12:00.048N 061:44.545W
Whisper
Noel Dilly
Sun 16 Dec 2012 14:09
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"Hog Island - Sunday, 16th December"
We left Grenada YC on Friday and motored around the
SW corner of Grenada to Hog Island. We are still discovering that it
is an amazingly small world despite the 4,700 miles that we have
traveled to get here. Before we left on this adventure, our very dear
friends, Pat and Percy invited us to dinner one evening, so that we could meet
their niece Christine and her husband Kevin, as they are very keen and
experienced on cruising in the Caribbean. We emailed them on
Thursday, telling them we had arrived and our location hoping to meet up
sometime. We were astounded to receive a reply discovering that they
were just around the corner at Hog Island!
As we headed towards the island, finding our way
though the reefs we saw a dinghy ahead, it was Kevin waiting to greet
us. Unlike the boat boys, he did not try to sell us a mooring for a price
or tell us to follow him, but just casually came alongside and deftly jumped
aboard bringing his painter with him, and we had our very own pilot to
navigate us into the bay and find a good spot to anchor. Before the anchor
was down we found ourselves recruited into volunteering to help
teach young local children to read and write on Saturday morning!
Our schedule of activities grew quickly; drinks
that evening at Roger's Bar, a wooden shelter set up on a small sandy beach;
Saturday morning teaching at Mt. Airey; Saturday evening The Spice in St.
George's to enjoy Parang (protest songs making fun of politics
etc. set to rhythmical West Indian music, stemming from the days of
slavery whereby the slaves could express their frustrations and misery
through their music); Sunday, rubbish collection and I think a
Bar-b-que at Roger's Bar; Monday, laundry day and sailing out to the
reef to snorkel etc; Tuesday is shopping day; I have most definitely
forgotten what happens the rest of the week, but I am sure our whirlwind
entertainments manager will keep us informed! Oh by the way, we will be
staying here until Christmas to attend the planned Festive Dinner on the
beach. After which we will most definitely move on, I write this
because it is very evident that many 'cruisers' arrive here and do not move on
for years and I mean years.
Chris collected us and Graham, another
volunteer, in her dinghy and we went ashore, where we were taken by mini
bus to Mt. Airey high up in the hills. The hurricane shelter was like
a small village hall with a deep basement. The second floor is not
finished yet, but it is hoped to be a dedicated classroom for the children when
sufficient money is raised to complete it. There were about
10 volunteers from the USA, Sweden and UK and local ladies too all
organised by a lovely dedicated and typical looking West Indian lady, who
has gained an OBE for her activities. Our day was not as we might have expected, this was Christmas Party
day! Bags of Christmas presents were ferried in; containers of food
were laid out on the bar; tables were covered in cloths; chairs were brought up
from the cellar; colourfully dressed children of all ages mingled everywhere,
laughing and giggling as they helped the adults to blow up (and pop)
the many balloons, which were then hung around the room; cameras flashed as
photos of this joyous occasion were recorded. Soon everything was ready
and the party could begin. A human circle was formed around the room,
hands held and everyone was welcomed. This was followed by prayers and
hymns, readings by several of the children and favourite songs sung.
Children who had achieved well at their schools were brought forward to be
congratulated on their achievements. The children all then took and seat
and whilst the food was being arranged a Christmas story was read, followed by
the feast and finally the giving of presents. Every child had a bag with a
book and various suitable items for their age, all these gifts I discovered
afterwards had been provided by their enthusiastic mentor. As
the excitement of the day rose, there was suddenly a hush as an unexpected guest
had arrived - it was the President of Grenada who had been
driving past on his way to visit friends and had seen the activities and
stopped. He was greeted and after his impromptu speech
was invited to refreshments of beer and cake. His friends
(bodyguards) standing at the door and window were offered refreshments too but
declined. It was a really happy and enjoyable
experience.
Our outing to the Parang was most enjoyable, it was
outside under awnings in a very pleasant complex. Sadly, I could not make
out the words of the songs, nor could I hear everything our friends were trying
to explain about parang, as the band was so loud but I enjoyed the
atmosphere very much. West Indians certainly have rhythm
and people watching was very entertaining, even our friends (there were
seven of us altogether), were entertaining and contributed to a great
evening, I won't mention any names but suffice to say that I have nicknamed
three of them "The Essex Likely Lads", they were very funny indeed.
As the music drew to a close we sang and rhythmically wiggled our way to our
waiting taxi. We found the dinghies under the bright stars and new
moon and gently pottered around the headland, aiming for the small white
light indicating the cut through the reef to the next bay where our
boats are anchored. We arrived safely, what a night!
Photo: "Mt. Airey Young Readers &
Their President"
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