Sunday - Flashback with a Twist

As a child my family had a Sunday routine. Janet and I kinda recreated it Anguillan style today. We got up early in the morning and checked on the news and any updates from back home.  Showering and putting on church clothes we headed out the door.  Stopping at Geraud’s Patisserie (Not Again) for a light breakfast. However this time instead of takeout we ate there.  This was the first time Janet had been with me to Geraud's, and since we were eating there it afforded us the opportunity to enjoy a cappuccino with our morning meal. Leaving directly we headed to church, but as we hit the roundabout leading to the Sandy Ground I realized that I had not paid my breakfast bill.  So around we went on the roundabout and headed back to Geraud’s to pay our bill.    

Departing a second time from this Patisserie of delight, we hoped that my forgetfullness would not cause us to be late for church.  The moment we Pulled into the parking lot a chuckle arose in the car.  The name of the Catholic Church in Anguilla… St Gerard’s!  Yep it is spelled a little different, but the same name.  We can get croissants at one, and communion at the other - Truly food for the heart and soul!  The second observation that struck us was this is First Communion Sunday.  In the parking lot a group of 13 children gathered; the boys wearing black slacks and white shirts and girls dressed in white dresses with gloves lead the procession into the church.  The beat of drums and voices in song greeted the children and their big day had begun. 

Oh my, this was a very special service!  At the end of the celebration we were asked to stand up and be acknowledged as visitors while the whole congregation sang us a song of welcome.  The Mass completed 90 minutes after the grand entrance, and with multiple congas keeping the tempo the children reversed direction and lead us out of the church to another beautiful Anguillan Day.

Following church mom and dad would go looking at model homes.  Something I never understood since we already had a house, why waste time looking at ones you cannot afford. 

ADEQUATE QUARTERS



Welcome to our home...

 Janet and I walked down the beach to enjoy the morning when we were beckoned in to view a home for sale on Meads Bay.  We both fell in love with it immediately!  This home is truly ADEQUATE QUARTERS!  The good news is it had just taken a major price reduction and now is on the market for 18 million… Really 18 million! It was in the mid-20s, but has not moved at that price. 

We toured the entire home, checked out the kitchen, wine storage, outdoor and indoor showers in all 8 bedrooms, and many more extras that were just crazy.  All with a view that is hard to match.  

Janet trying to decide Shower in or out?


We hem and hawed about whether we should make an offer, but came to the conclusion that our furniture would not work at all, it did not have a gas cook top, and 1500 sq foot master suite was just too small.  Both of us are so excited about our pending grandchild, and look forward to more in the future, but 8 bedrooms maybe an overkill at this stage in our life.  It was very hard to let this place go, but in the end we thought it best not to make an offer.

Small Sitting area off the Master Bedroom

Sunday lunch or brunch was a must growing up in my house, so following our house tour we walked back down the beach to Jacala. Sitting right on the beach and only 100 yards down from Carimar we entered Jacala sandy and hungry.  Immediately we knew by looking at the menu that culinary nirvana was going to be reached today!   I quickly chose the Calamari Risotto and Janet the Conch Ceviche.  

Jacques, I am guessing the owner, came over and welcomed us briefly and then worked each of the tables speaking to his guests.  Those interested in crayfish for lunch, Jacques would bring over a tub for them to select their lunch.  And what a lovely lunch it was! We are somewhat disappointed that we will miss having a chance to dine at this restaurant before we leave.

In my childhood family experience we would return home to watch football or go out and play with friends. Here is the Sunday twist.  This Sunday we were so moved by the morning services that we decided to do Sunday school.  Instead of swimming and snorkeling we would participate in Bankie Banx’s and Friends Sunday School.

This of course is not your typical Sunday School, but was 3 hours of amazing music from a local calypso artist named John Lloyd, aka “Springer”.  His voice quality was so pure and spot on.  He played his own music, as well as covers from U2 to Marley.  He even threw in a couple of Bankie’s songs.  Bankie joined him for 3 numbers, and absolutely blew the crowd away with their arrangement of “Stand By Me” with John on guitar and Bankie playing harmonica.  Janet laid on the beach listening to music while I opted to avoid the sun today.  A musical experience that I will not forget anytime soon!

Dinner… My God are you guys still eating, you ask?!?  Well yes… but we had a very light one.  On a recommendation from our Carimar neighbors, we followed them down to Sandy Ground to a beachside eating establishment called the Barrel Stay .  We both had a fish soup that brought the sea to your taste buds.  Absent were the heavy creams and the soup only got better as it cooled for awhile.  The next thing that arrived at the table was a scrumptious shrimp tempura that Janet and I split.  Once again the wine was Sauvignon Blanc, but tonight’s offering was a Vin de Pays from the Loire Valley.  The crispness just seems to pair well with many of the local dishes.

There was one small thing I neglected to say about the evening.  As we pulled into the Barrel Stay, the low fuel light came on in the car.  There is like nothing open on Sunday night after 8.  Our neighbors were nice enough to fly wingman on our return to Carimar.   We cruised into the Carimar parking lot joining the other 20 white Toyota vehicles with a smile on our face - love in heart – and the BIG “E” going blink… blink… blink   

Wow I just realized no beach pictures!  Here is a shot of our Sunday School Classroom.

Ah... I think it is time to go to bed now and I will be dreaming about taking a bath in the house that we let get away.