Green Christmas

Merry Christmas!!

Here we are, the Christmas elves on our mission to feed poor, sick and elderly people in Dominica.

Mary and I made four big pots of stew with pork and lots of veggies, cookies and chocolate banana cake and we joined Jennifer from Lamb's Feast to distribute it to people. She feeds people three times a week so they knew we were coming. She wanted us to bring the food in to people - we went into some very poor homes - old, sick, disabled. The people were all very grateful since the food programs were not operating on Christmas Day. It was a really good way to spend our first Christmas here. We then came home and shared our own turkey dinner with others in the neighbourhood that stayed on-island. We had nine people. We had turkey with all the usual trimmings - stuffing, mashed potatoes, roast pumpkin, green beans, salad, rolls - and lots of great desserts - biscotti, cinammon almond shortbread, chocolate cake with blackberry sauce, pumpkin loaf, cashew brittle - oh, and of course, lots of wine.

We started off the day with a great breakfast at Allan's. He made homemade saffron and date bread, salted codfish, eggs, bacon and we had amazing mimosas - fresh-squeezed orange juice, Prosecco and Grand Marnier. What a way to get us moving on our mission. Yumm...............

Today we are going to a pig roast at Pagua Bay restaurant. The owners are putting it on and we think it will be a great way to relax after several days of nonstop cooking and baking.

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas with family and friends.

I am looking forward to New Year's now. I'll post next Sunday - after our brunch at Heaven's Best.

Later..........

Christmas is coming soon - doesn't feel like it

Well, here we are - hot - and there you are - snowy. It doesn't seem much like Christmas here yet. It's not because it's hot - I got used to that in Bermuda, but because there are not a lot of decorations here. The towns aren't decorated like we are used to and not too many people put up lights. Some of it is because people are poor and decorations are expensive here, but it is also because there are a lot of Seventh Day Adventists who do not celebrate "pagan" holidays. Many people don't do anything but we are.

We decided that we don't need anything and agreed not to buy each other gifts but instead to spend the money on making a Christmas day meal for the poor. We bought a couple of big pork roasts and some chicken and we are going to make a stew with provisions - dasheen, sweet potato, carrots, etc. and bring it into town on Christmas day to give out. There is an organization that feeds the poor and we are joining with them. We will make big pots of stew and bring it into Portsmouth to distribute and then come home and have our own turkey dinner in our neighbourhood. We thought that was a good thing to do. We are also baking some stuff to take too.

So, it's really nice to be on holiday now. We went to Roseau for the day on Friday - my goodness it was busy. Now I remember why I don't go there often. It was so crowded - even worse because there was a cruise ship in. Geez, the cruisies!!

So, we are going to go hang out at Calibishie Cove - check it out on the web - and start our exploring today. On boxing day we are invited to a pig roast at Pagua Bay - check it out too. They are both high end eco-luxury guest houses with restaurants. I am quite looking forward to this adventure.

I am really glad I didn't try to fly anywhere because we have heard that flights are delayed all over the place - in North America and Europe. A lot of the people going to Europe were very concerned. I am quite happy to be here.

I want to wish all of my family and friends a wonderful, peaceful holiday.
Stay tuned - I should have something good to post next week.

Love to all

Sorry to do this, but..........

........ here's a picture of me getting a massage on my upper back deck yesterday. That's Lindy - she is a registered massage therapist and an esthetician. I got a massage and a mani and pedi from her at my house. Isn't that great?? She makes house calls. We have her and Nicole (the hairdresser) come for our spa days. OMG - Lindy gives an awesome massage. Sorry, had to :) - especially to those of you in London who got snowed in this week

It is hot and gorgeous here right now. We are going snorkeling today at Toucari Beach and then I am making dinner tonight. I haven't tortured you with food stories for the past week or two, have I? Well, okay, we went to the market as usual yesterday and then we stopped into the 4th semester sale at school. They have big sales when the students leave the island and there are lots of great things to pick up. I picked up lots of food and household things cheap. Of course the students don't want to cart food and household goods with them to their 5th semester, which is in Miami or Michigan. They will then go on their clinical rotations in semesters 6 through 10 in various places.

Things are winding down now for the break so it should be fairly quiet this week. I only work three days and then I am on vacation until Jan. 3. Woo hoo. As I have said I look forward to having time to play - to explore the island more and to hang out.

Oh, the Club Med II is here again. I can see it in Prince Rupert Bay. What a gorgeous morning - there was a little shower earlier and then a very vivid rainbow that looked like it was coming out of the water in Douglas Bay and reaching up into the sky, the birds are out - Pelicans, Frigate birds, Kingbirds, etc. and the sun is shining on the water. Couldn't ask for anything better - except seeing amazing fish later when we go snorkeling.

Bye............... play is calling.

Part II

Sorry, I have to add this - it's just too cool not to share. We went snorkeling at Toucari Beach this afternoon and besides seeing a gazillion - yes, a gazillion amazing fish, we tried to get close to the pelicans on the poles. Remember the pic from awhile back - the pic I posted of the pelicans on the poles on our walk on day? Well we swam very quietly along the poles and got one pole away from 5 pelicans - 4 sitting on the poles and one in the water. COOL!!!!! When we got to the closest pole, the one pelican was looking at me in a way I didn't like - not sure whether it thought I might be a big fish or if it was just trying to figure out what I was. And then, (yes, there's more) we saw all these police in the dress uniforms and heard all this music. The police go around the island putting on Christmas concerts and they were at the pavillion at Toucari - right across the street from the beach. We should be able to hear it later from home.

Okay, now I'm done - till next week. Enjoy :)

Beach birthday party

We had a 50th birthday party at the beach yesterday.

It was Sho's birthday - his name is actually Ashworth but everyone calls him Sho. He is Annika's husband - Annika is the artist from whom I bought the paintings. She arranged it. The pic with the people in the water with the sun on the water - that's us. The second one is looking down the beach one way - left - and the other is to the right (obviously). The kid on the tree is just about to swing out over the water on the rope. What a blast that looks like huh? Of course a lot of the men had to try it. We thought they were going to kill themselves, but nobody did. We had lots of food and drink and sun and fun. A great day. The weather was gorgeous and Sho took people for rides around Cabrits on his boat - that's it you see with the canopy on it in the second picture. There are some beautiful sailboats and a couple of huge yachts in the bay so the view was even better.

Today is a hang out at home day. There was a hiking trip to Syndicate Trail but I didn't feel like it. I needed a quiet day. I have been really busy at work and out a few times this week already.

Friday night we had a girls' night - we went for Chinese food and then back to campus to watch Eat, Pray, Love. Total chick flick but it fit in with the evening. We also had a good chunk of the Canadian contingent - me, Mary G. from Toronto (not Mary L), Anne W. from Hamilton (McMaster). The rest of the group was international. We had a great time. We howled through the movie.

I am looking forward to a couple of weeks off soon. I need a break. It has been so busy at work. A holiday will be much-appreciated. As I have already mentioned, a number of us are staying and we are planning to explore more of the island and perhaps take a ferry to another island for a day or two.

Oh, I hear that there is snow there. Sorry about your luck - it's beautiful here.

xxx