VILLA VIGNETTES
by Ellen Bird
Hello to all BVOA participators here and afar.
The start of the year has seen a "rage on the bar" most days, heavy rain at night and a couple of days, but the wind has been tiring and making a mess of the gardens. Lots of extra clean up for the gardening crew. Did everyone know that Marsh Harbour had such heavy rain that the airport there was closed and a good deal of the town was flooded? It was exciting for some and frustrating for some. Staff had to spend the night at Lowe's Pharmacy and our precious Fishmarket's yard was under water. The really happy people were the taxi drivers who made long trips ferrying people to and from Marsh Harbour to Treasure Cay.
We were relieved to welcome a few "snow birds" from Canada, New York State and Maine. They fluttered in, happy to escape the northern ice storm. Having our neighbours Bill and Francine back is a great pleasure and it was fun for Bill's mother Zoe and Zoe two and three to be here too. Lotts and Birdsongs are busy golfing and watching their tomatoes grow. Birdsongs picked first and Birds were scratched from the race but we still have to judge quality.
Marj Chance is well again and back playing quality golf after her angioplasty. Wonderful. Charlie Momm scared us all, leaving here by charter plane while suffering great pain. After nearly two weeks and two hospitals he is back and looking fine, ready to play golf too! Jenny left for home for treatment after suffering a fall off her bike and causing a compound fracture of one of her wrists. No more soothing strokes for some people for some time. Handsome really misses her. I guess quite a few of us consider the Morgans part of this group and we are afraid we won't see much of them after March because they have sold their gorgeous house on Treasure Cay Drive.
Gettingers are here and looking terrific, Naomi sets all us ladies an example. I saw Judith Meisner enjoying the sun one day but her back doesn't like the cold weather. Snowes, Whitcraft and Leekers have been busy sunning and golfing but my can they cook! They provided such delicious food that I wonder if we should start a gourmet club.
Norma and Milton were missing all through January and now they are back things can get on track. Crafts and health walks can begin and BVOA Board meetings will take place and, by the way, Norma is another fantastic cook. Ernie and Jim Feeney will be here soon and Roberta Knopp is in residence. Harriet and Randal arrive in March when more gourmet food California style will be offered as Harriet isn't wasting any time, entertaining almost as soon as they get here mid March. I know Pffeiffers have been here also but I only saw them once. Perhaps they are inside more because of the wind. Nigel and April Pegram were here for a month and went home looking tanned and healthy.
Bishops and McGraths have been missing and missed. There has been no sign of the Dempseys either. They say it's hard to leave Alaska - don't they miss us? Don't they miss daylight and sunshine in the northern dark? Dewey and Bea Chase have been here and have friends visiting at present. Birds are having a new roof put on so are keeping the neighbours from siesta time both early AM and afternoon. Hope Doc Brereton and Anne and the Diamants aren't suffering too much. Durrells are the most discommoded, being unable to hear themselves think or reach their laundry and garbage. Sands Construction are doing a fine job, hurrying to beat the next weather front.
Some of us have been busy trying to deal with fighting cats and marauding dogs, some to be neutered and some to be put down. I hope everyone in this area will support the Humane Society in a small way as lots of gas and energy is used. Jerry and Rose Mary Roberts of Galleon Bay deserve a lot of praise for all the work and organising they have done. Many thanks to Dr. Hanna for performing veterinary services at Treasure Cay for half price.
If anyone wants to go to Horticulture Society meetings on the third Thursday of the month in Marsh Harbour at 7 PM, give me a call at 365-8166. We could go for supper and then attend the meeting. The meetings and plant auctions are very enjoyable. At the January meeting we learned a lot about bromeliads. The meetings provide a pleasant way to meet permanent residents of Abaco and opportunities to go on tours and hear speakers.
That's about it for this month. Keep healthy, keep happy, keep up the tennis and golf and keep on growing to keep beautifying what used to be called the "garden villas".
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