Let me set the scene. Between two buildings which are about 8 yards apart, the owner of Pineapple Pete's, Pierre (which is a restaurant) erected a roof spanning from one building to the other. In this wide alley they now have tables and it’s really good in there. One end fronts the lagoon and the other the road; and remember, there are no walls or anything at either end. It’s just all open, except for the corrugated tin roof with lots and lots of fans. Well, there we were sitting at the far end near the opening to the lagoon end eating and drinking with friends from Canada. Looking out to the lagoon I thought that either I had had one or two too many, or my eyes were just not what they used to be, because I just could not see the other end of the lagoon which is about half a mile away at the most. It was just all fuzzy and hazy. I thought, that’s funny. I really haven’t had that much to drink. On my first beer only. And my speech was definitely not slurred at all. And I could I could walk any straight line and do all those funny exercises you’ve seen on the police programmes where the inebriate has to touch their nose with the tip of a finger while reciting the alphabet or another such inane activity. I could do it all and went back to eating and talking. And suddenly it happened! A deafening noise coinciding with a huge blast of damp air through the alley. Our first real tropical storm had arrived with a vengeance. Ohhh... Yesss.... I’ve been waiting for something like this. No wonder I couldn’t see the other side, it was like a curtain of water that had just descended. Like a big bucket of water being suddenly emptied over a small sand castle and demolishing it. That was how quickly the storm struck! So far so good as we continued eating to a huge din of water pounding onto the fragile tin roof.

It must have been just a few minutes later, and when I say a few, probably two or maybe three minutes later when the downpipes which should have channelled water from the roof to the drain via the restaurant decided they could not cope any more. They simply burst open spewing water along the rafters and showering many of the eating guests below. As if by magic and someone waving a wand, the diners leapt up away from the cascading water dropping onto them to the clatter of plates, cutlery and chairs scraping across the floor. Yes, the heavens opened up and it just poured down and down without a let up at all. The noise was deafening and the band played louder to try and 'drown’ out the noise of the rain on the tin roof. Most of the 200 or so diners were now standing to avoid having a free shower, some holding their dinner plates as well. The waiters (who have obviously seen this sort of thing before) quickly tried moving the tables away from the falling cascades. And to a large extent succeeded. Fortunately everyone was in good humour knowing that absolutely nothing could be done about the situation. All the customers now crammed up to the front which is the end where the road and small dance floor is. Within a matter of seconds the road became a river about 8 inches deep flowing quickly from right to left towards the lagoon; and quite impassable to us mere mortal pedestrians. And the band played on with a song called, "It’s raining outside, but there’s a party in here." It defused the entire situation from whatever it was to one of humour; and lots the diners started dancing. Just another wonderful experience of being here. The rain kept on and on for another twenty minutes or so, and ten just as quickly as it started, it was over. Pineapple Pete’s seemed to be an island with water all round, but as the rain abated, the water started going down, and about fifteen minutes later people could splosh into small puddles and leave. Where is the camera when you need one!

Well, we went back on a much better night and please click on the picture which will turn into a video. As well as Ronny playing there, he also plays at a pizza place called Pizza Galley which makes the best pizzas on the island. Click on the other picture and you’ll see him playing with an Italian called Gianfranco. Just brilliant.

And now for Le Grande Flique. Not sure how you spell it in French, but as you know, we have friends in very high places now. Starting off with the President of the French side. And now another on as well..... Ello, ello, ello, wot’s all this then; I arrest you in the name of the luure....(think of chief Inspector Clusseau aka Peter Sellers and you’ll be getting close). Yes.... you got it in one  ‘le chief de police’ of the French side. He comes to dine at Pineapple Pete’s as well and loves the music. He’s not a real big fun person at all. Probably something to do with his job. Well we had our photo taken with him and his wife. The other person in the pic is Ronny Santana the guitar player. Sounds like we’re really becoming like a bunch of hippies now, and you’d probably not be too far wrong. All we still have to do is grow our hair long and have it braided with those colourful beads. Working on the hair now, but it may be a lost cause in my case. Anyway, back to the plot..........so now in reality, who of note is left to have their picture taken with us I wonder?

On a lighter note, we found an advert in the local which I’ve just copied. I hasten to add that we have not tried it out........ yet anyway. To do this we would need to gather all our courage I suppose, ‘gird our loins’ in a manner of speaking.

Club Fantastico , A unique, boutique Hotel for discerning nudist. Price is $1.8 million. A snip of a bargain don’t you think. Makes the mind boggle, or the eyes water!