Exactly what it says on the tin?

This is one of the delicacies offered in our local supermarket. It's made in Jamaica.

I finally gave in to temptation today and bought a packet to photograph for you.

Whether I shall get round to trying it is another matter!

Pia and Paul's visit, February 2007

Pia loved the boat trip we did with Gibbs last time she was here, so we did it again with Paul. The boat is kept at the Vigie marina.

This is the view across to Elaine's and my favourite restaurant, The Coal Pot, on the other side.

Our second favourite, Froggie Jacques, is behind where we were standing. We all went there for dinner on Valentine's night.

Lunch at Smuggler's Cove

After stopping for a snorkel at Anse Cochon we went on down to Soufriere for lunch at what used to be the old Courthouse. The loos are now where the cells used to be, complete with heavy door and high, barred window!

The food is delicious and here are Pia, Paul and Gibbs, our boat's 'captain' enjoying a drink whilst our lunch was prepared.

From on the water to beneath it

Pia and Paul both wanted to try scuba diving so I had arranged this with my friend Lincoln. He has been instructing for many years and although he's a 'life and soul of the party' person off-duty he's totally focussed when he's working and I had complete confidence that he would look after P and P beautifully.

Dive Fair Helen are very safety conscious and the kids had to fill out comprehensive medical forms before they were accepted as divers. They then had a preliminary lesson in the small pool at JJ's Paradise, next to the dive shop and offices, to familiarise them with the equipment.

It wasn't very far on the boat to the dive site, so they didn't have to wait very long for their Big Dip.

Introducing the equipment

First came a lesson at the small indoor pool to introduce them to the equipment they will be using: the tank, the inflatable BDC and the breathing apparatus.

They need to be comfortable with this on land and in the pool before they go any further.

They look a bit dubious, don't they?

Deep breathing

Air is supplied to the diver via a hose and a regulator, a mouthpiece a bit like the one on a snorkel.

The first step is to practise with these and get comfortable breathing through them.

Then you get in the pool and do the same thing with your face under water.

Then into the pool to try it all out

Lincoln fastens the BCD (inflatable jacket, to which the tank is attached) around Pia and makes sure she is comfortable.

She then had to do a few laps of the pool underwater, getting used to breathing through the regulator before she went into the sea.

He did this with Paul too. Then onto the boat for the real thing!

And off we went. The dive boats are based at Marigot Bay (where some of the rich people have their yachts - and houses!).

It is one of the most famous bays in St Lucia and the movie, Dr Doolittle was filmed here.

OK, let's go!

'OK guys, this is IT!'

Lincoln leads the way into the water, followed by a very nervous Pia and - not quite sure how Paul felt at this point!

. . . . . and safely back again!

Although I should be used to it by now, it's still a funny feeling watching someone who matters to me disappearing below the surface of the sea - and a great relief when they return safely to the dive boat afterwards!

Both Pia and Paul said they want to do this again, which I think is a great compliment to Lincoln, their instructor.

Temporary additions to the family

Meet Miss Jet, Miss Piggy and Acto. Their mum died when they were 5 days old, they were taken to Dr Scotland, the vet, who re-directed them to SLAPS.

They currently live in my bedroom where they are being bottle fed. They've had tummy trouble and are being given Imodium and antibiotics.

Hand-rearing pups is a first for SLAPS so we are all keeping our fingers crossed for their survival!

Christmas Greetings from St Lucia

Not all dogs in St Lucia live miserable lives!

Please hold SLAPS in your thoughts over the coming year and put the squeeze on any rich friends.

Thanks.

Signed: Penny, Fifi, Lukas and Lazarus

'You can judge a nation by the way it treats its animals' . . Ghandi

Elaine said that this little fellow was the worst case she's ever seen. Just skin and bone, he was vomiting aluminium foil and chicken bones that he'd picked up whilst scavenging for food. He was brought into SLAPS last Tuesday afternoon and we nursed him through most of Wednesday but, sadly, he didn't make it.

Donations to SLAPS (via me) always welcome.

These tiny puppies were brought into SLAPS by someone who found them inside an old fridge. Sadly, the one on the right died a couple of days ago but the other two - which I have privately christened Buttercup and Daisy - seem to be making good progress. They get children's vitamins - Minadex, does anyone remember that? - every evening.

Convinced that Penny bites her feet so much as a reaction to stress, I have obtained some Dog Appeasing Pheromone spray.

It does seem to be reducing the foot-biting - and has other beneficial results too!

Lazarus and his amazing technicolour dream collar

Lazarus has a new collar. It is all colours of the rainbow, yellow and purple underneath where you can't see in the photo.

He looks like a real Caribbean puppy in it!

I was delighted that Catherine's mum joined us as I hadn't met her before.

Here she is, sitting between Catherine and George.

Julius cracked open the bottle of Scotch kindly provided by Ian.

Here are Renate and Ian chatting with George, who seems to have had rather a severe hair cut!

Catherine and her sister, Vel (pictured) insisted on having a party for Ian and Renate. The party was here but I was instructed to do absolutely nothing, they would bring everything over here.

Vel was the chief cook, providing us with gorgeous food, Catherine was in charge of the barbecue and assorted other friends turned up to join in the fun!