Jonathan's Carriacou diary: Arrival

Departure

On a Caribbean Island by the deep blue sea
A boatless crew navigates human discovery
From star, straight line and leafy guess
Trying to show that nature is 'complete' in its limitlessness

Yesterday, my girlfriend (Sarah) and I went out for a lovely meal in our favourite restaurant in Brighton. The owner gave us free spirits afterwards and we made our way home happy but a little wobbly. I awake early with a head full of last minute things to do: pack photos of family, insulation tape, batteries for camera etc.

Meet up with the crew and all their gear at Gatwick with no problems. Flight over to Barbados was good although a little long. I keep falling asleep which plays havoc with my internal clock. Mike L manages to somehow convince one of the stewards that Mike B was his dad. After some other stories he gets them both free drinks. Both Mikes in a good mood. Barbados airport was very, very slow. At one point it didn't look as if we were going to be able to get all the gear on board - not on time anyway! Still we all manage to get through the port and before getting on to the next plane we meet up with Ellen from a different flight. Take the small plane to Carriacou (part of the tri-island state of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique) and finally check in about 7pm.

Mike L's Doom Comment #1
"Did you know that these little planes crash all the time - they have a terrible crash record?" said on the way over to Carriacou on a little plane.

Pink rum drinks all round to one and all, happy evening in a bleary tired sort of way.

The next day

Get up at 6 am (it was meant to be 7am but I got my clock an hour wrong!) and breakfast in the hotel. The little birds that fly and hop around the hotel scavenging food are really cute. Mike L, Paul, Kate and I walk into town to check out the shops and also to walk to Paradise Beach. On the way back Mike L goes into a bar and orders some beers. The owner says "what type of people do you think we are?" It's only 9.45 in the morning - Mike L's internal clock has still not caught up either!

Mike L's Doom Comment #2
Story about a man who mistook a bottle of methanol for a bottle of ethanol (the m on the label had got removed by the solvent). The man drank some of the bottle, walked down the street and collapsed - dead.

The town is curious. Lots of clapper-board houses, with many of the shops just being one small room with a few shelves containing cans of food, bottles of beer and other 'essentials'. The town has one main high street, and midway along this is the port where a few times a day the ferry comes in from Grenada. The ship's horn sounds at 6.30 each morning to let people know it's arrived. All sorts of interesting things in town including some unusual signs reminding you to organise your burial details etc.

We all stop off at a little wooden shack 'rum shop' bar and have some cold drinks. Calypso music on the radio - Mike L and I find the town's only cyber café: EC$10 for half an hour plus a 'cool refreshing drink' (about £2.50).

This evening have a big party at Mr Kent's, the owner of the lime factory that we are going to use for the filming (us scientists haven't seen this yet). His house is situated on a hill overlooking much of the island: spectacular views - looks such a paradise island. Talked to Mr Kent about the Island's history as he runs the Historical Society and Museum. Told me there were people on the island at least a thousand years ago. Water is the main problem in supporting large numbers on the island because the island hasn't any high mountains.

Mike L's Doom Comment #3
Story about a flight in Greece where a large passenger had not belted himself up properly during the flight. Apparently the plane hit terrible turbulence and the man's bumping around eventually killed all the other passengers.

A comment from Mike B after the party
"Mr Kent was making 'come-to-bed eyes' to all the women. Unfortunately, there were two single beds" - Mr Kent was cross-eyed!

Exploring the Island

First thing today we have a talk by an Italian man who has set up a nature reserve on the Island. He told us all the things that were and were not allowed in a social context with the locals. I think he over-played it all; most of what he said was commonsense when seen in the context of the island being the locals' home!

Mike L, Kathy, Ellen and I take the long path up to High North, the highest spot on the Island (300m). This was a really wonderful day with amazing views and lots of fun tramping through the undergrowth and spotting all sorts of wildlife. The path to the top is basically a cow path and so it is easy to get lost. We all have a good chat and it's a good way to get to know each other before the filming starts. Unfortunately the weather turned on the way down from High North. Thunder and rain showers.

Mike L's Doom Comment #4
Parachuting girl falls through helicopter blades. Head is cut off and flies through nearby second helicopter!

Mike L's Doom Comment #5
List of accidents in Wales and Snowdon in particular regarding Scouts, walkers and climbers who, around the same time as Mike L was in the area, died or were horribly exposed to the elements.

Popped into a bar for a cool drink and a chat with some of the Rasta locals. So many of the people from this island have been to, or have relations in, Shepherds Bush, UK! Others have relations in Bedford, Toronto and the USA. Really nice day on the 'hills' - good to get some exercise. Tomorrow is a BIG day as filming starts. The day ends with us all having some of Derek's amazing punch at the hotel.

First day of filming

Up at 5.30 am and take a swim in the sea before showering and breakfast at 6.30. Leave at about 8ish. I am asked to change my T-shirt as Ellen also has a yellow top and they want some variation. So I go upstairs, grab another T-shirt but put on my Tosser T-shirt which is a picture of a stick man juggling five balls with the words TOSSER written underneath!! I hold my bag against my chest all the way in the Land Rover journey to the lime factory where we will be filming. The rest of the time I am walking around with it in full sight. Leave the T-shirt on right up until the last moment as we are about to go into the lime factory and be filmed exploring it. At last the directors and producer see my shirt.

"What the ...?! You're not going to wear that are you?!"

Make a change back to the normal T and on we go.

Today was really lots of walking shots of us going into the lime factory and us settling into the new 'lab'! I was asked to give some comments/thoughts about the factory but I think it is a little early: I've got to absorb things for a few days. Need to get making things.

Mike L's Doom Comment #6
Hemotic fever with renal failure - don't breathe in the dust on the floor of the lime factory!

Mike L's Doom Comment #7
A bug lands on Ellen. Mike says that "the bugs are OK apart from the razor sharp mouthpiece that bites into you".

Overall the lab is fab. I've already spotted a couple of lovely iron loops that would make a great pair for a sundial - we will wait and see!

Mike L's Doom Comment #8
Ellen disagrees with Mike L about eating bats. Drew says "Don't worry, Mike: at least Ozzy Osbourne would be happy!"