Our Caribbean Adventure - continued: Issue # 100 - Caribbean Centurion & Christmas Chronicle

. December 2015 .

Well, Hello there!

Merry Christmas & Happy 2016!

This is our 100th Issue. Who'd have thunk!

To view some of the early issues starting from BVI days - Click Here!

Anyway, enough about that. Time moves on!
This month was particularly busy - but not in a travel sense. It was a very social month, especially with Christmas. Add a wedding, New Year and a few other associated gatherings and it was all on.
So, here we go!

Green and Red Meet

The swim club held their annual Fun Meet just before Christmas.

The kids got divided into two teams (one Red Team and one Green team) and they competed in a bunch of fun races and relays.

Parents are encouraged to dress up as well - much to Sam's horror.

The 'Tow-a little-kid' race.

The Starting Elf

Jake was in the Green Team.
Sam was also in the Green team, but was a little camera-shy.

Competing in the Big Splash event...
(Has a bit of competition I think!)

The Green Team took it out this year, by the slimmest of margins. The kids celebrated with a pot luck dinner by the pool. Straight after that, we had to head out to a Christmas Party in town - no time to change!

Michelle with fellow-Kiwi Vikki

Being suckers for punishment - the next day we had a friends wedding.

It was at a lovely setting overlooking the sea.

Sam and her friend Morgan (the Bride's daughter)

Smiles come so much easier after some bubbles.

Sam and her mates

Leigh and the girls

And the Sunday after the wedding we had yet another pre-Christmas BBQ. We were thankful to go back to work on Monday, for a rest from all the partying!

Click here for more picks from a busy weekend!

Swimming

Believe it or not, the kids even managed to fit in a full-on swim meet in December as well. This was the Coconut Cup which consisted of heats in the mornings and finals at night (Fri, Sat and Sunday). It was an important meet as far as Sam's group goes, apparently!

Both Sam and Jake had some great swims. Jake blew a few people out of the water with his 200 Free and his Fly, and did PBs in every event. Sam also broke her own Cayman Record for the 200 Free that she had set the month before. She also beat the 100m Free record as well!

Christmas

They love their Christmas lights around here.
This and the following pictures are all on one person's private home.

Hate to have to pay the power bill!
Looks pretty spectacular though!

These next few are at another place down the road.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Santa has been!

It was just us on Christmas morning for breakfast. We even managed a sleep-in...OK 7:30....

Michelle found this in one of the supermarkets here in Cayman.
It's made by our friends Jan & Russell in Wellington! It went well with the croissants!

Popping out for Christmas morning aperitifs...then onto another friends for dinner!

Christmas day we spent some time in late morning/early afternoon around at a friends house where quite a few of our friends and acquaintances were gathering, popping in and out etc. Then it was home to finish off our contributions for the Christmas Dinner with the Deegans. We had to bring some vege's and desert for about 25 people.

All went well. The food was great, as was the company and the kids all had fun as well. We all went home with fat bellies.

Sam's Birthday was on Boxing Day. We spent a quiet morning at home and then went to another friend's place for their Annual Boxing Day All-Day Party. There was Rugby on at the club as well so we popped in there briefly before taking Sam and her friend out for Dinner - another night of fat bellies!

The next day was a quiet one with friends...at the beach!

Time for lazing on the beach...

Trying out the Christmas pressie!

Click here for more pics from December

Diving

After the lazy day at the beach we decided to go for a dive the next day - with the whole family!

Sunset House was the closest option.

The Mermaid

...and hangers-on

Dave is coming back from a run. Look at him go!

Mr. Shrimp

Jake blowing Air Rings

Another nice dive chalked up! Since it was at Sunset, we took advantage of the sea view from the bar and caught up with a few friends for a couple of hours afterwards.

Click here to see more pics from the dive

New Year

New Year's Eve was soon upon us, after a big work week of two days!

We would start around the road at our friends Toni & Paul for burgers, beers and fireworks.

Sparklers never go out of fashion

Sam and Sami face off.

There were even 'Tank Battles' - Click here to view.

You are still able to buy your own fireworks here - and you can get some pretty impressive stuff!
Paul put on another great show!

Then it was down the street to Jo and Raz's for a party on the beach to bring in the New Year (it's great having all of the parties and gatherings close to home!).

And behold! There was a keg....

Double-Fisting is the way to go it seems - counting down to the New Year

Toni & Michelle

New Year's Day

Always a big day here...

Despite feeling a little slower at the start of the New Year, we always manage to have a gathering at Governor's Beach. It's an almost-organised occasion with people bringing barbeques, pre-prepared food, tents, chairs and even tiki torches! Not to mention portable generators, blenders and ingredients for Mudslides...and a keg!

It's at the same spot we usually go to on a Sunday, but with about five times the amount of people.

And look! That pesky keg has followed us to the beach!

Various forms of water transport on show today!

The gathering early on

A lovely sunset too!

Notice that most people are facing the sea - to watch the sun go down

The portable generator and the blender - vital for the Mudslides (Bailey's, Vodka, Kahlua & ice).
Michelle and Mick are kept busy keeping up with demand.