3 December What a party!

Helen, me & Lou on Jackster

My super special girlfriends from London days Louise and Helen and Helen's husband Derek, who is now also a friend, arrived nine days ago. It should have been 10 days but their original flight got turned back to London due to a sick pilot. Nine days of fantastic catch up, hanging out on the beach at their hotel, island touring and delicious dinners. I saw Helen and Derek in England in August, Louise not since before the pandemic.

We went to Umbrellas and 61 West on the beach for cocktails and dinners. Everyone came to Jackster for dinner; Lou's first time, Helen and Derek visited us in south island NZ.

Louise, Helen, Derek at waterfall

We had a hire car for a couple of days and did a full tour, ticking off the essentials of a waterfall, feeding the monkeys, Grand Etang lake, Grenville town, the Cuban aircraft wrecks, chocolate factory and lunch with a view through torrential rain.

Annandale falls

Grand Etang

Cuban plane

It has been unusually wet for November, not what I promised when they booked their holiday, still we make the most of the time including a special dinner at our favourite restaurant, Aquarium.

dinner at Aquarium

I hung out with them at Mount Cinnamon hotel for the last couple of days before sadly saying goodbye on Saturday afternoon when they headed to the airport for their flight home. Sad to see them go, but I'll see them in the summer when I go home.

Another farewell. On the last day of November David and I said au revoir to Del & Ryan Dignity and Anita, Federico and cat Shanu – all heading west to Bonaire. We may or may not see them again, but we keep our wonderful memories.