Black River high street...

You know how it is. You plan, you dream, you get distracted. Such is life. The early summer trip disappeared as other work and family commitments kicked in. Still, with much discussion under the bridge there's always the chance to post photos from other trips.

The town of Black River is fascinating. On the south coast, on the mouth of a gorgeous river, it is actually a market town (more of the bustling markets another time). This image shows some of the high street, mixed building, wires everywhere, the pace nice and easy. Times are changing, of course, and bigger businesses are slowly moving in. New bars are appearing, there's work underway on the outskirts of town and the beaches are being improved to attract more tourists...

Progress - next visit set for May

Ok, the ball is moving again. Mr B is off to Jamaica in May, hoping to sort out a few things concerning land. He's also going to take some proper measurements to allow us to crack on with plans proper. I've been putting a spreadsheet together to enable us to calculate costs, group certain phases of the project together. We have to do this thoroughly else it's doomed to fail. There's much to consider, and while we're still based in the UK we need to make the most of our time. Luckily, the relations who live in Jamaica can be a massive help. However, we must target certain items that they can research and assist with. I'd love to allow this idea to just evolve, but I've seen far too many projects stall and, eventually, be abandoned (as above). Hopefully, this will not be happening to us...

The red earth of the south

Amazing colour, eh? Not quite the dirty brown many of us are used to. Instead a rich red-brown that sees fantastic produce grow to unheard of sizes. The only problem is the water, or lack of. A long, dry spell in Jamaica and many crops wither. However, everywhere you go there are clever devices and storage points to help the growers through the lean periods. The tree is an Ackee, as per the gorgeous recipe below...

A murder (allegedly) to bring in the tourists!

Ok, so Kingston has a feisty reputation. But to hear that Pakistan (and ex-England bowler) Bob Woolmer (picture from the BBC) has died in "suspicious" circumstances is a tad alarming. Well, it's just not cricket is it? The thing is, Bob's wife is not convinced about it all, the entire Pakistan team have been interviewed and many neutral observers have been quick to suggest that something is not quite right. Seriously, it's sad to hear of any death. But at an international cricket tournament, the Cricket World Cup, where a relatively fit bloke is concerned, well, questions must be asked...

Flights to Jamaica!

This bit always hurts. Getting to Jamaica from the UK costs an arm and a leg. Even the last-minute, cheapo flights seems to set you back a few hundred quid. There's no painless way to get to the island, is there? I've only made the journey as a single man (with wife-to-be) once, with all other occasions taking the kids... with the associated hassles, advance bookings and costs that come with the "family" experience. I'll be going over soon to advance the plans for our forthcoming project, but Mr B. (the man who had the original idea) will be flying to Jamaica next month. He's always managed to get a good price on late bookings, but even he seems unhappy with the rising cost of travel to Jamaica. It's a necessary evil right now, as plot measurements need to be taken and a few local suppliers sourced. We'll be tracking the best prices over the next few weeks and I'll post them here. Until then, if anyone has any good links...

Saltfish and Ackee (pronounced Ah-Kee)

I've seen loads of different spellings when it comes to the national fruit of Jamaica. Still, it's the eating that really counts and if I'm honest I was put off at first. A rubbery, scrambled egg-like substance greeted me as it was taken from a boiling pot of water. However, the dish was transformed when it was popped into a shallow pan with oil, spices and some salty white fish (recipe here). It becomes a bit of a mush (although some keep the fish separate) but it's easy to eat quickly with a fork. Tasty and filling, you can have it as a snack or main meal when served with fresh veg and hot peppers. Fantastic. I'd hope to serve this authentic dish to guests at least once during their stay. The picture shows one of many Ackee trees just down the road from our plot. The Ackee ripens, turns bright red and then splits to reveals its yellowy fruit and black seed...

It started with a kiss...

Eight years ago I got married in Jamaica. My wife's mum and dad lived there. They still do. I've loved the place ever since, just wishing that I could spend more time there. So to the latest "life" decision, to plan, build and run a holiday experience on the south side of Jamaica. Between us, we have met hundreds of people out there. Several members of the family (and friends/relatives) still live there. We have a great base, a solid foundation from which to work. The first sketches are being put together as I type, spreadsheets are pulling the figures together and further contacts being established. Exciting times...

First steps in creating The Real Jamaica experience...

Ok, we have the land, we have the expertise, we have the time, the inclination and the desire to make this work. We're going to build a small development of well-appointed chalets, with a central restaurant (of modest size) and swimming pool. All this in the beautiful Jamaican sun, situated on the south side of the island near to Black River. Potentially, this is perfect. A stunning, natural location where people from all over the world can experience the beauty of Jamaica, its people and more. All with hands-on hosts who have lived in Jamaica and England and [think] that they know what holidaymakers want. This is where you come in. What do you want from such a holiday, one where you can get away from the stereotypical characters, the staged events, the glossy brochures that never quite live up to expectations?

The first image is of the river itself, a couple of miles inland from the developing town that stands on the river's mouth. The photo wa staken standing on the bridge about 200 yards from our plot. Imagine a quiet stroll down to the river when you wake up or during the cooling early evening? There's a small bar, boats pass by, they even have a crocodile safari that reaches this point. Locals fish and wash in the river. Kids play and dive in. Are we mad or is this the start of something wonderful?