Hi there!
Welcome to the happenings in November for 2010. The months seem to be whizzing by. I guess that’s what happens when you do stuff! This month we have some more swimming, some more sailing, a wee bit more of partying, some pirating, a bit of Rugbying and travelling and beaching.
Read on….
Light Fingered Fiends
We were unfortunate enough to have someone relieve us of some of our belongings early in November. Somebody cheekily slipped in through the front door while Dave was in another room one night. They took the kid’s DS games as well as Dave’s Phone, an iPod, the Camera and a few other bits and pieces. Luckily, none of it was irreplaceable and the photo’s had all be downloaded from the Camera. The kids were pretty upset but came to terms with things pretty quickly, as kids do. Anyway, we are a little more security conscious now, but it is a shame when you have to think like that in your own home.
The Police asked Dave what he would do if he had caught them. He told them. They replied, “Well, you do have to look after what’s yours you know…” Any future intruders better look out (including an unexpected and unsuspecting wife - Michelle came home the other night earlier than expected and Dave came running out about to hit her - Welcome Home Darling!).
Charlotte
So, the day after the rip off, Dave headed off to Charlotte. Now it was going to be a shopping trip as well as a Rugby trip! Dave now appreciates on-line shopping, as all the boxes etc were waiting at his hotel on arrival so he didn’t have to do much in the way of shopping at all!
Anyway, back to the story. Two teams travelled from Cayman. They met at the Airport… yes, in the bar. Well, the bar is about 30 feet from the departure door/gate-thing. A couple of quiets later they were boarding the plane and heading to Charlotte… a distance of approximately 6 to 10 beers and three Bloody Mary’s (they ran out of beer).
Making friends with the locals...
After arriving at Charlotte they were picked up by a bus which took at least 147 left turns before they arrived at the Hotel. A quick check in, a gathering in the hotel bar and then off to Hooters for something to eat… and a beer maybe.
The following morning was Breakfast at IHOP (International House of Pancakes) as the hotel breakfast was pretty dismal. Then it was back on the bus and off to the Charlotte Rugby Club. As this would be Dave’s first game back after a lengthy injury spell, he played for the social team in the early game. They did alright and were all tied up at half-time 7 – 7. But the jet lag set in after the break (at least they think it was jet lag) and the Charlotte team came away winners 19 – 7. But a good game all the same.
The slightly more serious game was next and the Cayman side battled bravely but were convincingly beaten by Charlotte. So it was back into the club house to watch the Autumn internationals from the UK and thereabouts. That was followed by another night out in Charlotte bingo halls and then back to bed for an early night.
Sunday was a liquid breakfast in the bar before heading to Panther’s Stadium to watch an NFL game. Luckily we befriended a couple of Hillbillies outside the game who selflessly gave us all their beer. Dave is about to send them a couple of Cayman Rugby shirts in return for their generosity, although he can’t replace their chillybins/cooler boxes that came to an unfortunate end.
They found their way into the stadium and took the Space shuttle up to their seats about 4,000 feet above sea level where they could just see a tiny green rectangle below them that was the playing field. Luckily they had a stack of big screens so the game could actually be seen. After a few hours of this the boys got bored and started to look for a different form of entertainment. They found it in the Face painting booth and then a bar down the street. Several bars later and it was Monday morning! Time to get up and pack the bags and head back to Cayman.
A fairly quiet and uneventful trip back saw Dave arrive at school in time to take the kids to their swimming sessions and not removing his sunglasses. But, a good trip was had by all and the kids now have new DS’s, we have a new Camera and Dave has another phone…with the same number.
Marooned in Little Cayman
Little Cayman
The following weekend it was off to Little Cayman for Remembrance Weekend. Little Cayman is like BVI’s Anegada. Very nice and very quiet, but also it has everything you need. We arrived by plane in the mid afternoon on the friday and could easily enjoy a nice quiet drink while watching the sunset from the deck of our little unit beside the sea.
Saturday morning and Michelle was off diving with the local dive company. The seas on the other side of the island (where the best diving is) were quite rough and their boat had to turn back and settle for some diving closer to home. It was still pretty good diving though with Michelle spotting a shark and a few other creatures.
Dave took the kids exploring and snorkeling for the morning. In the afternoon we took the pushbikes and headed across the island for some fishing, which wasn’t all that spectacular. The seas were quite rough on that side. The kids did pull in a couple of small fish but they were thrown back in to bite another day.
Dinner was at the Hungry Iguana that night and we all rolled the 35 feet back to our unit.
Sunday morning was Dave’s turn to Dive. The seas on the other side of the island had eased so the boat headed there. Both dives were good. The first one had a few swim throughs and they spotted a baby Trunk Fish which was about the size of a pea, but black with yellow spots. They also dived the famous Bloody Bay wall which was teaming with life.
Michelle had picked up a rental car from Dodgy Brothers Rentals and went for a hoon around the island while Dave was diving. At one stage they turned up on a small beach about 100 yards from the dive boat. They were about to swim out to say hi when the boat headed off for the next dive site.
That afternoon we headed off to a tiny deserted island just about 300m off the beach. The Kayak was the main mode of transport, but Michelle swam over and back. Sam Kayaked over but swam back.
Dave and the kids made a little boat out of a coconut and some sticks. It looked good but the seas were a little rough for it. After some playing about there we heading back to the ‘mainland’ of Little Cayman and set the kids up fishing off one of the Jetties while we enjoyed a couple of beers in the sun, as it headed towards sunset. Both kids caught a few fish and we just kept the biggest one for the kids to have as their starter for dinner. They ate it up and both felt very much the great white hunter.
On Monday we headed to a beach called Point of Sand and bumped into Sam’s Netball Coach from school who was over on a boozy weekend. They moved on and we headed out for a snorkel. The first thing we saw was a Nurse shark having asleep. We’re pretty sure it was the same shark we saw when we were there last year at Easter. We saw a few other fish and Stingray. Following that the kids did some more fishing. They caught a few small ones but nothing worth keeping.
Jake doing the Te Waka Haka....welcoming the fish ashore
Our last act of the day was to snorkel over near where Dave was diving the day before. We headed out and were rewarded with a Nurse Shark, Two Turtles and a number of Grouper, amongst other things. We had to head back in as the sun was dropping again. Back to the accommodation for a few drinks in the sunset and then dinner.
The next day (Tuesday) we had the 9am flight out and headed straight from the airport to School/work etc. It was a very pleasant commute for us all!
Michelle’s Birthday
It was Michelle’s Birthday during November. She celebrated on the Friday night with a girls night out. She was rewarded the next day with an early start to take the kids to a swim meet as Dave was Coaching kid’s Rugby.
In the afternoon, Michelle took the kids to watch the Pirate’s week cardboard boat race… only to completely miss it! Would you believe it - they started it early! They at least saw some of the boats. Saturday night we all dressed as Pirates and went down to the Pirate’s Week Fireworks display.
Sunday, after the swimming, we packed up a car full of supplies and headed for Governor’s Beach and set up shop there. A friend brought along a portable generator. Dave had packed the blender and several bottles of Kahlua, Bailey’s and Vodka. Another guy brought the ice. Mudslide time! Nothing like making your own cocktails on the beach! After a few hours of that it was time for the annual (ish) Girls v Boys softball game. The last one got a bit heated with some of the Girly team doing some very good John McEnroe impressions.
This game was an evenly fought encounter with the game ending in a tie in bad light. In fact it was dark. But another good day at the beach and Michelle got a special “Birthday Mudslide” that the kids organized and supervised.
"Down, down, down, down!!!"
So, we packed up and headed off. Dave was cooking dinner...Indian takeaways on the way home!
Swimming
Pirates week was upon us in November. Pirates from all over the world come down and run about waving their cutlasses at unsuspecting folk and drinking rum. But we are actually here to talk about the Pirate’s week swim meet at the present point in time.
It covered Friday night, Saturday morning and Sunday morning.
Both kids did well. Both continue to improve their Personal Best (PB) times so that’s good. Jake came away with the High Points award for his age group. He’ll get some real competition in the meets after Christmas as he’ll be Eight in January and will go up a level.
Sam continues to chip away at her times too and is doing really well against some strong opposition.
Sailing
Sam was selected for the school team in the interschools regatta that was held last week. They were the reigning champions so high expectations were upon them. They started the first race poorly and were third after the first round. But a tongue lashing from their coach got them going and by lunchtime they were sitting in 1st position. Much better!
After lunch things went a little awry with some capsizes and at one point a yacht being stuck on the marker! Coach wasn’t happy. They ended the day with a sail off and just managed to secure 1st equal. Their coach wasn’t that happy but at least they retained the Trophy. The Coach did say that Sam and her partner Skyler sailed very well throughout and it was the more experienced members of the squad that let the side down.
Triathlon
Michelle has been training hard for the triathlon which was held on the weekend. She did the Sprint triathlon which was 750m swim, 20km bike and 5km run. Always strong in the swim, she was 3rd individual out of the water - she doesn't take this lightly as she knows that people will pass her in the bike and run so has worked hard training for that part. Michelle was very thankful for the loan of a decent road bike - it's a lot easier and faster than the old mountain bike and made a huge difference to her race. Then it was just a matter of holding on in the run - which is easier said than done for her!
The training must have paid off because when Dave and the kids went up the road to watch her bike past, she’d already gone through! They had to chase her down in the car to get a photo. Then they raced back to the transition area to see her start the run, only to miss that as well! But they were there at the finish to see her come in a very credible position of 3rd female (10th overall)!
Next year she might have to do the Olympic race, which is twice the distance, although her immediate thought after the race was "OMG, I could never do the Olympic - I am knackered"! But after quite a few Gatorades and biscuits she was seriously considering it! Watch this space!
Next Month:
MOvember Party – in true Cayman style, MOvember finished on 3 December. Watch this space!
Cayman Marathon
Christmas parties
A short Xmas School Holiday
Some Rugby?
Don't forget to check out www.caymanrugbyTV.com
