Finally...

For all intents and purposes, our vacation home in Barbados is complete.  Here it is in different lighting and moods.  Enjoy!!
John & Tracy

In the mid morning sun

Planters ready for dessert roses

At dusk

Moon rise

Ready for a new day

Almost there...

It's been a journey however we're almost at the end.  John will be in Barbados this week supervising the finishing touches.  He'll bring back photos to post.  Here's some of the action of the past few weeks.
John & Tracy

Scaffolding finally gone

Washed aggregate driveway

Granite and back splash in

Time to test drive the furniture arrangement

Windows, Doors, Cupboards and Tiles...

It's all in the details...

February Contest Winner(s)

There were two correct responses to February’s contest. 

The beer of Barbados is Banks.  The pilsner style lager has been a favourite in Barbados and the Caribbean since 1956.

...and, sorry folks, Rihanna has never pitched beer for Banks; but Tracy Currie (nee Simpson) has, back in the pre-Google and digital photography age.  Congratulations to Art and Sheila for some great detective work (they emailed the brewery) and to Kirk and Cait (who may have had an inside edge). 

As there were only two correct responses, both parties were contacted and offered the 100% surety of a six pack each, or a winner takes all draw for 12.  Not being high stakes gamblers they wisely chose the beer in hand.   


Enjoy your prize responsibly!! 

Thank you to all who entered.  Perhaps some of you will join us for a pint of banks in Bimshire next winter.

The Banks Girl... 20 years later at Soup Bowl

February Contest

The Question: 

Please answer both parts.

Part One:  What exactly is the beer of Barbados?

Part Two:  Which of the following four Bajan singers was featured on a Banks Beer T.V commercial?

1. Rhianna
2. Des'ree
3. Tracy Currie
4. Alison Hinds

HOW TO PARTICIPATE 

• Eligibility: Open to anyone who is on John and Tracy’s Blog Email Mailing List.  (If you received this email directly from johnandtracycurrie@gmail.com, you’re eligible)
• Contest Period: Starting on February 13th, 2011 to February 23rd 2011 11:59pm EST
• Participants may enter the contest by emailing their answer to johnandtracycurrie@gmail.com.
• Contest Entry: Upon submission of the correct answer to Part One and Part Two, by email, eligible participants will be entered into the Contest for one (1) chance to win the Prize.
• Contest Entry Restrictions: Participants are restricted to one (1) entry per person, per household. 
• Awarding of Prize: The Prize will be awarded to the participant whose entry, with both correct answers, has been randomly drawn.

PRIZE

• There will be one (1) prize awarded for the February contest as follows:
• Twelve (12) bottles of Banks Beer, brought direct from a shop in Oistins, Barbados to Stratford, Ontario.

Exterior almost finished

Not many visible changes.  Outside nearing completion.  Next blog we should move on to the interior...

Roof complete.

Pergola posts in place.

Entry posts started.

Most windows now in.

Five Weeks to the Finish

We're back from Barbados (for a while)...  Things are looking good.  On our next trip, we'll be moving in.

The cupboards are bare, for now... love the tiles

Roofing gymnastics

Working three levels at once

Ceiling almost closed in

Choosing the finishes

Finial in and roof going on

The January Contest Winner Is...

It's obvious that idea of winning a bottle of rum has more appeal than winning a piece of pottery.  We had less participation this time... we may need to pick up another bottle of Bajan liquid sunshine.  Hmmm

Thanks to everyone who entered the contest.  There were 8 participants with correct entries and one who was looking through a fish bowl and not surfing at the Soup Bowl.

The correct answers are:-

Part One - Flying Fish

Part Two - The Soul Bowl

The names of all participants who submitted the correct answer were transcribed onto individual ballots.  These ballots were then placed into John's toque and one drawn by one of our contest officials, also known to be Stratford Shakespeare Festival Carpenters.

And the winner is....

Heather Sanderson of Ottawa.  Congratulations!!!

Look for more contests in the coming weeks with prizes direct from Barbados.

John & Tracy 

Almost closed in...

Hi folks,

Here are some new pictures of our build.  The next blog with photos will be after our upcoming trip.  We leave on Saturday and will be back on the 29th of January.  Yes we will be busy with construction details and yes we will be hitting the Caribbean Blue!!!

From under the Mayflower Tree

Bajan Scaffold

From Tracy's parents' house

Looking up and through the master bedroom window

Balinese roof fully framed 

First windows are in

Ceiling goes on

Reaching the Peak

Hello Everyone... the build is moving right along... the Balinese style roof really looks cool...
Cabinets now started too...

January Contest

The Question: 

Please answer both parts.

Part One:  If a fish is in a dish, and the dish is the dish of Barbados, name the fish in the dish.

Part Two:  If a fish is in a bowl, where is it surfing?

HOW TO PARTICIPATE 

• Eligibility: Open to anyone who is on John and Tracy’s Blog Email Mailing List.  (If you received this email directly from johnandtracycurrie@gmail.com, you’re eligible)
• Contest Period: Starting on January 8^th, 2011 12:00am EST  to January 18^th, 2011 11:59pm EST
• Participants may enter the contest by emailing their answer to johnandtracycurrie@gmail.com.
• Contest Entry: Upon submission of the correct answer to Part One and Part Two, by email, eligible participants will be entered into the Contest for one (1) chance to win the Prize.
• Contest Entry Restrictions: Participants are restricted to one (1) entry per person, per household. 
• Awarding of Prize: The Prize will be awarded to the participant whose entry, with both correct answers, has been randomly drawn.

PRIZE

• There will be one (1) prize awarded for the January contest as follows:
• One (1) piece of pottery from Earhtworks, Barbados.  http://www.earthworks-pottery.com/

• Prize Draw: The Prize will be awarded by random draw.  The draw will be from a hat, by a third party.  (Somebody in the Stratford Shakespeare Festival Scenic Carpenter Shop)
• Notification of Selection: The selected Participant will be contacted at the email address used to enter the contest.  Notice will also be posted on the blog.

Happy New Year!

We hope everyone had a great Christmas.  We wish you all the best for 2011.
It's been a while since our last blog, however work in Barbados has continued on.  Here are some new photos taken by Do, Tracy's mom.
Our next fun competition will be posted soon.  Stay tuned...
...J&T