Sorry its been a little while, to quote my favourite film ‘life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it…’ so today I have stopped to look around and write-up the last couple of months… with a little help from my mum’s diary.

Sunday 17 December

Hooray we are here! M and James came to pick us up in the minibus he has ‘borrowed’ at a very good price. Dropped the bags at Eldemire and then round to Sandalwood close.  Unfortunately Ben and Tam’s flight had been delayed out of London, not arriving until midday tomorrow.  We adjourned to Sunset House for something to eat – lovely, feels like home to be back.  Then we had a look at the Christmas lights. 

Finally got to bed at about 11.30 – (4.30 am UK time).  Absolutely whacked.  Shame about the cockerel outside – it crowed non-stop all night!

Monday 18 December

They’re here!  All very excited. We went to Sunset for a drink and some chips. The girls had a dip in M and B and Tam had a dip in the sea pool and the pool, then on to Smiths Cove for a swim in the sea.  Matthew made curry for supper.

Ben and the girls were thrilled to have their first dip in the Caribbean Sea, I guess coming from minus 2 degrees celsius in the UK to plus 27 degree celsius here its a bit of a change. As we swam out of the sea pool for the first time we met a nurse shark hanging around to greet them double cool!

Tuesday 19 December

Busy, busy.  M wanted to do all ends of the island from Hell, to Rum Point, to Spots. We managed Hell, and round the West loop and Al fresco for some food and a swim.  Ian and I sat in the shade on the beach.  The rest of them had a glorious swim. Then we got ready and went to a party at Clive and Carol’s house Spooky Clive comes from West Cornwall and used to be involved with ‘Kneehigh’.  It was before Ben went down there but they knew lots of the same people, it’s such a small world.  Everyone seemed to have a good time.

We stopped at Vivo for coffee, I love this spot at the north end of the island a great dive centre and restaurant overlooking the sea.

We also bumped into Benny’s doppleganger here…

Wednesday 20 December

We took a day off from the crowd.  They were all off to the Westin Hotel for the day.  Matthew and Victoria had booked Ben and Tamsin in for a night’s stay so they all spent the day up there.  They sent the children paddle boarding and apparently had a bit of a scare when they all started drifting away.  Apart from Lara who brought herself in and Poppy, who had made a valiant effort to reach the rest and bring them in, ended up getting herself back, the rest were rescued by jet ski! Glad I wasn’t there, I would have panicked like mad.  Anyway all was well in the end thank the Lord.  We had a nice day wandering about.  We went to Cost-u-less and bought a few things and spent a while at Smiths then went to Sunset House for a drink then back to M’s for supper – very nice Carbonaro.  Then home to bed.

Well it will make a good story when they are older, ‘remember that time funny Uncle Matthew hired us all paddle boards and we all got swept out to sea.’

The chaps from Red Sail had it all in hand, they said it happens all the time… still it was a lovely day all in all.

Thursday 21 December

OMG one of those days where we spent all day chasing our tails.  The plan was all go and meet Ben and Tam at the hotel, have a bit of time there, have a walk round town then go to Spots Cove turtle hunting.  Nooo ..  got to the hotel late, bad traffic so off back to town, Matthew kept diverting his contingent so after we all called in to J Michael Outlet, Victoria, Ian and I went on to town.  Then we  called in to Bristol Court and Vicks made sandwiches while the advanced party went on to the beach.  Those who were snorkeling saw turtles and those who didn’t had a good swim or sit in the sun.  Matthew made a delicious lasagna for supper.

Friday 22 December

Matthew and Victoria were off on John and Dee’s stag/hen does.  Ian dropped Ben and Tamsin and Lara and James in town.  Then came back – I stayed with the little girls. Then Ian went back to take B and T somewhere else and they all shopped for lunch and dinner.  Ben made us all burgers for lunch. We had a trip to Smiths and then made Chinese noodles for dinner. Archie the repair man came round and installed the new microwave and, as a by the way, at my request, sorted out the tumble dryer.   Ben and Tamsin, and James and Lara went for a moonlight walk to the beach – Ben had another swim.  M and V appeared back just as we were leaving.

Cracking day for the boys, I collected them all in the van and we headed to the distillery and learnt how rum is made. Very educational and tasty.

Then round to Singh’s for Roti before setting off to Rum Point and the start of our round the island pub crawl. The best thing about being the ‘DD’, designated driver was watching the carnage unfold!

As a side game, to keep me entertained while everyone else got sloshed, I had a load of leaflets for a Caribbean themed festival in Cornwall next summer that Benny had brought with him, everywhere we went I put up a poster for his tropical gig.

Over the Edge, South Coast Bar, Pedro, GOH, Bar Crudo, Al-a-Kabab and lots of manly singing all featured on the tour before we eventually caught up with the girls at the Marriott Hotel on Seven Mile Beach for cocktails and then on to the Royal Palms for ‘dancin’.

At this point Bradley (the future brother in law) disappeared so Lucky the bar maid stepped in.

Saturday 23 December

A huge shop – M, B and T and Ian and I went to the supermarket and got all the stuff for Christmas meals.  A mammoth task!  Ben and Tamsin made burritos for supper.

We had an explore around Camana Bay.

Sunday 24 December

Christmas Eve.  Hung around the house all morning. 

Ian got cabin fever so he and I and Lara went out for a drive. We went just past the Lighthouse, stopped and had a drink in a beach side bar, had a little paddle then came back.  All got burgers from the Burger Shack and took them to Governors beach, and picnicked as the sun went down – lovely. 

M and V, Poppy, Sophia and I went to church for the nine lessons and carols service, that was really nice, I always enjoy Christmas church with M and V, real Christmas.   Back at the house we ‘watched’ films till late.

Monday 25 December

Christmas Day in Grand Cayman 😎.  Who would believe it!  We got under way and turned up for breakfast before 10. M had made a breakfast feast.  Then the great present unwrap took place. 

Dinner turned out very well, if rather later than expected. 

A quiet evening, we watched Dr Who and Call the Midwife.

Tuesday 26 December

All the tribe went to the Turtle Centre which they really loved.  Ian and I had a lazy morning, a sandwich for brunch at Sunset House, a big tour round West Bay, a drink at Coca Loba and then a peaceful half hour at South Sound.  Back to the house for a cuppa, then out to Kirk for some stuff for supper.  We demolished the ham with eggs and chips.

We had a brilliant day at the Turtle Sanctury its just wonderful from being mesmerised by the giant fully grown turtles (the size of a VW beetle) to holding the babies just wonderful.

We stopped at Macabuka on the way back – I think this is Benny’s new favorite spot. I swear we saw Ann Hesh there…

Wednesday 27 December

Wedding cake making day. Matthew and I went to Kirk first to get supplies and food for dinner, then he started baking. 

This turned into a real nightmare for Matthew, while the small and very small Bundt cakes were turning out perfectly the large size refused to come out of the tin without breaking.

 Meanwhile Victoria and Tamsin had gone off running errands including going to Kirk to do the recycling and get a birthday cake for Lily.  Then Victoria rang to say Matthew’s car had broken down, so Ian was diverted to go and rescue them. Ben was getting cabin fever so we bunked off to Tiki  Beach and had some lunch and a swim.

Matthew still baking when we got back, still no big cakes. Time went on and on. Eventually at about 8.30 Ben made some food for the kids and we had turkey soup and bread. We left at about 10 M still baking.

Typical the cakes had been turning out perfectly in practice and I figured I had it cracked! But no, the wedding cake fairies decided to play pranks and no matter what i did the cakes kept refusing to come out of the tin! I baked 6 and only one survived…

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FortunatelyI had a plan ‘b’ and it turned out pretty well…

Thursday 28 December

Lily’s birthday.  Breakfast at Coconut Joes – very nice. Then M and V and James and Poppy went back home to get ready for the wedding – M had managed to make one big cake, four smaller ones and 18 mini ones – we worked out that should be plenty. 

We went with Ben and Tamsin and the girls to the Dolphin experience.  Unfortunately Lily freaked out at the idea of swimming with the dolphins, and completely refused to go in.  Ben was offered a refund, but then it all became too difficult so they ended up with a photo package for Lara instead.  Initially Lara wasn’t happy about going in on her own, but she did and thoroughly enjoyed it. 

Afterwards we had a drink at Macabuku, then called in to Tiki beach for a swim on the way home.  I needed to retreat to the shade so Ian and I went for a drink in the Coca Loba Bar and while we were there I saw Maureen Pope and her husband Mike arrive and stand outside – that was a surprise.  (Maureen used to work with mum back in the day at Reading Uni, her son resides here). I dashed out and accosted them.  We arranged to meet in Camana Bay next week. 

Back at home we decided to go over to the Grand Old House for a drink at Dee and John’s wedding while Ben and Tamsin and the girls went to Sunset House for a meal.  We had a drink and bought a snack for supper, stayed a couple of hours and then came back. 

Ben went over to join Matthew for a drink.

John and Dee’s wedding looked a million dollars! Not bad for a group of friends pulling together and sorting it out it. The day started with the ceremony on the beach with the happy couple framed by palm trees, with the glistening Caribbean as the back drop and Earl La Piere playing the steel pans, it was perfect. (Earl is only a national treasure and the man who brought pans to Cayman).

Dee looked beautiful. After the service we had champaigne and wedding cake…

Which was a real hit! I am chuffed to say it got loads of compliments including from the Native Caymanian contingent who were very impressed.

Then on to Grand Old house for a knees up!

Friday 29 December

A lovely, long, hot, sunny day at Starfish Point, followed by a drink at Rum Point and something to eat at Over The Edge on the way home.  All tired out by the time we got in.

Saturday 30 December

Ben and Tamsin and the girls, plus Poppy went out with Captain Marvin to Stingray City.  The rest of us had a quiet time, then Ian volunteered to go and pick them up, so we had a drive round Governors Harbour and a walk on the public beach while we waited for them. 

As it was the Cornwall contingent’s last evening here we all went to Rackhams for something to eat. 

Sadly they will be off home tomorrow, but they have had an amazing time, really packed in just about all they could manage in two weeks.

Well mum says a quiet day, dad decided to write to the national paper in response to an artical about rubbish and recycling and the issues we have with it here. His letter only went and got published…

< p class=”p1″>Sunday 31 December Ben and co had a last swim, then Victoria made them something to eat before they left.  Ben didn’t want to hang around the house waiting to go to the airport so we all (except James) had a mooch round town and a final ice cream/milkshake.

Their plane was delayed but Ben wanted to get to the airport by 3 pm, so we dropped them off – luckily, despite the delay they managed to catch the connection in Dallas.  It seemed so strange back at the house without them.  Matthew made BBQ for dinner and then we took ourselves off to the Westin to meet up with M and V’s friends to see the New Year in on the beach.  It was amazing, fireworks everywhere all round the Sound, they were going off all evening but at midnight it was just mad. James lost his phone on the beach but luckily someone picked it up and he got it back.  We didn’t get to bed until gone 1.30 am.

Monday 1 January 2018

A very quiet start, waiting to hear from B and T, they got in on schedule and let us know when they were past Bristol, then again when they reached home.  I was glad to hear they were safely back.  Victoria made chicken korma for supper. We couldn’t all sit at the table because of the art work, then we sat in the dark and watched a Tom Cruise film called American Made.

Tuesday 2 January

Up and out sharpish – we’ll 10.30.  We met up with Maureen and Mike Pope at the Waterfront Restaurant in Camana Bay.  We had a good couple of hours with them, very nice breakfast and a good old chin wag.  The wonders of Facebook!  They seem to be very well settled in Bexhill, apparently they have got family round that way.  Still homework going on back at the ranch. 

Matthew made corned beef hash for supper then the four of us went over to Sunset House for a drink – I had my daily mudslide!  It was quite chilly and windy and the sea was very rough big waves splashing right up against the front wall. 

Wednesday 3 January

Everyone back to school so we had a pretty quiet day.   We had a drive up to Tiki beach and an iced coffee at Coca Loba – the sea was very rough, no one out playing in the waves today. Came home and made ‘Kenturkey’ Mac and cheese for everyone. 

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