WHERE TO GO?

I found out on last Friday that I have the whole month of August off of work so my mind immediately began to dream of where to get away. As I wrote in the previous post, the weather here has been miserable. Spending all summer in a dark, windowless sound stage didn't seem like such a bad thing if the weather wasn't going to be summer-like. Usually those places heat up like an oven when it's hot out but not only aren't we getting any heat, we have a new air-conditioning unit that was installed over our break that keeps the place positively frigid. I had to dig out a sweater coat from my winter wardrobe so that I wouldn't catch a chill!!


I thought of a few options for a trip and so started to put out feelers for what it would cost:

Back to the BVI: I found a flight from YVR to STT for $945 - not great but better than I have seen in the past. When we were looking at flights in February of '09 for my daughter's wedding on Tortola, flights to EIS were $1,200+.

I got a smoking good deal on Jost Van Dyke at White Bay Villas. Their biggest unit, Plantation Villa, is a shared accommodation with private bedroom but shared kitchen, living room, and sometimes bathroom. The dates I was looking at, basically all of August, I would have the entire house to myself at $135 a night plus 17% tax etc. which is a spectacular deal as the house is gorgeous. And as I really want to go back to Jost for an extended visit the next time I go to the islands, this was my dream option.

White Bay, Jost Van Dyke

I also got a great deal at Chateau Relaxeau Caribe, a lovely place right on the beach of Apple Bay, Tortola; $100 a night including all taxes. As I really want to get to know the owner, Malcolm Boyes and his wife (who live upstairs) along with neighbours Island Jim and his wife, this was a very attractive option.

Chateau Relaxeau Caribe

I checked with Uschi at Sebastians on the Beach (the place where I spent 9 days on my trip in May of this year) to see what her summer rates are and she also gave me a great deal. The restaurant closes August 17th along with some of the rooms so her offer was a Beach-Rear room at $50 a night or a Seaside Villa Suite (with full kitchen so could cook my own meals if I wanted to save money) for $85 a night. The Villa Suites are up the beach a bit from where I stayed before and right by Chateau Relaxeau Caribe so I could still get to know the gang. This was the most economical BVI option.

Sebastians on the Beach

I then thought about sailing and how I have a standing invitation to join a fellow who is a full-time cruiser in the Caribbean. He is currently in Grenada, holed up for hurricane season. Grenada is somewhere I would love to visit, especially after reading An Embarrassment of Mangoes. There would be no cost to me for staying on the boat other than $200 a week or so for food. I checked into flights and the best I found was $1,100 going Toronto to Barbados to Grenada. I emailed the sailor and he was happy to have me come down but warned that the weather was such that we wouldn't be doing much sailing and so I would not get to learn how. Seeing how the point of going on such a trip would partially be to learn how to sail, this doesn't make much sense at this time.

Sailing the Caribbean

I considered a trip to Palm Springs to stay with the friends I stay with at Christmas as they always urge me to come back in the summer when the pool is open and it's lovely and hot. I checked flights and they were cheap at just under $300 return. So I sent a request down via email to see if the 'Red Room' was available and found out that it wasn't a good time for them. Plus the director friend I love to bits who hosts Christmas down there is in Los Angeles making a movie all of August so I wouldn't get to see him.

The Backyard of Where I Stay in Palm Springs

I have felt that my next big trip should be to England to go see family, especially an elderly auntie that has just moved into a retirement community. I talk to her every week or two on the phone and she really wants me to come and see her. The last time I was over there was 2008 and the last time I saw her was a year ago when she visited here. So I looked into flights there and the best I could do was $1,600+. YIKES!! So I emailed my travel agent and he found a flight for just under $700. This would be an economical option as, again, my costs would be limited once I arrived as I would stay with family. But eating out and other spending would be very costly due to the price of everything being so high and the exchange rate of $1.57=£1.00 - albeit much better than my last trip which was $2.20=£1.00. And it's a bit short notice for everyone who I would be staying with. But I'd really like to go so this is moving up to one of my most probable options.

A Bridlington Street, the Town My Aunty Lives In

I also toyed briefly with the idea of flying to Los Angeles to visit the set of Ant Farm, a show by the creator of Mr. Young (the show I work on). I thought it might be beneficial for me to shadow the script supervisor there and see how he does things. I actually had a telephone conversation with him earlier this week about timings as we were having some issues with that on our show. I mentioned to the AD on our show what I was thinking and before I knew it, she had arranged for me to stay with the people who rent the house she owns in Burbank, so accommodation would be free. Flights were cheap and I could rent a car for under $300 a week. But there were mitigating factors that made me decide against this option. I would have liked to do this though as I could also have met up with my director friend in LA for dinner and perhaps visited him on set at the old RKO studio lot, which would have been fantastic.

Hollywood, December 23, 2009

Then this week, summer arrived!!!!!! FINALLY!!!! The sky is blue, the sun is HOT, and British Columbia is showing it's best side. Do I really want to leave in the only good weather we get all year??? Especially to the Caribbean where it's hurricane season so probably leaving sunshine for rain? It rained for over a week on my recent trip there thus I found that there's not much to do but read when it's raining in the Caribbean.

And to be honest, I am a bit travel weary after just getting back from 5 weeks away. And by travel weary I mean airport weary. I used to love being in the airport, people watching, excited at the prospect of flying away, loved ones waiting with you until you went through the boarding gate. No hassles, no line ups, NO SECURITY CHECKS. I loved flying. Now no one can wait with you unless they are traveling too, line ups everywhere, the dreaded TSA minions, no decent food on the flights AND my feet swell to the size of loaves of bread on the long flights.

So what to do, what to do?

I have decided to stay home for most of the month. I need to save my money for a new (to me) vehicle as mine is on it's last legs. I also need to save up for the rest of my dental work. As much as I love being spontaneous and adventurous, sometimes practicality has to prevail. It's a bummer but that is the way it goes.

But I did book a flight today. Just an hour long each way. I am going up to Kelowna, the lake country, to spend 11 days with my daughter. She is working during the week but I am staying two weekends and I have a good friend up there who I miss dearly and love to bits so we will hang out as much as we can (and she has a pool!!!! - which she even lets me use when they're not home). Kelowna is the holiday destination for most Vancouverites and Albertan's so why not me?

Kelowna, Home of the OGOPOGO

I need to take advantage of the sunshine here while it lasts.

BACK ON TORTOLA

It is with some sadness that I bid farewell to all of my new friends on Anegada. I have really loved my time here and intend to return some day - I just have no idea when that might be.

Linda Soares, a wonderful woman and part owner of Neptune's Treasure.

As I sit on the ferry waiting for it to be loaded and on it's way, Sue Wheatly - the owner of The Purple Turtle gift shop where I spent a considerable sum, gets on board. I had met her one afternoon at the bar at Cow Wreck. I call out to her and she comes over and sits with me and we have a lovely chat for the hour or so trip across the water. She was married to Lowell Wheatly, the founder of The Anegada Reef Hotel. He died, tragically, in a propane tank explosion, and his children took over the hotel, leaving Sue without a home. She has done very well for herself since, living on Tortola and owning the nicest gift shop on Anegada. She is originally from England and listening to her tell how she came to live on the islands is very interesting. I love people's stories!

I didn't realize that we were stopping at Virgin Gorda on the way, and as we pull into the harbour I can clearly see Fischer's Cove just down the beach. It brings back a flood of happy memories of the week, two years ago, that I spent there with my youngest daughter, Shonah.

Eventually we arrive on Tortola, and when I step off of the ferry on to the dock, I am wondering how I will know who, out of all the men milling about - most of them taxi drivers, is there to fetch me from the car rental place. All of a sudden a fellow steps out of a vehicle and says to me, "You are Sandra? You're renting a car from me?" I have no idea how he knew it was me and say so. "I have been doing this for years, it's my business. I always know." Wow. Impressive.

It takes about 20 minutes to drive to the west end where Jerry's Car Rental is located and, once I sign the paperwork, I get into my slightly battered Suzuki Sidekick - with the removable soft top!! - and make my way up over the island via Zion Hill (steep!!!) to Sebastian's on the Beach which is, very conveniently, right where the road ends at a 'T' intersection.

I get checked into my room which, although a little dated - especially the bathroom, is huge (free upgrade) and has a view of the water over the roof of the restaurant across the tiny road. I am really pleased with all that is provided in the room: a flashlight, an umbrella, a hairdryer, an iron and board. All items I could have used at Neptune's but they don't supply.

As I check the beds, I notice that the one on the right has bits of dirt and loose grime on the otherwise pristine white pillow slips. I pull back the curtain and the window ledge, right next to the pillow, is FILTHY. It's coated in dust, dirt, and grime. I spend the next 10 minutes cleaning it off with wet tissues. The other bed doesn't have that problem, although the window ledge isn't much better, but the billowing curtain in front of a closed window kind of makes sleeping there impossible. So I pull the bed on the right about 8 inches away from the window and swap pillows with the other bed.

I had wanted to sleep in this bed as it seemed the 'cleaner' corner of the room but that billowing curtain is in the way and I can't figure out where the air is coming from.

After unpacking, I go across the road and have dinner at the restaurant. Vegetable pasta and the portion is huge. I only eat half. The vegetables were nice and cooked just as I like them but the sauce was kind of bland - right out of a can I think with not much in the way of spices added, if any at all. I wouldn't really recommend.

The next morning I am up early, thanks to being back in the land of the natural alarm clock - roosters. Everywhere.

After breakfast in the restaurant, very yummy rum battered french toast, I hop in my little Sidekick and head off to Road Town. Sebastian's want all of the payment for the room up front and I need to go get more cash out of the bank. Also, while I am in town, I want to get another bead or two for my Pandora bracelet (which is BVI themed) that is actually from the BVI.

But before I head over Zion hill, I drive down the road to the west a bit and pull into Long Bay Resort. My daughter was married here in February of '09 and I want to see the place again. As I walk towards the spot where they exchanged their vows, I see that nothing has changed and I love that. When I get to the place where my daughter walked through the palm trees to stand by her fiance, I get quite emotional and teary. It was such a beautiful day, perfect in every way. And their marriage is so wonderful and strong, they are absolutely pie eyed about each other and that is a huge blessing for a mom who thinks the world of her daughter.

The wedding in February 2009.

The gazebo has been painted white since the wedding (the wedding planner tried to insist that my daughter get married here instead of the gorgeous beach they had traveled thousands of miles to be married on).

Where the 'isle' to the 'alter' was.

The very spot they said their vows.

I take a stroll down the beach a ways, remembering the day, and being very thankful for all of the blessings in my life.

Come to the beach with me!!

I drive into Tortola and I can't believe how awful the drivers are here. They speed around you on a blind curve, even though I am doing the speed limit. They ride my bumper, they take up more of their share of the road when coming towards me, forcing me onto the shoulder or to slow way down until they pass me with inches to spare. I think that having special blue license plates for rental cars is a big mistake because, I believe, the locals see that and then delight in terrorizing the poor drivers.

I decide to park in the big lot by the water and proceed on foot as it's easier to do that than try to figure out my way around the roads in town. Some are so narrow there's only room for one car and if one comes at you, someone has to back up and with my blue license plates, I am sure it would have to be me and the visibility out of the plastic windows of the soft top is almost nil thanks to the salt air.

I first stop by the craft hut of the artist I met the day I arrived in the islands. He recognizes me right away and says I look very different; rested and happy. And thinner and tanned. All good things. We arrange for me to come back after I am done in town and he will go with me to Josiah's bay to see a little cottage that is for sale there. Not that I can afford to buy it but my son has posed the idea of us going together in a condo or cottage here and this one is going for a very reasonable price.

I head to the jewelry store, Little Switzerland, to buy a couple of Pandora beads. They are not only cheaper here than at home, there's no tax. I select one from my wish list, Happy Fish, and impulsively decide to buy the turtle as well. The staff are super friendly and helpful and the store was deliciously cool inside.

Turtle and Happy Fish with Rooster - no need to explain why HE'S on the bracelet!

I then head into the backstreet where there are lots of colorfully painted little shops and find
Serendipity Bookstore. I have befriended, on FaceBook, one of the girls who works there and am anxious to meet her. Happily, she is working today and she seems as excited to meet me as I am to meet her. She is so friendly and lovely, it's a real treat to spend a bit of time with her before I have to keep going and let her get back to work.

So nice to meet Ser of Serendipity Books.

I head down the lane aways and come across Sunny Caribbee, a fabulous little place that creates their own spice blends that are packaged in the cutest tins. I buy several gifts for some very special ladies in my life.

Sunny Caribbee.

A bit further down the lane I find Roti Palace, purported to be the best place in the Caribbean for Roti.

Roti Palace, upstairs above the jewelry shop.

Miss Jean awaits some customers.

I order the boneless chicken roti and it comes with a sweet chutney and a spicy green mango blend that she tells me to mix together on my plate to make a delicious dip. I do and it is! But, unfortunately for me, all of the meat in the roti is dark and I don't like dark meat. And when I come across several pieces of gristle and some veins, I can't eat any more.

My lunch.

I head back to my car, deposit my purchases, and then over to Joseph's store. He is read to go and so we get in the car and start off over the island to Josiah's Bay.

The road is terrifying. Narrow, windy, up hills that look more like walls, down hills so steep I can't see the pavement in front of me - it's like driving off a cliff. At one point he has me pull over at a little bar on the peak of a hill, so he can go buy a drink for himself. He says it's too far a drive not to have something to drink. I have a bottle of water so I am fine. He waves to some guys sitting under the shade of a little lean-to under some palms, and they eye me with what looks like suspicion and talk among themselves. I am sure they're talking about this white woman with Joseph and when they all laugh are laughing at me (as they are all looking right at me through the windshield) but I couldn't care less. He comes back out with a very strong rum drink and we get back on our way.

I have no idea where exactly the cottage is, I just know it's in Josiah's Bay about a 5 minute walk from the beach. I know what it looks like and feel confident that we will see it without having to search for it. Joseph doesn't seem so sure but, sure enough, we come across it just after the road flattens out near the beach. I spot the for sale sign outside the fence at the same time I see the cottage colours through the shrubbery.

Lime Leaf Cottage, Josiah's Bay.

We get out and go through the gate to have a look at the property. It needs a bit of landscaping. The cabin is shut up tight with louvered shades so there's no way to see inside, but I have seen the pictures online. It's tiny inside, but adequate. And, if I were to buy it, I would completely repaint everything inside as the colours are awful.

We drive on down to the beach and park behind a building that turns out to be a fairly large bar and restaurant that is owned by another branch of the Wheatly family. It's a common name down here.

The beach is spectacular; a lovely little cove with fairly substantial waves. Apparently it is a surfing destination in February or whenever the waves are much much bigger than today. That would make Ashleigh and Rob very happy as they love to surf. I can imagine them coming down to stay in the cottage and having a fabulous time here. And I would love it because it's a pristine white beach with nice shallow areas for swimming and floating around in.

Josiah's Bay, with the yellow flag warning of strong undertows today.

As we drive back to Road Town, we talk about whether or not I want to go to Trellis Bay tonight for the Full Moon Party there. It is something I have really wanted to attend and was excited when I realized I would be on Tortola for it. But now the rain is coming and it's a really long drive from the west end where I am staying. It's over roads I am unfamiliar with and would have to traverse in the dark coming back. Joseph offers to come with me and drive us there. But I would still have to drive back as he would be too inebriated to drive and I am also not sure I want to drive with him like that as I don't know him very well and I don't know how he behaves when drunk. That, coupled with the rain that eventually hits and hits hard, I decide not to go. After I drop him off back at his shop, I decide I will go to the party at the Bomba Shack which is just down the road a bit from Sebastian's, because Mike and Rebecca will be there with their friends, even though I know it won't exactly be my scene - too much weed and magic mushroom tea for my tastes. But when I get out of the car to dash into Sebastian's, I get soaked to the skin. After a nice hot shower to clean up, I don't feel one bit like going out so I don't. I guess I might never see a full moon party on Tortola, at this rate.

I head over to the restaurant and order their individual size pizza with mushrooms and pineapple. When it comes, it reminds me of the pizzas I had in pubs in London. The crust is like thin cardboard and, again, the tomato sauce on the pizza has no flavour. I wouldn't recommend it. I think I am going to have to find a different place for dinner.

FOLLOWING YOUR PASSION

I feel guilty that I haven't posted a whole lot on here lately. I see my readership drop off and I know that I am losing people every day. It's hard to know what to write about when all I am doing is working.

It's been a lot of fun though... the working thing. Such a great show; lots of laughs and really great people. I am sad when I see the number of binders (containing the lined script and my notes) lined up on the shelf near my desk at the office, each one representing a completed episode. We are off on haitus this week and when we return next week we start episode 118. How did it go by so fast? With one more week of hiatus in March, that leaves only 8 weeks before we wrap the show on April 15th. We are all hoping to hear, sooner than later, that we are coming back in July for season two.

So what to do in the two months off between April 15th and (hopefully) coming back in July? I could try to get on a couple of MOW's (movies of the week). But then life is all about work, work, work. And what do we work for if not to be able to follow our passions in our free time? My passions are my kids (who are all grown up and don't really want mom around all the time any more), my faith, writing, and travel. As you know I have been longing to get back to the Caribbean since I was there for my daughter's wedding in February 2009; I can't believe they've been married two years next weekend! But then - I can because it seems like a lifetime ago since I was in the beautiful British Virgin Islands. How I miss that place.

SO... SO.... I AM GOING BACK!!!!!!!! YIPPEEEE!!!!!!!

Just this past week, I booked a flight (FABULOUS price on Ticket Pilot - ended up being $860 including taxes!!!), one night on Tortola at Beef Island Guesthouse in beautiful Trellis Bay (I arrive too late for the ferry to Anegada), a 17 night stay at Neptune's Treasure on Anegada, a 9 night stay at Sebastian's On The Beach on Tortola, and one night on St. Thomas for the early flight home the following morning.

I arrive on Tortola to start my stay on my BIRTHDAY, April 28th. Best birthday present to myself ever ever ever.

Before I head to the BVI though, I am flying to Yuma Arizona where I will take a taxi to the Mexican border and walk across to the small town of Los Algodones, spend a week at a B&B, and get some much needed dental work done. I have wanted to do this for years. I hate the dentist; I have a very deep seated terror due to growing up in England where the dentistry hadn't changed much in 200 years (or so it felt like) and one dentist slapped me across the face when he was done (I was 6) for being the 'worst patient he had ever dealt with'. So I haven't been in the past 20 years or so, I only go when in a lot of pain. I have a few teeth that need fillings; I'd like to have the mercury fillings replaced with porcelain; I need some bridges; and I want some veneers on the top front teeth. I plan on using this year's tax return to pay for the work, so I will see how much I get back and how much the estimate is. But I have high hopes that I will be able to get most of it done as the prices are 70 - 75% LESS than here in Canada. I have spent the last year researching getting dental work done in Mexico and there are highly qualified dentists that cater to the US and Canadian people and we actually account for most, if not all in some cases, of their business. I have every confidence in the clinic I finally decided on, TLC Dental. I just hope I can behave in the chair and they don't feel like slapping me.

So ... this blog is about to get a whole lot more interesting in the months to come. I hope you all stay with me, and a heartfelt thank you to those of you who have. I appreciate each reader and I LOVE getting feed back.