You good?
A warm welcome! So grateful you're joining me for another week on this great adventure! This is my last week in Barbados after an amazing 60 days in this island paradise. Southern Ontario, where I'm heading on January 18, experienced their biggest snow storm of the year during the week. I'm bracing myself for the snow, putting socks on daily and significant temperature drop. My saving grace is my stay is for eight nights before boarding a plane to Maldives on January 26.
I sincerely hope your 2026 has started (and is continuing on) a most exciting path. Remember, if you have had unexpected activities happen, take a minute before you react and/or take action. I've learned there is always a larger story unfolding around individual events that will reveal itself in time. Expressing gratitude is a positive approach to embracing what the universe is blessing you with!
 |
| My dear friends - Lynette and Sam |
I've been blessed during my two months in Barbados to have experienced a master class in hospitality hosted by my good friend and neighbour Samuel Lawrence and his sister Lynette. I have a new personal bar set to try to match their thoughtfulness, kindness and caring. Sam, whom I spent more time with, is an exemplar for supporting his fellow humans, without concern for being taken advantage of. I know Sam and Lynette's parents would be proud of these two kids of theirs! My thanks to the universe for this gift in my life!
A little background on Sam that I learned on this trip. He is a retired pharmacist (which I previously knew) who made a career change from accounting (which was a new learning) to pharmacy in his mid-30's. I admire anyone who can make such a dramatic transition from an established career.
Sam and Lynette are two important Bajans you should meet if you ever travel to Barbados. Let me know and I'll make the introductions!
The above sign hangs over the door as I entered the house from the outdoor deck. Six words that sum up an important part of my life! A wonderful reminder!
Let's get physical...
My daily exercise routine is paying dividends. On the stretching side of exercise, my right hip discomfort has returned to a whisper and my Achilles tendon challenge has abated substantially. I'm also making good progress on sit-ups (30), push-ups (at 18, target is 30) and holding the plank (ranging at about 1 min 30 sec). A challenge on my radar, introduced by my dear friend Judy, is getting to my feet from a prone position without using my arms. Us older people are more likely to suffer falls that require us to get back up on our feet!
And he is off...
It's official! I'm now a published writer! My very first published article, '
Highlands guild quilting for community' appeared at the bottom of page 9 in
The Highlander's January 15, 2026 edition. My second article about the Country Bakery in Carnarvon may appear between now and mid-February, fingers crossed! I've also shared links to my weekly travel blogs with Mike, the assistant editor. The editorial team has interest in article about exotic destinations, so there may be a future opportunity to make additional contributions. Humble beginnings...and a beginning!
BTW - Mike has been amazing to partner with. Conscientious and caring would be two appropriate adjectives to start describing what I've learned about Mike.
May the universe bring endless blessings and moments of magic 🦄 to you and your loved ones in the week ahead. 🙏
Travel Administration
Cash is royalty, US dollars being a gold standard in cash globally. I've adopted the practice of carrying US dollars in case of unforeseen challenges. Definitely was a game changer a few years ago in Bangkok when I lost my wallet to a pickpocket about an hour after arrival. I used the cash, which I carried separate from my wallet, as a deposit for my hotel room until my replacement credit cards arrived three days later. Best to avoid:
- denominations greater than $20 as there is a belief that $50 are counterfeited readily,
- Bills that are ripped, torn, overly wrinkled or are missing any pieces. These damaged bills are likely to be refused by local banks if anyone tries to negotiate them, and
- Accept any damaged US bills that someone is trying sluff off on the unsuspecting you!
Travel Update
Small twist in my Maldivian adventure. Emily, whom I was planning to visit on Ukulhas, is returning to England for a personal matter prior to my arrival. Fingers crossed all goes well with Emily and she returns prior to my departure to Sri Lanka on February 26.
Travel Map
Same old, same old. Sit ups, push ups, plank (twice/day), daily beach walk, out twice for my 10K/6 mi stroll, along with trips to the barber and supermarket. Serene and peaceful life.
This Week
Rainbow
This is the second rainbow I've seen during my stay. In previous visits, we've been treated to magnificent double rainbows that stretch across the sea. Breathtaking sight to behold!
Neighbours
Rick, Cathy, Gus and Betsy returned to Atlanta on Wednesday. I learned that Gus was a self-employed recruiter who had used the
Skool platform to build a community to support both job seekers and employers. Skool is a platform designed to build virtual communities. Gus' company,
Zip Apply, has built a community that offers AI powered tools for 1) job seekers to build resumes, draft intro letters, find employers to fit their profile, and 2) employers to vet resumes and handle the recruitment process administration. Gus also offers virtual group coaching sessions that are launched through Skool. How does this apply to me? Gus suggested I could use Skool to create a travel community with my blog being a tool for those travellers interested in sharing. The universe has opened another door to opportunity!
Fellow Canadians Darcie, Cathy and Lyle arrived on Thursday evening. Darcie and Cathy hail from Lloydminister, Alberta and Lyle lives in Turtle Lake, Saskatchewan. Lloydminister is a border city that straddles the Alberta and Saskatchewan provincial border. Darcie immediately recognized my hometown quoting the travel time between our respective communities. They had the unfortunate challenge of arriving in Toronto in the midst of the winter season's worst storm. They had to dash to catch their connecting flight; their luggage was to follow within 48 hours.
Drama
I forgot to mention a recent beach adventure while scouring the sand for sea glass. I saw a couple walking onto the beach, the man had removed his shoes while his female companion had left her shoes on. I approached them, with the intention of being humorous, advising the woman that there was a beach rule that she must remove her shoes to walk on the beach. Well, I quickly discovered that their first language was other than English. The woman's immediate reaction was to apologize for transgression and moved quickly to remove her shoes. Yikes, have to be more careful in the future with what I say and my intonation!!!
Special Farewell
I was blessed with special attention from my hosts, Heidi and Andrew, on Saturday. They kindly invited me to join them and their two granddaughters for lunch and a swim at the
Barbados Yacht Club. We were also joined by Heidi's sister, Zoe. Heidi and Zoe were avid travellers in their youth, with Zoe continuing her traveling ways. I was introduced to the
Global Scavenger Hunt which Zoe participates in annually. Here's a brief description (in italics) from the website:
GSH is more than a race — it’s a gateway to the extraordinary. Part cultural immersion, part competitive odyssey, and part luxury escape, GSH challenges curious travelers to go far beyond guidebooks and routines.
My gratitude to the universe for this incredible gift on my second last day in Barbados.
Flora and Fauna
Flora
 |
| Hibiscus |
 |
| Hibiscus |
 |
| Mangos |
 |
| Mangos |
Fauna
 |
| Bananaquit |
Sea Glass Hunt - Final Update
I formally ended my sea glass hunt on Sunday. Joanne, the intended recipient, said she would be by during the week to collect my second batch of glass. She also suggested that I should take a break from hunting and just chill when on the beach. Good advice which I decided to listen to!
Joanne was a tad surprised (pleasantly) when she saw the second batch of glass. She's thinking of awarding me with a special title for my hunting prowess! 😉
So much glass!!!
 |
| Batch 1: Weeks 1 - 4 |
 |
| Batch 2: Weeks 5 - 7 |
Sunsets
We've been blessed with extraordinarily beautiful sunsets since January 1. We continued to be gifted with extraordinary sunsets throughout this week as well. One sunset was so enthralling I wanted to stand on beach so I could feel like I was participating in the overwhelming natural show. Being one with the universe!
Sea Power
The following photos illustrate the significant amount of sand the sea brings to the beach and subsequently removes from the beach over a period of days. Different parts of the beach will have more or less sand throughout the year.
 |
| That's some drop! |
 |
Seafront on Sam's property stretches between
the two concrete steps. |
January 11
January 12
Watch how this sunset, which seemed 'nondescript' initially evolved into a breathtaking wonder! I had to be standing on the beach to be part of this experience!
January 13
More color on the following evening!
January 14
January 15
January 16
January 17
We were late getting to the beach. We got busy chatting with Tammy and Deborah at the LemonRock while Sam and I were picking up our Saturday evening meal!
Next Week
With a heavy heart I'm leaving my friends in Barbados on Sunday afternoon! I've had the most amazing time over the past 60 days. I wish the fabulous experiences we all have each day would be shared in the public media as all this goodwill, kindness and thoughtfulness we have in our lives gets ignored with reporting on the chaos and unsettling events happening in today's world.
I'll be busy in the week ahead prepping for my upcoming trip to Maldives (and beyond). I'm also blessed to be meeting with friends in the greater Toronto area throughout the week. I have a visit on Wednesday evening at a former lodge I was a member of (sponsored by my good friend Dave). l have the honour of responding to the toast to the visitors. I'm grateful for my continued blessings in the week ahead.
Comments
Post a Comment