changes - big and small

We had some new (sailing) friends over for dinner last Saturday night. One couple originally from L.A. - and another from New York. We started out the evening sitting outside (in a heavy fog of citronella candles and OFF) - and heard some more interesting relocation stories and perspectives on life on this island. Some similar themes - with different interpretations.

How does one end up here? How long do you stay? What do you enjoy and what drives you crazy?

When I think back to the conversations that Mark and I had - usually when we were away on holidays - we kept returning to the same question. Why don't we live somewhere warm? And because we kept asking this same question over-and-over - we finally said, "let's do it."

Some of the people we've met - like the couple from New York came down here with jobs - John is an architect. Our lawyer in St. Thomas also had the same situation and moved down here with an offer. Others have retired here or made a move more gradually. But the common theme was a desire for change.

There's no doubt that our lives have been transformed. And if I review the past five months - the only thing that has remained a constant for me is Mark and the boys. We have virtually changed every aspect of our lives.

And so far - it's a change that seems to be tailor-made for us.

Some of the changes have been fun - requiring no adjustment period. Wearing "summer clothing" 12-months a year - no suits, no ties. Having a pool and being outside more. Greeting everyone with a "good morning" or a "good afternoon". Duty free booze. Sitting outside in the morning and having a cup of coffee. Being on the water and watching boats. Never having cold hands.

Some of the changes have taken greater concentration. Driving on the left and through some questionable intersections. Remembering to take our garbage with us in the morning for "drop-off". Finding lizards and their droppings in our bedroom (always in exactly the same spot)and the occasional frog in the house. Keeping a cooler in the back of my vehicle - so that cold or frozen groceries can arrive home with some memory of having originated in a freezer. Slowing our pace and expectations of when things will get done. Learning to live with power outages and other challenged infrastructure.

There are also the things we've had to change related to our new geography. We carry social security cards and USVI driver's licences. We have US medical insurance including an air evacuation policy that will fly us anywhere in case of emergency. We buy things called "mosquito magnets" to keep our flying friends to a minimum. We are extremely careful with electricity consumption and even more carfeul with water usage. When it rains - it's a good thing. The cisterns fill up and we know that we are getting some more water. In fact, I can say we all have a better appreciation of these resources and laughed when Julian explained he hadn't washed his hands because he was saving water. And while power outages are an annoyance - they do, in fact generate business for us.


We spend a lot of our time differently - and that has a lot to do with the pace here and our situation. We are working hard - but have greater flexibility. Some days we meet after work at the beach and go for a swim. Most of the time, however, it is a "normal" work week with school, work and home time. We are, however a 24/7 emergency operation and that does mean the occasional "my generator didn't start" call resulting in some quick dispatch solutions.

When it comes to the daily routine - some things are different and other things don't alter too dramatically. We wake up at 6:00 when the sun rises and pours into our rooms. The daylight hours are the same all year round with about 12.5-13 hours of daylight a day. The boys go to school in shorts and sandals and we put freezer packs in their lunch kits to keep their food from spoiling. Mark and I get to the office quite early - sometimes I go for a run first and guzzle two large bottles of water immediately following. I'm still getting used to running in the heat.

Surprisingly, our commute isn't that much shorter. The distance is less, however, I frequently sit in traffic. I drive to school and work with all the windows down avoiding iguanas and large potholes on the roads while listening to 96.1 Pirate Radio. I slow down in town and buy the local Daily News from an older lady sitting by the road who hands it to me in exchange for a dollar. As I enter town - there are white-gloved "traffic cops" guiding traffic with their authoritative whistles. I am pleased to say - there isn't a single Starbucks in the Virgin Islands, however, I've discovered a couple of good local places that make a great latte.< / It is a small enough community that you get to know people much faster and they quickly realise we are the "new generator people". Mind you, with our new and improved and larger-than-life Import Supply decals (pronounced DEE-cals) on our vehicles - it isn't too difficult to figure out. And speaking of advertising - we ran an advertisement this week in the Daily News as well as an advertorial. Marketing efforts are slowly advancing.


Change has been good and this is just the start.

http://tropicalhomes.vidaily.com/
Tropical Homes / Vi Daily News ad link.

work and play.

Friday night. The boys have just finished some mac&cheese and are watching a movie. It has been a very busy week and I'm enjoying a "well deserved" glass of zinfandel. Speaking of which, Mark and I have got into the habit of chilling our reds. It's warm enough - everything needs a quick chill in the fridge these days.

It has been a very busy week at Import Supply. We've had some good sales this week including finding out we won the RFP for a major contract - ironically for the power authority in the Virgin Islands. Yes - even the power authority needs help. There were a number of power outages this week - resulting in a few service issues and new people deciding they have had enough with relying on our power authority.

Yesterday - we delivered a massive two-megawatt generator - one of the largest ever installed on the island. It was all hands on deck and one of the largest cranes on the island lifted the generator and fortunately, managed to safely land this very heavy piece of equipment at the assigned space.

This week we have also branched into new marketing activities for Import Supply. From business cards, to some new decals for our vehicles and some very modest attempts at advertising in the local daily newspaper. Oh! And we had to order some new t-shirts for our technicians - including some mini-Import Supply gear for Max and Julian. Shameless advertising.

Last weekend - Mother's Day - Mark and the boys took me out for a surprise boat trip. We went down to American Yacht Harbour - just across from where we live and jumped into a 25-foot power boat with a cooler full of snacks and cold drinks. We buzzed over to St. John and around a few of the smaller islands off St. Thomas - swam off the boat and enjoyed being out on the water. A great day - with minimal sunburns.

generating some business

As I sat in very slow traffic this afternoon caused by the same road work they've been working on since December, it dawned on me that I've been in St. Thomas for about four months. And while that isn't a long time in the grand scheme - it has been enough time for us to feel like we are settling in with our routines.

Our first month of Import Supply has been similar to Julian's approach to learning to swim. Jump in and hope for the best (in our case however- there's no life guard or watchful parent!)

At this early stage - I'd say that one of the biggest challenges is picking up the pieces. From computer systems to accounting procedures - we are inheriting other people's ways. And like buying a house that needs renovation within a budget - we have to stick to the "must-do" changes before tackling some of the beautification projects.

Take for example our fleet of vehicles. And I use the term pretty loosely. Within our first week we had two of them towed off the property and sold for parts. By the end of the month - we had purchased two work vans and three SUVs. We now have fourteen vehicles with distinct island characteristics but are at least functioning well as work trucks to do service. We even have a fuel truck. (Yes, this is Charlotte writing these words. Can you picture it now?)

Mark is driving a Toyota 4Runner that is in pretty good condition. It came complete with fuzzy dice, leopard spot mats and skull licence plates that glow red in the dark. There's even a big "kangaroo bar" (or in this case maybe an iguana bar) to protect him from any head-ons. Julian loves this car - except for the fact that the electric back windows ceased functioning well before we got the truck.

And if this doesn't make you laugh - I was actually hoping to inherit this truck as it's nice to drive and was uncharacteristically clean for an island vehicle. The only problem is the seat track is stuck and I can't quite reach the pedals. So I don't drive it that often.

But back to the shop. We have a large building near the cruise ship terminal where we run our little operation from the top floor. There are a number of tenants who sub-lease space from us which also provides us with a little additional income. Our office space has a mid 1970's decor - which we hope to update at some point. However - we have essentially a one bedroom apartment space that will allow us to expand and also allows us kitchen and other space to meet and function as a team. Pictures to follow soon.

The main order of business for us right now is to push generator sales. This is our busy season leading up to hurricane season. In fact - I am working on some catchy little advertisements (Don't Get Caught With Your Power Down)for the local newspapers and have even submitted an article - When Being Backed-Up is a Good Thing. (okay - Mark vetoed this latter title). Building awareness and customer outreach is the big focus right now.

The other newer aspect of the business we are working hard on is preparing permit applications for our clients. All commercial generators require permits from the Department of Parks and Natural Resources - so Mark has been visiting different generators, taking photos and preparing lengthy applications on behalf of the clients. By calling around we have been getting almost more work than we can keep up with.

So- that is just a small taste of what we have been starting with. In addition to getting to know our team and learning their strengths and abilities - there is still a huge amount to learn. Mind you - it's amazing what you can do if you have to. Who would have ever thought I would be overseeing the finances?

A few photos of the house... and the truck

150 boxes later

Finally our container was "released" from customs at the port - and our furniture and belongings were trucked to our new home. The road to our house is pretty rough (many potholes and uneven cement) and our driveway is incredibly steep. Full marks to our moving company - not only did they get everything safely from Vancouver - down to St. Thomas - but the truck drivers managed some tricky terrain and inclines to the house!

Four men, two trucks and 150 boxes later - we had a house. Actually - we had a toy store with some furniture. Needless to say, there was a lot of excitement. Train sets, cars, electronics. What to play with first? Julian and Max were also very excited.

Last weekend was spent unpacking and organizing and now we have a place that feels like home.

I am still uncertain as to what we packed two feather duvets and a quilt - but was relieved that neither a space heater nor ski gear got mixed up in our loads. While we clearly over-packed - everything seems to have a home.

This past week at work has been busy - but short. Carnival festivities in St. Thomas began last week but the big events have been running from Wednesday through Sunday. What this actually means is that there is another unofficial holiday when no one works. As of Wenesday lunch - everyone disappears to town to sample local cuisine and warm up for events later in the evening. Julian and Max had time off school and many businesses are closed. Take for example our water delivery - no one in the office since Tuesday afternoon, so we have had to get water elsewhere...

What is Carnival? From my limited knowledge, Carnival is a celebration based on folklore, culture and religion.

There is an energy and buzz on the island. The events and parades are loud, colourful and joyous with elaborate costumes, steelband competitions, calypso music and food. It's a family affair - young and old dancing and clapping. Ancient African traditions of parading through villages in costumes and masks are important to Caribbean festival arts. The parading and circling was believed to bring good fortune, heal problems, and "chill out angry relatives who had died and passed into the next world". Feathers are a huge component of the costumes and are symbols of the human ability to rise above problems and illness - to travel to another world to be reborn and to grow spiritually.

Today was the Children's Parade - starting at 10:00 (also known as 11:00ish Caribbean time). While I know I 'll receive little to no sympathy when I say it was incredibly hot today, I've never seem the perspiration roll off Max's face as I did at the parade. We wandered along the street - had a johnny cake and beef patty - and watched steel bands, small children with batons and very colourful costumes parade by. Both Julian and Max's respective schools had floats in the parade - and we saw their teachers and other new friends from school.

After a festive morning of Caribbean celebrations, we drove over to the St. John ferry dock to drop off Julian and Mark. Mark was going to do a quick check in with a client and took Julian for the ride over and some lunch on the island. Max and I went home for other duties including a nap.

Our Canadian theme of the day happened when we purchased a new barbeque at the local Cost-U-Less. I had discovered what looked like a fairly decent bbq to replace the one we'd inherited at the house that recently met its final demise. After we transported our new purchase home and hauled the 120 lb box into the house - we discovered the bbq was in fact, fabrique en Canada. Mon dieu - Canadian products show up in the oddest spots! Speaking of which - why is maple syrup cheaper here?

trucks, ships and toys.

With two weeks of working in the Import Supply business under our belts - we are slowly transitioning from the "what do I do now?" state of shock - to stumbling though a few decisions and learning about the business.

One of the first orders of business related to the lifeline of daily service calls. The fleet of Import Supply vehicles. And I use the term fleet very loosely. In fact, after closer inspection, a couple of the vehicles were sold our first week to the highest bidder for what I can only assume to be parts and scrap metal. Another two SUVs will be on the auction block as soon as we can secure some replacements. Island vehicles take a good beating from the road conditions, heat, and general vehicle apathy. We have bought another service van and an older Toyota 4Runner and are now looking for a couple of vehicles for ourselves. Buying vehicles in Florida makes a lot of sense from a financial perspective and we may end up doing this as pickings are slim - and very tired!

On the business front - we have had a busy time learning the ropes. From the accounting-side to understanding what the office people do and how the technicians operate - there is a lot to grasp. As we approach hurricane season - there is not only a big push to ensure everyone is serviced but a number of quotes for new sales. The work is steady.

Getting to know the team will take time - but they have been very friendly and helpful - especially after they received their first pay cheque from us.

We have had a spectacular stretch of warm and breezy weather. Today was the first day of rain in almost two weeks and I was wondering whether we should check the cistern level. After the amount of rain we had today - I would guess it has been nicely replenished. Tonight there is thunder and lightning and the sound of rain on the metal roof is deafening!

Julian is thriving in kindergarten - reading with confidence, improving his printing and speaking some Spanish. The teachers and resources at Antilles are great and we've been very impressed. Max is tolerating his new school and is taking a little longer to show his enthusiasm. When we tell him he is going to school in the morning, he replies "No cool. Po-po (aka pool)"

After a quick call to the shipping company today, we were informed that our shipment will arrive tomorrow and could be delivered on Wednesday. While I won't hold my breath - the sheer fact that it has been located is cause enough for celebration. I literally will be able to break out the champagne glasses. Well - hopefully not break them. It will be lovely to have something more than deck cushions to sit on in the evenings. The boy's toys will feel like new again and I probably won't even see Mark for a couple of days as he figures out how to hang the new plasma TV and set up the satellite equipment. Days and days of entertainment. Looks like I'll be doing the unpacking....

We had a very busy weekend with a dinner and auction event for Julian's school. We also had swimming lessons, sailing lessons, a beach visit and a wrap-up event for the Rolex Regatta. A lot of fun.

IS under new management

April 1, 2008

News Release

ST. THOMAS, USVI - M&C Holdings Inc, LLC announced today that its acquisition of IS is complete. IS, located in St. Thomas is the leader in generator sales and service in the US Virgin Islands. Effective April 1, IS will operate as a wholly-owned subsidiary of M&C Holdings.

M&C Holdings' successful acquisition closed Tuesday following six months of negotiations, planning and newly acquired grey hairs.

"We are thrilled to be finally doing business in sunny St. Thomas," said M&C's co-president, Mark van den Driessche. "It's a great little community that has a growing demand for back-up power. And of course, the sailing doesn't seem too bad either."

Founded in the early 1970's, IS has been meeting the needs of US Virgin islanders in a territory that faces an inconsistent and unreliable power supply. With frequent power outages, businesses and residents have been turning to back-up generators for reliable power alternatives to ensure they can do business and conduct daily life activities.

"It's a pretty exciting time and it will get even busier as we learn the business during this lead-up to hurrican season," said M&C Holdings co-president, Charlotte Wardell sporting new flip-flops for the occasion.

IS sells, installs and services generators throughout the US Virgin Islands. With a team of 12 employees, IS currently services over 500 generators located on business, government and residential sites.

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Media Contact:

Julian van den Driessche

340-779-6513