Weekend Projects

Did my orchid presentation at the Orchid Show on Saturday and Sunday mornings, had a full house for both! This is part of the display. Event was well attended and a good success. I did not buy a single plant but some kind soul did give me one!
In the afternoons I have been working on my deck extension. Ran out of lumber today so a good excuse for an afternoon break! Stayed in and watched a depressing movie with Jenn last night. Should have gone out. That might have been at least slightly less depressing!

My deck work has been closely supervised by this chap. I don't think he knows I am slagging off just yet! We are heading off to Granny's for the afternoon with a few visit stops along the way. Have a happy Sunday!

Last day for lobsters

Lobster season closes on Friday so we made our last trip out and took Jenn and friends along. We also got a few conchs so steamed the lobsters and made marinated conch for lunch. Then it was back out to Rum Point for sea and sun. All are well tired tonight! (Lil holds a nice big lobster as Jenn and Norma look on)

Hayley's 10th Birthday

We observed Hayley's 10th birthday today with a pool party. It was an overcast day with occasional brief showers, but not enough to dampen the spirit of kids on sugar!
There was a fancy birthday cake followed by...
... opening lots of gifts. What do I have ahead of me?

Barbados

Sunday morning we had a swim in the pool before I headed to the airport.
The next morning I was in Barbados with a colleague attending a regional workshop.
This is the beach in front of our hotel, which we only saw every morning at 7am until a nationwide strike was called and our flight was cancelled! Then we got an unexpected day to tour the island and actuall see something outside.
The East coast of Barbados; the famous Bathsheba surfing area.

Beach Boys

Hunter and visiting friend at West Bay.
Not sure what is going on here. I am sure I will get some suggestions!

Boatswain's Beach

Couple of random pictures of the kids at Boatswain's Beach.
They have been acting as tour guides for Norma's friends who were visiting; perfect timing while they had a week off from school.

Work day Saturday

Although it is not "official", we are planning to move back into town in July, so started repairs and renovations to number 55 Memorial Ave today. The house will need a lot of work including replacing appliances, lights, fans, wiring, plumbing fixtures and furniture and of course painting.
The whole gang was there including Grandma, Jenn, H&H and even Katherine fresh off the flight from Las Vegas. Earlier in the day back in North Side, Rex got a bath, shower fixtures got replaced and pot holes on the driveway got filled. So a productive day of home repairs.

Another Holiday

Ash Wednesday is a holiday; not quite sure why except it is a good time for an Agricultural Fair. So here we are browsing through the cows, goats, horses, pigs and chickens this morning just before the cow in the stall almost ate the camera before the timer went off! Hence the expressions of concern! We sat in the bleachers and watched the tumbling team from Chicago. They were really good! Saw lots of old friends and people we never see all year long, made a couple new friends, ate cotton candy (YUCK!) and helped out at the Trust booth a bit.
Then it was off to the beach and although a little rough, Hunter offered Jenn a piggyback ride and, well, you can see what happened!
He survived so we made sand angels for Sam!

Hero's Day Long Weekend

A three-day weekend (National Heros Day) so we were all set to go to Little Cayman. Then Hayley and Jenn got sick, so Hunter and I left them behind for a weekend of fun in the sun. Lots of sailing, fishing, conching and of course some karaoke!

Sailing lessons from Captain Owen.

Waiting for the flight this afternoon we enjoyed a beverage at the Hungry Iguana! Now back home to a cold Monday night and a still-sick Jenn and recovering Hayley. Sorry they missed a great weekend.

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!