First Picture Of My Grandchildren!

This is a picture from the scan that Pia had yesterday. You can just see both babies in it. The diagonal line across the middle is where the two embryonic sacs meet each other. Amazing!

Sue and The Beanstalks

You may (nor not) remember that when Malcolm was here in May we visited the little organic farm at Latille Waterfall. Michael, the young man who showed us round, gave me some beans - the seeds, not the green things - and told me they were Wing Beans.

Malcolm had come across these in northern Africa but not within the Caribbean and I'd never heard of them. Michael was rather cagey when I asked him where he'd got them from so maybe they were brought in illegally.

When we got home I looked them up on the internet. Above is one of the pictures I downloaded. They originate from Papua, New Guinea, and are one of nature's wonder foods as every part of them is edible. They are also easy to cultivate as they need no fertiliser, instead putting nourishment back into the soil.

One of the things that is difficult to obtain here is a supply of fresh, green veg. that are not ludicrously expensive because they are imported. So this seemed like a good way of providing myself with something that a) would be good for me and b) I would enjoy.

I started the beans off in those seed trays divided like ice cubes - can't remember what you call them - then potted on and finally put them in the garden. My biggest fear was that the dogs would dig them up, or that the male dogs would wee on them and kill them, so I surrounded both wigwams with chicken wire.

Amazingly (to me!) they flourished and I have so far had two servings of them. Next year I shall plant more!

Wow! They're growing!

As Michael at Latille had planted his in wigwams, just like British runner beans, I did the same. I had enough beans for two.

It was very exciting when they began to wind their way up the supports. Here's one of the wigwams, pictured shortly before my Uk holiday.

Crossed fingers . . .

When I got back from my holiday in England, one of the first things I did was check my beans.

I was thrilled to see flowers on them - where there are flowers, beans may follow . . . . .

IncrEDIBLE !

I still get excited, even at my advanced age, when I plant something and it grows!

This is one of the beans my plants produced - just like the book!

AND it tasted delicious!

CORRECTION

The birds that nested in my avocado tree are not tropical mockingbirds, they are grey kingbirds.

Sorry!

Out of the nest!

Yesterday I was watching all the wing-flapping and practising going on in the nest and couldn't understand how they didn't fall out! A mug of tea on my desk inside went cold whilst I was out there, I couldn't tear myself away.

Just as I was waking up this morning I heard a lot of noise from outside and when I went to see how things were today I found the nest empty!

However the youngsters hadn't gone very far - they were all perched on nearby little branches, just a short hop from the nest. It was quite difficult to get this picture because the parents are more protective than ever.

To shoot a mockingbird

A pair of tropical mockingbirds have nested in an avocado pear tree close to one corner of my balcony. I've been lucky enough to get photos of the chicks as they developed and of the parents feeding them. This was my first venture into wildlife photography so please bear with the varying quality of the pictures! I couldn't seem to manage apertures, shutter speeds AND watching for the parents returning with food for the babies.

The parents were a little nervous and tended to dive-bomb me if I got too close but I think they were actually more bothered by my laundry flapping on the line. Once I took the sheets in they calmed down quite a lot.

The dark mass in the lower left hand corner of the pic is the nest. As you can see, it is very unprotected. We have had strong winds and torrential downpours in the last few days and I wondered whether the chicks would survive. They did!

The nest was near the top of an avocado tree near a corner of my balcony (closer than it looks in this photo).

The dark splodge in the upper left corner of the tree shows the position of the nest.

Whilst one parent was off hunting for food, the other kept watch from the top of the tree.

I didn't fancy being stabbed with this lethal-looking insect eater's beak.

I never did work out which was mum and which was dad. They seemed to share the parenting and the hunting for food.

First view of the newly hatched babies. There are actually three of them in the nest, though only two wanted their pictures taken.

'One day, my son, all this will be yours!'

The other parent has returned with food for the babies.

They grow so quickly. This was taken a couple of days after the last pics. You can just see the head and beak of the third baby in the middle of the nest.

Here are the 3 fledglings this morning. How they all fit in the nest beats me! Judging by all the wing-stretching and flapping that goes on, I should think they'll be ready to take off pretty soon.

Malcolm's visit, May 2008

My old friend Malcolm arrived on 11th May and stayed for a couple of weeks. I haven't written much about these photos because all the narrative is in the newsletter.

More nostalgia below for those who've already visited me here!

Here beginneth the first lesson . . .

We spent an afternoon exploring Pigeon Island and showing Malcolm the ruins of Admiral Rodney's garrison.

There are descriptive plaques in front of each building telling you what they used to be.

Climbing up to the Fort

Malcolm climbing the wooden steps up to the very top of the Fort.

. . . . . . . . . .

. . and here he is standing beside what used to be the powder store.

Don't I look smug?

I managed to climb all the way to the top - and here's a photo to prove it.

Dinner at the Coal Pot

We took Elaine with us. Although she wasn't feeling very well, she seems to be enjoying herself here!

Having a drink at Discovery

Here's Malcolm having a drink at the VERY deluxe Discovery complex at Marigot Bay. The beer was actually a reasonable price, much cheaper than in the duty free bars in Castries.

Sulphur Volcano

This is the famous 'Drive-in Volcano'. You don't need accurate directions to it, once you get into the vicinity you just follow your nose!

Dennery Harbour

The brightly coloured fishing boats reminded me of Malta - except that these had prayer or praise painted on the gunwales instead of the Maltese 'eyes' for protection!

The quayside at Dennery

Looking inland towards the modern fisheries complex.

Dennery harbour from the main road.

Latille Waterfall development

There was only a trickle of water coming down this time - the white stripe down the middle of the pic!

Still enough, though, to drive the little pump.

It was amazing to visit here again and see all the changes that have taken place.

Michael

Little hydroelectric pump.

The vegetables are fertilised using only goat and donkey dung.

Female and young goats in pen.

This is Ramo the billy goat. Isn't he magnificent?

Rum tasting

The last trip we did was to the rum distillery. We didn't get a tour because there wasn't anyone available to take us so they let us in to the tasting room free of charge! When Malcolm returns to St Lucia we'll have to do this one again!

Happy Easter to everyone!

Am I being overfanciful in seeing animal rescue as a form of Resurrection?

This puppy is my latest 'foster'. His name is Jeb because he was dumped in a carboard box behind the offices of J.E. Bergasse on the square.

He's about 7 weeks old, jet black except for white on his chest and hind paws - just like Lukas. He's been with me for 3 days and is beginning to feel more settled now, eating well and romping around with Lazarus, who is very sweetly being careful and gentle with him.

A Happy and Blessed Easter to you all.

Good luck, Rosie!

I've just taken Rosie to her new home. It was horrible, I feel as though I've given away one of my children! Not helped by the fact that when I came home Lazarus ran around looking everywhere for her. Swings and roundabouts of animal rescue, I guess.

Good luck little Rosie, we hope you'll be happy.

This is genuine - honestly!

This is the photo I've been wanting to get for ages! It's a cruise ship chugging slowly past the end of the runway at Vigie (Castries) airport.

I couldn't believe my eyes the first time I saw this. Presumably the ships check in with the airport control tower before they set off - one hopes!

Foster child!

This is our foster puppy, who I've named Rosie. Doesn't she look well??

There are 3 people interested in her and I hope one of them takes her soon as she's getting so used to being here, really part of our family now.

To climb onto the rocking chair she doesn't jump onto the front of the seat but scrambles up between the bars at the side!

Ceiling Repair

This morning Martin and a helper came to replace part of my ceiling which was threatening to fall down after the repeated leaks from the water tank in the roof. It is now several weeks since David replaced the old tank for me and I haven't had any problems so it seemed safe to do this.

Any more leaks now and I'll wring David's neck with my bare hands!

You can see the 'galvanize' (corrugated iron) of the roof in the background. I didn't ask what the tangle of stuff is in the foreground. There are some questions that it's better not to ask!