The Royal Wedding

I had the privilege today of viewing the royal wedding of William and Kate - here in Barbados - at the home of some good friends who happen to also be British!  It was quite fun!  :)  So, the party started at 5:00 am at Heather's home.  Everyone brought some food for breakfast.  There were British flags waving and many, many gleeful shouts as this and that happened.  Of course, these ladies knew all of the royal family's names, how old they were, etc.  I enjoyed it all - but, I particularly enjoyed the ceremony itself.  I loved all the hymns and music and the words - Jesus Christ - that I heard so often throughout the ceremony.  It made me want to jump up and run home to Gary and tell him how much I loved him.  It made me want to be a better wife - the way that I know my Lord Jesus Christ wants me to be.  I loved the ceremony.  I loved the whole thing.  But, I would have to say that I would rate that kiss about a 6!  :)  Here is a picture of Nicole kidding around with her wedding hat - she realized that it needed to be moved to the side of her head after seeing the latest trends in London!  Also, I have attached a picture of Heather's home - where she had strung up the British flag banners around her den.

Sheating on the red!

I'm trying to become a lady golfer.  I would like to say that I'm giving it my best - but, probably not.  I mean, after all, I don't like to watch the golf channel in my free time, nor do I like to pick up the golf magazine for my reading pleasure.  But, I have committed to go playing this sport, for the time being, at least once a week.  I have met this new friend, her name is Sylvie.  She was born and raised in France and spoke only French.  Then, her husband 'Jon Louie' moved them to the Caribbean islands 24 years ago - and she has done very well at picking up the English language.  Much better than I would have done if I were in her shoes.  OK, so - Sylvie and I were allowing these two guys to play through us in our game of golf yesterday.  We were waiting patiently over on the side and watching them.  And, lo and behold - these two guys walked up to the red tees (ladies and children's tees).  Sylvie turned to me and said, "Ah, they are sheating on the red!"  At first, I didn't know what she meant - but then I just died laughing.  I said, "Do you mean they are cheating on the red?"  Anyway, it was funny to me.  We had a third partner with us yesterday, a lady from England - Ann.  After we ladies had played 9 holes of golf, we went to the club to freshen up before playing the back 9 and Ann looked at me and said, "Is the loo open?"  I immediately told her yes and off she went to find it.  Now, 4 years ago - when I was still living in Texas - I would not have known what in the blazes she was referring to.  But, I knew from our living in Europe that that meant the bathroom.  Gary found this wonderful internet site that gives the British words and what they mean to us Americans.  Funny.  But, I love both Ann and Sylvie and am so glad that they are part of my life right now.

Oistens

I didn't have to have the car today  - Yeah!!!  More time for me to get some things done around the home.  Catch up on my blogging! :)  Am I a recluse?  I wonder, because I sure enjoy my times of solitude.  I enjoy doing laundry, cooking, and making my home beautiful.  I decided to get my exercise for the day by walking down to Oistens Fish Market.  It is not that far of a walk.  It took about 20 minutes to walk down to it.  I have learned which counters to go to for fish such as red snapper or dolphin (people in the states call it mahi mahi, it definitely isn't flipper).  I wanted some dolphin for our supper tonight - so, I went to that counter.  I took a video of the lady cutting the dolphin up for me - that is the video you see at the beginning of this blog.  I picked up several limes to rinse the dolphin off with.  I didn't have to go to the super market for my vegetables, because there were several vendors right by the fish market.  I got 3 beautiful tomatoes, 2 onions, cabbage, 2 cucumbers and some papaya. Yum - we will have the papaya tomorrow morning for breakfast!  I will use the cabbage to make some slaw to go with the dolphin tonight.  And the onions are going in a squash soup that I will hopefully get around to making before the weekend arrives.  It is fun, this island.  I love being able to get all this fresh fish.  I didn't realize it, but Barbados is one of the highest countries in terms of how long people live!  I'm sure it is because of all this fresh fish and chicken.  Oh, on another note:  as I was walking home, I saw a mother hen with her chicks picking away for food in a neighboring yard.  You see this everywhere in Barbados.  Hens, roosters, and chicks roaming freely by the roadsides.  It is a wonder that there are not more dead birds in the streets - run over by the cars - but, there isn't.  Those birds know to stay out of the way.  But, it was fun watching them use their feet and scratch the dirt away to see if there was anything to eat underneath.  Even though I consider myself a country girl from Tupelo, Mississippi - I have never been around roosters and hens until now.  Gary and I are so amused by them.  They are fun to watch, especially on all those days when we are stuck in traffic trying to get Gary to work!  Also, I saw a guy with a surf board crossing the street - he was running across - and tried to jump the curb on the other side - he missed!!!  He doubled over in pain.  When I got up to where he was, I asked if he was ok - he said yes, that the board had saved him, but unfortunately the board had not fared as well.  I'm afraid he broke that board!  Well, that is all I know for today, here is a picture of what a dolphin looks like:
 

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