Online Learning

It came as no surprise to be told that we would be fully online with the students when we returned to school after the break.  The government claims it is for two weeks but I suspect it will be much longer than that.  Covid is all over the island and with no real hospital and a highly unvaccinated population I cannot see them allowing us back in.  This is terrible news for the children of The Bahamas, who have not seen in school learning for more than two years (they were already online due to Hurricane Dorian before Covid).  Some private schools have been able to be half online and half face to face most of this time but altogether not a great situation.  Last week was tough.  Trying to keep Sebastian off devices and teach has not been easy.  But we do run outside when we can and keep him entertained on the beach.

We have been building this 'bear trap' all week.  The water keeps coming up and setting us back but I am confident we will trap a bear in the next few days.

Friends Reunited

Alex, one of Sebastian's besties, and his family went to visit their family in Europe during the summer and ended up staying much longer.  I think it is almost six months since we have seen them. So yesterday we finally meet up for a play and some dinner.  Alex and Sebastian had the best time and we were so sorry to tell them we were leaving in the summer.  And watching Sebastian run on the big empty beaches equally made me quite sad about how different it will be next year in a concrete jungle.  I suppose it is hard to have it all.

But before we go, I intend to spend every minute on these beaches that I can.

Home Sweet Home

I love a holiday but I also love getting back home and back into a routine.  We have been so lucky to live in such a gorgeous place on a spectacular beach and I know I do not even realise how much I will miss it once we leave.  Therefore, I intend to take full advantage of it over the next six months.  This might be easier now that we are back online full time and I cannot think of a better spot for a tea or lunch break.

Lunch break.  It is a bit challenging with Sebastian not in school as well though.

My new desk.

And how wonderful to be back with Lola.  The pet sitters were fabulous and she seems 8 years younger.  She is full of beans, eating well and even spending unforced quality time with Sebastian!

Happy 2022

 I predict amazing things for this year.  I plan to enjoy it no matter what and try my best to live in the moment.  We have six more months here with all the people we love here and then in the second half, we will be back in Thailand.  I am so excited about both of these things.  We spent the first day of the year in Marlow getting ready to go back to The Bahamas and spending more quality time together.  

I was so busy these are the only pictures I took of the day.  But great ones, as Denny spent hours in the garden playing with Sebastian and Freda.  She is one special lady and I feel so lucky to have her in my life.

New Years Eve 2021

I cannot think of a better way to start a New Year than on Lock Island with these people.  A great way to end another tricky Covid filled year as we all hope for better things in 2022.  But even with the obstacles of Covid, I must admit we have done very well and I feel very lucky to have done everything we did in 2021.  We were able to have Luis' Mum for ten weeks, to go to Ecuador to see his family, I was able to take Sebastian to Canada, Sebastian started school in person and to end the year we are here in the UK.  I do hope the world gets its act together this year, vaccinations are distributed fairly and people decide to take them.  On that note,  we will end the year with our usual puppet burning.  We will burn Covid again, as it did not work last year, and Boris again as it did not work two years ago.

Kids starting New Years Eve off together

Bubble play in the garden.  It was actually very warm, 16 degrees.

Building Boris

A terrific night.  The burning of Boris and Covid was great and the company the best.  Bring on 2022!

Finally We are Altogether

On the 30th everyone arrived in Marlow.  The Fisks, Richardsons, Garwood/Endaras, and Hopkins were finally all together after far too long.  Covid has really taken its toll on so many people and it certainly threatened to ruin this moment.  But it didn't.  

Our first night together was so special with loads of food and a huge catch-up.  It was such a special evening, I just love these people.