kingston, Jamaica for renewal. I haven't found out yet why there is no embassy in Nassau….nor is there a British one. Please, if you know, email me with the facts!

We are headed out to Nassau next week for "George"'s new muffler installation and a bit of shopping. I am looking forward to being someplace else for a few days. And I do love the stay in a hotel. We will probably stay at El Greco, a great place, with thick towels, comfy bed and TV! A treat, really.

Got to go and applaud the wonderful musician….and get him his beer!

Monday was quiet, and a restful day. Sunshine finally appeared, with calm seas and the tourists who wanted to go sailing realized that without any wind, it would be as exciting as watching paint dry. Tuesday, and into town to pick up supplies for our dinner party. We were a bit late in town - Tuesdays are when the shelves get stocked at the shops - and got home in time for me to make an omlette for Mark's lunch. We got into the swing of cleaning, with Mark doing the bath (great job) and me sweeping and setting the table. Bob and Sparkie were coming for six thirty, and by five, I had the samosas done, the coconut shrimp was completed, resting. I had the cucumber and tomato salad in our "fridge". We had time for a cocktail before they arrived. We laughted and joked and talked and ate and drank. In bed before ten. As usual.

Wednesday, and we drove into town to introduce ourselves to the new administrator, Mr. Alexander Williams, and inform him of the sailing club, the new location for the clubhouse and all that. He was rather quiet, and seemed to be interested in the activity he sees on Saturday mornings on the beach. We got home just in time. The dark clouds gave way to thunder, then lightning and the heavens opened. Mark and I spent the afternoon playing cards, then set up the media centre to travel back to Rome. Yikes, they were ruthless.

Today, the winds are high, and you should see the Atlantic, it's as choppy and rough as I have ever seen it. It's also book club on the Cay. "The Usual Suspects" book club will be discussing "Misogyny, the World's Oldest Prejudice. Wouldn't you like to be a fly on the wall?

Tomorrow, it's passport picture time, and I have to send all the papers to Kingston, Jamaica. I wonder why the Canadian government is no longer in Nassau? I would like to know…..

What a weekend! Saturday's regatta was a success, with our Kenneth taking first place. Briland took second and third. Our Justin was elated when he was offered the use of Lawrence Griffin's new sunfish hull. He proceeded to take first place in that class. We had light winds in the morning, and after lunch, the winds picked up and made the racing in the afternoon exciting and had the growing number of spectators on the beach cheering. You can see pictures of the event under the news on www.governorsharbousailingclub.com. We didn't get home until after four, and had only a few minutes to recoup. Then it was off to Coco, and a perfect sunset as Mark played classical guitar. Sunday had us recumbant in the morning, and then packed up and headed to the BeachHouse at noon. The place was jumping. Mark hadn't played there since January, and we were told that people have been asking for him. We also sold three CDs. The beach was crowded, by Eleuthera standards. Got home around four, inhaled our paella and bbq ribs and settled in for a return to Rome, the HBO series.

We woke this morning to clouds and drizzle. Looks dreary after such a sunny weekend. Wonder what the day will bring…

Tomorrow, the winds are predicted to be in the NE, 10 to 15 knots….perfect for the Valentines Day regatta with Harbour Island coming down. I have ordered lunch for thirty, and must go out to get two more prizes for the Optimists. Sadly, we have lost one of our best sailors to the whims and unyeilding tantrums of her mother. She (the mother) also pulled the girls out of music lessons with Mark. It hurt a lot when all this came down a few weeks ago. So we will have two good Opti sailors and one who is just learning. Harbour Island is bringing six seasoned sailors, so we might have to eat humble pie. But the sunfish…now there will some action between Jussy and Patrick! We are giving the sunfish sailors cash prizes. That always gets them out on the water.

This afternoon I will be attending a "Meet the Author" event at a local restaurant. This woman wrote about living in the Bahamas and the book got published - don't know if it is self or not, but going to find out! - and looking forward to the afternoon.

Tonight, we will pass on the Fish Fry, and cozy up on the couch (it's still COLD with temperatures dipping to 55F last night) and take in a movie. Tomorrow will be rather busy….

Mark and I dressed up a bit on Valentines Day, headed into town and picked up our friend Eileen so she could join us for an afternoon meal at Unique Village. The place was full, with Dr. Seabreeze playing and buffet tables stacked with a variety of salads, main courses, and desserts. We stuffed ourselves. Groaning, we headed to the car (used her Volvo) and down further to Paul and Claire's Calypso. Gracious as always, we were offered more food (declined) cold beer (accepted) and chatted with their kids and grandkids. Eileen convinced us to join her and a few friends for paella at her place. We accepted. But, gosh, I hardly had any due to the sense of being so full! We got home in George around nine, and since we believed we would be back in daylight, we stumbled around in the pitch to get to the back/front door. Once in, and nightcap in hand, we slowly unwound and headed to bed. Monday, and Immigration was done, (we are waiting on work permits as sailing instructor -Mark, and swimming instructor - me) to the bakery for lunch, and home. I headed out for bridge, and Mark to John's. Last night, I convinced Mark to take me to the movies to see Sherlock Holmes with Robert Downey Jr. I thought it had spectacular effects, and I like the style of Guy Richie, but Mark didn't. Oh, well. Home by ten thirty and immediately into bed. This morning we woke to rain and another front. He had to wait until eleven before he and Javon could head out to South Point. I have been cleaning up, and doing writing exercises. Eileen and I will read each other's as we lunch in Spanish Wells, where I am headed on Wednesday.

Got to wrap up and print of the stories. Still looking for a publisher for Sailorman. Any suggestions, anyone?

It's Valentine's Day morning and here in the Bahamas, it is almost a national holiday. To bring you up to date, we did have to cancel the Regatta with Harbour Island. The front is still here, winds in the West, carrying a chill. We decided on the Friday to put word out that we will move the regatta to the 20^th of February. Many were disappointed, but if you had seen the harbour, the water churning and slapping the roads, with spray reaching ten feet and the colour a murky pale green, with long white caps. The sailors would not have even been able to launch. The day found us at odds, since we had done so much planning. Fingers crossed for next Saturday.

We didn't know what to do with ourselves - you know that feeling, when everything planned falls away - we picked up the makings for a good lunch (scallops sauted in butter with fresh basil and tossed with thin egg noodles) then cuddled up on the loveseat, we watched a movie - depressing - and took a nap around three. Mark and I headed out the door for Cocodimama's with a stop at John's. Mark has written the score for a piece they plan to put on their Christmas cd. They will meet up on Monday, for another jam session, while I travel to Palmetto Point for another hand of bridge. The drive home from Cocodimama was bracing to say the least. "George", the yellow truck, only has a bikini top which is fine in the bright sunshine, but chilling during the night.

Our week ahead is full, as usual. Monday is booked with the morning meeting with immigration for an extension on our visas, and a visit to the cyber café to see if PJ can burn Mark's music cds. The burner on this old computer is failing. Tuesday, and it's to South Point to take some plans for the recreation of "Beachcomber", the boat Mark is refurbishing. I need to do some measures, so I'll be with him. Wednesday, and I'm off to Spanish Wells with Eileen (we need resin for the fibreglass for Mark to repair our sunfish) while Mark continues with South Point. Thursday's too far ahead to see. There is another cold front on it's way, so our Valentine's Day regatta might be taking place on Mother's Day!

I'll keep you posted.

And what a day it was. First, I made the worst mistake in bridge possible! Imagine, the bid was five hearts, and when my partner laid down the dummy hand, she had five, and I had six, ace high. Stupidly I lead a low heart to get the other two out….with only two others out, I should have lead the ace, not the ten! I'll never do that again. While I was at bridge, Mark had a visitor. Young Javon (we travelled with him to Island School on his birthday December 18) had been to court, due to his driver's license had expired only for a few days. The police officer had come across to him, while he was sitting in his mommy's car, asked to see his license, and charged him to appear in court in a few weeks time. Last Wednesday he was charged and yesterday he was fined FOUR HUNDRED DOLLARS. Plus, he had to pay THREE HUNDRED before three o'clock, or - get this - he would be put in jail! He immediately went to Bob, who gave him two hundred and then up here to Mark, who gave him the last one hundred. Mark told me that our Javon was beside himself with a combination of anger and upset. Mark had listened, and calmed him enough so he could pay the fine. He also told Mark that the administor refused to listen to Javon as he told the court that he wasn't even driving at the time! How does this island, with the likes of drug lords who are not touched by the police, dare to fine an 18-year-old boy so much money for such a small infraction! Luckily for him, he has good friends.

We didn't do training sailing - rough seas and cold weather - and I attended the gathering. Great food (Indian buffet) and lots of laughter. Got home late, and in bed immediately. It was the warmest place in the cottage! We are waiting for weather reports closer to Saturday for to the St. Valentines Regatta. Another cold front is moving in….at this writing, the outside temperature is 65F, at nine a.m. bbrrrr

Just a quick note this morning. We have to get into town, check the bank account, solicit for prizes, put up more posters for the regatta, pick up a few groceries, canvas for someone to do lunch on Saturday for the sailors. Mark will drop me off at where I am playing bridge, then he'll head home. We have training sailing at four (fingers crossed). The winds are in the WSW, 25 knots, and it's humid. Another front, which we hope, will be over before Saturday.

Yesterday afternoon had us in the garden. Mark has cut a lot of the trees, enabling the wind generator to be more productive. My job is to haul the cut stuff across the road and into the bush. We worked for a few hours and then into the shower. We have to be careful about showering. We collect rainwater, and we are in the dry season at the moment. How quickly we can wet, soap and rinse! I'm off tonight to another gathering. This time, I know for sure it's just ladies. I believe this is the first time that I have been out without Mark twice in one week and we have been together eight years!

Time to do the dishes (Mark made crepes for us last night - yum), make the bed, brush the teeth and get dressed. The day awaits.

Yesterday, while at our friend's house, Mark uploaded and sent birthday wishes to his son living in England, and I sat with my friend on her balcony where she invited me to attend a gathering which I assumed was for a mutual lady friend. I agreed to attend, and she would pick me up at seven that evening. We had already bought the makings for our dinner (Mahi mahi, boiled potatoes - for Mark - and a tomato salad) so Mark was on his own for the evening. He did up the dinner, listened to his classical cd, and read this blog…beginning in early October. When I got home, he commented on it. Very positively. I'm blushing just thinking of it.

The gathering I attended did not have the woman I expected there. Instead, I was my friend's guest at the dinner party. Food was good, but I had little of the pasta and more of the incredible tomato sauce. No bread either. A few days ago, I felt that Christmas arrived on my body and I feel as fat as a cow. I laughed when Mark told me the other evening that I had a great body, but just a lot of it at the moment. Another thing….once the waters warm up, I'll be back to swimming daily.

Oh, John just arrived. He is a classical/flamenco guitarist and he and Mark play - jam, if you wish - every Tuesday morning. Either here or at TreeTops, John's house. They are planning to do a cd of Christmas music…it will be wonderful. Imagine, John's Spanish influence mixed with Mark's Bach. Beautiful.

Wednesday morning and the humidity is heavy. The winds have dropped, but the wind generator is pointed in the southwest. Indications of another cold front. It's 74F outside, and our plans for today are still a little fuzzy. We are starting our Wednesday sailing at four this afternoon. We haven't done Wednesday for a while. The sunsets now are closer to six, allowing the kids to get back to shore, de-rig and put everything away before dark. That also means Blue Room chicken snacks for supper. Sadly, I haven't seen Flier for months. I don't think he's around any longer. We have an older Bahamian woman in the area who leaves out bones laced with antifreeze. I just don't understand. And nothing can be done about it either. I believe that is how we lost the Flier.

Monday had us designing posters for the St.Valentines Regatta here in the Harbour. Briland Sailing Club (that's Harbour Island) is coming down to challenge us. It'll be fun, but I just have to find someplace to supply lunch for all the kids. And I have to go and knock on doors to get prizes for the Opti sailors. We decided to do cash prizes for the sunfish sailors. Tuesday was bridge day for me. Gosh, I sure love that game. Friends came for dinner last night, and we dined Asian style.

I hear Mark digging in the garden. He must be putting out more plants and looking for any deep holes. He uses his digger bar, and is usually quite successful. Our garden is looking wonderful, thanks to his efforts. But, we do have (again the royal we) an ongoing problem with termites. Nasty buggers.

It's Sunday and the last day of January - already. I have been writing this blog now for six months. I wonder if anyone has begun reading at the beginning? We are at the BeachHouse and Mark is playing - beautifully. I'm at the breezeway bar, watching the people come in. Sometimes, I greet and welcome them to the place. Mulit-tasking again. Today, the weather is brilliant. Full sunshine, soft breezes, and a serene clear blue Atlantic. Mark is playing Summertime, perfect.

The week flew by. Monday had us up in GregoryTown, and Mark taking on the challenge of repairing and tuning a baby grand. It took us the full day. We dashed home to be in time for some music students, who didn't show. Disappointment. Tuesday, and we were trying to get commitments from the Board of the Sailing club to meet the following day. Wednesday, I frantically cleaned the cottage, since the board meeting location changed to our place. We were also invited to a birthday party later. Well, only one member showed up (and he is the busiest of them all) so we had to cancel the meeting. We headed out to Tranquility Bay for John's celebration. A good time had by all. Thursday had me in the kitchen all day making fifty samosas, mint relish and a shrimp dip for another birthday party. Don’t mind doing all that for our Ian's 65^th. I took Friday off, spent the day doing this and that, reading, making more jewellery, and missing Mark, who was in North Palmetto Point. He has agreed to refurbish a 46 foot Hunter that washed up a few years ago. The rental property owner now wants the boat to be another accommodation. This will be fun, for me. A chance to do some designing. I consider it a welcomed challenge. Mark and I working together is also the most enjoyable way to spend time together. Just love that guy.

The weather is warming, and I hope my friend from Canada is coming to play -soon, I hope. She's going to love it here. I do so like dragging people new to Eleuthera to various beaches, and must do the Fish Fry….what a life. Oh, the BeachHouse is full. Is it Mark's music? Or the Sunday BBQ? Whatever it is, the combination is magical.

The plot thickens! During the last - yikes! - NINE days, we have been busier than a one-armed paperhanger (a favourite saying of my mum's, a mother of five). First, we, or rather Mark, got a cell call from the leader of the band from New Years Eve. You remember how upset I was with the reception we received that evening? Well, he would like Mark to join the band…Mark is animate that he doesn't, since his music is so different. But I suggested that he be a guest artist one evening when they played, so maybe he should attend a rehearsal. Any musician worth their weight can do "House of the Rising Sun" and some of the other popular pieces Mark performs. So, I'll keep you posted to this possibility.

Then, we got a call from Management at Cocodimama's. Would we stop by and have lunch soon? Are we still friends? That's where we are headed today, after Mark finishes with John. This morning I am sitting in the living room of John's place called "TreeTops". It's two stories, with two buildings. I do like the place, and I do like the layout. Wonderful views of the cold, grey Atlantic. We had a norther arrive in the night, and it's a bit chilly. Low 70's…. the bonus is listening to two classical guitars explore their capabilities. We just talked about recording a Christmas CD with the two playing everything from Bach to Silent Night. I think it's a brilliant idea, but I know I will be banished from the cottage while they record. My enthusiasm can ruin a recording, since I usually break out in applause.

We had sailing on Saturday, with four optimists and an old friend of Mark's, Doone, who rigged a sunfish and took some of our future sailors out into the harbour. Belive it or not, a few of my swimmers actually got into the cold water of the Caribbean. The Atlantic is always warmer in the winter.

This week is booked crazy. Yesterday, Mark and I headed to Gregory Town to tune - or rather repair - a baby grand that a friend secured. This was the first piano Mark tuned when he arrived here. It's a beauty and Mark spent the day getting it at least playable for the owner. We dashed home to be in time for the two sisters who take lessons on the piano and violin, but they didn't show. Disappointed, but fingers crossed, all is well with the family.

We headed to Palmetto Point with Deb and Rich (in their truck) later for two tables of bridge and a spagetti dinner. Great fun. I do so like the game. And Mark is getting very good! After lunch today, we head into town to deliver the agenda for the GHSC board meeting for Wednesday. I have bridge group at the Cottage in the afternoon, then the meeting and then onto a birthday party. Thursday, I'm in the kitchen making samosas and shrimp dip for another birthday party that evening. Mark will work on Angel, getting her rudder repaired and getting her ready for going back into the water. Saturday sailing and Sunday Beach House. Whew. We are also planning a St. Valentines' Regatta. That means I gotta go to business and get prizes and find someone willing to do lunch for a lot of kids….wish me luck!

What things that can happen in six days. My first disappointment was the "fridge". It must have been twenty years old, so rusty that touching it caused more to fall away. Wednesday, we lost the two of the remaining three bolts on the hub of the yellow trucks wheel, so we had to drive home, after bridge, very, very slowly. We were invited on Thursday to our friends home in Double Bay and I so desparately wanted to go. Mark spent Thursday fixing the problem, and I did yoga with a big ball. Then Eileen and I took lunch on the Cay. When we got home, the truck was fixed and our evening was on.

The couple had been renovating their home, which has the best bones I had seen. And not only did they supervise a great job, she also has a new kitchen, and it has actually improved her cooking skills. During our first tour of their newly purchased home five years ago, I kept calling her "you lucky cow" with the obvious great place they had bought. On Thursday, I called her "you very, very talented lucky cow". They had brought this home to life. Job well done.

Friday has us in, with Mark rehearsing and me devouring another book. I wish Tim would get back to Eleuthera so we could continue with Jack and the good doctor. We did get a treat, though. Claire showed up with the promised coleman cooler that uses 12v to keep it 40F colder than the outside temperature. Ureka! A frigde of sorts, but it will do us, for sure. Saturday, we had sails on the water, but the winds were high, and a few capsizes occurred and the optimists had to be towed in. A disagreement almost ruined the day. Got home, rested and packed up for Cocodimama. Mark set up on the deck and began playing for the people on the beach. He was very good, and people where coming onto the deck and sitting at the tables to dine, and listen to his music.

Then, poof! We were informed that we had to pay for our wine. Mark bristled. We have an agreement he said to management. Management said no more wine, unless we bought it. Didn't we see that only a few tables were taken? I couldn't believe it. Mark has repaired his boat and motor more times than I can count….they even came to our home for dinner!

We were packed and gone in minutes. No more Cocodimama. Saturday nights now belong to us.

Today, I am writing this at the breezeway bar at the BeachHouse and using their internet. I don't understand why the place isn't packed. It's a perfect day for staring at the calm, gently rolling surf of the brilliantly blued Atlantic, warm winds from the south (another cold front tonight) and hot sunshine. Oh boy, cars are pulling in…I guess they know where they should be…..where are you?

Thursday's dinner was a success, and the food disappeared rather quickly. I had made 34 samosas, and seven people devoured them. I also prepared a chicken masala (right amount of heat) and a poached shrimp in coconut ("sweethot"), with a yogurt cucumber salad to cool the palate. When there is nothing left but a few grains of rice, I take that as a compliment to my culinary skills. And the weather continues to be cold.

Friday, Mark was in the garden. This cool weather (I usually say cold, but I saw the satellite picture of the UK, and it's all white!) is ideal for the labour required. We did the Fish Fry, saw friends, but the noise level was too much, so headed home. Saturday was sailing, with only a few sailors, (toooo coooold!) and a Canadian couple, whose young son wanted to sail, so Mark launched the safety boat and Steven rigged a sunfish, and the young lad was aided by Mark to rig his. Rodney in the safety boat and Ashley on the committee boat with Mark. With only two sails on the water, we did do one race. I'm glad the community could see sails out on the water. We were back in business. We headed home around one, and I noticed that Mark's cheek was swollen. His face kept getting bigger as the day went on, and he knew it was an abcess in his gum. Ouch. We cancelled Cocodimama. By the evening, as we were huddled under the throws (temperatures hovering in the high fiftiesF) and Mark was in pain. He was up throughout the night, taking aspirins and on Sunday morning, I could see the swelling had spread. We have a friend visiting who is a doctor and he sent us some antibiotics, and his wife sent some paella (yum). He has been taking the pills, and this morning his face is reduced and he feels better. He will continue the programme and be back to normal for his session tomorrow morning with John. They are both gifted guitarists, with John's speciality being Spanish flamenco. And, tomorrow, John and Mark will travel to Hachet Bay after their rehearsal, and bring back to Skipper's Cottage a small gas fridge!

The Atlantic is dark, with plenty white caps, and the cold wind from the north is spinning the generator. The clouds are moving quickly, and the sun is beginning to loose its battle with the grey, low clouds. Got to get the shopping list ready, do up the dishes, make the bed and head into town to pick up supplies, and check the internet weather reports. Gotta find out how long this fridgid weather will last!

BRRRRR! On Tuesday night, the temperature plunged to 55F, and yesterday, I did break a sweat at my first yoga session, and huddled in my mohair throw (worn as a shawl) as I played bridge in the afternoon. Good grief, it's cold. Last night we hit 54F. But, then again, I got an email from a dear friend from my hometown of Thunder Bay, Canada, and she noted that it was -30C. So, should I complain? Yessiree!

We compared the temperatures from last year, and my memory serves me that it was cold as well, but not this cold. The lowest recorded was 58F.

What is interesting is that the hibiscus flowers, which normally bloom only for one day, have been open for the last three! Must be the cold.

I've got a lot of friends coming for dinner tonight. I'm glad I'll be cooking the entire day. It will warm me up.

The weekend flew by, and we barely kept up. Saturday was impossible to sail, with pounding waves crashing over the road in Harbour. So we headed home, and spent the day curled up, reading. We left around four to Cocodimama, with a stop at Steve and Cindy's to pick up an inflatable dinghy they kindly donated to the sailing club. Mark found it difficult playing, due to the constant blender noise, loudness of the bar group, and being told he was too loud. Boy, I had to calm him. I guess people just don't respect the fact that he has spent his life studing his craft. He doesn't want to play there any more. Or only when the clocks spring forward. He prefers to play out on the deck, where he can focus on the music. On Sunday, we cancelled the classical guitar at the beach house to attend a bbq at Windemere Island. Pish, let me tell you. The food was great

It was also a very cold weekend, and this morning, we braced ourselves to get out of our warm bed and step into 60F temperatures. It's still mid morning, with no sun, a fickle wind, and cold, cold air. I don't know where you are, but here, in the cottage, I have on socks, and am wrapped in a blanket as I write this. The computer is warming my lap, and we have to get up, and wrap up more to head into town. But, first, I'll put the menu together for our friends who are coming to the cottage on Thursday for an Indian buffet.

So, this week, we are back to music lessons, Blue room chicken on Wednesday, and the gang of friends coming to the cottage on Thursday. I believe we are heading into the new year with money in the GHSC bank, paying down the credit card, and looking forward to taking our sailors to competitions all over the Bahamas…possibly abroad?

The first day, and the wind is up and coming from the south west - a sure indicator of a cold front, the sun is shining and the sky is a clear true blue. Mark and I had discussed and decided to go to the Beach House for the New Year Eve party, but things didn't work out as planned. The band members ignored him and he felt the insult. We had one beer and headed back home. I didn't understand. Mark said that as soon as he walked in, he knew he would not be playing.

Guess he is too good.

Got home around ten thirty and poured ourselves a hearty tot of rum, and pulled out the calendar of the past year. We went through it, laughing at some things we did, and moaning at others we didn't. And as tradition insisted, he had to sit next to me on the loveseat and listen to the Scottish Tattoo. It pained him, I think, but he did it for me. Today, Mark is using a sextent, but he has noticed some of the bits are broken. Love to get him a real one someday. He has been practicing his guitar, and we are fairly lazy mode today. I'm preparing a Chinese meal for our early supper, then probably watch a bit of Six Feet Under. Tomorrow, it's back to our routine of racing Saturdays, gardening, soaking up the sun, fixing this and that.

We didn't get the crowd we expected for our Wine and Cheese, and last night was the second disappointment. I wonder what the third will be?

Yesterday, the day of our second Wine and Cheese afternoon fundraiser for the sailing club proved to be a disappointment. So few people came. A lot less than last year. The HACE fundraiser that was at Sky Beach last Sunday stole our thunder. They raised over seventeen thousand dollars. We raised two thousand dollars. I suppose it's more important to have an ambulance to take you to the airport than it is to support the dreams of the young sailors of Governor's Harbour, who can take the discipline learnt about how to sail a dinghy into their lives. I guess I shouldn't be so sad, but it's hard to understand. The Pet Pal program (spaying dogs and cats) raised over five thousand dollars at their event. Why are the local kids of less value? If you have been reading this blog since the summer, you know the work we have put into our sailors. We travelled up to Harbour Island, and did very well. We have competed in Nassau. Five of our best competed in Marsh Harbour in the Abacos. We need money for more boats, boat bits, engines, proper life vests, and travel to other competitons. Our opti sails are grey with age and use. If you stood on the beach on Saturday mornings and saw the little ones (eight years old and already completed the endurance swim) with too big life vests on, wanting to know why they don't have a boat to race in, I know, dear reader, you would have supported the Governor's Harbour Sailing Club yesterday.

But, on the other hand - as Mark would say - we did gain a couple of thousand dollars that we didn't have. We are heading into the new year with money in the bank, and the new clubhouse. I must thank those who did support the club…Boardmembers Bob and Roderick's generous donations, Kevin's painting, Darryl the bakerman for the breads, the Deli for wonderful cheeses, Susan's kind donation of more cheese, the good-hearted people who donated items for the silent auction and those who bid on them.

We also have to raise at least thirty thousand to renovate the new clubhouse building, so I have my work cut out for me. If you wish to help us, just email me or Mark for details on wire transfers to the GHSC bank account.

Tonight, we are going to the Beach House, and Mark will play with the band "No Jet Yet". I plan on having fun, and being Mark's groupie….hehehe

Happy New Year!

So much has happened in the last few days. We loved our quiet Christmas night, watching the Aviator, Mark's favourite movie, since Australia didn't work in our machine. Saturday was Boxing Day, and we were lazy, but we did head out to Club Med beach in the early afternoon and frollicked in the big waves. I had never before seen so many people on the mile long stretch of pink sand…had to be at least four or five groups. We headed home in time for me to relish a hot shower, and then dressed for Mark's performance at Cocodimama. Sunday, and we were to prepare the optimists for the regatta on Monday, but too many things got in the way. We decided to do it early on Monday morning. Oh, boy.

Mark played at the Beach House on Sunday afternoon, with dark and gray weather, but it cleared, and he was surprised at the number of people that kept arriving. They applauded at the right times, sold 2 cds, and we finally got home after six, in the dark, without a torch (flashlight). But the good thing is that Mark was asked to play with the Thursday night band for the New Year's Eve party. And he agreed. Yahoo, we are going out, and it's not only a full moon on the 31^st, but also a blue moon. So, whatever happens, it's not my fault!

Monday found us on the road before eight, heading for the Carroll's. Delphine is one of our best sailors, and we wanted her to come up to Harbour Island for the opti regatta. But, sadly, some person of small mind and cruel intentions had poisoned the family's two dogs. Her dad was to carry four optis in his huge truck. If he didn't go, then we all couldn't go. But, we convinced them to let Delphine and Malia to come, to forget the horrors of the last few days. Her dad let us take the big truck, so we headed into town and all the sailors were ready. We loaded five, towed the safety boat behind our yellow truck, with Jussy at the wheel, and me as passenger. Mark took kids and the optis in the white truck, and Roderick carried four of our little sailors in his car. Overall, fourteen of the sailing club members drove up to the Three Island Dock. Well, it did take time, since the optis had a tendency to slide and Mark had to stop a few times to secure them. The yellow truck lost its muffler. But we were all in great spirits. Jussy found the side slipway, had the safety boat in, and tied the five optis, stern to bow with each sailor at the helm of their own boat, and before you knew it, they were heading out across the water to Harbour Island. We secured the yellow truck and trailer, then piled into the white truck and headed back to the docks and took the ferry. We got there before they did, but the towing across got the opti kids excited to sail. All headed out around two, and three races later we had first place (good job Kenneth), second place (brilliant Delphine), with Rodney in fifth in a field of ten. Ashley and Yanni, our more novice sailors retired earlier. They found the choppy water a bit much. And Wesley, of the Briland Sailing Club took third place.

Again, Jussy was organized and we headed back around four with all sailors and optis secure and snug. Until the tire blew on the yellow truck, but luckily it stayed whole, but no rubber! We got it back into town, and after putting everything away (great kids, I didn't have to help at all) Jussy took the yellow truck to his place and promised to take it to the gas station for a replacement tire in the morning. We took the kids back to the beach house in the white truck, then ordered take away (unbelievable grouper fingers and so much!). We saw Delphines' dad there, and he told us to keep the truck, and he would take his daughters' home in his wife's car.

I don't recall exactly what time we fell, exhausted, into bed, but I am sure we tried to wait for nine thirty. The rest of the week, well, has the wine and cheese tomorrow - today's got me doing laundry in the morning, and collecting itmes for the silent auction tomorrow in the afternoon. BBQ tonight at John's, then tomorrow's fundraiser, then it's New Years Eve, and on January 1, we take the decorations down, and have a quiet day together - I hope! Saturday, we should be back to our sailing races, but the weather outlook has the high for Saturday at 70F…brrrrr

It could be classified as a snowstorm, if such a thing could happen here on Eleuthera. Yesterday, during the cloudy, windy day, we were in town picking up the last minute items and being greeted with season's best wishes by all we knew, and some we didn't! Around five, we found ourselves - washed and dressed up - driving through slanting rains to Eileen and Ians' to catch what there was of a sunset. I liked the way the low smudge of the sun was wrapped in a hazy glow as it descended into deep, heavy clouds on the horizon. Quite unusual. Well, the gin was passed around, and we were hugged and kissed. Then off to north Palmetto Point for a traditional Cuban Christmas dinner. I did like the quail eggs stuffed with caviar. Laughter and the clink of wineglasses filled the night. We made our way home, still in cold, driving rains. Not easy to keep dry in our "George", the truck, with it's rag top and gaping sides. Home to our cozy cottage, to admire our little tree, and topped off the evening with a "tot of rum". Mark is into Jack and the good doctor, and it was traditional in the British Navy to do so on Christmas Eve.

Today, we are travelling to Cocodimama for an early dinner. Poor Mark, all he wants is turkey, and it's not offered on the special menu. But, I have seen the menu and I'd love to taste the lamb. Today is also a constant stream of squalls coming in from the Atlantic and high winds as well. The sun may not be shining, but the wind generator is spinning away, charging our batteries. We will put dry towels on the seats in the truck, and head out around one. Yum. When we get home, and probably after our afternoon nap, we will set up the media centre and pop in the movie "Australia". Hugh Jackman. A different kind of Yum. No sailing tomorrow, as it's Boxing Day (big family day here), but we will load up the optis on Sunday, before Mark plays at the Beach House, since the club is travelling to Harbour Island on Monday morning. We have been challenged by their sailors. The nerve.

My best Christmas present? A lovely, long chat with Debby, trying to convince her to come for a visit in June, the best month to be here. Imagine, Deb, mangoes from the tree and pineapples as you have never tasted. Never mind the warm waters of the Caribbean.

Happy Holidays to all!

Last Saturday had waves crashing over the road and a truly unsettled sea. We did go into town and Rodney was there, with other young sailors. They swore that they could handle the water in their optis. God, its good to see such determination! But we convinced them that we couldn't even get the safety boat in, so sailing was off today. We headed home and decided to decorate the cottage for the holidays. The winds were cold, and the temp was hovering in the low 70's. We cleaned, and Mark sharpened the cutlas. We headed down the road a ways and found a whistling pine that was just the right size. Mark cut it down and we brought it back. I told him of the years in northern Canada, trugging through the bush, up to our knees in snow…sure is different now.

Got the tree (a sapling, really) upright, strung with coloured lights and Mark proceeded to hang the ornaments we have received through the years. We did the cockpit too. On Saturday evening we headed to Cocodimama for Mark's music. Wonderful and sold two cd's. Had dinner, then home around ten. Sunday was the Beach House and I don't know how he did it. The Beach House faces the direct winter blasts, and he played inside more than he did outside. Home before four, with nibbles in hand. Boy, it was cold that night. Lowest temperature was 64F!

I headed north on Monday morning with a group of winter resident ladies to partake of our annual lunch at the Cove in Gregory Town. Didn't get back until almost four, and Mark and I decided to have a quiet time in. Another cold night. Today, under heavy clouds and a constant northern breeze, we headed into town to alert the businesses that I will be collecting their donations a week from today. I can be most persistant, as the business owners have discovered. We have donated cheeses from the Banks Road Deli, a complimentary weekend at Pineapple Fields, something from Office General, Sophies Boutique, Rose Manor, the Sunset Inn, the Cove, etc. But the best bit is a painting donated for the silent auction by Kevin Cooper. There will be more, including one of my mermaids, and all kinds of goodies.

We have accepted an invitation for Christmas Eve dinner in North Point, and will enjoy the menu at Cocodimama's for Christmas Day. Boxing Day - Saturday - has no plans at the moment. It's a big day here, especially for families. Mark will play at Coco and do the Beach House on Sunday. We do have to load up the optis on Sunday as well, since we are travelling to Harbour Island for a regatta on Monday. Tuesday is collection day for the Wine and Cheese.

Phew.

A strong cold front is coming. It began yesterday, with high winds in the south, then the southwest. It's still in the west, and the possibility that we will not sail today is strong. We will travel into town for ten o'clock anyway, to see what the conditions are like in the Harbour. We stayed in last night, after our wonderful day with Javon. We met this engaging young man when he was twelve, and he stood just under my chin. We travelled, in his mommy's truck, all the way down to the Island School, wandered around, and I took pictures. We had lunch at the Cape Eleuthera Marina (not so good, really) and headed back around two in the afternoon. Just before Rock Sound, he stopped the truck and we took a path down to a small lake of salt water. He and Mark followed a path and discovered miles of caves. I sat by the water, tossing in rocks, and waited. When they got back, both were talking about the deep cave systems and the huge roots dangling from the ceilings. I asked Javon if we could stop at the Marketplace in Rock's Sound for some groceries, and finally got home around five. We invited Javon in, and sat to watch the sunset. It looked as though the clouds were on fire. As I hugged him goodbye, I stood under his chin.

We have much to do this coming week. Mark and I have to go out in the yellow truck and ask for items for our silent auction table for the wine and cheese fundraiser (December 30^th, at the Buccaneer from 2-5) and I want to ready the cottage for Christmas. Tuesday will be cleaning and decorating day. Wednesday is aqua fit at Sky Beach, then bridge here. Thursday is Christmas Eve, and we have no plans, as yet. Dinner on Friday is at Cocodimama, then no sailing on Boxing day, as we are headed to Harbour Island for a regatta on Monday the 28^th.

Music tonight at Cocodimama, and tomorrow at the Beach House. The weekends belong to Mark.

"I think you should know that you haven't written in your blog for a long time now," says Don, as he "skis" towards me at Club Med Beach this afternoon. I responded with, if you had the stuff to do, the places to go, the babies to kiss, you'd find you'd have to steal some to write. I thought I would do so tonight, as Mark is recumbent in bed, and it is after ten, but I see a red light, indicating low battery. Will continue when the sun shines….

Well, it's Thursday morning, the sun is shining and a light breeze freshens the air. I have had the ususal busy week. Let's see. Last Sunday was the Beach House music and Mark, as usual, was great. Home for the sunset and we talked well into the night about all the new people we have met. We were at a dinner party last Thursday and rubbed shoulders with the very interesting. Friday, well, we did do the Fish Fry, and home before nine. Saturday was racing, and it was a marvelous, exciting time. Mark played at Cocodimama Saturday night. Monday was laundry day at Eileen's, (loved slipping between clean sheets that night), Tuesday had us with Eileen, and we travelled to Palmetto Point to take a look at Lee's engine and his fabulous Grand Banks trawler. Then home to clean up for the Continental party. Whew. Got home a little later than usual, with a good supply of wine in the blood. Mark forgot his computer in the truck, and since we didn't put up the bikini roof - it rained. Poor man spent the day yesterday trying to fix his computer, which he eventually did. I headed out in the morning for my aquatic exercises at the Sky Beach pool with nine other ladies, had lunch with Eileen there, then onto my weekly bridge game. A good release of endorphines as the afternoon flew by. Bridge will be here at the cottage next week. Then Debbie and I walked Club Med beach, where I ran into Connie and Don. Are we on the same page?

Tomorrow, it's possible that I will travel to the Island School with Mark and Javon who will be celebrating his eighteenth birthday. He asked us if we remembered our own 18^th birthdays. I remember mine, as it was celebrated - illegally - at the country bar after skiing all day, back in Thunder Bay, where I'm from. Mark doesn't remember his, since he was tooling around London, with flowing locks, in a green kaftan, astride a motorcyle. Barefoot. I don't think he remembers much of the late sixties, actually.

It's just gone noon, and I am in the "cockpit", obviously with laptop and recumbant on the "chaise" (the twin bed, packed with pillows). The screens are open and the canvas awning is down. The breeze is a fickle 5 to 10 knots. Just enough to get the windgenerator spinning, and to dry the sweat created doing three hours of sweeping the entire cottage, cleaning the kitchen - as best it can be cleaned - stripped and swept the bedroom, put everything right, basically. Friends are dropping by to experience the cottage (another curious off the grid? kinda inspection). We will do drinks on the poopdeck. That is if the bugs aren't too bad at sunset. We can always sit in here, the screens keep the bugs at bay. And the view is really wonderul from where I sit. I can see the Caribbean blue on the horizon and Mark's handiwork everywhere. I love the punches of various values of pink - the hibiscus, the bougainvillea and the splashes of yellow/orange - a yellow hibiscus, and the barbados bush competing with the buffalo palm, the night jasmine bush and the hundred shades of green. We have the sail awning out, since the sun is more like a summer sun. It's pushing 88F. The tourists and winter residents are loving it, and the cool air of the evenings is just a bonus.

Governor's Harbour is dressing up for Christmas and the annual drive around town in the evening when everything is lit up is approaching fast. I'll take some photos and Mark can put them up on our website under the News page. But, for the moment, I will write up a list of those poor souls who will have me knocking on the door, looking for donations for the Wine and Cheese Fundraiser. We did rather well last year, and let me tell you, the club needs the money.

So, if you are visiting, please drop by for a glass of wine, and nibble some cheese while you put a donation in the life vested well, listen to some live music, and wander around the auction table, using the pencil in your hand. Oh, it's on Wednesday, December 30^th, at the Buccaneer Club in Governor's (up the hill from the yellow klick buildiing) and we, a few sailors and board members will be there from 2 until 5. Ten percent of the funds raised will go towards "The Clubhouse". I have already drawn up the renovation plans.

Into the new year, the newly formed Governor's Harbour Youth Assoication (Girl Guides, Youth Band, Sailing Club, etc) will be established as a non-profit organiation and the association will have to raise over thirty thousand dollars for the refurbishment of the new clubhouse and enclosed yard. We have got to get Angel ready for the water, too.

And I thought that 2009 was busy….sheesh.

It's not! The 8^th? Holy cow. Since I last wrote, I've been busier than a one-armed paper hanger. As noted, the board meeting was very good, and I did the minutes the following morning, with Mark and I delivering them in the afternoon. Thursday was home day, but we did travel to town for supplies. Friday evening we did the Fish Fry. Anchor Bay was hopping with the returning winter residents. I think I was hugged and I said welcome home quite a few times. It was great seeing Suzanne from Paris, Mary from Boston, Charles in for a quick trip to check on the development's progress. Home at a decent time with our dinner in hand. Not too keen on eating at the Fry, due to the sloppy habits Mark and I have picked up when devouring bbq chicken.

Saturday had us on the beach, with high winds, but we had ten sails on the water for the first race - optis included. It was a bit overpowering for some, and Elliot (eight years old) was being blown out to sea. The safety boat wouldn't start and Mark already had 2 optis in tow from the committee boat. Patrick, in his sunfish, saw the dilema, and sailed to him, took his painter and towed him into shore. Wow. The second race was only the good sailors, and with two optis (Kenneth and Delphine) battling it out on the course and three sunfish, two trying their best to catch the one way out in front. Patrick, of course. At the end of the second race, Delphine came storming up the beach to me, and as she stood in front, her fingers came up to my face, and she said "only an inch! He beat me by an inch!" then she turned on her heel and went to her opti to derig. Love it.

We only had a few hours before Mark and I headed out to Coco and he played outside on the deck, the first time in a long time. And he was good. Sold two cds! Home around ten, and hit the bed. Sunday morning was quiet, finding Mark and I on the loveseat reading Jack and the good doctor, til it was time to pack up and head out to the Beach House. Lotsa people there, and sold two more cds. He played for three hours and by the time we got home, it was legs up in the cockpit, watching the sunset, nibbling on our Beach House tappas. Set up for Six feet under, and headed to bed around nine. Its exhausting living in paradise!

Monday, and we were having Eileen, Mary, Gallager and Lee for sunset drinks and Chinese dinner. I, therefore, spent the day in the kitchen preparing shrimp ha gow, the never fail honey chilli chicken with a sesame asparagus salad. Not one bite left. It was a very good evening and as Mark and I finished our nightcap, we were discussing the complexity of human nature. Must be the effect of the books we are reading. Saying things like "Capital! Look lively there! Handsomely, handsomely….wish you joy!"

Today is Tuesday, and I have a bridge game at noon. I am walking to High Point (about a half hour stretch of the legs) and enjoying the company of Debbie, Linda and Donna as I open with twenty points! If only….One thing about the beginning of the winter, it's also the beginning of my weekly bridge game. I do love playing with humans instead of the computer.

I also want to note that the weather is unseasonably hot. The norther was weak, and the sun is very hot. It's eighty degrees before ten, and very little distinction between sea and sky. Rather unusual for this time of year. And I have got to get off my rear, do the dishes from last night, dress appropriately and head out via shanks mare. I also have a rather long list of things to do….the sailing club will have its second annual wine and cheese silent auction on December 30^th at the Buccaneer, and we have a challenge to beat the Briland Sailing Club (Harbour Island) on December 28^th. Oh, and I think Christmas is coming….

The Board meeting went well, and we have a new location. The old police residence across from the Government building is now officially known as The Clubhouse and will be accessible for the various youth groups here in Harbour. The primary tennant is the Sailing Club, and I have already done some floor plans. I also mentioned that once the building was repaired, I would like to have one evening a week to hold "Missy Manners" and I got a laugh out of the members. They actually think that ettiquette classes would be a good thing. Now, all we have to do (and this is not the royal we, but the community) is raise thirty or so thousand dollars to fix up the place. So, if you are visiting, please drop by on any Saturday morning in front of the library with an envelope full of cash….

We did get the Christmas packages off to Canada, but sheesh, at a cost of twenty-one dollars just to mail them out!

No Blue Room last night, due to the board meeting held here, and Flier was not impressed. With tail high, he loudly protested that there were no bones to crunch. The meeting concluded around seven, but the members stayed and talked and discussed and -off the record- had another drink. It was after eight when we were alone, and too late for cooking, so we polished off the rest of the salsa, cheese and chips. I'll do the planned chilli shrimp dinner for lunch today.

Yum, says Mark.

Into town later today to deliver the minutes (did that first thing this morning) and check emails and look at the weather. We have another norther around the corner, and the wind has shifted to the south. Already the weekend is looming, and it's a busy one. Sailing on Saturday, Mark's performance at Cocodimana that evening, and the Beach House on Sunday afternoon. Busy, busy, busy.

Wouldn't have it any other way.

It's the last month of the year, already. I began this blog in the summer, and for six months I have been sharing my life in the tropics, the people we meet, the things that Mark and I do - from the sailing, to weekends with Mark performing. Sunday was very good, and Mark played for more than three hours, and lots of people enjoyed it. Some, mind you, were rather loud while he played. The applause was well appreciated. We did sell two cd's and he did get a tip of five dollars. Sheesh. We had selected our dinner, headed home, set up the media centre and watched Six Feet Under as we nibbled on shrimp in tomato sauce, and pizza. We decided to take Monday off. Sure. We headed into town for lunch - a treat at the Buccaneer (great grouper burgers) - then shopped for Christmas gifts for the grandkids. Got back to the cottage in time for Mark to rehearse and then music lessons for the Carroll girls. Cocktails in the cockpit to watch the brilliant colours of the sunset, and we laid out plans for the week ahead.

Today, we have to package and mail out the gifts, prepare the agenda for the board of GHSC meeting to be held here tomorrow, and deliver it to the members. I know that the month will fly, as December usually does.

So, best get off my butt, do the work required, then ask Mark to clean up the kitchen while I wrap gifts and then we will race into town to pick up supplies, mail out the grandkids stuff, and head back home. We are using "George" now and I do admit to enjoying the waves and smiles as we tool around. The wagon has become to unreliable to use. I grew very tired of being stranded.

The weather is gently warm during the days, but I find it chilly as the sun dips into the Caribbean. We have put the quilt on the bed. Yup, it's officially winter in paradise.

It's Sunday morning, and it's cloudy, with a slight breeze. The ocean looks dark and forboding, the sky is littered with grey clouds and winter has arrived. It's cold. The events of the last few days have been crazy busy. We did do the American feast at Sky Beach, with a couple of other tables. I had Mark practicing his "American" accent by rhyming "American" with "gerkin". Laughter, let me tell you. Imagine an Englishman, with a proper pommy accent, trying to sound like a Yank. The meal was excellent (I do recommend the place) and very filling and we concluded with a very good Cuban cigar and brandy. Mark actually asked for a copy of the bill, so he could frame it. Friday only had two guests for Indian - with plenty left over for Nell to take back "up south". After spending the day tied to the kitchen, I must have done something right - four people ate 29 samosas! I think 3 were left for breakfast.

After dinner Mark and John pulled the guitars off the wall, and Nell and I retired to the cockpit with our nightcaps. Great evening, even though it would be an early start on Saturday morning. Nell stayed the night, so she could help Mark and the sailors while I tried to sell two weeks worth of work. Long, long day, let me tell you. Winter residents are back, and I spoke to a few. But it is so very different when you live here. At one time, I had looked upon most of them as friends, but over the years people - including us - change. I was in a difficult location out in the library yard, so I was more of a barker…."Come see my stuff!" and "Make me an offer!" Sheesh, here I thought I was the creative genius, with incorporating shells into the pieces, but I only sold a few. Mark's cds were much more successful. He was busy on the water, running races, and not hearing the positive comments. But what he should have heard were the ahhs and ohhs of the people as they lined the road to watch the sails on the water. Once the races were over, boats put away, and the lunch (supplied by the Buccanner) was inhaled, Mark then went back out on the water in the skiff and Justin in a sunfish, and got Michael's pulse racing as he learned to tack and ride the wind in his new sunfish - purchased by Michael after the world championships in Nassau. Mark convinced Katie, Michael's wife, to exchange with Justin and give it a go. Sailing is such an invigorating sport, and she took to it immediately. Boats washed down, returned to the clubhouse and we got home after four. Mark collapsed in the cockpit chair and caught forty. I tackled what was left of the dishes from the night before. We headed to Cocodimama just after six. The place was hopping! I always love it when Mark finishes playing a piece, and then the sudden applause almost makes him jump from his seat.

Well, here I sit, still in my sarong, and eyeing the clock as it heads up to noon. We will have to pack up again and head to the Beach House for his afternoon of classical guitar. Oh, we are religated to use George, the yellow truck, due to the inconsistance of service with the wagon. The weekend almost gone, already and - get this - Mark and I are sharing the next book in the Master and Commander series. I had to put it down, due to the weather conditions of the lower forties as Jack and the good doctor are taking the Surprise into the East Indies. Jack loves a good blow and is eager when the baramometer drops to indicate gale force winds are coming. Scares the hell out of me. And I have sailed across the Gulf Stream, in January, in a sudden squall that shredded the main and lost the halyard, in our 22-foot Westerly, "Angel".

Today we are going to pretend we are Americans. It's their Thanksgiving, and Mark and I are going for turkey and trimmings at Sky Beach today. Don't have a reservation yet, but I think we will be fine. It's also a break for me, since I have been working in the studio making jewellery for the Haynes Library Arts and Crafts fair on Saturday. I'll be selling Mark's cds, tee shirts for the sailing club, my stuff, and fingers crossed, we will be flush!

The next few days are busy, busy, busy. Friday, we will have eight guests for an Indian feast, samosas included. Saturday, Mark takes care of the sailing and I do the Fair. Saturday night, he is performing at Cocodimama, then Sunday it's the afternoon of classical guitar at the Beach House.

Last night was the Blue Room chicken snack, and the Flier was already here early this morning for his bits. Gotta love a cat that knows when the going is good.

It's heading to nine, and we have to make tracks to south Point to pick up the next few books of Master and Commander. Sure do miss Jack and the good doctor.

"Have you written in your blog today"

"No"

"I think you should write every day, you know"

"I'll write on Sunday, and report about the last few days, OK?"

Well, it's Sunday morning and we have had such a crazy busy last few days. Haven't updated since our wonderful evening with the Colmans. Wednesday had me down in the studio, designing and creating jewelery from the stuff the sister had brought down. I could be found at the studio every day, all day, and loving it. Creating and designing is a part of me, and the inspirations of living in paradise (noseeums included) has expanded my ideas. Friday had us at Cocodimama, but hardly any customers. They have to compete with the Fish Fry - every tourist seems a need to dance in the streets. But, around eight, some tables were occupied and Mark played. I sold two cds as well. Saturday, well, it's sailing and we had ten sails out on the water. I had done a stupid thing though. We had to launch the safety boat at the slipway and I was to drive "George" to the library. I did, and for some stupid reason, I put the ignition to lock. We have no key for the scout, not since the homecoming. But that is another story.

The sailors had to walk to the clubhouse and get the gear, and walk it back again. I had arranged lunch from the Bakery (if you are in Governor's on holiday, you must visit the bakery - the smell of fresh bread baking is heavenly). When all the boats were stored, and the kids gone, and with the help of Sean and Jussy, they took the entire steering column off, and after two hours of challenging work, got it fixed. I decided to walk home, but was given a ride. Mark got back around four, had a nap and then we readied for Cocodimama again. We are deciding which night to play (again the royal we, I just carry stuff) and have decided on Saturdays instead of Fridays.

Today, it's the Beach House for a couple of hours. I will try to flog more cds. We do ship them you know. The ideal Christmas gift, don't you think? The classical guitar is Mark at his best, and the "More Mark Adams" is an ideal clutch and grope. We do take paypal.

This week, it's the creating of Christmas ornaments with the pink sand that I make into a dough. I have a booth at the Library's Arts and Crafts fair next Saturday. See ya there?

Five days have gone by since I last wrote. The weekend has come and gone, with Mark and I on the beach on Saturday for sailing, but the winds were high and the water very choppy. Usually we have a few sailors showing up, but with the harbour so rough, the parents keep the kids at home. Even though we were going to race on the other side - Anchor Bay (where the fish fry is held). The waters were smooth and the winds would have made a great race day for the more experienced ones. Well, we headed home early and had a Saturday to ourselves. Mark is back playing at Cocodimama on Friday evenings, and the place was packed. Don't know who or what, but rumoured it was the Lenny Kravitz crowd. He did wonderful, considering the noise level. Sunday afternoon was at the Beach House, and the request was only instrumental, please.

Monday had me doing laundry, which is still on the line in town at Bajamar. Then, of course, it rained. Just as I put the last of the laundry on the line. Got home in time to make Chinese dinner and we were joined by Mark's sister in law, Claire, who also has the wagon. She is down getting Calypso ready for renters. We convinced her to spend the night, since driving on this island after sunset is a bit like Russian Roulette. She just left us, and I am waiting for the truck to be readied for Mark to take me into town for my laundry. We are invited out tonight, and I am looking forward to the conversations and laughter that the Colmans always supply, along with good food. Maybe a roast? Maybe Yorkshire pudding? Probably something English, which is what Mark misses. OH! I have received word that we could possibly be given a proper gas stove - oven included! We will have to change the kitchen around a little, but a stove! If it happens, I'll have to learn to make his favourite….Yorkshire pudding, anyone?

Time flies in paradise. Gosh, it's already Thursday. We have stopped the training of sailors on Wednesdays, since the sunset now is around five-fifteen, and its pitch by six. It will set earlier as the days head towards Christmas. The last few have been filled with heavy winds and now a norther is blowing through. Woke up to heavy rains. Our good friends, the owners of the cottage down in front are here for the week. They both are busy executives and try to steal a week a couple of times a year to wind down, fix up, and repair. Their cottage is constantly booked and I call it the their cash cow.

They joined us for sunset drinks on the poop deck. I put mountains of pillows up there so we could be recumbant while watching another brilliant sunset. They joined us for dinner (I did scallops, Thai style with noodles) and Mark and Doug did cigars. Mark's one weakness. Tonight, we join them at the cash cow for steaks. Good, thick, big bbq steaks. Yum.

We have also to make do with "George", the GHSC yellow Scout. The wagon has gone to its owner (Mark's brother) and we have to come up with some sort of alternative transport. Bicycle? Scooter? Shanks mare?

What a weekend! Life can't get any better than this, let me tell you. My last report was Friday, and Mark performed on stage that evening. He didn't have a lot of people in the audience, since it was six o'clock, but those there were singing along with him. Didn't sell one cd though. But you can buy one online! We do take paypal. I discovered that he was "bad". Quite a few people came up to me, with thumb up, telling me that Mark is bad. Apparently that means he is really good. Don't I know it!

On Saturday we had invited the Harbour Island junior sailors, known as Briland Sailing Club, and they brought six optis and sailors competing with our four - and it was most impressive. Many thanks to board member Roderick for organizing it. The homecoming committee did supply lunch, and the kids had a great time. The winds were high, and a number of capsizes occurred (none of our sailors), but the races had people standing on the road, cheering them on. I believe that we (the GHSC) impressed the challenging sailors, as well as the accompanying adults. Mind you, one of their best took first place, with our Delphine and Kenneth taking second and third. See "news" on the website for pictures. The day was wonderful, and the winds were high for optis, gusts over 25 knots. All the sailors did their best, and had a fun time doing so. We stayed after the awards presentation, to get a dinner from Dolly's Kitchen (bbq chicken - very good) and got home around nine. Rumour was that the homecoming rocked til three in the morning.

Sunday, and we had the sunfish out. The winds had picked up, so the gusts now were in the 30-knot plus range. Three races later, Patrick took first place, Justin in second and Ashton taking third. Watching them sail was breathtaking. These sailors handled the wicked conditions as though it was an easy thing. Even Nell, who was on one of the sunfish, and placed fourth, told me later that at times she couldn't control her boat, but just let her sunfish take over. At the stall, where I was, the winds knocked over everything, and I was forever chasing brochures, cds, the decals, and sometimes the gusts were so strong, the five gallon donation jug, with lifevest attached, flew across the booth. We picked up some pizza from Mate's and headed home. I trust that the presentation for the sunfish went well and the people cheered for our sailors.

It's Monday morning, and we have invited the Carrolls to join us for a Chinese dinner tonight, and we will drop by and invite Nell as well. I'm rather elated about our homecoming weekend. Our sailors did us proud, and we did make a little money for the club. What we did do was make the people of Governor's see what GHSC, and our sailors, are capable of. I think we will have a whole new bunch of kids on Saturday. I loved it. But it's time to get back to the routine of living in paradise. Dishes, sweeping, cleaning up, making the bed, and into town for groceries. I'll start cooking this afternoon. The winds are still creating power, and the freezer is on. Ice, we are making ice! God, I love it here.

The official beginning of the Governor's Harbour homecoming was yesterday. We were assigned a booth, and instead of working with Mark and the training sessions, I was down in the park, getting the GHSC image projected in the booth. No worries, though. Nell has moved up to Governor's and was there and a great help.

There was a door in the clubhouse I had Mark bring, as well as an outdoor table he had built at the cottage. With our sign from the clubhouse door secured in the front of the booth, and the driftwood stand Mark made for his three cds, things were taking shape. I made a list of what I needed for today (ropes, photos, shirts, etc) and will spend the afternoon finishing the booth. We will be down there for dinner tonight. Almost all the other booths are for food! Only, so far, the one to the right of us is games, and I don't know what will be on the other side. The only thing that drives me mad is the volume of the music (is it music or yelling?) from the stage. And the hundreds, maybe thousands of dollars worth of equipment.

Mark will be home today, working on the engine of the committee boat, which for some reason isn't working. I also have to organize the various sailors to man the booth throughout the weekend. Oh, yes…we have Harbour Island Sailing Club joining in the Optimist races on Saturday. Should be a grand sight, possibly fourteen sails on the water! Mark will be running the races and I will be on shore with Arthur Turnquest relaying the information of who is in which boat, and the like, while Arthur announces with the roving mike. Hopefully, people will line the road to watch.

Time to select sailing pictures, and collect the stuff on my list. Into town for uploading, and breakfast for Mark. I had slipped from my "no whites" diet (no potatoes, rice, flour, sugar etc) and as I pulled on the linen dress, it was SNUG….sheesh. So last nights Blue Room was my last for a while. Sob.

I had written all about Halloween, and the sailing, and friends, only to discover that I had "downloaded", not uploaded. So, I'll try again…

Saturday was sailing in the morning, and we had two sunfish neck and neck for the entire race. The optis did their best, but with a wind shifting from all directions, it was tough on the little ones. Yanni finally won a race, through pure determination. His mum donated pizzas for our lunch, which was gobbled up in minutes. I do so like the generousity of people. We got home around twoish, and Mark stretched out in his chair and caught forty. I had convinced him that we shouldn't do Fish Fry on Friday, but go out on Saturday to the Beach House for their Halloween party. By the early Saturday evening Mark was dressed in a black tee and black slacks and I had on my Tommy Bahama. I had two large brown grocery bags which I had drawn Popeye on one and a rather overweight Olive Oyl on the other. When we got to the restaurant, we put the bags over our heads and walked in. Laughs all around, as I commented that I (Olive) was finally menapausal. We had a great time among the draculas, vampires, zorros, hippies, duck hunters, cowboys, and a little spidergirl. It's good when kids are involved, don't you think?

Sunday morning saw us hurling down the Queen's Highway toward south Palmetto Point. I had borrowed "Master and Commandor" from a friend, and had inhaled the book. Mark is now reading it, and I have to read the next one, "Post Captain". It has been quite a while since I have enjoyed such a series. Tim has the entire collection! Capital! Jack and the good doctor do have the adventures…

We spent the afternoon at Hidden Beach, but the waves and swell were too strong for us to dive in. We tried the pools again, but the waves were quite demanding. We sat on the beach, with wine spritzers in hand, and then one wave knocked the glasses out of our hands and dragged us up the beach. I loved it. The pounding of the surf, the colours - from emerald green to sea foam white - the warmth of the sun, oh…heaven on earth. How I love our Sundays on the beach. Got home, showered and enjoyed a dinner of rosemary (I have a hedge of it along the side of the cottage) chicken. A round of scrabble (ouch, I lost big time) and then called my brother in Canada to wish him many, many more birthdays to come. He sounded so good. And happy.

The time change caused me some concern. I always have a hard time with the darkness so early. It takes a couple of days for me to adjust. Sheesh.

Monday. Into town for supplies, discovered my error online, and resolved to ensure I do it correctly next time. Mark's rehearsing twice a day, preparing for his performance on Friday evening at six. We are focused on the sailing club's activities during the homecoming this week. We will have baked goods and our club tees and polos for sale at the GHSC booth, as well as Mark's cds.

Did a Thai dinner, and finished season two of Six Feet Under. That Fisher family is something else. It's Tuesday morning, and I have dishes to do, a bed to make, a floor to sweep and a little reading. Better do some dusting as well. Look at the size of that spider web!

Today, I designed the covers for the new cds. I went with royal purple for the classical, navy blue for the More Mark, and we have the first one in bright green. I do get a fine feeling when I have created a visual, and Mark's reaction is very positive. Now, all he has to do is build a stand for the cds. Must have them on display at the GHSC booth.

I don't want to do Fish Fry tonight, but go to a Halloween party at the BeachHouse tomorrow night. I have to think of some sort of costumes. I will let you know what we will be turned into. Then Sunday, it's a call to Canada to wish my baby brother many happy fifty-seven returns!

Gosh, it's suddenly getting darker, and I can see a squall coming in off the Atlantic. We have to head into town soon, to upload and email. Sailing tomorrow, and I don't know how many kids will make it, due to the library's party, and a walk-a-thon for the Cancer centre.

I am also noticing how quickly the month has sped by - again.

I'm sitting on the dock in Harbour, and Mark has put together the dolly for a new sunfish bought by a friend of ours. We will secure it in the clubhouse, and I really like the look of this dinghy. The sail is the colours of the Bahamian flag, and it is in mint condition. Seems a perfect way to end our busy day.

Nell came to Wednesday's sailing, and once we picked up the Blue Room, we headed home and had a great evening. It's really nice having young people around. We discussed her move from Deep Creek to Governor's, so we might just arrange something for Sunday. We will have to borrow a vehicle, since both the yellow jeep and the station wagon wouldn't make it so far south and back.

The week has been busy with converting the house into a recording studio and Mark laying tracks. He finally nailed "Unchained Melody", a difficult vocal and his rendition of "More" is near perfect, so we are calling the second cd "More Mark Adams". Then today, he laid the tracks of all his classical guitar pieces, and we now have a third cd "Classical Guitar at Skipper's Cottage". Just have to make enough copies to sell during the Homecoming. Mark is performing on Friday at 6pm, and again on Sunday at six. And with any luck, we will sell out!

After the long trek to north Palmetto Point to look at the possibility of refurbishing a boat, and checking Mark's brother's house, we headed back and had a quiet night in, at home, listening to the new cds….heavenly. He is very good. And the Thai basil chicken was good too.

It's been quite the weekend. Did the Fish Fry on Friday, even though the rain came and went, and came again. Good thing we always keep an umbrella in the wagon. We sailed on Saturday, with only the new sailors and two older ones, totalling nine sails on the water. And there was a gathering of marching bands at the park. We knew that our older sailors would be in the Youth Band, participating. While Mark played "follow the leader" with the optimists (he finally got to sail a sunfish) the ferry from Nassau arrived with lots and lots of kids with their musicial equipment. Had to have been at least five or six bands. They took their time, strolling down Haynes Avenue, watching the sails. Lunch for the sailors was donated, and we didn't get home til well after two. Made a Chinese fish dish for dinner, talked, laughed, talked more and then through the window to bed. Sunday, our lazy day, was taken up with a quiet morning, and the re-arranging of the cottage. It no longer looks like a house now, but a recording studio. We put the dining table tight in front of the sliders, the loveseat tight to the pony wall in front of the kitchen, and took the telescope into the cockpit and the wicker chair is deligated to the outdoors. Mark took his mike stand and placed it in the middle of the room, for the best acoustics. The computer is on one of the end tables, at his fingertips. The piano stool has moved as well, with his footrest in front of it. We tested for sound and found the exact location for the mike. After some fine tuning, he is ready for the week ahead.

Today, Mark begins to record for the second cd, and we will keep the front room as it is until he (and me) is satisfied with the quality of sound. He did record the homecoming song yesterday - now titled "Eleuthera is Hailing Me" and I will put this copy into the hands of the chair of the committee for their use as a marketing tool. I, well, I have to be quiet - almost impossible - so I will head to the studio and begin creating. Perhaps make some earrings, or paint, or design the sign that I will create for the new location of the Governor's Harbour Sailing Club. It's official, we have the old police house opposite the government buildings. Just got to raise enough money to renovate it. Sure. Anyone got an extra thirty thousand dollars?

We didn't even do theory, or knots. The winds were gusting to 30 knots, and since we only have the eight-year-olds on training day, we passed the word through the local sipsip that we cancelled sailing. I got a call from Nell, and she couldn't make her way north, due to meetings. So, we phoned in our BlueRoom order for pick up, had a civil cocktail, then drove into town for it, took it home, and became carnivors. The evening passed quietly, watching Six Feet Under. Mark wasn't in much of a humour, though. He took it upon himself to do a bit more on the sucessful battery arrangement he concocted, trying to get it to fit better. I was on the chaise, writing, as he came into the cockpit, looking as though someone had run over his puppy. With a very long face, he showed me the tiny drop of soder on the circuit board of the battery. It will never work again, he moaned. I was up on my feet, hugging him so. Back to the big battery in the back of the wagon, with the inverter, he sighed. He only had freedom of it for one day.

Things looked up Thursday. We ventured to Palmetto Point in the morning to meet with Rosie. She does trophies and the like. We designed what we wanted for the Homecoming races - optis, sunfish (medals, since the winners get cash prize) and the swimming. We did errands, and Mark took me out for lunch at the Buccaneer. We decided on the Buccaneer because they support the sailing club with lunches. Back home to prepare for the homecoming committee meeting. I had convinced Mark to perform the Homecoming song for the committee, so he spent the afternoon rehearsing. Didn't do dinner, since we had such a huge lunch, left for the meeting around six thirty, and got online before we had to attend there for seven.

We were well received, the costs of the trophies were approved, the purse for the sunfish was approved, the bake sale at the GHSC booth approved. Then Mark took his guitar, the Lady, and began to strum the intro. Jaws dropped, shoulders swayed, and huge smiles all around. Mark was quite taken back with the thunderous applause. Could he make a cd? It's perfect! He's playing on Friday and would he play again on Sunday?

I think he kinda forgot the battery loss.

Yesterday was spent with the freezer on - the winds have increased steadily - and Mark engrossed in creating a battery for his computer by taking apart all the other batteries he has. It took him the best part of the day, but he succeeded! Now, when we go to find a connection, he no longer needs to take a charged big battery and an inverter to plug his little laptop into. The battery he had only lasted three minutes. Now, his computer can be on its battery for an hour and a half. Being self reliant, using bits of this and that makes life here easier for us. Mark is quite clever. He is the one who created our electrial system of 120-volt as well as 12 volt. He has asked his sister in law to bring us a 12-volt cooler to solve our refridgeration problems. He'll wire in an outlet in the kitchen, then we will have a cool place for the butter, eggs and the salad stuff that withers as you look at it if it's not chilled. With this wind, though, we can have the freezer on for the day, and the freezer packs go into the regular cooler later.

Last evening was quite good. We listened to his cd he recorded in June, but we didn't use it due to the mocking bird accompanying him in a few numbers, and the cassadillas shrill almost throughout. He can't hear the high pitch, so he wasn't aware of the background noise. But it was a good exersize. He has compiled the twenty new pieces to record, including our song, and then he can copy all the classical guitar pieces onto another cd, so he will have two new ones. Perfect, and in time for the homecoming.

The batteries are full. The freezer is on. It's Wednesday, so Blue Room tonight, even if we don't sail, we can do theory, tying knots, and name that part of the dinghy.

Time to clean up and go out.

The official first day of winter, for me anyway. The wind, blowing hard from the north, gusts over 20 knots, grey skies, and the temperture when I got up this morning was 74 degreesF! Run, get the socks, the sweaters, the throw from the bed! Bundle up until the sun shines again. Heavens, as Mark would say.

We did our lazy Sunday, and I had prepared our Indian dinner in the afternoon, letting the spices blend, had boiled and tossed the potatoes in turmeric for frying when it was time to eat. Mark played while I prepared, and we sat in the living room, in awe of the storm, watching the Atlantic churn. We played scrabble in the late afternoon. Mark shouldn't have told me the strategy he uses, since I used it and beat him bad. Once the rain stopped, we made ourselves our cocktails and did a tour of the gardens. Mark is doing a great job, and we have spreading lawn, blooming bushes and leaping palms. It was nice to be outside, after being shut in for most of the day. Both seas were very choppy, and you could smell the rain coming, again.

Dinner was good, well Mark had two helpings, and once again, we went Six Feet Under. Funny show, that.

Monday - cleaning day. I am glad we designed the cottage to be large enough to wander, but small enough to clean in under a couple hours. We have to go into town first. Got to take a photo of our new treasurer of the sailing club, drop off a letter to a board member trying to raise some cash for the club, do lunch and home in time for me to sweep, straighten, and sort. Mark was to start recording his new cd, but with the wind generator whirling, the flapping of the awning, and the other sounds would probably be picked up by the mike. So he will rehearse. He is playing on Friday at sunset for the Homecoming. And his song that I had written the lyrics for? WOW. He's done a great job with it. I can't get the melody out of my head!

You'll love it. I think we'll call it "Eleuthera's Hailing Me"

It's Sunday and I can still hear the rumbling of the thunder in the distance. We both woke in the early morning hours to driving rain, crashing thunder and vivid lightening, which lasted until dawn. It's that eerie half-light now, and the day will probably be spent indoors. It's hard for Mark to stay put. So, I'll count the number of times he wanders from the cockpit, looking out to the Caribbean, and then head to the front room, watching the Atlantic white caps coming in from the north. I believe this is our first "norther", a little early in the season. Let me recount the weekend….

Friday we hung the awning, and it's wonderful. When it's down, the cockpit takes on the blue hue, so Mark dubbed the space our own BlueRoom, but without the chicken. When it's up, we can see the colours of the garden, and the sense of sitting outdoors, but safe from the bugs. I love it. Friday night was a date night, so we cleaned up, added a bit of bling, and went to the Fish Fry. I danced on the street with the kids, most of who are our new sailors. It was great fun, and we had ordered the bbq chicken to take home. I had a lot of laughs, especially watching the James gang dancing away.

Sailing Saturday. Well, it was quite the challenge, not exploding at the kids. Jeez. It took almost two hours to get seven sailors rigged and ready to go. The winds were high, so only the seasoned sailors went out. It was an exciting race, but two gave up. I don't understand quitters. Never have, never will. How can I change that attitude? What is the secret to instill that sense of accomplishment? If you have any ideas, let me know. After the race (only one, but Mark made the course huge - every corner of the harbour had a bouy) Justin and Patrick organized the sailors, and the swimmers, to rinse off the boats, neatly wrap the masts, rinse of the tillers and daggerboards, headed back to the clubhouse. We did have a few frustrating moments, but by the time lunch was given out (Thanks to the Buccaneer) the kids had settled down. Everyone was at sixes and sevens. We got home, and it was time to listen to the quiet. I did have to go back into town for the makings of dinner. Fish and chips, but by the time I started to cook, it was only the fish with dipping sauces I concocted. Set up the media center, and went Six Feet Under. I tucked Mark in around nine, but I watched a bit more.

I am leaving the dishes in the sink, the bed unmade and heading into town. Want to get this uploaded and pick up supplies for the day. Another week behind us and a busy one ahead. Homecoming Committee meeting, selection of trophies, printing of posters. Love it.

Mark and I did choose to live here. It was a matter of beginning our life together either in Vancouver or Eleuthera. That was about a two-second discussion. We first lived in a garage on his brother's property for about two years, and finally found our acre of paradise on a hilltop. It was another two years of hard work, clearing a bush so thick that I couldn't see Mark only a few feet away. Hauling concrete blocks from the road to the site.

We are enjoying the fruits of our labour and do take the time every morning to plan our day. Yesterday, we picked up the canvas that is going to be the new awning for the cockpit. It's that bright nautical blue and we plan on adding grommets, and use Mark's ability with ropes to hang it in place. It' going to look great.

We are spending more time now in the cockpit, with the changing season. It' cooling down, and the sun is setting into the sea. The colours are dazzling. We may not have the new four wheels, the stocked drinks cabinet, or the delicacies from the Deli, but we have each other, full days and entertaining nights. All done on a small pension.

No Flier last night. Usually our feral cat is sitting on the front deck on Wednesdays. He's probably doing what cats do, then he'll be back, I'm sure.

We had eight sails on the water and good training weather for the new sailors. Bella went out on her own for the first time, which was great. All the optis did well, due to the light winds. Delphine has graduated to a minifish and loves it. We had an extra pair of hands named Nell, who is staying in Deep Creek and is an instructor of swimming, and loves to sail. She is also doing a paper on swimming in South Eleuthera as well as volunteering at the school to assist with reading. Her course is called "Swim to Empower". I had met her, and her parents, last Saturday. Remember? "I thought I was quite the blabbermouth" She was a great help to Mark and I kinda relaxed a bit with some of the mothers. Bella's mum was bursting with pride, and making sure Bella didn't see. I convinced Jude to try Blue Room chicken. She constantly has her eyes on the three of her little boys, playing in the surf, while her eldest, Elliott, successfully sailing the course.

I believe that Nell was quite impressed with our sailors. She came home with us last evening (it's a long, long way to Deep Creek) to spend the night. So it was three BlueRooms and she cleaned her plate. We had drinks before dinner when she revealed she was twenty-two. Yikes. We thought she was fifteen or so. We settled in with gin and sonics and great conversation. She pointed out that what we were accomplishing was taking away the stigma of sailing as a sport for elitists, and proving that anyone can sail, if they want to. Nell just graduated from college in May with a major in Anthropology and a minor in Art History. Brilliant, I said. Then, Mark pulled his guitar off the wall and did the first of the Tarrega studies, let the applause die down, then his arrangement on the guitar of "Pianoman". I think that's when Nell's mouth gaped a bit. No, it was when he did the theme from the "Deerhunter" on the piano. I couldn't believe it was reaching 22:30, so it was time to retire - Nell into the cockpit and us through the window to bed.

This morning, after coffee and toast, Nell wanted to see our Hidden Beach. I lent her sensible shoes, and Mark pointed her in the right direction. When she returned, she rinsed off at the outdoor shower, and sat on the front deck, staring at the ocean, lost in thought. She had never been to a place that has views of both sides, she said, sitting now in the main room. She checked her watch and said she had to get going to get back for 16:00. HitchHiking isn't that bad, she insisted. Done it many times. I gave her a straw hat (her mother was telling me to do so) and drove her into town. Hopefully she'll be back Satuday with a few swimmers from the south. I'll keep the room ready for Wednesdays for sure.

Yes, this is the life I live. Finally.

Didn't do the experiment in regards to the toaster oven. Its capacity is that of an oven, not a broiler. So, it was poached Chinese fish. And it was delish! But the best news of the day was that Mark had successfully operated on "George", the yellow truck, and he is now out of intensive care and zooming around with a new heart! Mark also patched the hole in the muffler, so the truck even sounds better. What a clever man is he, and he belongs to me….

Another good thing was a visit by Suzanne (the bride). She's back from the honeymoon - didn't make it to Paris, but ended up in Cancun Mexico and they had a fabulous time. The lady also brought us gifts. Sheesh, there was no need to do that. But I do like very much the little brightly painted lidded jar and box. I put them out on the dining room table. I am at a loss of words when people are kind and considerate.

It's Wednesday, so, it's sailing this evening and Blue Room chicken. I bet we get lots of sailors today, because we drove through Governor's in George last evening. Lots of waves and thumbs up. We will head into town early this morning, due to nothing for breakfast in the house, and I can hear Mark's stomach growling from here.

It's Tuesday morning, and the wind is from the east at 14 knots, as it has been for the last couple of days. This, to me, is perfect weather. I have all the windows open, the cockpit has all the plastic up, and this is where I am sitting. I'm on the, well, twin bed piled with pillows, which is a kind of chaise. I can look out to the gardens and the sound of the wind generator tells me that the batteries will be a great help for tonight's dinner. We do have a small toaster oven, and I plan on broiling some fish fillets, after marinating them. I will boil some egg noodles for Mark, and I'll have a small salad. I have been slipping from my "no whites" rule. I have made an art out of ensuring our evening meal is interesting and tasteful for as little money as possible. Last night, though, I turned the kitchen over to Mark. What the man can do with eggs is positively elegant. His scrambled eggs are creamy, rich and smooth. I had finely chopped the last of the green onions as a topping for the eggs on buttered toast.

We had tried our hand at Scrabble earlier in the evening, and Mark beat me heartily. After our dinner, we set up the media centre in the cockpit and continued with the HBO series "Six Feet Under". I had watched the first season, much to Mark's disappointment. He didn't find the program at all interesting. I sure did. Then, I began to tell him the funny bits, and the family structure and now we catch two episodes each evening. I love to hear him laugh out loud, which he did a few times.

Oh, yes! George's starter motor was donated (praise the lord) via Todd and family yesterday. Only problem is that the sailing club hasn't the funds to pay for the work to replace the starter motor, so Mark will do it himself. The family of four had a good look around, and asked many questions about living off the grid. Most young people are very interested in how it works. I don't think we could afford to live here if we didn't create our own energy (friends complain of electricity bills over seven hundred dollars per month!).

Well, time to wash up, head into town for our daily supplies and be back before mid morning.

Yes, life does get better. After we got home from town with our supplies for turkey sandwiches, chips, deviled eggs, and the chilled champagne (it's Thanksgiving back in Canada, so I thought the menu appropriate), we packed the tarp and towels in Mark's backpack, and I took the insultated cooler. Mark also had the machete, since we hadn't been down the path for a very long time. It isn't as easy as it sounds. It's rocky, steep in places, with overgrown bush slowly taking over. Mark slashed and I, hiking behind him, shoved the branches and fronds off to the side. It took a while, and slow going, but we finally reached the road. A short walk north to the location of entry to Hidden Beach where we fight our way through a dense forest of seven foot tall grass. It was just amazing, really. The wind was high, the sun bright and the sound of pounding surf exciting. Once on the top of the burn, we saw that the shelter was still there. We trugged through soft sand to the end of Hidden Beach and begin to set up. With the winds, attaching the green tarp to the frame was an exersize in agility. We succeeded and we sat for a moment, under the shade. Heaven. First, of course, was the champagne to pop and with all the jiggling to get it here, the cork exploded from the bottle and Mark did not spill one drop. After feasting, and resting, we wondered down to the sand pools. This is very secluded, and we sat in a large pool and laughed as the waves wash over us. The sand was so soft and the pools were large enough that I felt I was swimming in sand. I rolled onto my belly and convinced Mark to join me, but wouldn't you know it, the seventh wave hits just at that moment and his legs are dragged over some coral. Ouch. Scraped both knees. I felt so bad for him, but he grinned and told me I was a siren, who lured him onto the rocks! I protested, but was hugging him as we both sat again, facing the sea, in our comfortable pools of sand, loving the way the waves break over the rocks in front of us. We talked about how no amount of money in the world could replicate this. Our "couples only" renters, if we ever get an inquiry, would have written instructions on how to discover this little piece of paradise. If Mark and I can hike the trail, then surely younger people would dance down to the road.

Sadly, Mark points out that it's closing in on four o'clock, and it's the hike back to remember. We slowly pack up, but decide to leave the empty champagne bottle at the shelter. We carried back a few beach treasures, and, I must tell you, the climb up is easier than the repelling down. And near the top of the trail, as the vegetation thins out, you come upon the studio, then the gardens and finally the cottage. We are still a bit in awe that we had built all of this ourselves.

But, mustn't speak too loudly of how wonderful our life is. The gods might be listening.

The last two days have been an emotional rollercoaster. Friday was riddled with disappointments. Music students, who didn't show, didn't call to cancel or explain. Stocking up on supplies, and finding that the wallet got very thin, so it was staying home Friday night, watching a bit more of the documentary of war at sea. Depressing. I was truly looking forward to Saturday, mostly because it was Mark's birthday. October 10^th began with sailing and we had the opti's out. George is still out of commission, so we loaded the bouys in the back of the wagon, headed into town for the ten o'clock start. We had only a couple of young sailors at first, and with no trailer, the kids had to walk to the clubhouse and carry the bits back. And they did. I met a young woman on the beach who is teaching swimming in the south. Nell has offered to assist us on training Wednesdays, and sail as well on Saturdays. Her parents were visiting for the weekend, and I told them the life story of the sailing club, me and Mark, our cottage off the grid and after they had left, I thought I was quite the blabber mouth. OMG, I hope I didn't leave them with the wrong impression! Anyway, the races, with five optimists, one minifish and one sunfish were fun, and the traffic on the road had slowed to watch. Once the races were over, the kids derigged, and carted all the bits back. The traffic slowed to watch Mark and the kids. It was quite the sight. Once they got back to the beach, I had picked up the lunch supplied by the bakery (great sandwiches and patties) and the kids broke out in Happy Birthday for Mark. He loved it. Then we were invited out for drinks, to celebrate, they said. We picked up the makings for an asian shrimp dinner, and got home around two. We agreed for dinner at six, then onto our friends around seven. Mark got a phone call, and we believe that George's starter motor could be on its way. Got dressed up (I don't mind saying we clean up pretty good) and headed out to the James'. Had a beer, then onto the BeachHouse for drinks. Again, my Mark was glowing. By the time we got home, we were too tired for the champange I got for him.

Today, it's picnic on the north side (we have to hike down the overgrown pathway, and walk the road to Hidden Beach) and just take it easy. Digest and discuss yesterday and what the week ahead will hold. And drink champange on the beach. Could life get any better?

I thought that I had won my card shark mantel last night, but it was only that we had put John Williams' Spanish Guitar on the cd and I knew that Mark had lost his focus when he closed his eyes and sighed "He makes every note sound sculpted". Wow. But, says I, you are very good too. Not like this, he responds. This brilliant music is a lifetime of practice and study.

Earlier, we did go into town for the sailing club, but almost all the kids where either at a softball tryout or at the birthday party by the Blue Room. I know this because when I picked up our dinner, the yard was filled with laughing and running and jumping kids. Many of them our young sailors. With George (our yellow truck) out of commission, we cannot take the safety boat into town, so Mark fiberglassed the Zuma, which was badly damaged in a hurricane some years back, and put a bracket on the stern, added the little two horse power engine and voila - a safety boat. He made his way to the committee boat, moored out in the Harbour while I did swimming lessons with the three young girl sailors that did show up. Todd and his young family were also in the water, and I asked if he knew of anyone coming here from the US. Well, yes, his boss - on Sunday. Could he possibly locate a starter motor for George? Possibly. Also, he was quite keen to see our setup here, being off the grid. His organization - an outreach camp in James Cistern - wants to go green. I invited he and his asscoates to drop by on Monday to have a tour guided by Mark. I don't know how he set everything up, I just keep him happy and well fed.

Overall, another good day.

Yesterday we did get the battery, but it's the starter on the truck that's kaput. And the tire blew out. Without the truck, we don't have a safety boat, and no safety boat means no sailing. We discussed endlessly last evening about sailing today. But this morning, Mark believes that we could, if the kids are into hauling all the bits from the clubhouse to the beach and back again when we are finished. Plus he'd have to get himself out to the committee boat (via kayak?) and use that as a safety boat. I haven't a clue how the day will turn out. And the club is to travel to Bottom Harbour (just by Harbour Island) to race against the Harbour Island club, but the truck is out, and the promised donation from weeks ago hasn't arrived. The club is running on empty.

One thing that is certain is that the sun is setting into the sea again. It usually does in the early days of October, around Mark's birthday. We had gone into town around five to pick up ice, and once home, with libations at hand, I wanted to win my Spite and Malice crown back. He has been on a winning streak, in cards anyway. I dealt out, but noticed the colour of the sky through the porthole. It was a brilliant sunset, with a green flash! Only issue was stepping into a nest of fire ants. OUCH!

But the best part of my day was making lunch, wrapping it up, putting the umbrella into the station wagon and heading to Cocodimama beach for an afternoon picnic. We drifted in the warm water, exfolliated with the soft sand and ate egg salad sandwiches under the umbrella on the beach. It was only for a couple of hours, but it was rejuvinating. I especially like the fresh rainwater rinse when we got home. Heavenly.

Well, we did it. We wrote a song last evening. Mark will put it to a calypso type melody on the guitar and learn the words. I kinda like it. It goes like this:

The slow, easy way agrees with me/Sitting under a dilly tree/I don't wanna roam, it's time to go home/Eleuthera is hailing me (this is the chorus)

I'm sure he will do well with it. Now, he wants lyrics about how we met, and our time together. Sheesh.

Gotta go into town to get the battery for the sailing club truck, pick up the daily supplies, and see if the plans have been done for sailing on Saturday.

Monday mornings usually signal what the week will hold. Yesterday was our lazy day. The weather was cloudy and rainy, so we set up the media centre in the cockpit and proceeded to watch the series "Victory At Sea", a History Channel documentary about the Second World War. It brought our parents' time to life. My dad had an arm that couldn't straighten out (fell off a roof as a kid and the doctor simply shoved the bone back into place) so he wasn't in the war, only the one in Northern Ontario being not in uniform. He was constantly belittled and had to use his fists a few times. Mark's dad was in Burma and Mark tells me he never spoke of those years. The series ran in the early fifties on American tv. When you see the haunted faces of combat soldiers and sailors, it speaks volumes of the horrors of war. The 20^th century was one of brutality. I suggested we switch to a chick flick and watched "Music and Lyics". Mark is sure that I can compose the words for a song about Governor's Harbour for him to place a melody to for his performance at the Homecoming in November. Sure, I said. I'll give it a go.

We broke for dinner (Italian) and decided to watch one more movie. But first it was the rise of the full moon. What a sight! Mark had trained the telescope on the moon and it always is amazing to see. The sun had just set, and the light was etheral. This place is like no other.

Well, later, it was Alfred Hitchcock and "Rebecca". Mark barely made it through and announced that his eyes were square, and it was time to retire. But, I countered, it's not yet nine! He was too tired to respond, and I acknowledged that it had been a long, busy week for him. I tucked him in and I continued to watch the musical "that's entertainment". By ten-thirty, I shut everything down, and was tucked beside Mark.

We will do omlettes tonight (with the filling of left over Italian), but we haven't anything for breakfast or lunch, so we will be off soon and I'll get this uploaded. We also have to check to see if the sailing club will be travelling to Bottom Harbur for a regatta with Harbour Island on Saturday.

I'll keep you posted.

Today should have been filled with sails on the harbour, battling for best start at the beginning of races, swimmers improving. You know, our usual Saturday. Instead, today started with the yellow truck's battery low, so we had to jump-start it and left for the Harbour some twenty minutes late. That was the beginning. Once in town, there were very few sailors, mostly the new little ones and the winds were too high for them. Not only that, but the church on the cay where last Saturday I had attended my friend's wedding was filling up with people to attend a funeral. The deceased was only fifty-six, and well liked. He had suffered with diabetes for years, and last week his body just shut down. The lack of older sailors was then understood. So, well, we thought we'd just do some swimming. Then we noticed the bugs! And someone had shat on the beach during Fish Fry last night. Mark and I conferred. Mark and I decided to not do anything, but just head home. I had the wagon and I could get the groceries and libations. Got home around lunchtime and Mark was putting the last touches of paint to the porthole shutter. Once dried, he would put it back up and take the ladder around to the south one. Well, that one crumbled in his hand. Back to the drawing board.

So, it's into town now, around four, and pick up some ice, visit with the James', and head home in time for cocktails. Tonight's entertainment will probable be a movie. Last night was one we couldn't understand - at all! "Read Before Burning" Sheesh. But, Brad does steal every scene he is in….sigh.

Steaks tonight, with salad.

What a great meeting! Only one board member couldn't make it, and Bob suggested we meet at his home instead of the outside terrace of the Buccaneer club. Less bugs indoors, he says. We made our way and when the last person arrived, we began. Discussions flowed and notes were taken. If half of what was talked about comes true, I'll be one happy camper. It was almost a two-hour meeting, and we got home after seven. Our spirits were high, and as Mark made our drinks, I peeled potatoes and readied dinner. We were sitting down at the table before long, and continued discussing how the meeting went. Of course, Mark does point out that other GHSC board meetings had us in a state of "wow" and nothing came of it. I pointed out that we now had two new board members who were avid sailors, with ocean experience and they would make things happen. Me, the eternal optimist. Mark, well, he's the realist.

With dinner (spiced pork chops) out of the way, we cleared the table for a round of cards. My favourite, Spite and Malice. Mark proceeded to tromp me, and good. I own him twenty thousand dollars from last night. He'll have to take it out in trade. We have a wagering system with this card game. What is left in your pile is worth one thousand dollars a card. He won both games. I taught him too well.

This morning was spent on the computer, recording the three pages of the minutes of the board meeting. And what was Mark doing will I committed the meeting to paper? He painted three shutters, cleaned up and was ready to check it over just as I finished. He was pleased. We printed off copies for the members to be delivered later this morning, will pick up today's food supplies and find a new location for uploading. We used to do the Fish Fry on Fridays, but with the budget as tight as it is at the moment, it's dinner at home. Maybe another movie. We did watch "Catch22" the other night, but it was lost on me. One of Mark's favourites. I'll have to read the book, but it definitely was a dick flick. I'll push for a chick flick tonight. Tomorrow is sailing race day, and I've got to figure out about lunch for the sailors. Maybe a lunch donated by the newest bistro in town?

Have to be quick today. We are in town, getting ready for a GHSC board meeting at the Buccaneer. Just to let you know that we had to cancel sailing yesterday, due to thunder and lightning and heavy rains. Not ideal conditions for the new sailors. It's still dark and cloudy with thunderstorms expected tonight. One thing about this weather, it does bring the bugs out, in droves! It's slap here and squash there.

I'll write early in the morning to keep you updated on our weather, board meetings, and whatever comes across my mind. Oh, did get an email from the printing compnay in Florida, and it's a six to eight week wait for any decisions.

Talk to ya in the morning.

Another enjoyable evening. Bob brought the wine, I had bought a small cake, and we did party. The onion fritters went quickly, as did the dinner of shrimp and salad of tomatoes. We even sang happy birthday. When he decided to leave, we all walked out into the night, and lo and behold, there was a huge cloud in the sky that was the image of jolly old England. Well, there was Mark and Bob pointing out Wales and East Anglia, and the Thames. We had never seen such a thing before and were quite amazed.

We headed to bed after listening to Mark's cd (I always love to listen to his music) and throughout the night, thunder could be heard. It was thunder and lightning and raining all the day yesterday and only cleared up when Bob arrived around six-thirty, and this morning we were treated to more drama. Now the sun is out, and a light breeze is flowing threw the cottage. It looks as though the gardens and trees have been washed and are glistening in the sun.

I have done up the dishes from last night, made the bed, and will soon get dressed. Mark is wandering and checking the garden as he does every morining. He has trimmed the night jasmine. It looks so forlorn, but there are some green bits on the branches. We have to go out to the airport to pick up a package of goodies for our computers that Mark had ordered on eBay. We will be able to get online there, to send the emails and such. It's also Wednesday - sailing and Blue Room.

It's also the last day of the month, already.

When Mark picked me up in Governor's it was time to ask what he wanted for dinner. Fish is good. Surprisingly, the fillets I get here at Burrows are from Canada. Pickrel, to be exact. A lovely fresh water fish and one of my favourites. A boiled potato, some peas and pan-fried fish. Simple, fast dinner. Quiet, cloudy day, and dramatic evening, what with the thunder and lightning storm. Plenty of rain in the night as well. Today, we'll head into town to upload and get emails. We have decided to reduce the price of the cottage for the winter rentals. We haven't had any inquires, so it's agreed to offer Skipper's Cottage for seven hundred and fifty dollars a week. I think it's fair, especially now that we don't have Internet access. We are restricted to couples only as well. Mark will change the rate on our website and fingers crossed that inquires come in….

Tonight, we have a guest for dinner and it's also his birthday, so I'll do Bob's favourite Indian dishes. His wife is away in England attending some interior design courses, so he is on his own. And he is great company. Only trouble is that when he and Mark start talking, I really get lost in the conversation. You see, he's English too, and they slide into slang that I don't understand, being Canadian, eh.

It's time to head into town, get supplies, upload this, find some breakfast and some sort of birthday cake for Bob. And some wine and beer too. Then home to clean up, sweep and wipe down the surfaces. I'll start cooking early this afternoon, since Indian tastes better if it rests before serving. And what I am making improves with keeping.

See ya later.

I have been waiting on Mark for the last few hours. He was to take the skiff and help out a friend who is building a dock.. My worry is the weather. It's as though a Norther is coming. The winds are about 10 knots from the southwest and the Caribbean side is rough. I can see whitecaps on the sea. Not the best conditions for boating. I called our friend, and he said that Mark couldn't even get to the dock due to the choppy waters and that he headed back well over two hours ago. Where is he? I am waiting at the house in Harbour cleaning up loose ends. We washed all the linens yesterday, and I did a roast dinner. We headed home, with laundry on the line, and dishes soaking in the sink, knowing we would be back this morning, early.

Where is he?

Beds are made, dishes done, and I'm waiting for Mark and to go home to the cottage. It's clouding over as well, could be raining soon.

Well, I just jumped out of my skin…he just walked in. He thought I was still cleaning up and doing laundry, so he went home to do some things. Sheesh. Maybe I'm just an old worry wort!

It's Sunday, our lazy Sunday. The weekend has been very full indeed. The Thursday Homecoming 09 meeting went well and not only the sailing events were warmly agreed to, but also Mark performing during the homecoming! Up on the stage, with all those huge speakers. It's a great opportunity. We will be able to sell his CD's from the GHSC booth.

I was at my friend's house early on Friday morning, getting everything ready for the bride to be and her attendants. I was gearing up to prepare the Chinese dinner for ten that evening. Suzanne (bride) was rushed off her feet, what with going from one airport to the other picking up everyone who came for the wedding. She came to the house and took the grocery list, and dashed around some more. She only brought six chicken breasts, so I went out and got more, plus extra vegetables. I started prepping around three, since she wanted the dinner at five. I told her it would be ready. But they got back at six and decided to eat after the rehearsal (no worries, people, I hadn't done the veggies, and the honey chilli chicken takes only minutes to toss together, and the rice would keep). Mark came for me, and I went home for about an hour, then he came back with me. He was a tremendous help. He poured the iced teas, and ice water and when I placed the platters of food on the table, he picked up his guitar and played. Not one bit of food was left. And as Mark played one of Suzanne's favourites (she bought his CD), she literally stretched out on the sofa, closed her eyes and smiled.

The wedding was the following day, so Mark and I headed home while the wedding party stayed on.

Mark had five opti's, three sunfish and one minifish out for race day on Saturday, while I struggled into heels and the linen dress to attend the wedding service at the church on the Cay. Supposed to be at eleven, but the bride was an hour late. It's a Bahamian thing, you know. No one is ever on time, at any time. She must have felt that if he waited ten years to marry her, he could wait a little longer. When she did arrive, she did in style. Most beautiful bride I have seen in a long time. Her butterfly themed décor was tasteful. The invitations had delicate butterflies on them, the church was decorated with oversized ones, and at the reception, more butterflies were scattered around the wedding party table. The colour scheme was soft yellow and sunset orange. She gave me one of the many floral arrangements and I clicked away with my camera. We slipped away around four, and headed home. The quiet was wonderful. I guess this is the part about growing older (I consider myself in my middle youth). I crave the quiet life on our hilltop, with only the critters making any sound. I believe we were in bed before nine. Yikes.

Today, I picked up a whole chicken to roast at the house in Harbour. I have the laundry on, the house was left in excellent condition, and Mark and I are in and out of the pool. It's really nice having heart rich friends. Thanks to Eileen and Ian, Suzanne's weekend was "perfect". As soon as I finish this, I am into the pool again.

I just love living in freaking paradise!

Great sailing and training with ten sails on the water, Justin in the skiff shouting instructions, and Patrick assisting with rigging. We had four older boys out as well. The younger ones are showing such improvement that we could have six optis racing during the homecoming in November. (If you are visiting, keep the 4^th to the 8^th on your calendar of events). Of course, Flier was sitting on the front deck when we got back. The Blue Room was great, as usual. We did have a quiet evening, watched a movie and settled into bed before ten. I woke in the night with the sound of heavy rain, and immediately jumped out of bed and closed all the windows. I crawled back into bed a bit damp, but Mark didn't stir. It's raining now, actually. The island is very lush with all the rain we have been having and the weeds are a constant battle for Mark. The rain also encourages the bugs. But I have discovered some repellent coils sold at Burrows. They are not the green ones, I find those too chemical. These are "enviormentally friendly", purple, and sweet smelling. We fire one up in the morning and have a bug free day in the house. I have heard that the local restaurants use this brand. It's a good thing.

I have written up the GHSC events for the homecoming committee meeting tonight, and will wrap the wedding gift for Suzanne and Ezra. Have you ever been to a Bahamian wedding? An experience one never forgets. At one, I have been asked to make a toast to a bride, and at another wedding, a toast to the mother of the bride. The tradition during the reception is to toast not only the bride and groom, but their parents and grandparents. It's kinda cool, I think.

Tomorrow is Friday, already. Where did the week go?

A good day, yesterday. It's early Wednesday morning and Mark has already done the "bin day" run - taking the garbage to the end of our road for pick up. It's also our sailing day, and Blue Room dinner. We had a visitor yesterday - Justin, our best sailor and one of the sunfish team who caused great stress for us. I was very upset for weeks due to the lack of communcation between Justin, Patrick and us. We felt as though we - Mark and I - were blamed, and shunned by the settlement of Governor's. I had written about how we had lost the older sailors and had to continue our Wednesday s and Saturdays, no matter what. So, early yesterday morning, as Mark is hacking away at the bush around the house, the cell phone rings and it's Justin and he wants to talk to Mark. I call him and hand him the phone. After a few minutes he tells me that Justin wants to borrow our weedwacker and he is coming up to see us. To talk.

And talk we did. He explained about the problems that occurred in Nassau. I spoke of not understanding the complexion issue. Mark addressed Justin's possible future as an instructor of sailing. Overall, it was a very good meeting and we will see him and hopefully Patrick tonight on the beach, helping the new sailors understand the rigging and such. I also gave Justin the two instructor manuals from the US for him to read. He has great potential, does Justin. He left here in good spirits, with the weedwacker, and a big smile. I believe that we actually hugged.

It's a full day, what with the meeting of the homecoming committee tomorrow, and we have to put what we want to do on paper for their review. I would love Mark to perform, at some time, on the stage, at some point. After all, he has been on TV, singing "Sloop John B" because he is the only white man who knows all the verses!

Simple? Picked up some minced meat, thinking we'd do hamburgers last night, but didn't have any buns, so back to the cookbooks. What to do with ground beef? Found an interesting recipe from Greece, so we did poached meatballs in lemon egg sauce. It was very good, and easy. We set up the media centre to watch one of the movies I had borrowed. "No Country for Old Men"…didn't get it at the end, or did it end? Too bloody for me.

We did get the results of the Nationals, with Delpine 6^th in a field of 20, Kenneth 24^th and Rodney 31^st in a field of 33. I was feeling disappointed with the boys results, but Mark pointed out how difficult the course was and he was encouraged with their results. Now it's back to training. Mark and I travelled into town in the afternoon to help put away the boats. Lars, Delphine's dad, was waiting for us at the clubhouse and he was telling us about the weekend. He was delighted with his daughter's results as well as her trophy for most improved female skipper. He did meet up with the Harbour Island group and we discussed how we could organize races between clubs. Sounds good to me. We do have another Homecoming meeting this Thursday and I'd like to send Harbour Island an invitation to join us for a few races during the homecoming (November 4-8).

Today, well, it's into town for the Internet, and pick up a few things and decide the menu.

It's Monday morning and we have come back from dropping the returning sailors home. We picked them up at the airport, with the news that Delphine was in the top ten in the green fleet, with Rodney and Kenneth in the middle of the championship fleet. I'll get the specifics when the BSA posts the results on their website.

Saturday had only four sails on the water, but some of the new sailors had an opportunity to race. The winds were light, and I did do some hotdogs for them. After lunch, Mark and Steven had gone out in the skiff to try and locate the mooring we had Angel on. Success! But the tide was too high, so we went back to Harbour in the late afternoon when the tide was low and Mark dove down to secure the mooring. The first step in the long passage to getting Angel back into the water. I connected with my friend who is getting married next Saturday, and I had arranged for her and her ladies to spend Friday night at a house in Harbour. Somehow, I was also convinced to prepare Chinese dinner for ten that night as well.

We did spend Sunday as we usually do. Quiet, and lazy. But I did do an Indian masala for dinner and Mark enjoyed that. We pulled out the series "I Claudius" and watched a few episodes. I'm going to have to borrow some dvd's from someone so we can watch something different this week.

We will go into town later, to upload this, send and receive emails and check out the weather system. And pick up a few things for dinner tonight. After spending the weekend cooking Asian, (we had five spice pork on Saturday night) I think I might do simple…

Our three top opti sailors are in Nassau, and they will have their skippers meeting in about half an hour. Yesterday had Mark and I coming and going. We printed off the first four chapters of "Sailorman", with cover letter and synopsis, for a printer in Florida. Not requested, exactly. This "press" specializes in things about Florida, either fiction or non-fiction. Once we printed it off, Mark sat down and read it through. Thank goodness he did, or we would have looked foolish and unprofessional with the eleven missing pages! We stopped in at Office General to pick up an envelope, and the airline tickets for the boys, and drop off the GHSC polo shirt for the board member who is going to Nassau early this morning. Then into town for the usual internet search, uploaded and got emails, headed home and quickly got into George (our yellow GHSC truck) and drove to Point to pick up Rodney and Kenneth from school. Back to Harbour for lunch with the kids at the café on the dock (great sandwiches and wings and such). Then took the boys to their homes to get dressed, then to Bob's to pick up a donation, then picked up the boys, and finally headed to the airport. Whew.

Mark had to leave the airport and head back home for 1630 for a music student. As it was, the flight was delayed half an hour, so the boys and I goofed around, laughed, reviewed the rules of sailing competitively and finally their plane arrived after five. I grabbed my Rodney and gave him a big hug, then did the same with Kenneth. I waved them off, left the airport building and headed out to the far end of the parking lot and as the plane picked up speed down the runway, I waved again. I have my fingers crossed they do well and enjoy the weekend with Delphine. They are a team, and they know it.

Today is our race day, and with hardly any wind, I don't know how many sailors we will get. I know that the swimmers show up no matter the weather, even if it's choppy! I haven't asked a sponor to do lunch, as being unsure of the kids. If we do get sailors and swimmers, I'll pick up some hot dogs and make them up at a friend's place in Harbour. No plans beyond that, just hanging onto the cell phone, waiting for results….

Oh, yes. The best news! As you know we had to scrape the bottom of the GHSC bank account to do this Nassau Nationals. Mark got an email from an American couple who were here on R&R from duty in Afganistan. He is an avid sailor and has committed to donate a large sum for our sailors to continue to compete. Thank you so much Brian and Tracey!

I swear that Flier, the feral cat, knows when it's Wednesday. He was sitting on the front deck waiting for his chicken and fries. He's one cool cat.

We made our way into town for four pm to get the three boats ready for Nassau. Yanni couldn't go, so we were down to Delphine, Kenneth and Rodney. Kenneth's boat #99, didn't have a name on it. All our opti's were purchased and named by the owner, so we have True North, Myrtle, St.Pat's and Harri. When Mark James donated the lettering for the boats (his is Myrtle, named after his mum), he included one that read "Mark" and another "Missy". We never used them. It's one of the distinctive things about GHSC optis…the large names on each side of the boats. We ran it by Kenneth and he agreed that we could put Mark on the starboard side and Missy on the port side. So, in a way, we are in Nassau. Boats cleaned, sails wrapped, dagger boards and tillers stowed, and the two dollys taken apart for transport. Lars's big truck was perfect and he was a great help. We met up with them yesterday at the docks to wish Delphine good luck, and see them off on the Sea Wind. Today we are picking up Kenneth and Rodney at 1300 from school in Palmetto Point, taking them to their houses for packing, then off to the airport. They will be at the Nassau Yacht club tonight to register their boats. They plan to meet up with Delphine there. The Nationals start at 0800 Saturday morning, and we will be in Harbour hopefully having sailors rigging the lasers and sunfish. We do have two optis here, so could be a good race day in Governor's Harbour as well.

Roderick, the board member, has promised to call us after the morning races to let us know how the kids are doing. All I want is for our kids to do their best.

I'm already a bundle of nerves. Tomorrow I'll be….

This morning is bright and still. A few clouds, but it could bode well for the day ahead. Mark is busy with the repairs to the shutters. We got new hinges since the others are all rusting away. The drawback of living in the tropics is the constanct replacing of things damaged by sea air. We decided to build Skipper's Cottage on a hilltop and not on a beach due to this fact. Plus, when we were living at Mark's brother's place, which was just above the beach, I spent most of my time cleaning windows. You could actually watch things rust away. It's not so bad here. The replacing Mark is doing is about six years old. So, if you want to live that dream of living in paradise, be ready to replace as time goes on. Mind you, we wouldn't trade places with anyone, anywhere. We sit on our front deck in the evenings cloud watching. Great pastime, while sipping cocktails.

Today is also Wednesday. We will go into harbour around four and get the boats ready for Nassau. Things have actually gone well. A board member will fly out on Friday with two of our sailors, the dad of Delphine will carry the boats and her tomorrow on the Sea Wind ferry, and our dark horse, Yanni, will be going for the weekend as well. He had mentioned he would be in Nassau anyway, so we decided to let him race. It's good experience for him. Once all packed, including lifevests, and all equipment, we will head to the Blue Room, and then home with our dinners. I am so glad that we don't have to go to Nassau. I'm also very happy that people are beginning to stand up for the club.

I don't know what happened. I had three days of writing that I believed I had sent it up to the web, but somehow, it has all ended up somewhere in cyberspace! So I'll have to take it from the top…

I believe we ended the night with ancient Rome. Sure takes the worries away.

Friday, and again we are trying to get commitments. Early on we decided to stay home and not do the Fish Fry. So I turned my hand to a wonderful French dinner for my Mark and we continued on with Rome.

Saturday morning saw eight sails in the Harbour, me with six swimmers, and lunch supplied by the Bakery. It was a very good day, and my Rodney won his first race. He, Kenneth and Delphine are the ones going to Nassau (fingers crossed). We had promised Rodney that he could spend the weekend with us, for quite a while now. We had to go to the wedding, so we had to pospone. The sister came for two weeks. Posponed. So this time we brought him back with us to the cottage. And we did have a great time, but couldn't get him off the piano! We took in the movies that night. I loved hearing him laugh at the right spots at "Ice Age, the Dawn of something". Took him home, put him to bed and what do ya know? At four in the morning, he's calling us and wants to sleep on the loveseat. He was a little scared of sleeping with no "walls". It was scary for him to see the outside - right there! Mark settled him down and he was quickly asleep. Mark made his famous scrambled eggs for breakfast, and Rodney ate only after he was pulled away from the piano. We had a great time and then we brought him into town so he could attend church with his dad.

We got home, after picking upsome groceries, and spent the day lingering and reading and we finally finished with Rome. Whew. Nasty bunch.

Yesterday, back into town chasing and inquiring. Had to deliver letters to the high school principal informing him of the Nationals. Home again. After a great spagetti dinner, we took in the film "morning light", the documentary about twentysomethings sailing from Long Beach, California to Hawaii. I believe it's called the transpac. If you have a chance, see it. It's very inspiring.

Today, it's laundry at my friends' house, and I'm almost done. Tomorrow is getting the boats ready for the nationals. And Blue Room. Yum.

Wednesday means not only sailing club training, which had nine kids out, and four opti's with the kids doing about an hour each, then switching with another kid, and Mark busier than an one armed paper hanger. I was on the beach with two mothers, laughing and discussing the government schools here in Governor's. I also had a few swimmers, but I didn't go in, just kept an eye on them. But the other Wednesday event is, of course, Blue Room chicken snack night! I don't know how Ava does it, but the chicken there is better than any I have ever tasted. Mark and I think that they must bake the chicken first, then deep fry and pat dry. We got home around six-thirty, had a cocktail - wine sprizter for me and a gin and sonic for himself. We both kept eyeing the big towel that I wrap the food in, and Flier showed up, meowing that he could smell it. So we dove in, gave the bones to the cat (I swear he knows when it's Blue Room night).

Looks like we could have four sailors at the Opti Nationals next weekend. We have one board member who will take two of our sailors, and a dad who will take the boats and his daughter. Another sailor will be Nassau anyway, so we decided that he could use the experience. We will have two in the green fleet (those who haven't sailed in a national competition) and two in the Nationals, who have competed before. I believe that the sailing club will grow. It's all younger ones now. I think the oldest one we have is thirteen. I did see Adrian and Sean Taylor and they said they would be racing their lasers on Saturday. I hope so.

Tonight, we are invited to attend the meeting for the Governor's Harbour Homecoming held November 4 to 8^th. The sailing club has done races for the last few years during the homecoming and will want us to do so again. No problem, as long as someone does the colour commentary during the races, and we get a booth. Mark would like to perform during the sunsets. I think that's a very good idea. We can sell his cd's at the booth as well.

Oh, the best news! A literary agency in England wants to read the first four chapters of Sailorman….fingers crossed, people.

Dinner was great. "Mama" had two helpings and we started with crisp shrimp crackers and a hoisin dipping sauce. Monday evening was filled with laughter and good times. Our guests loved our little cottage, and Ago inspected every inch. He was surprised at how large the cottage seemed. All conversation had to be repeated in Italian for "Mama" who doesn't speak English. I do like listening to the Italian language, it's soft and romantic. They also arrived carrying a big styrofom chest, filled with ice and wine. On Tuesday, Mark studied the chest and decreed it better suited as part of our refridgeration system. We enjoyed ice all day yesterday and this morning there is still some left.

We spent Tuesday chasing people to get commitments for the Optimist Nationals to be held in Nassau in a few weeks time. The Governor's Harbour Sailing club has to have a few sailors participating. The sailors from the sunfish fiasco have quit the sport, and to this day neither one has spoken to Mark or myself. To keep the club alive, we have to send at least two to compete. And adults must accompany them. We are not going, so we are trying to send one board member and a parent. Today is sailing training day, and we plan on talking to the kids about the Nassau trip. We have no worries about transporting the boats, only the kids, with adult supervision. The weather is still, and the Atlantic looks like a pond. No wind, either. The chance of rain this afternoon is high. But Mark and I will be there, in the Harbour at four, as always.

It's Monday morning and we are up early. Our Sunday was smooth, quiet and dramatic with rolling thunder through the day. Mark puttered in the garden, weeding. A constant battle. Late in the afternoon, we set up the "media room" aka cockpit to have a session with ancient Rome. What a great series. Mind you, I had to screech a few times, and look away a few more. It tells the story of the end of the Roman Republic and the rise of Julius Caesar. Bloody bunch of ruthless people. But I guess human nature never changes.

Today Mark and I are preparing to entertain this evening. Ago, the manager of Cocodimana, his wife Natasha and her mother "mama" the chef at the resort, are coming here for Chinese tonight. We invited them long ago, and they finally have this day free. They are heading back to Italy in a few days and "would love to have anything Asian". I haven't cooked for a chef before (excluding my eldest son, which doesn't count) and I'm a bit nervous. Mark will help with the cottage, making sure it's picture perfect. I'm doing a honey chilli chicken, and jasmine rice. I may do spring rolls or shrimp gow ha, or something for a starter.

I'll let you know tomorrow if it is a successful evening.

This Sunday morning finds me sitting at Cocodimama, shamelessly using their Internet. Mark took me here for breakfast, after an interesting weekend. Saturday, of course, is our sailing race day and no sailors showed up. We waited, and around eleven I had swimmers, and Mark took the few that did show out and did a training day instead. We had arranged lunch for twelve. It was a struggle. We talked the night before (Mark didn't perform, since the resort is winding down and has no guests) and tried to understand what happened to our sailors we sent to Nassau. We concluded that the ball was dropped. The Nassau group should have met our kids at the ferry, or at least arranged for them to be met, but they didn't. They should have taken care of our kids. They didn't. But, somehow, Mark and I are being blamed here in Governor's, and we have lost a lot of sailors. They no longer want to be a part of the club. It saddens me, but we do have younger ones looking to us to teach them to swim and sail. So we will carry on.

Last evening we broke bread with friends and discussed to death the sailing club and what is needed to keep it alive. I'll let you know about that at a later date. I am learning more every day the various points of view that many Bahamians - black and white - embrace. Me? I'm just a simple Canadian who believes that "race" means you start, run (or walk or swim or bike or) and get to the finish line first. Am I wrong?

Yesterday was a bit quiet and a bit buggy. The noseeums have been voracious this season (evidenced with the sister and her departing look of smallpox) and even those who are used to them are fair game. We have our own philosophy….one bite, and run inside. Works every time.

While I cooked a few chicken breasts, boiled some potatoes and made a salad, Mark plunked himself in front of the piano with an old music book from his early days. He and Beethovan tickled the ivories, but it was obvious that he hadn't done so in a while. He got better as he turned the pages. By the time I called him to the table, I recognized some of the music. Mark's instrument of choice is the guitar, but he can do some fancy stuff on the piano.

Today is raining, and thunder is in the distance. We do have a storm out there in the Atlantic, but it looks as though "Ericka" will only fizzle out by the time she gets close to Eleuthera. And also today is the classical guitar at Cocodimama, homemade pasta, and wonderful wines. Mark is going on haitus while the resort closes for the next two months. Time for me to get him some private bookings. Anyone interested in a private performance?

Oh, one last thing. We did get our sunfish back from Nassau yesterday. Missing a few bits, but the two sunfish are home.

Got the sister on the plane on Tuesday. Spent yesterday morning and most of the afternoon at the pool house doing laundry. Mark spent most of the morning and early afternoon trying in vain to clear up the troubles with HughesNet. Eventually, he succeeded in cancelling our monthly payments and now we are actively looking at other satellite systems that are available. I was told that Satellite Bahamas could become a nightmare, and possible investigation of a business in Hatchet Bay. Wednesday is also sailing training day and we had four optis out with a sunfish as well. We seemed to have lost the sailors who travelled to Nassau, and came back early. Too sad to talk about, really.

Look who's here! It's the Flier, our feral cat. He looks a bit rough around the edges, but we kept bones from our feast of Blue Room chicken last night. We knew his grandparents while living in North Palmetto Point. We knew his parents, here. His dad was a big ginger, and we were so surprised to witness that "lion" his dad, had taken flier and his twin "junior" up here to the house while they were kittens and let them jump and play. Where the mum was, I couldn't say. But to see a big male observing two small kittens and showing them it's safe to walk through the water on the deck was something I couldn't explain.

Began to watch the HBO series Rome last night. My son had given us his copy while we were in Vancouver. Looking forward to watching a few more episodes tonight. Boy oh boy, the ancient romans made Tony Soprano and his gang look like sissies. Anyway, the good things that happened -my sisters visit, sails on the Harbour on both Saturday and Wednesday, getting rid of the Hughes Net successfully, two take aways from the Blue Room (which has been closed for a month) and the cool, cloudy weather of today - make the bad things look very small indeed.

Too soon. The last two weeks flew by, and the sister is heading back to Toronto in the morning. Must gush about our Sunday at Sky Beach, located just north of Governor's. Amazing. We got there about twelve thirty, was seated in the dining room and the open space was beautifully appointed. Actually, one of my favourite colours schemes - chocolate and royal blue, with cream surfaces - and very comfortable chairs. To say something about the view is almost impossible, and never mind the horizon pool. We dined like kings, and drank like fish. Once brunch was consumed - seafood linquini for Mark, PEI mussels and clams for the sister, and I gobbled the grouper sandwich. We sauntered down to the chaise lounges, and all of us slipped into the pool. A few wiskey sours later, we were hanging onto the side staring at the azure Atlantic. The day was perfect.

It ended a good weekend. We did have sailors show up eventually and had five sails flying around the course. It was great to see Adrian and Sean Taylor fight for the finish in their lasers. It was close, only half boat lengths difference. The three optis sailors were in good form, but Rodney and Kenneth couldn't catch Delphine. She won all her races. We de-rigged, got the things back to the clubhouse and informed them that there was no lunch, since it would be too late to ask one of the sponsors.

Overall, a good few days. The only thing left is for Mark to connect with the Huges people to get us upgraded. I'm concerned, since it seems to be a very difficult process. I'll let you know tomorrow. Got to sign off, since I and the sister are sitting on the porch of a friend's house, using their network.

Frustrated, angry, upset and so annoying. We haven't had our Hughes satelite system running since I last wrote. Mark has tried to telephone, but the system is always busy. We will try again today. It feels as though we are cut off from the rest of the world. The most important thing is to monitor the weather situation. We are in hurricane season, and need to know what is brewing out there is important. It is also Saturday, meaning racing day for the sailors. My fingers are crossed that some show up, and that we have a good day today. My sister is improving with the bites, but the noseeums have been voracious. I finally got her into the ocean yesterday. Mark and I decided to head down to "hidden beach", just down in front of us. I couldn't believe the new sand! Mark and I discovered a few pools of water that felt like a bath. Now, the swells were very big, and he and I bounced and played while the sister stayed under the canopy that Mark constructed. The Atlantic has had some huge swells this month, what with the storms out there. The swells yesterday were wonderul - for Mark and I. I could tell that the sister was afraid. I finally told her to put the book down and come with me. Mark stayed under the canopy while I took her to one of the pools, made her sit and enjoy. Once she was relaxed, I took her hand and guided her into the sea. We bobbed, and talked, and giggled, and she was enjoying herself. I looked to shore as Mark made his was into the water and slowly swam to us. As he approached, he innocently asked if this was the way to Palmetto Point. He is one funny man.

We headed back to the cottage around four, via the old Banks road to show the sister Sky beach (where we plan to have Sunday brunch) and I was stunned to see Turtle beach, just north of our beach, had no sand whatsoever! I had never seen this beach with just rock. I suppose the sand had shifted south. We headed home for our fresh rainwater showers. The sister was refreshed and content and told me that the itching of the bites was fading. Good.

With the guitar and equipment into the wagon we headed to Cocodimama around six thirty, and Mark was brilliant. I had taken my computer to send a few emails, and as the sister was entertaining anyone within reach, I followed up on a few situations. The restaurant was full, and Mark was a hit, again. Didn't sell any of his cds, though. Got to get into town to send this, then back again for the safety boat for the morning's activities. We have friends coming for dinner tonight, so best get the shopping list ready.

Just another busy day in paradise.

Bin day. Mark is up early and has taken the garbage to the end of the road. Colleen is slowly waking. I am looking at a messy kitchen, since we tried to bbq last evening, but the chicken ended up in a frying pan. I have had food poisoning a few times and am very careful with chicken and seafood. It was a good meal, but we ended up sitting at the table around nine thirty! We watched another movie (the bucket list) which has the sister weeping beside me. Mark headed to bed, and the sister and I headed outside. I turned off the lights and we looked at the Milky Way. And talked. And discussed and cried and laughed. I guess that we finally spoke to each other on the same level. I made sure that the plastic was down on the screens before she went to bed, and that the bugs would leave her alone. She's getting better.

It is Wednesday, therefore sailing day today. Plus, Mark wants to test an engine he fixed for a friend, so that could mean pumping up the inflatable (Little Dito - a rigid inflatable that was a beach find) and heading into harbour. We still haven't gotten our two sunfish, cradle and trailer back from Nassau. We haven't heard from anyone in regards to the Junior Nationals that I went on and on about. Still no word from anyone, even the boys we sent to compete and represent Eleuthera. Don't know what to do about that. My first reaction is to drop the sailing club. My second reaction is to encourage the younger sailors and give them the opportunity to compete next month in Nassau for the National Optimist. I will follow Mark's lead on this.

The sister is coming with us this afternoon to watch the sailors in action.

And Mark is watching very closely the weather pattern that is developing four hundred miles away. The wind is high, so we might not be sailing….again.

Had to take the sister to the clinic to check on her bites. She is covered in them and "my skin is on fire!" as I take her into town. Since it was Monday, which is the doctor day at the clinic, she was seen to immediately and had her consult. Loaded with four types of meds, we picked up a few items for the daily menu, and headed home. While chatting in the cockpit (her bedroom) I asked if she covered up when sleeping. No, she says. Sheesh. No wonder she is in agony. The noseeums get through the screens, and attack during the night. The only way to be safe from them is to cover up completely with the sheet. Oh, all right, she says. I checked her early this morning, and there she was, wrapped up like a mummy. She'll get better before she gets back to Toronto.

Haven't any plans for today, only to town for supplies. Mark is watering his garden at the moment, and Colleen is reading. I thought I was an avid reader, but she betters me. She did like our book "Sailorman" a lot. Laughed at the right bits and said the ending was exciting and scary at the same time. I haven't written to any interesting parties about it, so I believe that is my job this morning. We've got to get it published and promoted!

Oh, I failed to mention that one of the items we purchased on the journey north was a dvd player and a flat screen 15" tv. We watched Moll Flanders over the last few evenings. That's after a rousing hand of spite and malice with the sister. Mark cleaned up last night and I cleaned up the night before. The sister is not pleased.

Oh, well.

Gosh, time flies…we spent the weekend at a friend's house in Governor's Harbour. This is one beautiful home, with a front terrace overlooking the harbour, and a handy swimming pool at the back terrace. Colleen, my sister who is visiting, loved the time there.

You know how it is said that things happen in threes? It's true. On Friday evening, Mark pulled his Toronto guitar out of it's case (he had taken it to the wedding in the mountains) and we had it with us throughout the entire journey, until Nassau. The Southern Air flight from Nassau to Governor's was the only time it was out of his hands and it was, of course, damaged. He was sick when he realized the damage. But, he did perform. On Saturday - our usual race sailing day, not one of the sailors showed up. Only the little ones who are learning were there. We had established that Saturdays are racing days, so Mark cancelled. That' two. On the way back to the cottage, the tire on the trailer that carries the safety boat blew. Mark spent the morning repairing. That was the third thing.

So we are keeping low today, Monday. And I will travel into town for supplies later this afternoon. Might take in the beach, but the day is cloudy or might simply stay put, and sort through what I have to teach my sister about her computer while she seeps. Colleen is new meat and the noseeums love her. Her whole body is covered in bites and she is a brave trooper, but I got to get her some cream to stop the itching. Even on the soles of her feet!

She has another week, so maybe they will find someone else to feast on. Here's hoping.

So much has happened during the last nine days. My son's wedding in the Canadian Rockies was fabulous. The event covered the four days, with the arrival of 180 people on Thursday, the actual wedding ceremony on Friday evening, the dinner/dance on Saturday and the mass exodus all day Sunday. I'll start at the beginning. We were packed, the cottage battened down (just in case, says Mark) and headed to the airport on Tuesday to begin the four thousand mile journey. We landed safely in Toronto, caught the next flight to Vancouver and arrived at 2315. I had told the eldest son, Michael, we were arriving at midnight. Mark and I waited, and waited, and waited. He looked at me and suggested a taxi. I stepped away and was firm that he would pick us up. We waited and I saw a white van, saw Michael, and beamed. Hugs and back to his home, where sleeping children were peaked at, and his wife Tawnya and I squealed and laughed and hugged like mad. I put Mark to bed (the kids gave us their bedroom) since it was about three am our time. I stayed in the living room with them until it was about six am my time, and Michael had to sleep since he got up very early (five am) and head out to work. He is the food and beverage manager of Morton's of Chicago in Vancouver. I finally hit the bed, with Tawnya's warning that the baby - beautiful Anise, just past two years old - usually comes into the bedroom and crawls in. And she did. I don't think I slept at all, just kept staring at this little one curled in my arms.

Wednesday we hit the shops. Tawnya drove, and we dropped the money. Mark has new bathing suits, warm socks, and I got a pair of heels for the wedding. For one day shopping, we got all kinds of stuff needed. On Thurday, we took the flight to Kelowna where we were met by Kelly's (the bride) cousin Scott. Look for a tall red head in a cowboy hat was the instruction. And there he was. We were piled into his truck and drove the next three hours into the heart of the Rockies. What a ride! I don't think there was a straight stretch anywhere. Hairpin turns, deer everywhere, and Scott's description of growing up in the area. Finally, Whatsan Lake Retreat. We were assigned a bunk as I heard MARK, and there was the groom. Liam was well into his cups but just hilarious, even with the heavy rain. We hugged (again and again and again) laughed and were updated on the weekend events. Liam then dragged us around to meet and greet.

Friday was the day of the wedding, and I watched as the bride's family was stringing lights. I approached Liam, and suggested a different way. He took me in his arms and reminded me that I was a guest, and not in control. I began to tear up, and he told me that I couldn't loose it, because if I did, then he would, and he didn't want his wedding to be a crying gig. I agreed and left him to find Mark. As twilght approached, I was dressed, with a hat I borrowed, and was escorted down the "aisle" with my youngest Kristian on one side and my eldest Michael on the other. Kelly had asked Mark to play and that he did. Once I was seated, then the bride's mother Phyllis was next, then the groom and his gang (six in all) and finally the lovely Kelly, on her dad's arm, floated towards the arch. It was kinda dark, and a lot of flashing photos. It was over too soon, and the crowd began to party.

One other event occured on Friday. My grandson Niall Joseph learned to ride a bike.

Saturday was the dinner, and everyone got dressed up again. I forced myself into the shoes, and another dress, and Mark and I headed toward the main building and ate roast beef and Yorkshire pudding. Mark thought he died and went to heaven! Cake cutting and all that. Take a look at the "news" to see the pictures. We went back to the cabin (at this point we left the one assigned and moved into the bunkhouse with family) and told Michael and Tawnya to leave the three kids with us and they go and have a good time. Mark and I were a little overwhelmed by this point and I preferred to sit on the couch outside and just talk. Liam came by a few times to ensure we were fine and not in want of anything.

Sunday, and instead of flying out of Kelowna at eight in the evening, we were given a ride to Vancouver with Zade, and his BMW and got back in six hours (driving at 140km and weaving through traffic!) Monday, and we picked up a small flat screen and dvd player and a few items at the super store and back home to pack for our departure to Toronto at 1600. Arrived at midnight, took an expensive ride to my nephew's where my sister was waiting. The next morning, the three of us headed to the airport, and Nassau. Got home to the cottage in time for cocktails. My sister Colleen is staying with us for two weeks. She and I had a very weepy day yesterday. It's been a year since our brother passed away in his sleep at the tender age of 62.

Today we will take Colleen to the beach and dunk her in salt water. The noseeums discovered how good she tastes and she is covered in bites.

Well, that's a pisser. I guess I must have goofed up somewhere yesterday morning, since the writing of the last two days is missing. Sheesh. What has happened is that the sailors came back from Nassau, did not communicate with us, so I had a horrid weekend. No use in trying to understand what went wrong, since I am preparing to travel to Canada for the wedding today. Mark is right, leave it to the other board members to sort out. We spent Saturday going around in circles. Did Sunday on the beach, and yesterday was spent preparing for our journey. We are packed, including Mark's guitar, and I will clean up the kitchen (I always do, don't I?), sweep the floor as Mark "battens down the hatches". I am a little concerned with the weather, since so many possible tropical waves are flying out of Africa. Those I don't trust, they can develop and Eleuthera is usually in the front line. Mark assures me that the tropical waves don't look threatening, and are travelling west - meaning south of us - so fingers crossed.

We are treating ourselves to breakfast at Cocodimama as we head to the airport. I have as carry on my string bag, loaded with two small pillows, McBeth - a mohair tartan throw, Mark's "michael kors" sweater, my shawl, books, camera, GPS and a notebook that I will pick up at the airport in Nassau. Notice that we are not taking our computers. I am already in a bit of withdrawl, not having my laptop. This is the first time we are not taking it. Gosh, I won't be writing for a week, and when we return, my sister will be with us. So, next week, I'll write all about the journey, the wedding, the land of grizzly bears and rattle snakes (Mark actually packed his machete!), meeting for the first time my two year old granddaughter, and hugging everyone else. I wonder if my grandboys remember me. It has been six years since we last got together. I know I will be a puddle of emotions when I see them all.

I am running out of time, so I hope you wish that we travel safe? Talk to you next week.

Well, I cleaned the kitchen, never did have to deal with the hotel in Nassau - Commodore Craig did that, as well as sorted out the trouble with our sailors. I still don't understand what happened, but something about not respecting the instructor or using their cell phones while in class, or not being courteous with fellow sailors. I will find out this weekend, since they are coming back on Sunday and we don't leave until Tuesday. I want to get to the bottom of this mess. The Bahama Sailing Association told us that the course was two weeks, now I think I understand it is only one week. I thought the junior sunfish championship was on August 15&16. But, the indications seem to be that it's this weekend. Are you as confused as I?

We (again the "royal") loaded up the station wagon with the speaker, amp, guitar, mic stand, foot rest and thick foam cushion and headed to Cocodimama for the evening. The cushion? Mark has a wonderful, strong and very pleasing body, but hardly any kind of rump, and sitting so long is very uncomfortable for him. Hence the cushion.

He played classical for more than an hour, then he broke for dinner. Home made ravioli for him and the cheese and pa-shoo-toe platter for me. I tasted two ravioli. Delicious. Mark helped me finish up the platter and returned to the guitar, began his singing repetoire. More applause proving how good he is. I, in the meantime, was passing out the small brochure I designed yesterday for the renting of Skippers Cottage. Lots of comments on that. Oh, and the haircut was quite the hit. I could hardly get my head through the door when it was time to pack up and head home.

A few minutes ago, I got a call from Justin, one of our sailors in Nassau, and he was upset about "the attitude" of some of the people. I didn't understand what he was on about and I can't worry about that now. I told him that he was better than that, and he must keep the focus of being a winner in his mind. I don't know if he understood, but I hope so. The cell clicked off, and I want to believe that I got through to him. I also told him that I am waiting for a call from the owner of the hotel they are staying in and I will straighten out that problem of the bill as soon as I can. I am also trying to focus on our departure to Canada today, but if the day starts like this, I don't know where it will go. Mark has agreed that we will not paint the bedroom until we get back, since it is not a priority. What is the priority, then?

What I do know that it is Friday, and that means Cocodimama. Not only no cooking tonight, but also me being pampered while Mark plays his heart out.

Last night, Sparkie and Bob did join us for Indian and it was good. Must have been, since only a little chicken in creamed coconut is left. We laughed, we talked, we discussed, we laughed some more as we dined, and continued until none of us could believe it was after eleven! Nothing better than good food, good people and the release of endorphinses (spelling?) and yes, Sparkie did a great job on the haircut. Mark says I look ten years younger. I wish.

So, I have three things to accomplish today. One, clean the kitchen (easy). Two, convince the owner of the hotel in Nassau that the cheque from the sailing club is good, the two-week stay should be discounted to fifty per night, not sixty (not so easy). Three, hold on, an email just arrived from the commodore in Nassau. Trouble. Gotta go.

We had four sails out yesterday. Four new sailors took the tiller and with the light winds they did very well. We did the Globe Princess Theatre burgers (inhaled them when we got home - it would be too embarrassing to eat them in public!) and had a quiet night. We set up the backgammon board and made up the rules along the way. Used to play constantly years ago, but Mark cottoned on quick and easily won.

Had word from the new commodore that the sailors in Nassau are settled in and they are keen on the training. My mind is eased now, and I can focus on getting ready to travel. We didn't get the bedroom painted yesterday, and not today….maybe tomorrow? My golden (streaked with white) cascading curls are coming off this morning…thank goodness. I always feel better after "Sparkie" cuts my hair. I hope Sparkie and Bob can join us for dinner tonight. I am doing Indian, Mark's favourite.

Still in a quandry about the publisher's offer of joint venture. I have written back, but no response. I have also written to businesses in Vancouver regarding sunbrella fabric and stainless steel hinges. No replies. What's with that? We only have one day to shop in Vancouver, so I am trying to get it all laid out. Don't online websites that say "contact" contact? I know that businesses who are advertising online should respond…if not, what's the point? But enough complaining. Life is too short.

Mark is puttering around the garden as I write this, and his day is filled with fixing this and that. He can fix anything from a broken heart to the crack of dawn…He also came up with the solution to refrigeration when renters are at the cottage this winter. Clever. We were talking about what we can do, even taking our small chest freezer out and taking it to a friends place because it does take up a lot of electricity. I was telling him about my childhood summers at Silver Islet, outside of Thunder Bay. No electricity had been there, and still think there isn't any. Anyway, I was telling of Sundays, how we would all pile into Uncle Monty's stationwagon to attend Mass at Loon Lake, then on the return to camp, stop at the then Sibley Provincial Park (now Sleeping Giant PP) and purchase a huge block of ice for the circa 1900 ice chest. It was a beauty. Solid oak, tight brass hinges and handle, and the ice block lasted a week. Our job was to empty the water tray at the bottom. Mark's face lit up. Why not, he says, unplug the freezer, put a layer of thick ice blocks on the bottom (still in their plastic containers) put a grill above them. That would work, he continued. I got excited about the idea, and we will "conduct an experiment" when we get back from our trip.

I love the idea. Don't you?

Today is Wednesday, so that means its sailing day, and Blue Room chicken. But, the Blue Room is closed for the month of August, so I'll have to think of somewhere else. The movie theatre (the only one outside of Nassau) has take away burgers and they are pretty decent. First, though, it's time to paint the bedroom. I've got to get the room ready. Since there is only a window (no door into the room, because we placed all the furniture in the space, then built the wall enclosing it) that means I have to take the drawers out, and placed in the main room, and make it ready for Mark and his paintbrush. He is working in the garden as I write this and he has been for the last three mornings. He has done an amazing job, and I love the way he beams as he points out the growth of the "carpet grass" and the flowering Barbados bush. He has planted five along the entrance to the back?front? door. The rosemary is doing great as well. I had read somewhere that the air in Tuscany is fragrant due to all the hedges of rosemary. Mark has planted it all along the south side of the cottage. You can see the bushes in the cover picture of our website.

I haven't heard from the sailors in Nassau, but as Mark points out no news is good news.

I have to edit our clothes today as I prep the room. I'm not sure what to take, since the final destination of Liam and Kelly's wedding in somewhere in the south east of BC. Rattle snake and grizzly bear country. Oh my.

Oh, yeah…Got an email back from the "publisher". For nine hundred dollars, we will be published. Mark and I have got to get more information about this. We do get 50% royalties, and an extensive marketing campaign. What do you think? Should we hold out, and I continue to send emails, or go ahead and put it on the credit card - which is getting a lot of work lately, due to the wedding trip.

He stopped the weed wacker, so he must be finishing in the garden. Gotta run!

I'm in a mood and it's not a nice one. I've been stressed too much, and it's not a good thing. Yesterday began all right, with Mark beginning to tackle the jungle around the cottage. The rains have turned the grounds into bumper crops of weeds, so he took a couple of hours in the morning to swing the weed wacker around and I did enjoy the smell of cut grass. I cleaned up, did the dishes and headed into town for supplies. The job of the day was to get Patrick and Justin on the ferry to Nassau for the two-week sunfish training camp. That wasn't to happen until about six, so after lunch, we read, rested and then Mark rehearsed for a while. By four o'clock, we had put the various monies in envelopes, with written instruction on each (one for the hotel, one each for Patrick and Justin's food fund) and we headed into town around six. Got to Patrick's yard and was informed that Justin was in North Eleuthera at the airport and it's just after six. Panic. I'm good at that. Patrick is all ready to go, but Justin is miles away and "needs a ride south". Needless to say, the next hour was not easy. With texting, and using my cell, we follow Justin from North, just passing through Gregory Town, he's in JC now, and then he is passing Cocodimama. By this point, the ferry has arrived, but can't dock due to a cargo barge tied up at the dock. Sometimes I think the gods just like to play with us, and see the reactions of mortals. The call made to Justin by Patrick, just as the barge leaves and the ferry docks, and I see Patrick's face light up and he yells "Jussy is on the dock!" We pile into the wagon and head out, find him, get them registered, tagged and I heave a sigh of relief as Mark and I and a few board members see the ferry leave with our sailors aboard. We head home and it's almost eight. Mark makes our cocktails while I whip together dinner. We are elated that we did what we said we would do. In bed and sound asleep by ten - pooped.

The ringing of the cell wakes me, and I struggle from bed, through the window and see the cell glowing. It's Justin and he's yelling. I'm so groggy I don't understand what the problem is…I think it had something to do with no one meeting them, or the hotel wasn't up to his standard, or whatever. I told him to take a taxi to the hotel, and to calm down. I hung up and he called again, and I said again, calm down since I didn't understand what he was saying except "I'm coming home tomorrow!". I said to him again, calm down. He hung up. I don't know what happened and as Mark tells this morning, there is nothing we can do about it. It's out of our hands. I'm taking his advice and will put a menu together for our friend who is joining us for lunch today.

I'll take my own advice and calm down.

Just finished sending out forty emails to various literary agents in England. I refuse to give up on our book "Sailorman". It's very good, if I don't mind saying so myself. We still have the issue of revenues, which we discussed to death yesterday. Oh, it was an ideal Sunday, sunshine and cool breezes. One of many things unique about the cottage is the lack of air conditioners. When we chose the spot where to build, we determined the predominate winds and designed the cottage to face it. It doesn't matter where the winds are from really, there is always a cool breeze on this hilltop. When there is no wind at all (stuff happens), we have two small fans that run off the 12 volt system…one attached to a deep cycle battery which is portable, and the other is plugged into the 12volt above Mark's desk. This one we usually use at night, perched on the windowsill, facing the bed.

The day was generally a lazy Sunday, with Mark's sunbathing (no tan lines on my guy), reading, and doing nothing. Nice. I do love Sundays - our official days off, since Saturdays are always busy. We did make our way to town in the late morning, for provisions for dinner and as usual, I dreaded paying eleven dollars for three chicken breasts. We did an early cocktail and shuffled the cards. Spite and Malice. Great card game. My sister is coming back with us from Canada and she is very, very ruthless about this game, so Mark and I are in training. We stopped for dinner, which was Thai chicken with basil…and jasmine rice. Even the cat liked the little we saved for him.

We put Jullian Bream on, and continued to play cards after dinner. He certainly plays his guitar FAST. I thought his fingers must be a blur while he performs. I still am number one fan of Music at Skipper's Cottage by Mark Adams. The feedback we are getting is that his cd is ideal for the car. I believe that most people do sing their hearts out when alone in the car and Mark has some old time favourites on the cd people love. Apparently, he is in cars in Italy, New York, Tampa, Toronto, Nassau, the Carolinas, and of course, all over Eleuthera. I'd love to get him booked at a music festival somewhere. Do you know of any?

Anyway, we talked over Jullian about renting again. We are going to do it, and we'll stay aboard Angel in the Harbour. So, if you are looking for a place to regroup your soul, spice up your marriage, hike to our hidden beach, explore the landscape, watch the sun set into the Caribbean, and run around naked, this is the place for you. Not for the faint hearted, mind. We are living off the grid, green and careful with water - as you would have to be. But the winter months generate LOTS of power…and electric is no problem -just turn off what's not in use. We'd have to come up with a cooling system (refridgeration) for you…but Mark will figure that out.

Busy, busy, busy. Saturday was full, let me tell you. We had to wait a while before sailors and swimmers showed up. But, by eleven we were in action. I love seeing the sails on the Harbour. I had to do the endurance swim three times (phew) so that we have now three new sailors. My ego was boosted with the swimmers. TJ did an excellent crawl stroke, and once we got back from the bouy, I asked who taught him to swim…he actually laughed when he said "You did". When Gardine wanted to do the test, I commented that he had a wonderful breast stroke…I asked him as well, and he had the same answer. It was at that point that I realized I have been teaching the local kids to swim since '06…

We didn't do racing, since only a handful showed up, but what was wonderful was when Patrick took Keesh out on his sunfish and Kendrick took Gardine out on his laser. Kenneth was in a sunfish instead of his opti and he was flying. The winds gusted to 20knots and the kids loved it, including the newest ones. Mark was guiding Ashley in her opti and then after a time, he took Kenneth's sunfish, while Kenneth manned the safety boat, and I could see Mark's smile from the beach. I sold some decals, but no shirts. If you want to purchase one, contact me! The sailing club needs the money and the kids need the sailing club.

I picked up the donated lunch from the bakery just after one, once all the sailors de-rigged, put the hulls up the beach, and put away sails, tillers, dagger boards and lifevests in the clubhouse. We finally got home around two. Quick shower, and off to Bajamar to do a photo shoot. Then onto Bob's home up the hill. This is one person I truly enjoy. He is on the board of the sailing club, and always a positive attitude. Always. He is a Brit, like Mark, but from London, so when he and his "Sparkie" (his bubbly wife) come for dinner next Thursday, I will be lost in the conversation as I always am when surrounded by "kippers" aka Brits. Bob generously added to the fund for Patrick and Justin two-week training camp in Nassau. About an hour later, I told Mark if we didn't get into town, the options for dinner where very thin. Off we went, and decided on pasta with cream sauce for dinner, and stopped in to replenish our libations. We finally got to the cottage after four and decided that somewhere it's cocktail hour and sat out on the front (or back -haven't decided after six years here) patio, talking, and watching the young crown head pidgeons learning to fly. By the time we finished dinner, cleaned up and had our nighcap, we stepped through the window to the bedroom, cuddled under the sheets and that's when Mark whispered, "so, what was the best part of your day?"

I'm still thinking about that.

As Fridays go, it was pretty good. I did get the laundry done, in the afternoon. I went to Bajamar, a beautiful house in Harbour (complete with pool) and did three loads. Alex (son of owners) was there and he headed to the beach on the north side (Atlantic) but returned due to heavy rains. That's something that's interesting here…it will pour down on one side of the street, and sunny on the other! Frustrating in the dry season.

Yesterday, early into town to get a cheque from the pres of the sailing club (accommodations for the sailors in Nassau), then to the bank for a little cash for us, off to Burrows for groceries - I do shop for the day, very European - and we decided to do lunch at the bakery. If you have been to Eleuthera, I am sure you know the bakery in Governor's Harbour. Just walking through the doors puts pounds on. Back home, a little light reading and a quiet time. I gathered up the laundry and headed out, and returned late. Only had an hour before we headed out to Cocodimama. We had a great time, well, I did. I didn't have to play classical guitar for more than an hour, then sing for two more. Mark took his break at eight, when we have some supper. He had the home made raviloi in cream sauce…I thought he was going to lick the plate! I had melon and Italian ham (can't spell pa-shu-toe) with cheese. Great news though, I sold a cd! Caught up with some friends and I had my weekly cigarette with Agosinto, the manager of the resort. He became a hero last evening when a call for help came through in the early evening. He headed out in his boat to give assistance. Well, when he got back, we saw the new commodore of the sailing club (Craig) and a good friend (Mark) come through the doors. They were the ones needing rescue. The boat they were travelling from Nassau and the engine broke down a mile from Eleuthera. Give me a sail anytime!

Time to get ready for the races in Harbour. I hope some kids show up. It has been very sporadic lately, what with some sailors visiting family all over the Bahamas. We haven't had races for a couple of weeks, so fingers crossed enough show up today.

I've got to suit up (swimmers always show up) and brush the teeth, wash the face, and gather up my marketing department. I have a huge bag with tee shirts and decals that I hawk on the beach. What a trooper, eh?

The last day of July and we don't have an agenda today. I like that idea, but I still have to do laundry somewhere. Yesterday was a success, what with letting the mothers of our sailors know that they will be looked in on during the two-week sunfish training in Nassau. We picked up Patrick, drove to see Justin and then onto the clubhouse to pack up their boats. It took us a couple of hours to get everything done and put the trailor on the ferry. By the time we got home, after picking up a few groceries, we settled in for another evening of cards, and listening to John Williams. I failed to mention that while we played cards on Wednesday, Mark had put on a cd of Liona Boyd, then his cd. We compared the classical bits, but I really like the vocals on his. Last night it was John Williams Spanish guitar (brilliant) and then John Williams Bach. I told Mark he plays almost as well. I think Mark was a little shocked by my comparison to his idol. Tonight, he told me, it's Julliam Bream. I said, no. Tonight it's Mark Adams at Cocodimama! He plays classical guitar during sunset every Friday evening, he takes a break once the sun is gone, and then performs his extensive range of songs….he's very good as is his cd we recorded here at the cottage. He has a track you can download on this website. Or you can buy one - just email us.

Meanwhile, I have a kitchen to clean, a floor to sweep, a bed to make, (shouldn't take long, it's a small cottage!) and decide what to do today. Maybe be lazy and read, maybe to the beach, maybe poke around in the studio and make some things for the grandkids. Maybe get the laundry done?

I'll let you know tomorrow, the first of August.

What a fun evening! After we (again, the royal "we", since Mark says the only painting I should do should be on canvas, not walls, due to my "enthusiasm") painted the cockpit, and put all the furniture back, we headed into town at four pm for Wednesday training day for the new sailors. The wind was high, and the kids (ages 8 to 10) didn't cotton to the idea of rigging the optis and heading out, so we all swam instead. Mark also took four of them in the skiff to take a look at the huge (80 plus feet) yacht anchored in the harbour. I stayed in the water. We wrapped up a little early, and picked up our Wednesday dinner at the Blue Room. Ava makes the best chicken snack! This is our treat every Wednesday, but they are closing for the month of August, so I'll probably drop a few pounds (thankgod). Got home around six - just in time for one cocktail, then we were true conivores…Mark had dug in before I had mine open! The bones, and the skin from mine, we save for our feral cat "Flier". For some reason he knows Wednesday is a good day to come to Skippers Cottage. Then I asked Mark what the evenings entertainment to be? The choice was cards, cards or cards. (Our dvd player is kaput).

I love playing bridge, and Mark is pretty good. What we do to compensate that it's only the two of us, we still deal out the four hands, then Mark1 and Missy1 are partners, and proceed to bid, the Mark2 and Missy2 (the other couple playing) bid as well. It does make for some interesting bids, and the playing out is hilarious…My Mark is a truly funny person. I laughed a lot last night.

Today is challenge day. Mark is on his way into town to gather Patrick and Justin and get their sunfish on the cradle Mark made for the trailer, and be ready for the SeaWind's arrival at noon. Then they will put only the trailer on the ferry and when it arrives in Nassau, the new commodore of the sailing club will pick it up and take it to the Nassau Yacht Club. Then the sailors head out on Monday for their two week training sessions.

Got to get ready to head to town. I have just been informed that I am an extra pair of hands….possibly needed.

Catch ya later

A very interesting day yesterday. We had to travel into town in the morning to collect a donation for the sailing club. Tyler Perry is making a movie here and the production people who asked if we were racing on Saturday morning contacted us. Of course we were. We race every Saturday. They requested we not race, since they were shooting in the Harbour all day, with helicopter and yachts. I talked to Mark and we agreed that a donation to the club would be appropriate. We didn't race, but got a five hundred dollar commitment. We have two sailors heading to Nassau on Monday, and will need the money for them to take part in a two-week training session before the nationals. We hope to get an Eleutheran on the National Bahamian team for the world sunfish races in Nassau in October.

After a bit of a runaround, we got the money, drove to Cupids Cay and informed the president of the board, then Mark noticed that our committee boat was very close to shore. We stopped at the library, and he tried to move the "blue boat", but the tide was out, so we headed home with plans to return in the afternoon.

We headed back to town after lunch, and I waltzed into the library as he moved the boat further out. I got back to the car loaded with books (I am a confessed bookaholic) and we headed to the grocery store for supplies for supper. I spent only seven dollars for some sauages, potatoes, and fixings for a toss salad. Back home and Mark putters around the boat yard - the end of our road, where there are trailers, inflatables in various state of repair, the capri on her trailer, the skiff and the cradle Mark built for transporting sunfish. We have to get Justin and Patrick's sunfish to Nassau tomorrow on the SeaWind ferry. Then we have to get them to Nassau on Monday.

Our cocktail hour saw us out on the deck again, only this time discussing an email I got regarding our book "Sailorman". A publisher wishes to read it. I am not sure if it is really true. We have been trying for a publisher for three years and ususally ends up that we would have to pay to have it published. But, we'll see. I'll keep you posted on that too. I sometimes believe the book will be our financial salvation. No, I pray the book will be published and sold into mainstream with an endorsement from Oprah…..sure. But you've got to keep going, keep believing, keep positive!

Got to get my rear into gear! We (the royal "we") are painting the cockpit, which will turn into a bedroom for my sister who is coming back with us from Toronto…

Couldn't do the shoes. I'll have to wear my "slippers" to Liam's wedding…

Went into Harbour for a few supplies yesterday and the bill was too much. Six dollars for Windex? Anyway, got back in time for lunch (ham and cheese sandwiches for Mark and just the cheese and ham for me) and a bit of quiet time. We usually read after lunch and then Mark takes a bit of a nap. We both have a hard time staying awake after nine in the evening! We puttered around and by cocktail hour, we were sitting on the front deck, watching the herons and crown pidgeons showing off with air tactics, and coming in close for a look at us. It is amazing living here, with the wild life so close. When we were first building, the wildlife wasn't too keen on us moving into the neighbourhood. Too many centipedes for my taste. Never mind the snakes. After six years here, we have had less of the creepy ones. Mind you, over the years, Mark has been bit by a scorpion, snake, centipede, wasps (that was scary, he uncovered a nest and was bit by at least ten, all on his face…. ouch!)

Our evening discussion was again the matter of money, or rather lack of it. We talked about selling our acre and living on a sailboat. I would do it only if the boat was in Europe, not here. But selling Skippers Cottage would be horrid. We have put so much into making it comfortable and cozy. When friends come for dinner, they stay quite a while, and always comment on how the cottage is so inviting. Well, Mark and I continued to hash out various ways to ease our financial woes. I got up to repair our cocktails, and on my return he said why not rent out Skippers Cottage in the winter months and we can live aboard Angel while the cottage is occupied. I mulled it over. We had discussed this before, but I wasn't too keen to let strangers into our space. But, due to our circumstance, I agreed that we should rent. A few things have to be done, first. I don't think people would like to not have an oven, so we have to update the kitchen. We don't have a fridge, but a small chest freezer, which has to be turned off at night. So renters have to follow our policy, probably buy ice in town, and use our system of coolers to act like a fridge system. They would also have to turn the generator on in the mornings, for an hour or so, to access the Internet. What about tv? We don't have tv and don't want tv, but we have accumulated a load of dvds. Films in the evenings?

Would they mind climbing through the window to get to the bedroom? What do we do with all our stuff? We would have to store it somewhere. I mentioned that I had seen a vacuum system for packages on tv (while visiting a friends house) and that would work. Put away my mother's Spode china and get a good set of pots and pans. The cockpit, it could easily be a bedroom for a child, and what about the studio? Another sleeping space for children or teens? When Mark's son came to visit for a month with his girlfriend, they loved staying in the studio and found it much bigger than it appeared on the website.

What do you think? More money to be spent to get the cottage in rentable condition, but the location is wonderful. You can run around naked, and there is a pathway to the old Banks Road, just below us, and a three minute walk to our hidden beach, where we spend our Sundays. Most renters want to go to every beach here anyway, and the seclusion of the cottage is beautiful. Mark and I on the sailboat, so the renters can contact us via VHF.

We will continue to work through the idea. I'll keep you posted.

Everywhere I look on the web, someone is blogging about something. So, with Mark’s computer help, I will blog about living on Eleuthera (in paradise, really) as an expat Canadian married to an expat Englishman and filling our days with concerns on how to continue to live here while the costs slowly creep upward.

We are lucky though. We do not have any utility bills, what with living off the grid with solar panels and a wind generator. We do start every morning with our small generator for a few hours to charge up the batteries as we search the web for world news, a book publisher, check my facebook for pics of the grandkids, send out the synopsis for our completed book "Sailorman". We need a publisher for this true adventure, which I will not do again. Imagine, sailing a 22-foot Westerly from Tampa Florida to Eleuthera – crossing the Gulf Stream, engaging a squall, night passages through mindfields of fish pots – in January, yet. It’s a good read. I’m looking for a publisher or an agent. Have been for three years.

But this blog is about living here. Take yesterday for example. Early afternoon Sunday we head to the beach just down in front of Skipper’s Cottage. Tied my sarong to the wooden frame, built by Mark’s son while he was here, ensuring sun protection. We immediately stripped and jumped into the rolling surf. The Atlantic is warm and we play in the surf, scrub ourselves with the fine pink sand and play in the surf again. We’ll head to the shelter and drink ice cold water, catch a few rays, nap, back into the surf to play some more. We head home about cocktail hour, rinse off with collected rainwater, wrap up in sarongs (our summer attire) and sip our beverages while discussing options for our supper.

Once decided, Mark pulls the guitar off the wall and plays for his supper – literally!

I do miss things, though. Life here is warm, complicated, unusual, exciting (hurricanes people), and hard work. I want to continue my designing, but cannot. Need a work permit, which would probably cost the earth. I have done some jobs online though. I assisted with a space plan, colour and art selection with a family in Seattle, and colour scheme for a family in Austraila and space plans for a couple in Canada. Amazing what digital cameras can do. Love the work, but didn’t get any revenue for it. Paypal, anyone?

Anyway, I plan to write about each day’s experience for those of you who are locked into a nine to five, battling traffic, and inhaling fumes of city life. Today we will try to wear shoes (I only wear thongs, flipflops, or as called here slippers) We are travelling to the Canadian Rockies next month to witness son #2 commit to his lady. Mark says I have to wear shoes. Sheesh.

We have to go into town (Governor’s Harbour) for some groceries later. And the afternoon? Don’t know yet, but I will "blog" again tomorrow morning and let you know.