V - E - R - Y . . . . . . . S - C A - R - E - Y ! ! ! ! !

One of the less attractive aspects of life in the tropics, if you happen to be moth-phobic, is the presence of big fellas like this, shown here on an ordinary business-size envelope. The screens on my doors and windows are not so much to keep out the mosquitoes as to stop terrifying (to me) creatures like this getting into the house.

I went out to the car yesterday afternoon and found it on the garage floor between the driver's side of the car and the wall. Although it was completely still I wasn't sure if it was dead, so I got into the car through the passenger side and clambered (at the second attempt, having removed the steering lock!) over to the driver's side.

By this afternoon it still hadn't moved so was presumably dead. With great skill, daring and trembling I flicked it onto the envelope to photograph it. I then courageously carried it to some grass so that I wouldn't have to look at it each time I got the car out.

Later I noticed that it had disappeared and I am now terrified all over again - in case Lazarus has brought it into the house and I step on it in my bare feet.

Most St Lucians are terrified of frogs, so I'm not the only one with irrational fears here!

Hole and wedding (no pic of kneecap!)

Yesterday I found myself unexpectedly up at SLAPS because of Elaine's illness. I remembered to take the camera and shot these photos for you.

I also managed to upload the video clip of Derek and Anne's wedding vows. (Click on the photo, then on the Start arrow below it and wait while it buffers.) Sorry if this embarrasses you, Derek, I think it's very moving.

The Hole

This picture of the hole was taken from the SLAPS balcony. You can imagine Elaine's disbelief when the 2' hole morphed into this whilst she wasn't looking!

Yesterday I noticed that the bottom is beginning to fill up again with earth - so we shan't have as far to fall if we do tumble in.

The 'Crust'

This is the 'crust' of track over the hole.
Scarey!

The track beyond SLAPS

This is the track as it continues up from SLAPS. It's a lot worse than it looks here, and the track from the main road to SLAPS is a lot worse than this bit - but difficult to photograph as it bends.

Wedding Video Clip

A SLAPS WEDDING !

Anne, one of the vet nurses coming over for the recent spay and neuter clinic, brought her fiance Derek as they wanted to get married in St Lucia. They wanted a simple ceremony, not the lavish kind of thing that takes place in hotels here, so I offered the use of the gazebo in my garden.

They wanted a St Lucian ceremony (which they got, with knobs on - see the cake ceremony below) and also wanted my St Lucian friends and neighbours to be invited.

I roped in Catherine to decorate the gazebo, Pam made the cake, Ken lent his windchimes, Pat cut the coconut branches and bamboo and Vel and Merle helped when I ran out of time for food preparation. A real community effort, as most things are here, and very much appreciated by Anne and Derek.

As I was, kind of, overseeing operations I missed out on some photo opportunities but hope you will enjoy the ones below and forgive me for the ones I missed. I also took a brief video of the exchange of vows but couldn't get this to load on Blogger.

It was a truly magical occasion, which I hope will come across in the pictures.

Preparing the gazebo

Catherine had come up with some wonderful ideas for decorating the gazebo so I left the whole thing in her capable hands.

Here are some of her helpers getting on with the work.

Lazarus is wondering how he can help.

...and adding the finishing touches

Marie-Ange from Martinique (in front) and Catherine's sister Vel (behind) put the last pieces of decoration in place, watched by my tenant, Marcella, who was on sick leave that day.

It felt very sad to have to take all this down afterwards!

Derek meets Penny and Lazarus

Derek arrived at my house in full sartorial splendour. Rory and Neal, the vets (no pic of you, Neal, sorry about that!) were also ready for action.

Not so Anne and Clare. They arrived in 'mufti' and retired to my spare bedroom to get ready. Anne didn't emerge until the last minute, so I didn't get a chance to take a photo of her before the ceremony.

Here's Derek asking for reassurance from two of my dogs.

Any minute now, Derek!

Marjorie, the Marriage Officer, arrives and we are about to begin.

The Ceremony Begins . .

This was simple, but beautiful and very moving.

Four-footed guest - or an extra witness?

My four dogs were present throughout the ceremony. Although normally boisterous and determined to make their presence felt, they seemed to know that this behaviour was not appropriate on this occasion. They lay still and quiet, watching and listening but not distracting us. They were stars!

'I now pronounce you man and wife'

A Surprise Contribution

Andrina then rose to her feet and offered a song and a poem that she had chosen especially for the occasion.

Catherine knew she was going to do this but I didn't! It was a beautiful thing for her to do and the couple were very touched by her generosity.

The Formal Photos

Of course we had to have some formal photos for the albums. Somebody took one of Anne and Derek with me but I don't have it here to include in this section.


So here we go:

The Happy Couple

Perhaps unfortunate that on this occasion Derek was standing in front of the English flag! Just glad it was over, I guess.

You can see one of the St Lucian flags on the right.

The first thing Derek did after the photos was to remove his shoes and socks and replace them with (unlaced) walking boots

With the witnesss

Here are the newly married couple with their witnesses, Rory and Clare in the middle

With Marjorie, the Marriage Officer

Marjorie sounded very austere on the phone in the morning but she was absolutely lovely for the ceremony. Made it feel personal and special but reminded us that even if it is not in a church is still legally bindingl

Note the English and Scottish flags that Anne and Derek brought with the. There are crossed St Lucian flags behind Marjorie.

With Andrina

Here are the bride and groom with Andrina, who sang and read for them so beautifully.

The Cutting of the Cake

As I haven't made a cake since my kids were small and don't think I'd know how now, Pam kindly made them a cake to cut and share.

At this point we learned about a faintly disgusting St Lucian wedding tradition. When the cake is cut, the bride takes a small portion, puts it into her mouth - and then transfers it to the mouth of her new husband!

Hysterics all round at this point!

They cut the cake . . . . .

You can't see in the picture, but Lukas was lurking below, hoping someone would drop a crumb.

Anne takes a forkful . . . .

She looks as though she's about to spit it at him, doesn't she??

The face in the background is George.

. . . . and gives it to Derek!

The camera shake here is because I couldn't stop laughing!