Thoughts Of An Expat Living On Anguilla

A short time ago I chatted to a very interesting gentleman at a farewell dinner for a mutual friend. His name is Gordon Cillis and he volunteers his time at the Workshop Initiative for Support in Education, Anguilla, otherwise known as WISE Anguilla.

Isn’t the internet wonderful? It is hard to believe that most of us take it for granted and yet, just a few years ago, it had not been invented.

It’s funny who you meet, isn’t it? One of the nicest things about writing this column is that you encounter all kinds of people from every walk of life. This week I have been meeting sailors and sailing enthusiasts. Those who know me well know that I have a penchant for the sea, having been married to a matelot for the last twenty five years!

American Airlines finally succeeded in transporting us back to Anguilla after our brief holiday in England.

It is usually the young who graduate from university. Parents scrimp and save, push and scheme to send their precious offspring to the institution of choice and then the student is expected to study hard to fulfil expectations. At the end of a set number of courses the goal is reached: a qualification in the chosen discipline. Students graduate from university amidst heartiest congratulations from well wishers.

Have you ever wondered about talent? Some people have it and others do not. The Oxford dictionary defines it as ‘a special aptitude or faculty.’ Where does it come from; is it natural, in-built, just waiting to surface or is it something nurtured or learned? Recently I have been privileged to meet some very talented people here on Anguilla.

Sometimes it is difficult to know what to write about for this column. I mean, readers do not want to hear about what I had for breakfast nor do they wish to hear me harping on about ‘when I was living in...’

Sunday 2 March was Mothering Sunday in England. I looked forward to hearing from my ‘little boy.’

Alive, vibrant, noisy, colourful, fun, busy, brash! Trinidad Carnival is all of these things and more.

I sat on the beach at Shoal Bay East one day this week. I don’t often get the time to do this but we have had guests staying with us and so I have visited more often of late.

1759 was a good year.

On 25th January in Alloway, on the West Coast of Scotland, Robert, the first child of William Burness and his wife Agnes Broun, arrived in the world. Little did this farming couple know of the enduring place their son would hold in the hearts of Scots everywhere. For young Robert would come to be known all over the world as ‘Rabbie’ Burns, poet, and Scotland’s darling.

Well, after lots of planning and more than a little angst on my behalf, my husband, Joe, and I celebrated our Twenty Fifth Wedding Anniversary in style on 8 January. We did something we had wanted to do ever since we saw the beauty of Anguilla’s beaches and clear blue sea. We retook our wedding vows on Shoal Bay Beach in front of invited guests including our son, Thomas, my brother, Duncan and our good friend, Susan, who had jetted in from Pakistan for the occasion.

It is nearly Christmas and all over the island trees, lights and decorations are appearing to celebrate the Festive Season.

This week on Anguilla has been scary.

People in cars have frightened me.

What on earth is Penny going on about I hear you saying. People in cars are not frightening. Has she finally gone batty?

Last week I flew home.

I had forgotten how chilly England is in November but I was pleased to be back for a short while to see friends and family. It bought back lots of memories.

For as long as I remember, the period between Halloween and New Year has been a magical time.

Have you ever wondered how The Anguillian, is produced? How much time and effort goes in to obtaining the content we all expect to see each week? What does it take to have it printed and distributed to the waiting public?

On Sunday 21 October the Legg Residence was brightly bedecked with the White Ensign, the Union and Anguillian flags. The furniture was rearranged, all was spick and span and I had a lot of cooking to do!

Have you noticed how smart the Environmental Health Building is now? It has been revamped with a vengeance!

Whilst spending a week shadowing His Excellency, the Governor, Mr Andrew George, I took the opportunity to find out more about the ninth Governor of Anguilla.

Watching the Governor present interactive whiteboards to the Education Department of the Government of Anguilla, I reflected that in his thirty three years with Her Majesty’s Diplomatic Service he must have seen a thing or two and had some adventures along the way.