We were out celebrating last night at The Wharf. Victoria has officially been awarded her Masters! She is now Victoria Read (MA). We are all so proud of her fantastic achievement.

The Wharf is very posh, we had a table on the waterside overlooking the sea. The night included live music from a really great band and tarpon feeding.  It was a bit special. I had lobster and turtle! They are so tasty!

November has been a mad busy fun month, and here are just a few highlights.

At school we indulged in a spot of time travel looking back at the history and heritage of the Cayman Islands. A slightly surreal experience as students and staff came to school in traditional Cayman clothes, harking back to a simpler more isolated time.

To help add to the fun parents sent in the most amazing array of traditional cakes so by the end of day it was more like Woodstock, what the collective sugar rush, than a primary school. There was, to name a few, pineapple upside down cake, banana bread, coconut biscuits and thick, dense, cassava cake. The latter more like a set syrup than a cake, dripping with sugar and capable of inducing diabetes with just a glance. I am convinced the island tilted slightly under the weight of the food but fortunately thanks to the eating efforts of the staff and pupils balance was restored, phew.

The students looked amazing in their Cayman threads!

Thinking about it there has been quite a bit of dressing up this month…

Pirates week started with a bang, literally, what with the steel band competition, fireworks night and a street party. Then it just got louder!

Saturday brought the spectacle of The Pirate Landing. The local Red Coats valiantly tried to defend George Town but were soon overwhelmed and taken captive by the cut throats!

With the pirates in charge the party really got started and a carnival ensued. It was a real riot of colour and music. There must have been 30 floats. What with the sun and the sea as a backdrop it made Notting Hill seem bit drab…

The poor Red Coats suffered the ignominy of being paraded through town in chains as part of the Carnival.  I have it on good authority that it is going to be alright and that this weekend they will escape and the pirate leader will be brought to justice.  I will keep you posted on developments. (Just in case you are worried).

To blend in with the rapscallions who were infesting the island we all thought it was best if dressed as salty sea dogs and just threw ourselves in with the ruffians. It seemed to work and I can report so far we have passed unnoticed. A motley crew are The Castaways.

Exhausted by all the pirate themed activity we retreated to a hidden haven and the relative quiet of Clive and Carol’s house and a sunset Pot Luck Supper around the Baker’s Pool on Bank Holiday Monday.

What with Pirates’ Week and Heritage celebrations, night swimming, beach picnics, street parties, Poppy in the Netball Team, James joining the Marine Conservation Club, me revising for my PADI exam and test, snorkelling with wild turtles, steel bands, time with the gang, a bank holiday, a carnival, fireworks and Victoria off to the Brac November has been really busy… and it is not quite finished yet, tonight it is the turning on of the Christmas Lights, Thanksgiving is coming and next week I am heading over to the Brac for a football match.

So while we work hard during the week I guess the expat lifestyle is not all bad!