Back to School

Julian and Max were back to school last week and not a moment too soon. After nearly three months of summer vacation, a little structure and a regular schedule have been enthusiastically welcomed by both our boys (and their parents). Max has joined Julian at Antilles School and has started PreK. Julian started Grade Two and is officially in Lower School now moving up from the Early Learning Centre. I can't get over how much Julian has grown this summer - and not just his hairThe school has adopted a uniform this year - polo style school shirts and khaki shorts, pants or skirts (for the girls only!). And while their was mixed reaction to the uniform announcement, I must admit that it makes things simple and straightforward.

Update - At long last

At last I have made time to pick up the laptop and write a short update. (The laptop has some sort of problem which we cannot seem to get fixed here. There are times when it just will not turn on..... As you can see it is on now).

We are house sitting for some friends who are up in New York and the Canadian Maritime provinces till early December. They have been very kind (and trusting!) and have allowed us the use of their fabulous home, just up the street from the house we rented for over a year, near the village of Red Hook on St Thomas' eastern end. So far we are doing well, no broken dishes etc to report!

The boys are both in sailing camp at the yacht club - which is very near where we live. Julian is turning out to be a great little Optimist dingy sailor. Max is just beginning, but from experiences on our IC24 I am pretty sure he will be catch on quickly. Max, who turns 4 next month, has given up any form of nap in order to be in sailing camp. Evidently he is pretty active at camp as once this week he fell asleep at the dinner table. As I write this he enjoying a long Sunday afternoon nap to catch up....

This is the busy season for the business. Extra busy this year as we parted ways with our General Manager. We have hired a temp to work with a couple of projects, which is helping. Apart from a slightly higher work load for Charlotte and myself, not having a manager has allowed us to immerse ourselves in all aspects of the business. This has highlighted a few things that we need to do to create efficiencies and serve our clients better. How is the business going? Despite a softer global economy, we have added a few new service contracts and repair side of the business continues to boom.

And what of the effects of the global economy? We know that there are less cruise ship visits planned for next year and that the number of actual passengers is also down. "On Island", as the locals say, there is now doubt that the economy has slowed. Housing sales are way off, rents have come down. Some of the tourist oriented stores are having a hard time or have closed "in town". In keeping with Darwinism the weakest stores are the ones that have gone. Housing prices which had become stratospheric are apparently starting to come down according a few realtors we know. The good news in all this for us is that those businesses, households and government offices etc that already have generators continue to need them serviced and repaired.

The weaker economy afforded us an opportunity to book a long weekend using a nearly affordable "locals" rate at the Bitter End Yacht Club on Virgin Gorda in the BVIs. (BEYC is a sailing and water sports oriented resort). We had visited Bitter End years ago when we chartered a sailing boat with another couple, but had never stayed.

It was a really enjoyable adventure. To get there we took a ferry from Red Hook to the Western end of Tortola in the BVIs. Then we took a taxi (driven by a wonderful man, Mr. Forbes, who shared with us his life story and historical points of interest on the island) to the Eastern end of Tortola. Then we took a launch over to the resort. We left the house in STT about 7:15 am in the morning and arrived at BEYC by about 11:30 am.

Bitter End is an all inclusive - you can use the fleet of boats: Hobies, Lasers, Optis, Rhodes 19s, Hunter 216s, IC24s, kayaks etc. Day trips to places like the "Baths" of Virgin Gorda, a spectacular bay filled with giant boulders from some long forgotten Ice Age are also included. About the only things not included are sailing the BEYC Express 37 (sorry Trev Salmon & Tom Hawker) and "adult beverages". There are at least 2 dining rooms and food can be ordered a la carte or for those wanting to get back out on the water, there is a buffet. It must be said that the food and service were really wonderful. It did seem to us as thought the resort must not be fully booked, which was nice as we were never waiting to access the boats, or find a seat in restaurant etc.

After checking in we stopped right away for lunch. The boys really enjoyed the trip over, but were hungry and really wanted to get into the pool. We sat down to wait for our lunch, but due to an ordering snafu (literally the only service issue we had during our stay) we had a bit of a wait, so the boys enjoyed a session of jumping off the dock right in front of the restaurant.
This proved to be well timed as they were soon joined by another family with 3 similarly aged children from Colorado. For the rest of the weekend our boys and Liza, Ethan and Devon were inseparable.

Accommodation is in a series of free standing, two unit buildings.
We had a unit right at the end which afforded us a wonderful view of the forest canopy and a view out towards Necker Island, owned of course, by Sir Richard Branson.
Each unit has a wrap around deck and a great hammock. Max liked it so much that he fell asleep there Saturday afternoon.

That afternoon I sailed in a "regatta" in Hobie Waves. Not the fastest catamarans, but certainly fun in the 15 knot trade winds.

Saturday we took the boys for a sail on a larger Hobie. We sailed around to the bay where the more upmarket Biras Creek Resort is located, and then back around Gorda Sound between Virgin Gorda and Prickly Pear Island.

The boys were so exhausted from Friday's fun that they both fell asleep on the trampoline that more or less forms the deck of the Hobie Getaway.

We had a slower paced afternoon, even finding time for Max and myself to have a nap!

Sunday was breezier, and the laser "regatta" was cancelled do to a forecast weather system. I had a great morning on a Hobie Wave, then we packed up, said our good-byes and at 2pm took a launch to Gun Creek on Virgin Gorda.

We took a taxi to Spanish Town, the main settlement on Virgin Gorda. (The island has a population of 3000). The drive across Virgin Gorda was very interesting, wonderful scenery and spectacular beaches and reefs. From Spanish Town we took a ferry to Red Hook. On the way back the tropical wave did hit, and the heavens opened up in a torrential rain shower. Thankfully we were going East so any squalls associated with the wave had little effect on our little ferry. Once at Red Hook, via Cruz Bay, St John for Customs and Border Protection we hopped in our truck and arrived home in time for dinner. We all slept very well that night.

Hopefully one of us will find time to update the blog more frequently.

April's absence of showers

No rain in many weeks. The one cistern is bone dry and our second one has a very visible bottom. The pool could also do with a top-up but in the list of water priorities - the pool is a little lower on the totem pole. I have become Charlotte the Water Police ensuring there are no wasteful water infractions.

And you know things are getting desperate when I actually have to take our dirty laundry to do at the office which is fortunately equipped with a good kitchen and laundry area.

The frustrating and almost comical part is - all the other parts of the island HAVE had rain - and a lot of it. Meanwhile, in the east end of the island - we are gasping for our last drop as the rain clouds pass us by - laughing.

The forecast for the weekend is rain - so we'll see if it actually makes its way over to these eastern parts. How a mere few miles on an island can make a huge difference.

So here it is April. The boys have only two months of school remaining and are off at the end of May. It's a very long summer holiday - but we seem to keep busy.

March was another steady month with work and activities. The International Rolex Regatta was at the end of March - and Mark raced (without me) on the IC-24 we are babysitting for a couple of years. This three-day regatta is a big event on the island - and there are some pretty impressive pieces of fibreglass tied up at the docks and racing. Mark's fleet is a competitive fleet - and despite his new crew - he managed some impressive finishes. But no Rolex watch.

I have been doing a little freelance writing work - and have had some pieces published in a sailing magazine here as well as some work writing for a mega yacht guide. It's fun work and I've been trying to drum up even more work.

The boys are growing and thriving. Max is becoming much more articulate and is at the age where he copies almost everything his older brother says. Everything is about garbage trucks and cars - with the occasional "bad guy" thrown in. Max likes to take his brother down to our front yard to find "co-nu-nuts" and then shakes them listening for "juice". Pool time and visits to the beach are still high on his list of favourite things to do.

Julian is busy with school - math homework and spelling every night which he has been accomplishing with growing confidence. Between soccer, sailing and swimming - he has been keeping busy with still plenty of time for play dates and outings. Julian has become a board game champion - and plays a game called Connect Four - with such expertise that Mark and I have a very tough time beating him. Not much competitiveness in this family.

April is also what we like to call the start of Hurricane Preparedness season - and we are working on marketing and customer outreach to increase business. Mark has also found an additional niche area and is completing customer permits required for commercial generators. Every business on the island is complaining that sales are down and that no one is spending - so it will be interesting to see how the rest of the year unfolds.

April means Easter and Carnival - so there are many festivities on the island. Will have more to report soon.

a new generation of pirates...

weekend update

I have managed to wrestle the laptop away from Charlotte for a few moments....

I checked the electronic thermometer in the kitchen at about 6:30 this evening. A lovely 29C. Do we miss January in Vancouver? Did you really need to ask?

Julian had a soccer scrimage this morning then his sailing lesson. After sailing Max and Julian and I returned to the house for a swim in the pool before lunch. A busy morning. Julian is progressing well with his sailing and last week after his lesson took Max out for a sail in the Optimist for about 10 minutes.


My parents who were here for 10 days left a week ago. They enjoyed hiking in the National Park on St John - and took Julian for a hike there the day before they left. Tomorrow we plan to go to St John and have Julian guide us along the trails.



When Charlotte was away in Miami for her run last week I had a friend's daughter look after the boys ad I got out for a local long distance race on a Farr 40. The fleet, such as it was, consisted of 2 Farr 40s, a C&C 37R, 2 J27s a J24 and 3 IC24s. It really is lovely sailing here. I have yet to need foul weather gear, in fact the odd bit of spray is welcomed as it helps to cool you down. Just like Vancouver in January...

As for the business - we have been busy installing a number of generators sold late last year. Service work is up, but new sales seem little slower this month. Hard to tell if it just January - which is usually quite slow - or whether it is the greater global economic malaise. Expectatations are for business to pick up as we head into Hurricane season in June. Time will tell, but fingers crossed we should be fine. We have heard that some of the local tourist oriented businesses - jewelery stores etc are down as much as 20%. Apparently our little island in the middle of nowhere is linked to the global economy!

Mark

run in the sun

A few months ago, my sister suggested a "girl's trip" for the two of us. We decided that we'd make it a marathon destination and started researching the options. I had no idea there were so many popular events - and the whole marathon destination concept appears to have really blossomed. After considering dates, events and flights - we chose our city. Alex ended up with the slightly shorter stick with our choice of Miami - a mere 3 hour flight for me and a considerably longer one for her with a three hour time difference.

Being relatively new to running compared to many people I know - including my marathon running sister - I was very excited about this event. And working toward an event like this did require some discipline and training - which is slightly more challenging on the 13 mile long and very hilly island of St. Thomas. Most mornings found me running the Charlotte Amalie waterfront - a very "ground hog day" experience - passing many of the same police officers directing traffic, local tourist guides and people heading off to work. My longer runs over 10 miles provided me with route challenges looking for slightly flatter terrain and some semblance of a sidewalk or shoulder. As a result - I would also have to run a route a couple of times - adding to my already "spot the crazy running white girl" notoriety. Ah.. those nutty Canadians...




Alex and I arrived late Thursday January 22 - staying at a hotel close to the race start line. We had a couple of days to enjoy Miami before the race without too much walking and very early nights. The morning of the race - we got up at 4:15 and made our way to the Biscayne Boulevard where 15,000 other people were looking far too energetic. All I could think was - how long was the queue for the women's restroom?

After standing around for about 15 minutes waiting for the start, we were off...very slowly. The route immediately took us over our first bridge - the MacArthur Causeway which was immediately opposite where all the brightly lit cruise ships were tied up. It was pretty spectacular. At one point on this bridge, we ran by some music speakers playing the "Love Boat" theme music.

The route took us over to South Beach - up the coast - then back across a series of smaller bridges and through downtown. There were people cheering, a few school bands, crazy costumes and all kinds of hilarious signs - of which my favourite was "Run Like You Have Stolen Something" - which had me laughing so hard my stomach started to hurt. Note to self - no laughing when you run.

As I approached mile 12 - the course separated the slightly wimpier half marathon runners from the hard-core marathoners. I was feeling great but couldn't even begin to fathom this was the half way point for Alex.

I finished the race under two hours, smiling and excited. It's a funny thing - both watching a race and being involved. Over the years, I have been out to cheer Alex on as she endured long miles and certain physical pains. There is an emotional component to being involved - whether it's from the sideline or crossing it. And watching Alex finish her third marathon - well under 4 hours and her personal best - was not only exciting but had me screaming from the stands with tears running down my face.

So - needless to say, we are already planning our next running trip. So far it looks like I will be the one flying much further west - and in the meantime, I will be the token "running girl' in St. Thomas.

winter in the caribbean

I just celebrated my one year anniversary of life in the US Virgin Islands. This time last year, I arrived with Julian to this house - almost completely empty - and started the process of setting up our new life. And for me, the first couple of months had some challenging moments: from trying to get bank acounts and telephone accounts set up - without a social security number - to simply making my way around an island that has neither addresses nor maps ("turn left at the Smith's house then right at the yellow building to the house with the white gate.").

Julian is a fabulous little companion who consistently reminds me there are different ways to look at things. No furniture in the house? What a cool place to play ball without Mum yelling at me. And if I think back to those first couple of months from his perspective - he is a pretty resilient boy. Poor kid - new school, new (empty) house, no Dad and brother for a couple of months, and a lot of mosquitoe bites.

Of course, the high point was being reunited as a family and despite the fact that Max just about disowned me for taking off for so long - there was nothing nicer than all of us finally moving here together. And then as a family, we started new schools, started in a new business, unpacked our boxes into a new house and bought a few mosquitoe "fryers" to save the few patches of skin that were still untouched.

One year later - we are starting to feel like locals. Remember - this is a small island with minimal number of main roads - so the chances are pretty good you will drive by most everyone you know at some point during the week. And I have to laugh when I walk into our local grocery store and am greeted by "Where are Max and Julian?". Sometimes I leave the same grocery store ready to scream when I discover there is no milk and next to no fresh produce. But with a few months of shopping in St. Thomas under my belt, I now know to avoid certain stores on certain days and stock up on a few frozen things just in case all else fails.

Living in a smaller community - there has been a warm welcoming as new residents to the island. We have got to know people through the schools, sailing and work - all of whom have kept us busy with dinners, playdates and time on the water.

Business wise - we have a mere nine months under our belt. We have learned a lot - but there is still much more to absorb and translate into our own business practices. It also takes so time getting to know people and letting them get to know you. With a team of 14 - we have made a few changes and also spent some time getting to know who can do what. It's a good group - but things do work differently here and I have to remind myself - it's not the same as Vancouver. And what this means is we have been learning to be more patient with some things. I'm not saying I have become more patient - but I am learning. Mark on the other hand has amazed me with his self restraint in the crazy St. Thomas traffic.

We have been getting back to school and work this week after a few days off and a LONG school vaction break. Mark's parents are now visiting with us for a couple of weeks. It's fun to play tourist when we have visitors - as there is still a lot we have not seen. Hard to believe on an island that is 13 miles long. St. Thomas may be small but it's diverse and has a lot going on.

So onward and upward to year two and see where that takes us in our adventure. And if it's anything like the first year, I can hardly wait.