.. Feb - May 2021 ..
Hello!
Have you missed us?
(Probably not...) :)
Along with most people in the world these days, we haven't actually gone anywhere so our news has been relatively lean on that front. Sam is now back from Ohio and getting used to a warmer climate with a little less snow. Jake is just finishing off his last year at High School and we all continue to make the most of what we have here.
See our pics and comments below to see what we've been up to over the last few months.
Dave's Birthday Paddle Board Pub Crawl
It was Dave's birthday in March. We had arranged a Paddle Board Pub Crawl on the Friday afternoon along Seven Mile Beach. 13 (Lucky for some) took part in the adventure. Prior to starting out, we had lunch, and maybe a quiet beer or two at the Kimpton, near the top end of Seven Mile Beach. As a surprise, Michelle had booked in there for the weekend as well!
Then it was off out to sea - but not far out and along to a few Hotel Bars that are dotted along the way. Some of the Paddling left a little to be desired, but everyone made it...eventually.
The first stop!
(Well, the first stop after the stop at the start...)
En route to another fine establishment
"The bar is this way!"
Another bar!
Getting a bit wobbly out there!
Oops!
It started to get a little dark so we called it quits after number 4, which was technically number 5, but who's counting? It just so happened that the last one was just preparing for their dinner guests as 13 minimally dressed, damp and sand speckled vagrants made themselves at home in the bar area. The Maitre d' wasn't that amused, but they needed the money.
After that we actually made it (via land this time) to Number 6, which was originally Number 0, or maybe 1 (the start point) for dinner. A great time was had by all and we only had a short walk to our room which was a bit of a bonus.
The view from our hotel room
We were able to hold an official ANZAC Service this year. Last year we weren't allowed to gather anywhere so held a family gathering in the back yard by the pool.
This year we headed out to Tukka (Aussie-styled restaurant) for the Dawn Service. There was a decent crowd there as well, which was nice. We even had a Bugler!
After the service it was ANZAC Biscuits, Bacon & Egg Baps and Rum & Coffee.
We spent a weekend out at Kaibo with a bunch of friends for our friend Lisa's birthday. A good weekend was had by all! Plenty of laughs and fun in and on the water as
Out on Nellie's boat for the morning
The first stop was Stingray City. They seemed pleased to see us!
With no tourists here yet, they aren't getting fed as often, so any boat brings a potential meal!
Spotted a few other critters hanging about the neighborhood.
Michelle took part in the Cross-Island Relay. 6 legs of Four Miles each.
They didn't quite win, but had a fun time anyway.
Sam
Sam has been in Ohio since January. Plenty of snow about but luckily they don't have far to go between their accommodation, the pool & Gym and the lectures.
The Bobcats had a few swim meets over the last few months as well. It's a shame we couldn't go and watch any but we were able to see most of the meets Live online.
Sam is in the nearest lane (above).
Another meet, another pool.
Their last meet of the season was the "MACs" - Mid America Central where they swim off against the other Universities in the region. Sam had some good swims and the team performed well too.
After several months of training (and not partying) they finally got to have a team party.
Easter Brunch - Ohio Style
Sam then packed up her room and headed back to Cayman, with a stop in Miami to satisfy the Covid testing requirements before flying back and going straight into 14 days quarantine.
Slumming it in quarantine
She was fortunate enough to secure a new holiday home at Kaibo for those two weeks. Wayyyyyy better than staying in a quarantine hotel. We happened to be out there for one of the weekends as well, so were able to pop around and say hello (from a distance!).
She survived that and is now out and about and doing some part-time work helping out at the Rugby Club.
Jake
Jake wins one of the 800m Sea swims
Jake has spent the last few months studying and training and perfecting his Mullet.
How's that!!!?
The Nationals were coming up, so Jake decided to shave his head the day
before. A lot of the younger kids thought he was cool because he had a
magnificent Mullet. Now they all want to shave their heads!
The annual Caribbean swim champs (Carifta) was canceled again this year, but in lieu of that, the national swim association took all of the qualified swimmers over to Cayman Brac for a short swim camp.
Corey, with Jake in his Formal Pool Attire.
Jake with some Butterfly action
Air time!
Another 800m Sea Swim done and dusted
Other Happenings
We enjoyed another weekend stay-cation over Easter. This time down in West Bay on the beach. It was a great little spot and really quiet.
Isn't that pretty! From our doorstep
Since it was the season for birthdays, we gathered for another friends party. This time at a restaurant for lunch. Although the lunch carried on a little longer than lunch and it was dark by the time most people dragged themselves away. The Espresso Martinis were a real hit!
Just another Cayman sunset...
With Sam out of Quarantine (just in time) we celebrated Mother's Day with a Brunch.
One of the locals that hangs around out the back of our place.
Maybe they are hoping to catch a fish in the pool?
Michelle and some of the girls did the Mastic Trail one Saturday morning. The trail is a sort of Nature walk where you can see some of the native wildlife and plants and things. It's about 2 miles each way.
Dave's Pineapples are coming along! This one had a really pretty flower. It was quite a small pineapple, but very sweet! There's about another 3 or four that will be ready over the next month or so.
They are pretty low maintenance to grow (water), but they take between 18 months and two years to produce.
Jake has some exciting news.
If you can't guess from the picture, he's off to the University of Massachusetts - about an hour or so from Boston. He's been offered a place on the UMass Div 1 Men's Swim Team, The Minute Men (Minutemen were civilian colonists who independently formed militia companies self-trained in weaponry, tactics, and military strategies, comprising the American colonial partisan militia during the American Revolutionary War. They were known for being ready at a minute's notice, hence the name.), which is great!
Sam the Minuteman
He will be studying Sports Science, which is a fairly generic description, but has the plan to be pre-med and looking at Chiropractics.
With Sam looking to do physio studies, it looks like they both might come in useful around our place!
We'll see if he enjoys the cooler climate as much as Sam!
Another sunset from Governor's Beach...
Over the next month or so we'll be trying to get Jake sorted out for Uni in the US. That means a trip to Jamaica to get his US Student Visa. Traveling isn't easy just now, but hopefully things will ease a little so we can get that done. We're all now fully jabbed & stabbed, so that might help a little.
If all goes to plan we'll be able to take Sam back to Ohio and Jake to Massachusetts late August/early September.
Until next time....
Stay safe
We'll catch you again soon (ish)!!!
