Sunday night, after we were celebrating missing Tammy, Anguilla was hit by a massive lightning/thunderstorm that went on for hours.

At about 2 am, the power station was struck by lightning, knocking out the main generator for the power plant. The island lost electricity, internet, and water. We must have received several inches of rain, which was good for me.

I was now plunged into my grandmother’s definition of “adventure”: when things did not go as planned, she reframed the problem by calling it an adventure. My first adventure when dawn came was to get water. On Saturday, I’d bought some plastic storage boxes, I used those, 2 buckets, and a large stew pot to obtain water from the cistern overflow pipe: it was like a small waterfall. I picked my way through the jungle-like side yard to get to the “waterfall” and fill my containers which I carried one at a time up 2 flights of stairs to my cottage; except for the plastic boxes, which were too heavy to carry far, so I left those on the lower stoop.

Fortunately, the stove is gas, so with a box of wooden matches, I was able to light the burners. I poured water into 2 tea kettles from the big stew pot and boiled it. I used the water in the buckets and boxes for the toilet. It rained enough that I was able to refill the buckets from the “waterfall”. Getting the water was exhausting, so I spent most of the day resting. Side note on the matches: I discovered the box has to be kept in a plastic bag as the humidity prevents the matches from striking.

That was Monday. But the sunset was gorgeous.

Tuesday began with a gorgeous sunrise.

Tuesday was similar to Monday except that stores had generators, so I went out to find food and more bottled water. This was an adventure in itself as I do not know my way around, but I did get excellent directions and found the food store. However, I missed one turn going home and ended up in a little village on the coast where I was finally able to turn around and get home. The sea was so calm.

Wednesday morning at 3:30 am, I heard a noise and discovered my fan was blowing again. ELECTRICITY! WIFI! But still no water. The storm evidently knocked out the water pump. So that started my next adventure.

I knew the business that sold the water pumps was in The Valley, but I couldn’t find it. I did accidently end up at a grocery store I’d wanted to go to anyway, so that was fine. The first person I saw was a British woman I’d seen the only other time I’d been in that store. We arrived at the same time. So I asked her directions to the pump store. When I’d finished my food shopping, I set out to find the store. I got back to The Valley and drove around and around, but I couldn’t find the store. Finally, I stopped in front of the post office and asked a police officer for more directions. I was only a few blocks away, so I drove off with confidence. Still couldn’t find it. Went around the block again and finally parked in the lot of an office building. I saw two women across the street and went and asked them where the store was. They laughed and said you are parked in their lot! I was shocked. It looked like an office complex and there was no sign. But sure enough, that’s where water pumps are sold, along with appliances. It had “only” taken me an hour to find the place. Anguilla is a very small island, so…

After some back and forth with the customer service woman, Swat (my repair man), and my son via the phone, I decided on a pump to buy. Then the bad news: they do not accept credit, only money transfers, checks from a local bank, or cash. The customer service woman asked why we didn’t have a bank account. My son said, “She hasn’t even been there a week and first there was the hurricane and then power was lost for two days, so it wasn’t top of mind to get a bank account.” Then she said, “What about an ATM? There’s one at the bank just down the street.” Now, this pump was quite expensive. I really didn’t think the ATM would give me that much money, but I decided I had no choice but to try as I really wanted to have running water again.

Swat and I walked to the bank. I put the amount in the ATM. And it delivered it to me!! Total happy shock! We returned to the store where I handed the woman many, many $50 bills. She gave Swat the pump. And we left. I went back to the cottage without any problems. Swat went to his home to eat and get his tools.

About an hour later, Swat arrived to install the pump. The old pump was in really bad shape, so it did need to be replaced. It turned out to be a tricky install. It would seem to be working, but there wasn’t enough pressure to get water up two stories, so Swat had to work at it for quite some time. But finally: RUNNING WATER!!! Life is SO much easier with running water. I think it’s even more important than electricity, although, in my case, I couldn’t have one without the other. Finally, after three days, I was able to take a shower! Luxury!

This morning, the sea looked like a frozen lake! So mysterious and lovely.

Throughout all of these adventures, the beauty of Anguilla was a soothing balm. And now I can begin posting photos on Instagram and Facebook again. Check the Connect page for the links.