Anguilla

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It took us all day to get from Quito to Anguilla and we had delays so it was after 10.30 before we got to our resort and we were very tired. The place we were making for was called Anguilla Great House and I was expecting an old colonial type house with creaking floors and cool verandas. What we found was a girl who didnt know how we could get food or even a drink, and was certainly not prepared to take help us with the luggage. She showed us to a cabin which was actually very pretty and comfortable and we settled in, somewhat disappointed for the night. We found in the morning a slightly rundown resort run by locals who were charming but not particularly galvanized, next to an exquisite beach with white sand like silk and turquoise blue sea. We spent a lot of time walking on the beach, swimming, playing backgammon, watching old films on the telly, drawing, eating, drinking etc. We found a fabulous resort just down the beach and spent a bit of time eating and drinking there and wishing we were staying there - next time?

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We did hire a car one day and it kept breaking down, but we saw quite a bit of the island and Peter found that it had been developed out of sight since the last time he was there (25 years ago?) and decided it was pretty much run for Americans despite still being a British Protectorate - surprised Blair hasnt given it to Bush as a birthday present!!! The car was also used to get to the doctors surgery where Peter obtained a surgical collar and more painkillers in the hope of some relief.

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And then we had to come home... more planes and more airports and finally Ed met us at Heathrow and found he had parked a mile or two away... but he did cook us a super meal that night - roast saddle of lamb with apricot stuffing accompanied by a sweet potato gratinee with veges steamed by Deb who also produced the best bread and butter pudding I have tasted!!