#9 Fawna, IMMIGRATION and Great Food and Company
This gorgeous plant is growing just outside of our door. Pls don't ask what it is called as I don't have a clue....
It would appear that the gorgeous bloom goes on to produce balls and it looks like someone has trimmed off the flower bit. Interesting.
For the last few times going knitting, I've picked up my friend Maria on the way. This gorgeous bloom was at her house. Again, no idea what it is called but a true beauty.
I know this is an awful picture but oh it was so funny. It was pouring with rain and Maria and her husband are on their porch trying to get an umbrella up. It kept flipping inside out and they were both wrestling with it. Eventually she just gave up and walked to the car. Ata girl....
I knew that the visit to Immigration to get an extension on Ray's stay was going to be a hassle but it was more than my expectations. When Ray came through Immigration in Nassau they had given him a 30 day stay only. I had come through a month earlier and got a 90 day stay without a problem. Logic? Don't look for it!!!!
I had come to the office with the passport and was then asked for the return ticket. I had already called ahead many days before and was not told to bring the return ticket. Back home we go to get the return ticket. Back to the office.
The young authoritarian receptionist askes for the passport, second time. She hands me a form to fill out with the most ridiculous questions on it like - 1. Why do you want an extension? 2. How are you financing your stay? 3. How many more days do you want? They should know that. It was 11 days.
I return the form and she askes for the passport. "Do you realize this is the third time you have asked for the passport?'
"I realize how you frustrated you are."
"Oh, I don't think you do."
All of her notes are being placed on yellow sticky notes not on a computer. None of it is going on a computer!!! She hands me back the passport and a yellow sticky attached
and tells me to go upstairs to pay the cashier. $277.85 Canadian.
Now, I'm pissed. Super pissed.
"Do you realize that I haven't spoken to anyone? I want to speak to Mr.X before I pay." Like I want my money's worth.... She tells me to sit down and he will come out to see me so I stand.
About 10 minutes later this tall good looking guy comes out of the door that clearly states, ? "No one is ever to enter these offices." dressed in military attire. Oh great. This is getting better by the minute. He talks to another couple and then comes over to me. This waiting area is packed with people. I look around and ask, "Is there anywhere that we can go to talk in private?"
"Of course. Follow me." And we get to walk through the sacred doors. We go into this cute little office. I'm expecting an inquisition room with a metal table, one chair one side and two on the other and a wall on one way glass!!! This is a cozy space. He opens with, "What have we done wrong and how can I fix it." I burst out laughing. I like this guy already!!!
I go into my well prepared speech about how I teach knitting two days a week plus all of the days ladies come to our place, the gob of money we have spent in the last two and a half months, tourism being their number one industry and on and on she went!!!!
He smiles and says, "I can fix this for you." Goes onto his computer, clicks away, stamps Ray's passport, wishes us a Happy New Year and we leave feeling a tad stunned by the whole experience. Happy but stunned. This could not have had a better ending!!!
Last Thursday was interesting. Instead of going to Mount Zion Baptist Church we were asked to join a group of old folks at Bethel Something Church also in Eight Mile Rock. Maria and I got lost getting there so we were driving through a pretty rough part of town. We arrived at just before 10 and in true Bahamian style people started arriving for the next hour. I could tell by looking that some of these folks could learn how to knit and others probably not so I went around the room asking, "Would you like to learn how to knit today or would you like to have a cup of tea?"
This group meets every Thursday at this church and they usually have a craft of some kind and then lunch. I wasn't expecting that. I was shown lots of pics of old projects that they had accomplished and it was pretty impressive. The group is run by Norma.
I asked Norma if I could take a pic of her breast/chest/shirt whatever as it had the name of the group on it and she was all for this picture!!!
This coming Thursday we will meet Norma and her group at some Prophecy Church. That could be interesting....
You have to love the colours of the buildings here with the soft hues. This building in Eight Mile Rock houses the police department and the education department and I forget the others. There is a cluster of about 3 of these buildings. They look lovely.
I wish I could capture the absolutely gorgeous turquoise colour of the water here. It is breath takingly outstanding. I think someone should bottle it and sell it to the tourists.
This is part of lunch I received working with Norma's group. This is Chicken Souse and very delicious. I popped into the kitchen to visit the chef and she explained that she had made it at home and brought it over in a massive pot. We all got a bottle of water, orange Fanta, a bun and various treats. Quite the lunch for all of these seniors to enjoy. I was very impressed with this church's outreach program. I think all churches should serve the communities they are in and this group certainly is!!! Well done!!!
I finally cooked. I'm trying to clean out the cupboards and fridge. This was made up of a batch of Tehya food, pasta, mango, sweet potato and two tins of tuna and some mayo/dressing. Lasted for days and tasted fine.
This week I found a Chinese food take out restaurant. Hong Cong Cuisine. It was tough to find and the person answering the phone was a pain but oh the food was so worth the hassle getting it. Outstanding. I want to order again before we leave.
We went to Dolphin's Cove for breakfast. These large heaters were used in Europe when we were there a few years ago. You can still enjoy eating outside with some warmth added.
We had checked out the breakfast menu on our last visit and noticed that they had one of our favourites, Eggs Benedict. They were very good. The asparagus was a nice yummy touch. Good presentation. Excellent staff. We will be back.....
Gotta love this sign.
When I heard that my friend Pam was going to give the sermon yesterday at church I knew I had to go. She did an amazing job. She was so well prepared and it flowed so well and the congregation was right with her. Just a delightful experience.
It was Ladies Sunday and all of the ladies dressed in white. They seem to have this love of dress up here. Not sure how scripturally sound it is but they are loving it and looking good!!!
After church we headed to The Stoned Crab for lunch. We were starving so we ordered the tuna tartar which we had had on another occasion. Oh, it is so good. Raw tuna and avocado.
Jerrisma was late arriving and when these arms came around me from behind and I saw Tristan, Jerrisma's grandson from Nassau, I was thrilled. We had time to catch up with him on life in Nassau.
16 days left here. I'm ready to go to Mexico. We will be at Four Points Sheridan on Airport Road if you want to come and visit on Thursday, January 29th all day. We take off for Mexico on the 30th for 2 months.
Thanks for being here. Blessings to you.
There are so many sayings that I hear every day, "God willing.", Baby, Darlin, it has been fun.....
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