Bamboo is used to support the form work.

It has been a week of “Hellos” and “Goodbyes”. Waggy (AKA Sarah) arrived on Sunday after an uneventful but enjoyable flight with Virgin. Fi and Jeff went to collect her from the airport whilst Tess and I stood by to help Doreen with an unexpected sailing party of 40 people from Martinique. In the event not so many people made the annual Hobicat race from Martinique to St Lucia as the winds and seas were quite big, so we were able to sit and drink a beer and enjoy the band. We stayed there all evening and introduced Waggy to everyone we know and they all said that she must be Fi’s sister, which has become a daily comment from anyone who meets them. The Lucians love to know where all the friends and family fit in and ask about everyone they have met long after they have returned to UK. It was a little squashed on the boat but nothing we couldn’t cope with. Sadly that problem has now eased as we said goodbye to Tess on Tuesday, after having a really good time for the past fortnight. We also said goodbye to some Australian friends that have just bought an ex- Moorings boat and are planning to sail her back to Oz. They are in Grenada at the moment getting some electronics fitted and doing last minute jobs before the big journey starts – good luck to you both if you are reading this.
Fi and Waggy have got into a good fitness routine already, as they are both preparing for fitness tests on their return. They use the gym, go sea kayaking and swim every day and then we try to take a walk up to the lot, which is a bit of a killer at midday as it is so hot and there is very little shade. This hardship is offset by the fact that mangoes litter the route at the moment, so there is always sustenance to be had on the way. We just need to take wet wipes to keep ourselves clean!
Still no significant rain, so the build is on schedule. This week has seen the positioning of wood and steel all over the area that will be the ceiling/first floor. The place looks huge now that we can see where the balconies spread out. We opted for smaller inside rooms and a larger veranda as many people have told us that most living is done outdoors.
This week’s wildlife update is a sighting of an Osprey high above the bay and also the presence of 8-inch high seahorses in the bay. They have been spotted by the rocks, near the spit, on the other side of the bay. We shall take the dinghy over and snorkelling gear and hopefully be able to confirm the rumours. I would be so excited if it were true, as I have never seen them in real life before, so watch this space!