28.10.06,
so much has happened in the past weeks.
i managed to
survive getting our possessions through antigua's customs. it took 3 weeks & was without a doubt, the most painful experience i have endured, possibly ever. while people at the port were usually nice, some seemed to take considerable pleasure in sticking it to me. where there was discretion for how much to charge me, i got the max. it wouldn't have been so bad that we ended up paying around $20,000 CDN, just to get our container through customs [yes, i said it: $20,000], but the amount of time i had to spend running around, trying to get things done, was unnecessary. we even hired a customs broker to take care of the bulk of the work.
here are some examples of this experience... after searching for a missing on-site truck driver, we found him having a nap. due to how our 40 ft container was packed, i was told i had to empty it, remove the motorcycle that was packed first, then replace everything back into the container. it cost me $350. in labour, extra. the ordeal was dragged out so long, i had to book a hotel for us, for almost a week... but its over, the bills have been paid & it is finally behind us.
lois, che, baby willow & mother-in-law irma, arrived in antigua's international airport at 5am, on friday october 13th. my internal alarm clock woke me up just in time to look out my window to - first - hear the jet, then actually see the jet pass through the antiguan hills. (the photo at the bottom shows a daytime shot of an incoming plane.)
the landing of the plane gave me enough time to jump into clothes, drive over to the airport & greet my family. i will never forget seeing my family come through those doors, after being apart for 2 months. they were the most wonderful sight to behold. hugs, tears & as che put it: "group hug, group hug, group hug!"
ken (a helpful family member & one of ché's fave peeps) & i loaded the huge set of luggage one would carry when they are moving to a new country. i wish to thank ken for helping us with everything at the airport & hauling the mountain of baggage.
my family arrived just in time. i was beginning to become a bit of a hermit by myself - with no TV, a radio rarely played, working at home & lots of silence. it was a bit to adjust to my attention-seeking, rambunctious son, beautiful wife & new baby. we have been unpacking boxes, setting up our home & getting settled in our new country.
our 40ft container could not hold everything we had ready to bring with us. but after spending a few months living here, i have the occasional laugh when i open a box to see it's contents. ummm, there is no way i will be sleeping under that beautiful soft duvet. no chance in hell, i will ever pull on my black leather chaps & gloves - motorcycle or no motorcycle. 3 strollers? will we even use one? (there are practically no sidewalks & the roads pothole-city).
there was a boy in canada who used to tell ché he didn't have enough toys to play with. i used to fight a guilty feeling when i dropped by some peoples' homes and saw the mounds of toys, compared with ché's zen collection. the cassada gardens crew certainly were surprised at what came out of the boxes. st clair's eyes almost popped when he saw all the goodies that got unpacked. these days, ché spends more time outdoors, but still needs to be inside to avoid the heat of the day. he is careful not to get too much sun. by his 2nd day here, the poor little guy broke out in prickly heat - top to bottom - from too much sun. but its nice that the sun is the only point of caution. there is no thought given to pedophiles or abductors, down here. it makes for a reduced level of tension which is very refreshing.
photos described:
- ebenezer hills with a future building project we are considering (top).
- ché's first time feeding barber the goat.
- inside the large church in downtown st john's (island capital city).
- house security, antigua style.
- our 40ft container prior to being emptied.
- barber playing in the yard.
- a jet coming in for a landing in the afternoon.
