Colin Tennant was going to throw a series of parties, starting in St. Lucia and ending on Mustique. It sounds awful to say he was celebrating the death of his father but it kind of felt that way! Colin had inherited a Peerage title as well as a Baronetcy, he was now the 3rd Lord Glenconner. He had also inherited the family estate in Scotland and a lot of money, all just in time for his 60th birthday.
Colin had a house and small business on a piece of land near Soufriere in St. Lucia. It was situated between the famous Pitons where the Jalousy resort now stands, and at that point, disillusioned by Mustique, he spent most of his time there. Colin even had a pet elephant in St. Lucia, which he expected the ship he had chartered for the week to take on board as he wanted the elephant at his birthday party on Mustique! Much to Colin’s displeasure the Captain of the Wind Star flatly refused to allow the elephant to travel on his ship and they sailed from St. Lucia without her.
It was the Wind Star’s maiden voyage to the Grenadines, and they were experiencing a few teething problems. The ship was fully computerized, and the sails were raised, lowered and unfurled with the push of a button. The only problem was the button, when it was pushed on the bridge the sails refused to unfurl, and a work crew was flying from Island to Island, working each night to rectify the computer glitch. This was a big deal, Colin wanted the Wind Star to sail back in forth in front of his Mustique villa for the duration of the party, and the workmen were in a tizzy to make sure the sails would co-operate. It was costing Colin a huge amount of money to charter what was then the largest sailing ship in the world, and if he wanted the vessel lit up and under sail throughout the night that is what they needed to deliver.
The Wind Star arrived in Admiralty Bay the night before the Bequia Birthday party, which would be a day-time affair. Mac and I had friends visiting from Canada, and had planned to go to De Reef for lunch. We knew that Colin Tennant was having a beach party, what we DIDN’T know was that he had rented De Reef restaurant for the day. Our friends Kari and Francie and their daughter Kaija were disappointed, they had been looking forward to lunch at De Reef but that wasn’t going to be happening. The party was well under way, and the Bequia folks who had been invited to attend the luncheon were already eating. The Wind Star had set up a big buffet down the middle of the Reef’s dance floor and the food looked and smelled delicious.
Well, the three children were hungry and there was a lot of food on that table that would go to waste. I admit it, I grabbed a plate and quickly filled it with food, there were so many people there no-one would know I wasn’t an invited guest. I took the plate to my friends on the beach and gave it to the three girls, who wolfed it down gratefully. They weren’t tidy, and there was barbecue sauce smeared all over them when a shadow suddenly fell over us. Ah shit, it was Colin! He graciously introduced himself and asked if we were enjoying his little party. Well, we obviously were, but I was not about to introduce myself and be even further embarrassed. He was nice about it and chatted pleasantly with my friends, but as he turned to leave he said, “Judy Simmons, isn’t it?” I was expecting you at tomorrow night’s party on Mustique.”
Busted! Colin may have come across as scatterbrained but he was certainly not stupid. My face burned red with mortification as he made his way back towards his INVITED guests while my sauce-covered friends on the sand giggled helplessly.
Funny coincidence. When I was on Mustique with a peace corps volunteer we couldn’t afford to eat in the Cotton Club, haha! so we went to Basil’s Beach Bar but he was closed for a private function. There was no where else to go so we crashed the party and helped ourselves just like you. Luckily it was a very mixed crowd and we never got Colin’s tap on the shoulder. Perhaps they thought the two bearded scruffy looking guys were rock star guests of Mick Jagger !