Ain't No Sunshine When You're Gone

The worst thing a person can do is to take things for granted. We've sacrificed and worked hard to get where we are today. We live in a lovely house in a lovely place and we're thankful that we can peacefully sit out in the dark night and look over the ocean. We can see the moon glistening over the calm sea with a quietness broken only by the lapping of the waves. A scene that can't be captured by camera nor film but can only be experienced. Another experience that can't be captured was during Mark's 50th birthday football odyssey when we passed through Rome. After a 4 hour train journey we arrived exhausted into Rome station then went out to a small trattoria for some wine, cheese, salami and bread - fabulous.

But the thing is, unless you have someone to share all this with then it is meaningless. Whoever it is - friend, partner, family - the experience needs to be shared to be special. The best is if you can share with all 3 - someone who is your best friend, confidante and advisor, partner and love, and the closest family that you have.

Lisa comes back to me on Saturday.

Visitors

It has been a busy week trying to catch up after having our visitors last weekend. We had a great visit with Mum and Dad and their friends Wayne and Cheryl. When we have visitors Lisa feels personally responsible for the weather and she was very upset when it looked as though it was going to rain for the 5 days while they were going to be here - but once again The Bahamas proved itself unstoppable in the sunshine department! We knew we lived here for a reason.

When they arrived on Thursday we all went straight for a swim in the sea which was like a pond. Mum brought enough water shoes for an army so we are stocked. All of you who have a scheduled visit can leave your water shoes at home! When Emily arrived home we went on a search for dinner - we had planned the Green Parrot but it was ruled out due to the rain. We ended up having a great meal in the Cricket Club.

On Friday Dad and Wayne spent the day fishing and Mum and Cheryl lay by the pool. We went over to Atlantis in the evening, strolled past the yachts and enjoyed the aquarium - Dad got in some gambling.

Emily and I took Cheryl and Mum on a walk to the end of the island on Saturday morning so that Cheryl could go shell hunting on Emily's shell beach - she got some nice ones. Then we took Mum and Cheryl over to Cabbage Beach which they loved. Wayne wanted to walk in the steps of James Bond so we headed over to The Ocean Club for a drink at the Dune Bar on Saturday night. Mark and Lisa had actually never been and it proved to be a gorgeous place as was expected. Dad said we could go to dinner at the Dune Restaurant next time they come which would be a real treat. We had fabulous Brazilian Barbecue and strong Caiparinhas for dinner (The Humidor at Grey Cliff Manor) and Emily thought she had died and gone to heaven with all that meat :-)

We ended the trip on Monday night with the required dinner at Lucianos and it was wonderful as always. We had a lovely time and hope that they all come back soon!

We would love to post some pictures but Lisa couldn't get them on Mum's fancy new camera. You can see some of those photos on Dad's New Blog as well as photos of our gorgeous new nieces Olivia and Katie.

Thank You For The Music

We had a really lovely visit with Lisa's Mum and Dad and their friends Wayne and Cheryl over the past week (and will blog about it soon), which is why we have been awfully quiet on the blogging front. Since they left yesterday we have been trying to catch up with work and get ourselves back in our routine. Tonight Emily and Mark blasted the iPod, and danced around the living room for ages. Mamma Mia reminded Lisa of when Emily first discovered, and fell in love with, Broadway music and she started performing in theatre. It is a shame that there isn't an outlet here in The Bahamas for Emily's theatre passion.

Lisa went and dug up Emily's practicing for her Reston Players audition. She was just 8 in this video. It's a year after she blew away the First Grade Talent Show with, "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend".

Turn up the volume Nan....