Sympathy please - two days ago I was bitten by a bee, owww! Now my leg is still inflamed and red and sore so I think I will pop into the chemist tomorrow. The most annoying part of the event was that the bee had been flying around for a while and I had been tempted to kill it but decided to leave it in peace. Never again! Death to all bees is now my new slogan, although I am now running a mile on sight of one!
Bertie's aunt has come to stay, allegedly for a few days but it looks like it will be far longer...she is a great talker and if you sit down for a minute you risk being there an hour. Except with me, as she prefers creole so our conversation doesn't go very far!
Meanwhile, our world has collapsed as Bertie's mum has gone off to her native island of Marie-Galante for a few days and her presence is sorely missed. The house really does cease to function without her! Or rather, she is the only one able to provide meals to his dad's requirements! We have tried a couple of meals but anything eaten was only out of desperation! Neither does he do anything in the house, so all the washing up etc has fallen to us.
Today we took the plunge and cleaned out the fridge. I won't shock you with the details of all we found within. Suffice to say you can now tell what colour it is. One interesting discovery was a bag of batteries. On questioning, Bertie said it came from the myth that if you leave them in the fridge they recharge! Hmmm...
Baby JoJo is making every effort to roll over. He can get onto his tummy in his cot, but then gets stuck and can't get back again. So cute!
Wednesday, 6 August 2008
Organic Shopping In Gudeloupe
Is pretty much a non-starter! It really is so expensive here! The only cheap things are junk food, of course, and there is a real dearth of healthy stuff. Shopping was an eye-opening event and left me musing on my budget and ingredients for the coming year. EcoMax was relatively cheap but one of the worst places I have ever visited! Even worse than KwikSave from my uni days... Carrefour is very expensive and did actually have an organic aisle but €7 for a box of cereal is a bit painful. I have otherwise seen two organic shops so I will go and visit them at some point.
One of the worst things to buy here pricewise is nappies - a far better incentive to using reusable ones than the money back scheme in Islington, is being charged €20 for a pack! So if you are coming over to see me, leave a little space for a pack in your bags!
On the positive side, Bertie's Dad brings plenty home from his countryside plot, known as Pika. But it mainly seems to be fruit and tubers/starchy food. Bertie has offered to grow broccoli, peppers, carrots etc for me, which sounds great!
One of the worst things to buy here pricewise is nappies - a far better incentive to using reusable ones than the money back scheme in Islington, is being charged €20 for a pack! So if you are coming over to see me, leave a little space for a pack in your bags!
On the positive side, Bertie's Dad brings plenty home from his countryside plot, known as Pika. But it mainly seems to be fruit and tubers/starchy food. Bertie has offered to grow broccoli, peppers, carrots etc for me, which sounds great!
Beach At Last!
I love coconut trees!
Baby JoJo in his new suit - so cool! Thanks Bex!
Loving the water
Gorgeous girls
Setting up camp - can you see Dora the Explorer in the tree? She is LissaLou's new favourtie toy, going everywhere with us!
No dolls were harmed in the taking of this photo
In the water
Daddy managing all three of them nicely
A week after our arrival saw our first trip to the beach - St Anne, which is the most touristy and the best for children. Lovely shallow blue water laps around your feet, with golden sand underfoot... The reality for me is ages lathering on sun tan lotion, salt in your eyes and mouth (ugh) and sand sticking to you afterwards, impossible to remove. We laughed at a picture of a new product which is essentially a bag you can hang from a tree and shower under, but as we tipped water from a bottle over ourselves and tried to remove that sticky feeling, it didn't seem such a bad idea!
The girls loved the water, though LissaLou follows in my footsteps and doesn't like the salt very much. It was great to see them splashing around and giggling. Baby JoJo had a few minutes kicking in his baby seat and seemed very pleased with it. He swallowed water once and had a most upset face, which I quite understand!
On our way home we wondered why so many people were standing on the edge of the road watching us, then realised The Tour was due to pass that way. We considered stopping to watch but decided against it - a good decision as they didn't pass for another two hours! People queue early!
Baby JoJo in his new suit - so cool! Thanks Bex!
Loving the water
Gorgeous girls
Setting up camp - can you see Dora the Explorer in the tree? She is LissaLou's new favourtie toy, going everywhere with us!
No dolls were harmed in the taking of this photoIn the waterDaddy managing all three of them nicelyA week after our arrival saw our first trip to the beach - St Anne, which is the most touristy and the best for children. Lovely shallow blue water laps around your feet, with golden sand underfoot... The reality for me is ages lathering on sun tan lotion, salt in your eyes and mouth (ugh) and sand sticking to you afterwards, impossible to remove. We laughed at a picture of a new product which is essentially a bag you can hang from a tree and shower under, but as we tipped water from a bottle over ourselves and tried to remove that sticky feeling, it didn't seem such a bad idea!The girls loved the water, though LissaLou follows in my footsteps and doesn't like the salt very much. It was great to see them splashing around and giggling. Baby JoJo had a few minutes kicking in his baby seat and seemed very pleased with it. He swallowed water once and had a most upset face, which I quite understand!
On our way home we wondered why so many people were standing on the edge of the road watching us, then realised The Tour was due to pass that way. We considered stopping to watch but decided against it - a good decision as they didn't pass for another two hours! People queue early!
Saturday, 2 August 2008
The Tour Is Here!
Watching the prologue
And the rain came down!
You have no doubt heard of the Tour de France, cycling's premier event of the year...Well last night saw the beginning of the close second: Tour de Guadeloupe! 10 days of passion, intrigue, heat...or was that Les Feux de l'Amour? Well, lots of heat and hills anyway.
This is one of Bertie's favourite events so last night we headed off with the kids to watch the Prologue in Pointe-à-Pitre. This involved watching 130 or so cyclists zoom past at at top speed, whilst we enjoyed our bokits (kind of large round fried bread with a filling of chicken or tuna or dry cod, lavishly spread with mayo or ketchup) and sinobols (grated ice with sirop de menthe or grenadine - so refreshing!).
Sinobol
As with our previous visits, the heavens opened and so did the umbrellas, but the cyclists bravely sped on. Bertie and his sister were delighted that two of their locals sped their way to victory.
And the rain came down!
You have no doubt heard of the Tour de France, cycling's premier event of the year...Well last night saw the beginning of the close second: Tour de Guadeloupe! 10 days of passion, intrigue, heat...or was that Les Feux de l'Amour? Well, lots of heat and hills anyway.This is one of Bertie's favourite events so last night we headed off with the kids to watch the Prologue in Pointe-à-Pitre. This involved watching 130 or so cyclists zoom past at at top speed, whilst we enjoyed our bokits (kind of large round fried bread with a filling of chicken or tuna or dry cod, lavishly spread with mayo or ketchup) and sinobols (grated ice with sirop de menthe or grenadine - so refreshing!). Amazing what you find on Google images - here they are! I am not quite sure of the legalities of using photos from the web but click on the images and you will see where they are from.
Bokit - creole hamburger apparently
SinobolAs with our previous visits, the heavens opened and so did the umbrellas, but the cyclists bravely sped on. Bertie and his sister were delighted that two of their locals sped their way to victory.You may wonder how exactly they manage to make the tour last 10 days over such a small island? Fair point! The routes are repeated and don't reach the 220 km of the Other Tour, I think 70 km is the longest. But they have my respect for cycling in this heat! Later in the week they will pass through our town and we will no doubt be out in force to watch them pass.
BTW On my first visit here in 2000 I actually appeared on Guadeloupe TV whilst watching the Tour on someone's roof! Fame!
Friday, 1 August 2008
My Little List
Some of the things I would like done are as follows:
Get a mobile (I misplaced Bertie in the supermarket the other day and it took ages to find him. I was beginning to wonde how I would get home as I have no idea of the route or the phone number!)
Get internet access
Make the bathroom less dark (paint white?)
Mend the door handle (we got locked in for ages the other night!)
Get a fridge and cooker for our little upstairs kitchen
Make the balcony more usable - some kind of cover? Table and chairs?
Get fans in the bedrooms (the ones on the ceiling)
LissaLou has to be vaccinated with BCG before school starts
Check out Baby JoJo's BCG scar as it is still really big
Get some clocks - I never know what time it is!
Get a couple more sheets and towels
Repaint bedroom
Put up mosquito nets for us all
There are still some things left on my list from the UK that I didn't manage:
Setting up post redirection (just think of all my letters piling up at my flat! Fortunately no one ever writes to me so that is ok!)
Cancel direct debits
Check that phone and electricity and gas are cancelled
See what is happening with child benefit and tax credit - apparently it is very generous here...
Contact T-Mobile about unlocking my phone as the code didn't work
Having just finished reading Freedom of Simplicity though, I might have to reconsider whether all the things on my list are really necessary...
Get a mobile (I misplaced Bertie in the supermarket the other day and it took ages to find him. I was beginning to wonde how I would get home as I have no idea of the route or the phone number!)
Get internet access
Make the bathroom less dark (paint white?)
Mend the door handle (we got locked in for ages the other night!)
Get a fridge and cooker for our little upstairs kitchen
Make the balcony more usable - some kind of cover? Table and chairs?
Get fans in the bedrooms (the ones on the ceiling)
LissaLou has to be vaccinated with BCG before school starts
Check out Baby JoJo's BCG scar as it is still really big
Get some clocks - I never know what time it is!
Get a couple more sheets and towels
Repaint bedroom
Put up mosquito nets for us all
There are still some things left on my list from the UK that I didn't manage:
Setting up post redirection (just think of all my letters piling up at my flat! Fortunately no one ever writes to me so that is ok!)
Cancel direct debits
Check that phone and electricity and gas are cancelled
See what is happening with child benefit and tax credit - apparently it is very generous here...
Contact T-Mobile about unlocking my phone as the code didn't work
Having just finished reading Freedom of Simplicity though, I might have to reconsider whether all the things on my list are really necessary...
The Girls & Guadeloupe
LissaLou and her sinobol
CassCass enjoying a mango
Yummy sinobols
A rare shot of me! I think all these photos were taken by a niece or two - it is a great camera for kids to use as it is so hard to miss out people's heads and legs!
The girls are getting used to the fact that this is their new house and seem to be enjoying the constant company of cousins around, but for the moment there is no sign of any french from them, much to the frustration of those around who have no idea what they are saying!
Today they slept in till 6 am, a definite improvement, though Baby JoJo still woke at 5am. I hope he goes back to his normal pattern sometime soon! We are not very good at getting them to bed early so they are still pretty tired.
They don't really like the food here, but have bravely been eating as much as possible in the hope of having a frozen (ice pole) or flan (creme brulee?). I have to admit that there is too much salt and not enough fruit and veg and wholegrain stuff for my liking.
CassCass' potty training has gone ten steps back, so we have had poos and wees in bed and on the floor (no carpets here and beds dry quickly so that is a consolation!) Her english is great though, and her new phrases include I think, I know, I have to, cos... ie I have to have an ice pole cos I like it! She is fascinated by the frogs that sing at night (so noisy!) and the cockerel opposite our house (equally noisy!) and everyone's car.
LissaLou is excited as she learnt how to do a Y in her sleep apparently! Tatie France-Lise gave her a Dora the explorer doll in France and she loves it, dragging it around with Hamy the dog.
They are a bit shy at saying hello to people so I am encouraging them to say bonjour Papy and bonjour Mamie with a kiss each morning. Not much success yet!
CassCass enjoying a mango
Yummy sinobols
A rare shot of me! I think all these photos were taken by a niece or two - it is a great camera for kids to use as it is so hard to miss out people's heads and legs!
The girls are getting used to the fact that this is their new house and seem to be enjoying the constant company of cousins around, but for the moment there is no sign of any french from them, much to the frustration of those around who have no idea what they are saying!Today they slept in till 6 am, a definite improvement, though Baby JoJo still woke at 5am. I hope he goes back to his normal pattern sometime soon! We are not very good at getting them to bed early so they are still pretty tired.
They don't really like the food here, but have bravely been eating as much as possible in the hope of having a frozen (ice pole) or flan (creme brulee?). I have to admit that there is too much salt and not enough fruit and veg and wholegrain stuff for my liking.
CassCass' potty training has gone ten steps back, so we have had poos and wees in bed and on the floor (no carpets here and beds dry quickly so that is a consolation!) Her english is great though, and her new phrases include I think, I know, I have to, cos... ie I have to have an ice pole cos I like it! She is fascinated by the frogs that sing at night (so noisy!) and the cockerel opposite our house (equally noisy!) and everyone's car.
LissaLou is excited as she learnt how to do a Y in her sleep apparently! Tatie France-Lise gave her a Dora the explorer doll in France and she loves it, dragging it around with Hamy the dog.
They are a bit shy at saying hello to people so I am encouraging them to say bonjour Papy and bonjour Mamie with a kiss each morning. Not much success yet!
Unpacking
Yesterday it rained the entire day. Rain here is torrential - drizzle is not in the Caribbean vocabulary. The girls entertained themselves splashing in the puddles in their swimsuits but then joined me as I unpacked our 8 cases. Such a nice feeling knowing where everything is now, and our room feeling more like home with our LCM calendar hanging from the ceiling, button pictures of the girls on the cupboard doors, Aunty Julie's mobile hanging over Baby JoJo's cot.
Right now I see very little of Bertie, as he goes here and there chatting to people and doing his little jobs. In fact, my constant companions are the girls and their cousins Delphine and Jessica, here for the month on holiday. Everywhere I go, these little shadows follow me. They enjoyed playing with various toys and books while I tidied, with the occasional intervention required. Their favourite activity is holding Baby JoJo or playing with him. Fortunately he has a lot of patience! So no strolling hand in hand along the beach I'm afraid! And as for babysitting, the girls are still too shy to be left with anyone but us. In fact, the best at being babysat is Baby JoJo! Yesterday he was whisked off to the shop by my two nephews Steeven and Bryan. I am tempted to see it as a way of impressing the girls as much as anything else! Today Tatie Pierrette took him off to work for a while. Speaking of whom, CassCass just can't manage her name and calls her Tatie Pooit!! Her daughter Emilie is the girls' favourite person right now and they keep seeking her out, though as a teenager, her getting up time is much later than theirs!
A couple of evenings back, we went to the next door stadium (where Pierrette works) and the girls ran around after some balls on the basketball pitch. We took them back again last night for another run around and met some Mormons on the way. They pass our house daily and are very conspicuous in their suits and badges! They began by asking if they could do anything for me (in french) so I asked if they were American - they were very surprised to encounter a Londoner in Guadeloupe!
With all this rain it is so much cooler. Lovely! But that and the lack of car means we haven't made it to the beach yet. I am looking forward to taking the girls soon.
Right now I see very little of Bertie, as he goes here and there chatting to people and doing his little jobs. In fact, my constant companions are the girls and their cousins Delphine and Jessica, here for the month on holiday. Everywhere I go, these little shadows follow me. They enjoyed playing with various toys and books while I tidied, with the occasional intervention required. Their favourite activity is holding Baby JoJo or playing with him. Fortunately he has a lot of patience! So no strolling hand in hand along the beach I'm afraid! And as for babysitting, the girls are still too shy to be left with anyone but us. In fact, the best at being babysat is Baby JoJo! Yesterday he was whisked off to the shop by my two nephews Steeven and Bryan. I am tempted to see it as a way of impressing the girls as much as anything else! Today Tatie Pierrette took him off to work for a while. Speaking of whom, CassCass just can't manage her name and calls her Tatie Pooit!! Her daughter Emilie is the girls' favourite person right now and they keep seeking her out, though as a teenager, her getting up time is much later than theirs!
A couple of evenings back, we went to the next door stadium (where Pierrette works) and the girls ran around after some balls on the basketball pitch. We took them back again last night for another run around and met some Mormons on the way. They pass our house daily and are very conspicuous in their suits and badges! They began by asking if they could do anything for me (in french) so I asked if they were American - they were very surprised to encounter a Londoner in Guadeloupe!
With all this rain it is so much cooler. Lovely! But that and the lack of car means we haven't made it to the beach yet. I am looking forward to taking the girls soon.
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