Karen's Island

Despite the rain, I decided that it would be nice to have a bit of a break today. (I know I’ve only been in town a couple of days but it feels like I never left – which is a good thing). Anyway, I hired a car and myself and my friens Luis drove (well he drove as I’m still chicken and I shouted at him to keep his hands on the wheel and his eyes on the road – nothing like an over expressive cocky bloke driving you around!) South. We went to a beach called El Gigantes. Once again I am astounded at the fact that the beaches here are these wide expanses of emptiness. A few shacks scattered around but no developments and few people. We ate £10 lobster and took in the crashing waves, driving rain and peace. Then off to San Juan Del Sur (nearly getting stuck in a ditch with hideous hire car consequences). There, a research mission to one of the best hotels in Nicaragua – Pelican Eyes  – and very nice it is too. I left with their spa price list – handy! A quick dose of (watching for me) beach volleyball and then the  dark journey back with me as back seat driver extraordinaire!

I met up with Canadian friends Rob and Janek and then went onto Heidi’s bar – a veteran of the Granada scene and what fun. Had a few beverages before finally hitting by bed.

Sunday was spent as Sunday should be – watching football. Spain beating Germany was sweet as can be – Hans from Cayuga won’t be happy, but I was!

Nose back to the grindstone and a couple of weeks of relentless work and reorganisation, punctuated by the remarkable feat (feet) of myself, Sam and Kath walking 20 miles over the South Downs (they should be called up and downs). 10 miles was easy and pleasurable. 15 we were flagging and the last 3 were hell, but we’d all still do it again. After a week on the wagon, we celebrated fully!

I have tasty blood. Very tasty blood. The mosquitos are partying in my room and getting drunk on it. No amount of garlic and vitamin C seems to help.

Add to this 2 round trips to the bank trying to make myself understood with my crap Spanish for a total of at least 2 hours although it seemed like 6 added up to another frustrating Nica day.

I arrive on Wednesday evening after a 17 odd hour journey, shower, change and off I go to eat and meet a few friends. I don’t get to bed until late and hardly sleep due to noisy aircon and over excitement. Thursday and I’m back on the phone to continue the processes started when I left.  (No, nothing happened in my absence) Will I ever get a bank account??!

I went to the island with Ben. Whilst I had been tracking the progress with regular email updates and pictures, it was incredible and exciting to see it in real life. Oh my – it IS real life. What am I doing? I thought it was just a dream!

Later that evening, I meet with Francois to talk about the kitchen plans and equipment. I like what I see. I liked what I ate too. We went over to Marco’s and ate a yummy meal of Spaghetti and meatballs (Italian cooked by a Frenchman for Enlgish and Nicaraguans!). After a few glasses of good wine and good conversatin, I realised how tired I was, went home and collapsed int a deep sleep.

I managed to cram in a couple of gigs (Gang of Four and Neil Diamond), a trip to Locanda Locatelli for Father’s Day, a very pleasant afternoon grazing in the Delis of Marylebone, a day at the races – all around work, keeping tabs on the progress in Nicaragua and occasionally sleeping. Suddenly I’m on the flight and cursing the existance of Miami Airport and customs once again.

I had met with my bank manager, who, 6 or 7 months ago was full of enthusiasm for my project and said it would be no problem to fund it. Not so now. After hours of arguing and reminding him that I had banked there for 18 years without an overdraft and had several properties as collateral and didn’t have to come to him as I could remortgage my house, he stubbornly refused my wishes. Even after supplying a business plan showing breakeven after 3 years which is a good business in anyone’s books. Looks like it’s bye bye Nat West. Despite the credit crunch, I know that banks will be falling over to get my accounts on board due to my track record.

After an uneventful trip, I get back with a couple of days to spare before my birthday. This consists of a 2 night adventure (I never do anything by halves!). The first night, a very civilised slow cooked delicious lamb dinner with some of my oldest friends. The second, a bit more of a debauched affair, beginning at 6pm and ending at 7am for me (allegedley there were some who continued into the night – too old for that!!)

Two days after and things began to get serious. My lovely friend Dave has volunteered to take myself and Kath on a 10 mile walk in preparation for our 20mile walk next weekend in aid of Breast Cancer Care. (www.justgiving.com/shirleyemanuel ). We manage the 10 with relative ease and decide that the 20 would be made easier with a pub at every 5!

First a meeting with the chainsmoking Francois – a French chef and friend of Matthew’s. Boy he knows his stuff. He would be interested in working with me to help in the design and fit of the kitchen, dining area and bar as well as training kitchen and bar staff, mostly via a college in Managua that he teaches at. Sometimes I think that this project is blessed. The team I am building around me just fits so well and I appear to have attracted the best of the best.

Francois takes me to visit a very old friend – Marco – another French man. An artist with an incredible story. So incredible in fact that his story is being documented by a director from the Beeb. I consequently fall in love with his paintings.

The evening takes me over to Ben’s new and rather swanky house for dinner with him and Chris – an expert in permaculture. I warm to him immediately and wish that I wasn’t going home tomorrow as everyone is going out to the Island to look at what plants could / should / would. I have asked them to visit the second island with a view to a wormery and market garden. I mention my idea (well stolen from what I saw at Lapa Rios in Costa Rica) of using, for want of a better word, pig shit to produce methane to use for cooking in the back of house area. Having been scoffed at in the past, Chris likes this idea and knows a bit about it. Talking of scoffing, whilst we were all chatting, a whole chicken disappeared from the kitchen under our noses, the only traces being tiny pieces of meat up the stairs – they must have some large old cats around!!

The next day and a half are spent banging my head against a brick wall. I have found an English speaking accountant which is as lucky and joyous as it gets. He’s not cheap but seems to know his stuff. So now I have to open a bank account in the company name. Not as easy as it looks, despite having given Matthew a Power of Attorney, there’s much toing and froing, more papers are asked for and it’s a NO! Maybe this can be achieved in my absence (fat chance!!)

It started at around 4pm yesterday afternoon. It is now 11.15am and the only change is a variation in intensity from I can’t see in front of me to I’m drenched if I step outside my door.  You think it rains a lot in England, well I can tell you, you have seen NOTHING – light drizzle compared to this. And with the rain come the mosquitos. Anyone who know me knows that I am a delicious dish when it comes to those hellish bloodsuckers.

 2.30pm. Turns out it’s not just rain. Hurricane Alma has hit the West coast of Nicaragua, People  are being evacuated, schools have shut in Managua, 50 – 70mm rain have fallen on Managua / Leon already. It could be a terrible National disaster. Let’s pray for the best.

As an aside, I would love someone to explain to me why there is gallons of water falling from the sky but none coming out of the taps. What a place!

Anyway, today I partook in my first “bribe”. I had to jump in a lawyers car at 7am with my $300 in my paws in the hope that he can persuade someone to plead my case to get the other island registered into my name. Hopefully a small price to pay, as long as the fee doesn’t suddenly increase beyond limits which I have a feeling it will do.

Somehow I predict that today will be spent with my trusty computer wondering if the rain will ever stop.