HOMEOWNERS' HOTLINE

May 1998 Table of Contents - Current Issue of The Abaco Journal - Abaco Bahamas' Home Page

HOMEOWNERS' HOTLINE
by Edna Lacey

Late March and early April is spring break time in Treasure Cay. It's the time when many homeowners host children and grandchildren who seek to escape the last rites of winter and renew relations with their family elders. Among those so blessed were Bruce and Doreen Barth who hosted their fifteen year old granddaughter Michelle and her school friend.

Judy Beck's son and his wife were here with their fifteen year old son, whom my husband thought must be Judy's son when they were first introduced. He explained to me that it didn't enter his head that Judy was old enough to have a grandson of such an age. Way to go, Judy! Judy decorates the altar at the Treasure Cay Community Church most Sundays during the winter. She does it with exquisitely simple, yet beautiful taste. Later this spring she plans to take an English garden tour and I know she'll enjoy her visit.

Among other homeowners who were visited by family in recent weeks were Betty and Bill Richardson (by Bill's two daughters Kiki and Nancy, Alice and Ted Sloan, and Betty's sister Mary Jean and brother-in-law Bill); Patty and Nelson Radwan (by their daughter and son-in-law); Myrna and Bill Floyd (by their daughter-in-law, who will bless them with their first grandchild in the next couple of months); Nancy Darnell (by her handsome son); Pete and Molly Plumb (by Pete's son and daughter-in-law); Helen and Gerry Shelly (by their good-looking son and his pretty wife); and Carolyn and George Stern (by Carolyn's niece and her husband).

Tom and Helen Bourne were visited in March by daughter Katherine with her family, including two children. They helped out with Tom's garden and driveway and Katherine's 13 year old son did some handy concrete step work at the back of the house. Tom's tomatoes are the best ever for texture and flavour this year, even though inclement weather has cut back on their size and number. If Treasure Cay had a horticultural society, Tom would have won its prize for the best flavoured homegrown tomatoes hands down. This may be the last garden Tom has in Treasure Cay. He and Helen have sold their house on one of the finest Windward Beach lots. Its upkeep has become a little much for their advanced years. They will be greatly missed as homeowners. That's the bad news. The good news is that they intend to spend three months here each winter in rental accommodation. Haste ye back, Tom and Helen.

Audrey and Roy Baker-Romain arrived on 5th April but will stay only a few weeks. They say that's because Roy is busy at work, but I think it's because Audrey wants to get back to see her new grandson, Gerard, her second grandchild. Audrey's son Giles and his wife Sandra are very busy with Gerard and their daughter Emma, now only sixteen months old.

Chris and Joy Fowler spent a month visiting Chris's mother and sister in South Africa but returned here on 5th April for the rest of the month before going home to Jersey in the Channel Islands. Their friend Ruth stopped by to visit them on her way home from Jamaica. The Fowlers have their home on the market too, more's the pity. It seems Chris is so busy he doesn't have time to relax and enjoy this paradise any more.

We lost another neighbour at the end of March. Peggy and Charlie Morgan sold their home on Sandpiper Beach to John Rich and his family who, we have been told, have been Mariner's Cove residents for many years. The Morgans have bought a Mariner's Cove unit. Peggy was so busy going back and forth to Mariner's Cove. She's such a hard worker! What a gem of a wife you have, Charlie! We're so glad you'll both still spend a lot of time here with us in Treasure Cay. Welcome to Sandpiper Beach, John Rich and family!

March's biggest nail biter on Sandpiper Beach was the NCAA Basketball Championships. After two weeks of intense competition, punctuated by some modest betting and much immodest partisan bragging in the neighbourhood, the 64 starters were whittled down to four. They included Kentucky Wildcats (Radwan's home state) and North Carolina Tarheels (Glasgow's home state). The Wildcats won and Patty Radwan hasn't stopped smiling since.

Bill and Clair Regan were our neighbours for March but have now returned to Florida before Bill takes off for a business trip to England. They'll be back with us in mid-April. Their garden has recently transformed itself from an impatiens showplace to a riot of marigold, begonia and snowplant colours. The Regans' garden is a joy to behold year round. We're so grateful for its beauty. It's a shame that Bill and Clair get to see so little of it!

I'm so glad to report that Jane Schor's foot has healed from its operation. It was great to see her daughter Lesley and friends with her in March, and looking so fit.

George and Carolyn have bedecked Goombay House with awnings that give it a wonderful tropical flair.

Cynthia and Paul Vernall are on the move. They spent a weekend in West Palm Beach with Helen and Gerry Shelly and Gae and Mike Meeson. Their declared mission was to buy props for the endless round of wonderful Sand Bank Yacht Club parties that Gerry Shelly, as Fleet Captain of the Club, has been masterminding this winter. Nevertheless, I'm sure they found the opportunity to have a good time too! The Vernalls have now left to spend most of April in the Vancouver area with family.

April is the month of sweet sorrow for the many winter residents who return to their mainland homes for the summer months. They look forward to the prospect of renewed family and friend relationships back home. That's the sweet part. They are saddened by the prospect of parting from their winter resident friends in Treasure Cay. There's the sorrow. Those who will leave town in April include the Baker-Romains, Bournes, Laceys, Morgans, Plumbs, Richardsons, Bill Rodgers, Shellys, Snapps and Sterns. Shortly the Floyds, Dorothy Rodgers, Radwans and Sheehes will follow them. Haste ye back, all of you!

This will be my last column until we return in October. We hope that summertime is good to each of you. Cheerio for now!

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