New Balcony & Chocolate (again again I know I know!)

So, builders builders builders, one of the most popular questions I get asked and the most stories you hear the world over though, of things that went horribly wrong. Anyway, I know two sets of great builders - one that builds in the Dominican way and by this I mean with Dominican finishes and the other with more European finishes so we are currently revamping parts of the house to combine the best of both. So the 'when in Rome' expression will become 'when in Dominica but with a touch of Dubai'. I have friends though that have built importing absolutely everything and there's a fully functional American dream house here that Martha Stewart would be proud of and another friend is starting the process and importing everything from the UK. Her house will be STUNNING (pressure's on KS!) and will combine European perfection set amongst Dominican beauty.

Until you live here you don't realise how important outside space is, however, until you live here you don't realise how much rain there is. So you need outside space that is waterproof. So, this is our latest addition.

ps The chocolates were an amazing gift yesterday from a very very nice person who has just relocated....every new balcony needs some......and nice and normal relocators!!

Where there's a will there's a way...

There are four basic food groups: milk chocolate, dark chocolate, white chocolate, and chocolate truffles.

Yes I shared, 4 for me, 1 for you, etc. Convinced the kids that was how quarters are calculated.

Flipping Fantastic

Time flies. We are now all out all day and life is too busy at the moment. We didn't come here to be too busy so shortly I'm downsizing my workload - lucky me. However today was a rare relaxing family day with friends, away from town and in the middle of nowhere enjoying someone else's view, which although completely different to ours is as spectacular. To top it all we had chocolate pancakes - real pancakes - not precooked pretending to be pancakes a few hours later type pancakes from a real chef in a setting straight out of Hansel & Gretel. How cool is that. As we drove off the kids were moaning saying why couldn't we stay the night. I went through a list of various reasons to no avail until I threw in as a last resort - well, they have no fridge. That stopped them in their tracks. Silence. Five minutes later - don't worry Mummy, we can always stick our drawings up on the wall. Is it me?

Goodbye Cadbury's, Hello Alwin!

Alwin's Promise chocolate bar

Dominica's first chocolate bar was launched over the weekend. Alwin's Promise - better known as an eco-friendly guest house in the Layou valley - are the people behind the bar.

(This story is courtesy of www.news-dominica.com)

Shopping Bingo

Today we had our first experience of going to 3 supermarkets to complete our shopping list - guess you could call it 'supermarket bingo'. I didn't actually mind that we had to go to 3 supermarkets but it was cruise day today so Carnival Destiny (puffing out huge black clouds of smoke ensuring a giant carbon footprint no less - who'd have thought a year ago I'd notice un-eco friendly black smoke hey) took over Roseau. This means that our nice parking spot by the bay is closed off and you can't walk 5 feet without being accosted for a tourist trip somewhere. I just kept my head down but Andy kept saying very firmly 'no, we live here thanks'. Yes we do live here - wow! Anyway, it wasn't the 4 hours this process took that got me, it was the enormous willpower I had to have in each shop to stop myself buying: the 'nice' leg of New Zealand lamb at EC$62, apples at EC$3 a piece (would have to eat the core) and the Dairy Milk just kept winking at me everywhere - it's so close to the check out, I could almost smell it. I furtively glanced at Andy at each attempt but just couldn't sneak it in. Roll on Easter, must be allowed some then musn't I....

ps I just stroke the 1999 Dom Perignon everytime I walk past it.

Flatscreen - why didn't we get the bigger one?

So I've succumbed, given in, relented, you name it, the 40 inch flat screen has now moved from Makro's shelf to our spare bedroom. No, of course we don't know how to actually set it up to watch it. So here's the story, it started off at Euros 1400, went down to 1100, final price 900. That was 3 weeks ago. Well we go again today, because that's what we do on Saturdays, and for the actual store model, last one left (always a heart rencher), there's a further 20% off. As I am explained to in that slightly 'can't you get the point?' manner (rather like my landlord did the other day actually) this price will then be reduced further as we get 21% back for VAT as we are going to export it within 3 months. So, clearly it's a no brainer and we must buy it. They only take cash, remember it's Belgium, so not much left for the essential toner for the printer and the eco lightbulbs. Hey, who needs lights when you've got the glare of the 40 inches. Anyway, on the way back in the car, I'm holding it on my lap (like a firstborn) as it doesn't come in a proper box, shame really as we can't wave it around in front of the neighbours, and Chloe says 'why didn't we get the bigger one?'. Her father's daughter clearly.

ps The all new Milka 'Choca Swing' is what I got today. You know how it is, there's a little stand in the store with a little old lady painstakingly breaking up a product into as many tiny pieces as possible, with white gloves on and luring you in like Hansel & Gretal for a taste. After the 3 kids have grabbed as much as possible, destroyed the Jenga like display, and underneath Granny's imploring (they must get commission) glaze, I am compelled to buy the full size product. Could be worse - it's a chocolate biscuit sandwich............no, I'm not going to miss chocolate at all....