Whew! Exhausted of Marigot Bay signing in!

Well we did it. We have had lots of family visit and party with us over a period of a month. Mum arrived first, which was a gentle introduction to the full on celebrations for her birthday. It was great fun and well worth the effort put in by all. Even the room changes were fun, trying to let everyone have their turn in the green room, overlooking the bay.

On the day itself we girls started with small bottles of Champagne with straws whilst we munched on Lee’s macaroon bars and watched Mum open a mountain of cards. Jill had been fantastic in gathering newspaper memorabilia and also producing a print of Mum when she was eighteen in the form of an icing circle to put on the birthday cake, which I had made.

Next was the surprise trip to the beauty parlour where we all had a different treatment, me-toes, Jill-nails, Mum- face and Jacki - back. Whilst Mum was being finished off we nipped back to the house to get her swimming gear and then back down to the dock to escort her to a fast motor launch for her day out to the Pitons and a beach bar lunch. The weather was perfect and we all swam and ate well.

Once back at the house, orders were issued to rendezvous on the middle balcony for Champagne at 6pm. With perfect timing we all assembled, drank a few glasses of bubbly and headed off to a night in Chateau mygo..or so she thought. In fact another surprise was install for Mum when a local pirogue came to the dock to whisk us all away to a restaurant in Vigie, about five miles up the coast. Fortunately for us it was a dry night, although the seas were rough but that just added to the excitement. We had a great meal followed by a surprise birthday pudding, with sparklers’ an all!

We returned to Chateau Mygo, where the band was still playing and Mum was immediately snapped up for a dance by the sushi chef and then a chorus of Happy Birthday sang by the whole place. It really was a fun day and we shall all remember it for a long time to come. We have to thank lots of people for making it happen and being so generous with their boats and enthusiasm.

Jill and Mum ready for all weather on the boat ride.

Mum left a few days later, Jill and Herb still had ten days to go and Jacki and Chris had three days before the next half of their vacation to be spent in Martinique. Bron and ken Mac arrived for a short stopover before joining their boat for a sailing holiday and then a friend of Fi’s came for three nights before flying off to rejoin her boat. The most we had in the house at one time was nine people, all had beds, all were fed and all left in one piece apart from a few sore heads.

Mum with her birthday puds.

And Roz with her wine.

We have spent this morning catching up on the gardening, washing and admin. In a few hours I am off with some girlfriends, to the south of the Island, to celebrate another birthday. Jeff is dog sitting but hoping to do a bit of night fishing with a friend. So, I could return to fresh tuna, which would go well with our resolution to eat healthily, drink less and sleep more!

Ken and Bron.

Jill at play with her ducks in the pool.

Obie has recently taken to sitting on chairs like a human!

Marigot Bay in all its glory.