Reflections

As I sit here writing I am thinking of you all sitting around a roaring fire, a jolly Christmas bower hanging from the mantelpiece, perhaps a chestnut or two roasting in the embers as the snow falls gently outside. I should just point out for the more pedantically-minded, that I am not thinking of you all sitting around the same fireplace... that would be weird... but your own individual fireplaces.
I love fireplaces, they are the heart of any home, I like the way they puff out their chests, put on all their finery and come into their own at Christmas time, my favourite time of year. So it is a little strange (no, it’s very bloody strange) to be spending our first Christmas here in the sunshine of the Caribbean... but then many things remain strange here!

Although the good news is that I am writing this from the comfort of our first Beach House which is completed at last. Hurrah! OK it should have been completed in July but let’s not nitpick. We are in and I must say it is rather lovely. Huge high ceilings, wooden floors, big balconies looking straight out to the sea that breaks on the beach at the bottom of the garden... and if you don’t believe me, come and see for yourselves! Mind you it doesn’t have a fireplace which is a bit of a drawback but, we are having one built into our own house. Now admittedly the temperature never alters between 75 degrees and 87 degrees but I’m not going to be defeated by little things like the laws of nature. I won’t actually set a fire but, I can at least have some candles in there which will suffice and neatly avoid the prospect of us melting along with the candles.
Well it’s been an extraordinary few months for us. Trying to get the houses built has been a monumental challenge, not helped by the fact that the supply of just about everything you need to build a house is not available ‘on island’. We have bought every tile on the island and we are still short to complete the bathrooms. Of course it doesn’t help when the guys go and do things like put the nonslip floor tiles on the wall, which is annoying at the best of times but doubly annoying when those are the only... and I mean only... non slip tiles on the whole island. AGGHHHH. And we can't get any more until February when VAT is being introduced because nobody is importing anything. Of course when they take the tiles off the wall it ruins the special waterproof 'dry wall', so it needs replacing and yes you guessed it, there isn't any on the island! It's known as the 'Island of Spice' but, Ex pats call it the 'Island of Twice' because everything has to be done twice (at least) to get it right!!

However, they are such guileless, charming people, you forgive them everything. I asked our lovely forewoman if it was possible to turn down the temperature on the hot water as it is very hot. I didn’t want to sound like an ingrate as hot water is a luxury here but it is a bit scorchy worchy. ‘Oh yes’ she says ‘you can alter it’. She then proceeded to demonstrate, complete with a very slowly explanation of how you turn on the hot water tap and let the water run into the sink first and then turn on the cold water tap until you get the temperature you want. Marvellous! I played my part wonderfully too of course, Oscar-worthy in fact; “Ahh right, lovely. I see. I’ve got that now. Thanks.”

In between house building though, we have had some wonderful times and met some equally wonderful people. Recently we turned up at a restaurant with a couple of new friends called The Heights... that’s not the name of our friends, that’s the name of restaurant. We were the only customers but, still 12 ladies of a certain age and a certain girth struggled up the very steep hill from the local church and entertained us royally with the most moving, haunting renditions of carols. Rather than being somewhat maudlin, Victorian dirges, their versions were uplifting, rhythmic and filled with joy. It was magical. Then they trooped off down the hill. They didn’t want money; they just came to spread their own brand of happiness and contentment.

Perhaps inspired by those good ladies, I’ve also decided to put myself out there a bit more in this new life and do things I always wanted to do but, never quite had the courage. So tonight (aggghhhhhhh) I am playing with the most popular band on the island, The Doc Adams Blues Band, who are awesome. Luckily I’m also playing with my son Georgie who will distract the audience with his amazing guitar licks. We are doing a couple of songs in front of lots of people but, I am determined to try and enjoy it and not let nerves get the better of me. I am happy giving talks in front of anyone about anything but, playing the guitar is a very different prospect. Sorry I just need to go to use the facilities again!
And on Sunday (never start a sentence with ‘and’. Surely some mistake. Ed.) we are doing a shoot to photograph a new fleet of stunning Bavaria yachts (designed by BMW). This will involve hanging on for dear life in the pursuit boat whilst Kitty tries to take shots of a yacht as it wheels and spins around the coastline. I am then going to paint ‘yacht portraits’ from the photos which are going to be displayed in Horizon Yachts’ fancy new offices in Port Louis (Peter De Savary’s marina). Horizon Yachts, who operate all over the Caribbean, are going to sell the paintings on their website and we are planning limited edition prints, calendars and post cards etc. However it won’t be all work as we are going to anchor in a small deserted bay for a bit of snorkelling in the crystal clear waters and then enjoy a picnic on the yacht. Which is a much better idea than picnicking in the crystal clear waters and snorkelling in the yacht. Your sarnies get all soggy and the lashings of ginger beer get all salty. It’s hopeless.

So dear things, it only leaves me to wish you all a very happy Christmas and a stonking New Year. The greatest joy is that our boys will be with us again this year, which means that despite the tragedy of not having lived with them for many years, we have managed to always be together at Christmas... deep joy! So we will be having a full traditional Christmas lunch with 20 odd friends and family... well they aren’t all odd, just most of them... we will raise a glass to you all and wish you well. Of course having a drop of Welsh blood in me, I can turn into a maudlin Welsh twat on any occasion but, Christmas being particularly poignant time of year, I will no doubt wonder down the beach for a moment and reflect on how odd life is that you can end up living on the other side of the world, so far away from all the things and people you know and love. Life here is wonderful (most of the time) but it comes at a heavy price at times like this. We will miss you all...

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!!!