Paradise on Earth

Bermuda is a little over 600 miles due East of North Carolina. It was discovered in 1609 when a ship that had been dispatched to help the settlers in Jamestown shipwrecked on the island. Thankfully there were enough cedar trees to build new boats and make it home and claim the island for England. The written account of the shipwreck is said to have inspired Shakespeare to write The Tempest.



During the American Revolution, Bermuda was used as England's gunpowder depot, but the Bermudians sold it all to the Americans and helped us win our independence! It was home to Britians Royal Naval Atlantic fleet until 1951.



What a great way to connect three countries.



Bermuda has the prettiest beaches and some of the best snorkeling I think I've seen anywhere, including Hawaii, the Great Barrier Reef and the Carribean. They have more shipwrecks that any other island becuase it's outlined by coral reef. We got to go see two shipwrecks on our snorkel trip - one an old paddle-wheel, carrying bottles of penicilin (sp?), one of which was brought up for us to see, the other dumped it's load of concrete sacks across the ocean floor and looked like an instant paved highway.



There is very little crime, though more than we initially anticipated after hearing about a rash of purse snatches by modpeders, because there is no unemployement (not sure how they manage that) and there is no income tax. Banks use the island for offshore shelter from taxes. We might consider living here if Bill could get a job. You can't look for one while you're there. You have to find one before you go. We hear they're in need of lawyers, bankers and teachers. We saw an ad in the paper for a global IT director for HSBC, which Bill applied for.



The hotel we stayed at was right on the water, but their beach had been washed out by hurricanes in previous years. Which was okay. We bought an unlimited bus pass and got around the island like the locals. Horseshoe Bay was just a few stops down the road. The first day we went, there were no cruiseships visiting the island, so we had the place practically to ourselves. The water is aquamarine blue and the sand is make of pink coral. It's coarsely ground, so it falls quickly to the bottom and you can see everything in the water, including huge parrot fish very close to shore. There are NO sharks, but the do have barracuda.



Every night we walked down to our non-existent beach, listened to the whistling tree frogs and watched some of the most beautiful sunsets.



We'd probably get tired of just beach, but we didn't get tired of the friendly, laid-back people and island style. They don't even where long trousers to work. They wear Bermuda shorts, long socks and dress shoes. The old folks from the cruises fit right in.



Now, I've got to finish packing for a week in Florida. We leave this afternoon to visit some friends. Our bodies are golden tan (Brendan got a little over-baked), and any stress from the move is melting away. I'm glad Bill planned all of these trips this summer. We would definitely get tired of staring at each other trapped in the trailer because of constant rain. But I am ready to settle into a routine. Brendan registers for school when we get back and then we have to buy clothes and supplies.

Home Sweet Trailer

Here it is. Our home. Spacious, huh? We got it backed in and set up for a total of two days before we packed it up again and pulled it out to go to the coast. That first weekend, I noticed that it took me twice as long to get ready in that tiny space, and I had to remember where I put everything. But over all, it's comfy enough. Behind the trailer is a field where about five deer, including a spotted fawn, come every morning begging for corn. How many people can say that?

We're at South Padre Island now. Next week, we're going to Bermuda, and Florida after that. We're not driving to either of those. By the end of the summer, we should have topped up our sun tanks, they've been depleted for three years, and have great tans, too. Brendan has enjoyed boogie boarding in the surf and I've collected some great shells with my parents. Bill finally got to use his metal detector.

Moving Day, Again!

After separating, sorting, organizing, packing, traveling thousands of miles, staying with parents for two weeks, living out of suitcases, we're almost home! Our travel trailer was finally finished yesterday. It has new tires and new carpet and all the systems work, most importantly, the air conditioning. We loaded what we've bought into it yesterday and are waiting for the air freight to arrive today to finish the work. Then Bill can finally sit back and breath a sigh of relief in his own space, for a few days, before we head to the coast.

It's all coming back to me - the two years of living and traveling in it. There were many things I enjoyed about that carefree lifestyle, but a few I didn't. It took forever to manuever around the bed to make it, hitting my head on the fan shelf and knocking my shins into the wooden base. I have to relearn how to work efficiently in that small space. I'm afraid we have way too many clothes coming, and I have to remember where I tucked all the food. Thankfully, Brendan doesn't have as many toys, but his clothes and shoes are much bigger now, and may not fit into the space it used to.

BTW - when we were backing the trailer into it's space, a park hostess drove up in a golf cart to welcome us. She said they have Sunday School every week and they're holding vacation bible school mid-July. I was a little preoccupied making sure Bill didn't back into a tree to ask, but it sounds like there might be a lot of children in the park. That would be nice for Brendan. His basketball and football should arrive today, so he can get in some practice before school starts. I always thought he was a natural at sports, but my brothers confirmed it after batting practice with Shawn and b-ball practice with Nate. He's got a good aim, and as Shawn said, "a learning spirit, willing to take instruction to improve." That could be from moving to a different country and having to relearn everthing he thought he knew and not taking anything for granted. What a great quality to have.

Gotta go. I think the movers are here!

It's Raining! It's Pouring!

We must have upset the balance of nature when we move back across the Atlantic. Usually, by this time of year, Texas is hot and dry. The grass has dried, and the landscape is mostly brown. But, since we've been back, it has rained almost every day, with no relief in sight. In England, I always complained about how I missed a good Texas thunderstorm. We've had several in the last two weeks and some great gully-washers!

If we had wanted constant rain, we could have stayed in England, which is having record rain and flood in the Midlands, too!

Thankfully, the rain has kept the temperature down some, relatively, around the high 80's. But when the sun comes out it gets steamy. I had to go buy a few more bras because I was sweating through the ones I had too fast!

The days are moving fast. We've accomplished all we wanted in anticipation of the air shipment arriving - but hasn't come yet. The travel trailer is almost complete. Bill can't wait to move in and have his own space. He's obssessed about it! I have to admit, it's not easy living out of a suitcase and mooching off of our parent's kindness, but it's a nice way to settle back in. It gives us lots of time to reconnect. Brendan is staying at my folk's house this week with his two cousins for Camp P&G (Pawpaw and Gram). They put together a full itinerary of outdoor activities and crafts, just like real camp. We stayed the weekend with my brother and his wife when we took him out. Just while we were there, we had batting practice, played croquet, made super bubble mix and giants wands to create huge bubbles, and the boys set up a shooting gallery and learned the rules of handling a bbgun. (Hey, it's Texas!) Brendan is an amazing shot! We'll pick him up when the trailer is done, so he can help decorate his corner of the camper.

As soon as we settle in, we get to test how well the RVs been overhauled. We're towing it to South Padre Island to spend the week with my parents fishing, hunting for shells, playing on the beach and trying to stay cool. It should help to kickstart our suntans for the trips to Bermuda and Floriday later in July. Our poor white skin is in shock.

For now, we're concentrated on having a fun summer. If Bill will stop obssessing, maybe we will!