Work and Play by the Caribean Sea Day 1 and 2

Travelling at the arse crack of dawn, cold. taxi to victoria, express to gatwick, flight to montego bay, clapped out loaf of bread van* driven by Psycho Jamaican to Jakes Place for redstripes and rums, roadside jerk chicken and potholes, nothing else would have stopped our wired 20 stone driver, including near head on collisions.

Slept well and awoke to the sea 25ft in front, chilled, a little rough round the edges but that sometimes adds to the appeal right?

I cooked for a bit, Neil went off and then Hollywood and I went and took some pictures of palm trees by the beach etc.

Dinner, Call time, Rum and bed - I was being used as bait for the Mosquitos, little fuckers!

*van the resembles a loaf of bread, sooty wagon etc.

The Shoe is firmly on the other foot

Just over three years as Crew on the Clovelly Lifeboat, close one's have always been a little concerned when the pager goes off and I run for the boat, In a selfish way I quickly passed a thought of what they may think.. until now that is.

Spending the last 24 hours working myself up into a fear of uncertainty due to Lisa being slap bang in the centre of Brisbane, by the river no less makes me see things in a different way.

So here's to the waiting and hoping game, may have a beer to take the edge later!

Work and play in the USA Part11.

We started the last 120 miles to Miami, a little bit wrecked, we got lost, after 4000 miles I decided to get confused with my East and West.. oops! About 8pm we roll on into the entrance of the Raleigh Hotel on Collins in South beach. Kind of emotional and kind of not ready for this journey to end, probably why it's taken me so long to wind this blog story up I guess.

We went to the bar and drank caipirinhas, lots of em, we went out, we ended up in a bar with some paraplegic lesbians, I think it rocked although we have no knowledge of getting back to the hotel (not for the last time).

The next 7days were going to be work related for the next shoot, but it involved the usual, beaches, pools, bars, minibuses, bars and bars.

We did have to check in to a new hotel in the shape of the Gansevoort a few blocks up but still on Collins as it was Art Basel week. This place was a slightly different class to the Raleigh, it was where all trashy colours came together and where cafe del mar was played in the lift - my hotel room was bigger than my house mind and I can't complain, it was still on the beach and had a roof top infinity pool.


One thing I will say about work was that it was really good to meet Lisa finally and great to meet Alex, it's funny when you work by email sometimes, for 2 weeks I thought 'She' was a 'He' - local phone purchase required next time i think.