The start of a new Season, at Long Bay. 2006-07

Mon, 06 Nov 2006 00:40:57 GMT

Wow, we are open, it's Nov. 5th. 2006 and it's a relief to finally be open again. To be honest the last four days have been the busiest I have experienced in years; I haven’t even had time for my customary and necessary afternoon nap. All of the staff and myself have been working madly to get our Special Spot ready for our re-opening of November 5th. With all the upgrades we’ve done over the summer this year’s re-opening has been a bit of a challenge. Today we finished the Harbour House cottages refit just an hour before the arrival of our first guests, we made it though and I think it has been said a miss is as good as a mile, which makes me proud of all our efforts.

During this summer we have accomplished much, like re-furbishing all of the guest room bathrooms, what a major project, they aren’t bigger just better and more user friendly, there is more up-grade news which will be shared later. To highlight some of the quirky goings on, during a re-opening in a Caribbean resort, I should mention that after we turned the water to the bathrooms back on, today, all of them flooded as we forgot to close many of the water faucets and the drains were clogged with dust, so on our first day we had 10 totally soaked guest bedrooms, not fun, reminds one of a Faulty Tower episode or a passage from " Don't Stop the Carnival".

I highlight the above as I would like to share a feeling I had this evening. After another long day of re-fitting, re-organizing, re-planting and the rest I took a break before the evening cocktail hour. It was another very long day but in spite of the hard work of the day, I was lucky enough to be here In Antigua at Long Bay, more tiered then I have been in years and oh! so very content. The reason for my happiness was; not only had we re-opened, which was quite an accomplishment but I was here relaxing in the cool breezes of the Trade Winds, enjoying a cool, tall drink, overlooking one of the most beautiful views in the “WORLD”. I was looking East over the Bay, which by the way’s name is Indian Town Creek, watching the day end with the sunset shimmering off the white limestone cliffs and the moon rising at the same moment. The sight was magical and I felt ever so fortunate to have been able to enjoy it. I think the fact that I was as tired as man, such as I can be, enhanced my appreciation of the whole scene. On the one hand I could barely bring my cool drink to my lips and yet before me a wondrous sight unfolded that did not involve any part of the man made world. I think in this day and age, we get so caught up and seduced by our technology, Cell phones, PDA's, Computers, Television, that we forget to enjoy the world which is all around us. I think these special moments are why I and by extension all of us at Long Bay are so committed to keeping our resort simple and uncluttered by the gadgets that help us in our daily lives but hinder us in our quest for relaxation and peace of mind.

As always, I think we should continue to follow the path we have chosen, as the special moments are worth every sacrifice we make, to experience them.

I will highlight the actual summer upgrades in my next entry later this week. Thanks for reading.

Chris.

Island Life

Wed, 17 May 2006 11:10:03 GMT

This morning while I was enjoying the arrival of a new day here in paradise I was reminded by a small lizard why I enjoy living here.

As many loyal guests know, those early risers anyway, I greet each new day by enjoying a cup of coffee on my back porch which overlooks the gardens here at Long Bay. Over the last few mornings I have noticed a new baby lizard weighing perhaps an ounce who seemed to be totally absorbed by my big toe. The reason I noticed the lizard was that on the first morning I felt a tiny weight on my foot, when I looked down I saw the tiny lizard running away. Upon reflection I thought the lizard was interested in my big toe, I tend to tap it on the floor, while I am sitting. Anyway I wasn't too bothered as he didn't hurt me and I thought he would tire of the toe chasing game eventually.

Well this morning I have figured out why this tiny new lizard is so interested in my feet. You see it wasn't my big toe he was interested in but the whole area around my toes in general. Why is this? well it seems that small gnats, we do have a few, like to buzz around the end of my toes. Mr lizard had seen this on previous days and figured he could get breakfast every day if he watched the end of my toes. Well I tell you it was amazing to watch this guy feed, he would sit there patiently looking at the end of my feet and then BAM! as quick as an eye blink, he would catch a gnat. I must admit it was a wonder to watch and it didn't hurt, that he was culling the gnat population, we all can use less gnats.

These small constant interactions with nature are a joy to behold and rarely enjoyed in the first world. I don't know but in the real world with our schedules, TV news, rush hour traffic and the rest we seem not to notice the world around us. Here however by design we constantly are presented with the nature around us and almost forced to realize that we humans are just one small part of the overall puzzle.

Thank you Mr. Lizard.

What's Happening at Long Bay, Antigua: Nature

The start of a new Season, at Long Bay. 2006-07

Island Life