Grenada’s devastating beauty resonates from its golden lined shores to its mountainous interior, which seems to reach up to the heavens and is showered the most fantastic tropical flowers that will adorn the little beach shack at the centre of the exhibit.

Entitled Castaway, the exhibit is an inspirational piece of art with a very powerful message:

“We want to send a clear message about the importance of preserving the natural riches of islands like Grenada for future generations.  Action now to embrace sustainability can help to ensure Grenada survives as a paradise for the castaways of today and tomorrow, and RHS Chelsea provides an opportunity to raise environmental awareness.’’ – (Suzanne Gaywood, Exhibitor and Designer)

Suzanne was recently appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). A regular exhibitor at the Chelsea Flower Show, where she has mounted displays of plants from the Caribbean island for more than a decade, her honour is in recognition of her services to tourism in Grenada and to horticulture.

Team Grenada will be joined on Press day, Monday 23^rd May, by LCpl Johnson Beharry VC , recent semi -finalist of ITV’s ‘Dancing on Ice’ programme, & Celebrity chef Gary Rhodes OBE

We do hope they enjoy the rest of their stay with us and we hope to see them again soon!

If you have been to Heaven and Earth I’m sure you will agree that it is like no other spa you have ever visited. The whole focus of the treatment is placed on the individual and taking care of your needs. Sally, our Spa Director, has a wealth of holistic and medical knowledge and experience so you really feel taken care of.

Also you might be interested to know that included in our welcome pack is a complimentary head neck and shoulders massage just to give you a little taster of the magic we have to offer at our spa.

So if you’re sitting at home on this grey Sunday evening, dreading work in the morning, dreaming of sun soaked white sandy beaches, mouth watering cuisine and a place where you worries are massaged away – look no further than The Calabash Hotel & Villas. Give yourself something to look forward to this winter…you deserve it!

It should have finished on Tuesday the 11th of August with the glorious Pretty Mass Parade through town, but unfortunately a rainstorm meant that the Carnival Committee was forced to postpone the event until today (Sat 15th Aug). But even the torrential rain did very little to dampen the Carnival Spirit as Pretty Mass still continued unofficially on Tuesday afternoon.

This really was a testament to the passion and enthusiasm that Grenadians have for Carnival as it is a well known fact that Grenadian’s are afraid of rain! So that fact that so many people came out to celebrate on Tuesday was a big deal!

Prior to Pretty Mass, is J’Ouvert which starts before dawn on Monday morning. During J’Ouvert people cover themselves in oil and paint and parade through the street until just after sunrise (see pic below). J’Ouvert is a part of carnival typical for the Caribbean islands. It’s heritage goes back to the days of slavery. In those years the plantation owners used to celebrate carnival with fancy clothes and masquerades. The slaves who saw the exposure of such wealth started to make their own variant.

Following J’Ouvert is Monday Night Mas, which as you may expect is a night parade where people join particular bands which each have their own uniform comprising of glow sticks and t-shirts. This is a judged parade so each band does their best to outshine the competition.

Yesterday afternoon saw the highlight of the week take place, the football match between the legends and a Grenada Select XI in aid of the Jason Roberts Foundation. The match at the football stadium in St Georges looked in some doubt in the morning as we woke up to heavy rain, a drive down to inspect the pitch revealed a lot of water on the playing surface. Thankfully the weather broke around mid morning and with the sun burning the water away the game was officially on.

The teams entered the stadium with the FIFA banner ahead of them, predictions were for a tight game and it was anybody’s guess as to the winner. Liverpool had stated at their press conference that they were used to winning as professional players and that is how they remain, they did not come here to lose. The same went for Grenada, who had been training for weeks ahead of the game, brothers Jason and Otis Roberts were in the team as was their uncle Cyrille Regis.

Early signs for Grenada were not good with Liverpool starting very brightly and narrowly missing a couple of chances, after ten minutes they got their goal, Jason McAteer sprung the offside trap to round the keeper and slot home. Grenada huffed and puffed but couldn’t find a way past the Reds well organised defence, Mark Wright, Gary Gillespie and Phil Babb were both very cool at the back and it wasn’t long before the spritely John Durnin was presented with a great opportunity to walk the ball home for number 2.

All seemed to be going according to plan for Liverpool until Grenada found a way back into the game, a misunderstanding between Mark Wright and Bruce Grobelaar gave Jason Roberts possession inside the penalty area, Grobelaar could have given away a penalty with flailing arms at Roberts’ feet but the striker stayed upright and finished neatly.

Liverpool didn’t seem to worry about it too much and their part timers were doing a fine job, two of them having great chances to score and both missing narrowly as the score remained 1-2 at half time.

Phil Thompson barked the orders at half time as the players took on lots of water. With more changes rung the players resumed the second half and it was not long before Liverpool found another way in, Again it was Durning who bundled the ball home. Grenada were looking a bit ragged by this point and a fourth goal soon followed, McAteer was box to box and running the show, he rifled in from just inside the area.

Shortly afterward Durnin broke on the left and squared the ball to Gary Mulcahey who slotted home to the great delight of everyone. Gary has been in Grenada for a year now working on projects for the Jason Roberts Foundation and as a life long Liverpool FC supporter he really deserved this moment. 1-5 to Liverpool.

Grenada then cam close on a couple of occasions with neat approach play almost giving them openings, a good chance went over the bar. However it was Liverpool’s game and with the minutes ticking away a sixth was conceded, probably the goal of the game as a cross found the number 13 (name unknown at this time) who very smartly lobbed the approaching keeper. 1-6.

All were smiling as the final whistle blew and with shirts swapped the players received their medals and Bruce Grobelaar picked up the inaugural Jason Roberts Foundation trophy. However this event was about the foundation and the great work it does in Grenada so without any apologies for the use of the cliché, everyone was a winner. Talk is that event will be run again next year and it seems that everyone is very happy about that.

The Liverpool FC Legends Grenada 2009

Grenada Select XI

Bruce Grobelaar picks up another trophy for Liverpool

As we might have expected the plane journey turned into a bit of a social with players and entourage occupying the galley for most of the flight. The lovely flight crew were most accommodating to this, or at least put up a very good show of appearing to be.

Some quick pics, yes, they’re not great but then iphone cameras aren’t either. Better pics will follow this week and you can expect a bevvy of posts during their stay here telling you all about about what we’re getting up to. Check back again tomorrow!

Mark Walters, Jason McAteer and Gary Gillespie

Leo Garbutt and Mark Wright discuss the shock end of the 89/90 season

John Durnin spent the entire 8.5hr flight asleep

Party in the Galley with Mark Wright, Lourda and barman in chief (for the flight) Bruce Grobelaar