A tale of two parties.

     Here is our official "Greeter' meeting some guests at the ferry dock. Who could they be?
     Well, Joanne and Dave Rogers of course. Our former next-door neighbors from Dolphin Cove. Once again they have come down to partake of 'de island climate'. No wonder, since it was snowing the day they left Connecticut. After a winter like they've had they could use a little 85 degree weather..... and we have just the place to offer it.


 
    What better way to start off a vacation than with a spirited hike on one of de island trails.


      We loaded up the Jeep and headed out for a trek up Ram Head Point. This spot is at the east end of the island and is pretty remote. Back in the 1700's a group of West Indians committed suicide here rather than return to work for the plantation owners. They jumped into the sea. Their native revolution lasted only one year and ended here. Wow is it windy out on this point. My hair blew off. Jim's too. Joanne, of course, looks perfect.

     After the hike back downhill Dave, Jim and Bob took a dip in the ol' Caribbean Sea. Boy did that feel good! Then it was off to lunch at a local dive.

     The next day we went for a kayak tour of a spot called Hurricane Hole. Our guide Liz gave us the finer points of kayak operations. Snorkeling was on the agenda too. Then there was a great lunch. We were watched over by a herd of hermit crabs. They wanted our lunch, but settled for crumbs.

     Of course we took Joanne and Dave out to the site to see the progress on our house. Since the driveway is dug up again it was a little scary climbing up the hill.  Look, it's raining on Tortola.
Minutes later the sun came back out. Such is life on this rock we call home!

Party-time. Yes, time for a 'painkiller'. Yummmm.
    

     OK, now it's time to tell about a different kind of party. Every year there is a fundraiser for The St. John School of the Arts. This year the theme was 'Hooray for Hollywood'.  Everyone was supposed to come dressed as their favorite movie star. There was even a red carpet to walk.

   
  
     Look it's Louie B. Mayer and
Samuel Goldwyn from MGM Studios. Wonder who that starlet is with them? I bet those guys are trying to get her in for an audition and a little session on the casting couch. Typical Hollywood producers! Nice cigars guys. Are they Cuban perchance?


    

     Of course Louie and Sammy are working the room. Here they are chatting up Charlie Chaplin. Maybe there's another silent film in the works. I think Louie lost his moustache? What a fake. Look at Sammy pretend to be listening. He's really more interested in that trophy Charlie has.



    

     The fundraiser was a huge success. Something like fifty thousand was raised to support the school. And a trip to New York with seats to a Broadway show was raffled off. Amazing.
Anyway, Louie and Sammy had a great time. I don't think either of them smoked the cigars.  These guys were 'hot' in their suits. And I mean temperature hot. They couldn't wait to get back into t-shirt and shorts!
     Flip flops rule!   

De building, It be rising!

       After beginning construction only a short three months ago, the house is now starting to look
like a building. They are starting to frame the main floor walls and the roofing material is being ordered. Once they put on the roof beams they will pour the main walls. The roof beams have to be in place because they are embedded in the concrete. Can anyone say Fort Bunker?

      Here you can see the septic tanks going in below the driveway. At left they were just put into the ground. At right they filled around them. Hardly visible. And a retaining wall supporting the parking area will completely hide them. Cars will park around to the left of the pool.

      The photo at right shows our closest neighbor. And you can just make out a car coming up the hill towards our place. So we will have plenty of time to get ready for guests. We are debating the need for a doorbell. Perhaps we'll just get a donkey to 'he-haw' a warning?
      Today we started looking into flooring tiles and roofing wood. I make a trip out to the site almost every day because something or other has to be decided. I can't imagine building here and not living nearby. No wonder some of these homes take years to complete.
      Some exciting news below!

      Yes, Bob and Jim have been accepted into The St. John Yacht Club. And we were given a burgee and a boat bag. Better than some cheapo yacht clubs in other parts of the world! Don't I look dashing?
Now all I need is my boat to fly the flag.
      I was asked to go out on the committee boat for a regatta last weekend. This was The St. John YC 'Island Hopper'. I thought being on the committee boat would be boring. Not! There was quite a bit to do... set up the starting line, fire the canon, raise signal flags. The committee boat is a 35 foot Tiara. Sound familiar to anyone? As the boats came across the finish line we recorded their times. All of a sudden we got a distress call. One of the J-24's had been dis-masted! We went out and pulled them back to port. Then it was off to a local bar where everyone met for a drink. One or two, or...you know sailors! I had a blast, to say the least. Maybe next time I'll get on a race boat as crew. Better start pumping that iron.
      Just a little reminder to all of you up in the Continental US...it's averaging 85 degrees down here every day. Aren't I funny? And dashing.