click on the links in green
Royal Poinciana,
Flamboyant Trees
Flamboyant Trees
Orange Flamboyant Tree
Red Flamboyant Tree and waterfall at Cap Estate
Orange Flamboyant Flowers
Red Flamboyant Flowers
Orange Flamboyant Flowers
Yellow Flamboyant Flowers
Shak Shak sound Click on arrow above to hear sound.
Flamboyant
pods
Yellow Flamboyant Flowers
A Taste
of Britain
Three British things to enjoy:
Pimms - one of the most refreshing summer beverages, add a few Caribbean fruits to make it more exotic;
Pork Pie - It has always been something that I believed was impossible to make unless you were a Cordon Bleu chef or you had been handed down a family recipe or you just bought some at a store. The recipe I used was from Gordon Ramsay, Ham and Pork Pie. I substituted Italian Sausage meat, either hot or mild will do, instead of the regular sausage with added Tabasco sauce. As I didn't have any pork fat I used bacon fat instead of the lard, which is pretty easy to make and store in a jar in the fridge.
Tea Scones - either wonderful sweet fruit scones with Strawberry Jam and Clotted Cream or the savoury cheese and herb are an integral part of a British High Tea. If in London, do go and have High Tea at Brown's Hotel.
PIMMS ON ICE
P I M M ' s
Mix 1 part
PIMM'S No.1 with 3 parts chilled Sprite; add some mint, cucumber, and for that
extra special Caribbean twist a paper thin slice of lime
Pimm's was first produced in 1823 by Pimm, a farmer's son from Kent who became the owner of an oyster bar in the City of London, near the Bank of England. He offered the tonic (a gin-based drink containing quinine and a secret mixture of herbs) as an aid to digestion, serving it in a small tankard known as a "No. 1 Cup", hence its subsequent name. Pimm's began large-scale production in 1851 to keep up with sales to other bars.
Pimm's was first produced in 1823 by Pimm, a farmer's son from Kent who became the owner of an oyster bar in the City of London, near the Bank of England. He offered the tonic (a gin-based drink containing quinine and a secret mixture of herbs) as an aid to digestion, serving it in a small tankard known as a "No. 1 Cup", hence its subsequent name. Pimm's began large-scale production in 1851 to keep up with sales to other bars.
HAM AND PORK PIE
HAM AND PORK PIE
HAM AND PORK PIE WITH MANGO CHUTNEY
TEA SCONES
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| Afternoon tea with scones at Brown's Hotel, London - A MUST |
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
Diamond Jubilee Celebrations
This year Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her Diamond Jubilee (60 years on the throne). Various
forms of celebrations are taking place throughout the Commonwealth and Great
Britain. In St. Lucia, the Governor
General, Dame Pearlette Louisy, GCMG, started off the celebration
with a visit by His Royal Highness Prince
Edward, Earl of Wessex , KG GCVO and Sophie,
Countess of Wessex followed by a Gala
Banquet and Ball at Government House.
Llewellyn
Xavier at his investiture receiving the OBE
(The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at
Buckingham Palace
Talk about being born with a silver spoon in your mouth, some of us were born with two! Silver spoons from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for children born the week of the Coronation.
(Rosa
in the Bahamas: do you still have yours?
Maybe we could press for the rest of the set!)
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| Government House, St. Lucia |
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| Royal Palms - Government House |
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| Government House, St Lucia 1900's |
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|
Queen
at Government House by CX
|
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|
Croton at Government House |
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at the Henley Regatta 2012 - photo by Jessica Koomen
The
Swan Uppers on their boat at Henley - photo by Jessica Koomen
Thank you Jessica for letting me use your two wonderful photos of the Henley Regatta.
Swan Upping is an annual ceremonial census of the mute swans on the River Thames. They
are checked, marked and let go. The Monarch retains the right to ownership
of all unmarked mute swans in open water, but only exercises ownership on
certain stretches of the River Thames and its surrounding tributaries. This dates
from the 12th century, during which time swans were a common food source for
royalty.
The Henley Royal Regatta is a colourful rowing event held every year in
July on the River Thames by the town of Henley on Thames. Anyone wanting
to enjoy the finest Henley has to offer can stay at this charming Bed and Breakfast: The Lyndons .
Feral
Cat Shampoo
Ti Noir was one of our first feral kittens to visit. However she decided that she preferred to
spend the better part of her day in our air-conditioned bedroom than roaming
the wild foraging for food. She leaves
home at 5 am and returns at 6 pm unless she has been mousing or birding! She has a penchant for shampooing hair.
Click on arrow above to see video link.
Music : Mille Cherubini in Coro sung by Luciano Pavarotti.
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| Ti Noir |
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| Ti Wouge shampooing Ti Noir! |
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| First encounters: Feral Ti Gres bringing her offspring Ti Noir and Ti Wouge home |
and finally,
congratulations to Great Britain for hosting such a wonderful opening ceremony for the 2012 Olympics.
Special congratulations to Danny Boyle for his brilliant creation and to Thomas Heatherwick for his magnificent Olympic Cauldron which included children, representing the 204 competing nations, carrying the copper petals to the main sculpture and the flower closing together magnificently. Absolutely fantastic A R T.
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| 2012 Olympic Cauldron by Thomas Heatherwick |
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| 2012 Olympic Cauldron from Heatherwick.com |
JERUSALEM BY WILLIAM BLAKE
And did those feet in ancient time
Walk upon England's mountains green?
And was the holy Lamb of God
On England's pleasant pastures seen?
Walk upon England's mountains green?
And was the holy Lamb of God
On England's pleasant pastures seen?
And did the Countenance Divine
Shine forth upon our clouded hills?
And was Jerusalem builded here
Among these dark Satanic mills?
Shine forth upon our clouded hills?
And was Jerusalem builded here
Among these dark Satanic mills?
Bring me my bow of burning gold:
Bring me my arrows of desire:
Bring me my spear: O clouds unfold!
Bring me my chariot of fire.
Bring me my arrows of desire:
Bring me my spear: O clouds unfold!
Bring me my chariot of fire.
I will not cease from mental fight,
Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand
Till we have built Jerusalem
In England's green and pleasant land.
Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand
Till we have built Jerusalem
In England's green and pleasant land.
