IVAN the Terrible
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Main bedroom with collapsed wall open to the elements
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| View to outside through the bedroom door |
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| Mahogany Tree laying on top of the kitchen and dining room |
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View from the South showing damage to verandah and main bedroom and trees lying on the remaining roof
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1:00 p.m. Saturday, September 18th, 2004
Everyday since Ivan the Terrible hit us on September 7th I’ve said I’m going to record what happened – I’d better do it before I forget. This morning I mowed for 2 hours and the lawns are starting to come back. The sun rains down on everything since all shade from trees, and etc. is gone. I sit in the verandah facing the Forts Matthew & Frederick and once again my eyes fill and throat hurts to see to Carenage. Galvanize strewn everywhere, houses without roofs. Sticks that were once beautiful trees with galvanize stuck in the branches 60 – 80 feet above the ground.
Why did Grenadians think a hurricane as bad as Ivan could not destroy the island? No proper preparation was made. Lucian called from Holland, “Mummy – you don’t understand – things will hit the glass like missiles, you must go downstairs to the flat – now.” “Okay Lucy – it’s not that bad” – Ha! Helen calls from London, “Lucian says it’s going to be very bad and you and Daddy must go to the flat.”
Yeah! We’ll watch it carefully!
A mahogany branch nearly 2 feet in diameter fell on the kitchen roof cracking the wall, other branches, acting like missiles, tore galvanize off. We huddled near the window in the flat because the rain came through the flooring above and soaked the ceiling which then collapsed bit by bit.
Everyday since Ivan the Terrible hit us on September 7th I’ve said I’m going to record what happened – I’d better do it before I forget. This morning I mowed for 2 hours and the lawns are starting to come back. The sun rains down on everything since all shade from trees, and etc. is gone. I sit in the verandah facing the Forts Matthew & Frederick and once again my eyes fill and throat hurts to see to Carenage. Galvanize strewn everywhere, houses without roofs. Sticks that were once beautiful trees with galvanize stuck in the branches 60 – 80 feet above the ground.
Why did Grenadians think a hurricane as bad as Ivan could not destroy the island? No proper preparation was made. Lucian called from Holland, “Mummy – you don’t understand – things will hit the glass like missiles, you must go downstairs to the flat – now.” “Okay Lucy – it’s not that bad” – Ha! Helen calls from London, “Lucian says it’s going to be very bad and you and Daddy must go to the flat.”
Yeah! We’ll watch it carefully!
A mahogany branch nearly 2 feet in diameter fell on the kitchen roof cracking the wall, other branches, acting like missiles, tore galvanize off. We huddled near the window in the flat because the rain came through the flooring above and soaked the ceiling which then collapsed bit by bit.
The day after, Wednesday, we were in a state of shock – everywhere blocked with tree branches, someone else’s mattress, tiles, clothes – the gap and all entrances to the house blocked. The main bedroom alcove with 3 windows gone – large verandah roof gone.
Wednesday night we spent at Gordon and Joyce, they had very little damaged. Thursday Vaughn came from Barbados and stayed until yesterday, he’ll come back in a couple of days – such a godsend. Worked tirelessly to make the house livable. Randy helped too – found a way to get water in the pipes from Darlington pool. Our dog Lady was walking around with a big red and white Koi in her mouth. Sheba hid in the storeroom.
Electricity will not return for a few months at the very least. Onno has helped by bringing food stuff and lots of bottled water, plus a small generator, so now we can get ice in our drinks at night.
Because of looting in the first week after the hurricane there is a state of emergency and a curfew from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. in the towns – couldn’t buy anything – all looted, even schools. Governor General’s house, Prime Minister’s house and all schools destroyed. Actually, very few roofs remain. Grenadians call the storm “Ivan Roof-us”.
Tuesday, September 28th, 2004
I sit in the small verandah with a cup of coffee and toast. The gentle hum of a generator providing electricity to Darlington, Sunnyside, and Randy’s house comes from the garage area. Alvin and Charles are picking up tree limbs etc. and burning. We have come a long way from September 7th and will never take things for granted again.
Went to the airport to collect Vaughn’s bag which got left in Barbados and on the way out the gatekeeper went to the bathroom for 10 minutes, about 15 cars waited to pay and be let out. The man in front of me took so long to be let out I went to find out why. The charge was $2.00 and he only had $1.00, he was trying to reach a friend on his cell phone to get another $1.00 because they wouldn’t let him out! I gave it to him!
Supermarkets – those that were not looted are opening now, also businesses but everyone sets their own time – 10 to 2 p.m., 11 to 2:30 p.m., 10:30 to 1:30 p.m.! So it’s difficult as I found out yesterday. Some places let 10 people in at a time with 100 waiting outside.
The landscape has changed. No foliage – bare tree limbs with pieces of galvanize stuck in them. Smoke rising from fires as people have no choice but to burn all the debris. We have 3 fires so far, one in Robin’s kitchen garden, we can flush toilets more than twice a day now, water is coming in the mains but it must be boiled for 5 minutes before drinking.
Friday, October 1st, 2004
Onno left for Holland yesterday, Rudd is back in Darlington, I can actually toast bread, use electric kettle and have lights on at the same time.
It seems there’ll be no tourist season this year. The beach hotels are badly damaged – Coyaba must be completely rebuilt – staff have been sent home. So, the garden will not be able to pay for itself! Sales of Life Insurance will not be good for some time either – I must reduce expenditure.
Lucian is coming soon to help me get both houses sorted out – especially Darlington which needs a woman’s touch! Tiles gone, drapes nasty cushion destroyed also bedside tables, lamps.
Monday, October 4th, 2004
For the first time since Ivan six green parrots have just flown over. They used to pass every morning – where did they hide?
Wednesday, October 6th, 2004
The birds and lizards fight over the breadcrumbs every morning – no longer tolerant of each other. A hummingbird is searching the few remaining flowers for nectar. Danny who works with Volker Stevin moves into roof’s Edge today. I’ll put the small fridge there for him. He’s been really helpful fixing up Sunnyside.
Monday, October 25th, 2004
Today is Thanksgiving –anniversary of the end of our so called Revolution. We are also thankful to see more law and order in the island. Looting has stopped – police and army from many islands assist in keeping order. Groups of young men are clearing the roads in some main areas. Electricity is back to St. George’s and poles are being put back in place through wires hang still on trees and on the roads.
There have been quite a few deaths of older people. Dr. Barry Rapier died in his office while attending to patients. Eversley Gittens, Adrian Date – the shock caused heart attacks and strokes.
Sunday, November 7th, 2004
For the past week we’ve had a lot of rain and thunderstorms. Thunder cracking over Sunnyside sent Robin and I into the house running. A very wet November, but the trees especially palms, are sending out fresh leaves.
Across the hill above SAMS a man cleans about ½ acre with cutlass. Already many rows of vegetables are growing there. Every day now I go to the market on my way to office searching for fruit and veggies. Friday I found a papaya and 3 eggplants. It’s also difficult to find newspapers – seems every Grenadian is reading these days of no TVs.
The Garden is looking good. Cruise ships not yet visiting. They say too many electrical lines hanging on the roadside and too much debris, galvanize, bits of houses etc. still lying around.
Monday, November 8th, 2004
The big white vehicles with Cuban flags flying have just passed. It’s 6:45 a.m. They work hard and long every day to reattach electrical lines. The hospital across the road has electricity again – so strange not to hear the constant loud hum of generators – ours is still going. These days of no TV means both Robin and I listen to news on the radio a lot – Arafat just died – 40 days of mourning.
Tuesday, November 16th, 2004
Colin Powell has resigned from the Bush Administration, can’t take Bush policies any more?
Yesterday Robin and I drove around the island with Tony Dann and 2 couples – friends of his touring on sailing boats. Tried for lunch at about 5 or 6 restaurants between Sauteurs and Grenville – all closed – hurricane destruction. Ended up in a little rum shop/ eatery near the sea in Grenville. Interesting to see workings of River Antoine rum distillery and visit the nutmeg stations. Grand Etang destruction is bad – depressing, but the wood of the large white pine tree is being cut and piles are appearing along the roadside.
Agency for Reconstruction and Development – Alister McIntire is to head this. A lot of money pouring in from all over the world, we hope it will be used as is intended. Soon prefabricated houses will be built for Grenadians who have no means of rebuilding. The Chinese will rebuild the stadium in time for Cricket 2007.
Saturday, December 4th, 2004
I just spent 5 days in Trinidad with Joyce at Debbie’s. On Thursday 2nd an earthquake 5.0 on the Richter scale hit at 10.44 degrees N on the east coast of Trinidad. Scary, but only lasted 10 sec – didn’t have time to run out of the house – no damage. A few weeks ago Dominica was hit by an earthquake 6.4 on the Richter scale. Quite a lot of damage. Is someone trying to send us a message?!
Needed that trip to Trinidad. Helped to take away the stress/ depression so many Grenadians fell since Ivan. Saw 2 pics – “Shall We Dance” and “Ray”. Excellent – and the Marionettes doing ‘Carmen” and Christmas songs – standard excellent. (Lots of shopping – everything so cheap in Trinidad.) Proceeds of Marionette Chorale ($80,000 TT) to rebuild the Convent in Grenville, Grenada.
Who said that painting was “the art of protecting flat surfaces from the weather and exposing them to critics?” My portrait of our 4 children, insured for $50,000 has been slightly damaged in one section by water. Can I claim for ¼ of the whole?!
Yesterday Darlington’s claim was settled - $223,000 estimated for damage and 196,000 agreed on by the adjuster – wonderful – if Sunnyside’s claim can be settled that easily well, what a relief it will be.
Wednesday, January 12th, 2005
On December 26th an earthquake 9.0 on the Richter scale hit near Indonesia. A tsunami ravaged the surrounding island including parts of India, Thailand. 150,000 people dead so far. Our hurricane was nothing compared to this. Relief coming in from all over the world but it will take a very long time for things to become normal again. Meantime, life goes on. Lucian and the boys returned to Holland yesterday and she was such a help especially with Darlington. She and Helen made me organize my files!
We went to Roof’s Edge 2 days before she left – Danny had 3 chickens – a cock and 2 hens on the floor in crocus bags – the cock managed to get his head through a hole and was crowing madly. They were eaten that night – why couldn’t he just buy frozen chicken at the supermarket?!
Thursday, January 13, 2005
The rain is unending – everyday overcast skies and flooding in some areas. It’s our dry season – Trinidad has lots of floods and collapsed roads – cars being warned not to travel through more than 2 feet of water!
Saturday, January 15th, 2005
50 visitors to the garden this morning from a cruise ship! Only 2 hours notice but it went well. Visitors are so interested in how we got through the hurricane. Went to see “Ai Ya Yai Ivan” with Joyce last night at the Trade Centre. Excellent show – good acting and music, very funny but sad at times – hurricane stories.
Wednesday, January 26th, 2005
Yesterday we got electricity back at Sunnyside. They hooked the line onto a royal palm tree near to the pole which is leaning and brought the lines straight to the verandah – pretty ugly but these are difficult times.
Wednesday, February 16th, 2005
Life is nearly back to normal. No telephone or cable TV yet though, no hot water either! Cruise ships are coming almost daily and Sunnyside Garden is getting maybe 2 tours weekly. I’m going to St. Lucia for a few days to relax and meet Claire and Gerry there. Michael, my nephew, suddenly appeared at the door a few days ago – he’s sailing with some friends.
My CEO, Cholmondeley, is here from Guyana and told us about the terrible floods they had a few weeks ago – some places still under many feet of water. Water causes diseases starting now.
Grenada is lucky!
Wednesday night we spent at Gordon and Joyce, they had very little damaged. Thursday Vaughn came from Barbados and stayed until yesterday, he’ll come back in a couple of days – such a godsend. Worked tirelessly to make the house livable. Randy helped too – found a way to get water in the pipes from Darlington pool. Our dog Lady was walking around with a big red and white Koi in her mouth. Sheba hid in the storeroom.
Electricity will not return for a few months at the very least. Onno has helped by bringing food stuff and lots of bottled water, plus a small generator, so now we can get ice in our drinks at night.
Because of looting in the first week after the hurricane there is a state of emergency and a curfew from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. in the towns – couldn’t buy anything – all looted, even schools. Governor General’s house, Prime Minister’s house and all schools destroyed. Actually, very few roofs remain. Grenadians call the storm “Ivan Roof-us”.
Tuesday, September 28th, 2004
I sit in the small verandah with a cup of coffee and toast. The gentle hum of a generator providing electricity to Darlington, Sunnyside, and Randy’s house comes from the garage area. Alvin and Charles are picking up tree limbs etc. and burning. We have come a long way from September 7th and will never take things for granted again.
Went to the airport to collect Vaughn’s bag which got left in Barbados and on the way out the gatekeeper went to the bathroom for 10 minutes, about 15 cars waited to pay and be let out. The man in front of me took so long to be let out I went to find out why. The charge was $2.00 and he only had $1.00, he was trying to reach a friend on his cell phone to get another $1.00 because they wouldn’t let him out! I gave it to him!
Supermarkets – those that were not looted are opening now, also businesses but everyone sets their own time – 10 to 2 p.m., 11 to 2:30 p.m., 10:30 to 1:30 p.m.! So it’s difficult as I found out yesterday. Some places let 10 people in at a time with 100 waiting outside.
The landscape has changed. No foliage – bare tree limbs with pieces of galvanize stuck in them. Smoke rising from fires as people have no choice but to burn all the debris. We have 3 fires so far, one in Robin’s kitchen garden, we can flush toilets more than twice a day now, water is coming in the mains but it must be boiled for 5 minutes before drinking.
Friday, October 1st, 2004
Onno left for Holland yesterday, Rudd is back in Darlington, I can actually toast bread, use electric kettle and have lights on at the same time.
It seems there’ll be no tourist season this year. The beach hotels are badly damaged – Coyaba must be completely rebuilt – staff have been sent home. So, the garden will not be able to pay for itself! Sales of Life Insurance will not be good for some time either – I must reduce expenditure.
Lucian is coming soon to help me get both houses sorted out – especially Darlington which needs a woman’s touch! Tiles gone, drapes nasty cushion destroyed also bedside tables, lamps.
Monday, October 4th, 2004
For the first time since Ivan six green parrots have just flown over. They used to pass every morning – where did they hide?
Wednesday, October 6th, 2004
The birds and lizards fight over the breadcrumbs every morning – no longer tolerant of each other. A hummingbird is searching the few remaining flowers for nectar. Danny who works with Volker Stevin moves into roof’s Edge today. I’ll put the small fridge there for him. He’s been really helpful fixing up Sunnyside.
Monday, October 25th, 2004
Today is Thanksgiving –anniversary of the end of our so called Revolution. We are also thankful to see more law and order in the island. Looting has stopped – police and army from many islands assist in keeping order. Groups of young men are clearing the roads in some main areas. Electricity is back to St. George’s and poles are being put back in place through wires hang still on trees and on the roads.
There have been quite a few deaths of older people. Dr. Barry Rapier died in his office while attending to patients. Eversley Gittens, Adrian Date – the shock caused heart attacks and strokes.
Sunday, November 7th, 2004
For the past week we’ve had a lot of rain and thunderstorms. Thunder cracking over Sunnyside sent Robin and I into the house running. A very wet November, but the trees especially palms, are sending out fresh leaves.
Across the hill above SAMS a man cleans about ½ acre with cutlass. Already many rows of vegetables are growing there. Every day now I go to the market on my way to office searching for fruit and veggies. Friday I found a papaya and 3 eggplants. It’s also difficult to find newspapers – seems every Grenadian is reading these days of no TVs.
The Garden is looking good. Cruise ships not yet visiting. They say too many electrical lines hanging on the roadside and too much debris, galvanize, bits of houses etc. still lying around.
Monday, November 8th, 2004
The big white vehicles with Cuban flags flying have just passed. It’s 6:45 a.m. They work hard and long every day to reattach electrical lines. The hospital across the road has electricity again – so strange not to hear the constant loud hum of generators – ours is still going. These days of no TV means both Robin and I listen to news on the radio a lot – Arafat just died – 40 days of mourning.
Tuesday, November 16th, 2004
Colin Powell has resigned from the Bush Administration, can’t take Bush policies any more?
Yesterday Robin and I drove around the island with Tony Dann and 2 couples – friends of his touring on sailing boats. Tried for lunch at about 5 or 6 restaurants between Sauteurs and Grenville – all closed – hurricane destruction. Ended up in a little rum shop/ eatery near the sea in Grenville. Interesting to see workings of River Antoine rum distillery and visit the nutmeg stations. Grand Etang destruction is bad – depressing, but the wood of the large white pine tree is being cut and piles are appearing along the roadside.
Agency for Reconstruction and Development – Alister McIntire is to head this. A lot of money pouring in from all over the world, we hope it will be used as is intended. Soon prefabricated houses will be built for Grenadians who have no means of rebuilding. The Chinese will rebuild the stadium in time for Cricket 2007.
Saturday, December 4th, 2004
I just spent 5 days in Trinidad with Joyce at Debbie’s. On Thursday 2nd an earthquake 5.0 on the Richter scale hit at 10.44 degrees N on the east coast of Trinidad. Scary, but only lasted 10 sec – didn’t have time to run out of the house – no damage. A few weeks ago Dominica was hit by an earthquake 6.4 on the Richter scale. Quite a lot of damage. Is someone trying to send us a message?!
Needed that trip to Trinidad. Helped to take away the stress/ depression so many Grenadians fell since Ivan. Saw 2 pics – “Shall We Dance” and “Ray”. Excellent – and the Marionettes doing ‘Carmen” and Christmas songs – standard excellent. (Lots of shopping – everything so cheap in Trinidad.) Proceeds of Marionette Chorale ($80,000 TT) to rebuild the Convent in Grenville, Grenada.
Who said that painting was “the art of protecting flat surfaces from the weather and exposing them to critics?” My portrait of our 4 children, insured for $50,000 has been slightly damaged in one section by water. Can I claim for ¼ of the whole?!
Yesterday Darlington’s claim was settled - $223,000 estimated for damage and 196,000 agreed on by the adjuster – wonderful – if Sunnyside’s claim can be settled that easily well, what a relief it will be.
Wednesday, January 12th, 2005
On December 26th an earthquake 9.0 on the Richter scale hit near Indonesia. A tsunami ravaged the surrounding island including parts of India, Thailand. 150,000 people dead so far. Our hurricane was nothing compared to this. Relief coming in from all over the world but it will take a very long time for things to become normal again. Meantime, life goes on. Lucian and the boys returned to Holland yesterday and she was such a help especially with Darlington. She and Helen made me organize my files!
We went to Roof’s Edge 2 days before she left – Danny had 3 chickens – a cock and 2 hens on the floor in crocus bags – the cock managed to get his head through a hole and was crowing madly. They were eaten that night – why couldn’t he just buy frozen chicken at the supermarket?!
Thursday, January 13, 2005
The rain is unending – everyday overcast skies and flooding in some areas. It’s our dry season – Trinidad has lots of floods and collapsed roads – cars being warned not to travel through more than 2 feet of water!
Saturday, January 15th, 2005
50 visitors to the garden this morning from a cruise ship! Only 2 hours notice but it went well. Visitors are so interested in how we got through the hurricane. Went to see “Ai Ya Yai Ivan” with Joyce last night at the Trade Centre. Excellent show – good acting and music, very funny but sad at times – hurricane stories.
Wednesday, January 26th, 2005
Yesterday we got electricity back at Sunnyside. They hooked the line onto a royal palm tree near to the pole which is leaning and brought the lines straight to the verandah – pretty ugly but these are difficult times.
Wednesday, February 16th, 2005
Life is nearly back to normal. No telephone or cable TV yet though, no hot water either! Cruise ships are coming almost daily and Sunnyside Garden is getting maybe 2 tours weekly. I’m going to St. Lucia for a few days to relax and meet Claire and Gerry there. Michael, my nephew, suddenly appeared at the door a few days ago – he’s sailing with some friends.
My CEO, Cholmondeley, is here from Guyana and told us about the terrible floods they had a few weeks ago – some places still under many feet of water. Water causes diseases starting now.
Grenada is lucky!
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