September 2002 Table of Contents

ROYAL PALM FRONDS
By Betsy Bracey

Swimming up from the June deluge all of us were hopeful that July would
bring more sunny days and it has, but not by much. Never in 30 years of
Treasure Cay living have I seen such rain. It has rained in the morning,
before lunch, after lunch, mid afternoon, early evening and any time at all
during the night, even all night! A rain storm ended just an hour ago and
now, as I write, thunder thunders and here we go again!

We measure the growth of our new trees by the foot rather than inches, great
sweeps of grass are blindingly green and shrubs shoot up faster than they
can bloom. It feels more like the tropics than ever I can remember.

I did feel sorry for tourists in early June as they could rarely walk the
beach without slickers. Later in the month it was not quite so bad but it
certainly was wet. Does not seem to have affected business though. The
Marina is full, the Spinnaker serving more meals than ever and the beach has
a dozens of soakers padding about every day. Not to be left out of the
boom, Royal Palm is chock full of renters most of whom have brought their
boats so we are crowded everywhere you look, docks, pools, tennis courts and
dozens of golf carts whizzing about. A bit breathtaking!

I would guess that the majority of our homeowners left in May and the same
for Royal Palm Owners but I know of many who plan to return in late July and
early August. This Journal contributor will leave mid-July not to return
for five months. Seems incredible to me but Woody is already in New Zealand
having accepted a surgical post at the Gisborne Hospital on the North Island
where the majority of his patients are Maori. I have been reading about their
very old culture and am anxious to meet them and witness their unique tribal
dances and entertainments. Woody reports that they are most friendly.

We will stay there until October when we will leave for Australia for a six
week "drive about" hoping to see Patsy and Brian Anderson, long time Royal
Palm owners, after a four year hiatus. We will return to New Zealand's South
Island in mid November and back to Treasure in December. Seems like we will
be following winter more than the sun but actually we will be following birds,
the feathered ones! It should prove to be a fascinating few months.

In the interim perhaps another Royal Palm resident will take up the flag and
drop a line or two about Royal Palm people and summer events to our intrepid
editor, Jack Hardy, by email at journal@oii.net. He would be most
appreciative. See you all in December!

September 2002 Table of Contents