Kirkaldy Family Blog

NEW AND IMPROVED FAMILY BLOG

2011-11-14T10:42:00.000-05:00

We have changed our Kirkaldy family blog site to www.kirkaldy.tumblr.com.
Please click on this link to check it out!

GOOD TIDINGS OF COMFORT AND JOY . . . . . . .

2010-12-10T08:13:00.004-05:00

RYAN AND TAYLOR FLY WITH SANTA

2010-12-06T09:29:00.006-05:00

DEC 4th The thrill of lifetime! Ryan and Taylor got to ride in the Helicopter with Santa for his appearance at the Governors Square Christmas event. The magic lives on...

DAVID RIDES WITH GARMIN-CERVELO

2010-12-05T10:54:00.005-05:00

DECEMBER 2ND. The team to be known as Garmin-Cervelo in 2011 brought the entire roster of riders, which include some of the worlds top cyclists, to Cayman for a preseason team building camp. Massive Equipment was a sponsor for this event. Part of the sponsor package was an appurtunity to ride with the pros. David, the avid cyclist and big fan of lyrca, enjoyed a 36 mile ride with the rock stars of the cycling world: Thor Hushvod (2010 World Road Cycle #1), Peter Stetina, Tyler Farrar, Christian Vande Velde, David Millar, David Zabriskie, to name but a few. David was quite pleased; he did not finish last. www.slipstreamsports.com http://www.caymancycling.com/ride-with-the-pros.html

WE DID IT

2010-11-04T13:40:00.013-05:00

OCT 29 - 31, 2010. The Caymanites did it! After months of training and fundraising, The Caymanites exceeded the team goal and raised over $65,000, ranking the team as the 6th highest fundraisers for this event! I was pleased to exceed my personal goal of $10,000. http://www.the3day.org/goto/Christina.Kirkaldy (some wording below has been taken from the SGK site) . The 2010 Susan G. Komen Tampa Bay 3-Day for the Cure began with an emotional Opening Ceremony at picturesque Sand Key Park, just steps from the Gulf of Mexico. Our team captain was a flag bearer for the ceremony while 1,600 walkers gathered, stretched, and prepared for the day to begin. Mild temperatures, waterfront views and cheers of support from the St. Jude Honor Society and Shorecrest Preparatory students made for a great morning. A few miles into the route, we walked through the streets of beautiful Belleair. Tall trees at Taylor Park provided shade at lunchtime. After eating, we enjoyed a trip through the Florida Botanical Gardens and ended the day along the gulf beaches of Indian Shores before an air conditioned bus ride to Walter Fuller Park in St. Petersburg, our home away from home for the weekend. We arose early on Saturday morning, ready to hit the trail. We passed Bay Pines Veterans Hospital and then headed north. Firefighters with the City of Seminole were ready and waiting to support us and snap a few photos. Cheerleaders encouraged us to add some pep to our step. Saturday’s lunch was served on the water at Madeira Beach Fundamental School. A few miles later, we found even more love than usual at John's Pass Fishing Village, a Tampa Bay favorite. Saturday’s route took us across a few Treasure Island bridges and through the winding streets of the Jungle Prada. That evening, we gathered back at camp for fun, games, and a dance party. Sprinklers going off at 3am did not dampen spirits as we arose on Sunday for our final day of walking. Support was everywhere along Sunday’s route, from St. Petersburg firefighters, student athletes from Saint Leo University and Girl Scouts. Friends and family lined the sidewalk at Woodlawn Park. We enjoyed shade on the lawn and lakefront views during lunch at Crescent Lake Park. Coffee Pot Park and the palm-tree lined boulevard brought us to our final destination, where we were welcomed by hundreds of supporters, the 300 crew members, and a band of pirates with the Krewe of Seville. Crystal blue skies overhead and cool Florida fall temperatures set the stage for a beautiful Closing Ceremony, where one of our own Caymanites participated in the Survivors Circle. Words cannot adequately describe the emotion of this weekend. The outpouring of love, support and gratitude from strangers, and the amazing stories of survival and loss has forever touched me. http://ww5.komen.org/ http://www.the3day.org/site/PageServer

THE CAYMANITES ... WALKING FOR A CURE NEXT WEEK

2010-10-21T20:47:00.001-05:00

Next week we're off! After months of training and logging over 35 miles in some weeks, The Caymanites are heading to Tampa, FL October 29 - 31 to walk for the cure. http://ww5.komen.org/ . Thousands of women and men are going to walk 60 miles over the course of three days in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure to raise money for breast cancer research and community programs.We will be walking with thousands of men and women and sleeping in tents during this 3 day journey. As a team, we have raised almost $60,000 and are currently listed in the top 10 fundraising teams for this event. Because every woman is at risk for breast cancer - a disease that strikes at random and for which the causes and cures are still unknown - I know that every moment counts. One person is diagnosed with breast cancer every three minutes in the United States. We can't wait to make a difference. I love that a team from our small Island can make such a difference; I love these women that I am honoured to walk with; and I love that I can teach ,y kids that charity is about "doing" as much as it is about "giving". The journey has been hard, but well worth every blister and sore muscle.

GIRLS GIRLS GIRLS

2010-10-18T20:40:00.001-05:00

Taylor's very belated birthday celebration consisted of 6 school friends and 24 hours of total girly madness!!! After being scooped up from school on Friday afternoon, the girls came back to the house and enjoyed swimming in the pool, games of giant twister and connect 4, an impromptu fashion show and dance competition, and a boat ride over to Camana Bay. After a full day of excitement, Daddy's super special homemade pizza was the icing on the cake (or maybe the cupcakes were the icing - who knows). Quiet was finally finally achieved at 11:30pm. On Saturday morning, by 7am the giggles and chatter of the girls finally woke us up. While waiting for Daddy's pancakes, the conversation that took place was priceless. They started discussing nationalities. Between these 7 girls the following countries were represented : Barbados, England, Australia, South Africa, Portugal, England, Spain, France, Scotland, Cayman, Colombia, Nicaragua and Jamaica! What a wonderful little melting pot we live in. A field trip to the "magical pond" in Barkers, more pool time and general girly fun (nails, hair, fashion shows), the excitement finally came to an end at 1pm on Saturday afternoon.

THE CAYMANITES GET SUPPORT WALKING FOR A CURE

2010-10-03T19:43:00.015-05:00

Saturday October 2nd, 2010. Hosted at the Lighthouse Restaurant http://www.lighthouse.ky , friends and family came out to support The Caymanites with the upcoming Walk for a Cure in Tampa, FL on October 29 - 31. Over 70 women enjoyed a delicious menu created by The Lighthouse, and the afternoon was filled with love, laughter, and a few tears when survivors and those touched by breast cancer were recognised. The afternoon was a huge success. The 12 women of The Caymanites continue to train and inspire each other as we make this last push towards our ultimate goal. The blisters and long hours of training are worth the bonds and friendships that have formed on this journey.

SEPTEMBER

2010-10-03T17:45:00.008-05:00

SUMMERTIME FUN

2010-08-29T22:42:00.009-05:00

AUGUST 2010 Gokarting with David's cousins and lazy days of summer with family and friends.

BECK'S VISIT ON A CRUISE SHIP

2010-07-29T22:17:00.002-05:00

JULY 14TH. My college roommate, Michelle, and her family visited Cayman on a cruise ship. Though their time was too short with us, we had enough time to take them to swim with the stingrays. Dylan was brave enough to feed the rays. Chad was a little more cautious!

ATLANTA

2010-07-29T20:44:00.003-05:00

JUNE 30 - JULY 6 A quick trip to Atlanta during the move into our house was just the break we needed. In GA for Rachel's 40th birthday celebration hosted by Steven, we enjoyed a concert in Chastain Park (REO Speedwagon and Pat Benatar - gotta love the 80's), a day on Lake Lanier on Ragamuffin, a fabulous party for the birthday girl at the Buckhead Club, and a 4th of July bbq and fireworks. Such a fabulous week of celebration before we had to return to reality of boxes and bubble wrap.

THE BIG MOVE

2010-07-29T17:36:00.010-05:00

JUNE / JULY 2010 With the successful completion of our house . . . the "summer of the move" commenced.

RACHEL'S 40 AND FABULOUS GIRLS WEEKEND

2010-06-20T16:50:00.004-05:00

\ JUNE 4 - 6 Rachel's surprise 40th birthday getaway on Majesty of the Seas. 7 girls, lots of fun, too many laughs to count! That is apparently all that I am allowed to say ...

THE KIDS HELP OUT

2010-05-03T09:34:00.010-05:00

MAY 1 2010. Tina and the kids helped out at the Frances Bodden Home for Girls as part of the Do Something Cayman campaign www.dosomethingcayman.com . The kids joined over 100 volunteers painting fences and gardening, and in the process learned about the importance of giving back to the community. Mimi came out too and gave Taylor some gardening tips.

RYAN GOES TO LITTLE CAYMAN

2010-04-25T22:45:00.019-05:00

APRIL 21 - 23. Ryan's Year 6 Class had the opportunity to travel to Little Cayman for a 3 days Ecology study at the CCMI (Central Caribbean Marine Institute). Ryan and his classmates stayed in dormitory-style rooms and enjoyed learning about the marine sustainability of the Cayman Islands. The course provided field-oriented marine ecology & conservation education so that the students could gain an understanding of the critical issues facing tropical marine ecosystems. They explored the community organization of reef organisms by snorkling the reefs of Little Cayman. Days were filled with exciting adventures - I think his only complaint was that the trip was too short.

EASTER BREAK 2010

2010-04-10T20:28:00.011-05:00

MARCH 31 - APRIL 7 The tradition continues .... another fantastic Easter vacation at The Great Escape with the growing family. The new addition this year was Baby Michael (John & Tara's little one). Rachel, Steven, Rebecca and Joseph made the trek from Atlanta and joined us once again, and even though we skipped the big annual Easter Sunday party this year, we had friend and family stop by and visit all week. Sun filled days and beautiful sunsets - a perfect week at Cayman Kai.

SCOTIA RELAYS

2010-02-25T23:00:00.001-05:00

42 teams of 5 competed in the Scotia Relays on Feb 25th. Primarily aimed at corporate teams, but open to anyone, teams of 5 runners enter to each run a 1 mile loop course. Ryan's team, Hy-Tech Tigers Jr., showed up many of the corporate teams placing 13th with a respectable time of 35.41.

SOUTH BEACH, FL

2010-02-22T17:45:00.005-05:00

FEB 16 - 20 For the kids midterm we took a quick trip north off the rock to Miami for a little shopping, 'gator hunting, monkey playing and good old fashion r&r. We stayed in South Beach with 45 degree weather (a lovely cold front did not stop the kids from enjoying the heated pool at the hotel) and enjoyed the sights and sounds of the area. The highlight was our trip on Friday to Billie Swamp Safari in the Everglades for a private eco-tour http://www.swampsafari.net. Our tour guide, Shay, took us off track, wrestled a snake, played with an alligator and got us up close and friendly with an Ostrich from the security of our open air swamp buggy. Less than 2 hours from Miami, this is a must-do! I highly recommend taking the time out to do this tour. Before heading to the airport on Saturday we made a quick stop to Monkey Jungle.

SPORTS DAY

2010-02-13T14:08:00.005-05:00

Ribbons and smiles all around.

THE ARRIVAL OF MICHAEL

2010-02-12T11:22:00.004-05:00

Our Nephew, Michael Anthony James Godfrey, arrived in this world safely on Feb 12 2010. Here he is only minutes old.

1950'S HOLLYWOOD OSCARS BALL

2010-02-07T08:16:00.007-05:00

FEB 6th. The Cystic Fibrosis Trust once again held another memorable and fun filled fundraiser, this time at Luca Restaurant http://www.luca.ky/. The 1950's Hollywood Ocsar event buzzed with excitement from the red carpet to the amazing decor by Lions Productions . Glamorous dresses and old Hollywood style costumes set the scene for a successful evening. Rebecca Davidson http://www.picturethis.ky/ and her crew did an amazing job capturing the evening on film, and Craig from One World rocked the night on the turntables. David was away on business so Tina attended solo.

BON VIVANT BRUNCH COOK-OFF AT THE RITZ

2010-01-17T21:57:00.017-05:00

An enjoyable culinary afternoon at the Ritz Carlton Grand Cayman. 2 local amateur chefs went head to head in a cook-off which was judged by celebrity Chefs Anthony Bourdain, David Chang, Eric Ripert and Jose Andres. Food & Wine Top Chef Judge, Gail Simmons was the Emcee. http://www.caymanislands.ky/cayman%5Fcookout/

BOXING DAY

2009-12-28T21:58:00.000-05:00

The kids ended the year being charitable. The four of us assisted with the Annual Rotary Senior Citizens Boxing Day Lunch once again, serving over 250 lunches to the elderly. David, a Past President of the Rotary Club of Grand Cayman, now has the whole family involved. It feels good to give back!

PHOTO ALBUM OF CHRISTMAS DINNER

2009-12-26T16:43:00.000-05:00

Christmas dinner at Mimi and Bampa's. Always a happy and festive occasion.

RYAN HARD AT WORK

2009-12-24T12:16:00.002-05:00

Our little entrepreneur enjoyed his holiday job at the Fireworks Store. We received many positive comments about how knowledgeable and helpful he was. Ryan worked hard at his first job stocking shelves and assisting customers with their questions and purchases.

MERRY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY 2010

2009-12-23T22:04:00.009-05:00

RYAN'S 11TH BIRTHDAY PARTY

2009-12-18T21:10:00.007-05:00

DEC 18TH. As the final bell rang at school for the holiday, Ryan and 13 of his best friends went right into party mode, enjoying an afternoon at the Surf Park. The rain that threatened the party all afternoon seem to have been an enhancement to the boys. Pizza and cake at The Brick House rounded out the very wet day. Ryan's 11th birthday party (celebrated 2 weeks early) was a great start to the Christmas vacation.

CONSTRUCTION UPDATE

2009-12-18T20:57:00.003-05:00

While rain loomed on the horizon, the crew worked diligently to ensure the pour of the second floor slab went smoothly for Casa Kirkaldy. A convoy of concrete trucks kept coming all morning into the early afternoon, completing the pour by about 3pm. The crew are now enjoying a well deserved rest for the holidays before work begins on the walls, trusses and the roof in January.

TINA'S FIRST HALF MARATHON

2009-12-15T20:17:00.002-05:00

Dec 6th. Yes I did! And bought the photograph to prove it!

CHRISTMAS CONCERTS

2009-12-15T20:00:00.000-05:00

Year 4 concert, "What's Christmas all About?". Year 6 teamed up with Year 3 to bring us "Christmas Around the World"

THE KIDS AND THEIR SPORTS

2009-12-15T12:39:00.011-05:00

Cayman Prep & High School dominated the inter primary sports this term. The sailing team, which Ryan is on, won the RBC School Sailing Championships in November with a close and exciting win over the reigning champs. A few weeks later, Prep dominated at the Inter Primary Tag Rugby Festival where all Prep teams won in their respective divisions (Ryan was on the Year 6 team). Last week, Taylor swam the breaststroke and freestyle for Cayman Prep in the inter primary swimming competition. Prep was victorious once again, holding onto their title from last year.

The Wenches of the SOS Dancing Queen reunite

2009-11-14T21:33:00.002-05:00

The wenches reunited this year for Pirates Week, minus the float (even though we did end up on a fire engine in the parade somehow). Tina and her fellow wenches hit the streets of George Town once again. Wench / Rotarian Melissa decided to collect money for Meals on Wheels and we raided restaurants and hit up locals and tourists for donations. The Wenches had an altruistic spirit this year.

Pirates Week 5K Fun

2009-11-13T19:19:00.000-05:00

November 13th. Can you spot Ryan front and centre? Ryan ran a strong race and came in 2nd in the 16 and under age category ... and a solid 5 minutes ahead of Tina.

California Trip

2009-11-11T16:06:00.000-05:00

OCTOBER 28 - NOVEMBER 4TH. I cannot believe that it has taken so long to post our trip on our family blog! What a great vacation we had. The main event of the trip was attending the wedding of Tina's college friend, Jackie, in Sonoma. After a few days in San Francisco enjoying the city sights and sounds, we took the scenic route over the bridge and out to wine country. We met up with school friends of Tina's, made some new friends along the way, toured wineries in both Napa and Sonoma, enjoyed the wonderful sunset wedding of Jackie and Steve and danced the night away. A few too many cases of California wine are slowly making their way back to Cayman.

Halloween Fun

2009-10-31T19:07:00.001-05:00

Construction Update

2009-10-25T19:25:00.005-05:00

We are now 1 month along with the construction of our house. October has brought rain, rain, and more rain. The foundation pour was delayed by almost a week due to the weather, but Caribbean Construction has pushed forward and made up some time. As of today, we have a foundation and foundation walls. The slab for the first floor should be poured within the next 2 weeks.

Ryan is awarded House Captain

2009-10-14T17:48:00.005-05:00

We are so proud of our boy. He was voted House Captain of Elmslie House by his peers and teachers yesterday. Ryan is following in the footsteps of Tina who was House Captain of Elmslie in 1982.

Ground Breaking at The Shores

2009-09-28T22:24:00.010-05:00

After years of planning and designing, we finally broke ground on our house today in The Shores. Our contractor, Chris Jackson of Caribbean Construction, is shooting get us in next summer ... stay tuned for updates. Our traditional Monday night "date night" consisted of a vintage Dom and picnic on the dock of our future home.

80's Prom Night 40th Birthday Bash

2009-09-13T12:15:00.017-05:00

David and the 'prom committee' have worked tirelessly for months and the event that unfolded on Saturday, September 12th was beyond any expectations that I had for my 40th birthday bash! About 100 guests were there to witness Mum and Dad's house transformed into a high school gymnasium. Every aspect of the decor was executed perfectly - from the corsages given to all the girls, the Prom Queen's locker and the boys and girls bathrooms complete with graffiti, Drakkar Noir and 80's Sex Symbol posters. Pop up videos were playing, 80's music was jamming, and guests really got into costume. After prizes for best 80's, best couple, crowning of the King and Queen, and the birthday cake, faux Ray Bans were handed out while Cory Hart's track "I Wear my Sunglasses at Night" blared from the speakers, and the dance floor was once again filled to capacity. The party was rocking until 2am. Rachel and Steven flew in for the bash, and I got the the biggest surprise of all when Wendy and Sylvie, my University friends and Sorority sisters, appeared at my door on the eve of the party (my actual birthday). They had been scheming with David for months to coordinate the perfect surprise. Wendy flew in from Virginia and Sylvie from Florida on Friday afternoon and stayed out of sight until they appeared at my door that evening for dinner. My 40th birth-month was truly beyond. I had such a great time celebrating with the people I love. 40 definitely was done in style. In lieu of gifts I asked that friends donate to one of my two charities of choice : Cayman HospiceCare or Cayman Islands Cystic Fibrosis Trust. Friends were very generous and I am pleased to report that both charities received sizable donations. Prom Chairman and Prom King : David ... Prom Committee : Diana Joseph, Lisa Uggeri, Lisa Burke, Nancy Barnard, Mum, and from overseas, Rachel Hart ... Official Photographer : Rebecca Davidson of Picture This ... DJ: Lester of One World ... Caterers : Mise en Place ... Bar Service : Barnes Bartending Service ... Decor : Massive Equipment, Dara Pereira, and the fabulous Prom Committee ...

Pre Birthday Girls Weekend at Cotton Tree

2009-09-06T16:58:00.000-05:00

The lead up to my 40th has been full of surprises and a true testament to how life is not complete without fabulous girlfriends. Diana and Lisa arranged a spectacular celebration with our posse of girls. On Friday Diana and Lisa U. came by my house and kidnapped me in style - a stretch limousine was waiting to whisk us away to a secret unknown destination. A girly giggly afternoon of drinking champagne and being chauffeured around Cayman finally led us to the Cotton Tree www.caymancottontree.com, a quaint collection of four modern, Cayman-inspired cottages nestled on the Northwest point overlooking the Caribbean Sea. As the afternoon progressed, the girls kept arriving one by one - Nancy, Tara, Aoife, Gilly, Nisha, Lisa B., Belinda and Kelly - the celebration was underway. Lisa U. and Diana and planned every details of our stay : there were gifts in the cottages, magazine to enjoy poolside, and champagne for everyone. Body Works came by and pampered the girls with manicures, pedicures and massages http://www.bodyworkscayman.com. After a day of pampering and cocktails by the pool, we all retreated to our respective villas to get ready for the evening. While jamming to 80's tunes and enjoyed appetizers in our villa, Ristorante Pappagallo http://www.pappagallo.ky was hard at work preparing the ocean side venue for our dinner. Vico and his staff created a succulent, mouth watering meal and we enjoyed the impeccable service of the staff while we dined under the stars in style. After dinner, a pajama party and Sex in the City episodes took us late into the evening. As the morning dawned, some of the more energetic girls enjoyed yoga classes by the ocean. A late breakfast catered by Pappagallo replenished us for a day of lounging and relaxing poolside. Lisa and Diana outdid themselves planning every details of our girls getaway. Months of planning paid off and the surprise girls weekend was truly amazing.

Pre Birthday Celebration in Atlanta

2009-09-01T22:04:00.002-05:00

Well, my BFF Rachel totally and completely outdid herself with a surprised filled weekend in Atlanta as a prelude to my 40th. From a fashion show hours after landing on Thursday, to surprise visits from old friends and concerts in Chastain Park, each moment of the weekend was planned and executed with perfection. I have no idea how she pulled this weekend off without even a hint of what was in store. Each morning, a schedule of the activities for the day and a gift was beautifully displayed. On Friday we enjoyed a morning of pampering at William David Salon http://www.williamdavidsalon.com and I came out 3 hours later rocking a whole new look. When we returned to the Buckhead penthouse, one of my dear friends from Emory University, Jennifer, was casually sitting on the couch awaiting our arrival. She flew in from St. Simons Island, GA, for the weekend. Even though we have been in contact, I have not seen Jennifer for over 10 years and the shock and joy of seeing her again and having her join us for the weekend on fun was just incredible. Once I recovered from that surprise, the 3 of us headed over to Saks Fifth Avenue and enjoyed makeovers at Chanel. More pampering and the arrival of Gillian clued me in that more surprises and a fun evening was ahead! Once back at the Penthouse, we enjoyed a girly evening getting dolled up before heading over to Buckhead HotSpot MF Sushi http://www.mfbuckhead.com. We arrived fashionably late and I had one more surprise in store for the evening - my college roommate Michelle joined us for dinner. Michelle was out of town on business until hours before dinner and I was thrilled that she literally dropped her bags at home and kissed her boys before heading back into the city so she could be a part of the celebration. This evening was one of the many highlights of the weekend. On Saturday Rachel, Jennifer and I enjoyed a leisurely day at Spa 29 at the Mansion on Peachtree http://www.rwmansiononpeachtree.com/spa.cfm. After hours of more pampering, we were primed ready to enjoy En Vogue on concert at Chastain Park. 2 more of Rachel's friends joined us at the penthouse and we all travelled to the concert together. Concert was great huge hit. Rachel did not slow the pace on Sunday! Rachel, Jennifer and I met Steven, Rebecca and Joseph at the Ritz Carlton for breakfast before saying goodbye to Jennifer as she had an early afternoon flight back to St. Simmons. Rachel and I then enjoyed a slightly slower pace of shopping and then on to a play "A Sunday Afternoon at Loehmann's" at the Ansley Park Playhouse. What a joy this play was. We laughed and cried for the whole production and the acting was top class. We enjoyed an early dinner at Nam http://www.namrestaurant.com/ and headed back to condo to pack for my early flight out on Monday morning. This weekend was filled with so much love and friendship. The memories of this weekend will last a lifetime and my love and gratitude to Rachel for all of her hard work is indescribable.

Stingrays and Boating

2009-08-30T23:16:00.003-05:00

Charles and Erika Harris, along with Erika's sister Emily and her husband Jeff, were visiting Cayman and David took them out for a day of Stingrays and boating in the North Sound. It was Jeff's first time at Stingray City and yes, he did the the obligatory "little girl scream". They then went to a favorite snorkeling spot to the east of the main channel which all agreed was the best snorkeling they had done on the Island. Finally, a quick spin past Kaibo then over to the Sand Bar at Rum Point for a picnic. Back to the dock by 12:30 in time for them to catch an afternoon flight to Houston. Not a bad morning in paradise.

4th Annual Massive Family Fun Day

2009-08-23T20:17:00.001-05:00

Massive had another great turnout at the annual family BBQ held at Royal Palms Beach Bar / Reef Grill http://www.reefgrill.com. The Waverunners were once again a hit for the sun lovers, and for those seeking shade enjoyed intense games of Dominoes and Scrabble under the tent. The Reef Grill put on an amazing lunch spread and their staff worked hard on ensure our every need was catered too.

Ambassadors of the Environment Camp at the Ritz Carlton

2009-08-22T19:04:00.012-05:00

Ryan and Taylor just finished Ambassadors of the Environment Camp at the Ritz Carlton, Grand Cayman. The camp was filled with art activities, and trips to the bat caves, mangroves, and some of the amazing snorkeling sites that Cayman has to offer. They saw Spotted Eagle Rays and baby Turtles emerging from their eggs on the beach. The enjoyed afternoons of rock climbing (Ryan wants me to mention that he made it to the top and Taylor was not far behind) and playing games with new friends that they met. Ryan and Taylor knew some of the kids in the camp and made some new friends, and they had the highest praises for the staff. When summarizing the camp in one word, they both said "awesome!" See the links below for more about the camp. http://www.oceanfutures.org/ofs/aote.php http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/GrandCayman/AmbassadorsoftheEnvironment/Default.htm

Blue Iguanas

2009-08-18T18:29:00.005-05:00

On a recent visit to the Botanic Park we visited with the beautiful Blue Iguanas that rule the park. Note that these are NOT the green iguanas that seem to have arrived in Cayman a few years ago and have left their unwanted mark on our Island.

The Blue Iguana or Grand Cayman Iguana (Cyclura lewisi) is a critically endangered species of lizard endemic to the island of Grand Cayman The Blue Iguana is one of the longest-living species of lizard (possibly up to 69 years). The record is 67 years.

The Blue Iguana prefers dwelling in rocky, sunlit, open areas in dry forests or near the shore, as the females must dig holes in the sand to lay eggs in June and July. A possible second clutch is laid in September. The Blue Iguana's vegetarian diet includes plants, fruits, and flowers. Its coloration is tan to gray with a bluish cast that is more pronounced during the breeding season and more so in males. Here are some websites to learn more about the Blue Iguanas and the Botanic Park.

http://www.blueiguana.ky/ http://www.nationaltrust.org.ky/info/blueiguana.html http://www.botanic-park.ky/

Boating with Friends

2009-08-16T20:04:00.001-05:00

We made some new friends who visit Cayman every summer from England. We enjoyed a glorious day of boating in the North Sound together. Our Boston Terrier, DeeDee, loved all of the attention from our guests!

The Leos of the Family

2009-08-15T22:58:00.008-05:00

Taylor and Alianne celebrate their birthdays 3 days apart so Mimi and Bampa hosted a family lunch in celebration of Ali turning 3 and Taylor turning 8. The two little divas loved being the center of attention.

Sea is for Science Camp

2009-08-14T23:45:00.000-05:00

Ryan and Taylor enjoyed a funfilled week of camp. They snorkeled on the reef, explored sea grass beds and discovered the incredible life within the mangroves. The kids spent the week learning about the sea creatures and the local ecosystems. They have already asked if they can sign up again next year. http://www.caymanseaelements.com/photos_aug11.html

Taylor's 8th birthday

2009-08-08T22:35:00.003-05:00

Taylor celebrated her 8th birthday a week early with a Spa Day with 6 other girlfriends at a kids salon, Tangles. The girls spent 3 hours getting manicures, pedicures, and their hair done. It was a fun, girly afternoon. After the spa, David, Ryan & Max, along with the grandparents joined us at The Brick House for pizza and cake.

Staycation Cayman Style

2009-07-25T21:20:00.016-05:00

I know David has received lots of grief on Facebook regarding our Island view of a staycation, but in Cayman, if you stay on 'The Rock', it is considered a staycation, whether you are actually staying at your house or not. So, our Island version of our Summer staycation, was a week in a rented house at Cayman Kai. We decided to stay close to home this summer as are currently going through the process before breaking ground on our house, which is scheduled to begin construction late August / early September (keep posted for updates). So in July we opted for the relaxation and tranquility of Kailypso at Cayman Kai, with Mimi and Bampa. The weather was picture perfect, and days playing Gin Rummy (Ryan mastered the game and won a few hands), snorkeling, Kayaking and Paddle Boarding lead into lazy evening watching the sunset, enjoying the solitude and waiting for the moonless night so we can see the bioluminescence in the bay.

Sun and Fun With Mimi & Bampa

2009-07-14T11:37:00.000-05:00

Taylor enjoys an afternoon snorkeling by the reef with Mimi & Bampa while David and Ryan practice some shallow water diving skills.

Scuba Diving at Eden Rock

2009-07-14T09:35:00.000-05:00

Ryan has logged over 13 dives to date. Here he is just emerging from his first night dive with David.

End of School Fun

2009-07-10T20:28:00.002-05:00

May and June was all about end of school madness for Ryan and Taylor. They had activities, projects and field trips every week. Since life keep us away from blogging for the past few months here is a very brief snapshot of what took place: Year 3 field trip to Pedro St. James, Year 5 tour of the ecosystems of Cayman, and Taylor's Tap & Jazz recital. Summer break could not come soon enough!

Trying Blogger with MarsEdit on Mac

2009-06-15T21:16:00.001-05:00

Probably the hardest part of maintaining an up to date blog is the whole process of getting online and then logging onto blogger, making the new post, double checking all in preview, etc. Well, MarsEdit is supposed to sort all that out. With a simple opening of the app you have instant access to all your blogs (what, you don't have several too?), spell check, real time preview, and all that fun stuff, all without having to be online. Pretty cool huh. We'll see...tell us what you think....

David Rides Out Crime

2009-05-17T20:12:00.000-05:00

May 17th. David enjoyed a Charity ride for Cayman Crimestoppers. www.crimestoppers.ky. Can you spot the Vespa among the Harley's? David was one of 2 Vespa riders with over 100 Harley Davidson's sharing the road.

CYCLOPREP CHARITY RIDE

2009-05-02T09:31:00.001-05:00

The annual cycloprep charity ride was once again a fun family day for Cayman Prep and High School students and parents. Participants could choose to ride 1, 5 or 12 miles of the course for sponsorships. Ryan and David rode the 12 mile course from Frank Sound to Kaibo, while Taylor rode an impressive 5 which started at Chisholms Store in North Side. The ride ended with breakfast at Kaibo in Cayman Kai.

LEGENDS CHAMPIONSHIPS TENNIS TOURNAMENT

2009-04-27T09:20:00.003-05:00

Back in Cayman, Ryan enjoyed some tennis with his Mimi and Daddy. The legends Championships was held at the Ritz Carlton Grand Cayman for the second year. Massive was instrumental with the set up, and Ryan enjoyed meeting Jim Courier and a great weekend of tennis.

Angela's girls trip

2009-04-26T08:51:00.000-05:00

APRIL 23 - 26. To celebrate my Mother in Law's 70th birthday, Nancy and I took her on a girls trip to Atlanta, along with Taylor and Jade. We stayed in Rachel & Steven's fabulous downtown condo overlooking Buckhead, did some major retail therapy, went to the Fox Theatre to watch the musical Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, had a spa afternoon, and enjoyed a glorious day on Lake Lanier in the Harts boat, just to name a few of the highlights. Champagne every night, many blonde moments (mostly by Angela and Nancy I wish to add) and laughter until the wee hours of the morning; it was a most memorable weekend.

Easter Vacation

2009-04-20T18:17:00.014-05:00

CAYMAN KAI

Another active and fun filled annual family Easter vacation has come to an end. Kayaking and sailing, laughter with family and friends, our traditional Easter Sunday BBQ and Easter Egg hunt, and time spent with family were just a few of the highlights. The weather was perfect and Cayman Kai was bustling with activity during the weeklong family "staycation".

Ryan gets his Jr. Open Water Certification

2009-04-14T11:38:00.005-05:00

Ryan and his friend Drew, after weeks of studying their divers manual and tables, have accomplished their Junior Open Water Diver certification!!

Ryan enjoyed his first dive with David as a certified diver on Sunday April 5th at Sunset house. He reported back that "it was awesome" (technical diver language) and he was very happy to enjoy his first dive without having to do drills.

Fun at School

2009-04-14T11:18:00.006-05:00

Was school this much fun when we were young?

Both Ryan and Taylor had their Social Studies projects before the Easter Break : Taylor enjoyed Egyptian Day when Year 3 led the morning assembly for the school and enjoyed an Egyptian Feast.

Year 5, one week later, had their traditional Ancient Greek Day. A fun filled school day of Greek Olympics, Greek food, and the Battle of Marathon brought their history and social studies to life.

John & Tara's Wedding Weekend

2009-03-24T20:26:00.026-05:00

FEBRUARY 27TH - MARCH 1ST

The setting and weather were perfect for a weekend wedding celebration at Half Moon Resort (www.halfmoon.com) , Jamaica. Sunny days hanging out poolside at the Royal Villas, a fabulous rehearsal dinner at Bellefield Great House, and the picturesque setting of the morning wedding were just some of the highlights of the weekend.

The wedding guests started arriving on Thursday and checked into the 3 Ocean Front Royal Villas. Each villa has 5 or 6 bedrooms, a butler, cook and room attendant, and a private pool.

The rehearsal dinner on Friday night was hosted by Mum and Dad and held at the old estate, Bellefield Great House (www.bellefieldgreathouse.com), in the hills overlooking Montego Bay. The setting, the dinner under the stars, and the heartfelt speeches made for a wonderful event.

The wedding was held oceanside at the Oleander Terrace at Half Moon on Saturday morning. The bride made her stunning appearance at 10:30am, escorted down the isle by her son , JC. Tara and John had the most glorious setting of the Caribbean Sea as their backdrop as they

exchanged vows in front of about 60 family and friends. After the ceremony and a delicious brunch, guests were invited back to the villas for some fun in the sun pool side.

Tara and John were glowing, Ryan, Taylor, JC and Alianne did a wonderful job as part of the bridal party, and the weekend, on a whole, wa s a beautiful celebration.

Mr. & Mrs. John Godfrey

Tara's Hen Night

2009-03-22T20:13:00.014-05:00

FEBRUARY 21.

A girls night with a New York City flair was the theme for my future sister-in-laws bacherlorette party. Signature Cosmopolitans hand mixed by Merv, catering by Mise en Place, and a fabulous cake from Full of Beans, the evening was a fun girly Sex and the City-esque night.

HAVING A BALL IN BOLLYWOOD

2009-02-03T23:38:00.016-05:00

JANUARY 31. The annual Cayman Islands Cystic Fibrosis Ball was once again, a huge success. Every year about 300 guests show their support by attending a themed Ball to raise funds for this inherited chronic disease that affects mainly the lungs and digestive system. About 1 in 20 people carry the defective CF gene and its protein products, which cause the body to produce unusually thick, sticky mucus that clogs the lungs and lead to life threatening lung infections and obstructs the pancreas and stops natural enzymes from helping the body break down and absorb food. CF patients have a 40% chance of living past the age of 18, but cutting edge research in underway for a cure for CF! Researchers are making strides and are very close to finding a cure for this disease. The money raised at the annual Ball and other fund raising events assists Caymanians with CF who have medical funding needs, raises awareness of the disease to assist with early detection and testing, and is donated towards the research for a cure. This year, the theme of the annual ball was Bollywood. From the moment the guests entered the tented venue at a private residence, the sights and sounds of Mumbai were evident. Elephant bars and brightly coloured fabrics adorning every table and lining the tents, the lounge areas and henna parlour greeted the guests in the cocktail area, and guests made a tremendous effort to dress the part. We were led into the dining room by a traditional Indian dancer, and the caterers served a wonderful array of Indian cuisine. After a live auction, the dancing started and did not end until after midnight. Massive Equipment Rental & Sales has been a loyal supporter of this event and the CI Cystic Fibrosis Trust since its inception.

WHERE DID JANUARY GO??

2009-02-03T20:47:00.020-05:00

What a fun filled month!! Beautiful boating days, meeting Anthony Bourdain, host of No Reservations on the Travel Channel, at the International Wine and Food Festival hosted by famed chef Eric Ripert, and paying homage to the Haggis at Robert Burns Supper (it's a Scottish thing).

These are just a few of the highlights of January.

NEW YEARS EVE

2009-01-14T23:18:00.012-05:00

What a night!! This year, in honour of Ryan turning 10 on December 31st, we decided to throw a huge family shindig for New Years Eve. The venue - Mum and Dad's house; the guest lists - all 3 generations; the theme - friends, family and fun! Always at the important milestones, Rachel, Steven, Rebecca and Joseph flew in from Atlanta for the week. From young in age to young at heart, about 130 close family and friends danced the night away. DJ Craig spun tunes from old time Jamaican music to top 40 hits and by 11pm the dance floor was packed. The kids had their own party area complete with a big movie screen and popcorn machine a disco tent, and all you can eat pizza, but by the time the dancing started, they joined our party and showed us a few dance moves of their own. At 4am as the party wound down, we relived the evening as we sat under the stars and sipped champagne; the first quiet moment of '09.

CHRISTMAS DAY

2009-01-07T21:28:00.015-05:00

Christmas Day in the Kirkaldy House is always a fun filled, busy active one. Mum and Dad came over with Pat in the morning for breakfast. We enjoyed opening presents and our first feast of the day before heading off to Church. At noon we had Christmas lunch with David's family, and friends. About 40 gathered for the festivities, including the Pereira Clan from Jamaica, and the Mirrlees family from Canada. After a short afternoon nap, it was time to get all dressed up for the Christmas Dinner at the Godfrey house. The setting was formal, but the evening was, as always, a casual one with laughter, entertainment from the kids (Taylor played a violin solo and Bampa accompanied JC, Ryan and Taylor as they sang Bob Marley and a variety of Christmas songs). After the Christmas pudding was served, David treated us to a fabulous fireworks display. The day, as always, was one filled with the love of family, the laughter of children, and the joy of friendship.

Family Photo Shoot

2008-12-23T15:51:00.015-05:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

John & Tara have a wedding to plan

2008-12-23T15:06:00.004-05:00

My brother, John, and his girlfriend of 2 years, Tara, got engaged last month. Tara and her 2 children, Alianne and JC will be officially joining the Godfrey family in February. A small wedding is being planned in Jamaica.

Taylor's Tap & Jazz concert

2008-12-23T14:59:00.004-05:00

The little reindeers did a great job showing tapping and jazzing for the audience.

CHRISTMAS CHRISTMAS EVERYWHERE

2008-12-18T22:21:00.007-05:00

It is concert time at the kids school.

Ryan's class, Year 5, based their concert on a local twist of Scrooge. Old Ebenezer was visited by the ghost of Bob Marley who convinced him that a sunny vacation in the Islands is what would cure him of his Scrooge-ish ways. Ryan played young Ebenezer.

Taylor's class did a twist on author Julia Donaldson's book The Tiddler. Julia Donaldson had the school a few weeks earlier and the Year 3 students wanted to honour her visit with their own version of her story.

DAVID GOES TO NEW ORLEANS

2008-12-14T23:13:00.007-05:00

NOVEMBER 14 - 16.

David went back to his college roots to attend the 25TH anniversary of the presence at Loyola University of his fraternity, Sigma Phi Epsilon.

Ryan runs another 5K

2008-12-14T22:56:00.009-05:00

NOVEMBER 14.

Ryan's passion for running continues. He ran the Pirates Week 5K in 26:25 and came 2nd in the 14 and under.

The Wenches of the SOS Dancing Queen

2008-12-07T22:29:00.023-05:00

NOVEMBER 15TH. Pirates Week.

Some girlfriends, lead by our Head Wench Lisa Uggeri, created a float for this years annual Pirates Week Float Parade. Weeks of planning, building, and dance practice (yes, we had a routine to Abba's Dancing Queen which we performed over and over and over again), paid off when we won 2nd place in the General Category for our float, the SOS Dancing Queen. Below is the blurb that Wench Diana wrote for the judges:

"Having sailed the Seven Seas, since she last graced the shores of the Cayman Islands in 2002, SOS Dancing Queen and her crew of Wenches is returning to her favourite and home port. Their gathered loot will provide ample subsidy to the people of these verdant isles, so that the finest products from the four corners of the earth will Cost U Less and provide Massive savings to one and all. The streets of Cayman will be sweetened as they pass providing temporary sustenance to the joyous revelers gathered along the way… The Wenches of the Dancing Queen have indeed gathered many treasures and proudly display their over-flowing chests as they parade through George Town having the time of their lives. They can Dance….. And you can too…. Welcome Home Wenches!"

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

2008-11-02T19:57:00.010-05:00

OCTOBER 31. Ghouls, crazy clowns, cute little devils and .... Dog the Bounty Hunter? Halloween was, as always, lots of fun for the kids and grownups alike! The evening began with the always popular annual kids party hosted by Googie and Shane. Ryan and Taylor - aka Punk Zombie and Cute Little Devil - enjoyed bobbing for apples, the donuteating contest, and trick or treating around the neighbourhood. The kids had a great evening. Once the kids were settled and getting their candy overload, the adults had a party to get ready for - David & Kelly's annual Halloween party at Beach Club Colony .

THE BIG ONE

2008-11-02T16:43:00.010-05:00

OCTOBER 18TH. David and Steven Hart, who came down from Atlanta with his wife (and my BFF) Rachel for David's birthday weekend, went fishing with Guy Harvey the day after the party. They caught a 45lb tuna and had a fun day of fishing at the 12 mile banks.

DAVID'S END OF 30s BASH

2008-11-02T15:24:00.015-05:00

OCTOBER 17TH. David closed out his 30's in style. In true Kirkaldy fashion, we had to do something different and unique to celebrate the momentous occasion. We rented an empty unit at the popular plaza, Governors Square, and spent 3 days transforming it into a nightclub for the evening. As the DJ spun tunes, and the caterers produced an amazing array of food to satisfy our taste buds, the party, consisting of about 60 friends and family, continued until the wee hours.

BOOKS & BOOKS BRINGS AUTHORS TO CAYMAN

2008-10-15T23:11:00.004-05:00

Books & Books at Camana Bay has been bringing celebrated authors to the shores of Cayman for book readings. I had the pleasure of attending two such events : Alan Alda and Candace Bushnell.

SEPT 11. TINA TURNS 39

2008-10-14T21:29:00.007-05:00

The plan was a very low key birthday this year. WOW - my girls gave me a wonderful surprise! I walked into Icoa Cafe for a quiet lunch with Lisa, and 13 girls were there, awaiting my arrival with champagne, a beautifully laid table, and a delicious menu. Lisa, Aoife, Diana and Gilly pulled off the perfect surprise birthday lunch. Such a happy day surrounded by friends I love.

Later that evening, David surprised me with a romantic dinner at the Ritz in a private beach cabana. This was a great day of celebrating as I slowly approach the big one.

Sept 5-6. Diana's 40th Birthday Weekend

2008-10-05T20:00:00.019-05:00

Girls just wanna have fun!! I had such a great time planning my friend Diana's 40th birthday celebration at the Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman. The weekend kicked off with 7 girls checking into the Ritz-Carlton. We enjoyed champagne and jamming to 80's tunes while doing hair and makeup, and getting ready for the big night. Once all dolled up, we went downstairs and joined the rest of the fabulous party girls for dinner at Blue by Eric Ripert. The evening was a huge success!! Party bags filled with girly fun, personalized M&M's and photo confetti adorned the festive table. After a wonderful dinner with great friends, we all went upstairs to the Silver Lounge for after-dinner drinks and dancing. The evening was festive and fun, and epitomized friendship. The next day, some party goers enjoyed a relaxing afternoon at the Silver Rain Spa. Facials, massages, and more champagne was a perfect ending to a great weekend.

Cayman Brac with the Matthews

2008-08-29T16:26:00.019-05:00

Aug 22 - 25.

A relaxing weekend in Cayman Brac with Aoife, Mark, Michael and Lara was just what we all needed to end the summer. The timing, and weather, was perfect as we now prepare for Hurricane Gustav's approach. Mark and David enjoyed 3 nitrox dives on Saturday while Aoife, Tina, and the four kids chilled out at the condo, enjoyed the pool and explored the beach. On Sunday, we went on an Island tour exploring the caves, The Bluff, and snorkeling at sunset. We flew back to Grand Cayman on Monday in time to start prepping for Gustav. As the rain beats down, it is hard to believe that a few days ago we were enjoying our beautiful Sister Island.

Viva Mexico!

2008-07-27T21:55:00.023-05:00

July 15 - 26. We have just spent 12 amazing days in Mexico. We travelled with Rachel, Steven, Rebecca and Joseph Hart to the Yucatan Peninsula - here a few of the highlights. We arrived in Merida to beautiful sunshine - this would be our base for the next 6 days. Our first day of touring took us to Yaxcopoil, a very quaint abandoned Hacienda town, then on to Uxmal where we toured some incredible ruins. Our driver and guide was knowledgeable and great with the kids. After spending a few hours in Uxmal, our guide took us to a local restaurant where we saw the pollo pibil being cooked in the ground. Our first flavour of Mexican cuisine was a huge hit. After lunch we had a rare privilege to visit with a Mayan family in Santa Helena. Senor Felix is a local healer and he welcomed us to his home. While is wife cooked tortillas and his grandson slept soundly in a hammock, Senor Felix explained the Mayan life and showed us around his hut and gardens. It was a moving and touching afternoon. The rest of our travels for the week took us to the Cenotes in Cuzama where we were taken deep into the forest on tracks with horse drawn trolleys and we swam in the fresh water filled cavern; the coastal town of Celestun, were we took a river tour, and saw hundreds of flamingos, pelicans and other local birds, went through a tunnel of mangroves, and swam in the Ojo de Agua, where the fresh water meets the ocean. While staying in Merida we enjoyed the colonial city and the street fair that takes place every Sunday.We ate rabbit and cochinita pibil, visited small pueblos and market places, bought local crafts from the Mayan street vendors, tried cucarachas and tequila, and, with every meal, ordered quatro frias, por favor (4 cold ones please). On Monday July 21 it was time to move on to the second part of our trip - the Mayan Riviera! Our driver was at our hotel by 8:30 to take us on our journey. En route to Playa Del Carmen, we stopped in Chichen Itza, "One of the New Seven Wonders of the World". These ruins are remarkable, but much more touristy and commercial than what we had become accustomed too. It is best to get to these ruins early (as we did) to beat the crowds. After lunch in Valladolid, we were en route to our final destination. Playa del Carmen is a picturesque beach town 60km south of Cancun. We stayed a block south of the pedestrian street La Quinta Avenida (5th Avenue). For the next 6 days, this was our base. While enjoying some down time hanging out by the pool and at the beach club with Pepe mixing up the perfect margarita while the children played in the waves and David went scuba diving in Cenotes, we also found time for some cultural experiences. We spent a morning in Coba touring the natural ruins and climbing one of the tallest ruins still open for climbing; Rachel, Steven, Tina and Taylor braved the small stone steps to the top. We had lunch in Tulum, swam in the Great Cenotes, and spent time in Xcaret, an "eco Maya" type of theme park. Playa del Carmen was a nice and relaxing way to end a wonderful, eventful, cultural trip.

The School Year Winds Down

2008-06-18T22:34:00.012-05:00

June 17 - 18.

Year end prize giving ceremonies. Taylor with her teacher, Mr. Bridgeman; Ryan congratulates Taylor and her friends as they end Year 2; Ryan and two of his friends, Theo and Duncan, at the Year 4 prize giving ceremony.

Ryan's First International Track Meet

2008-06-17T22:21:00.020-05:00

June 13 - 15. Ryan had a very exciting and eventful weekend attending the Miami Northwest Track & Field Classic, his first international meet. Ryan is the youngest and newest member of his track club, the Hy-Tech Tigers. He ran the 800M & 1500M and had both his Auntie Nancy, who was visiting Miami for the weekend, and Auntie Jeanie, who lives in Miami, come out to cheer him on. The team brought home 16 medals in total, for a variety of events, including field events, 100M, 200M, and relays. Ryan ran a personal best in the 1500M running it in 6:34. Ryan does not have anyone is his age group to train with, so this meet was a great experience for him and he is eager to get his split time lower and come home with a medal next year.

Boats Boats Boats

2008-06-01T20:26:00.013-05:00

Last month we sold our 240 Boston Whaler Outrage and purchased the 270. After all of the boy-toys were added to it (radar, autopilot), we finally had a chance to test drive it today. Not even the rain dampened the ride.

And ...........

Last weekend at the annual Rotary Camelot Auction, as if we needed another boat, we became a one third owner in a run-about boat for the kids, a 13' Boston Whaler Sport 50th Anniversary Edition. We bought this with the 2 Burke families, our future neighbours in The Shores.

Ryan's Running

2008-05-31T23:04:00.004-05:00

Ryan has recently joined a national track club and has been training and competing in the 800M and 1500M. Today, he ran in the Truman Bodden Meet. He ran the 800M in 3:13 and the 1500M in 6:57 and came home with 2 golds. In 2 weeks he is off to Miami to compete. Stay tuned for Ryan's progress .....

Hugh's Milestone

2008-05-22T21:18:00.014-05:00

May 17th. Hugh's 70th Birthday Party.

Hugh's surprise 70th birthday party hosted by David, Tina, Nancy & Ian (his 2 kids and favorite son-in-law & daughter-in-law) was held in the private dining room at Casanova by the Sea, one of Hugh's favorite restaurants. As the sun set over the George Town Harbour, the guests started arriving. The party goers mingled and enjoyed bellinis and canapes, and watched a wonderful DVD that Nancy had made documenting Hugh's life from birth in Scotland to Grandparenthood in Cayman. Hugh and Angela's dear friends, Helen and Alastair Mirrlees (pictured above with Nancy) flew in from Canada to surprise Hugh, as did his niece, Dara, from Jamaica. Hugh arrived to much SURPRISE!! and then the party truly got underway. The four grandchildren stopped by to surprise Grandpa with a rendition of "Happy Birthday To You" -- they were adorable and performed liked angels. Dinner under the stars at the country-themed tables was delightful. Each table depicted a country in which Hugh lived : Scotland, England, Jamaica, Bahamas, (then back to Jamaica) and Cayman. Fabulous dinner and mushy, heartfelt speeches followed by dancing rounded out the evening. Hugh held up well for an almost 70 year old (actual birthday, May 20th), closing the restaurant at midnight. It was a night of wonderful memories surrounded by family and friends.

May 11. Mother's Day Brunch

2008-05-16T20:57:00.007-05:00

While in Georgia for my goddaughter's first communion, Steven hosted Mother's Day brunch at The Club. 15 of us enjoyed dining in the private dining room, including his mother, Aunt Sonia and Rachel's Mum who were all visiting for the weekend, and his brother, Scott, and family. It was a wonderful mother's day and a great cap to the festive weekend.

May 10. Rebecca's 1st Holy Communion

2008-05-16T13:50:00.002-05:00

A perfect spring day in Duluth, Georgia for my goddaughters first holy Communion. The service was beautful, and the reception afterwards hosted by Rachel & Steven at their home was warm with love, and filled with happiness and joy. Rebecca even gave a very grown up and touching speech thanking everyone for being a part of her special day. The kids and I flew to Georgia for the weekend for this special event.

May 2. Hospice Big Bash 2008.

2008-05-16T13:16:00.006-05:00

Another fabulous fund raising event for the Cayman Hospice Care was held this year at Ristorante Pappagallo. The tireless efforts by Robin, Jennifer and their volunteers proved a success from the moment you stepped foot into the neon-blue themed event. This annual fund raising party is one of the few that does not have auctions or speeches - just dinner, dancing, and lots of fun. As you can tell, even the bartenders got into the groove as they mixed martinis, and David was always surrounded by a bevy of beauties as he was the go-to dance partner for the evening.

April 25 - 27. Family Visits Cayman

2008-05-16T12:48:00.003-05:00

What a great weekend we had with our family from Jamaica! James and Fiona Godfrey, along with their 2 girls Saorse and Amber, and some family friends, came over for a weekend of dining, diving, boating and frolicking with the stingrays. All of the cousins, young and old, had a chance to reconnect, and Saorse celebrated her sweet 16 in true Island-Style relaxation.

April 16 - 20. Tennis Legends Championships

2008-04-20T21:27:00.009-05:00

The second event of the Tennis Legends Championships series was held at the Ritz Carlton, Grand Cayman this past week. This year, the legends who are playing for the grand prize are Jim Courier, Paul Haarhuis, Mikael Pernfors, Mats Wilander, Wayne Ferriera, John McEnroe, Jimmy Arias and Todd Martin. At a reception hosted by the Cayman Islands Tennis Club on the Friday night, we had a chance to meet and mingle with the tennis stars. Ryan boldly asked them for their autographs and all of the players were very gracious and charming. On Saturday, we attended the matches of Jimmy Arias vs. Mats Wilander, and John McEnroe vs. Jim Courier. John McEnroe was not too badly behaved, except for when he shouted at a lineman for wearing his sunglasses, offering up that obviously if you could see better with the sunglasses on, then the players would be wearing them. He also berated a ball boy for not throwing the ball to him fast enough. Poor kids. All in all, John lost to Jim in a very exciting match, and Jim went on to win this series event. There are six more stops in the series - if you have a chance to attend, take it. It was a great tennis with players we grew up watching.

March 2008. Easter at Cayman Kai

2008-04-20T20:24:00.009-05:00

Another great Easter vacation at Cayman Kai has come and gone. A week of family, friends, sailing, kayaking, great food, boating and the annual BBQ and Easter egg hunt were some of the many highlights. On Easter Sunday, we had a crowd of about 30 kids join us for a fun day in the sun. Chef David once again manned the grill serving up his famous burgers. It was great having Rachel, Steven, Rebecca and Joseph join us from Atlanta again this year for what has now become our Easter tradition. Mum & Dad, as always, were the perfect hosts and the week was filled with laughter and happy times from morning until night.

The YCLA

2008-02-17T22:15:00.003-05:00

Saturday Feb 16th. This year, the Young Caymanian Leadership Awards was held at The Ritz Carlton, Grand Cayman. Gov. Mike Huckabee was the keynote speaker for this prestigious evening.

Taylor's Sports Day

2008-02-17T22:03:00.003-05:00

Saturday Feb 16th. Taylor's sports day was held today. Here she is with her ribbons - 2 1st place and a 3rd, and with her girlfriends from her class (Taylor is the one standing)

Murder on the Orient Express Ball

2008-02-10T09:28:00.001-05:00

Jan 26th. The theme this year for the annual Cystic Fibrosis Trust Ball was Murder on the Orient Express. This 30's themed sold out event held at the Grand Old House was a truly magical evening. The "passengers" arrived, many in costume, to a train filled adventure. The volunteers, dressed in conductor hats, took the tickets at the booth and ushered the passengers on board to a champagne reception as the Cayman Islands orchestra played. When the whistle blew and the dining car opened, the scene transformed to a winter wonderland of ice carvings, fairly lights, icicles, and snow flakes. After dinner and a live auction, the dancing took over and the dancefloor was at capacity for the rest of the evening. Requests are already in to book tables for next years event.

Ryan's Birthday Party

2008-02-10T08:54:00.000-05:00

25th Jan. Ryan's birthday party this year was a fun-filled, low key event. Friends came over for a Friday Night party consisting of Wii games and movies in the back yard. After having their fill of popcorn, pizza and cake, enjoying intense Wii competitions, then settling down to watch Home Alone, the limousine arrived at 9pm to drop all of the partygoers home.

Jan 15 - 20 Trip to Georgia

2008-02-10T08:36:00.000-05:00

From sunny Little Cayman to snowy Georgia. On January 15th David & I travelled to Atlanta to attend a tradeshow. While there, I took the oppurtunity to drive to Taccoa (about 2 hours from Atlanta) to visit a boarding school friend, Mahima, who I had not seen for 20 years. We had a fabulous afternoon catching up, visiting the beautiful Taccoa falls, and meeting the family. Back in Duluth my goddaughter Rebecca enjoyed making a snowman with some neighbours and the rare sighting of snow.

Little Cayman

2008-01-21T00:12:00.001-05:00

We enjoyed the first few days of the New Year in Little Cayman snorkeling, touring the Island with the Auld family (Ryan, Taylor & Jamie with a Cayman Blue Iguana in the background), enjoying the sunshine and hanging out with friends.