Jule's Hikoi

Sunday

2012-01-29T20:49:00.000-05:00

What a day, one where I had an interesting Caymanian cultural experience. Not one I would want again, funerals are not something I attend lightly. Carol's brother had passed away, a sudden death of a relatively young man and a big shock to his family. It was interesting talking with my friends here about how we deal with death and funerals in our different cultures.

In New Zealand families can have their loved ones at home or at a funeral home. In Maori culture, the deceased are often laid in the wharenui (meeting house) for a three day tangihanga. Everyone comes to pay their respects, the body is not left alone. Everyone plays a part from sitting alongside the family to feeding the masses that arrive. It's also a cultural experience and one that my friends were surprised about.

Today there was the sharing of life's stories, tributes, prayers and singing in a lovely, small white church on the sea shore. The singing was amazing, a choir singing praises and gospel songs then at the end a gentleman sang one of his own songs about going home. The poem, The Touch of the Masters Hand requires more reflection. I was going to copy it here but the website shows it so much better. It was a sad day for Carol and her family with their community gathering for support and a celebration of her brother's life. Funerals provide that final goodbye, only time can help with the healing.

Taste Cayman

2012-01-29T11:01:00.000-05:00

Taste Cayman was an experience. I couldn't imagine where so many people had come from, the venue was packed. I also couldn't believe how many people I knew or recognised as we wandered around. I'd been out sailing for most of the day, a training sail where I learnt more about mainsail trimming. Very helpful having more experience to hang the learning on. It was exhausting and I shut my eyes for a moment when I got home. An hour later Jane was there to pick me up, I wasn't quite awake.

There was a queue to get in and most were not too patient with this, funny really hearing the comments. We were a little more philosophical, I enjoyed the people watching. The stalls had people lined up too, so many people. The space was smallish so that probably contributed. The food was yummy, conch fritters with plantain baskets of spicy shrimp; pumpkin and ricotta tortellini with semi dried baby tomatoes served with fresh orange juice and ginger; tuna tartar and lemon meringue pies, small tart lemon treats that left me wanting more. There were lots of more meaty treats as well and the Mohitos were excellent.

I suspect I may have to try out the restaurant with the pasta, it was divine. There were fireworks, Cayman does fire works well and this was no exception. It was nice to go out and wander at Caymana Bay. The concept is fantastic and there's plenty of places to eat where you can relax and watch the world go by. The plan is to do that more often. For now there's plenty of other things that require my attention. Work is all consuming, in a good way because we are making such progress. The next trip is coming up soon, very exciting. I'm so excited that I'm getting to see everyone, not so excited about the journey. The trip is a long one going from Cayman to Miami to LA to Brisbane to Christchurch to Melbourne to LA to Miami to Cayman. I know it will be worth it and I'm counting the days.

A sleepy Cuban lion

Cuban folks

2012-01-23T20:16:00.001-05:00

The nut seller hamming it up for the camera, she had the most amazing voice!

Turning 15 is a big event for the girls, they dress up and celebrate

The sights you see out wandering

Long weekend

2012-01-23T20:05:00.000-05:00

It's the end of a long weekend. I'd like to have one of these every week, time to read and relax, time to get caught up on the bits and pieces I don't get time for. Take cooking, I don't tend to cook too much during the week. I don't even do groceries that often, eating out is cheap enough and there's no waste. I often work late, going out for dinner works for those of us who also do. Tonight I've excelled myself. Baked salmon filet with spicy chipotle coating on a rice with stir fried ginger and chili vege. Yum. I'm full right now and the best thing, tomorrows dinner is in the fridge. The start of healthy eating me thinks.

And the exercise, well not too much today just a little living room yoga and a small wander. Tomorrow morning there will be a 5k walk, hopefully with Jo because it goes faster when you're yaking and we keep each other honest with the pace. Yesterday there was a 5k walk plus an hour or so in the water snorkeling. I'm a little pink on my back, another tan line. So I'm sitting here feeling a little virtuous.

I got to talk to Sasi and Eve this evening too, a huge bonus. Eve is such a digital native, she knows just how to talk to the grands on Skype. She stands up at the couch and coos and giggles when I talk to her, there'll be trouble when she begins to speak in earnest. I suspect that she will be a very good communicator, she seems to know what that's all about now. I can't wait to see her in person, it's only a few weeks before I fly in that direction.

What I lived on in Cuba, yes that whole lobster tail is all for me,
and there was steamed vege, rice and all the trimmings

I got some work done today as well, just a few hours to make the week easier. So, it's almost 8pm and I'm thinking of heading up to my book and an early night. I'm so boring. I love it, this quiet time to myself. My weeks are hectic so I'll just go and enjoy. Hopefully I'll have time for more posts next weekend, I'm not sure yet what's on the agenda.

Iron Lady

2012-01-22T21:32:00.001-05:00

Margaret Thatcher was an amazing woman. I've just been to see the movie of her life. I couldn't believe the times she lived through, the history that was made on her patch. She was certainly formidable. Meryl Streep is a fantastic actress, such a hard role done so very well. Here's a taste.

Habana waterfront

2012-01-22T17:06:00.000-05:00

Here's a selection of photos I took people watching from the sea wall. The water was an amazing blue, a deep colour that contrasted with the sky.

Sunday musings

2012-01-22T16:02:00.000-05:00

A quiet weekend was called for, the last few have been far from quiet. The weeks have been hectic as well, long hours at work ticking off the to do list. The problem is that many things get added to this so it's three steps forward and two steps back along with that one that goes sideways. Times of change are exciting times although exciting can be totally flying by the seat of your pants, as the expression goes.

This from my horoscope for tomorrow:

"You'll take on projects that you have no idea how you're going to complete. But the first step is just to move. Don't worry about the end game right now. Just get in motion"

That sums it up really well, I'm in motion and have several other project to get moving while working on the current ones. Contrary to belief, not being able to multitask is not just the domain of men. I struggle in seeing so many things on the list, at least there are some major ticks now and some of these can be seen here, another tick in the box. There's more to be done, added and edited but at least we're live now. And the huge bonus, I have a fantastic team so the multitasking load is shared.

Tomorrow is a holiday here, Hero's Day. A genuine celebration of local heros that people have worked really hard to organise. I may not attend the celebrations, the thought of an uninterrupted office day is more than tempting. If I can just get a few tasks completed, a few more begun my week may work. We begin another round of training evenings on Wednesday, three months of intensive work as we implement the new curriculum. It's not quite written yet, a job for tomorrow. So, writing is what I do all day every day at the moment. It will settle, I'm sure.

Now my down time is usually not spent writing. It's spent sailing, snorkeling and reading, not having to use my brain, books. Oh and dining with the odd drink. Today Jane and I took advantage of the lovely weather and went for a snorkel around Smiths Cove. There were plenty of fish there today, really big ones and schools of colourful fish darting in and out of the coral. Very beautiful. I was inspired to get the dive course done. This evening I'm off to the movies to see Iron Lady. A nice way to spend the evening.

Racing!

2012-01-15T20:49:00.001-05:00

What a great weekend out sailing! The wind was on the edge of safe, the sailing was close and dramatic at times and there were nine 22's out. Amanda was back so no foredeck for me thankfully. We managed the whole range on Saturday, first to last, with a forth overall. Today was not so good, the spinnaker tore to shreds in the high winds and we had a hasty take down. Very lucky it wasn't worse, others broached, lost crew and had theirs blow out. We had to be content surfing our way to a sixth on a jib rigged for maximum speed. Fun, frustrating until we saw others go too.

The stories at the end were worth telling over a beer, for now Yahoo needs some sponsorship. The spinnaker is shredded, the skipper lost his watch, the boom decided to wait until we were docked to fall off. Interesting! All's well that ends well, it was wet, wild and windy and lots of fun. There are three of us kiwis sailing plus family, nice to understand the accent and be fully understood. I did learn tonight that one of my fellow countryman is half Australian and the other has Aussie ancestry, hard to find the perfect kiwi. I joined the club today and hope to enroll in a learn to sail course soon, that might help. For now, it's a hot shower and bed, I'm shattered!

Cuba

2012-01-10T22:32:00.000-05:00

The flags, now they do have a story worth telling

Mohitos at Hemmingway's favourite bar

It's that car again, a bit like the X-Files

We rode this lift, just because we could and it was cool

Stories will follow, promise. My new years resolution, the exercise one, is making me sleep well. All that early morning walking, so not a morning person. The other one is best not spoken about ten days in. Maybe next year. Yeah right!

On traveling

2012-01-02T22:17:00.000-05:00

One final comment, the last word. I promise. Las Cascades has a collection of National Geographic magazines for it's guests to browse. I came across this gem in one:

Photography is one of the greatest pleasures of travel and travel is one of the greatest pleasures of life.

Chris Johns, 2003.

I couldn't agree more.

More on Honduras

2012-01-02T22:11:00.000-05:00

Before I go onto my next adventure, I thought I should finish sharing about Honduras. I'm up to the day out mountain biking . No photos please, I had to use a canoe helmet so it wasn't pretty. Note to self, travel with ones bike helmet whenever cycling is an option.

As I shared previously, the ride up was a treat. Commentary from our guide and driver were useful in helping us to get to know the place and the people a little better. Watching from the jeep, I reflected on how different our lives were. I was watching other peoples lives while taking a break from mine. I wondered what those watching these mad tourists thought of our expedition through their lives.

Horsepower

Kristen and Erin joined Jo and I with Ash guiding. Well, carrying the food, waiting for us at times and buying the cokes. Coke in a battered, recycled bottle tasting deliciously old fashioned like coke used to. The road down was fun, an easy ride with a couple of uphills that had me puffing. It was fantastic to get on a bike again and be out in the wilds. The helmet didn't work so well with my glasses so that I rode without them, adding an extra challenge as I couldn't see too far in front and the big ruts looked flat until I got close so my reactions got a workout. Must get some new contacts.

Looking down the Rio

We stopped for lunch where some locals were having a wash in the river, the men showing off for the girls. The flat rock gave us a good look at the more fierce rapids on Rio Cangrejal, some that had to be bypassed in most water flows. We climbed quite high, the photo doesn't do it justice really. The view was stunning and made the climb worthwhile. Then came the next treat, a ride over the river in a cage to visit the the Women's Co-op on the other side of the river. The cage has been around a while and holds four people. We whizzed down the wire then Dona Rasario winched us to the getting off place.

As we crossed the river, another trip in a similar cage came to mind. One of our family adventures, when the kids were still trusting enough to go tramping in the New Zealand hills with us, ended up in some of us getting canoe rescued from the south bank of a fast flowing river. One of the boys winched the cage so hard it flipped off the rail leaving us stranded. Come to think of it, that was the last time they did come on adventures, I wonder why? Being canoe rescued from the wrong side of a snow fed river was a bit chilly.

Jo, Erin and Kristen in the cage

I digress, back to the Co-op. Dona Rasario, her daughter Jenny (Olvin the chef's wife), Joan and Leslie spend their days sewing, designing and making works of art with their sewing machines. Colourful appliqued quilts, wall hangings and small pieces like pot mitts. They look out over the picturesque river as they create for the local tourist market. I suspect Olvin jnr was not much help, he's about Noah's age and very cute. I didn't get the full story but my understanding is that the Co-op was begun by Dona Rosario a few years ago to provide work and an income for the women of the valley and has been very successful.

The ride across the river is no novelty to Olvin and his family, they do it each day often at night in Olvin's case. I was humbled that he rode so far down to the lodge, spent his day cooking for us then rode home to his family, crossing the river in the dark. The people work amazingly hard and are welcoming of the tourist operators in their communities. As we rode through Las Mangas the next day on the horses, Sylvia was greeted by all. We had the same experience when traveling with Ryan.

Dona Rosario and her wares

I bought some gifts for friends and two wonderful quilts for Noah and Eve. I intend to write them a story, with photos, to go with the quilts. I can't wait to see their faces when they see them, both are very colourful and interesting. I had to make a return trip, no money to pay for what I put aside, and Trish came too. She was very impressed with the work of these women, much more of an expert than I am in the art of applique and quilting.

The ride up and down the valley rattled the bones a bit and I was a bit jaded after the day out in the sunshine exercising. The evening had more lovely food and I had the best appetite to enjoy it. The Baileys cheesecake was yummy, made by another person who lives in the valley. There's quite an ex pat community with the folks at Omega, Las Cascades and the other places that accommodate the adventure tourists. Las Cangrejal valley lies between the Pico Bonito and Nombre de Dios National Parks so there is plenty to keep people occupied. Jo and I skipped the 4-5 hour walk to the big waterfall the others enjoyed and chose to go horse riding with Sylvia from Omega.

No photos from that day, it rained and we got soaked. We followed a trail up the river and ate some lychees from the tree, delicious. I'm not so good at riding horses, they're a long way off the ground and I've fallen off the odd one in the past. The horse I rode was mostly well behaved but seemed to know that I didn't know what I was doing. Sylvia is an interesting lady. She also had New Zealand connections, one name I recognised from my previous work life. Chilled and a bit sore, the coffee and banana cake back at Omega warmed us up.

I seem to have gone on for ages, I could go on some more. The trip to Honduras was just what the doctor ordered. No internet or phones to bother us, although both were available at the lodge if you really wanted. The four days were so relaxing and enjoyable, connecting to the natural world in a way I haven't managed in ages. I was rested and relaxed when I got back home, dinner at the Italian with a nice Chianti finished the long weekend off nicely.

I will go back to Honduras. I had a small taste and learned that there are Inca ruins throughout the country worth visiting. The next trip will be to the north, towards the Guatemalan border. Before I do, I have to learn to speak at least a little Spanish. It's a very useful language to have in this part of the world, although the dialects can vary from country to country. I'm sure I'll figure it out before I get there.

Cuba

2012-01-01T20:14:00.000-05:00

Church square - Trinidad

Streets of Habana

The Caribbean, beautiful beaches and clear water

The Atlantic breaking onto the Habana sea wall

I'm just back, a bit jaded after a week of getting to know a place that is so full of contrasts and contradictions. Miguel did comment about this on our way from the airport into Habana. Don't try to understand Cuba, just enjoy it was his message. Sound advice it seems. More on our lovely guide and our explorations soon. For now here are a few photos I suspect may explain this better.

Las Cascadas - The waterfalls

2011-12-21T21:46:00.000-05:00

The very large waterfall that cascades down the slippery rocks is spectacular. It begins high up and has several points where it pools on a ledge then tumbles down again to the next level. We had drinks on the level above the lodge, up the steps and over the bridge. The next level is a walk up steeper steps, through the rainforest to an lovely clearing and a multi branched waterfall. The photos don't do it justice really. My camera and I nearly ended up in the pond, the rocks were very slippery and with the high canopy above filtering the sun, I suspect it's always like that.

More on Honduras soon. Next stop is Cuba I think, smoking giant Cuban cigars while welcoming 2012 seems like a very good idea to me.

Honduras - Las Cascades

2011-12-21T01:23:00.000-05:00

Honduras seems to have happened a life time ago, funny how we come back to our lives after a trip away and the busyness kicks in. I intended to write much about the lovely time we had there, now seems as good a time as any. Sleep is not happening, possibly because I'm excited about my next two trips. One possibly back to Honduras and the other a trek to Australia and New Zealand in February. I took wise advice and booked a longer trip than I had originally planned, a three city journey in the southern hemisphere.

Back to Honduras. The trip happened suddenly, decisions made to go and then working late the night before so I was free to enjoy my time off. I neglected to take out money thinking that I could stock up at the airport when I arrived. Not wise it seems. Luckily Jo was more organised and generous enough to share her US dollars. We didn't need much as it turned out because it was all inclusive at the Las Cascadas Lodge. Ryan picked us up at the airport, along with Babs and Simon from George Town and their friends Trish and Roland from Canada. It was full house at Las Cascades with the six of us.

We rattled our way up the Cangrejal River valley, the road pot holed and slushy from recent rains, with Ryan's commentary about the area he so obviously loves. The road reminded me of some I had travelled in New Zealand. A narrow valley with lush vegetation and the tumbling river alongside. The forest was different, tropical rain forest with cocoa trees and banana palms. The big gates of the Lodge swung open, we had arrived.

The lodge is nestled beneath the high canopy and fits into the rain forest with it's thatched roof, stone exterior and warm timbers inside. The lodge is open to the outside with netting walls so there was the feeling of being close to nature. Our room was right by the waterfall, a soothing noise to sleep to. After a short rest, it was all action. Off to Omega Lodge just up the road to go white water rafting. The photos are in a previous post. Allan the Irishman was our guide, he had previously lived in Rotorua and guided on the Huka Falls. Rumour has it that he has the Huka tattooed on his back.

White water rafting is fun, wet and chilly but tons of excitement. The section of the Cangrejal we rafted is mostly rated 3 and 4 so challenging without being too tough for beginners. Being able to paddle dragon boat style possibly helped. Erin from GoErinGo was in our group along with Kristen. It was interesting talking to Erin, she's had a few adventures in the past months and a lifestyle I aspire to. Maybe after this contract. Before rafting we ate spaghetti, a rafting ritual. It was delicious, as was the homemade bread served with it.

Wet and tired we returned to the luxury of a hot shower at the Lodge and talk of our adventures on the river. I was so tired I chilled with my book. Dinner at Las Cascades is a special treat. Six people for dinner, a chef who discussed the meal with us first and lovely staff serving. What more could we ask for. Olvin and his team Maira and Miriam provided us with wonderful food made from local ingredients. They treated us to the very best food and service, all with a smile. The bar was also well stocked.

Ryan and Maggie helped us plan the next day's adventure over one of Maggie's special cocktails. I got to choose, mountain biking was the plan. A trip up the valley to Yaruka in a jeep then riding back down through the villages. The drive up was spectacular, the ride down and up and then down again and up once more before going down was special. Ash was our guide, Erin and Kirsten joined us too. More about that in my next post. For now, here is a photo of the Las Cascades crew and the lodge.

Miriam, Olvin and Maria with Ryan at the back

The gathering place

Our room is to the left

Honduras - White water fun

2011-12-17T16:44:00.000-05:00

Keeping in control

Rafting is fun. It's funny, I come from one of the top rafting countries and I hadn't experienced this until I went to Honduras and enjoyed Rio Cangrejal. I couldn't believe that our guide and our host had both guided in New Zealand. In fact, many of the people we met had New Zealand connections. It's a small world and others understood my accent for a change. It was a bit chilly, not nearly as chilly as New Zealand waters thankfully. Here's a collections of photos taken by one of the canoeists that joined us.

Smile for the camera

Beautiful countryside

Down we go!

Bruised a little

2011-12-15T23:34:00.000-05:00

It's been an interesting week so far. Heaps to do while feeling a little bruised. Racing on Sunday on the 22s got a little hectic, 18 plus knots of wind kicking up some good swells. A quick gibe to get out of the way of another caused the fore deck, that would be me, to have a little mishap. Getting squished a little, hanging on as we began to broach then making it to hike on the rail. The bruised are impressive, especially when I'm a hard one to bruise. The one on my bicep made my colleagues gasp, they didn't see the ones on my legs.

What a fantastic day out though. We got to see the dolphin, swum towards us as we watched in wonder and maybe squealed a little. He looked up and then went under the boat, amazing to see him weaving through the fleet. Others had tales too. I've learnt heaps about sailing from my friends who invite me to take part on their boats. This weekend it was Pete and Marie. We got talking about sailing and I remembered my long held dream of sailing around the Mediterranean. That suddenly seemed possible, the how to sail course is on the to do list. Marie and I also made a plan to get the diving course done in the new year. Not a bad couple of resolutions.

Today I worked with Fiona at the travel place to arrange my trip home for Noah's birthday. It's a tall ask to plan a trip from here to Brisbane on to Aotearoa back to Melbourne and then back to Cayman. Lots of different legs to see all the family and friends. Fiona was up to the challenge, after all I did help her to choose a dress for a wedding, and I'm reviewing the options tonight. Can't wait to see everyone, especially the two newest family members.

Another quick story

2011-12-13T07:52:00.000-05:00

One of my lovely friends and colleague Carol was in Toronto a week or so ago for a course. She was wandering the city, probably looking up as you do in a big city, and a car pulled up to the kerb. She watched two women get out of the car, looking very excited. Imagine her surprise when one smiled at her, gave her a chocolate and wished her happy 40th anniversary. As Carol wondered, the lady told her it was the UAE's 40th anniversary. Imagine her surprise when Carol told her that she worked with someone who used to live there. So Carol resisted the urge to eat the beautifully packaged, with a bow, chocolate and brought it home for me. It has pride of place in my fridge at the moment and I smile whenever I see it.
Happy 40th to all my Emirati friends!

You know when....

2011-12-12T22:37:00.000-05:00

Caitriona Ni Fhiannachta, a friend of a friend on Facebook published this.

You know you've been living too long in the Arabian Gulf when :

You're not surprised to see a goat in the passenger seat
When phrases like 'potato peeler', 'dish washer', and 'fly killer' are no longer household items but are actually job titles
 You need a sweater when it cools down to 80 degrees Fahrenheit
You expect everyone (over 4 years old) to own a mobile phone
Your idea of housework is leaving a list for the maid
You believe that speed limits are only advisory.
You expect all police to drive BMWs or Mercedes
You believe that the definition of a nanosecond is the time interval between the time the light turns green and the time that the guy behind you begins to blow his horn
You can't buy anything without asking for a discount
You expect all stores to stay open till midnight
You make left turns from the far right lane
You send friends a map instead of your address
You think it perfectly normal to have a picnic in the middle of a roundabout at 11pm
You know exactly how much alcohol allowance you have left for the month
You never say Saturday instead of Friday or Sunday instead of Saturday
You accept that there is no point in asking why you are not allowed to do something
When you expect queues to be 1 person deep and 40 people wide
You realize that the black and white stripes in the road are not a zebra crossing, just bait to get tourists into the firing line
You carry 12 passport size photos around with you just in case
You overtake a police car at 130 km/h. And don’t worry about it
A problem with your car AC or horn is more serious to you than a problem with the brakes

All so very true and made me smile. It reminded me of my original, very similar list I published here. I also miss many of these things. I could also included:

You can negotiate a roundabout at speed while talking on the phone and drinking very hot Adnoc coffee
The policeman about to ticket you asks if you are married, offers himself as a husband and you consider it for a split second
You don't wear a watch because you tell the time by the call to prayer
You think you are under dressed when your elbows are showing
You lose count of the kids coming out of the Toyota Landcruiser at the school gate

I'm sure there must be more, some comments from Gulf residents please so we can add to the list. I suspect Ask Ali might enjoy this list.

Apologies!

2011-12-12T22:14:00.001-05:00

Sorry folks, I will write about Honduras before it becomes a distant memory. There will also be photos. For now I'm working long hours with little head space for writing. That will settle soon. The curriculum we have written will be out in use, the professional development will be over for the year and I'll have a nice time catching up next week when most are on holiday. So until then, keep checking and I'll keep working on writing some entries, promise.

A little piece of home in the Honduras rain forest

Honduras

2011-12-05T21:59:00.000-05:00

What a fantastic weekend, fun and adventure, exploration and enjoying the best company. I'm a little tired to write tonight, not sure why after all that relaxation, so here's a photo from the garden at Las Cascadas Lodge to enjoy. Stories and photos of waterfalls, horses, bikes and white water rafting will follow, promise.

Honduras here I come!

2011-11-30T19:55:00.001-05:00

Time off work, done; tickets booked, done; hotel, sorted; bags, not yet packed. I'm off to Honduras with Jo early Friday morning, I'm so excited. It will be my first trip to South America, the first of many I suspect. There are a few places where I can fly direct from Grand Cayman, La Ceiba is one of those. An hour or so in the air, a thirty minute drive and we're here.

Las Cascadas-Located in La Ceiba on the Cangrejal River produced by Steve Hasz on WellcomeMat

Four days of activities and relaxation, just what I need. I'm taking my camera of course and a small happy snappy for the adventure shots. Not sure I'd like to take my camera white water rafting, especially given my recent water adventures. I can't wait to get back on a mountain bike, off road, through the rain forest and up hills more substantial than I've seen in a while. Watch this space for more. Best I get the packing done, what does one wear in a rain forest retreat?

Emirates Winter

2011-11-27T11:29:00.001-05:00

Emirates Winter from Lewis De Mesa on Vimeo.

Amazing how much I missed the UAE after watching this, the craziness, the natural beauty and especially Al Ain and Jebel Hafit. Check out the view over Al Ain at 25 seconds and 2 minutes 50 seconds. Enjoy, thanks for sharing Daniella.

Blackberry Stone

2011-11-24T23:12:00.000-05:00

I love the way these two make music.

A rough ride

2011-11-23T21:19:00.000-05:00

I had an interesting experience this weekend, one I debated about saying no to. I decided to say yes, I hadn't read the Caymanian Compass before I did. The story I've linked to is an interesting one, two Aussies sailing home and not making it past the Cayman Islands. They were right to seek shelter from the rough seas, not so well executed as they landed on the unforgiving reef.

The unforgiving reef we had to negotiate in Blue Runner a day or so later as we sailed around to George Town to take part in the Pirates Week festivities. I didn't notice any of the wreckage going out. The wind was lovely, not the 2o plus knots promised. The waves were not so lovely, breaking fiercely on the reef. Big swells to break through to get to the open sea. It was tense on board.

A really big wave washed over the boat unexpectedly, we all hung on tight as the boat was swamped. Then another came and I lost my grip, thrown to the back and luckily caught by John who was sitting at the back. The waves washed over us, soaking us and filling the cockpit. Now Blue Runner is a J37, a rather large yacht that has been Bruce and his son Alex's home from time to time. Plenty big enough for open water sailing. Luckily more than a match for the waves as we broke through out into the Caribbean Sea.

I was soaked to the skin, a bit battered and bruised, and really pleased to have stayed on board. We rode the swells for a while, really big swells and white water. Choppy and unpredictable with some strong wind gusts. Once I got over my initial fright, it was exciting! Riding the crest and dipping into the troughs, sitting on top and looking down into air before we gracefully rode the wave. It was a bit nerve wracking in places but too soon we were in calm water and heading to our destination, a safe mooring in George Town Harbour.

The cardboard boat race was the draw for Alex, very exciting when you're 8 years old. I got to have a much needed swim and chill on the boat with others where we could watch the race while sampling the refreshments on board and swapping big wave stories. I had tennis tickets, the dingy didn't get back in time. Dinner was next and watching the Pirates Week closing fireworks, amazing fireworks over the harbour. Dancing in the streets followed, good music, good company until we sloped off, exhausted.

Next day was the return trip, I was a little worried. It was a much better sailing day, some exciting waves but not the choppy, unpredictable ones of the day before. Heading towards the reef we saw smelt diesel and saw some wreckage. The Plight, I found out later. It was surreal seeing the boat parts going past in the water, steering around them and looking for people. There were some big pieces. The trip into North Sound was much less eventful, thankfully and we were soon enjoying a beer at the mooring.

I was totally exhausted and slept well that night. My bruises are impressive, and I don't bruise easily. It was funny, one of the crew was from Regina in Saskatchewan. Same place that Mary-Anne is from. It's not that big apparently. He was wearing a Roughriders T shirt and was very surprised that I knew about the team and the place. A great conversation opener. Canadian's are such a nice bunch, very much like kiwis in their friendliness and their travel habits. I've met plenty here, all wonderful people I count as my good friends.

Musing

2011-11-23T20:29:00.000-05:00

I had a read back through some of my old entries and realised how boring I've become, writing not so much of the philosophical musing and more of the doing. As I sit here on a Wednesday evening contemplating my belly button, I was reflecting on times past and what has brought me to this place at this time. I have comments from people who think I'm courageous, Paulo Coehlo says that:

Courage does not mean the absence of fear, but the ability not to let yourself be paralyzed by that fear.

Life, 2007.

Many of the decisions I have made over the past few years have been possible because I moved past the fear and came to a place where, although I was fearful, I could make choices. A choice brought me to this beautiful place and the peace I have found being reconnected with the sea. Feeling at home on and in the waves. I believe that we are all in the right place and space to learn the lessons that life puts before us, right here, right now. It's just not so easy to recognise that at times, that takes courage.

So enough of the musing and onto an adventure. I may just have to pour myself a glass before I start on this adventure, it was surreal. A boat is most surely safest in port, and this weekend was proof positive of this. Of course, that's not what boats are built for.

Very scary

2011-11-16T07:19:00.002-05:00

Now I know how that feels!

2011-11-15T21:44:00.000-05:00

J22s at rest

I suspect this Leo has a water sign rising somewhere. I love being out on the water, I love being in the water. Not quite in the way I went swimming on Sunday, in the middle of a race. Unexpectedly, surprisingly. This weekend the weather was great for sailing, the North Sound had a good swell and the wind was mostly over 12 knots. Perfect for racing. On Sunday I raced on Yahoo.

We were doing okay when suddenly Yahoo pitched wildly and tipped over. We were about tack, over we went broaching. The dreaded B word Dave threw about as we sailed to the start. I did tell him to shush. I had very little to hold onto and missed my chance to swim on as the boat righted itself. There I was clinging to the side by my finger tips as we raced on. I managed to work my way around to the back then lost grip and ended up on my own in the water swimming after a fast retreating boat.

Bruce and crew came around and got me, I managed to reach the side and work my way around to the ladder. Hauling myself up was interesting but there I was like a beached whale puffing in the bottom of the boat. It was not amusing, we were close to a 3rd and ended up at the back. Funnily enough, I had talked to others about the need to wear a life jacket, especially in lively winds. I decided not to on Sunday, it worked okay for me this time.

After another couple of races we headed in shore to swap tales of racing and impromptu swims, there was a small amount of ridicule but at least I know what it feels like to broach and go overboard in the process. I also heard Amanda's story from the fore deck of being at a 90 degree angle and clinging on to very little to stay aboard. It was worth a rum or two. I was a bit sore, a few new bruises in unmentionable places.

The next day Jo, Didge and I went out again, this time I was fore deck for a while. I need the practice. The weather was perfect, a crew of three not four meant there was plenty of room and we played for a couple of hours. Until my arms ached from setting and gibing the pole, flying the kite and trimming the jib. See how many yachting terms I can fit into one sentence! I'm also not so useless as I was at the jobs that need to be doing. I can almost always manage a bow line knot. It looks odd because I do it back to front the lefty way but it works.

One of Saturday's floats

I had a great weekend, a good mix of fun, entertainment and exercise. I learnt some stuff, lots of lovely stuff and enjoyed the company of my friends. Today the festivities continued in town and Jo and I joined them for lunch. The cruise ships are amazing here, dwarfing the buildings and everything else as they berth just offshore. Two of these giants were in today, a treat for the passengers that George Town was so lively with the steel pans playing, stalls with local crafts and produce and pirates wandering around. All good fun.

Long weekends

2011-11-14T13:07:00.000-05:00

It's a long weekend here and the beginning of Pirates Week. Pirates Week is huge here, a festival of music, dancing, parades, fireworks and of course pirates. November 14 is a public holiday, Remembrance Day, and so we have a long weekend to celebrate. What a fantastic celebration on Friday night, the best fireworks display I've seen in a while. Jane got some photos, I wisely left my camera at home. The evening was enjoyable, especially the people watching. It was a late one, lots of walking, eating and drinking.

One of Jane's photos

Saturday, we wandered down again and watched the pirates landing, a load of fun. The pirates poured ashore and we captured by the red coats after a battle. The whole community joined in, the streets and balconies over flowing with people and small children dressed in pirate costumes enjoying the party atmosphere.

Mmmm my photos are not wanting to load, I may add some more of the day's celebrations later.

I need to get ready, off out on the water for a play. After yesterday's racing, I'm a little sore. It was exciting, all will be explained in my next post.

Sailing away

2011-11-08T20:46:00.000-05:00

Blue Runner, my first sailing experience here

The whole of Sunday, after a small sleep in, was spent at the sailing club. The wind was fine so we went on a training run with Simon helping with the finer points, well in my case all the points. I know so little and when I'm asked to work on the fore deck, I'm a little lost at times. Simon helped that showing me some useful ways that this small person with limited upper body strength could set the pole and hoist the spinnaker with minimum strain. I'm slow but getting there. It just takes a bit of practice, well lots of practice.

The bonus with Sunday is that I got to do something I am okay at. Jo, Didge and I went out on the Zodiac with Matt. He gave me a camera, a small happy snappy kind of camera. It was okay, there's a better one at the club said Matt. Let's get that. The better one was Nikon SLR, a much, much better one with a lovely long lens. I had fun, Matt drove us up to the good places to take pics and I, well, I took pics. Right in my element hanging off the side of the Zodiac making sure this special camera kept dry in all the spray.

It was such fun, and I'm pleased with many of the photos. Photos of the Lasers racing. The crews are all experienced with two Olympic level sailors so it was fun to watch. The kids joined in, very much part of this group of adults who support their sport. The post race discussions were interesting, no one waved the rule book all good fun. We shared a couple of pans of baked potatoes with sour cream and hot dogs, much needed after a long day on the water.

Close racing in the Laser fleet

I got a little burnt by that hot sun, just on the places where the sun screen missed. I now have an interesting mix of tan lines, brown legs and stripey bits everywhere else. I'm not one to lie in the sun, all my tan is from action so is not so even. I'm not bothered, my friends at work did comment on the really red bits. I promised to take more care next time. And next time is next weekend. I'm on Yahoo again in the winter series. It's also a long weekend here and Pirates Week so lots of fun. Dancing in the streets, parades and fireworks, I'll be there and I'll take my camera so watch this space.

A hectic start

Simple really

2011-11-05T22:50:00.001-05:00

It should be simple really, it was even in the UAE. Posting a few things home was not so simple in the Caymans. My morning went something like this.
At the Post Office:
Do you have posting boxes that I can post to New Zealand?
What do you mean?
You know boxes I can put a gift in to post
No, nothing like that
Okay, where can I but a box to post a gift in?
I don't know. Other customer who happened to be a work mate: Try Kirk Office
At Kirk Office:
After I had searched the posting isle, do you have boxes for posting?
No, nothing like that.
Where can I get a posting box?
Don't know try AL Thompsons, they have boxes
Al Thompsons:
You have these large boxes, do you have any smaller posting boxes?
What do you mean?
You know, small boxes for posting gifts in
No no nothing like that
Where can I buy something like that
Don't know, not sure
So, how do people post things from here then? A little exasperated.
Two ladies shrug their shoulders and look confused that I should want to do such a thing
Phone call to Jo:
Feeling a little frustrated, do you know where I can buy a box to post a few things to NZ in?
Yes (sigh of relief) Caymana Bay has a posting box shop.
Off I drive to Caymana Bay and there is a shop that sells boxes for posting and takes care of all your posting needs. So simple, a one stop shop with excellent service.
Parcel boxed, addressed and ready to go. That will be CI$61 please, that's about NZD90. A small heart attack later, I pays me money and get the box and envelope on their way. Two to four weeks, Noah will have something from the Caymans to hang on his tree.
I suspect after my next two posting to Australia that I'll mail order all gifts, just may be easier and certainly less expensive.

My day got better, we went out sailing for the afternoon then a swim. The sea is still a little boisterous, a lot of fun.

November surprise

2011-11-03T19:52:00.000-05:00

What surprised me today? It's November so it's hardly surprising that a scorpion decided to cross my path today for the first time here. One of us squealed, another put her foot down on said scorpion while the other of us wanted to take a closer look. That would be me. I picked up the squished but still wriggling critter with a dried leaf and took a look. The others were surprised at that. I put it outside while the others completed long shudders. Now if that was a spider.......

Here's some information on Cayman's scorpion populations. I'm not sure what type this one was, it was about six inches long and blackish, a bit like this one:

Scorpions

Since Hurricane Ivan, there have been increased sightings of scorpions on Cayman. As the hurricane and rising waters wrecked their habitiats, they have moved to new homes - often those already inhabited by humans! There are three species of scorpion found on Cayman: heteronebo caymanensis – an endemic species unique to Cayman; the most common,centruroides; and isometrus maculatus. There are no records of deaths from scorpion stings in the Cayman Islands, but scorpions should always be treated with respect, as even a non–fatal sting can be very painful. They like dark nooks and crannies - so give your shoes a shake before putting them on!

Halloween

2011-10-31T21:30:00.000-05:00

Opps, I forgot to stop on the way home tonight and stock up on sweets to give the trick or treaters. Halloween is not big on my list of occasions, it's not big in New Zealand therefore slips under my radar. The first lot of kids, a very cute 5 year old and his siblings got my last remaining, my only, emergency supply of dark chocolate. Reluctantly given because although I don't eat much in the way of sweet things, a piece of dark chocolate is what I fancy when I do.

So, I'm ashamed to say, I'm now hiding upstairs so those little ghouls will only find no one home not some lady with no sweets, I did wonder for a fleeting moment what might happen if I said trick, not treat. Do the kids actually have tricks? If so, what are they likely to be. Something I might not like I suspect. I think it might be safe to sneak down now and get something to eat. I kind of fancy a piece of chocolate, yummy dark chocolate.

Oh well, I shall just have to settle for the soup that's heating and hot toast. I've eaten well this weekend. Indian after sailing, Italian on Friday night and a pizza after the movies on Saturday night. There's plenty of variety here. Movies, Jane and I decided to go to a scary movie on Saturday night. The Dream House shorts were scary, the movie a mind bending experience. A thought provoking movie, I did miss a couple of bits when I hid under my pashmina. Jane laughed at me, I was just cold, alright.

We sat outside enjoying the kids playing in a fountain at Caymana Bay, a lovely development with boutique shops, bars and restaurants as well as the cinema and places for folks to hang out. I like it there, a very relaxed atmosphere. We were enjoying the music, Jane asked about the play list. It came from the managers i-pod, we realised why we liked it when we started singing along. Fat Freddies and Shapeshifter were key players. We laughed as we had a small taste of home, so far from our place.

Some more beach shots

2011-10-30T11:40:00.000-05:00

I'm about to head out sail, racing again on Yahoo. I'm a little worried about the weather, yesterday it was flat then kicked up in a stormy patch. It might be a little exciting today. We are still getting a back lash from Rina, rain blowing in with fine patches between. Lets hope that there's plenty of fine patches this afternoon.

Looking along the beach in dying light

Waiting for a golden wave

Rina

2011-10-27T20:25:00.000-05:00

We've had some interesting weather lately, lots and lots of rain, thunder and lightening and a cooler breeze. This is thanks to Rina, a category 2 hurricane that's causing havoc in other parts of the Caribbean. The ocean swells here are really quite impressive, especially as they crash against the iron shore. As George town central is on the coast line, it was interesting driving to work and seeing the waves breaking over the road. Yesterday I sat in one of the restaurants and watched as the waves crashed through their parking lot and onto the road, past the doorways of several shops.

I didn't get much in the way of photos then, my phone is not that good for photos, so I went out this evening to the beach across the road. It's usually calm, today the waves were impressive and the surfers were making the most of them. I wandered along the beach, sat and watched a while and took a pile of photos as the sunset lit up the sky. Very beautiful.

There is more bad weather on the way, a tropical storm that will be called Sean if it amounts to anything. That's the one the locals are worried about, it comes straight over the Caymans whatever happens. I suspect that it will develop and we could get a nasty storm. After the last few days, I can now see how the swells can cause the sea to flow over the roads and into buildings. I can see why the locals would be worried. I'm lucky, I work in a building that is built to category 5 ratings and although I'm in living across the road from the sea, I'm hoping if I get anything it will be the wash rather than the full force of the sea.

Tonight I'll sleep with the sound and smell of the sea wafting through my windows as lightening lights up the sky, thunder rumbles and the rain falls. Perfect sleeping conditions. Enjoy these photos from this evening's outing.

Wahoo, we won!

2011-10-24T21:55:00.000-05:00

Well, what a stressful time watching that game. A good game, the best result but hard to keep still when watching. The evening at Jane's was great, a few drinks, food and friends. Three passionate kiwis, a couple from the motherland, a couple of locals and a Canadian. I suspect the locals enjoyed watching the kiwis as much as watching the game. We cavorted around shouting a bit, sorry to the neighbours, at the final result. Abe decided a haka was due, much to the delight of the non kiwis present. All good really.

So it was a late night, or rather early morning. I spent most of Sunday chilling out, laying on the couch and snoozing. It was pouring with rain and has been for day due to us catching the rain bands of hurricane Rina. There's another one brewing, one that seems more dangerous according to the locals. Anyhow, the rain on the roof helped with the dozing day. I thought I felt an earthquake, then another smaller shake. And it wasn't my imagination, there was a 4.1, small one on Sunday.

I talked to Tim, Sarah and Noah on skype for a while. They were outside replacing pavers with grass, the sun was shining, Noah was 'helping', spring time in New Zealand. Labour weekend. Sigh, after watching the rugby hype and seeing the kids I must confess to being a little homesick. Noah is at such a lovely age, chatting with grandma and showing me his toys. He's getting quite chatty and seems to understand the concept of flat grandma, I get a kiss for goodbye too.

Eve is also great on skype, scooting over to touch my face on the screen. She smiles and chats too, 6 month old chat. She's grow heaps since I last saw her, still has beautiful big blue eyes. I'm not going home at Christmas, only the second time I've spent this away. I am heading back for some good time at the end of February for Noah's second birthday so will get cuddle time with them both then, can't wait.

Here's the fireworks, the people enjoying them and some local culture, sigh I do miss home at times.

He aha te mea nui o te ao?
He tangata! He tangata! He tangata!

What is the most important thing in the world?
It is people! It is people! It is people!

Finals night!

2011-10-22T20:24:00.000-05:00

Is 8pm too early to go to bed on a Saturday night? It sure is when you've got to be at Jane's at midnight to heat up the pies! Yep, it's finals night, yep there will be a few at Jane's watching the game, eating pies and drinking beer. Tui's? Yeah right! I'm afraid the best we can do is Heineken, that's okay though. I'm not sure how much I'll feel like beer and pies at 3am, promise not to let the side down.

Nick's in Auckland hoping to get a ticket. I'm sure he'll enjoy where ever he watches. So it's just the waiting and the getting a small amount of beauty sleep. Not so good when I need all the help I can get. I had a late one last night too. Friday happy hour/s, then to a play. Funny just how culturally contextual things are. 2 Can Play was set in Jamaica and was the story of a couple whose kids had gone and who wanted to follow them to the USA to live. It was face paced and needed subtitles in places for this New Zealand English speaker. I got the gist as it went along, it was funny.

Another treat I've enjoyed this past week or so is going to the movies. I bought the book The Help at the Cardiff Railway Station on my visit to the UK with Sarah. I was catching the train to Antwerp, I chose a great companion. It's a story of the South, a story of a group of silent women who were brave enough to speak out and one person who was brave enough to tell their story. It made me laugh, it made me cry but mostly it made me believe in good people and friendship. It's a must see and faithful to the book.

I really must get some sleep if I'm going to make the game..... procrastinating!

Inspiration

2011-10-17T18:53:00.000-05:00

Sunset Cayman style

A friend asked me if I was too busy or if I had run out of inspiration, a good question to reflect on. As I feel more and more at home here, I consider those special moments I usually write about to be a part of my everyday life. I am also really busy at work, in a good way. I do have times when I'm inspired, take this evening.

I went to the dentist, not such good news but then it's been a while, so I came home a little earlier than usual. In daylight. I decided to go for a run, the heat was retreating from the day and the evening was beautiful. The road is hard with lots of traffic so after a while I spotted the kite and wind surfers out on South Sound. No excuses needed, off I went to the beach. I wandered along, it was very windy and the usually calm inlet had nice waves crashing on the shore. The surfers were flying along.

The smell of the sea was blowing in on the wind and the beach was deserted except for some small boys playing in the sand. I wandered along enjoying the peace and wishing I had taken my camera, not ideal to pack when running. Looking towards the setting sun, I could see the clouds lit up with an orange glow, a background to the palm trees bending in the wind. Yes, I really am living in paradise. Yes, I do need to find more time to enjoy it and feel inspired to write more often.

Haka

2011-10-16T11:20:00.001-05:00

Wow that was quick in being posted on YouTube. This is what I mean by the haka, a traditional war challenge to our foes. It was used to scare the opponents, I must say some of the Aussies looked a little intimidated, and to fire up the team before the game. It worked. I did wonder what was going through the New Zealand and Pacifica plays in the Australian team, it must be a bitter sweet moment being challenged by your own. Maybe that's what put Quade off his game.

I was also reflecting on the first World Cup as I watched the faces of this young team, many of whom were born post 1987. My kids were keen players then, all playing in age grade rugby. It was what we did on the freezing cold winter Saturday mornings. We watched every game, had our favourite heros. I'm so pleased to see that people have got their kids involved in this one. It seems to be such a different world now, 24 years on. An interesting coincidence that the same teams are playing in the semi finals and finals, may the results be the same next weekend, go the All Blacks!

Rugby World Cup 2011

2011-10-16T11:05:00.000-05:00

Phew, we're through to the finals. The royal we, I mean the New Zealand rugby public via the All Blacks. And against the old foes as well. New Zealanders love to beat the Australians at anything, it's a national pass time. I felt very patriotic as I stood beside my bed for the national anthems, especially enjoying the Maori version of ours. I know my neighbours are rugby mad but also know they have been knocked out of the Cup already so may not have appreciated my belting rendition at 3am this morning.

Hence the standing by the bed for the anthems. I was so nervous about this game I slept fitfully and woke at 2.30am so I got to watch the preamble as well. I have missed most of the other games because of the timing, this one I wasn't going to miss. Having no TV, therefore no cable, I downloaded a VPN that had NZ on the country list. My computer is now in NZ, it's 4.45am there. I had been having trouble accessing anything from NZ so now can catch up on all the news plus get live sport, fantastic.

So there I was at 3am, sitting up in bed in my PJs, watching the haka that brought the usual goosebumps, tears tot he eyes, then the game. It seemed a funny thing to do on my own, until Jane text. She was watching at her place too. We had communication through the game, a chat at half time. Next week it will be party time, staying up to watch the game with friends who also might want to. This weeks game was one I couldn't have watched in company, just in case the unthinkable happened.

Yes, it's just a game. It's our game, it's in our blood or our claret as the commentators like to call the red stuff. Actually I had a good laugh at some of the commentators. They were really passionate in their calls and since that's not really a kiwi bloke thing, it does my heart good. There were plenty of references to the bringers of this type of game. The battle in the arena with plenty of blood and the crowd going wild, cheering and jeering and loving to hate the opposition. We just needed chariots and togas. Having been to the odd Roman arena, I suspect today's seats are more comfortable and there were, thankfully, no lions.

Working, working, working

2011-10-15T20:41:00.000-05:00

I've had a go at posting a couple of times this week, it seems like I can't copy from an email of Muzz's and have it format well enough to publish here. Very frustrating and makes me realise that my problem solving skills are not as good as they could be. Although it could also be the week I've had, or actually the past several weeks. I've become a workoholic again. I know that doesn't spell right but I'm not sure how to spell it in any other way, this made up by the 21st century lifestyle word.

And when we really unpack this oholic tendency as a tendency, it really isn't true. When considering the hours worked by small children in the industrial revolution in dangerous factory jobs, we have life style jobs. I get home after dark most days, done in thinking wise hence the lack of entries, but with plenty of physical energy. I'm not really designed for a desk job, and a desk job I have. That will change, I can make that change. The thing with change is that one has to set the change so there is out and about time. I can do that, I'm sure.

The other thing with the change process is that the change has to happen at a level where if there is 10 schools or 10000 schools it is the same. The processes have to be set up the same and take the same time and energy. Change is a process, we are down the track a bit now, it's going well so I'm told so all is well in my world. I'm totally loving the stimulation and multitasking this job requires, exhausting but fulfilling. It totally makes my day when one of the teachers I'm working with comes up to me in the supermarket for a chat, that happened today. She was surprised I remembered her, she is just what I must remember. We chatted a while then went off our separate ways, me with a big smile.

I totally love this place, there's a lot to love. Laying in bed listening to the rain and watching the light show outside while the thunder shakes the house; warm rain, wetting rain; splashing through puddles to get to the car; going to a cafe having excellent espresso and buying the best bread; discovering big bags of frozen berries for my morning smoothies; talking rugby with the Irish, Welsh, English, Americans, Canadians, French Canadian and of course my fellow New Zealanders; sailing in the North Sound; walking around the canals looking at the flash houses while getting some exercise; Sunday relaxing and family time, not shopping; friendly folks who greet you with a smile; excellent eating places like Casanova's where they play the best music; places to dance like Royal Palms; swimming in the warm sea; snorkeling with the colourful fish music in the clear water; a good shoe shop with 3 pairs that worked for me; good friends, excellent company; movies without subtitles; all this in the last week or so.

Tempted to visit? So you should be.

A catch up

2011-10-08T23:42:00.000-05:00

You know you've been quiet when your mother tells you that there's not much on your blog. I don't seem to be getting a lot of time at home lately. Which is a good thing in most ways. Work has been taking up time in a way it hasn't for a while and I'm enjoying the challenges and most of all the lovely people I'm working with. My work is all about change and that's not something that comes easily for most of us. It's working here because I have an awesome team.

There has been plenty happening besides work. I think I'm getting over the RSI from the Miami trip. There's only so many times one can swipe a card without causing major strain injuries, then there's carrying those heavy shopping bags. My wardrobe is looking quite full and I'm going to have to release some clothes and shoes into the wild very soon, or buy many more coat hangers.

I really liked Miami. There's heaps to do and the food was great. We ate at the Cheesecake Factory at Dadeland a couple of times. The menu was one where I could have eaten all week and the Margaritas were fantastic. Dadeland Mall was the shopping destination, that and Designer Shoe Warehouse. Here's a few of their offerings. I love the heels, I've added a few pairs to my collection.

Jo shops like I do, except she has more stamina. We breezed through the shops, she knew the best ones, took a pile into the fitting rooms and quickly decided the yes, no and maybes. Quick check with each other then off to the counter. We made some good selections, some were the same selection. More on that later. We shopped until I dropped and needed food, I'm not nice when I need food and my new shoes were hurting. Off we went and found a fantastic little Italian restaurant, lovely home cooked food and a nice Chianti.

The bar at the hotel was shut when we got back so we decided to sample the small bottles of cocktail mixers we had bought earlier in the day. I had gin, what more could we want. Well reading the instructions might have been useful. I found ice and mixed the drinks. The first two were great, the last one was blueberry. And blue it was. Blue tongues and small blue mustaches, mine was still there in the morning. In the morning, armed with the instructions, we found that the stuff I stirred in was supposed to be used to rim the glasses, oh well!

We had a car in Miami and cruised around a bit, we also had a satnav. Not a particularly good one, she was a little slow in telling us when to turn and I could here the exasperation in her voice as she had to recalculate the route many times. The car was a treat, an upgrade at the counter then another in the garage meant we had a Volvo with leather seats and heaps of pep. Fun to drive. The weekend ended too soon, next time we'll stay another night and head out on a road trip rather than shop so much.

The next installment should be soon, stories of sailing and Muzz's trip to France and Spain. Watch this space. Right now I've got a Skype date with Noah, the highlight of today.

A little jaded

2011-10-04T21:21:00.000-05:00

Is 8.57pm too early to go to bed? I'm trying to keep myself awake a while longer as I know I'll sleep a bit then won't get much more. And sleep is what I need. It's been a hectic few weeks with sailing, a shopping and eating trip to Miami and work. Nope, I just decided a bit after 9 is fine as a bed time so off I go. I promise to write more later on the Miami trip. Here's a photo of some of the 23 items of clothing and all of the 5 pairs of shoes I managed to squeeze into my bag. Good thing I took an empty one!

Sailing away

2011-09-26T22:12:00.000-05:00

What a weekend, action packed after a strenuous week. After procrastinating out of fear for a while, I said yes to racing on Bruce's boat in the regatta this weekend, I think it was the Governors Cup. I was so nervous, even if I was just to be ballast. That means moving from side to side as the crew do all the work. It turns out that I also got to do some work, as well as hanging out over the side as we flew down the course with the spinnaker in full flight.

Yahoo, the boat I raced on, courtesy of the CISC website

It was a blast, much more than I expected as the winds on the second day picked up to levels that had us all using our weight to stop the boat from broaching. The racing was tight, we were within shouting distance and shouting did happen. Not where I was with the laid back crew of Amanda, Chris and Bruce. The Cayman Islands Sailing Club is an inclusive place where they welcome newbys like me. The Saturday after match was fun, getting to know some new friends, like the birthday girl Amanda, better and meeting new people.

The racing ended a little early due to the lightening storm so Yahoo took a Sunday sail away from the weather, cruising in around Governor's Harbour looking at the flash houses and their sea transport moored out front. I rather liked one place, would do me for a mansion. Heading back was fun, playing out on North Sound then heading in for beer and pizza. A good weekend out all round.

Itchy feet

2011-09-22T21:02:00.000-05:00

I'm not particularly good at being sick, especially taking a day of work to wallow in it. Today getting out of bed was a struggle so I stayed put and slept on and off most of the day. Must have needed it, just wish my throat didn't feel like it was on fire. I woke at some time and thought that at least I could get caught up on my home stuff, not really. I did get a chat with Di, fantastic to have a catch up and hear about her exciting plans. A road trip was mentioned, not sure how soon I'll be able to get back to the UK or Europe. Road tripping in the Caymans is more like a day trip.

Muzz is off having an exciting trip, in the south of France right now cycling. A real road trip. He's revisiting some of the places we visited on our 2004 trip, I'm very envious. He may spot a few lions. These ones are in Arles, the pic taken in 2008. My 2004 camera went for a swim in Pamakkale so there's not many photos from that trip. All this talk of travel is giving me slightly itchy feet, I do remember my not on a plane for a while comment in July. That was a while ago. Jo and I have a trip to Miami planned, a shop till you drop trip. I'm just looking forward to seeing the sights, although I could do with some new clothes and shoes.

Back to Pamakkale. It's an amazing place, glaring white in the sun with tepid water flowing over natural pools. The minerals hang like stalactites from the pool above, the drips over the years forming mineral towers. People were swimming there, it was hot but somehow swimming didn't appeal. That was until I was looking when I should have been watching and I slipped and fell into a pool. I landed on my camera, it was never the same after that trauma. Walking back to the hotel, I was chatting with an Aussie girl, bemoaning my wet backside when a man ran out of a shop and shouted at me to stop showing him my skinny bottom. He yelled that he liked "bums as big as washing machines"! We were a bit worried until he smiled, we laughed with him. Seems like tourist baiting livened up his day.

So it's work for me tomorrow. Still an enjoyable place to be with heaps to do and the feeling that things are moving forward at a good pace. Then the weekend promises some yacht racing. I was watching, now I'm ballast. I'm not so sure about that, I may end up over board from some of the race stories I've been hearing. Traveling again will come soon, South America my next place to explore. In the mean time I'll think of my traveling friends and family and sigh occasionally, wishing I could join them for at least some of their journeys.

A visitor

2011-09-18T19:16:00.002-05:00

I'm not sure who was more surprised, him or me. Hello, you're an iguana, how did you get in here? I asked him as he looked over at me reading my book on the couch. He wasn't such a big one but had big feet so I'm sure he'll grow into them. We played hide and seek, he won. I had him cornered then he ran over my feet and went in a direction I've not found yet.

I went out for the day, off exploring West Bay with Jane, and when I came home I half expected him to be waiting by the door. No such luck. Jane did check with a local and he laughed when asked how to get an iguana out of the living room. "You chase them out," he said. Yes, of course. Mmmmm where is he now? I'm sure he'll show and I will see signs if he hasn't got some secret exit. Iguana poo is quite large.

Jane and I had a nice drive around West Bay, not getting lost this time, and exploring the roads at the end of the road. There's miles of lovely white sand beaches, definitely a place to revisit for a Sunday afternoon laze. We caught a swim at Cemetery Beach, a lovely spot on Seven Mile Beach. We could see the fish swimming around in the clear water, a lot clearer than last time I snorkeled there. Nothing better than a soak in the sea then a lay in the sun.

Tiki Beach offered gin and tonics, we obliged. Something about a chilled gin and tonic after a hot day at the beach. I dropped Jane off and went to the small reserve near my place to get some iguana shots in the late afternoon light. They were catching the last of the rays high up in a tree, the shot was a bit far for my short lens and the other one was at home. The reserve iguanas come and go and are huge, a bit bigger than my visitor. Back to our game of hide and seek, maybe I should look up. They are good climbers.

The top of West Bay looking out to Stingray City, a lovely secluded beach to revisit

Gin and tonics after a hard day, Jane enjoying the view

Flat out like a lizard, well two sleepy iguana at the end of the day

Pick the '70s album title from the list at this restaurant

A PS to the iguana story. I was chatting on skype when I noticed him up on top of my curtain rail, hiding. After trying by myself to get him down, not wanting to risk a new hide and seek game, I knocked on my neighbours door. Adam looked a bit pale when I told him what I needed, his wife giggled a bit. Seems neither of them are very brave with our green friends! Adam brought his broom, I had the beach towel and we managed to get him out the front door. A clean catch and release!

Musical start to the day

2011-09-17T07:56:00.001-05:00

Japanese Gravity Marimba Plays Bach In An Ancient Forest

Gilly sent me this via email. I'm fascinated with this, it must have taken hours to get just right. The info on the site:

This remarkably beautiful video, uploaded to YouTube one day before the T?hoku earthquake and tsunami, turns out to be an ad for Sharp’s SH-08C handset. It is, nonetheless, something you shouldn’t miss: in a tranquil forest, a single wooden ball rolls down a stepped wooden ramp, continuously, for two minutes. At each step, it falls and strikes a wooden bar tuned to play a single note of the 10th movement of Bach’s Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben, BWV 147, commonly known by its English title, Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring. Wait ’till you see how they handle the sustained notes.

Enjoy!

Mosquitos

2011-09-12T21:50:00.000-05:00

Poinsettia flowers, lovely trees

We have mozzies here. There are mozzies in Haast in New Zealand. They are legendary, they don't compare to Cayman mozzies. I'm usually fairly immune to being bitten, I seldom wear Dimp or Off, but on Saturday I was savaged by the buzzing creatures. I have bites in odd places. They can bite through clothing here, how else did my thighs get so bitten. No smart comments needed from the cheap seats, they are unpleasantly itchy.

Jo and I went to touch rugby and it rained in a way I've not seen rain before. Great sheets of rain that quickly flooded the road and all around. Driving was interesting, aquaplaning along the road with minimal visibility. The mozzies came out in force after the rain. We were talking to friends and swotting each other, would have looked great on YouTube with some appropriate music. Then we went to the airport to pick up a new person. That was like the slapping dance for everyone waiting. I used my new, natural potion for keeping mozzies at bay and where I put that was okay. Where I missed was really bitten. The back of my neck, in my ears and on my nose and cheeks, through my pants. Everywhere. A very impressive effort from the wee blighters.

As the Mosquito Research and Control Unit here say:

The Cayman Islands are famous for their mosquitoes which in the past reached levels that were unequalled anywhere else in the world. In South Sound mangrove swamp in 1971 as many as 600 bites per minute on one arm have been recorded. The record trap catch for one night in the Cayman Islands is 793,103 from a single New Jersey light trap in Bodden Town in 1974. Out of approximately thirty species occurring in Grand Cayman, six can probably be regarded as constituting the main pest species. Mosquitoes, such as Psorophora ciliata, Aedes sollicitans, Wyeomyia vanduzeei, are occasionally reported as nuisance but these tend to be sporadic and short lived problems and are usually highly localised in nature.

The locals tell me that it's been good this year. Most were a little sympathetic. I did feel for the new person who arrived to the slappers waiting for him. We hustled him to the car so we could get out of the mozzie firing line. I suspect he was sufficiently jet lagged to not notice. So another day passes in this tropical island paradise. The rainy season will soon be over. I've quite enjoyed it after the desert years.

World Cup time!

2011-09-09T08:14:00.000-05:00

Just because I'm a New Zealander, people think I'll be interested in the Rugby World Cup. Take the Irish man I talked to at the pool last night. He lives in my complex and is mad keen on watching the cup. He said he was getting up at 3am to watch the first games. That's dedication, I may occasionally stay up until 3am but getting up then, that just may not happen. I was feeling a bit ho hum about it all, thinking it might just pass me by over here. Not so it seems.

As I watched the haka flash and the fireworks then a little of the game, I felt quite patriotic. My biggest problem is that I get really nervous with All Blacks games and remember all too clearly the feelings of dismay, disbelief and many other dis words, after watching the last final with friends over breakfast. I'm not sure I can cope with the suspense. I think that comes from eating, sleeping and breathing rugby for so many years with my father and then my kids. It was what I did, cold rugby fields cheering and supporting was our Saturday outing.

I'm hoping to get to watch some of the games at the rugby club here, it's just down the road and in the meantime I'll catch up on line. I wonder if I need TV? The first time I've been inspired to think about that in a while. Work calls, it's happy hour a bit later. Much needed this week.

Cockroach moments

2011-09-08T21:42:00.001-05:00

A windy weekend on South Sound

I had a cockroach moment tonight that made me laugh and brought back some memories of cockroaches past. There was a rather large one in my bathroom this morning, lying on his back having a rest. I thought he was dying, couldn't quite bring myself to squash him, so off to work I went. Feeling a little bad about not putting him out of his misery. Some might say that a cockroach might not know misery, I'm not sure. The Buddhist in me disagrees.

I got home tonight, went for a run and a swim and came home to the same roach in my bathroom. Still upside down, dead I thought. But no, when I went to pick him up to throw him outside he leaped up and ran all over the bathroom and bedroom with me in hot pursuit. He was fast, I was faster and managed to catch him in a plastic bag. He escaped a few times and ran up my arm, but outside he went eventually. I still have to retrieve the bag.

Now, I've been seen chasing cockroaches before today by Nina and her kids and by other dinner guests in the UAE. It caused a stir and talk of witches then. Georgina and Phillipa looked at me funny for a while until they realised I was just a little different and not really a witchy type. There's nothing wrong with catch and release, even with roaches. I'm just hoping my neighbours didn't see me in my state of undress leaping around the room after said roach. I'm not sure how they feel about witches here.

And this is one of the views on my run, tough aye

About the running, I've realised that I need to do some exercise. My scales are telling tales, I suspect they are stuck on too heavy. I'm enjoying a great lifestyle here with lots of lovely food and drink but my job is more sedentary so it adds up. Jo, Char and I are apparently doing a triathlon on I'm running on Sunday at 7am, quite improbable that I'll be coherent at 7am. Running 1.5 miles might just be a bridge too far, I must learn to say no sometimes.

Getting a nature fix

2011-09-04T21:06:00.001-05:00

The Queen Elizabeth 11 Botanic Park on the way to Rum Point is a bit of a treat. I waited to visit until I had someone to take, Jane was that someone. The web site tells us that:

When Her Royal Majesty Queen Elizabeth II opened Grand Cayman’s only Botanic Park in 1994, only the Woodland Trail was complete. In the ensuing years, the grounds have grown and developed into the full fledged Botanic Park that is operating today.

The Queen really must have been perspiring in what she was wearing on that day. It was very sticky there today as Jane and I wandered through enjoying being in touch with nature, wandering through the Woodland Trail amongst the trees keeping watch for snakes and the Blue and Green Iguana, both natives of the Caymans and the largest native land animals. Cameras ready, we saw both. Jane managed a shot of the snake before he slithered away. We both got some good Iguana shots, mostly the blue ones. The only green decided he would join the turtles in the lake as we arrived on their scene.

The mosquitos were biting, the first I've heard here that buzz like the New Zealand ones. And bite they did, taking photos is a bit tricky when slapping the different parts the mozzies are biting. Mozzies are a trial here but not as much as they were prior to intensive spraying in the 1960s. Stories were told over rum punches and Cayman coladas at happy hour on Friday night. I'll do some more investigating before I write too much about this topic but those present assured me that the aerial spraying currently occurring is really necessary. Today I saw their point.

The Woodland Trail is a mile long with varied flora and fauna including some large succulents similar to Aloe and orchids. They weren't in flower and added another dimension to the many textures. I took some texture shots of the native plants that I hope to be able to use as backgrounds to the new curriculum we are writing. They need a little work before that's possible. Below are some of the photos.

The Blue Iguana is quite big and his claws looked fierce, apparently they bite, so we took the photos for a distance as he posed obligingly. Amazing to look into the eyes of such a prehistoric and endangered creature. The crab retreated when he saw us, a soldier crab apparently.

Lovely lily ponds

The endangered Blue Iguana

A hermit crab so far from the sea, what a surprise he was

After melting at the Botanic Gardens, Jane and I ended up at Rum Point for a Cayman Lemonade and a rest in the sun. Tonight I made a curry from the lovely vege I got from the farmers market on Saturday morning. Green curry, yum. I added some yogurt, mmmm that tastes a bit interesting. Opps instead of plain it was vanilla. Not so tasty with curry. The nice crisp Oyster Bay sav I'm having with it made it all okay, yes I can get some of my New Zealand favourites here. A nice weekend, life is good.

Doing a Dorothy

2011-09-01T23:01:00.002-05:00

Now wouldn't that be fine, or a beam me up Scotty so I could get to the places in the world where I would like to go and catch up with family and friends. The Cayman's are a distance from most places, not as the crow flies it seems but as planes fly. Via airports and stopovers, making journeys a mission. One day the technology will exist I'm sure. Skype is fantastic, I get to see Noah and Eve most weekends. It's not quite the same as the touch and smell and real cuddles.

Living in this paradise has it's limits, mostly the limit of missing family and friends. Four months on, and one trip to the southern lands later, I'm still loving it here. My job has plenty of challenge as well as successes that make it all worthwhile. These can be the simplest things like someone saying thank you for something you have done that makes their life a little easier. That happened today and motivated Renee and I, put a spring in our step as we processed applications for support.

I've made some fantastic friends who keep me occupied so I don't get too homesick. This week has been one where I've missed everyone a lot for some reason. Reflection time. Tonight I got some much needed exercise. Jane's condo has a 25 metre pool so we did some lengths. Jane worked on refining my breathing and stroke so it was more like swimming and less like controlled drowning. It was much smoother and more enjoyable. We both had mozzie bites on our foreheads, swimming after dark is not that advisable at this time of year.

I have taken some photos lately and just have to sort the existing ones on my Mac so I can add more. I have a very large external hard drive and have to remove some to there. Maybe this weekend. I will publish some soon, I promise. Here's one from Dorothy and Toto just before their wild ride to another place, thankfully Hurricane Katia seems like she will take her wild ride somewhere else.

On rain and hurricanes and getting lost

2011-08-29T18:42:00.000-05:00

And rain it did today, no hurricanes yet thankfully. I watched with interest the track of Irene and was very thankful when she veered off after hitting Puerto Rico and went north. Thankful in a selfish way, my thoughts go out to all those who were affected so badly. Our turn will come apparently. It's still early in the season here and being now up to letter J, does not bode well.

Today's rain was very heavy, sheets of big drops plummeting from the skies and pooling on the road. We could see the raining coming, it was on us soon after the skies blackened. On Sunday we were out sailing and a short sharp storm hit, thunder and forked lightening and strong winds. We made a run for the dock and got in before it hit, it actually went around us so we didn't get as much as the rest of the island.

I got lost because of today's rain, too busy watching the puddles and not watching where I was going. Soon the landmarks looked less than familiar. Should the sea be on that side? I wondered. Mmmm nope, but I have seen most of West Bay now. Renee kindly gave me directions to get me less than lost while laughing at this Polly Anna who didn't get directions when she left the office. There was a blond comment made much to the delight of my other colleagues.

It's yoga time now, I can't wait. My body needs to bend and stretch and last week was a crazy one so I missed my usual class. This week is going to be a better one as we embed much of the work undertaken in the past 4 months, hard to believe I've been here that long now. This week I plan to exercise most days, the good living here is taking it's toll on my waist line so I need to.

Busy!

2011-08-20T23:50:00.000-05:00

I'd been wondering why I've not been writing lately then I thought about what I've been doing in the past few weeks. It's been hectic at work, hectic in a way work hasn't been since I worked at the Open Poly at the end of a semester, marking while writing new courses and dealing with students. There's a high level of multi tasking and decision making, I'm having to get used to that again. My brain has worked so hard that I've not got much brain space for anything by the time I get home.

And then there's my after work things. I work late most days, essential while establishing systems. Monday evenings I have yoga; Tuesday night is quiz night; Wednesday's Jo and I have planned to do stroke and stride but have not managed to leave work in time to complete this mini duathlon; Thursday is either spin or swimming and then there's happy hour on Friday. Weekends are similar, sailing, swimming and today my first game of touch rugby for many years. So I'm turning back into sporty spice, all good for my energy levels. I love the outdoor lifestyle here.

Take today. There's an influx of new teachers on the island. We took a group out for happy hour, got chatting and made friends with two in particular, one from Ireland and one from Canada. Jane has also arrived, fantastic to have her here, so today we all went to West Bay to get Cayman car licenses. It was a fun outing that included coffee and some sightseeing for the new ones. Susie had to move into her new place so Jane, Allie and I did some more sightseeing then went off to touch with Jo. House hunting was on the agenda after that, then another game.

It's really sticky here at the moment, the high humidity increasing the heat index, so touch was exhausting. Smiths Cove was inviting for a cooling dip in the ocean. We're just home from a lovely dinner, almost time for bed. Sailing is the plan for tomorrow plus a pool party and dinner at a friends, all go, all good. I'm hoping to do some back stories soon to catch up on travels I've not written about including an excursion into a part of the world I wasn't supposed to while living in the Emirates. That's another story for another day.

The photos are from Keri, chilly scenes from Christchurch's big snow. I'm pleased I'm on this side of the world at the moment. Thanks for sharing Keri!

Keri Granger: Snow of 2011, Christchurch NZ

Love the light in this shot

Brrrrrr

2011-08-16T23:01:00.000-05:00

Just a small look at a cool Christchurch. Play the short vid, if it works, and see the amount of snow that has fallen. Apparently there's a tropical storm heading my way. I suspect I'd choose that over the chilliness that is New Zealand at the moment. I'm not exactly sure what a tropical storm entails but I suspect it will be a little warmer.

Normal transmission

2011-08-16T08:03:00.000-05:00

Will resume soon. I've been flat out, mostly at meetings and on the computer leaving me very little head space for writing. Going out yachting every weekend take time, especially the lovely socialising after. I should have some pics from that soon from a couple of people who take their cameras, mines not water proof enough I suspect. Funny how being on the computer, brain full on all day takes away my motivation to get on it in the evenings.

I'm loving here, getting into life and finally some good exercise. I've begun spin classes, have my yoga and trimming the main sail takes care of the upper body. Not sure how I'll go racing, that was mentioned last weekend as we watched the best crew go through their paces. I was very impressed, and a little depressed realising just how slow I was moving around the boat. Practice is the key. Two outings a weekend, each moving through the paces a bit quicker and who knows.

So I must go to work now, I've got a launch to prepare for logistically and emotionally. The Unit have worked really hard to get things rolling here, now we present to our public. Fingers crossed for a positive response. I'm thinking of all my New Zealand friends, enjoy the snow. It looks very beautiful, cold but beautiful! If Keri agrees, I'll publish some of her pics here. She is a talented photographer and has some wonderful shots of the winter wonderland.

Sunday night

2011-08-07T21:24:00.000-05:00

Another weekend done and dusted. I'm waiting up for Elaine who is coming in from the UK, via Miami, tonight. True to form, Miami Airport was a struggle but her plane was delayed so no inconvenient over night stay. I'm listening for the plane then leaving home. It's very close, one good thing about being in such a small place.

We went out sailing this morning, in perfect conditions, to have some race practice. I think I get why I have to do the things I do when trimming the main sail and gybing and tacking and putting up the spinnaker. Today most things went well, not the spinnaker putting up, but most other things. I've learnt that my dragon boating muscles need to return so I can take up the slack in the ropes quickly. That shouldn't take too much time. Apparently the next outing I'm on the foredeck. I've had one go in light winds, not sure I'd like it in heavy winds. The feats of balance and agility might just be past this grandma.

On Saturday we went shopping. There are a surprising amount of shops here, not obvious to new comers but known by those who have been here a while. There are, thankfully, no malls or McDonalds. I managed to do some damage and stock up on work clothes. I now need a pair of shoes to go with the brown skirt and jacket, Miami for a shopping weekend has been mentioned. We're also looking into a weekend trip to Honduras to go exploring, that sounds more like my speed.

Anne got some photos of today's outing and hopefully she will send some to me to post. I've been very slack about getting out and about with my camera. With working such long hours, weekends are the only time and I spend more time socialising than taking photos. Most of my UAE crew are heading back to work from their summer hols, I'll miss the photos and stories of their summer adventures. Best get to the airport, can't wait to catch up with Elaine and see how she enjoyed her time at home and in France, sigh, Europe seems so far from here. Here's treat from Sicily, 3 young lads with amazing talent.

Today

2011-08-04T22:31:00.000-05:00

What a day, one of those best not talked about today. A gin and tonic day really. Unlike my two day birthday. I've had a lovely celebration including the best part, talking to my family. Noah likes to say hi then shut the lid on flat grandma. Eve is happy to coo and talk to me from her play mat. They are both so very cute and precious and together in Brisbane for the first time. Cousins meeting. Brothers who are fathers spending time together.

Renee is an excellent baker, she made me an upside down pineapple cake for my birthday. It was huge and able to be shared with my new colleagues. I seemed to have a lot of male colleagues in my office seeking cake, Renee's yummy cake. One even asked me today if there was any left, nope I had the last piece for breakfast. The best thing was the card my team made for me. They looked for photos of me and didn't find many, I tend to hide behind my camera. They found this one taken by Katherine and printed it for my card. It's one of my favourites, on top of the world in Oman. An excellent choice.

Some of us went out to dinner on my first Cayman birthday and then to see the last Harry Potter. 3D apparently. Luckily one of the group realised we needed glasses and went off to buy them. I enjoyed the dinner, enjoyed the company and enjoyed the movie, the trifecta.

So here I sit, down loading so I can sleep well after a stressful day. I have missed my exercise all this week, missed swimming tonight, so feel like I need some strenuous exercise. Maybe tomorrow but more likely the weekend. Two more sleeps till the weekend, roll on!

Long distance birthdays

2011-08-02T21:22:00.001-05:00

Yeah right!

Long distance birthdays are odd, they make you very aware of time zones. My first birthday wish came from Jane who shares my birthdate, well the day and month anyway. One of the many born on or near 3 August that I discover around the place. There are two that I know of in my current workplace. Maybe Leos are the education people, actually I suspect it's because we are a little bossy that we are in education!

There have been happy birthday messages all day from various places around the world as the world turning awakens my friends to a new day. Social networking makes the world a much smaller place, imagine still having to send cards and aerograms. Facebook has helped us to follow each other and not lose touch, very important. I've heard from a couple of friends I haven't heard from in a while this week via email too. One is a reader who doesn't leave messages, but that's okay I get them through email instead.

Then there's Linked In, the networking site that I've joined. I get some odd friends requests, people who want to network because we have have something to offer each other work wise. I'm not so sure about that, I have just included friends who are elsewhere. With all the changes in the Middle East, and the summer holidays, my friends are well scattered. I got to talk to Sue via skype phone and Tracey is in the place I'd like to be, Brisbane. All my sons and their families are there, I'm hoping to skype with them soon.

So tomorrow will dawn as my actual birthday. The rest of the world will have passed that date. I have plans, work for the day then dinner with Jo and Kim and a movie, Harry Potter I think. It's been a while since I've been to the movies so I'm looking forward to it. Apparently the theatre is over air conditioned, arctic temperatures just like in Al Ain, so I will remember my coat and pashmina. Happy birthday Jane and all the other August 3 Leos, enjoy where ever you are in the world.

Saturday night in Cayman

2011-07-31T10:10:00.000-05:00

Had a lovely night out last night, a quick email around friends and 8 of us went out for dinner at the lovely Agua Italian restaurant. We'd been there once before and the menu really needed further exploring. I suspect I could eat there every night of the week and still enjoy new tastes, totally superb food all round. It was there that I actually decided to explore getting my long hair cut. One of the servers had a style I really liked and as another week of sticky weather passed, I decided that I really needed to do something about my mane. I'm now much more streamlined for swimming on Thursday. I might even manage more than 1000m.

We had the best meal, lots of chat and slow dining and Brad wasn't the only boy. Round tables are great for conversation, this was one a good size so we all got to interact. The seafood at Aqua is stunning. I had shrimps and gnocci and huge mushrooms stuffed with crab. Others had black pasta with an amazing array of seafood. One of the new arrivals, newer than me, has the same diet as me. We can order for each other and share food, a bonus when only one of us can read the menu without glasses.

We finished dining quite late. We had noticed that it had been raining with lots of lightening and thunder but really didn't notice it that much. Outside was a bit of a mess, the dancing venue closed due to the flooding and lakes of water everywhere. One friend was wandering along the beach to meet us, we ended up at his place for drinks. Wading through the lakes in heels after a few is not that advisable, mine got quite wet on the way in, so I wandered bare foot, splashing with them in my hands on the way out. Liberating.

Dancing will have to wait until another night. My new look went down well, it always looks best when the hairdresser has just styled it. I got some product so I can make the attempt but I suspect after sailing and swimming today it won't quite look the same. But it will be easy to dry and keep out of my face when the wind blows and I'm trimming the mainsail. Yes, it's that short. I just hope my hat stays on with nothing to pin it to.

Peaceful times

2011-07-29T21:19:00.000-05:00

Later on Friday, sitting listening to Bohemian Rhapsody drinking peppermint tea, relaxing after a busy week. It's been one of those that has flown. I think I've been home in daylight once this week and that was to get ready to go to swimming. It's been a good week though. I can sit here feeling quite satisfied with how things have gone and are going at work. I did bring a pile home but now I have my new lap top, that's not a bother.

I came home from happy hour and a nice meal just as the fat, hot rain fell from a sky that had been lit up with lightening for the past few hours. That nice, earthy smell that drifts up off the hot road as the rain hit had me opening my windows as I drove along. The plan for the weekend is to rest a bit, take some down time. I'm off for coffee and a bit of shop exploring with two friends tomorrow, getting my hair done later in the afternoon then going out for dinner and dancing. Not a bad plan. There are about 10 of us going so it should be fun. It's my birthday next week, shhh don't tell anyone, so felt I needed to do a little something to celebrate. Others were only too willing to join me.

Sunday may have time on the water and maybe a swim and laze at the beach. Apparently the poinsettia trees are in full bloom and need to be photographed. I over heard this in the lift today as the island's Premier was talking to someone else. Yep, I get to ride in the lift with the movers and shakers here, the Governor is very nice. I rode with him the other day, chatting as I do, thinking that this nice bloke looks familiar. All very friendly.

Most of all I just hang out quietly, that suits me just fine for now while work takes up so much of my time. I'm never bored, I work with great people who want the best for this lovely place, I'm learning stuff about myself, others and the way things work around here. It seems similar to the family structures in the small corner of New Zealand where I lived through the 1980s. People are connected to others, everyone knows each other and this can be very helpful at times, not so at others.

I'm so enjoying the peacefulness of this place, enjoying sleeping in with nothing to disturb me except the sun shining in my windows heating up the day. I was wondering as I sit here tonight about this blog. My stats tell me I have readers, quite a few surprisingly. I would love to hear from you. Please leave comments, I love feedback. When I first started reading blogs I did so silently as I didn't think I had anything to offer. Now I know we all have something to offer, no matter how small we think it is, it means something to someone.

Sunday on the waves

2011-07-24T20:36:00.002-05:00

I like days when I learn stuff, today I've learnt plenty. I've learnt to wear a longer T shirt out sailing so I don't get a very sun burnt bit on my lower back; why the main sail needs trimming and which way to go so the boat doesn't tip over; which waggly bits to watch for when trimming the gib and main sail; that my gloves don't quite cut it for mainsail trimming; raw blisters are ouchy in salt water; that a gin and tonic is very good for a sailing thirst; that I really do have to jump off the boat when Jo yells for me to tie it up on the jetty, read stop it from going back out to sea; and most importantly that the stronger the winds and wilder the waves, the more I love sailing.

It was a blast today. The wind was strong enough to make it exciting, the waves were kicking up and we hit some and surfed others. The sea splashing onto my face to wet the wind. My love of being out on the water must come from my sea faring ancestry, the sealers and whalers who plied the southern oceans in the way back years. My family were in Aotearoa New Zealand when the official settlers arrived. It's quite a history really and one that's linked to Canterbury, in particular on the Bank Peninsula, in I way I didn't know until recently.

Topping off today, Jo and I had a dip at Smith's Cove. A lovely place to enjoy people watching as there are always plenty of local people at this interesting small cove with a coral sand beach. Somehow, I don't have a decent photo so have linked to someone who has. Amazing she managed to get the cove without people.

Christchurch snow, thanks Muzz

So it's been a great Sunday for me, a sleep in, sailing, swimming, chilling and watching the snow fall in Christchurch. Yes, the snow is chucking down and Muzz turned the computer to the window so I could watch for a while. It was 30 here, minus something there but it looked amazingly beautiful. I feel for those in the red zone, still living with no water or ablutions after all this time, snow must add a misery that is difficult to comprehend. I also feel for those who have to make sure the salvageable buildings don't fill with snow causing even more damage, I know Tim was out on that mission today. I certainly don't miss the cold winters that are a Christchurch specialty, I suspect this island life suits me just fine. Especially as I'm still learning stuff.

Mila's place

2011-07-21T21:59:00.001-05:00

Travis feeding the new addition, very cute!

Mila at the well

Simon at work with his audience

Flash wheels

While my good friends Debbie and Simon are their family were in the UAE they employed Mila to help them with the youngest and around the house. Sh quickly became part of the family as they laughed and cried, celebrated and commiserated all that life brings. Mila's last few weeks were cut short due to a family crisis so goodbyes were not as good as they might have been. Nothing the indomitable Debs and Simon couldn't handle, with the help of Travis their youngest. On their way home to New Zealand in their summer school holidays they stopped by Mila's place. I'll let Debs pick up the story from here.

18 July 2011

What a great day! This is soooo much fun and sooo rewarding! We got picked up by our driver Roosevelt (Mila's cousin) and off we went. Simon and Trav went off to measure up the house with a builder dude and Mila and I went to put her money in the bank for the rice field and went to buy her her first couch! For $300NZ dollars we managed to get her a whole lounge suite which was exciting... and they delivered it a few hours later! After talking to Roosevelt (his Mum owns rice fields) we have realised that rice fields are a bit more expensive than Mila's sister first thought so Mila is putting it in her savings and going to build on that.

Anyway, next stop were the hardware stores, paint shops, tank shop and toilet shop. We got the materials for the water tank, the leaky roof, the new front door and the new toilet(which by the way will be a room now connected to her house with a proper porcelain toilet and solar shower)!!! Totally exciting. We have discovered that we can do all of this for $1500NZ dollars... including the labour costs (7 men over 4 days is the estimate)!! Can you believe it!?? Your money is being well spent let me tell you!

The lads enjoying a swim

We will talk to Roosevelt more about rice fields in the morning and let you know how close we are to that. Anyway will try and send the video of the house pre our work and then Mila has promised she will send us the afters....we gave her Abbey's old computer today so now I will teach her how to use it tomorrow. (She says "thanks so much Abbey"). For now I will attach the photos. Simon told me I sent the last lot 3 times so I will try it once with the apple computer, let me know if it doesn't work.

See ya,

20 July 2011

Hi everyone, we were too tired to do the update yesterday so now that we are refreshed we will fill you all in…What a great day! 6 workers turned up at Mila’s this morning to begin building the toilet, fixing the roof and installing the water tank. Simon had his own project, which was putting the new front door on the house. Building a toilet means building a kind of septic tank which the men had to dig into hard clay for…… it took all day. Travis decided to explore it a bit deeper and fell in it!! Luckily he didn’t really hurt himself!

Mila and I went 200 metres down the road to her cousins pig farm and we bought two small pigs and deposited them in the pen. Mila’s brother, Junior, already has a black one so their mission is to build

The new door, almost there

a pigpen for Mila’s next. Mila, Travis and I also took a visit to the cemetery to say hello to her parents, its just sooooo sad. Dad died 20th May 2010 and Mum 29th May 2011!! All the changes that we are making to the house are the dreams that her two parents have had for years, wish they were here to

see it! Mila is still very very sad and I guess she will be for a long time.

Anyway, Simon sweated his butt off making the door with a crowd of about 15 women as spectators! He handled it well! We bought the entire village ice-cream, a little ice-cream trike pulled up and once word spreads there were about 40 people eating ice-cream! Classic, it cost all of $8! Marilyn arrived from Abu Dhabi in the afternoon so it was great to see her in her village before we left. She is just soo happy that all of the work is being done and that Mila’s house will be more habitable.

Mila and three of the kids stayed in the hotel with us on the last night. What a great event that was. The children ran into the bathroom and started stripping off, they thought the shower was just fantastic! Jennylyn thought it was raining in the house! She also thought the beds were fantastic for jumping up and down on! We all showered and went out for dinner then the 4 of them went to their room to get full use of the facilities! Simon, Travis and I crashed!

Travis had the most awesome time in the village. Lizards, frogs, pigs, chickens, ducks, dogs, cats, and about 20 children to play with! In one of the photos you will see he got treated like royalty with Junior setting him up on a hammock with a fan blowing on him! There has been a slight change of plan with the rest of the money bythe way…. I am sure you will all be ecstatic to know that you are going to put Mila through University!

After a lot of thinking and talking with her sister Marilyn, Mila has decided she would like to follow her dream and go and study with her friends at the local university. She is tossing up between teaching and ICT. She is very excited as it has always been her dream but unfortunately her parents were unable to afford it. She will spend the next week buying a uniform and finding out about the courses that they offer. It costs about $350 (12000pesos) a year here to go to University, which I know doesn’t seem much to us, but is a fortune to them! Her parents were earning about $5 a day and raising 4 kids!! She has enough for the 4 years study and then plenty left to save for that elusive rice field. We will of course keep topping her up!

We treated everyone to breakfast this morning and the entire clan dropped us off at the airport! It was sad saying goodbye, Mila was a bit of a mess but she is very excited about beginning a different journey! Thank you all so much again, her family is just soooo thankful and as they said “words are not enough.” We are now off to feel guilty in the luxury of Boracay! We are looking forward to a rest.
See you soon!!
Love,
Us

So there it is, a lovely story of friendship and support. I will blog any new photos, the after shots, as soon as I get them and keep you posted on the progress. If anyone feels moved to help a little, comment here and I'll pass on Deb and Simon's contact details. It takes so little to achieve a lot in improving the life of our fellow man.

My business

2011-07-18T22:37:00.001-05:00

I don't really talk too much about my work here but this was posted by Di on Facebook and it resonated with me. I am in the business of education reform, often amongst the few voices in the initial change process. The problem is that people revert to their default setting when challenged with something that seems a bridge too far. The key for sustained change, change that embeds itself and becomes the norm, is to involve everyone at the level at which they can contribute.

The example used by Sir Ken about standardised testing is an example of a default setting. When educators worry about impact they want to baseline children then institute a standardised test to measure their progress. While summative assessment like this is valid and when used in context and alongside formative, continuous assessment it can inform teaching choices for educators. The key problem with this is that many countries borrow testing from elsewhere and it does not take into account the unique socio cultural context in which the children operate. I've seen this happen in several places now. This default setting often comes from childhood messages and experiences.

People reason that they were successful when they were tested to have become credentialed so they believe that if it was good enough for them it must be good enough for the children in their care. We've heard this message all through our childhoods in some form or another from our parents, teachers, grown ups from all sorts of places and of course the media, therefore this is imprinted on us. It is actually our default setting too. The problem is, as Sir Ken points out so clearly, the world has changed, societies have changed. I suspect I would struggle to record many of those changes alone, in a group of peers I'm sure we would manage many more.

As parents we worry about our children's education and want a measure of how they are doing. We encourage them to keep on the education path, go from secondary school to university, get a degree so they can get a job. And this works for many but for many it doesn't and they become burnt out in the process, sometimes turning to other more dangerous recreations. Often our kids can see themselves as failures early on, it becomes their truth about themselves that is difficult to change.

But who gets to say what failure is, whose definition is true. Often common sense and logic are strong in our children and they can see how to create something for others, they may not be good at sitting at a desk in a controlled situation listening to, writing and reading words. Some children excel at sports, they need to move their bodies to learn. Some excel at art or music, some at the sciences, some in literacy learning, we all have our unique talents. Some of us are just plain different. A skillful teacher will manage to notice this, recognise how individual children interact with their world and respond by tailoring a programme for that child or a group of children that support them in their learning.

Working in groups or teams helps children to develop altruism, a trait that is so missing in our world today. Team; together we achieve more; there is no 'I' in team; time, energy and money; together everyone achieves miracles, people have been thinking about teams for a while. Sports teams show us how important it is to work together, without the defense, the attack and scoring wouldn't happen. Without the attack the defense has no job to do. How many job advertisements say:

"Must be able to work collaboratively in a team environment" or "engagement with stakeholders and collaboration with colleagues is a key competency".

The world of work values common sense, and that's not that common; the ability to build and maintain working relationships; the ability to communicate with people of different ages, ethnicities and backgrounds; the ability to work collaboratively with others; the ability to get on in the workplace. We need to teach our children these skills alongside the academic skills they need to credential. The children who learn those skills will be the employable ones.

Taking a stroll

2011-07-16T22:35:00.000-05:00

I had a bit of a find today, in the Humane Society second hand book shop of all places. I went looking to replenish my book supplies when I found a DVD called Nature's Best, a compilation of New Zealand's best music from eras I could remember. I've enjoyed listening and especially enjoyed the old videos clips of places I know well and people who were iconic in their day in small town New Zealand.

Gems such as this one were amongst the Crowded House selection.

It was a stroll down memory lane, everyone looking younger than they do now if they are still alive. And then there's this one, a classic.

The Humane Society here has dogs and cats up for adoption, I thought I spied a Labrador puppy but he doesn't seem to be on the list for adoption. Cats are fine, I'm a dog person with a soft spot for golden labs. I my just volunteer to do some dog walking, the next best thing to having one and that's not on the agenda.

On the tube

2011-07-16T09:30:00.000-05:00

In light of all the sledging that's been going on with NZ vs Aussie in sport, I felt obliged to share this advertisement from the London Tube. It could be a touch of guilt for their rugby team wearing a fully black strip as their away jersey. That's caused a few ruffled kiwi feathers. Of course I have two Aussie dwelling sons and one grand daughter with dual heritage, the sophisticated ones. Thanks for sharing Jane.

It's the weekend!

2011-07-16T09:16:00.000-05:00

On this sunny Saturday I sit here reflecting on the week, full and satisfied after a breakfast of plantain, tomatoes, mushrooms and eggs. Reflecting on breakfast, pretty much my favorite meal of the day. I'd seen plantain in the shops here, a banana like fruit, and not known what to do with it. Some commented they liked it green, some liked it ripe, all said it was something to be cooked. I left it with the other fruit and vege until I got fed at Young Island Resort. Yum, I'd discovered another breakfast food.

Plantain cooked by proper cooks tastes a bit like those lovely pink yams we get in New Zealand, the ones I used to call little boys toes when I had little boys to delight. The reality was that I really didn't like to share them. I've never found them anywhere else in the world and although people have told me I was eating yams, they were more like sweet potatoes but not as good as kumara. No lovely mushy, sweet bits in the middle. I have been known to cook a pan of yams and just have those for dinner.

Riper plantain fried lightly is delicious alongside the usual cooked breakfast food, a nice mix of sweet and savory to be savored in an outdoor dining space with the sound of waves breaking on the shore. Not quite at my place but I did manage the outside dining, in the sun, despite it being a sticky 28C here at 8am. Now I'm almost ready for a busy Saturday, as soon as I move myself from where I am. With everything shut here on a Sunday, the day of rest, worship and family time, I have to get things done today.

Shopping for food is top on the list although I don't seem to eat in much. I've got dinner guests on Sunday night, two who have been here a shorter time than I have. Last night I ate at the local Italian. Casanova's is consistently good and their risottos rival Tim and Sarah's. The night before it was Sunset House and a much needed G&T with my snapper. Work consumes an amazing amount of my time, the set up phase needing much multitasking and critical thinking. Eating happens after that, after late meetings and motivating conversations.

Now I must fly and shower to ward off the stickiness for a short while and get myself to the supermarket for some more plantain, I'm sure it will be nice in Sunday nights curry. I also have to write a to do list as I tend to get side tracked easily. Today I plan to go to the local dog rescue place, the Humane Society, that has a second hand book store and swap the many I've read for some new ones. I hope there's a Jo Nesbo there to get lost in and I hope that I don't take away a dog as well. They like volunteers to walk the dogs, I suspect I'll volunteer today. Photos just may follow!

Saint Vincent photos

2011-07-13T22:37:00.000-05:00

It was a murky day when Sarah, Cindy and I ventured up to Fort Charlotte. There were heavy rain squalls as well as some gusts of wind that blew Cindy's umbrella inside out. We decided that walking to the fort may have been a mission so hired a taxi. We were right, it was a long steep climb punctuated by Cindy yelling, "stop here, I've just got to get that picture". Yes, someone worse than me. Luckily she did or I would have missed the rainbow over Kingstown.

We wandered around the fort guided by a nice young man who gave us the history with a passion that showed his sense of belonging to this place. He was an unofficial guide, we paid him of course. He told us the story of the fort high above the town protecting the headlands. The only people to be killed at the fort were an officer who was killed by the husband of the woman he was having an affair with and the soldier who killed him. It now houses the woman's prison, all 15 or so of them.

The entrance to the fort is imposing, although the photo above doesn't really do it justice. We wandered the battlements, astounded at the vista, from the ocean and surrounding islands to the tropical jungle covered mountains. We had climbed quite high. The history of the area is told in a series of paintings housed on site and I learnt about the peoples of the Eastern Caribbean, who settled first, who came later and the wars of colonisation. A similar story to many countries. It explained the people I had observed while wandering, very different but all locals.

The trip down was exciting and Sarah and I convinced the driver to stop so we could get some photos of the cemetery towards the bottom of the hill. It was interesting, old and new graves clustered together looking as though the new ones had been squeezed into vacant spaces. The row of white crosses looked interesting but I didn't make it over that far to find out their significance. It started to rain and we left, lifting the tapu as we went through the gate.

Simple fix, yeah right

2011-07-13T21:56:00.000-05:00

There have been a few developments since Saturday in the TV saga. It always seems to happen, you ask a bloke to take a look and he manages to fix the problem. Quite quickly, fancy that. Brad and Kim brought Jon to visit so Brad got to fix the telly while he was here. Jon enjoyed watching the Wiggles on my mac, why do kids love them so much, while the adults swapped holiday stories. Both of us had been home for a short stay.

I persevered with the telly for a while after they left, hoping to get a programme in before bed. Alas like all external aerials, it needed me to hold it for any sort of picture. My patience with things like that is not exactly legendary so I found a DVD to watch, the Top Gear Vietnam special. My frustrations were soon forgotten as I laughed at the antics of three English blokes negotiating Vietnam on a different form of transport than usual. They really are funny in an inane, things that boys do, way. And because laughter is good for the wrinkles, they managed to get me laughing.

So I now have a plastic box with electric string and some metal extrusions out the top or out the side or upside down as an ornament in my big ugly white cabinet. Sigh, at least I will get more done without TV, after all I've lived without it for a number of years now. And there's the rest of my Top Gear CD. I did get a small fix at Kim and Brads as Jon and I spent an evening together playing. America's Got Talent, mmmm maybe I'm better off without TV.

I do have a new work lap top, straight from the box and still very shiny. Getting some work done tonight was a pleasure as I didn't have to stay late at the office. I came home while it was still light, enjoyed my clean house for a minute then went for a swim. Very nice to walk a few meters and be able to do a few lengths of the complex's pool and relax. It's okay here really.

A lazy Saturday

2011-07-09T12:47:00.000-05:00

I took my time rolling out of bed this morning, laying and listening to that restful rain on the roof. Reflecting on the past few weeks and the whirlwind of travel, family, friends and new learning. It's nice to be able to stay put for a while. The week has been one of catching up. Still haven't caught up on the house work, never mind I should have someone to help me with that next week.

I dawdled through breakfast, sighing at the Crusaders loss to the Reds in the super 15 rugby competition, thinking I must get the TV working so I can keep up with the local and international news. Leaving the house I was surprised to see a friend on the door step. My friend was also surprised to see me and as we locked eyes for a nano second, me thinking where's my camera, no one will believe this and him thinking, friend or foe, we were both very still.

I've not seen many snakes up close and personal and didn't have enough knowledge to be afraid. He was a bit over 3 feet long, thin and a dark brownish colour. He looked a bit like this so I suspect he was a harmless racer, well harmless to me. He did flatten his head, I thought I'd imagined that! Bemused, I went on my mission to buy an indoor antenna for my TV and he raced off though the garden.

I kept a careful look out for my friend on the way home. I've come home to a few tropical bugs in my house including a rather large, scary looking spider I had to spray earlier in the week. I wonder if he could come in and eat the bugs, not sure that's such a wise idea. I was surprised to see a light green frog on my door screen the other morning, on the inside. I caught and released him outside.

There's a new development just down from me that has an open home today so Jo, Charlene and I have planned a visit. It's very plush from the outside so I'm looking forward to seeing the actual condos. So here I sit with a freshly brewed coffee and the local newspaper. The tele antenna didn't work, maybe I need someone with a bit more patience for things electronic to tune it in. Maybe I'll just enjoy the paper.

Mangoes

2011-07-06T22:18:00.001-05:00

I'll just have a little bit, eat around half and leave the rest for later....yeah right. I've never been able to do that. They sell the local mangoes at the supermarket so I picked up a couple when I did my much needed shop. There was nothing to eat at my place that was fresh, lots of canned goods in preparation for a hurricane but nothing that was green, fruity or wholesome. Because I shopped I had fresh fish and plantain for dinner with a rocket salad. Healthier than what I have been snacking on lately.

After dinner I needed to sample one of the mangoes, just in case it was off. With these ones it's not a matter of keeping the juice off my clothes, it's keeping it to a minimum and wetting the T-shirt so it doesn't stain too much. I ate it over the sink, juice running down my arms, dripping with juice. All gone, opps. I just may have to access more mangoes on the weekend, it's about time I revisited the farmers market.

I've really enjoyed being back at work, that's odd I know but I love my job and the people I work with. It's challenging and I'm constantly having to think outside the square to work out the next steps. I like that, exercising my brain. I also like talk, that will not surprise those who know me, and I get plenty of talk time with my team and others. Good productive talk. Tomorrow all my team are together for a planning day or two. There's a bit to plan and organise in the term break so the next school year goes smoothly. That will keep me busy for a while.

Driving home

2011-07-05T22:54:00.000-05:00

I was driving home from the quiz at the Lone Star tonight and this song came on the radio. I YouTubed it and enjoyed it again. Adele's voice is one I like, the emotion that comes through in this clip. Enjoy.

PS We did okay in the first round, it went down hill from there.

Home again

2011-07-04T22:16:00.002-05:00

It was fantastic to land on Grand Cayman on Saturday afternoon. It would have been more fantastic to have landed on Friday night as planned. But no, enter American Airlines again. Mechanical trouble led to us being stranded at Antigua. There was also a massive rain storm, complete with thunder and lightening that made us a little relieved we were waiting. For once I had company during my wait, Cindy and Sarah from Bermuda were in the same predicament.

We hung out, eating whatever food we could find, surfing the net and chatting. It was quite restful in an odd, I'm stranded therefore I'll miss my plane, no use worrying about, it kind of way. I had sort of resigned myself to staying over in Miami by the time we landed but I thought I'd make a last ditch attempt to make my plane. The home land security lines were horrible. I asked, got sent to a long line, waited awhile then asked another person. She was helpful, got me through quickly and off I raced with my bag to Cayman Airways.

The odd thing is that flying through the USA you have to get your bag and recheck it at the first point of entry. I have no idea why this is, and I'm not sure it's worth questioning, but it makes moving around a whole lot more difficult than it needs to be. I arrived at the counter as the plane was taking off, the staff there very apologetic. Plan B, rebook, get a hotel voucher and find somewhere for the night and more importantly something to eat.

The American Airlines queue was about four hours long and it was already almost 10pm. I noticed a number, called the airline and booked for the next day. The day had been a long one, from 9am until 10pm for two flights of one and three hours repectively, crazy really. Cindy and Sarah were staying at the Hilton so I caught a bus there, booked a room and we had a lovely meal. Clam chowder and crab cakes with a GnT and excellent company, who could beat that at 10.30pm!

In a quiet moment I worked out that since I left Dubai on 14 April, I have had 19 flights. Fifteen international, two across the USA and two within the Caymans. I've used six different airlines two of whom I'm reluctant to fly with again. That's a heap of flying and even more time spent waiting to fly so I suspect I'm staying put for a while.

I'm back home enjoying relaxing at my place and reflecting on a whirlwind trip to Aussie and New Zealand and all the associated travel dramas. I've learnt some lessons so next time will be better. Jo picked me up at the airport then took me out on the water the next day, very relaxing and enjoyable although the wind was a little quite for speed. Today I spent the day in the office, while others were on holiday, catching up on the loose ends so tomorrow won't be so frantic.

The photos are team Bermuda and I lunching and the lily pond at St Mary's Catholic Church in Kingstown, St Vincent.

The promised photos

2011-07-01T05:45:00.000-05:00

All out to sea

2011-06-29T10:29:00.000-05:00

Some things defy description. I suspect I go into things with my eyes shut most times, not actually researching where I'm going, what the place is like, what's there. Mostly it works out for me, sometimes I miss seeing some of the sights, sometimes I get surprises. I got one of those when I landed at Saint Vincent very late on Sunday night. A big surprise.

I had spent the day traveling, at the airport in Miami at 8am and arriving in Saint Vincent at 11pm. There were delays, I had a crazy itinerary that took me past Saint Vincent to Trinidad and then back to Saint Vincent, adding 4 or 5 hours to my journey. It was a little exhausting, my back pack got very heavy. Arriving at Saint Vincent at 11pm, relieved to actually be there, I was so very ready for some hot food and sleep. The customs lady questioned me about where I was staying. She wasn't smiling. It went something like this.

"Where are you staying when you here?"
"Young Island Resort." (the island bit should have given me a clue)
"How you getting to the island?"
"The island? What island? I'm on an island already."
"Young Island, it's an island, you need a boat to get there"
"Oh, no one told me that," said the idiot traveler looking a little pale.
"Well, you have to find a boat to get there, how you going to do that?" shaking her head at this idiot traveler, stamping the passport and passing her on to someone else, anyone else.

I went with my bag outside in a state of shock, starving hungry and more than a little grumpy. It had been a long, long day. The poor taxi allocator wore it. I even swore about being on an island as I grumped to him about how I was going to get there, could he provide a boat by any chance? Enter a nice young man with a taxi.

"I know the place," he said with a smile, not at all daunted by this grumpy woman and her heavy bag.

And know he did. We drove up hill and down dale for quite some time, me battling to keep awake. He pulled up at a small jetty and pointed across the water to a faint light, that's the place. He called the resort on the phone provide, no answer. I suspect we both looked a little worried. Me wondering when I was actually going to eat and him wondering when he could ditch this grumpy woman.

Then we saw the light, a small ferry coming our way. It seems that they knew I was coming and had been waiting for me despite the ferry service having finished over an hour and a half earlier. There was a young man who was charged with taking me to my room, as well as the ferry man. When I mentioned food, the young man said the resort was all closed up but there is fruit in my room. Oh no, even the bar was closed. He offered to go back across the water and find me some food, too kind after they had waited so long. I ate fruit, drank the water and enjoyed the space.

My room is a stand alone cottage with shutters all around that open to the night breeze and the sound of the sea breaking on the shore. Natural noises to lull me into a deep and restful sleep. The crickets make a racket, the sea and whir of the fan mostly drowns out their noise. The shower has indoor outdoor flow and is open to the garden and the sky. The dining room is open, sitting on the shoreline enjoying the view across the water. Breakfast was good, fish this morning along with fresh fruit and hot tea. Yum. If you want a place to recharge your batteries, I can recommend Young Island Resort.

The photos show my lovely room on the beach, the ferry coming from the mainland and the island itself, beautiful!

A bit later I write. I couldn't get onto the net or upload my photos last night so these will follow soon. The conference is finishing very late each day so I'm not getting the time to enjoy much of this place. The Eastern Caribbean is different to where I live, very different.

Getting to Miami

2011-06-26T01:46:00.000-05:00

I was supposed to be in Miami at 3pm today. I had planned to go shopping because apparently there's good shopping in Miami and I need the odd thing for my new life in the Caymans. Instead I spent the whole day traveling. This happened largely because I forgot to use my usual process of getting the best answer to my questions. That is, asking many people the same question until I solved the issue. I also didn't know how things work around here, the rules of airport engagement. I had done my homework. I'd checked the website for American Airlines to make sure that my bag was okay, the check in time for domestic travel and the terminal and gate numbers for my flight.

It was an early one, 7am and the site advised that I be at the airport 90 minutes before my flight, fine I can do that. How busy can it be at 5.30am? When I arrived at LAX there was total chaos. It was like being in one of those airline programmes, actually it was exactly like that. High levels of angst as people tried to get important places with precious belongings to be with their loved ones for special occasions. Even the locals didn't appear to know the rules, this mostly polite New Zealander did not stand a show. For once in all my travels, my wheels became wobbly and then fell off completely as I missed my plane.

I'm sure that one day I'll see some humour in it all and there were some lovely people who helped my along the way, who did give me the best response to my questions. I can also see where I made my errors of judgement. If the first person had been at all helpful, I would not have queued for over an hour only to be told I'd missed my plane and for 150USD I could change my itinerary. You see that person should only have asked to see my ID so the auto check in could spit out my boarding pass and bag tag. How was I supposed to have known that.

It wasn't helpful when another looked at me as if I was from another planet and said that I needed to allow 4 hours for check in at the start of spring break. A rule I was not actually aware of and obviously, given the chaos, neither where others. And I am from another planet really. American Airlines were a big part of the problem, they should have better systems and more staff available if they know this is a pressure time. They should also put a note on their web site.

After passing through security, I passed the gate for my original flight. The plane was still being loaded and I could have made it, sigh. My new flight was to leave at 8.40am, no worries. It was late and didn't leave for 2 hours after that. LAX is not the best airport to be waiting in, but wait I did. I'm usually quite good at solving problems, I tend to be able to think outside the square. I was stopping in Miami and yet I was booked through to Grand Cayman. A small oversight by those who were supposed to have changed my booking. My bag was booked through and I couldn't go with it.

On the plane I worked out a strategy, I would get it off loaded. Again I had to ask questions of many people who sent me to other people who sent me up and down the lift to yet other people. Actually, had the first person known their job they would have started the off load process as I checked in at LAX. It wasn't that difficult. Finally I got a very helpful lady who got the forms correct and a bit later I was on my way with my bag in tow.

Altogether I spent from a bit before 5.30am until 7.30pm traveling on one flight that takes 5 hours and 20 minutes. There is 3 hours time difference between LA and Miami, so a total of 11 hours for a domestic flight. And I have to do it all again in the morning, you guessed it American Airlines to Antigua, Port of Spain and Saint Vincent. I'm wiser after today's experience, I hope I can keep being polite. Note to self, avoid LA stopovers in future. Note to self, avoid flying American Airlines when ever possible.

Manhattan Beach

2011-06-24T23:41:00.000-05:00

Bay Watch anyone? I'm sure they must have filmed it on this lovely beach. I spent time wandering in the cool sunshine, sitting on the pier watching the surfers strut their stuff, dodging the pier supports as the rode the reasonable sized waves to the beach. Must say I was a little envious, it was really much too cold for me though. The trolley bus mentioned earlier took me to this place, through traffic that was as determined to get where it was going as the set faced drivers.

I was really hungry by mid afternoon. I had somehow managed to get a Premium seat on Qantas so had lovely food and service and a comfy seat. Just as well as I was still feeling a bit peaky after a tummy bug that I suspect came from the liquefaction dust and muck in Christchurch. It was an odd flight, having to sleep too early for me then when I needed to sleep, landing at LA. All good though and I can't fault Qantas. They are a very professional airline with excellent staff. I will be flying with them as often as I can.

Back to being hungry. After enjoying the fresh air and a walk, I found a lovely restaurant on the street above the beach. Old Venice had a menu with Greek and Italian food, I chose Julie's Pene (thought the name was apt) a delicious mix of flavours including coriander, artichoke, mushrooms and tomatoes topped with large shrimps. Very healthy too. I inhaled most of the plate without breathing out and then groaned a bit. I'm still full. Another myth exploded for me, there is good quality food here. In fact there were heaps of nice restaurants in that strip and I didn't see any fast foods.

So as I sit writing, almost ready for sleep and the next leg of my journey to Miami tomorrow, I'm reflecting that I've enjoyed this small taste of LA. I think I might stay longer next time and go further afield than I could in just a few hours. I'm heading to a conference in St Vincent so a night in Miami then off island hopping to the Grenadines. Although I'm really pleased to be going, the timing is not perfect. I feel like I need to unpack, catch up at the office and with friends and get a couple of good nights sleep at my place. That will have to wait until Friday. I think I might tote up the flying I've done since I left the UAE on 14 April, there's been a few journeys.

Los Angles

2011-06-24T22:46:00.000-05:00

I was standing waiting for the bus, quietly thinking to myself how best to capture Los Angles and I glanced up and saw this sign behind the policemen at the checkpoint going into the airport. I took the photo hoping that they wouldn't think I was taking a photo of them and their big guns, no one did thankfully. LA for a day, well for an afternoon by the time I got settled, rested and showered. What to do. I had Googled for some ideas and all looked to hard for my jet lagged, sleep deprived brain so I took the safe route and asked the lovely lady at the reception counter.

She smiled at me, possible because I still looked really shabby despite showing and adding some make up to stop me looking so washed out. My washed out status is another story so back to the smiling lady. There certainly is, she said. It seems that the hotels on the strip by the airport provide the Ocean Express Trolley Bus which takes those of us here for a short stopover on a small adventure. I jumped on board after waiting a while and it was an interesting wait.

I have had some adventures getting to LA in the form of mother nature flexing her muscles. The human adventures were just as interesting. I generally find the people I meet traveling respond quite well to my smile and feeble attempts at wit. Not so the first LAX customs man, he had obviously lost the will to live and was having a bad day. He barked some questions at me, criticised my writing (apparently he couldn't read where I was staying and so rewrote this more neatly while shaking his head) and was generally unpleasant.

I love having a flash job title to flash when people like him ask so because he made me cross and I was desperate for the loo and wanted to hurry him along, I flashed it. He stopped, glanced up at me. My smile was missing and I suspect I managed that teacher look that makes naughty school kids wilt. He was a little more friendly as he let me through without further questioning and started to bark at the next person.

My bag arrived, the next lot of security took my smile at face value and waved me through and I was outside on US soil for the very first time. I looked around and reasoned that there should be a hotel shuttle and there was. The Airport Radisson is close by, so close that my view from the 10th floor is the runway and the plane parks. Good thing that the room appears to be sound proofed from the outside. The lovely reception lady got me an early check in and I disappeared to get some sleep so I could enjoy my day.

Back to the policemen mentioned above. The first person to talk to me in the US apart from the airport and hotel staff was one of the policemen. As I was standing waiting for the bus, a young man had come around the corner and lost his wheel, that is it no longer was going in the direction it was meant to and so there was a loud squeal as the car immobilised itself. I was watching, in no danger, thinking that this had happened to us during our trip to Turkey, when one of the policemen shouted over to me. I could tell it was a friendly shout so I listened after fighting the urge to run.

"Did that scare you?" he asked with a smile. I smiled back and said no, not taking my eyes off the rather large gun he had in his hands. He was dressed in blue police coveralls, trousers tucked into big lace up boots, an Uzi or similar, cap on his head and that mustache that policemen of a certain age seem to have. He looked a bit scary but as I watched the drama unfold, I could see that these older men supported the young man to get his car towed and kept him safe, chatting away to him as they directed the traffic away from his car. After the things I've seen on TV about US policeman, it was all very reassuring. An interesting way to begin my afternoon, people watching.

The best laid plans

2011-06-22T04:33:00.000-05:00

A while ago I vowed and declared that I would not catch the flight from NZ to Australia that leaves at 6am. And I haven't until tonight. I carefully chose my Virgin Blue flights so I could have the maximum amount of time in Christchurch, that's now been cut short by most of a day. I had to rebook on Air New Zealand, thank goodness I could as I have to make my Brisbane LA connection. I'm not impressed.

It seems that the other airlines won't change their flight paths to accommodate the ash cloud from that volcano in Chile. Air NZ are choosing to fly under it, safely as New Zealand does things safely. Well I certainly hope so anyway. I will miss valuable time with the gorgeous Noah but will get added time with Eve in Brisbane. Right, procrastinating now so best I get myself packed and off to bed. The taxi comes at 4.15am, I'm not at my best then or for the next few hours after then so please be kind to me or I might just be unpleasant to deal with. Who me? So not a morning person, sigh.

Shaky town

2011-06-18T03:11:00.001-05:00

It's fantastic being in Christchurch spending time with Noah, Tim and Sarah. Not so fantastic waking up to a 4.4 earthquake, a shallow one that went on for ages. The hard shaking was okay, the lingering feeling of being on top of jelly was not so comforting. There were a few today, I only felt one other, but it gives me an idea of what it's like to live this day in, day out.

We went for a drive through the streets, around the red zone and over to Lyttleton. Lyttleton has been hard hit and many of the places where I used to love to eat have gone. The roads were rough, the tunnel a scary place to travel through. This place will never look the same again, everywhere I look there are buildings on a lean, in a pile on the road or gone completely. I'm not sure how many times I cried out in shock at the state of this place.

I can only be very thankful that my family are all safe. There is more to come and I hope that it gets no worse than it is. Sarah and I watched a documentary this morning called 5 Days in the Red Zone I hope the link works for you as it shows the true horror and destruction of that day in February that terrified us all, at home and overseas, as we felt and watched the the situation unfold.

On a better note, we had some fun tonight with this website. Doggelganger lets you take a photo of yourself, webcam required, then matches you to the dog that looks most like you. The dogs are ones in need of a home, the site's aim is to get those making the match to adopt the dog they match. Easy when you get a cute one like I did, a young German Shepherd/labrador cross. It's actually heaps of fun on a wet Saturday night.

Aotearoa

2011-06-16T16:31:00.001-05:00

I'm heading to the land of the long white cloud, Aotearoa or New Zealand, this evening. It could be called the land of the long white ash cloud as the volcano in Chile, Puyehue-Cordon Caulle, is sending her plume our way. I must confess, I'm not that fussed on flying when there's dangers such as this about but then I am going to the shaky isles where there is plenty of danger anyway.

The news and photos out of Christchurch look grim and I'm hoping that the earth will stay still while I'm there. I struggle when I see those websites that show the actual quakes, hundreds of them exploding on the screen. I've stopped looking now. By all accounts my city will never be the same, I'm not looking forward to seeing the changes that this latest destruction has caused.

I am very much looking forward to catching up with friends and family. I don't have a lot of time so hope that I do get to see everyone. Noah will be my main focus, getting some much needed grandma time. Eve has been a treat, I'm so very lucky to get this time with them both. The plan for today is to get out and about in Brisbane, lunch and then off to the airport. Not a bad way to spend the day.

On holiday

2011-06-14T05:28:00.000-05:00

Brisbane is turning out to be a bit of a treat. Nick came up from Melbourne, a lovely surprise, and I'm getting heaps of grandma time with Eve. She is small and very cute, very alert and knowing. She relaxes into my arms, over my shoulder and burps on cue. She is wide eyed and alert and mostly in control of her movements. Eve is a delight, she knows who is who in her world and that her needs will be met.

We caught the city cat on Monday and wandered around South Bank with the hordes out enjoying the public holiday. I haven't been to South Bank for years and was amazed that it has recovered so well from the recent floods. We had a discussion about the bloke pictured below, he was just hanging around above the crowd. One of us thought he might just be one of those statue buskers, the others mocked and laughed. I'm still not completely convinced myself.

Brisbane

2011-06-11T18:58:00.001-05:00

Brisbane is surprisingly cold, freezing by Brisbane standards. I was hoping to be able to acclimatise before heading to a New Zealand winter but it's straight into it. I suspect it's even colder in New Zealand. It is warm at Kieran, Sasi and Eve's place. Eve is just beautiful, alert and knowing. She gazes up at me with her big eyes, dark blue at the moment, know that someone different has her and responding to me with the beginnings of a smile. She has dimples when she smiles.

We went for a wander, trying to stave off my jet lag, to keep me awake. Breakfast in the local cafe was lovely, French toast, the best coffee and even better company. I've so missed spending time with Kieran. It's been a year since I've seen him and then it was not for very long. Sasi is fantastic, a lovely young woman who is loving being a mum. They are the best parents, enjoying Eve. Like her dad, she loves being part of family life. She sleeps best knowing there are people around and enjoys being held.

Walking through the mall pushing a pram was a treat for me, getting to carry Eve and watching her taking in the bustle of a mall Saturday was a privilege. Having a granddaughter is an unexpected pleasure. My family was all boys until she arrived. I'm off to enjoy some more Eve time now, waiting for Nick to arrive from Melbourne, another unexpected treat. His arrival means that I will see all of my children and grand children this trip, fantastic. More about my journey and photos to follow.

Off again

2011-06-08T21:22:00.000-05:00

I'm leaving on a jet plane, don't know when I'll be back again...... really, I'm not actually sure when I'll be back in my own bed. I'm heading to Brisbane and it only seems like yesterday that I arrived in this place. I feel really settled here, not quite ready to depart these shores yet, but I'm so excited to be going to meet Eve in person. 20 plus hours of flying excited. I've got a pile of work with me so hopefully in my down time will get some of the thinking work done that can't be done with almost constant interruptions. Long plane journeys are good like that.

No business class or lounges for me this trip though, I'm out of Emirates main flying zones. I should rack up a few Qantas points so the point gathering begins again. I've got a bit to do before I leave as well, it's 9pm here and I'm struggling with the thought of packing and packing up my valuables in case there's a hurricane in my absence. That's possible apparently as the signs are all there. My lovely friends will keep an eye on my house and car, after dropping me at the airport in the morning. I also have an early start, an appointment with a TV show.

There have been many firsts for me lately, tomorrow I get one I didn't expect and am, quite frankly, dreading. I'm going to be interviewed on the local morning show, live. I should be getting organised now, going over my notes and getting my clothes ready. I'm still not sure what to wear so I'm procrastinating, one art I've perfected over the years.

Back to the, I'm not sure when I'll be back. It seems that I'm off to a regional conference in St Vincent and the Grenadines. Look that up on a map, it's kind of southern Caribbean and a wee way away from here. I may get back for one night then have to fly via Miami, I'm not sure I will. I have left it to others to book and organise so it could be interesting. I think I might also pack clothing suitable for a four day conference. I may need to thaw out after my southern experience so that part of the Caribbean may well suit.

I have wheels

2011-06-05T21:14:00.000-05:00

It's been a nice weekend, a peaceful weekend where I've managed to tick off a few of my to do list items. My bike is now mobile, the back wheel that gave me so much grief is in and working. I had a roll around on the driveway of my complex feeling very smug. I won't say exactly how long it took me, or the underhand methods I used, but it felt good to be on my wheels after such a long break. I suspect the break through came when I figured out that putting the bike up the right way would make things easier. I plan to do some riding when I come back from my Aussie/NZ trip, can't wait.

I'm off to Brisbane on Thursday, well the trip starts Thursday and ends on Saturday morning, to meet Eve. And to see her mum and dad of course. I thought I was coming closer to home coming to the Caymans and the flights are shorter. It's the stop overs that make the trip a bit tricky and I just love hanging out for hours in airports. That novelty wore off a while ago. I've got a lot of time in LA and may just risk leaving the airport, we shall see. After my Miami saga, I'm not sure that US airports are that user friendly. On the way back I'm staying in LA the night, works better for my connection home. I'm quite looking forward to having about 20 hours there, just enough to see if I want to return.

I made blueberry muffins tonight. It's been a while since I baked and they turned out well. There is a plentiful supply of early summer fruit here, all the berries and so very fresh. The mangoes, local mangoes, are particularly good. They grow on trees around here, tress laden with the fragrant sticky sweetness that are fresh mangoes. The ones we buy in New Zealand are bland and stringy, the ones here are just delicious. I realised this morning that I always stand when I'm eating mangoes. They're not easy to eat many places other than over the kitchen sink.

I did experience a place where they are even more delicious. Eating mangoes in the sea is the very best way to eat them, the mix of sweet and salty. The best way to eat them in the sea, I've had lessons from the locals after I amused them with my unorthodox methods, is to bite out the top and then squish the soft insides up through the hole. I need a little more practice and there's never a shortage of mangoes when I'm out and about.

They do cause some strife here, people debate over who has the best tree, which breed are the nicest and who makes the best mango jam. This can lead to mishaps. One of my friends shared with me some of the stories passed about here, like the one where two neighbours had a machete incident because one took the other's fruit. Growing up we enjoyed other peoples fruit too, that was the best sort.

Friday!

2011-06-04T10:44:00.000-05:00

Well it's just what you do on a Friday after a busy week. Mine's the GnT in the foreground. The sunset is the one we watched from our bar perches. The Friday crew are a Canadian, an American and a new friend fresh from the UK. Add a kiwi to that and I'm sure it has the makings of a joke. The bar is a lovely place where many people do Friday night drinks, apparently if you get there early enough there is free food. We usually only manage the bar snacks.

There is also Tarpon feeding there at 9pm. Tarpons are a scary looking, very large fish that make me think twice about swimming anywhere near the restaurant strip. They love to be fed and seem to know when to come to the light. Small children feed them, sometimes they jump and so do the kids. Amusing but we had gone before feeding time this night. There are photos just in case you think this is one of my tall stories, see told you they were big.

I got home a little later than I had planned as I had another social engagement, much to the amusement of my friends. You see I've been here five weeks now and I have social engagements stacking up, what can I say. The second occasion was with the lovely people I went out on the boat with. We had a nice time eating, drinking and dancing by the side of a canal. It rained a bit, warm, sticky rain that freshened the air and made us retire to the dry places. It was a lovely, relaxed night out with people who are fast becoming good friends.

Cayman Brac

2011-05-31T20:51:00.001-05:00

I went to another tropical island today, flew over in a pedro the baby plane. Pedro the baby plane was a character in one of my kids story books. He won me a quiz question once so I always think of him struggling to fly over Aconcagua in a storm whenever I have to climb into a plane that only seats a few.

Today's Pedro was a de Havilland DHC6 Twin Otter. Truly a baby plane, I thought as I ducked my petite frame to clamber over legs while finding a seat. The plane was full, there were no seat numbers. There was a wonderful view of the island as we took off and flew over my place, actually we could see pretty much the whole island even though we were flying quite low.

Getting on the plane was interesting. My only other experience of Owen Roberts Airport was flying in at night, jet lagged and not sure what to do next as I arrived for the first time in the Caymans. Today the airport looked a little more friendly. What I didn't realise was that there is only one departures lounge and it's for international and island hoppers. So through I went, not realising this, not realising that they were quite serious about security.

I must have asked quite a few times, "I'm just flying to the Brac, are you sure I have to go through there?" Yes I did it seems, so off I went though security. Those in front lost their water, I chose to keep my tea in my bag. It was in a camouflaged travel cup, no one could see it as it blended in to the mess that was my bag. Or so I thought. An alarm went off, much like the one on Monsters Inc, when my bag went through the xray. I was taken aside, "But I'm only going to the Brac" I said wistfully, innocently.

I tipped out my tea, returned my cup to my bag, carried the cup through the standing xray much to the horror of the security staff. Too late, the lady snatched my cup, put it back through machine shaking her head and off I went. And guess who got bomb checked? That would be me. I suspect I had been highly amusing to those watching as the man who checked my bags laughed when I said I just wanted my morning cuppa and I was only going to the Brac. At least he appreciated my early morning humour.

I landed safely on Cayman Brac after flying over another island I found out was Little Cayman. It is little, the Brac is not that much bigger but certainly had more interesting terrain. There is a high bluff, a cliff with caves that I could imagine pirates stowing their loot in. It would be great to explore on a mountain bike, not sure if Pedro could fit mine in his hold.

I can certainly see why the Brackers enjoy living there, it's beautiful and temperate and interesting. You can even travel over to Little Cayman by boat or plane to visit the lovely beaches there. I got to land there on the way back. I had a great day out, being driven around and visiting all I had to visit, a day of meeting new people and seeing a new place, not a bad day really. Thanks Brackers for my warm welcome, I'll be back again soon I'm sure.

Wow!

2011-05-29T09:05:00.002-05:00

Abu Dhabi - 2011 (ver #3 FINAL) from Beno Saradzic on Vimeo.

Abu Dhabi, then and now. Very hard to believe all this has happened in only a generation. Thanks for sharing Brian. I'm really enjoying going around visiting my favourite blogs, catching up, on this peaceful Sunday morning. Also enjoying cinnamon raisin toast with my tea.

An excellent day

2011-05-29T00:24:00.001-05:00

Midnight, time for bed. What an excellent day, one that could be my happy place for a while. I slept in so thoughts of the farmers market and the breakfast invite went out the window. The sun was streaming into my bedroom so being out the window was a really good option. After a restful breakfast and a little cleaning, Jo and her dad arrived.

She was taking Mayhem out for a sail, yes please I'd love to come. It was really hot here at 10am, hot and muggy so we had quite a sweat up by the time Mayhem was launched and we were heading out into the channel that leads to deep enough water. Once out, we sailed around in the relative shelter inside the reef. I was the main sail trimmer, we all had a job. It was a first for me, the other times I've been out I've been a decoration or more likely ballast. It was fun, especially as the wind picked up and there was plenty to do. We tacked and launched the jib, getting the lingo right, and off we went.

Jo was very patient, the ropes are different colours so she told me which ones to pull, where and when to pull them and why so I was learning what to watch for. Did I mention it was fun? I love being in and on the sea, luckily this time we stayed above the waves and made to safely back to the Yacht Club for a nice cold one. We certainly needed it, hot work that sailing. Hotter still cleaning and stowing Mayhem safely.

By the time I got home I was a bit burnt, a bit dehydrated and sticky from the salt spray and hungry. Got the food and drink done and then managed to catch Noah and Tim on Skype. He is such a cool little boy. He knows how Skype works now so we managed a bit of a chat and he showed me his truck and other toys. He's so active, running everywhere and really busy. Oh and did I mention very, extremely yummy.

After a swim in the complex pool, I headed off and got some groceries, not usually a favourite occupation of mine but this time it was okay. The local mangoes are ready so I got a few along with some cherry chocolate and orangeade in an interesting bottle. Okay so I like impractical shopping in a supermarket that's still a novelty. I wandered home, poured a cold one and Skyped with Kez, Sasi and Eve. She's a bit little to understand, 3 weeks now. So small and gorgeous.

Then I got Nick, the trifecta. So I've talked to all the kids and Lyn and Kerry at Burleigh Heads as well so a very good day. I can't wait to go and visit everyone in person. I fly to Brisbane on June 9 to meet my new granddaughter so not long to wait. For now, I best get to bed. I'm off snorkeling tomorrow at Cemetery Beach with my new kit, weather permitting.

Differences

2011-05-28T21:09:00.001-05:00

There are some subtle and not so subtle differences between the Caymans and the UAE. The first and most noticeable is the pace of life, particularly the pace of driving. There are speed limits, no speed cameras but policeman who actually pull up cars who are speeding. I've seen one or two already, mufti cars with flashing lights. I smile my virtuous smile as I drive past, whew. I'm used to driving slowly so can now be judgmental. Well, I've slowed down heaps here partly because I have a 1100cc 4wd so it doesn't like going too fast and I'm not ever in too much of a hurry anyway.

I began writing this the other night, got tired and sloped off to bed. Now I resume on a Saturday night, a peaceful Saturday night as I wait for the kids to come online so we can skype. It's wonderful having the internet again. So back to the differences.

Sundays are certainly different. I have the day off, so do most of the people here. Most places are shut. Places like home ware stores and supermarkets, clothes shops and bottle stores. So one must be organised and get everything that's needed on Saturday. Needless to say the supermarkets are busy then, although not if you go at dinner time as I've discovered. Trouble is I do end up spending more then.

Sunday is a day of rest, a day families and friends get together at the beach or at home to enjoy a break. First of all they go to church, a big part of the island culture. Some one told me that there are more churches here per head of population that anywhere else in the world, I don't doubt that. The amount of places of worship astounded me when I drove around the island, small places and large places and, as it was Sunday, places that people in their Sunday best were attending in droves.

That's another difference here, different from most places in the world I suspect. The sense of community, everyone knowing everyone else and enjoying that. Take last Sunday. I was invited by one of my lovely colleagues, and I never refuse a social invitation, to go boating on Sunday afternoon. What a treat, a boat load of lovely local women plus a couple of men, well someone had to drive. They packed on board enough food and drink to feed and water the multitudes.

And multitudes there were. It was one of those, I wish I had my camera moments! I'm sure my description will not do it all justice. There were about 40 boats of all shapes and sizes just off Rum Point in the shallows, all anchored near each other. The people from the boats all got into the water which was between waist and chest deep and off they went catching up with each other, glasses and food in hand. It was fantastic, a regular Caymanian event that I felt privileged to attend.

I had a great time, meeting lots of new people and enjoying the heat and the water. There were stingrays swimming amongst the people. They took no notice, I'm afraid I did take notice much to the amusement of those around me. As I squealed a little and raised my feet in panic they laughed. I wanted to climbed up on the tallest person there but luckily resisted that urge. The advice was to keep my feet on the ground, stay calm even if they rub up against you and don't be holding squid or have the smell of squid on your person. That's when they will chase you, nope think I may just be able to avoid that state of affairs.

I had a fantastic day out, returning home a bit sunburnt and very tired. Not sure why, I'd done pretty much nothing all day. This weekend has more treats in store and I'll write about them soon. I need to download the few photos I've taken so I can add some here. My camera has been very quiet as I'm spending heaps of time at work, a necessity as I get to grips with my new job and some of the outings I've had have not been camera friendly.

Oh, another big difference. Everyone here speaks English. And the Caymanian dialect that I haven't got to grips with yet and many speak Spanish. English is the language most communicate in. That makes a huge difference. Take getting the internet on. A nice young man called me, yes I can come home in 5 minutes. He chatted away to me telling me all about his daughter and his love of travel as he not only activated the phone line and therefore the internet but also gave me an adapter so I can use both the net and a phone. Useful in hurricane season apparently.

Hurricane season, that's a whole other story. One thing that's not so different is the wonderful welcome I've had from the people here, expat and local. I've been made to feel very at home and have some good friends already. Another other story.

I'm back!

2011-05-26T18:42:00.000-05:00

Well, I think there should be a group called IA. Internet Anonymous sort of like AA only for internet addicts. I'm sure I had quite severe withdrawal symptoms, I suspect my friends here and there were sick of my moaning despite making sympathetic noises. Now I am connected, at last and so quickly. I'll write some more soon, a catch up on a few weeks but for now I need to get dinner, a celebratory dinner. Watch this space!

And some more

2011-05-15T17:24:00.002-05:00

12.5.11

My horoscope said that I would have someone watching over me today, so very true. It’s a feeling I’ve had often here, that warm feeling of belonging as if I’ve lived here in a past life. This feeling makes it easy for me to commit to life here, to my work and socially.

There are several examples of this, one that I’ve had the Internet for the first few days in my new house. I was grumpy last night that the connection had disappeared, where could it have gone? Tonight I reflected on the timing of my access to this connection. I had access the first weekend in my house when I needed to talk to family, my first chill out Saturday.

I talked to friends in the UAE in the morning then New Zealand and Australia family in the afternoon and evening, just what the doctor ordered. Most importantly I had the Internet on Sunday night, Monday afternoon Brisbane time so I could meet Eve, the newest arrival in our family. I only had a short visit and am looking forward to more. So the Internet connection served it’s purpose and now I have to get my own arranged, a job for tomorrow. Let’s hope they can have it on for the weekend.

Late this afternoon, after work, I went to the beach. I went for a swim. I was alone, the beach was deserted and I got in treading carefully over the coral and rocks the litter the bottom of this swimming beach. The water was sublime, my cares melted away my stress dissolved and I was able to totally relax. As I dog paddled up and down, quite close to shore, it struck me that I was alone and that no one knew that I was swimming at the beach.

I ended my swim and went to the shore with Jo’s words in my head, “I don’t swim alone, especially on dusk”. Wise words. I know my local beach has people there, surfing the small break on big boards or swimming or walking their dog or just enjoying the view but these come earlier in the evening, late afternoon. I wandered along the beach for a bit, watching the sun sinking lower and lower.

Being in the tropics, the door slams shut on the day in much the same way as in the UAE. I wandered back to the exit nearest my place so I didn’t get caught in the dark and sat to watch the sun sink into the sea. The sunsets here are beautiful, the sun a fiery ball lighting up the clouds and sparkling on the sea.

I noticed a seat, one not with a private property sign like so many seats along the beach.

The plaque read: In loving memory of John………….who loved to watch the sunset……..

This was a memorial a place to a man obviously loved by his family, a man who loved this place and the sea, a man who I initially pictured as an elderly man making his way each day to sit and watch the sun sink into the sea with a sigh. Not so. I read the plaque more closely as I departed. John was a little younger than me when he died in 2001. A short life, well remembered judging by the current collection of conch shells and coral decorating the edge of his seat area. I’m sure someone will share John’s story with me as I sit on the seat his family made to honour his memory, if they allow I’ll share it here.

Catching up or reflections on my new place

2011-05-15T17:19:00.001-05:00

11.5.11

I so wanted this date on my blog! No such luck. I’m struggling to get access to my blog. The work computer’s setting won’t allow me to access from there, I have no internet at home now. That story is below.

This is the date I write about work. I love my new job, I enjoy the challenges involved and my ability to work at a higher level than I have for a while. I especially enjoy my team, three women dedicated to the improvement of early years education in their community, women who know the successful future of their culture depends on providing a quality education system for their children. It’s motivating to work alongside them to achieve this, motivating that they are so keen to get started. The time is right.

Working with them I felt the ripples of history. My history, my herstory. I have plenty of dejavue moments, I feel like I know these women so well, know their stories as they raise their families while making change within their community. Next week we make our introductory visits, I’m so looking forward to getting out and about. The plan for change has begun. The context is understood, now we need to motivate others to come on board. The time is right, the people are right. Watch this space.

Hotspots

2011-05-15T17:16:00.001-05:00

I've sitting around home bemoaning my lack of internet when it struck me that I could go out and find a hotspot. So here I am at the local shopping centre sitting on a park bench like a tramp, a high tech tramp not the other type of tramp. Mind you with what I'm wearing one could be mistaken. My old shorts and a much older top, courtesy of Callie I seem to remember.

Anyhow, my lovely setting that I had for the first few days in my house went away, never to return. Sigh, that BlackBerry thingy that work gave me is no great shakes for me. I like a bigger screen, more access but it's been great for reading emails. While I've been waiting for my connection, just getting time to make a trip Lime the provider here, I've written a few notes that I will copy and paste in the next entry. Dated so my thought patterns don't seem too crazy. Above is a photo of my car on my trip to Rum Point, one of the smallest ever 4wds I'm sure. I had one of my coworkers offer to buy it off me the other hay, seems it is really economic and the price of gas.....

Welcome to the whanau

2011-05-09T22:31:00.000-05:00

We have a new addition to our whanau, our family, Eve Francis born 9 May 2011, a beautiful daughter for my youngest son and his lovely partner. I met her via Skype in the early hours Cayman time and hope to see more of her soon. Mum and dad are doing well. Welcome Eve, I can't wait to meet you in June.

A Sunday drive

2011-05-08T16:07:00.000-05:00

I decided to go exploring a bit this morning. I had had a lovely restful day yesterday and had heaps of work to do so decided to procrastinate for a while. I drove out to North Side via East End, a scenic trip along the lovely coastline of Grand Cayman. I stopped at Pedro St James, an historic site and close to one of the houses I was interested in before I arrived here. The top photo is from the coastline at Pedro St James, iron shore with unforgiving and jagged rocks. The house I looked at is one of the ones in the distance, isolated and too close to the waves as they crash onto the rocks but a very beautiful spot.

The Island is quite diverse with mangroves and some relatively open space in the middle and different shorelines from the rugged iron shore to brackish water inside the reef to white, coral sand beaches. I spent some time at Rum Point on the one pictured, lazed a bit in a chair with my book then had a swim or two. I drove home the shorter way via Frank sound, cutting through the middle and going in to check out Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park. I had hoped it would be like Vic Park in Christchurch, a place I'd be free to wander on my bike but no such luck. It is very beautiful and the home of the rare Blue Iguana. I will revisit for a longer stay later.

I saw a huge iguana on my first day, about one metre long including a very long tail. He looked at me, I looked at him wishing I'd had my camera, then he quietly departed. Today I was on the look out for iguana, imagine my surprise to come home and find this smaller one on my door frame. He was very green, very beautiful with his long tail. I'm hoping he's dining on the ants I keep wiping off the bench. A gecko ran in yesterday, shimmied up the wall and then disappeared. I'm not sure where he went but I'm happy to have him so long as he keep the bugs under control.

The drive was uneventful and I've learnt that the open road speed limit is 50 mph or 80 km and most of the island has a limit of 30 mph or less in places. A nice pace of life, one where I could sightsee as I drove on the quiet roads. The other thing I noticed was how many churches there are here, all full with Mothers Day services today. There are also cemeteries along the coastline. Someone who has been here awhile said this was because the land directly on the beach was not valuable given the storms that come.

The local people were sensible, they had free access to as much beach as they wanted so the plots fitted with the lifestyle. Today I was bemused to see many 'private property', 'no beach access' signs and wondered how the locals feel about the locking up of their coastline. Many of these properties were locked up with storm shutters closed, who would know if I slipped across to the beach from there sometimes.

A quiet Saturday

2011-05-07T19:01:00.000-05:00

I needed a quiet Saturday, everything has been full on for the past few weeks. I'm now in my new house in Southern Skies, very nice to feel settled after living out of a suitcase. My stuff from the UAE has arrived on the island after a big delay after BA embargoed goods from the UAE. Not sure why or why they accepted my freight and then left it there. I'm not very impressed. Apparently it had to be rebooked with some other carrier, got stuck in Paris, not a bad place to get stuck really, then held up in Miami. Apparently customs here have to check everything, that's the latest delay. Monday I should be able to unpack? One would hope. I'm missing my teapot.

Having no goods arrive has caused a few problems. I've had nothing to wear. Not a nothing to wear, might need to buy something even though the wardrobe is full, nothing to wear. A genuine there are no clothes for this climate in my bag, nothing to wear. I bought some long shorts on my first day with my limited Caymanian dollars and I've lived in not quite professional enough to wear to a new job clothes ever since. Luckily I'd packed two pairs of presentable trousers and a couple of cardigans.

I had bought a lovely cocktail dress before I left, knowing that there would be functions for me to attend. I attended one of those last night, a black tie affair at the Ritz. It was a lovely night out, in a borrowed dress. Luckily I had one pair of flashish shoes and Jo had a dress that fitted me. It was a really nice, high necked long number. The Caymanian women love to dress up, love a good do according to the lovely Jennifer who sat next to me. And dress up they did, beautiful dresses and shoes, updos and the works. My cocktail dress would have been okay, the gold one more suited. Well, if I'd had the choice of these. Maybe Monday. There is a saying here that is about all in good time, I laugh when I hear it.

Sorry, went out today to get my hair done so didn't take my camera. I'm off on a round the island drive tomorrow so photos will follow, promise.

Moving day

2011-05-04T20:29:00.001-05:00

Today I got the key, tomorrow I move in to 6 Southern Skies. Very appropriate for this grandma from down under. It's a spacious, two story town house with an upstairs balcony and a nice private outdoor area. All things that sold it to me. I also managed to get a 6 month lease so that gives me time to look around and see what else is out there with no pressure. Like most places, the real estate industry is depressed here so the prices have dropped. Good timing on my part, good timing in that it's almost the rainy season so I'll get to experience that and see how the place I'm in fares.

I'm also getting my car tomorrow. All things have been delayed because of the struggle to get a bank account and then getting my pay cheque cleared for use. The ladies at the HSBC bank helped me to get it all organised, with some stress and delays and a heart stopping moment when the machine swallowed up my only source of money, my UAE card. The ladies released the card, I now have an account and could get the money needed to finalise all the deals I had outstanding.

My battery is about to die so will finish this later, internet and power supply permitting.

The market

2011-05-01T11:27:00.000-05:00

Traditional woven goods, cup cakes and coffee as well as all the seasonal fruit and vege. What more could I want. I bought red velvet cupcakes and Kim bought carrot with cream cheese icing, both totally delish. Might be my new Saturday breakfast place.

I bought a car yesterday, anyone who knows me will laugh when they see it but it's great for here. A small 4wd, economical and able to get me through the surface flooding that happens in the rainy season. It's been so helpful having people here to ask about what's best. Nothing like local knowledge. i've been made very welcome, making this shifting business not too stressful. I think I've just caught up with myself and that's taken a while. Tomorrow there's work and I'm looking forward to learning more of what's expected.

A quick update

2011-04-30T13:36:00.000-05:00

I am now the proud owner of four current drivers licenses. Getting a Caymanian one was surprisingly easy, just a queue to negotiate. Having everything in English makes life really easy. The photo is even okay. The young man behind the counter wasn't sure if I was joking when I asked him to take 10 years off in the birthdate area.

I've now moved from the Sunshine Suites and am staying with a lovely family out at South Shore. Kim and Brad are friends with Jo so have welcomed me temporarily into their family. Their son Jon and dog Sulli have been fun to play with. Jon is 18 months old, full of beans and loves to dance. He really enjoyed listening to my iPod, not at all shy of this grandmother. Kim and Brad are also from the colonies, Canadian so some of the good folks.

We went to the beach yesterday, swimming here is lovely the sea is so clear and the air temperature perfect to lay about in the sun. I'm looking forward to not living out of my suitcase and getting me carpets down in my new place. I'm hoping that's all going ahead as there's plenty of room for visitors and it's across road from a swimming beach. We also went to the local farmers market, bingo a place to buy fresh local fruit and vege, herds, fish and yummy cup cakes and coffee. I even got myself a woven Caymanian bag to carry my shopping in. Might just be my regular Saturday morning haunt.

2011-04-29T08:29:00.002-05:00

Ellie is singing at the royal wedding. I like her and had heard this before without knowing who sang it, a remake of one of my favourite Elton John songs. Check out her other songs on YouTube. Congratulations to Kate and William, a lovely wedding, a beautiful, elegant dress. I wish you all the happiness in the world.