Well, we have had a bit of lull in fishing here, that is, not actually a lull, as we have been catching snapper from the dock for lunch most days, but we have been busy organising our new generator building, and Ian has been busy diving for lobster, so we have found it hard to find a day when we are all free to get out on the reef - hopefully that will be put right soon.

I have been working on the Secret Garden, and the thunbergia I planted has gone quite mad, full of lovely lavender flowers and must be fifteen feet tall. I have planted a honeysuckle and a couple of other climbers, so the framework is starting to take shape. (Well, Geraldine at the nursery says it's a honeysuckle - but not a variety I recognise. We shall see how it gets on.)

The chickens are all doing well although egg production is not what it might be. I am experimenting with cutting out layer mash from their rations, not sure if it is worth it. They spend all day long wandering round the jungle getting as fat as pigs, so they must be getting the protein they need. I kept the adult females in for the past few days, and tried to identify who was laying. The Mennonites now each have blue nail polish on their head, as they are alike as peas in a pod, and I wanted to identify the layers. They are disgusted at their rakish appearance, I think it goes against their religious observance!

The last clutch of eggs produced 7 chicks, 5 roosters and 2 hens. Of course that is too many roosters, so the day will soon arrive when we hav eto decide who is going to be "sopa por Mister Chris" as Rambo puts it. There is one little runt, pure white, who is about half the size of the others, and hasn't feathered up totally. Nicknamed Baldy, he should be first for the pot, but of course, I have developed a soft spot for him. he is a tough little character. I really don't want his genes in the flock, but I just like him. Another pure white beauty, Paxo, has chosen himself, then it's between three fairly non descript brown chaps. Still, they have a little while yet.

The water round the dock has been crystal clear for the past few days. We have seen so many interesting fish, including a pretty good sized jew fish, some unidentified silver dollar shaped reef fish, some pretty yellow and black striped fish which they call sergeants round here, plus of course the usual mullet, snappers of various kinds, our pet barracuda Baretta and some very elegant needlefish. Rambo has just been diving under the dock for some a lost pair of pliers (retrieved) and was amazed at the number of fish, so he will be out with his hand line later no doubt.

I'll be posting more pictures as soon as this pesky website is working properly, seems not to want to post pictures at the moment.