Composing these reports isn't too difficult, but overcoming sand gravity enough to enter my thoughts becomes more difficult with every passing day. I started this over 24 hours ago, but kept getting distracted. Or sleepy. Or thirsty.

Over the last 5 days we seem to have hit our optimal dining stride, starting the day with the small croissants that GCBC provides, followed by an earlier lunch and then dinner. We tried Grain du Poivre last trip for lunch and returned this trip for dinner. The menu is limited in low season, but very tasty, including the main course accompaniments. I finally got my duck confit. I have added this to my list.

Other restaurants included another lunch special at Le Taitu; goat stew at Le Ti Coin Creole (my favorite goat on the island); a conchless lunch at recently-back-from-vacation L'Escargot; our standard dinner of appetizers at Bistrot Caraibes, whose smoked salmon was better than ever; lunch at Champagne Bistro, accompanied by a bottle of Chardonnay we picked up next door at Select Wine Cellar because Sylvain didn't have a bottle of Pinot Blanc chilled down; Piazza Pascal, and the always excellent grilled squid appetizer; Our standard excellent beef filet with blue cheese sauce and tasty vegetable accompaniments at L'Auberge Gourmand; and, finally a Sunday lunch at Hercules, where they had a guy playing a steel drum and I had the Haitian specialty, Griot, along with accras made with tania instead of flour and a pair of Ti punches to wash it down. If you notice a preoccupation with food and dining, well that's my main reason for coming to this island (Shirley's favorite reason is in the next paragraph, perhaps).

After spending 10 days within a 7 klick radius of Grand Case, we finally ventured over to Philipsburg for the afternoon. Shirley, somehow, found something she didn't already have from Blanc du Nil. Then stopped for some always delicious Guavaberry Coladas, and wondered if they can't fit in another jewelry store on Front Street. Oh, and I thought it would be safe to visit Vince at Royal Jewelers. It wasn't, but Shirley is happy, so who am I to complain.

We decided to visit Carole at her grocery store in Oyster Pond but the store was closed. I hope everything is ok with her, but we'll try to stop by again this Thursday.

Our usual cast of characters gathers one day for wine tasting with Sylvain at Select Wine Cellar. This time we had a bubbly, 3 whites, 3 reds, a dessert wine, and an Armagnac with a selection of cheeses, pates, sausages and breads. IMO, this was the best one yet, even if we didn't start until 6:30.

We still haven't ventured beyond Petite Plage and Grand Case Beach, and probably won't until we relocate next week for 3 nights to Mary's Boon.

Peeve: Cars who pass you, only to take the next turn. Then again, why not?

This is probably a good stopping point.