This is a really quick blog as we are expecting our first visitors of the season today and we are running around doing all those last minute things.

The big exciting news is that we now have a backup generator to complement our wonderful solar system. The solar system here has run without a break for 18 months, but in the winter, with shorter and sometimes cloudy days, plus guests using extra power, we felt we really had to have a generator. And as if to underline the point, we have a big high pressure sitting over the Gulf of Mexico bringing us cool and cloudy weather. So Chris is enjoying himself reading all his readouts and watching the power come in.

We had a visit to the city last week and went to the Belize Tourist Industry annual cocktail reception, where entertainment was provided by the great Leela Vernon, Queen of Bruk Down. Bruk down is the lively party music of the Kreol kultur, and we have enjoed Leela on the radio since we first came to Belize. She is a lady probably in her 60's, boy, can she sing! We had a great night, and had the pleasure of meeting her after the show and teling her how much we enjoyed it. A very charming and gracious person.

Next night we went to a big charity auction for the Belize Humane Society and Animal Shelter. This was a really successful night, with loads of great things to bid for, we came away with an excellent keg barbecue, which many readers will get to use no doubt, and a trip to Caye Caulker. We have decided that we should be tourists in our own country when the winter season is over, so we'll be reporting on some great Belizean vacation spots, which we hope we can tempt you to try as an add on to your visit to Steppingstones.

As I write, a large flock of parrots is flying over the jungle, making a terrific racket. The sea is calm as a mill pond, and the sun is breaking through light cloud, turning the sea to silver. As they say on the postcards, wish you were here.....