Wednesday 27 August 2008

Leaving Our Home

We moved out of our house on Monday.

I must say it was a bit of a wrench. The house, on Sea Rocks, Island Harbour, on the north east of the island, has been our home for 3 years and 3 months. It was comfortable and cosy.

The view, out to sea across the reef, was wonderful. Over time we have spotted whales swimming by and watched exciting boat races, seen unwary boats hit the reef and chuckled at the attempts to rescue them.

We have sat out at night star gazing, held shooting star spotting competitions (the record was 6 in an hour!) and relaxed with friends on the terrace over a glass of wine.

We have watched the local wild chickens bring up countless chicks in the garden, laughed at the cheeky Yellow Breast's love of sugar and all things sweet and been thankful there were so many geckos to eat some of the mosquitos.

I have wandered about the garden taking photos of flowers and fruit growing in seemingly impossible places, from the inhospitably rocky ground. The pink grapefruit were a real plus!

Leaving meant a massive cleanup operation, involving a sort out of everything and then packing and sweeping, moping and tidying what was left. As we departed we were sad but it was then a shell of what it had been and no longer the happy home it once was. It was sterile and stood ready for the next occupants. They will put their mark on the house and make it their own, just as we did.

Now we are living in a hotel. Paradise Cove is in the West End of the island and we have a very nice apartment with all mod-cons. There is a swimming pool on site, which we have made full use of in a vain attempt to get a bit fit before we leave the island on Monday! I think we are doomed to failure but it's fun trying!

Thursday 21 August 2008

All at Sea Magazine

I saw the double page spread I wrote for All at Sea magazine, on RFA Wave Ruler's visit to Anguilla, today (August edition). I know I did all the work in terms of writing and taking the photographs, but I must say, the editor, Chris Goodier, and the layout and design staff at the magazine, have really made the article look good! Thanks Chris!

For those of you who might like to read what I have written, keep an eye on www.allatsea.net and go to the Anguilla pages. July's edition is online at present and there is an archive if you fancy reading past articles. August will be available at the beginning of September.

Friday 15 August 2008

Country Life Magazine in the UK

I heard today that in the current edition of Britain's Country Life magazine, I am featured with others who have studied later in life.

Regular readers of this blog may remember that I am addicted to the Open University in England and earlier this year graduated with a BA (Hons) degree in Humanities, specialising in Art History and Classical Studies. This was picked up on by the university purely because I have studied in some unusual places whilst with the OU. When they were contacted by a writer wanting unusual study stories, the University passed my details on to them.

So, if any one wants to read a little about me, obtain a copy of Country Life!

Wednesday 13 August 2008

Baggage Mountain!


Well, we are packed up at long last for the Big Move. We have a baggage mountain in the dining room awaiting transport and the rooms echo when we move about them.

The end is in sight now. Joe's successor arrives next week and, after a farewell party for some friends, we will move out of the house and into a hotel for the last few days before we finally leave the island. The hotel has a pool, which will be well used by the Legg's as it is very hot here at present!

Tuesday 12 August 2008

Malicious Comments

As Anguilla returns to its usual serene calm I have been surprised by the reaction to my blogs on recent events. I must confess to thinking that not many people read my blog as usually I receive no feedback to my writing.

One thing that has really annoyed me is that people have used the blogs to send me viruses via the comments. This has led me to withdraw some of the blogs to stop people targeting the site. This is in effect curtailing free speech but I am not sure what else to do. I cannot continue to field virus infected comments, which arrive in my email inbox before coming to the blog, and the only way I can think of to stop them is to take off the target blogs.

At least from all this I know that there is an audience out there in readerland, even if some of them are malicious.

Monday 11 August 2008

Carnival Trouble Part 2

Since I wrote the last item in this blog, it is now known that one lad died, a lady is seriously ill in hospital and there were several others injured. Several people are 'helping the police with their enquiries.'

I had hoped that our last Carnival on Anguilla would be fun. It was in part but this event has tainted the whole affair. Shame.

Tuesday 5 August 2008

Packing Up

We are up to our ears in boxes, bits, bobs and assorted junk.

After more than 3 years on island, following over 3 years in Bangladesh, we are on the move again. This time it is back to Blightly where things will have changed somewhat since we were last resident there.

We had packers in all day yesterday and are expecting them in again today. It is amazing how many things we have accumulated! Now we are sorting, trashing, boxing, storing and hope it will all be complete by Thursday afternoon. I have had enough already.

Wish us luck!