The (mis)adventures of Cindy

5 km run/walk for Liberty Children's home

2009-11-23T14:55:00.029-06:00

Here was the advert in the Ambergris Daily:

Liberty Children’s Home 5K Walk Fundraiser. MEET IN CENTRAL PARK, San Pedro – juice & muffins @ 10 AM. START WALKING/RUNNING AT 11AM. Celebrate/party when you reach finish line! Central Park to Captain Morgan’s. Proceeds to benefit Liberty Children’s Home – caring for abused, neglected and abandoned children of Belize – located in Ladyville, Belize.

So we all thought: EASY PEASY!

1st off: thanks to all Molly & I's sponsors - between you guys Molly raised exactly 1,030 Belize Dollars (yay). Unfortunately for Molly, she was not in the lead, but dead last.
Most people did the walk/run to Captain Morgan's in 20-40 minutes - it took us 2 1/2 hours!

Our little (drinking) group consisted of Peter (Pedro), Laurie the vet, Matt & Jo from Roadkill, Lara and myself - doggies stopping at every bar on the way with us were Charlie, Jambo, Wassu and of course, Molly. We had a total blast - whilst everyone was jogging their way merrily to the finish, our little group sampled Bloody Marys at Estel's (breakfast of champions) then beer at Patojos, Reef Village, the Palapa Bar, Aji and of course Captain Morgans. By the time we got there at 1.15pm, the party had finished, there was no BBQ left and Forrest had been waiting for us since 11.30! We were very happy by then and so we had some more beers whilst the dogs played "coconuts" off the sea wall. What a great day! We boated back to town where Matt, Jo and I had more drinks at Estel's! Thanks to both of them for driving me home! Well done everyone!Matt & Jo at Estel's

Raising 1,030 BZD by staggering bar to bar!

At Patojo's bar

Charlie and Jambo drinking out of the pool!

Jambo swimming in his large water dish

Lara's new piece of prime real estate!

Wassu and Molly ran down nearly every dock on the way!

Motley Crew....

Not even reached the bridge yet - everyone all smiles

Peter nearly on all fours climbing "Mount Everest" i.e. the bridge. Robbie and Helda cheered us on

Charlie swam under the bridge to get to the Northern part of the island!

Spot the dog - welcoming his pals at Reef Village

Having a beer at Reef Village - thanks JD!

Just keep walking

Sorry, lots of shots of bums and backs of heads!

Matt

Is it a mirage? No, it's the Palapa bar!

We bumped into Madame and her 5 dogs - 1 tiny path, 7 people and 9 dogs - it wasn't chaos, honest!

Houses just north of the Palapa bar

Next person we bumped into was Marilyn! She was feeling guilty she hadn't done the walk!

Ahhh bless

Ak Bol

COCONUTS!

Molly on the dock that doesn't seem to start at the beach and doesn't seem to end anywhere

Wassu on the dock to nowhere

4 very happy dogs

Interesting fish holding pen

Jambo and the barge

I liked the green boards on this house

Soooo sexy auto-portrait

The rain is a coming - we had better duck into a bar half-sharpish!

Everyone in "ACTION" pose!

Damn, we wanted a ride!

AJI! We could see Captain Morgans by now, but decided we needed a drink!

Lara in Aji threatening to sue Bowens as she cut her finger on the diet coke bottle - LOVE THE FACE!

Getting tispy

At Captain Morgans at last! 1.15pm and they have run out of BBQ! Ok, so we were REALLY slow

YEEEEEEEEHAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Jambo eating rubbish from the bin (yes, it's a bad habit but it's always fun watching the vet getting it out of his mouth)
Charlie is convinced there is BBQ

So, we sit on the beach at Cpt Morgans, drinking and chatting happily whilst the dogs played for hours - jumping off the seawall for coconuts

The sun is starting to get lower in the sky - it's time to go home

A big thanks to Cpt Morgans for taking us home (we were probably making their beach look scruffy!) and also thanks for making sure Jo didn't drive the boat back!

Forrest had sailed up to meet us there and to take some of us home on his Hobie "La Colombelle" - however, we realised that would make 8 adults and 4 dogs on a little boat and we would sink! We raced Forrest home and whilst Matt, Jo and I were sitting at Estel's having yet another drink, we saw Forrest go past!

Potlickers Molly and Wassu on the back of the golf cart

and me too - exhausted and happy

A month already?

2009-11-04T15:23:00.002-06:00

Hello mum, I can't believe it's been a month since I've written on this thingywotsit. So much has happened, SAGA fundraisers, house moves, parties, Halloween, new people arriving, old friends leaving and of course work gets squeezed somewhere in there!
All is great and I shall start blogging properly as soon as I unpack my camera (got to find the damn thing first) and start taking pictures again. Until then, please use my surrogate brain and photo taking website (OK OK so it's Laurie's shhhhhhhhhhh) www.tacogirl.com and she has some wicked piccies. I shall steal some of Halloween from Facebook too, as honestly, we had the best night we'd had in a long time - a serious blast!
Love you loads
xxxxxxxx

The Two Ronnies - classic British comedy from the '70's

2009-10-04T15:35:00.002-06:00

OK, there's loads of you out there that have no idea who the 2 Ronnies were - I grew up with these guys on TV as a kid. They were great. Ronnie Barker delivered this sketch live at top speed - he never flinched, never giggled and the BBC miraculously never received any complaints - his speed of delivery being just too fast.

This is the story of Rindercella and her sugly isters.

Rindercella and her sugly isters lived in a marge lansion. Rindercella worked very hard frubbing sloors, emptying poss pits, and shivelling shot.
At the end of the day, she was knucking fackered. The sugly isters were right bugly astards.. One was called Mary Hinge, and the other was called Betty Swallocks; they were really forrible huckers; they had fetty sweet and fatty swannies.
The sugly isters had tickets to go to the ball, but
the cotton runts would not let Rindercella go.
Suddenly there was a bucking fang, and her gairy fodmother appeared. Her name was Shairy Hithole and she was a light rucking fesbian. She turned a pumpkin and six mite wice into a hucking cuge farriage with six dandy ronkeys who had buge hollocks and dig bicks. The gairy fodmother told Rindercella to be back by dimnlight otherwise, there would be a cucking falamity.
At the ball, Rindercella was dancing with the prandsome hince when suddenly the clock struck twelve "Mist all chucking frighty!!!" said Rindercella, and she ran out tripping barse over ollocks, so dropping her slass glipper.
The very next day, the prandsome hince knocked
on Rindercella's door and the sugly isters let him in.. Suddenly, Betty Swallocks lifted her leg and let
off a fig bart. "Who's fust jarted?" asked the prandsome hince."Blame that fugly ucker over there!!" said Mary Hinge.
When the stinking brown cloud had lifted, he tried the slass glipper on both the sugly isters without success and their feet stucking funk.
Betty Swallocks was ducking fisgusted and gave the prandsome hince a knack in the kickers. This was not difficult as he had bucking fuge halls and
a hig bard on. He tried the slass glipper on Rindercella and it fitted pucking ferfectly.
Rindercella and the prandsome hince were married. The pransome hince lived his life in lucking fuxury, and Rindercella lived hers with a follen swanny!

I'm amazed at myself

2009-10-04T11:32:00.004-06:00

Today marks the 3 year anniversary of me giving up smoking!
Go me!
I love those cigarettes, yes indeed!

Peter bitched so much at me 3 years ago that I had to stop - all summer he fined me weekly, 5$ then 10, 20, 40, 80, 160.... you get the picture. This morning I reminded him that it had been 3 years - do I hear "congratulations", no, of course not, I hear "and you're still fat".
Thanks for the encouragement Peter!

P.S. my mother got married 44 years ago today at 4pm, but the car got a flat tyre, then the road was closed due to an accident and she nearly missed her wedding!

Calendar girls!

2009-10-04T11:20:00.003-06:00

Today is the launch of the calendar for the humane society - it features our friends in our community here in San Pedro with their pets. The calendar costs 20 Belize dollars and raises money for SAGA. Here is the fantastic picture Maya from Conch Creative took of Molly and I.
This is a great picture and I thank her tons (even though I got axed from the calendar - cough cough).

Just a joke - thanks to Big Jimmy

2009-09-30T14:56:00.003-06:00

Once upon a time lived a beautiful Queen with large breasts. Nick the Dragon Slayer obsessed over the Queen for this reason. He knew that the penalty for his desire would be death should he try to touch them, but he had to try. One day Nick revealed his secret desire to his colleague, Horatio the Physician, the King's chief doctor. Horatio thought about this and said that he could arrange for Nick to more than satisfy his desire, but it would cost him 1000 gold coins to arrange it. Without pause Nick readily agreed to the scheme.

The next day, Horatio made a batch of itching powder and poured a little bit into the Queen's bra while she bathed. Soon after she dressed, the itching commenced and grew intense. Upon being summoned to the Royal Chambers to address this incident, Horatio informed the King and Queen that only a special saliva, if applied for four hours, would cure this type of itch, and that tests had shown that only the saliva of Nick would work as the antidote to cure the itch..

The King, eager to help his Queen, quickly summoned Nick to their chambers. Horatio then slipped Nick the antidote for the itching powder, which he put into his mouth, and for the next four hours, Nick worked passionately on the Queen's large and magnificent breasts. The Queen's itching was eventually relieved, and Nick left satisfied and hailed as a hero. Upon returning to his chamber, Nick found Horatio demanding his payment of 1,000 gold coins. With his obsession now satisfied, Nick couldn't have cared less and, knowing that Horatio could never report this matter to the King, and with a laugh told him to get lost.

The next day, Horatio slipped a massive dose of the same itching powder into the King's underwear. The King immediately summoned Nick.

Charlie and sticky plasters

2009-09-29T17:06:00.003-06:00

Last week whilst Peter was away and it happened to be Independence day here in Belize (i.e. everything is closed) I noticed that Charlie's ears were being bitten by stable flies. These things are evil and draw blood, hence attracting more flies and more bites. I hunted high and low for the stable bite stuff to no avail. So, plan B - I covered her ears to protect them from more bites. Doesn't she look pretty with sticky plasters!!!! I just wish they were Disney ones!

Turneffe - 3-tank dive

2009-09-29T16:08:00.008-06:00

A huge thank you to Amigos del Mar - and to Gerlinda who was staying at Pedro's and convinced me that I too needed to go dive at Turneffe.
It's pretty much the same deal as going to the Blue Hole and I enjoyed the dives even more.
We went to Turneffe Elbow, the Zoo and Calabash Wall. I totally loved the Zoo, however, I didn't see any giraffes.

These 5 pics are borrowed from Gerlinda - thanks babe! Have fun travelling round the rest of Central America.

Ominous skyline

Trouble and Gerlinda
Calabash Caye

Lunch

Trouble
Mitch pretending to be a speed skater, or a sperm - not too sure which!

It was a totally awesome diving day and we can't thank Amigos del Mar enough - as always, their boys were superb. Thank you Changa!

Wade the Gringo, Tacogirl and the Little One

2009-09-29T15:40:00.005-06:00

How many birthdays can you get?
3 birthdays - 1 boat ride - yehaaaaaa. We had the best day's snorkeling EVER. We saw dolphins, eagle rays, sting rays, tarpon, jacks, starfish, gazillions of pretty reef fish - the whole nine yards!

Wade eating as usual

Beautiful sea
Sev driving the boat
Party hats!

Trying to use the Little One as bait but we didn't catch anything
Jack looking like a scary clown
OK, so it's his birthday and he's allowed to wear two hats
Birthday Tacogirl and Jack
Sev

1st annual Taste of Playa

2009-09-26T16:56:00.006-06:00

Well, despite the rumours, we went up to Playa to support the Taste of Playa mega event that the wonderful Michelle Kinnon organised.
You can see real and gorgeous pictures on the website http://www.tasteofplaya.com - on my blog, you can see what we really looked like.
We fried in the sun, stuffed our faces and drank far too much - I hit the wine stand like rocket! I doubt if that poor man will forget me.... anyway - it was brilliant, it was shiny, it was tasty and we LOVED IT!

Tacoboy - oh dear, it's still REAL early
Drinking in the sunshine - Phil and Marie
More drinking (notice the absence of food on the table....) JH and Peter
Sev on the other hand has most definitely found the food
Where did you get that hat, where did you get that hat? A most unfortunate picture
Another photo comp - beer for the funniest comment - what the hell is he talking about?
Unfortunately, as dusk happened in is when I started to lose control and got very very naughty. I can post no more pictures and can't tell you the stories on the blog. However, meet me and I'll tell you over a glass of wine! They are pretty funny!

We've skipped to the next night - where a very tired Rob and Michelle join us for Sushi down in Little Italy. I had my first soy beans - they're fab!
Sev and Trouble loving those frogs
Sushi mmmmmm
Sev and Trouble hating those frogs
Oh dear, the night is starting to go wrong - JH has found a donkey and is just so very pleased with himself
Yep
and Yep
Off to the Mescal bar (where I drank water - si si! I was driving the next day....), right opposite OM (where I got thrown out of 2 nights previous, si si, I was not driving the next day....)

Monday morning, Phil is stressed out, I'm driving the van back. We load up, minus JH, Trouble, Sev, Mitch and Pedro. Two tired Tacos, two tired Geckos and myself toodle back to Belize. I drove until 80km before Chetumal and handed the wheel to Phil - aka the worst passenger ever.
We landed on the island and were greeted by Colette and Maya screaming "welcome home" over the fence as they drove past.
Tropic has put in this lovely new terminal, you'd think they could have made a better sign to meet n greet!
Bloody good trip - you know you've enjoyed yourself when your friends vote you "most likely to get arrested". I'm so proud.

Off we go to Mexico

2009-09-26T16:35:00.005-06:00

What a sleepy bunch. It's Friday 8.30 a.m. and we're all faffing about at the new Tropic Air terminal. Marie is ready for her trip with a very large hat.
We flew to Corozal and then jumped into Henry's van thinking "this is a bit of alright", then Henry dropped us at our van and the exhaust pipe fell off.
Bits of string and duct tape were key ingredients to our road trip!

Going through Mexican Immigration - si si senor, para vacaciones....
A lorry full of peeing pigs - ewwww. Bacon hmmmmm!
After 4 hours of Peter driving (us mad) and sampling all the motorway shop beer we finally made it to Playa del Carmen - we all stayed at the Colibri - first things first - more beer! lunch and phone a friend....
Tacos
A lovely picture of Phil
The body of Adonis - aka Peter
Trouble
OK - post a comment, funniest one gets a free beer! I wonder what Rob was talking about?
Aha, it seems a little darker - we have moved to the Dirty Martini bar - this is when things all started to get fuzzy
Sev looking fuzzy already
JH having his nipple tweaked, obviously not overly impressed
Yep, we've definitely been drinking for quite a while now. As far as I can remember, it was a 72-hour super binge.
Watch out Playa, we came, we saw, we drank! Is that a Julius Caesar quote? if not, it should be.

Hot dog

2009-09-26T16:24:00.003-06:00

OK, so it was a really stinking hot day in September here on the island. I'm running errands and I go to the Alliance bank on Front Street - before I can fully stop the cart, Molly has thrown herself off and legged it to the beach. She did something I had never seen before and just sat down in the sea. Would not budge for nearly 15 minutes. Now that's a hot dog.

Hold the mustard!

Crab claws anyone?

2009-09-21T15:15:00.003-06:00

ooooops!
Trouble and the Little One were with me on the golf cart, off we go to Caribbean Villas to play at the beach with Molly. On our way down the beautiful little lane, Molly spots a very large crab and leaps off the cart.
We stop the cart and she's got the damn thing cornered by the back wheel. She's running round and round the cart barking - the crab, being pretty smart, decides to climb up the wheel and hide in a nook. We're stuck in the middle of the lane, all of us on all fours trying to get the crab out as we don't want to squash it by driving.
The Little One comes up with a great idea of trying to dislodge it with his flip-flop. The crab grabs hold of this so hard that when he pulls his flip-flop out, he's also got the crab's claw! oooops. Sorry Mr Crab.

Frog

2009-09-01T16:36:00.004-06:00

Frog in a boat!

He hopped on board for a ride - hahahahahahaha, sorry.

Spot the soppy tart

2009-09-01T15:13:00.004-06:00

OK, so which one is the soppy tart?

This is Heidi, she's doing a lot of work with SAGA Humane Society (where we got the furries from) and poor her, one of her main duties at the moment is dog walking. The dogs that are waiting for adoption in Fort Dog (aka the pound) need some exercise. ANYBODY out there on the island, even if you're only here for a few days, you can go to SAGA and walk the dogs - it helps out a huge amount, so does spare cash!

So I thought, who do I know that likes dogs and has nothing to do all day?
Trouble! He's now pounding the beaches on San Pedro being dragged along by 3 dogs at a time.

Remember this one? This is Suzy! Skipper's sister.
Trouble with Suzy, Britney, Brushy and Boots (I think).

Come on guys, get out there and walk some dogs!

Do you want to be in my gang?

2009-09-01T15:04:00.004-06:00

We needed them and here they are! We now have a fleet (ok 7) bikes at Pedro's Inn for the guests to hire. They are pink and girly and Walter looks lovely on them! He assembled each one with TLC then test drove it round - he looked stunning on the pink ladies beach cruisers!

He's too sexy for his cruiser

Paul, just because I can - what a face! (please don't kill me for this picture)
The new bike rack outside my office that the boys made

Ozzy Osbourne

2009-09-01T14:52:00.004-06:00

My neighbour from downstairs came to me at about 7pm one night asking if I could look after a kitten for the night. I thought hard about Basil getting his nose out of joint, I thought hard about Molly eating and/or shaking the kitten to death. And thought "no". Then I saw it and said "of course I will". He (now found out she's a she) was tiny, about 3 weeks old - my neighbour found her by the school and decided he couldn't leave her there. He's allergic to cats (he sneezed for hours) and his Mrs doesn't particularly like them, plus they have a very boisterous new puppy and a 3-year old....
Ozzy Osbourne I named her as she was very very loud and rather wobbly on her legs. I went to see her today at SAGA, she has been named Carly and needs a home. She has lovely stripey legs and a spotty tummy and is oh so ever so slightly cross-eyed!
Sitting in her dinner

Basil not very impressed at allShe didn't even fill my hand!

The banana fairy

2009-09-01T12:48:00.002-06:00

Three times in the past month I have got home to find that the banana fairy has visited everyone at the Hacienda where I live.
How cool is that? We all get a bunch of bananas from the garden given to us when they ripen!

Random pictures from Milwaukee

2009-08-31T17:13:00.005-06:00

View from the hotel room - a big square thing
Brown river, no idea which one
Tall building
A bus - I was so excited (sad isn't it?)
Now here is where it gets good - Mo's Irish Pub, mmmmmmmmm Guinness

Oh yes
Sausages are apparently very important in MKE
Yehaw - says it all
A thing for cars
Trouble
Why don't the buses have to turn right?
Do you moo? What on earth? What are these people like?
A sign I just don't understand
A sign I do understand

And for you Brits out there, this sign made me stop dead in my tracks in the Mall, giggle and get my camera out. Only in the USA can you get tossed your way.

Flying over Houston to see Trouble in Milwaukee

2009-08-31T16:57:00.005-06:00

I know, it's a load of pictures of Houston from the plane! But I was so excited! This was so very last minute - I ended up sitting next to Dave on the plane, which was fun.
This is Dave pretending not to see me play with my camera

He can't avoid me any longer
Doesn't it look like England?

I thought this was a Smurf village

A bloody big road!
Me on the monorail changing terminal
Rain! Yuk! Quick, whisk me to the Presidents Club

New head please

2009-08-31T12:37:00.001-06:00

I have had a migraine for nearly a week. Yuk yuk yuk. Shall start posting again when someone gives me a new brain. No bad jokes please!

I just had to go see a game

2009-08-15T13:09:00.005-06:00

OK, most of you now know that I dashed up to Milwaukee to see Jeff ever so quickly.
I ended up at a Brewers game due to accidental Guinness drinking in Mo's Irish pub!
I have never been to a baseball game, it's actually not that interesting, a bit like rounders - but being in the Stadium yelling abuse and drinking Margaritas in pint mugs was right up my street! I loved it and had a great time.
Jeff and I in front of some bronzed up player at the Stadium in Milwaukee.

This is Aaron, the guy we started talking to in Mo's pub - the famous line "my buddy's got spare tickets" and we're off in the Mo's Irish Pub free bus to the stadium, with pints of beer! How excellent is that? We caught the Ouzo bus home!!!! Obviously a Greek bar in town!
I've got a flippin' baseball cap on! It has a big M on it for Margaritas (or is it Milwaukee? Can't remember)
Crazy dudes we went with, Jeremy and Aaron.
Whatever all that crap on the board means - I know we lost. that's why there are lots of zeros where it says Brewers. A yellow cab!!!! It was about 1am and we'd been out for more drinks with the guys after the game (do I remember shots? vaguely....) I was soooooooo excited about this yellow cab, I had to take a photo. The cab driver wasn't so keen! Thought I was a nutter.

A bit of weather

2009-08-15T13:06:00.003-06:00

OK, so far we've had nothing, but the past 5 days the weather has been going nuts out there. Mum, keep track on the www.noaa.com "tropical update" bit, of course I'll phone you if anything looks nasty. It's like buses, you wait for ages and then they all turn up at the same time.

Sign of the times

2009-08-05T22:50:00.002-06:00

I'll buy a beer to the first person that tells me where this sign is
You know you've seen it!

La Ceiba

2009-08-05T22:46:00.004-06:00

My next adventure was trying to leave Honduras. Whilst we were in Utila, the Port Captain was consistently absent meaning that we could not clear in. Basically, I never arrived in Honduras, so if you don't arrive, you can't leave.
I already missed my first flight back to Belize due to this, and the second day I just had to go for it and pray the boys could find Mr Ramon PC!

So on Tuesday I took the ferry from Utila to La Ceiba - people throwing up all around me. My sea legs came back as I hunkered down for the 90 minute ride reading my book with passion and blasting my Ipod to max to drown out the "Raaaaaaaaaaalf" sounds all around me! Grabbed a cab and went directly to immigration to explain my situation. It was 3.40 and they close at 4. A huge thank you to Amanda at Immigration who really did try to help me - but her final conclusion was without something official from Utila's port captain, I was going to spend more time in La Ceiba!

Pigs
Nobody apart from me seems to have noticed a cart full of pigs!

The Ceiba
This one is for Sylvain - you know why!
So, after asking Amanda what to do now, I headed for the Mega Mall - bought a phone and headed for Applebees to start up an HQ.
Bought myself some drinks
Had some breakfast (rather hungover from the night before, breakfast was at 5pm) and started the phone calls. First to Peter who was on the boat alone, Mike was on shore with the dinghy. I managed to get hold on the Port Captains mobile phone number (thank you again Amanda "la guapa" who used her wily ways to get the number from some other bloke in San Pedro Sula!). I called him and he told me that he hadn't been to the office in a few days. We'd noticed. I explained in my best Spanish the situation, and he said he would meet the boys that night to clear them in. Phone Peter to tell him. Phone JH to get him to walk to the other end of the island to find Mike, to tell him to go back to the boat. Eventually, I get a phone call back saying that the Port Captain had done the papers and he could fax them. So he faxed them to some rather confused staff at Applebees. I have now legally entered the country so I can leave! I'm so happy and relieved that I hit the Carrion shopping store, I now have shoes, bikinis, skirts and hair scrunchies galore. Thank goodness for Visa cards.
I check into an ok hotel and try to sleep - noooooooo such luck. Anyway, at 4.30am I get a taxi to the airstrip, fly TACA to San Pedro Sula. Of course, I'm a total muppet and get my tweezers and pepper spray removed from my handbag with a questioning look from airport security. I think "Ooops" was my answer. Just before my 9am flight to Belize City, an official comes over and talks to me about my paperwork, takes my passport away and disappears. I think I'm doomed but then I get personally ushered to the plane and given back my passport! YAY!
La Ceiba airport

Anyway, I finally get back to Belize City - greeted by Wade the Gringo!
Get to San Pedro, greeted by "about bloody time and where's my present?" - Pedro was waiting for me to take me STRAIGHT to work - lol, no rest for the wicked.
BLOODY GREAT TRIP - THANKS ALL XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Beer beer beer

2009-08-05T22:41:00.005-06:00

Sunday, the day after Sunjam - more beer

Dinghy - our noble steed to get from the boat to more beer
(for some reason, they never let me steer claiming that trying to learn how to steer a boat in the dark when drunk was not sensible)
Babablu bar - made out of sticks and fairy lights - my kind of place
Sunset view from Babalu
Aching feet from zombie dancing for hours
Life Guard Beer
Run out of fags - need to go to boat to get more
Starfish at Babalu

Serious conversation faces - and lots of beer
Now that's what we call a bell!
I tried to ring it hard enough that you could hear it at Pedros
Beer sign
Imperial beer
Beer beer beer
mmmmmmmmmm beer - I'm off for a Lighthouse - see you later

SunJam Utila 2009 - 13th edition

2009-08-05T22:39:00.002-06:00

So, the Sunjam is basically a rave - most of the kids that were there were being born when I was at the first raves as a teenager! I hid behind my sunglasses all night.

I left the boys after having had dinner at Babalu, insisting that I would be fine and would find my way back to the boat. The plan of action was that if I couldn't find JH I would find them in one of three bars or be back in the wee hours of the morning. Either way, I assured them I would be just fine.

They looked like a pair of Dads and then agreed that I was old enough to look after myself.

Walked down to the other end of the island and found the entrance, paid my 40USD to get in, got given a pretty green bracelet. Electronic music is blaring out and the video screens have got my attention. I order a beer at the bar and start hunting down JH. I did a full circuit. No JH. No problem, I knew this was a possibility. I'm just about to go back to the bar to get another beer and there he is! Little one! He looks at me with a puzzled look on his face then he realises it's me. YAY PARTAAAAAAAAAY. 10 hours of drunken zombie dancing later and little one has to go home. I managed to out-party a 23-year old by 90 minutes. I'm still proud of myself lol.

Next thing, it's 8am, the sun is in the sky and the Twice as Nice is in the middle of the harbour. I stagger (yes, lots of Cuba Libre does that) to Altons dive center and ask if I can hitch a ride on the next dive boat to the Cat - they deem I'm too inebriated to be on the boat. Bugger. Walking around and some young bad boys are hanging out, they heckle me with the "hey lady, where you goin'?" and I answer "um, trying to get to that boat out there" - one of the bad boys calls his grandad and asks him to take me to the boat. When did bad boys become gentlemen? Anyway, a huge thank you to Cpt Hal for taking a silly drunk girl back to a boat. I woke Peter up by talking/giggling. The boys waited up for me til 4.30am and were also rather pickled.
I swam (not yet poo thirty) and swam trying to sober up, but I fell asleep at the bow and got super sunburn - with my hand on my stomach - so I now have an interesting handprint on my tummy, a little like the Cosquer caves!
A rather hungover little one - we slept a few hours and continued the beer onslaught.
Looking wistful? Enigmatic? No just a bloody big hangover, no sleep and mystery Utila flu virus. BTW, your Mummy is wondering if you have swine flu....

What a great night. Felt like I was 17 again.

Round and about in town

2009-08-05T22:26:00.009-06:00

Ok, so it looks like Caye Caulker but with a road.

A pirate in a bed floating around? What the F?
Out diving with the little one (he's behind me)

Little one in an official capacity - sorting out gear at Utila Dive Center

SURPRISE! OK, so I went down to surprise JH, I knew he was doing the end of his DiveMaster course at UDC, so after our epic bumpy journey, we clean up and walk straight to the dive shop so I can yell "surprise" at him. JH isn't there. BUT my ex Paul is. SURPRISE!!!! I don't know whose surprised face was best, mine or his. Looking back it's very funny though. Paul is doing videography for UDC. At some stage on the boat I did say to Tweedeldum and Tweedeldee that I bet the first person I would see on the island would be Paul and I was right. Funny indeed. Anyway, no JH and that night is the SunJam music festival - see next post!

This is Joti - JH's girly

Brian from Babalu

If anyone (not those that were with me of course) can tell me what this is a picture of - I'll buy you a drink!

Watch out - it's poo thirty!

2009-08-05T22:24:00.004-06:00

I have discovered that men on boats talk constantly about poo. Poo jokes galore. You could be talking about existentialism and the subject of poo would turn up. One of the things I learnt is that when you jump off the boat in the morning to take a wake-up swim make sure it's not "poo thirty" - you really don't want to be swimming around when somebody flushes. Conversations along the lines of: I'm going to see if that green curry is still green.... YUK!

This is the face of a man who has just realised that it's that time of day. HAHAHAHAHA.

David, Peter's grandson, was in charge of the bucket (pronounced booket) and sponge jobs on the last trip - him being away meant that Peter was in charge of removing slimy water from the little thingies where you store stuff. This is him stuck in one of those little thingies.

David was known as "Bucket Boy" (sick jokes about cabin boys and buckets of chicken fat there too) but I earnt the name of "toasty girl" as my one and only useful contribution to the whole trip was making toast. It took me a while to understand how to make toast on a boat, as it involves a metal mesh contraption on a gas stove. I looked like a duck that had been given a bicycle for Christmas. Confusion reigns.

We'll be fine once we've past The Cut

2009-08-05T19:26:00.012-06:00

So basically, I thought I was going on a nice easy sail - the boys said approx 27 hours to get there, no probs. It was one of the scariest nights of my life, I spent a lot of time in the foetal position hoping to get there intact. It was rough, things broke and it sounded like the boat was going to split in two. We made it safe and sound. If you want the longer "Dickens" blah blah blah version of this little sailing trip, go past the photos

My backpack waiting to go on its next adventure
The arrival of the Twice as Nice
Captain Peter, looking slightly tired but very official nonetheless
Mike not catching fish - that's what happens when you tie your knots after having consumed vast quantities of rum
Doing officially boaty stuff
Me - still unaware of impending doom
Surfing dolphins - were they trying to warn us?
Choppy sea
More dolphins - I obviously misunderstood their cries of "don't go, these two blokes are nutters"
Setting sun - sea still only slightly choppy - all day it's been about 20ish knots
Unable to pee let alone take photos during the scary bit - here are the boys when all is said and done - happy to be alive. Wet but OK
Mike wiped out
Dry and tired Peter - arriving in Utila
Some flavour of pie hill - Pumpkin hill? Blueberry hill? Cherry hill?
That's mainland Honduras in the distance - La Ceiba to be precise
Mike playing with rope - we told him about doing that before - THINGS BREAK!
Mike admiring the view and scratching his bum
Me in shock
Me in shock and happy
Bay of Utila

Looking for somewhere to park - no multi-story boat parks here
La Ceiba in the distance

Safe and sound

And here's the bloody long boring blah blah blah version.

I apologise now for not knowing the right terms about boats - if I make a mistake about describing something or give it the wrong name - bite me.

I stand on the end of the pier full of excitement, I can see the Twice As Nice in the distance coming towards me to pick me up. It's a little choppy - the boys have a little trouble getting close to me.
A dolphin is two feet away from me - I'm completely ecstatic. Mike holds his hand out for me to grab and I jump aboard. It's pretty rough on board but Peter assures me that once we've past the Cut we'll be plain sailing for the rest of the trip - no types of weather anywhere to be found - it's been checked and double checked. He even phoned Graham so that he could keep an eye out too (remind me to slap Graham when he gets back).
For some reason, I have pretty good "sea legs" I just have a tendency to lose my balance once I'm back on land. Just as the sun is starting to go down, we see a really big pod of dolphins, they are surfing and playing round the boat, I'm so happy I completely forget how bumpy the ride is. The day turned to night, the movement of 'lurch left, lurch right, up, down, smash' became normal. Mike made us sandwiches - I ended up wearing mine. All is pretty good, we've had a couple of beers. So far I cannot go inside the boat for longer than 3 minutes without feeling queasy (thanks again Mike for feeding me every couple of hours) so I'm outside all trip, until I finally give in and try to lie down round the centre table - this works OK and I fall asleep. Mike and I are trying to sleep for little stretches of time. I am of course of no use on a boat as I have no idea what is what and how anything works. Peter and I sit up for 4 hours before the moon sets and he explains the instruments, auto-pilot, GPS system etc to me - the moon is out and everything seems pretty OK. Still bumpy though - around 20-24 knots of wind.
The moon sets, not a cloud in the sky, I can see stars and even though there is quite a strong wind, everything seems ok. I go back to lie down and sleep some more. I wake up to chaos. I cannot help the boys. I'm scared. I hide under my airline blanket listening to everything going on outside.
Here is our scenario - we're about 25 miles away from Utila - it's about 3'sh in the morning and Peter has been sailing non-stop for 22 hours. The rubber bump strip that goes round the whole boat came lose during the day - we thought we'd sorted that out but obviously not.
The heavens open, thunder, lightning, driving rain, 40 knot gusts of wind and something is blocking the propeller. Then lightning wipes out the electronics - no more GPS or auto-pilot and cannot get the engine to move due to the strangled propeller, we are going round in circles and the boys are trying to remove whatever is round the propeller. They are getting drenched and Mike is so cold he can no longer feel his hands and his teeth are chattering.
Panic, panic, panic (that's me) - the boys are just dealing with everything and I'm in the foetal position on the sofa.
Having decided with no instruments or motor the best thing to do is stay where we are until first light - which we guess is about 45 minutes away. I black out again. They cut the huge white thing off the propeller that turned out to be the huge black rubber bump strip - steered out of the storm, the instruments came back - we are still alive and on the boat. At this time, I didn't think we'd be either - I know I'm being melodramatic, but remember, it's my first boat trip! I black out again, this time I wake up and Peter is asleep on the next part of the sofa, just this makes me feel that all is safe as he refused to leave the wheel at all for over 24 hours as the sea was so rough.
It's still raining and we' re approaching Utila. I can see it. LAND! I'm so very very happy.
Enough of dramatics, we arrive in the little bay of Utilla, have a beer, clean ourselves up and head to shore in the dinghy for some well deserved breakfast. and lots and lots of beer. that's when the real surprises started :-)

Want to come sailing?

2009-08-05T18:56:00.002-06:00

So it's Sunday, my day off and I'm drinking beer with my friends at Crazy Canuks on the beach. I see Peter from Caribbean Villas, meet his friend Mike and then Peter says "I'm sailing to Utila on Friday, want to come?"
Such an innocent little question that led to so much fun!
I immediately said yes, not thinking through the whole plan, such as "who will do my job for me" and "who will look after my pets". Problems looked after on the spot by Pedro and the Tacos. OK, so I'm all fit to go. I pack up my little green backpack, kiss Molly and Basil goodbye and sidle up to the dock on Friday morning, 6.30am ready for my first ever sailing trip. And from that point on is when everything went pants.

A very important work meeting in Caye Caulker

2009-07-28T17:34:00.002-06:00

Peter and I seem to have very important things to do - I have since found exactly what all the “very important meetings” means exactly - Peter has been having these “meetings” since I’ve known him. Being now his official Girl Friday, I had to go on one of these meetings.

Here we are, happy on the golf cart to get the boat

Charlie on the backseat - she loves going for a spin

Here is the boat

How do you drive it?

Adonis eat your heart out - Captain Pedro made me weak at the knees (bwahahahahaha)

First Mate Charlie

I was complaining that there were no dolphins - as if on cue - one popped up and played

Caye Caulker in the background

Charlie getting ready to bully dogs on a different Caye

Still one of my favourite boats

I tied it to a log! Captain P was not impressed

Lazy Lizard bar at the split

Swimming at the split and the collapsed seawall

Caye Caulker - all hustle and bustle

Doing very important “meeting” things - now I’ve busted him….”meeting” means eating and drinking….

Ouch - look at that sky, time to leave the island and get back to San Pedro before we get soaked

Being followed by a big grey cloud all the way home

A happy Girl Friday

I promised to not put the photos up concerning lack of mooring skills or make any reference to said lack of skills - oops - sorry

We had no idea how to get Charlie out of the very low boat and onto the very high dock - so Captain Pedro just threw her in the sea

Charlie walking back to the beach

And a good afternoon was had by all, we got back to the office slightly tipsy and slightly sunburnt - that’s always the sign of a good meeting!

Bunch of rubbish

2009-07-25T15:08:00.002-06:00

OK - so I read this silly stuff on one of my oooold friend's sites and thought, wow, that was really intersting. Unfortunately, mine is isn't, but here it is anyway!

1. Last beverage- water

2. Last phone call- vegetable lady in Belize City

3.Last text message-Paul and Laurie

4. Last song you listened to- Some old 50's song, radio at Estel's

5. Last time you cried- Monday when I had to put down Pooly dog

HAVE YOU EVER:

6. Dated someone twice- unfortunately, yes (I never learn)

7. Been cheated on-yes

8. Kissed someone & regretted it- yep

9. Lost someone special-yes

10. Been depressed-yes

11. Been drunk- yes

LIST THREE FAVORITE COLORS:..

12. Red

13. Black

14. Blue

THIS YEAR HAVE YOU: 2009

15. Made new friends- yes

16. Fallen out of love-I suppose yes (got dumped)

17. Laughed until you cried- yes, last night - I have discovered the IT crowd.

18. Met someone who changed you- yes

19. Found out who your true friends were- it's been reconfirmed

20. Found out someone was talking about you- everyone is talking about everyone on this island - not that it really affects me - but I do love it when it's positive

21. Kissed anyone on your friend's list- not sure what to answer, weird question. If it's have you snogged one of your mates, then yes (same again, I never learn)

23. How many kids do you want to have- I need a father for them first

24. Do you have any. pets- Molly and Basil - I will end up a crazy cat lady (see previous question!)

25. Do you want to change your name-I dislike one of my middle names, but not enough to change it

26. What did you do for your last birthday- spent the day on a catamaran with a bunch of friends, floating round the Caribbean drinking and snorkeling

27. What time did you wake up today- 8.45

28. What were you doing at midnight last night - working at the bar

29. Name something you CANNOT wait for- Molly's leg to be fixed

30. Last time you saw your father- saw my stepdad about 6 years ago

31. What is one thing you wish you could change about your life- less pain

32. What are you listening to right now- the whirr of the Coca-Cola fridge in my office and bottles clinking from beer delivery

33. Have you ever talked to a person named Tom- sure-several of them

34. What's getting on your nerves right now- one of the guests

36. What’s your real name- Cindy Solange Estelle Vigna

37. Relationship Status- I like someone a lot

38. Zodiac sign- Virgo

39. Male or female-female

40. Elementary-my dear Watson

41. Middle School- St Pauls CofE

42. High school- make that Secondary school: The Aschombe

43. Hair color- sort of various bits of brown, red, orange - whatever happens to brown hair when you live in the sun

44. Long or short- long-ish

45. Height-5' 2"

46. Do you have a crush on someone- of course

47. What do you like about yourself- I get knocked down but I get up again ain't nothing gonna keep me down - whatever the words are to the very annoying song.

48. Piercing-ears - yep, closed up though

49. Tattoos- ewwwwwwwwww pain

50. Righty or lefty- righty

FIRSTS:

51. First surgery- 1976-

52. First piercing- ears, 1987

53. First tattoo- never

54. First best friend- Tracy Bowyer, circa 1976

55. First sport you joined- does dancing count?

56. First pet-MewMew (real name Yorky)

57. First vacation- no idea, first one that really stands out is west coast to east coast USA road trip I think 1979

58. First concert- U2 or The Damned

59. First crush- Ed Stones

60. First alcohol drink- in vitro

RIGHT NOW:

61. Eating- nothing

62.Drinking- Illegal Mexican beer left by a guest!

63. I'm about to- jump in the pool

64. Listening to- people in pool

65. Waiting for- someone to surprise me

YOUR FUTURE :

66. Want kids- if it happens it happens, if not, I'll have 43 cats

67. Want to get married- not sure if I can be bothered to go through all that - I like the commitment from someone bit, not sure if marriage is necessary

68. future career- never had one of those!

WHICH IS BETTER WITH THE OPPOSITE SEX?

69. First thing you notice- general all over

70. Hugs or kisses- both, I'm demanding

71. Shorter or taller- doesn't matter - although, I'd be pressed to find someone shorter than me (that is of legal age!!)

72. Older or Younger- not fussed really, as long as it's not a huge age gap

73. Romantic or spontaneous- spontaneous

74. Nice smile or nice eyes- both

75. Tattoos or piercings- nope don't like either - sorry dude if you're reading this, I don't mean YOU of course (cough cough)

76. Sensitive or loud- loud to make me appear quieter

77. Hook-up or relationship- one usually leads to the other

HAVE YOU EVER :

79. Kissed a stranger- yes

80. Drank hard liquor- yes

81. Lost glasses/contacts- sunglasses

82. Sex on first date- uh yes

83. Broken someone's heart- yes - but I didn't mean to!

84. Had your own heart broken- yes

85. Been arrested- unbelievable but no - have always talked my way out of it

86. Turned someone down- yes

87. Cried when someone died- yes

88. Liked a friend that is a guy- yep

DO YOU BELIEVE IN:

89. Yourself- most of the time

90. Miracles- yes

91. Love at first sight- yes

92. Heaven- as a metaphor yes

93. Santa Claus- YES!

94. Kissing on the first date- lol no! (nobody will believe me)

ANSWER TRUTHFULLY:

96. Is there one person you want to be with right now- yes

97. Had more than one boyfriend/girlfriend at one time- yes

98. Do you believe its possible to remain faithful forever- no

99. What's the one thing you cannot live without- love

100. Ever wished you could rewind time- yes but no-I love everything, even all the bad shit

Bored? Yeah, me too - off to the pool

When Swine flu takes on a whole new dimension

2009-07-22T12:49:00.003-06:00

OK, so we've all heard of it, there have even been 5 reported cases on the Belizean mainland - but things take a sad turn the day your child decides that piglet needs to "get it" to protect the rest of the friends at Pooh Corner.

Thanks to Sylvain for sending me this great picture!

Fake wedding

2009-07-22T12:07:00.002-06:00

OK, it stemmed from bored people mixed with rum and a Facebook hijack gone waaaay too far!

I have quite simply stolen the whole blog post from Laurie - the original post is on www.tacogirl.com - this is for my mum as I know she only checks mine. Doesn't Molly look pretty in pink!

Down the road

Around the bend

Off to Cindy and Jeff’s wedding at Pedro’s

Mitch helping Cindy get ready

Paul and Jeff the happy groom

Cindy and Molly

Molly and Cindy waiting for the ceremony to start

Pedro and Paul

Jack giving away the bride

Let the ceremony begin

Pedro did a fine job marrying Cindy and Jeff

He put a big rock on her finger - she put her flowers in his face

You may kiss the bride

Thumbs up from Jack - the deal is sealed

Get ready girls - photo by tacoboy

Nice catch - photo by tacoboy

Look honey I caught the bouquet

Pedro toasted Cindy and Jeff with a ring of the bell

Mitch Pedro Paul and Jack

Charlie wearing a message written in non toxic paint… Jeff

Heart Cindy

Now there’s a frame worthy wedding picture

There was poker - pizza and DandE’s frozen custard afterward

Ring from Sowders fine Jewelery

The bride wore pink and so did the groom (oh dear, be afraid, be very afraid)

What`s going on?

2009-07-16T22:08:00.002-06:00

So it`s been 5 months since Paul left me and life has been moving very fast. Things are good, really they are - after picking up the pieces after having a broken heart I`m actually very very happy.
I have my own place (with swimming pool), the pets are chilled out (Tacos live downstairs - so timeshare pets), I`m enjoying my job much more than I could ever imagine (shock horror - probably because I can drink beer in the pool) and of course there`s the whole John-Henry and Jeff combo - it`s a little like having Laurel and Hardy living with you but worse - these two speak much more!

Little John-Henry is currently in Honduras (of course he would leave here a week after a coup there, what a numpty) finishing up his Dive Master course and Jeff has returned to his fatherland to sign some papers - who knows when either will return? Ok so the house is quiet without them but by Jove! is it that much cleaner!

Paul kindly left me the external hard drive which had nearly 5 years of pictures and videos on it, even though it was near death, I got a new terabite hard drive and Alex from Caye Connect transferred all the data from the old one to the new one - which now that I`m without the boys, I`m looking through - hence the pictures of Molly and Basil when they were small - I started the blog when the pets were nearly 2.

So, just to warn you all, you might be seeing 2 years of old pictures coming up on the blog - TIMEWARP! I promise I will write in the title that it`s old stuff!

Thank you all for your patience, life has been really hectic! You can always catch up with me on Facebook too - I usually update that piece of c**p daily!
Mum: thanks for being my mum xxxxxxxx

When we were small by Molly and Basil

2009-07-16T21:21:00.006-06:00

This is the day I got taken home from Saga by the giggling people, a snapshot taken just be Pedro`s Inn Thank goodness I grew into my ears My mum put a step up to the deck because I was so small I couldn`t jump up the six inches This is Basil my cat and I sharing a cushion
Mum put her foot in the picture so we can all see how big we are
Basil and I looking out the screen door - we`re not allowed in the garden yet, but the giggling people soon let us play there
Asleep next to mum
Next to Basil in his shoe box
Basil killing Paul`s arm
Psycho killing kitten
See his tail? That`s before the racoons got it and Vet Heather had to amputate half of it
Sparko
Teasing me when I`m asleep - no fair!
Remember puppies and kitties out there - smoking is bad for you
The beginning of my relationship with chewy sticks
Getting a bit bigger and at the beach - yeah! Did you know there are coconuts on the beach? I love coconuts!
Kisses xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Going through a Jazz phase

2009-07-16T20:51:00.002-06:00

Just so that you all remember that Molly is not only a wonderdog, she`s also pretty cool.
She is going through a Jazz phase at the moment, listening to a lot of Coltrane etc....

Blue Hole dive with Amigos del Mar

2009-06-13T11:37:00.014-06:00

And the day starts with JH slightly hungover - it's 4.45 a.m. and I am trying to herd cats Here is the view from my balcony at 5a.m.
Waiting to head out - breakfast on board JH continues doing what he knows best This is Ian, a guest at Pedro's Hotel - it's thanks to him that we will be seeing underwater photos - THANKS IAN!After just over 2 hours of boat ride (just about everyone snoozed at some stage) we arrive at the Blue Hole - all of us have been picking at the breakfast table on board constantly!Everyone getting ready to dive - I still couldn't believe how organised the boat was - not bad seeing as there were 25 sleepy but excited divers on board. Mike here did a great job. It's not easy when 20 or so people are asking "where are my fins" at the same time!

Yep, real sharks with big teeth - we saw Caribbean Reef Sharks and Bull Sharks. My favourite quote comes from Alice "I was bricking it" - all you brits out there know what that means!

Me!

On Half Moon Caye after our second dive at Half Moon Wall
This is where we stopped to have a great lunch, explore the island and the bird santuary

Yep, I have something to say about the Booby birds....

Here we see the birds - walking through the forest to the santuary resembled a chicken coop to the nose! and then one of the *@#!? birds pooed on my arm!

It even rained a little as we were leaving the island, very refreshing

The third dive at the Aquarium is complete - time for Panti Rippas...
Mike definitely not a light handed rum pourer!

OK - so I fell asleep on the ride home - who wouldn't after that rum! Thanks to everyone in the boat who thought it was really funny to surround me in shoes. They were just about to start surrounding me in regs and BCDS when I woke up
JH was grinning like a Chesire Cat - for once it wasn't him having silly pictures taken of him asleep in public places!
I would like to say a HUUUUUGE thank you to everyone at Amigos del Mar - their boat, staff and equipment were excellent. The guys knew their stuff, were professional and lots of fun too.
A great day out.
P.S. Thanks to the Dolphins for coming to see us on the way there!

No Tsunamis please

2009-05-28T05:15:00.002-06:00

Well, about an hour ago they put Belize, Honduras, Guatemala on Tsunami watch which they have now lifted. I got a phone call from Chris telling me about the watch and to get to high ground. Got dressed, rounded up pets, passport & "run" money then woke up JH who just thought he was really late for work.
Was just about to go upstairs when the watch got lifted, so I phoned JimJam and Jamilla to double check. They gave me the all clear.
So mum and Jan (JH's mum): we're fine and we're going back to bed. Oh, JH beat me to it, he's already asleep. Obviously the threat of impending doom and natural disaster was small in his mind!

Did the earth move for you?

2009-05-28T02:53:00.006-06:00

We've just had an earthquake.
It's 2.30 am and Chiapas Mexico got hit with a 4.9 and Honduras with a 7.1.
The wardrobe bashing against the wall and the barking dogs is what woke me up.
I just stood there like an idiot for about 25 seconds looking at the wardrobe hit the wall, trying to make sure I wasn't either drunk or hallucinating.
Grabbed a jacket and went to check on John-Henry when it all stopped. Of course, JH didn't wake up!
Basil is now being super cuddly, constantly miaowing and I can't get him off me. Molly was barking at the furniture whilst hiding behind me.
Here is a link to the Mexican quake.
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/Quakes/us2009head.php?_id=ZGiW9ihA3BGg_7MJ6kjTQA

and the Honduran one
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/Quakes/us2009heak.html#summary

I filled out the "Did you feel it" questionnaire on the earthquake website.
Other people I know who felt it here (who are also addicted to Facebook) Lara, Dorian, Dan and a couple of others - we all had the same reaction, get on the computer to make sure we wern't the only ones who felt it!
My guess is we felt the Honduran one.
Dan made a good point, the power didn't go out for an earthquake but it did for a golf cart crash!
Good night all.

Double Whammy - Happy Birthday Paul and Jeff

2009-04-25T21:23:00.010-06:00

Well for a pair of birthday boys some smart arse decided to organise a SUNRISE cruise. Yep folks, that means be at the dock at 4.30 am on a Saturday morning. Are you kidding me?
2 birthday boys and 8 valiant friends made it there - some already drunk and some joining them very quickly.
Elito the Captain was completely fab, can't say enough good about him.
We had a blast and I must admit it's pretty strange to be drinking so very early in the morning, but we soon got the hang of it! Practice makes perfect!Birthday boys
It's light but we're waiting for the sun
Peeking through
Carol, Dick and Walter
Here comes the sun!

The nappers...

Those who slept a little the night before

Captain Elito and Walter
Elito chilling out
Oh yes, it really had been a heavy night for some of us

I swear it's that way

Walter taking over command

The two birthday boys and myself giggling and drinking up front

Jeff rescuing the life buoy - when it went over, Zac aptly yelled "life preserver overboard, throw it a man"
Elito looking lost - where the hell were we anyway?
Lara, birthday day 1 and myself with a beer in hand
Birthday boys

Walter and Giovani
Me, Jeff, Dick and Carole
Back at the dock - the party continued...we're not completely smashed - honest!
One of the birthday boys doesn't remember getting off the boat....
Jeff rescuing anything that floats

Completely fab day - I really don't know how we did it but it was great. Can tell stories of bottles of champagne at Caribbean Villas, dogs in pools, passing out, bed parties watching star wars and attacking El Divino for dinner and a red wine attack. My poor body!

I cannot believe it!

2009-04-13T18:51:00.002-06:00

Never trust your best friend who created your blog to then DESTROY the password. I can't believe he hijacked my blog - THIS REALLY IS WAR NOW!!@!!
And no, those are not my armpits! Those that know me, you know!

Revenge is a dish best eaten cold

2009-04-13T09:03:00.004-06:00

Feel the burn!

Help! Tacoboy has declared war! He got a real healthy sunburn on Saturday at Caribbean Villas! Those little legs of his are all red....so he was showing Phil and I how bad his sunburn was yesterday at Sharon's BBQ - and Phil (YES PHIL - NOT ME) slapped his thigh. Oh the pain! His little face crumpled at the pain!
Anyway - we drink some more beers, threw each other in the pool, had a blast. Then I MIGHT have poked or slapped his thigh...
I am now getting threatening texts about his revenge seeking.
Also, he plotting his revenge publicly on Facebook - so keep posted, I think this little war may last a looooong time.
This is going to be fun, you don't declare war against me and expect to win!
Paul remember: I already left bite marks on your arm and bust some ribs the last couple of times....

By the way, I think it may be time to shave my underarms... what do you all think?

The safe return of Jeeves

2009-04-12T11:50:00.003-06:00

Well, for those of you that did not follow the whole "Who kidnapped Jeeves" bit over Facebook, here is a quick summary. Jeeves is the giant butler that stands outside Sweet Basil - he disappeared on April Fool's day....and wasn't seen for nearly a week. There was much speculation as to who had him, what their ransom demands were and where the hell he was!
He was found nearly a week later - I must admit, it was tons of fun looking for him. Welcome back!

Bad behaviour with Jeeves, but we missed him!

Jam session was packed - an a special appearance by Eminem....

John-Henry

2009-04-06T08:51:00.003-06:00

Well here is the introduction of John Henry. This young man will be staying with me for a little while as he is learning to dive here. I have known this munchkin since he was knee high to a grasshopper and was very surprised to see him after all these years and I think he's 6'2"! I have now nicknamed him the Beast and he really is quite humorous to be around in the morning.
This young lad did warn me that it is difficult to wake him once asleep. It took me three tries to get him off my bed last night where he passed out at 8pm whilst checking his emails....
Welcome to San Pedro!

Off to the Split

2009-04-05T21:59:00.005-06:00

Well even three of us had a heavy night before, even entering the realms of Jaguars.... we made it to Caye Caulker for the day, and what a beauty of a day it was. Sun, sea, sand - and of course a catamaran full of hard partying people. Happy birthday Jewels!

Mum splashing around with Molly

And here are the very drunk people we found at the Lazy Lizard

And three idiots

St Patricks party at Sweet Basil

2009-04-04T14:04:00.002-06:00

OK, I don't care that it's already April and I'm waaaaaay behind on this stuff! I've been a busy bunny!
Nothing to say, lots of fun and the party got started in the early afternoon, I didn't get there til 9ish, which meant I have some fantastic "unfortunate party shots" in my camera of rather partied-out friends, and will promise here and now to my friends that I will not publish them unless I get really broke! Then the blackmailing will begin...

Tyler being a super MC

Jewels and her Jello shots
My favourite pic, Scott from the Palapa Bar
Check out those Shamrocks!
Lori won the FOTHS raffle - well done girl
Piper down! one of the BATSUB soldiers is overkegged out
Oh dear, make fun of the drunk guy
Frenchie!
I swear Madam was singing Flower of Scotland to him!
His face says it all
What a lovely couple
Jewels, Jules and Tanya
Jewels taking a time out on the cooler

A pure unadulterated Walter attack

Michelle drinking beer out of a tube? I say!
Sharon looks unimpressed with her Walter attack
Jeff giving Walter an oh-so needed beer
I'm not drunk!

Lovely pic

2009-03-14T15:23:00.002-06:00

A big thank you to Lars who sailed with us on the last sunset booze cruise - I love this picture of mum and I.

Yet another booze cruise

2009-03-05T16:09:00.008-06:00

I know, I'm way behind on the blogging thing. We went out on a sunset cruise 2weeks with Sharon's family and of course, my mum.
Nothing to add - tons of fun and here's the pics.
As usual, I was so busy talking to people that I didn't see the sun actually set

.

Hoiking

2009-03-05T15:31:00.003-06:00

Mum and I having dinner at Jack's. Can't believe I got grounded, look at those bottles of wine in front of mum! Maybe I should ground her...

When I lived at Jack's lovely little appartment next to the Tacoshack, mum and I would visit via the garden fence, as, of course, she was staying at the Tacoshack.
Jack, Rick and Gary (my roomies) learnt a new term: hoik.
Now these guys are "hoiking" all over the place....
Here is mum in full hoik over the fence

Where'd she go?

Pub Graffiti

2009-03-05T15:18:00.003-06:00

This was on a pub wall in England, the first one of you lot that writes back the English translation, well I'll buy them a beer!
This is my favourite tongue twister...

Quantum materiae materietur marmota monax si marmota monax materiam possit materiari?

OK I owe Gail a beer next time she comes down. Paul and Laurie - nice try!

And yes, you were all correct, it was the woodchuck one.

Laughing

2009-03-04T17:00:00.002-06:00

OK, I'm laughing quite a lot when I'm other people's company. Yesterday I laughed far too much, probably attributable to vast quantities of Sauvignon Blanc. I drank more yesterday on my day off than I have in absolutely years. Hence the reason I was grounded. Skydiver Dude and I went on a trip North, hijacked a kayak from a resort and paddled to the reef to snorkel. Sods Law: my snorkel was broken, so we paddled around for a while and then continued my "take no prisoners" assault on bottles of wine.
Lovely day.

Grounded!

2009-03-04T16:47:00.002-06:00

Oh my, I'm in so much trouble. Mum has grounded me for tonight. I'm 37, and grounded. So, Skydiver Dude, thank you for a lovely day, it was tons of fun and now I'm going home....

I've been putting this off

2009-02-28T13:47:00.003-06:00

OK, most of you know by now, Paul has decided that he is not happy and has to go his own way. It's been a sad few weeks and I didn't have the courage to actually write that down. However, I'm hearing all sorts of rubbish going round, which is one of the downfalls of living on a small island. So there is the news. So now it's the new adventures of just the one muppet. Keep posted, I'm sure I will start being silly again in the near future. Patience my friends, and I will get my laughter back with your help.

News update

2009-02-23T15:56:00.005-06:00

Hello everyone, well, life definitely changes and this week has been no exception. I have no photos as my camera batteries have died and I don't have time to go get some more.
Mum has landed safe and sound and will be here for about 6 weeks, I'm so pleased she's here.
Mum and I are living next to each other as I am at Jack's and she is staying with the Tacos - there is just a garden fence seperating us - so in true Belizean style, they installed a ladder on each side of the fence and mum and I hoik over the fence in the morning to see each other. Definately much easier to do in the morning than in the dark after a few glasses of wine!
The Lime has taken a more steady rhythm and is proving to be a busy little breakfast and lunch spot. After all of everyone's hard work down there, we are now starting to be able to relax a little and actually enjoy our work rather than running round like headless chickens!
Even though it seems to be raining during the night, the days are beautiful and Molly is loving spending her days at the beach with mum, still obsessing over coconuts!
I shall post some piccies asap

Love to all

Upside down

2009-02-17T12:17:00.002-06:00

Hello all - sorry about the lack of stuff, but life has gone twilight zone on me.
All is well and fine and I shall post far more in the coming weeks.
Sharon and I are working all the hours on the planet but the Lime is doing well. We're grubby, grouchy and rather proud of ourselves.
Molly is sitting behind me fast asleep from our sunrise walk this morning, and even though I hosed her down with shampoo when we got back, she still smells of the dead fish she rolled in. Lovely.
Basil is getting chubby and has turned into a complete giant pansy since my return from "Cindy's European Tour". He was always a psychotic killing kitty - now he lets me rub his tummy, that is a complete first.
Love to all

Not enough time to pee

2009-02-05T18:45:00.002-06:00

Hello boys and girls - sorry, I'm completely swamped and don't have time to do this right now - it's all so very exciting! Sharon and I have taken over the Lime Bar & Grill and the Tour Center - we're knackered, dusty and happy.
Tons of posts to follow shortly - have cried out for help so it looks like mum is on her way back! (I don't have any clean clothes and the washing up is overflowing - and she's the best cleaner I know).
Sharon's mum has already been on her hands and knees cleaning the toilet so it's only fair that my mum joins in too.
Love to all
a very tired limey

Sitting at Gatwick Aiport

2009-01-28T05:03:00.002-06:00

agh! I've just bought more tons of shopping - my luggage weighs nearly 70kg in total and I just double checked with Playa Info to make sure they're picking me up at Cancun and they have cancelled me because I booked less than 48 hours in advance.
Bugger.
If anyone out there loves me, I land at 10pm tonight, Wednesday, at Cancun! LOL.
Heather at Playa Info assures me I will easily find transport, so I'm not overly worried anyway.
Bon Voyage!

So much stuff

2009-01-27T06:04:00.003-06:00

Good grief - I made the mistake last week of calling the airline and finding out exactly how much luggage I was allowed to carry. I now have 3 new shiny suitcases! Porter, help please!

Emily is officially 6!

2009-01-27T05:45:00.001-06:00

This is Sunday morning, Emily is 6 and she is patiently waiting to come downstairs for her birthday breakfast. Butterfly cakes with 6 candles, and 2 different types of milkshake

My lovely cousin David making Emily feel super special - waiting on her with a French accent, asking if Madame would like banana or strawberry flavour milkshake - with extra bendy straws

A birthday breakfast fit for kings

Big brother Dan with Pain au Chocolats

Milkshake overload

Where are my presents? Breakfast was quickly pushed to one side when the presents started appearing from behind the curtains

Robert with his bendy straw glasses - it must get cold behind the ears when the banana shake goes past!

The boys getting technical with the flashing scooter!

This was a great birthday breakfast and we left the family playing with all sorts of new toys - thanks to you all, we had a great time!

Pre-birthday birthday party - with lots of cake

2009-01-27T05:43:00.009-06:00

My word - we left Paul's family and drove over to see the rest of mine. My cousin David, his gorgeous wife Anna and the 3 seriously cheeky monkies. One of them was six the following day and we had a pre-birthday birthday party! YEAH! Here is Emily who CANNOT WAIT to be 6!

A sneaky cheeky early pressie

Rob showing of his dance moves

Mum showing off hers!

It's the dancing Von Trapp family

I've seen that one in Pulp Fiction

Another sneaky pressie

My cousin Madeleine

All the boys on the trampoline in the garden

Martin and Madeleine

My mum and her sister Mary

The kids feast

Our feast!

Mary and Madeleine - nice cheesy one there Mads

We blew up so many balloons!

Mum and Martin - very cheesy indeed!

Cake!

So many different cakes - my Aunty Mary made 4 different ones - Sharon eat your heart out!

Happy kids

Big kids - these two belong to Madeleine - they are Mathew and Jonathon. they are sporting the sultry teenage boy look which involves lots of floppy hair

Mum having no fun at all

Aunty Mary's handiwork - fab

David doing some cleaning up

The Cullis family

The silly family

Bye - see you soon

Rob with Kissa the cat

The party girl has completely crashed on the sofa - what a great evening!

Thank you so much!

Beer for Paul and Maya

2009-01-27T05:31:00.001-06:00

Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmm beer.

OK, so I just drink Guinness - but I did think of you both with the Old Speckled Hen and the Green King. If you're nice, I'll shout you a lovely Lighthouse when I get home.

The Bird in Hand

2009-01-27T05:26:00.004-06:00

And no, that's nothing kinky!

This is Paul's former local pub - which is unfortunately closed at the moment as it is to let.

Pedro was going to buy this pub years ago! How funny would that have been! The Pedro in Hand? The Bird in Pedro? Pedro's Bird?

The Hampsons! It's just like the Waltons but in Sonning Common

2009-01-27T05:08:00.005-06:00

After jetting around the South of France, we decided to zoom around the South of England.
Off to sunny Sonning Common to see Paul's family.
Arthur in a red jumper (quite rare to see him in colours apprently) - he's just got back from the Friday lunch at the rugby club... Penny and crumpets!

Here is the newest addition to the family - this is Ruby, Paul's latest niece

Penny, Ruby and Eleanor

Jack - the girls' big brother. He's soooo very good with his sisters, a lovely young man!

Here is Nikki - Paul's younger sister, and mum to these three cheeky monkies

Her husband Shaun

Eleanor shows me her badges they she has got from Rainbows - it's like the girl guides

A very cheeky Ruby

A girl after my own heart - she likes to try to drink her daddy's Guinness!

Pile up!

I was so very very pleased to meet these guys properly - last time I met them was at Paul's 40th birthday party, where I didn't know anybody (ok - so I gatecrashed....) and definately didn't know they would become part of my family!

So we all know mum has a drinking problem - everytime she tries to drink water (see above) she throws it over herself

Arthur cooking duck (yummm - oh, by the way, Sharon, I've gained 4kg!)

Penny slaving over hot veggies The newly decorated dining room

A bunch of muppets

And this is a special photo for muppet 2 - your dad and I drinking port together and tucking into the stilton!

My absolute favourite photo (sorry Arthur) - 4 bottles of wine and some port later, Arthur crashed in a major way - glasses askew

Thanks all you Hampsons - mum and I had a great time - see you soon

The Reading version of Casa Picasso!

2009-01-27T04:59:00.002-06:00

On the way to Paul's parents, we got stuck in a traffic jam in front of this restaurant. It made me laugh so much I had to take a photo.
Jen - I think you are safe from the competition!

Snot

2009-01-27T04:57:00.001-06:00

urgh - mum and I both have caught a cold - we're pretty sure it's from Chrisiane (Alain's mum) who was sick when we had lunch together in Monaco.
Yuck.
Pass the Kleenex!

My mum's boyfriend

2009-01-21T03:58:00.004-06:00

A fair number of years ago, I was speaking to mum on the phone, and she was talking about this gorgeous hunk called Tim. For a couple of days it was "Tim" this and "Tim" that. She told me he was lovely, big and black. So I was thinking "fair game" mum! Then I found out he was a black lab.....
Tim came over last night for some chewy sticks and a cuddle - here he is - he's now 15 and still doing great

Anne and Liz came over for dinner, and we had a great time (more food, my poor waistline...)

The Three Crowns - Sunday roast!

2009-01-19T06:56:00.002-06:00

Well we landed at Gatwick aiport at about 1pm, and decided we would go to Tesco's to get a bit of shopping.
Unfortunately, the driver (ahem) missed the turning and we ended up at the Three Crowns pub near East Grinsted for Sunday lunch. What a shame.

Ahhh Guinness yet again Mum with her steak and ale pie - oh yes!

My roast pork and crackling - ummmmmmmm

We were stuffed and very happy - what a great trip to the Cote D'Azur

On our way back to sunny Blighty

2009-01-19T06:53:00.002-06:00

First one to Nice aiport - look at the view out the bay windows OK, so here we have 3 pictures taken whilst on the motorway - look in the background - snowy Alpes

It was jolly cold that morning in Nice!

Another dinner and another mum

2009-01-19T06:49:00.003-06:00

On our last night, Sabine and Meric invited us over to their new appartment, they moved in only 5 days ago! Meric's mum Martine also joined us. Even though we didn't manage to sit down at any time with the 3 mums and the 3 kids we did all see each other ove the 4 days. What a fantastic time

2 mums, mine and Meric's

Sabine comes from a region in France called Perpignan, which is very much a rural place with lots of hunting. She specially cooked wild boar for us which she had brought back with her from her last trip. What a treat.

Elephants on ice???

2009-01-19T06:41:00.005-06:00

Well, mum and I went to Monaco in the morning to go and renew both our passports - so we rushed around town, getting photographs, filling in form and generally annoying traffic police but having no idea where we were going. One poor guy we saw four times in the same day - we nearly invited him home for dinner! lol.#
So, after having done our paperwork and feeling rather pleased with ourselves, we decide to have a spot of lunch on the port as it's a lovely sunny day.
there are people milling around and somebody doing a sound check on a PA system - we're not really paying any attention to this as we order our beers.
Then circus music comes on and we both joke about it being the music for elephants.
I stand up, and see 3 elephants. How many beers did I have?

Lots of people on the port

3 elephants!

bums!

They had now finished their show and were walking in line down along the port towards La Rascasse - just like the Grand Prix. By this time I was laughing so much I could hardly take any photos

Luxury yachts and nellies

Here is the swimming pool transformed into an ice rink for the winter, 3 elephants and million dollar yachts - what a picture! Monaco goes surreal.

Mum and a bum

After this picture, mum and I dashed like a pair of school girls to the car to see where they were going. By the time we pulled out of our space, the elephants had disappeared. We got up near the Rascasse and went along the other side of the port - there was a policeman at the end and I dared mum to ask him if he'd seen 3 elephants going that way.....

More food! Eating for an army in Peillon

2009-01-19T06:18:00.005-06:00

OK - at last, here is my little bro Meric!
Alain has cooked even more food - this time a fantastic shoulder of lamb. It spent 11 hours in the oven and was superb.
I met Meric's girlfriend Sabine, who is lovely - they've just moved in together, ahhhhh bless. Eating again

All of us

Meric, myself and Alain - the 3 kids finally together

Big bro

Mum and Alain

All of us

Meric

Chat chat and Meric on the phone

Anne-Marie bullying chat chat

Sabine and Meric