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24/10/96
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Ryan George
Payne, our son was
born on this day. He weighed in at 7lb 12oz and was healthy and
well.
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Kerry and I flew back to England for
the birth and Ryan was born in Poole Hospital, Dorset. The three of us
were soon winging our way back to St.Martin again after visiting family
and friends to show off our new bundle!!! |
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Not long after
arriving back in St.Martin the annually held Heineken Regatta took place,
I was lucky enough to get a place crewing on "Canada 2" for the
three day race series alongside Lee Hallam, Rob Jamison, John Green and
Rasta Glen ( Red Stripe). This was exhilarating, to be racing on a 12m
yacht in the "Big Boat" Category and Canada 2 came second in
class overall. Great result, great fun.
We heard that the Island was to be invaded by
Twentieth Century Fox for the filming of "Speed 2", this was an
exciting break in the routine of Island life (even though the film bombed!) .
We were lucky enough to be involved with Kamouraska, drafted in amongst
many others as floating "extras", purely for the final
minute of the film....
All good fun especially with the American penchant for blowing
things up!! And we were getting paid as well.
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An old freighter was used to build a mock up
forward section of "The Seabourn Legend". This was used for
close up scenes and when yachts were rammed (above right). The final scene
involves the cruise ship crashing into the town in an explosive finale,
with the church bell tower still stuck on the bows!! (right).
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It was all good fun and on the last night all the
yachties involved went ashore to "Egnols" Bar on Marigot
seafront for gallons of beer, the photo on the right was taken very
early in the evening.....
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By now both Kerry and myself were more involved with "Breweries
Unlimited". I was learning the draught beer business, cleaning beer
lines in bars and restaurants and installing draught systems; Kerry
meanwhile was looking after the company computer set up and running sales on the French side of the Island. |
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On the left, a Dinghy that I shortened and converted into a large beer
cooler (bottles/ice) for the centre piece in a round beach bar. And on the
right, one of a pair of matching 16' signs I painted for another beach bar
in Orient Bay.
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It was about this time that we decided, maybe it would be for the best if
we sold Kamouraska and moved ashore. As we were fairly established and
Kamouraska was fast becoming very small for the three of us, we
were agreed and luckily it didn't take too long to sell her. We moved into
Chris Coombs spare apartment and this worked out very well indeed for all
concerned. Chris is a very good friend and we stayed here for about a year
and many great times were had by all, not least of which were Ryan's
second birthday and Chris's sixtieth (two days apart 22nd and 24th October
98). |
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started off with a party for Ryan and all his little friends by the
poolside and then it was time for the " grown-ups? " to have
their turn for Chris's 60th..... |
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afterwards we moved over onto the French side of the Island into a three
bed house which gave us more space and independence. We stayed here for a
while and then decided that it would be best if we returned to England as
we would be close to our families again and it would give us both the
chance to get more qualified in the fields we have chosen to follow.
(web-site design and networking) And so it was, that our stay in St.Martin
came to an end. We left St.Martin in September 99' after a very happy stay
of five years. |
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