Family Photos

Finally got my hands on the Christmas pictures! Why am I the only one with shoes on? The Old Man Bay Roulstones at Granny's house, Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman.

Katherine, Hunter and Hayley sitting on Hunter's sailboat.
Three generations of Roulstones: Hayley Elizabeth, Cicely Elizabeth, Frank Ellsworth Jr., Frank Ellsworth III and Hunter Ellsworth Roulstone.
The entire Roulstone Family, and just about the last Caymanian family to own a part of Seven Mile Beach! Includes Katherine Bovre, Sharon Roulstone-Bovre, Shirley Roulstone.

Risk

I cooked dinner and a few friends stopped by. We then started a game of Risk...
which at 1am was finally won by Janice!

We were busy this weekend as usual but no pictures. I worked Saturday morning and helped a friend move into their apartment in the afternoon. H&H went to the flower show and then the beach. Sunday was work at home most of the morning with a short stint at the beach in the afternoon. Then the above.

Another day of boating...

The Sunday morning started with getting lobsters, but they are now getting scarce as the season starts to wind down. But we did get a few lobster and our limit of conch.
After steaming the lobster to make lobster salad, and marinating the conch we were off to Rum Point.
The kids had a great time,
and it was a beautiful day.
So, from 10am until 5pm we were enjoying good times with good friends and family!

Family Portrait

I still have not seen the family pictures the professional photographer took of the family at Christmas. But a guest in the apartments kindly emailed me one that he took, note we are looking toward the other camera! Anyway, this is the Roulstone family December 2007. Thank you Bob for the picture!

Fishing

Beautiful weather during the Winter months is too good to pass-up. So we went fishing at 5:30am this morning. Just after sunrise we landed our first fish; a very nice Wahoo.
Later Paul caught the first of 5 Barracudas,
And despite losing a very large Tuna, we ended up with a respectable catch: 1 Wahoo, an Ocean Yellowtail, Ocean Turbot, and Red Snapper. We also caught a large Bar Jack which we uesed for bait to catch the others. The it was home for a swim in the pool...so Hayley, Hunter and I had a swim while our super-nanny (from Manitoba????) insisted the water was too cold! Go figure.

Impending Visit of the Tooth Fairy

Hunter lost his second front tooth tonight. He lost the first one when I was away in Little Cayman. So the tooth fairy got a break the first time but not tonight!
Hayley has perfect teeth so thankfully will spare her father orthodontist bills for a couple more years at least! And I think the tooth fairy is also off the hook with her for a while too!

More Little Cayman

Getting into the boat is not graceful!
And the blasted Man O'war birds kept stealing our fish!
But they didn't get them all! (A nice Yellow Jack)

New Years Eve in Little Cayman

The weekend was characterized by fishing, snorkelling, good company and eating. Owen and I out towing for jacks.
Snorkelling for some fresh lobster...
Spotted Trunkfish.
Gary and I dig into the fresh lobster.And finally the sun set on a beautiful New Year's weekend!

The Caves

We were going for a Mastic Trail hike when Hayley asked about caves. So we turned around and went to the Old Man Bay caves just down the street from our house. It was a short hike in but a bit too much for my naturalists in training! Mr. Paul points towards the biggest cave.
Hayley and Hunter unconcerned as large fruit bats fly around over their heads. (left centre)
Four spelunkers.
Hunter emerges from a small cave. He was very brave; we had no flashlights!
Fig tree roots cascade down the entrance to the big cave. In all we visited about 6 caves in one hike.

Boxing Day at the Beach

After a morning of cleaning house, we were off to Granny's for a day at the beach. Hayley, Starri, Lauren, Yasmin and Hunter escaping from the sun in the Barringtonia Tree.
Granny and the gang.
Hunter, Me, Rex, Hayley, Starri, Lauren and Yasmin taking a dip! Lovely hot sunny day at West Bay. We were going sailing but there was not enough wind (or ambition!). So we just visited, swam and played.

More Christmas

It was a long day. We all stayed at Sharon's most of the day and ate turkey, lobster, conch and all the trimmings. There was lots of champagne and beer and just a small group of family and friends. There was also lots of new things to try-out and what better day for it than a sunny 28C day in George Town. The day ended and the fireworks started, then homemade pina colada cheese cake. Some of us will be fasting tomorrow!
Again, Merry Christmas!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Somehow Santa found Aunt Tinnie's house and bright and early (6:30am!) three kids discovered that he had come and came rushing down the stairs.
There was a treasure trove of gifts waiting including new Nintendo games, dolls and remote control devices galore, and a Christmas Disney cruise for next year. So at least now we know where we will be next Christmas! We love and miss all our Canadian family, our super-nanny freezing in Manitoba, and family and friends spread across the globe. Merry Christmas everybody!

Lobsters and fish

A beautiful sunny, calm day; perfect for snorkelling and snaring lobster. Between the two boats we got our limit and Caroline introduced them to Hayley and Hunter.
Hayley was not happy to see the lobster's lives come to such an unpleasant end but she posed with the conch who was awaiting a similar fate! I was feeling (and looking) rough from the activities of the night before.
Then Hunter caught his first fish! A nice little Mangrove Snapper that we released back to the canal. I was very proud of him, he caught it all on his own after a few casting lessons. I must now get about my task of peeling potatoes for tonight's dinner...

The Christmas Party part 1

Jenn and I had a Christmas Party before she leaves for Christmas holidays. The theme was "Santa". There was way too much champagne and food, and the pictionary, scattergories, and other games went on until 2:30am. Up at 8am to go get lobsters!
Greg does his turn on the Globe game, one of the kid's games which is equally entertaining for adults; especially after a few glasses of champagne!
Neighbor Ann MacFarlane and I in the kitchen. Neither of us looks particularly well!

Katherine's Christmas Concert

Katherine's class, she is end of the middle row, bright red.

Pictures of the concert didn't turn out so great, so here's the two snugglers in the audience. They were so proud of their cousin's performance! It was a windy, cool, clear night so very Christmassy; perfect night for a concert.

Staff trip to Little Cayman

Arrival in Little Cayman. There was 13 of of us so we pretty much had the plane to ourselves.
We had my traditional birthday "observance" at Pirates Point, it started with a champagne reception at Gladys's house (here on her porch), then dinner, Karaoke at Little Cayman Beach Resort and dancing at Hungry Iguana. Heading home. Waiting in the "departure lounge" at Little Cayman Airport.

Christmas Concert

The theme for this year's Christmas concert was "Christmas Around the World" and Hunter and class were representing Hawaii!
Hayley's class was Jamaica.
In the audience was cousin Katherine, and also Granny, Aunt Shirley, Jennifer, Nana, Miss Alyson and me.