Museum * English Harbour * Aiton Place * Betty's Hope

The Museum Of Antigua & Barbuda - museum@candw.ag Michele Henry Executive Director at the museum wrote me a very touching email which I deaply apreciated.

"Dear Nick, My heartfelt thanks for your hurricane message. How it has inspired me knowing that someone is out there, pushing the positive.There were tears in my eyes, reading your message. Thank you. I wish it could be published in the newspapers. After our 3 hurricanes at the Museum, we always say that we will remain open 365 days a year...Hurricane or no..and we have been doing so for the past 3 hurricanes.

Despite our water damage ( part of our roof lifted off, and sat down again, so we are leaking like a sieve), our artifacts are okay, but our labels are water damaged. Our visitors continue to pour in, skipping over our gift shop items drying on the floor, haggling over items for sale at hurricane prices,asking about our homes, and adding a bit extra to the entrance fee to help keep the museum open.

On Saturday, school children were at the museum doing research, despite there being no current (electricity). They sat on chairs outside. We at the museum, continue to push our positive image, we are open to the public, our staff are all out to work, helping to clean up as much as possible. Again, this is our positive message from the Museum" The Museum of Antigua and Barbuda is open 365 days a year, No Jose go stop we hertiage showcase."

 

Aiton Place
Our home and studio in Hodges Bay.

We took in a lot of water as you will see if you read my diary of the storm and our beautiful garden was trashed again. The pool, which was drained for work to be done , filled with water and leaves that brewed into calliloo soup in a few days and smelt like sewage. Because we packed all that could be damaged by water into heavy plastic we sustained no serious losses and the public rooms with artwork and memorabillia from my movies was open again to the public in a week. My gardener worked very hard at clearing the debris and though bare and cropped our garden is straight once more. All that remains (a week after the storm) is to get back power (we seem to be in a small pocket without power), replace some tiles and siding on our appartment and to re-assemble our stuff which is still in bags about the place.

You can visit us online at http://AntiguaToday.com/IslandArts

 

Betty's Hope & The Interpretation Center

Michelle adds:

"Betty's Hope Mill Towers and the estate were spared. We have to thank our buffer of cassie trees, which are a part of our special landscaping, for the protection of our many ruins. the Interpretation centre was flooded, but we have replaced any worn labels etc. Vistors are welcome to The estate between the hours of 10:00am -4pm Tuesdays - Fridays"

 

 

English Harbour

Bob Williamson of the schooner St Peter bobw@candw.ag writes from English Harbour.

"Dear Nick,

Here in South Antigua everything is fine. There was little damage. One boat at Slipway was knocked over but it was still on its cradle which snapped a leg. One huge yacht had one of its lines tied to a cannon which had been embedded since Horatio was a cadet. Such was the force of one gust that the cannon simply rose straight into the air wihout firing a shot at Jos*. There a still a few parts without power but ours at Cobbs Cross came on yesterday evening.

The crew of a sail training ship set to after the hurricane to clean up the Dockyard and did a great job.

Good luck with your paintings and your business."

 

Harmony Hall

Bob continues:

"....Harmony Hall? The Opening has been delayed, we're told, until November 13th due to some damage, mainly to the gardens. Sadly we'll be in St. Thomas for a charter show so will miss it."

 

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