Rick & Ivy - July, 2012
Whew!!!! Let
the liver rejuvenation begin. Nice flight..we arrived on Wednesday
before the group for some R/R before the craziness
began..Immigration/Customs...blah blah blah..off to SC lounge to meet
friends Nick and Kerry who were waiting for us. We had prearranged to
have a taxi, we have used Courteney now for the last 5 trips down.
Always on time and a good driver, if anyone would like his information,
please do not hesitate to ask. He topped the cake this year when I asked
him to find a place to get a beer and pulled up a small lunch box type
case with 6 frosty Red Stripes in it...and away we went to the resort
leaving behind friends Laurie and Ed who were flying over with Air
Link...I think...Drive was smooth, gave us a chance to catch up with
Courteney whom we had not seen in a year and Nick and Kerry who we had
seen earlier in July. On arrival we were met by J/A who were booked with
CTI and AWOL week. A few years back we met them when they were wirgin
Hedo goers at Hedo 3, they were so wasted by the time they left the
lobby and went to their room that year, flip the shoe, they met us with
cold drinks, thanks for taking the time guys. Our room was not ready on
arrival, we had requested the same room we used the previous trip and it
was being prepared for us, no problems mon, off for more
drinks....wait..another cab...look, its Ed and Laurie..you had to be
there for the full extent of listening to Ed and his cursing the air
link folks. Our room was ready and away we went. Met the other 1/3 of
the AWOL hosting crew, Bob and Steph and it was on like Donkey Kong. The
nude pool was not so busy when we arrived, there was a very nice
lightening display which may have had a part in this but really, we were
there to drink and party and so we did.
Thursday we met Erica on arrival as she had used Courteney as well, he
had wanted to see photo's of our grandson who was born in April when he
dropped us off, but we forgot. When he arrived with Erica the first
thing he said was, you didn't show me the photos mon..lol..we always
bring something for Courteney's children and his wife, we were surprised
when he broke out a bag and said "my wife sent these for Gavin" a
tee-shirt with Spider Mon..on it..lol..you had to see it and a onsey
with Bob Marley who my son loves..
We seldom leave the resort for anything but ventured off for dinner at
The Rock House with the rest of the hosting cadre add Erica...view was
wonderful, the food enjoyable, the company none better. Surprised at the
end by a taxi bill that was a bit much considering the distance we rode
and knowing what I paid for a M-Bay to Negril ride the day before, I
would say that we will probably not being doing that again...
Friday was build an AWOL gift bag day, went smoothly and one more day to
relax before the official kick off of AWOL week though you could not
tell by the numbers of the group that had already arrived.
Saturday was meet folks in the lobby day and ply them with woowoo's,
people enjoy being met by screaming hordes that's for sure...I am not
sure that the staff appreciates it near as much..lol..we met folks on
Sunday and Monday as well and caught most as they arrived with the
exception of Jeff and Kristen who somehow walked right by us and the
table with the gift bags on it.
Monday we had our first official AWOL function, our Meet and Greet and
booze buffet, a good time was had by all and thanks to J/K for the apple
pie..you had to be there, bottle that up and make it legal...we had been
contemplating stepping down as hosts with all that was going on in our
lives and that night we made it official...we retired from hosting...we
had lots of the week left and plenty to do. This was also the first
official AWOL theme night.
Tuesday was our Naughty Gift Exchange, that had to have been done in
record time, I am guessing someone had dinner reservations
somewhere..lol..
Wednesday was an AWOL Nude Cruise, thanks once again R/E for
spearheading that. We appreciate when someone takes 39 of you crazy's
out of our hair..
Thursday was group dinner night. We anointed our members of the year and
gave away lots of prizes.
Friday was a relax at the pool and kill off the booze buffet
leftovers..someone brought a bottle of rum called Cherry Jack..that was
some good stuff right there, not Apple Pie White Lightening, but it was
pretty good, I have been looking for it since we got back.
We left early Saturday morning, Courteney gave us a ride to the
airport..
Amongst all of this was many days of sunshine and drinking and new
friend making and spots of rain on occasions.
In Summation..stop cheering...loved the EC shows this year, we had
usually spent more time in the piano bar in years past but only did that
once this time. Food, I am not a picky eater, buffet was great for
b-fast, Steph and I took turns making BLT's for each other, who ever
showed up first made them for the next arrival..they have fresh honey in
the mornings that is yummy, Ivy and I had it every day but one on a
croissant. Lunch, we would hit the buffet or the nude grille, we did not
realize we had missed the Reggae Cafe until the Friday we were leaving,
just another reason to go back. Dinner, we ate at Martino's twice, I ate
the filet both times..we also did not eat at Munsan's this trip, there
were always to many options on the buffet line. Ivy loved Friday nights
the best, I did not know she could eat that much lobster...the fans
added to the buffet were a blessing, but they should really work on the
A/C in Martino's.
Our room had A/C to freeze in and hot water most times we needed it. Our
room attendant was Faye, a very nice lady who responded each time we
needed anything. The staff was a hoot..from the EC's to Delroy, Scumba
and Paulette, Serena and the usual cast of characters, we had a blast. I
mentioned earlier in this ohhhh so long post that we retired from
hosting, circumstances dictate the things in life that we do, there is a
need for an AWOL In Hedo, that is what were started out as and it may
not go much further than next year, but next year there will be....AWOL
2013, One Love...