Cricket in the Carribean

I challenge anyone that thinks that cricket is long, boring, complicated or whatever to attend a match in the West Indies. It is absolutely brilliant and I now have two converts (albeit in the right conditions!).

Fantastic night, dancing, singing, celebrating, Barbados beat St. Lucia in the first ever Caribbean Premier League match. We were even on a tv with a shout out from the commentator (Uncle Tono).

Rest Day

In any training regime it is important to have a rest day, this apparently maximises results. As we are in training for Grand kadooment, we are resting from all related activities (rum, dancing, late nights). So yesterday we had a relaxing day at the beach followed by a lovely family and friends meal.

Aunty Pia with the girls a stunning day.

Practice, Practice, Practice

With one week till Grand Kadooment, it is all about practice. We need to learn the Calypso, practice our dance and improve our stamina. I think we did fairly well yesterday, starting the day on the Jolly Roger boat cruise..

Starting quietly soaking up the sun with a few beverages.  Working on the dancing (getting tips from Janine and David, as hardened traveled Carnival people they are pros)

And then moving straight to Harbour Lights to continue our training.  When in the world did I become the Aunty Amanda at the bar (me, 'little' cousin Andrew and Nats).  9 hours later we had enough Calypso and practicing so ended the night with delicious veggie burgers at mojos (even ate the bun).

Lazy Day

After a rather big first night, I dragged the girls up to re position them from their beds on to the beach.  A lazy day in the sun was just what the doctor ordered.

Sun, sea, rest had everyone feeling a little more human.  A lovely relaxing day.

Eeeeekkkkkk!!!!!

Karen and Pia have arrived in the island!

Eeeeeekkkkkkk (our word of excitement!)

South Coast Girl

There is no doubt that the East Coast is beautiful with miles of virtually empty beaches and a dramatic landscape, and the West is very glamorous, but yesterday as I sat on the beach I decided, I am and always will be a South coast girl. First, it has Accra beach, the beach I have spent endless hours at, people watching, tanning, gossiping, boogie boarding (or using boards for other games), definitely my favourite beach.  Now it has the boardwalk, which has been constructed in recent years,
fantastic for evening walks (imagine morning too ;)).  World class restaurants, Kerri, myself and Julianne tried a new one (for us), Fusion, last night. Yummy!

As much as I love all the other Coasts, and what they have to offer. And even though Madonna and all the other not as talented stars, stays West, I am definitely all about the South (well except for the odd Madonna stalking outing).

Poor Lola

For the past week I have honestly had nightmares about deserting Lola for almost a month. Here I am day in and day out, lazing on some pretty fabulous beaches and poor Lola is being transported all around various peoples homes in Switzerland and Germany (although to be fair she loves all the people). I envisioned a sad Lola, barely eating, sulking without her mother and although I am happy to discover otherwise, this is a bit much...

I mean honestly does this look like a dog that in anyways is pining over her holidaying mother! However, a big thanks to Asa and family for taking care of her the first stint, l am in no way jealous that she looks like she is having a fabulous time!

East and the End

It is a hard life, on the East Coast...

Cattlewash

I have come to beautiful Cattlewash to spend some time with Aunty Andy and all the grands.  It is so lovely and peaceful here.  Had a long walk with Jodi on the beach and then watched the sunset.

Dogs and Cathedrals

I spent my first day in BIM relaxing, doing a few chores, sunning at the beach and ending with a catch up evening at Kerri's.


We went through most of Barbados news and I feel all caught up.


I had some cuddles with her beautiful jacks (no need for Lola to find out).


They are properly adorable though.


Meanwhile back in Armagh, the McKinstry's seem to have gone mad. After strict instructions that I was not to take the Old Dears to museums or cathedrals, look where they end up..


And not only did they look at it but also they...


...even went so far to learn something about it and


go inside! Shocking really, me and Aunty Jillian leave and they go straight to culture, really letting the team down ;), I can only hope it was down to peer pressure!

Home Sweet Home

We arrived safely this afternoon back in Barbados, a bit before schedule, but definitely no complaints. Home sweet home, combined with the grand children has definitely been the answer, within minutes Aunty Jillian was on the up.



No surprise that the cuddles from these three can cure almost anything.


Back in her usual spot on the veranda, albeit in a new temporary chair...


...that took all of two minutes for the grands to take over. Aunty Jillian now has many of us to fuss over her (sure this will drive her mad) and I am so happy to have her back home and also want to say a big thank you to all the people at Gatwick who were sooo helpful and kind.


Meanwhile across the pond the fun goes on with a



tour of the Guinness factory and a few more additions to the crew.



It looks like all are having a grand time, I know seems a bit impossible without us, but seems to be the case.



And now they are all looking forward to their next adventure to explore their family roots in Armagh :)

More Changes

Well once again things have not gone exactly to plan. Unfortunately, Aunty Jillian was not fully recovering from her stint in hospital in Lake Como, and team Old Dears and carer decided it was time for her to go home and properly recover. Of course she was never going by herself, so me and her are making the trip back to Barbados from London later today. We are both sad to have left the reunion but looking forward to getting her home and seeing all the family in Barbados.
It was sad to say good bye to Aunty Janice and Di especially, as we had a fabulous ten days and I will miss them terribly. It properly was the best trip ever, even with the alterations, and I loved having them with me.
Another bonus of being with them is they have put the blog readership through the roof. So not to disappoint all their followers, today the McKinstry's enjoyed lunch at The Bank on Collage Green.
Back in Britain Aunty Jillian and I ate a lovely meal at our hotel at Gatwick and are looking forward to our travels tomorrow. I must also say how much I love Britain and Ireland, all the people so helpful and fabulous over the last few days, making a tricky time much easier (I also love that every single person complained about the heat, I love it, the poor weather can never win!).

The McKinstry's

We arrived in the Emerald Isle yesterday in actual summer, not just the 'season' but actually a proper summer, amazing, and what great weather to have the McKinstry 2013 family reunion.

I am honoured to have been included in the reunion, even though my Bajan roots are Cozier (you can see that as McKinstry's lack a bootsy and I certainly do not). Tonight the people started to arrive and we had our first meal at our lovely hotel.  Melita, the lady who organised the bespoke tour, did a wonderful job, she use to be a teacher, and now plans these specialised tours. My absolute dream job.
She even had gift bags for each of us, itineraries (although nice, mine had pictures, but obviously not a competition ;)). A lovely evening meeting and reuniting with the McKinstry's, will miss having the Old Dears to myself, but I realise they are pretty fabulous so I need to share them!

Last Day in Basel

Well today the Old Dears spent their last day in Switzerland in the Black Forrest in Germany. In fact, when people ask them what they thought of Switzerland they will probably describe my flat as really besides a drive through the country we spent most days somewhere else!  First stop was a quaint little town called Schopfheim, beautiful colourful streets and homes.  We then wove our way back to Basel through the Forrest making a stop in  Bad Sackingen, next we stopped and had a gourmet picnic (well I thought so ;)) along the Rhine.  Even though things did not go according to the original plan, I have had a brilliant time with the Aunties and have enjoyed showing them around. All the outings reminded me of what beautiful places I have on my doorstep and when I return next month I plan to explore much more. It is now 6am and we are all busy getting ready for our next destination, this time a wee but further...

The Alsace

Yesterday we spent the day visiting the villages of the Alsace and then returned to France that evening for what had to be one of the most frustrating but also entertaining dinners I have possibly ever had.

We had a brilliant evening with a lot of laughs over all this. But the icing on the cake was when I went to the washroom to hear Aunty Janice, who had been gone for ages, knocking from inside (where she was locked in, as door broke) asking 'could someone help me?'. I could not help laughing (a lot) as I went to get someone to save her. They got her out with a spoon, it was fairly hilarious. Great day.

Petite Venice

Yesterday, the mini European tour resumed, travelling to our next destination by train...
We departed from the French side of Basel's train station (across the road from my flat).  It was a stunning, not a cloud in the sky day. In fact, it was much easier to take the 45 minute train to
Petite Venise rather than the first plan of driving all that way to the original, what is meant to be a bit smelly in July, Venice.
We spent a lovely day eating, sipping wine and shopping (Aunty Janice has brought out the shopper in me, not good!).  In the evening Chris and Pia treated us to a yummy yummy Curry.  Prepared by the very jet lagged Chris.  Another great evening had by the team.  And this morning we have awoken to another cloudless day and new adventure a head of us.

The Fabulous Four

We woke up yesterday to an absolutely beautiful day and we were all full of excitement as we knew that we would soon have back our fourth member. We said goodbye to stunning Argengo, and the most wonderful, helpful, women ever, Cinzia. Cinzia rents me the flat that I usually stay in and she is over the top helpful, kind and generous, always going the extra mile, miss her already!

A last look at the lake and then off to the hospital to collect Aunty Jillian, the foursome is now back together and ready to start our next adventure.  We made it back to Basel and as requested a home cooked roast dinner was provided. And today we are back on the road, or rather on the train!

Second Stop

The second stop on our tour did not end up being what I thought it would be, in fact I would never have guessed it would be about 50 meters from the first stop. Nonetheless it was an absolutely beautiful second location, a flat down in the village (friends of mine were moving into our previous location so we had to move) and we really enjoyed our stay there (above the wine bar, need I say more).

 View from this balcony.

Great meal out with the O'Briens. We had a great last night and now are so excited to get Aunty Jillian and get this tour back on the road!

Aunty Jillian

I spent months creating what I thought was the perfect road trip and I had warned the Aunties that there would be a long lengthy paper trail process to apply for any alterations. So I think Aunty Jillian decided that she wanted to make a change (more time in the Alsace) but wanted to dodge the paper work so got sick instead. And although her cunning plan worked, the process was a bit scary for all. On Sunday night we had to call an ambulance for her and she has been in hospital ever since. However, she is miles better and we were all very relieved to see her back to herself yesterday (she has an infection that was affecting her breathing). They will keep her till Thursday, just to make sure she is fully ready for the next leg of the tour. The language barrier has been a challenge but she is so impressed of how hard they try to speak English and the care at the hospital. And we were equally impressed with the hospital in Como..
Tthe view from her room was stunning, which also has a beautiful big balcony. And in all seriousness she has been incredibly brave and her usual up beat self, insisting we carry on seeing other sights.
So we went to the market in Lenno, which I must say was very good and beautiful along the lake and had a beautiful meal (best I have had in recent years by far) but it really is not the same without Aunty Jillian (it is like we have lost a leg) and we really cannot wait till she returns to the tour. We miss and love love love you Aunty Jillian (she loves mushy)!

Road Block

Well it is fair to say that everything has not gone according to plan and that our road trip has come up against a bit of an unexpected road block, Aunty Jillian has fallen a bit ill. It means a few extra days in Como and an unexpected schedule change. But the Old Dears and myself have it under control and are fairly confident that within a couple of days we will be back on the road to what I consider an improved itinerary (if I do say so myself).

I am travelling with some fairly amazing ladies, and all spirits remain high and positive as we look forward to hitting the road again.

Another Boring Day

Well yesterday was just like the others really, relatively boring, we took a boat all around the lake,saw okay looking docks, then we decided we should stop in Bellagio.  Where I ate this rather bland looking seafood salad and choked down some more fine Italian wine.

Lola had a play in the lake (trying to catch these swans) before we headed back to the flat to watch the sun set with some more of that wine. Really and truly it is a tough life ;)

And it Begins

After a few hours of sleep from the previous night's dinner party, we were able to get out of bed and on the road on time as prescribed by the itinerary.  We had a wee bit of trouble fitting all our luggage, but thanks to my efficient German flat mate, we got it all in (not really sure if we will be able to get it all back in without her).  

We stopped for some breakfast on Lake Lucerne and watched the mist clear off the Lake. We had a short delay while waiting to get through the infamous Gottard tunnel but were still able to make it to Como in time for lunch.  We had a great afternoon followed by a yummy Italian meal.  A lovely start to the tour.

Beginning in Basel

Yesterday was the beginning of the European tour as me and the old dears toured around sunny Basel.  We walked past many of the many museums without a second glance and headed straight to the Rhine...
... for a drink in the very posh Three Kings (do not worry, I did show them a bit of culture taking them through the small red light district-pictures were a bit tricky).  We then headed back to prepare for the second, but larger dinner party.  After, what I think was a lovely meal, the games began. We saw some fabulous acting had loads of giggles and altogether another fabulous evening. It is now very early as we prepare for our big road trip!

The Three Old Dears

I am very excited to say that the three old dears arrived safely yesterday from their various destinations (South Africa, Canada and Barbados). And am especially excited that my first decision in trying to create the best trip ever was the right one. Having all traveled at least 12 hours, plus time differences, I thought it was a bit risky to have even a small dinner party. But I could not have been more wrong.

The three old dears would put most people half their age to shame.  They not only managed to stay awake for the late dinner start, but also managed to drink me dry (no small feat) and stay awake to some ridiculous time.  A big welcome to Di, Aunty Jillian and Aunty Janice, although we managed to cover most topics last night I am sure we will find something else to talk about over the next 18 days, so excited to have you!

Scrubbing

Well I have had quite a few visitors to Basel and I am always worried about making it special but I can say I have never felt this nervous before, it just has to be perfect!  I have been scrubbing, dusting, mopping, re-mopping for the last two days.
The place has not looked so good since, well, since the previous tenants lived here...

Everything is set up and ready to go. Now I am just anxiously awaiting all their arrivals tomorrow, from around the world! Yippee!!

Happy and Sad Canada Day

First, a big huge Happy Canada day to all my Canadian friends around the world! Secondly, a huge thank you to Patrick and Erin for hosting a great Canada Day party. And finally, and with big huge sadness farewell to Mark, who leaves Basel tomorrow bright and early for an exciting new adventure in Quito.

A great day had but now on the way home knowing that Basel will not quite be the same without high five Russo :(