Lisa's Journal

Saturday 11 November 2006

Here we are in mid-November and rainy season has not been very rainy – this is very good for
construction but very bad for filling the water tanks.
Four weeks into construction, the rock is still being jack hammered out beside the house but by midweek
next week, the footings should be dug out and the reinforcing steel work underway. While so much earth
has been moved and plants pulled up, the landscaper has taken advantage of the timing to completely
rework the front hillside to the road – it is looking great with new palms, grass, and other plantings he has
relocated.
Saffron and Razmataz are loving having so much activity around the property all day, not to mention the
fresh dirt, rocks and now, lovely ‘manure’ from the next door chicken farm (to help the new landscaping
along!). There is much to accomplish between now and Christmas, when this season’s first guests check
in, but the crew is working hard, even coming in on their Independence Day holiday last Friday and half
days on Saturdays.
I find myself staying very busy, not so much with the tennis & recreational activities, unfortunately, but
with coordinating materials and equipment for the workers, involvement with the Sunshine School, for
Children with Special Needs and the Bequia Sailing Club / Easter Regatta. Just the other day, a
veterinarian from St Vincent stopped by to check in on my pets and to discuss an idea he has to develop
an animal rescue organization. He has great ideas and is recruiting interested volunteers. This is well
over due in the islands as there are so many dogs on the street that have treatable diseases, are injured
or need to be spayed/neutered and then need to be adopted into loving, caring homes. Please let me
know of any contacts, donation interests, etc as we embark on setting up this organization.
In addition to all of these fun ‘agenda items’, I have been preparing marketing packets to distribute to
approximately 125-150 businesses and key people to formally introduce AQUA, the GYM at AQUA and the
wonderful pottery works of a friend from England who has entrusted me to sell the works she had to
leave behind last season. The printer is hard at work getting everything printed for next week (I hope! -
since it was not completed by this weekend, as intended!) Oh well – island time – “tomorrow”!
Despite my limited technical proficiency, I have managed to get set up on Skype and have a number in the
states that has now allowed others with Skype – my dad, Donna, Dee – to call and chat unlimited for free!
Yeah! If you use skype yourself, be sure to add me to your contacts and send me a chat now & then!
Not too much other news from paradise. Jeremy has been up golfing in St Lucia, yet again, this past week
and should be sailing back Sunday night (this posting will have to wait until his return – once again, the
technical challenge!) Although he will be spending Christmas with his sister in England, we should be
enjoying our second New Year’s Eve here together (or Old Years Night, as they call it here!). We have
been invited for Thanksgiving dinner with our friends, Jim & Sheena, at Moonhole. See http://www.begos.
com/bequiamoonhole/ which is their rental villa, to get an idea! Their house is just above the one
described! It will be great to visit, as I do not get to catch up with them often.
I hope everyone enjoys the start of the holiday season with a big turkey dinner and lots of friends & family
around for Thanksgiving!
Take care and stay in touch!