Lynda L. Lock's Blog, page 22

Time to take a breath

Just breathe!
Put your feet up, breathe in, breathe out, and relax! 
The high season crowds are starting to thin out giving everyone on the island a much needed break. 
Most of the schools are back in session in Canada, USA and Mexico reducing the thick masses of families traveling to sunny locations for the annual spring vacation.
Dropping off friends at Ultramar boat
There were many afternoons this year when we avoided Centro between the peak hours of eleven in the morning to four in the afternoon, when the fleets of golf carts are at their busiest. 
Sunburnt day-trippers from the Cancun hotel-zone pour off the tour boats and are caught up in the swirl. Typically most first-time visitors rent a golf cart, tour the island, snap a hundred selfies, and get back on their assigned boat by late afternoon. It’s a good way to get an overview of the island, but there is so much more to discover than white sandy beaches and spectacular viewpoints.
Even though the many islanders employed in the hospitality industry love the increase in tips, by the time high season starts to wind down everyone is exhausted and longing for peace and quiet. 
The tempo will ramp again in late June when summer holidays bring North American and European families to the island to snorkel, dive and swim with the manta rays and the whale sharks.
Participants of procession
Last week, just as we were dropping friends off at the Ultramar passenger boats to begin their trek back to their summer home in Canada, we got caught up in the annual re-enactment of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. 
At least two or maybe three thousand worshippers were following the actor depicting Christ, who was dragging an enormously heavy cross. There were Roman Centurions, the Roman judges and officials, and a crowd of followers many who were dressed in period costumes. The event started in the morning and encompassed all three of the larger Catholic churches, ending around three in the afternoon at the large church in the square.
So hot many of the participants in procession used umbrellasIt’s a fascinating contract to see the participants of this solemn religious procession trekking six kilometers under the blazing sun and at the end intermingle with scantily-clad tourists. Just one of the many oddities of living in a tourist destination.
For a few weeks everyone can take a breath, spend time with their family and friends, and rest up for the summer onslaught.  April and May are our favourite months on Isla. The weather is usually hot, sunny, with little or no rain and the streets are somewhat quieter. It’s a perfect time to enjoy our island paradise.
The almost-famous Sparky

Hasta LuegoLynda, Lawrie and Sparky
~
Isla Mujeres Mystery Series
Books 1, 2 and 3 available in e-books, or paperback on Amazon.

Lynda L. Lock Isla Mujeres Mystery paperback

Lynda L. Lock Isla Mujeres Mystery e-books

Protect your noggin’

Four on a moto common sight on Isla
It’s always a huge surprise for new visitors to the island when they see multiple members of a family riding scooters or motorcycles – and frequently without helmets to protect their heads.
It’s pretty common to see mom or dad operating the moto with one child balanced in front of the driver, and the other parent tightly gripping one, or even two other children in their arms. 
We are so accustomed to the sight we hardly give it a second thought. 
However, not so with a group of caring individuals who decided to encourage a safer environment for the younger generation.
In June of 2014, long-time visitor Andrea Healey and her daughter Danielle Chesney brought much needed medical equipment to Giovanny Avalos for the Red Cross. When they delivered the supplies Andrea asked Giovanny what he saw as the greatest need for the islanders. He replied that it would be his dream to see all youngsters wearing helmets when riding on the family motorcycles.
After their vacation was over Andrea and Danielle returned home and gave Giovanni’s idea a lot of thought. They wanted to be culturally sensitive, and not be the bossy foreigners telling people how to live their lives. 
They started small asking people to purchase helmets at a local hardware store and leave them with at the front desk of Marina Paraiso Hotel. Managers, Brad and Tiff Waring, had generously volunteered to be the collection point for the helmets. The initial distribution was handled through the schools, with teachers helping to identify the students who urgently needed the safety gear.
The second phase of Helmets for Isla was to collect donations and order in bulk from a Mexican company. Their first order was for 50, then the second was 420 and recently another 400 were ordered. In total there has been close to 1350 helmets distributed through the schools, through Volunquest, and through the churches.
Every helmet that is handed out comes with a contract of responsibility signed by the parents. These contracts are all about safety, educating both the parents and children of the importance of a well fitted helmet while riding a moto. But frequently the children won’t use the helmets, because it’s just not ‘cool.’ It’s always a slow process to change the habits of a lifetime.
Islander, Jessica Contreras has recently mobilized a group of volunteers. These locals are not shy about approaching their neighbours asking why their child is not wearing a helmet and educating them about the program. 
Her brother’s company Prisma Golf Cart Rentals generously sponsored a huge banner to advertise the campaign.
Most recently Jessica has been into the high schools and those students are now very motivated to wear head protection since their friend Jorge died in a motorcycle accident on St Patrick's Day. He was not wearing a helmet.
Some of the students do not have helmets, some have helmets that are too small and they have removed the padding so they are large enough to fit on their heads, and some have helmets that are cracked, broken or damaged. Helmets for Isla now has a waiting list of two-hundred and fifty teenagers between the ages of 13 and 17 years old, all of whom have made a written request for a helmet.
As Andrea said, “Our ultimate goal is to have a safe and well-fitting helmet for every child on the island, but are short-term goal right now is to get enough helmets for all of the teenagers who have requested them. We feel if we can get the adolescents on-board then hopefully they will encourage their younger brothers and sisters to wear the helmets too.”

Helmets for Isla is a worthwhile cause. 
If you would like to help out, below are the links for more information.
Hasta LuegoLynda and Lawrie
www.helmetsforisla.com
www.facebook.com/helmetsforisla
www.paypal.me/helmetsforisla








~Isla Mujeres Mystery Book #3
Murder and mayhem on a tiny island in paradise. 


Available on Amazon as an E-book for $2.99 USDor paperback for $11.99 USD

On a deadline today! Book #3 Tormenta Isla

Paleta (popsicles) salesmen heading back after along dayHappy Friday everyone, from paradise.

I'm on a tight deadline to get Tormenta Isla Book #3 of the Isla Mujeres Mystery series up and running by tomorrow. 

Today's blog is a few of my fun photos of how people earn a living on an island in paradise.







Felipe and Santiago - fixing a leak in our a/c
Door to door tortilla salesman starting his day before sunrise Late afternoon - cleaning up the boat in preparation for morning
Beach cleaning crew














Making tortillas at the Chedraui grocery store





Fire fighters disposing of a nest of angry hornets
Hasta Luego, Lynda, Lawrie and Sparky  ~ Tormenta Isla - soon!

Knee Deep in Paradise!

Gonna put the world away for a minute
Pretend I don't live in it
Sunshine gonna wash my blues away
 










Wishin' I was
Knee deep in the water somewhere
Got the blue sky, breeze and it don't seem fair











The only worry in the world
Is the tide gonna reach my chair




Sunrise, there's a fire in the sky
Never been so happy
Never felt so high












And I think I might have found me my own kind of paradiseWrote a note, said "Be back in a minute"













Mind on a permanent vacation
The ocean is my only medication
Wishin' my condition ain't ever gonna go away








This champagne shore washing over meIt's a sweet sweet life living by the salty sea
One day you could be as lost as me
Change your geography






Come on in the water's nice
Find yourself a little slice


Grab a bag, pack it light
You never know until you try
When you lose yourself
You find the key to paradise

Hasta Luego
Lynda & Lawrie


(The lyrics are from the Zac Brown & Jimmy Buffet tune: Knee Deep in the Water Somewhere! One of our favourite 'island songs."


~
April 1st 2018 Book #3
Tormenta Isla 

Sparky’s first book signing & Maxie flys to Arizona

Sparky's first book signing.   Sparky was the cutest, and definitely the shortest celebrity at a recent Make a Difference fundraiser in support of the Ron Brown Scholarship Fund. 


On Tuesday this week a generous group of people gathered at Curtis and Ashley Blogins’ beautiful Villa la Bella B&B to raise money for the charity. Since its inception in 2010 the scholarship fund has helped seventeen island students to achieve degrees as veterinaries, dentists, graphic artists, engineers and many move occupations.
Richard Lock introducing some of the graduates of RBSFThis year Sparky and I received an invitation to participate with a book signing and a draw for the lucky person who will be ‘Killed Off’ in my Isla Mujeres Mystery Book #4. 

The lucky winner was Patti Packard. She will get a choice of being either a good person or a bad character in my next novel, due out late in 2018. (Book #3 Tormenta Isla is just a couple of weeks away from being published!)


Diego, Thomas and Lynda I was delighted to add a healthy donation to the fund on behalf of both myself and my friend Diego Medina. Diego is the talented illustrator of our bilingual book for children – The Adventures of Thomas the Cat / Las Aventuras de Tomas el Gato. We have been setting aside a portion of our book sales for the scholarship fund, and this was the perfect event to present the donation. According to Gwen Brown the fundraiser brought in a little over $8800.00 Canadian. All of the funds will be used for assisting students, nothing is spent on administrative costs.

Thank you everyone who made the event so successful. You can find out more about the Ron Brown Scholarship Fund at http://ronbrownscholarshipfund.org/Please be sure you click on this link for information about the Isla Mujeres Mexico scholarship program as it is easily confused with the similar sounding name that supports students in Africa.~The day after the fundraiser our other little pooch Max and I went on an odyssey to his new home in Arizona. As I mentioned in a previous blog, Lawrie has been diagnosed with a debilitating disease – PSP, Progressive Supranuclear Palsy. The left side of his body doesn’t get the messages from his brain as quickly as the right side does. PSP creates serious stability and mobility issues for him.


Max waiting for boat ride to CancunHaving two energetic dogs underfoot is too risky for Lawrie, and as much as we loved the fuzzy little guy Max had to find a new home. Fortunately for us our friend Janet Cummins sent our blog post to her friend Dianne in Arizona. Dianne Stocks who has had other rescue dogs, including her current beautiful girl Willow, agreed to adopt Max.Wednesday was a tough day for Max and I. He left his island in paradise for the first time ever. Even though I have been giving him an anti-anxiety medication for a few days in preparation for the trip, riding on the Ultramar passenger ferry frightened him. But, by the time we got him loaded into the CARM van and headed to the airport he had stopped trembling and seemed interested in his new adventure. A special thanks to Denise and Mike Burton who helped me get from the boat to the CARM van on the Puerto Juarez side of the trip. Mike, you looked so handsome carrying my purse!


Max - keeping an eye on our wheelchairAt the airport the porters and wheelchair assistants were a huge help to us, bustling us to the head of the immigration line, the check-in line, then outside for a doggy pee break before he had to be surrendered to the baggage handlers. I had to use the wheelchair service because of course two days before I was due to make the trip my sciatica decided to act up, making walking or standing extremely painful. (Perfect timing!)The American Airlines folks were delightfully kind and accommodating with Max and me. By the time we reached Phoenix he had adjusted to his international traveler status, and was doing just fine when I reclaimed him. My assistance wheeled us both out to meet Dianne and her friends, Laurie and Chris, who had come to pick him up. It was a very emotional meeting for me because I knew my time with Maxie was coming to an end, and Dianne because she was just beginning a new adventure with him. After tearful hugs and goodbyes I slipped away leaving Dianne to get to know her new guy better.  


Dianne and I at Phoenix airportMy return flight via American Airlines was just as easy and trouble free, only this time I was checking an empty dog travel case. That really confused everyone – porters and customs officers alike – wondering if I had an invisible dog. I had the same crew on the flight back to Cancun, and would like to mention Teri who took the time to make my return flight very pleasant and comfortable.Back on Isla at the Ultramar ferry dock I was faced with a not too long, but still painful walk from the boat to the car park. I turned to one of the baggage handlers that I recognized and asked, “Would you give me and this empty dog cage a lift to the parking lot?”He laughed and said, “Sure, hop on!”I finished my two day odyssey riding on a diablito, Isla-style. Willow and Maxie - worn out by excitementI’m very happy to be back to Lawrie and Sparky. Thank you so very much to all of our friends and family who looked after my guys while Max and I were traveling. It’s the caring people around us that makes our lives so rich. Our best wishes to Dianne, Willow and Maxie. We hope life is good to you as well.

Hasta LuegoLynda & Lawrie~
Book #3 Isla Mujeres MysteryTormenta Isla Soon!

Hectic time in paradise!

Sunrise from our upper deck - March 3rdIt's been a hectic week but Wednesday was probably the craziest day. Our house was busy with friends coming and going from early morning to late afternoon.

Eileen Regn, H.A.L.O (Helping Animals Living Overseas) stopped in to help with the paperwork for our second dog Max to travel to his new home in Phoenix. Maxie and I travel next Wednesday. It's a bittersweet goodbye to the little guy. He's a sweet boy, but two dogs are too much for Lawrie to have underfoot with his medical condition, PSP, Progressive Supranuclear Palsy. 


Ismael Yam installing our new doors in bedroom/bathroomOur friend, Neil Fox dropped by in the morning to try and sort out my Facebook account. A nasty virus came through on "Messenger" from one of those - please pass this important information along to all of your friends - group messages, that I never open nor do I pass along, yet my account still got the virus. 

Neil and I are still hopeful we can resuscitate my account with his top 10-hit list of how to kill a virus. In the meantime I can neither answer anything on messenger, nor comment on anyone posts. Please my email address instead: lock.lynda@gmail.com


Beautiful new barn-door for our bathroomAs Neil was working on curing my computer, Gerry Haas and Patty Magrini arrived with a batch of her home made pirogis - she thought we were looking skinny. Yummy treat!  

Thanks Patty! And thank you too Gerry for being her chauffeur.

Richard and Linda Grierson, Lawrie's sister and brother-in-law, popped over to see how things were progressing. 

Then a wonderful surprise in the form of Lyn McGrath appeared at our front gate. She was walking from Centro to her home in South Point and just thought she would stop in for a chat. What a delightful gift to spend some time with her. 

While our various friends were arriving, chatting, helping out, fattening us up and then leaving, two ladies were valiantly trying to clean up the construction dust and grit. The changes and renovations to our lower floor are 99% complete and we are mostly moved in and organized. 

It's odd, we have lived in this house for almost ten years, but now it feels like a whole new location. We have to re-think where to put things. Do we really need to keep that? When was the last time we used a particular item, a piece of clothing, or an odd-ball serving dish? Many, many things have found new homes this week.

Sparky and Max, insecure and hiding under computer deskOur two dogs are apprehensive about the changes. Why are you moving my bed? What did you do with my toys? 

Max has a new fur-ever home in Phoenix, and I am taking him there next week. He doesn't know of course, but his new roommate is a beautiful young lady by the name of Willow. She has to be one of the prettiest dogs I have ever seen. We are hoping it is love at first sight.

And finally, just as we waved a thankful goodbye to the cleaning ladies for leaving us with a fresh, dust-free home again our good friend and contractor Patricio Yam, and his son Sergio showed up with the new air conditioner for our bedroom.   
Waiting for Max to arrive.The house had been clean for at least five minutes, and now the chip, chip, chip starts again!  

For those of you that are not familiar with the construction of houses in Mexico almost everything is made from concrete. 

Any changes involve a lot of chipping, noise and dust. We all had a good laugh over a glass of wine about their timing.

That's what we love about living here, the caring and helpful family, friends and neighbours. 

Cheers Lynda & Lawrie



Lawrie - trying out our new bistro bar stools in the kitchen

~
Coming Soon Book #3

101 things to do on a beach

Locals enjoying the sunrise
What can you do when you are surrounded by the beautiful turquoise Caribbean Sea?Start your day with the sunrise, or in some cases you might just be headed to bed after being out all night dancing. The sunrises here are usually spectacular unless it happens to be one of those rare cloudy days, and even then the sun might give you a multi-coloured light-show as the glowing orb clears the horizon before disappearing into the clouds. Visitors enjoying the beach before the crowds arrive Go for a walk on the beach while enjoying your morning coffee, smoothie, or whatever other beverage you want to start your day with. While you are out enjoying the early morning calm you might see the beach cleaning crew raking the sand, sifting for discarded cigarette butts and bottle caps, picking up trash and removing potentially dangerous overhead coconuts. If you happen to have an extra bottle of water with you, pass it along. These folks start work at sunrise to make the beaches clean and tidy for the next round of sun-worshipers. Coconut removal crew Get your towel, sunscreen, sunglasses, a bit of money for food and drinks, and don’t forget your reading material. (May I recommend to enjoyable beach reads? My two novels, Treasure Islaand Trouble Isla – are entertaining mysteries set on this fabulous little island.) Head to the beach and claim your favourite spot.Order lunch from one of the many beach-side restaurants and bars. The wait-staff with happily deliver it to you. Don’t forget to tip, but please no foreign coins, including American or Canadian. Coins are only valuable in their country of origin.  Find your favourite spotFor instance: American coins are only good in the USA, and occasionally in Canada and then only at face value. Canadian coins are only good in Canada, Americans will not accept them. Euros are only good in Europe, Americans and Canadians don’t accept them. Okay, you get the idea. Using the currency of the country you are in is always the easiest solution.
Great place to people-watch People watch to your heart’s content. There are beaches for sunning and swimming, beaches where the fishermen repair their nets, clean and sell their daily catch, beaches for surf-casting, beaches to investigate the under-water inhabitants, and beaches where on windy days the enthusiasts for kitesurfing, bodysurfing and regular surfing play in the warm waves.
Windy day - surfs upThen wrap up your day with a long leisurely dinner at a beachside restaurant while watching the sun sink into the ocean. If you are lucky you will get another vibrant display, the kind that we refer to as a “Tony Garcia Sunset.” Captain Tony seems to have a natural instinct for when the light, clouds and atmospheric conditions are optimum for producing the best technicolour displays. Peaceful beauty 
Okay, so not exactly 101 ideas, but we’ll leave you to come up with your own plans as you enjoy the white sand, the turquoise ocean, and the clear blue sky.Hasta Luego
Lynda & Lawrie
A note to our readers, Facebook friends and email contacts. It looks like my Facebook account Lynda L. Lock has been hacked. I am working on getting it sorted out, but in the meantime if you are getting inappropriate messages or reading offensive posts from my page – it’s not me!
Isla Mujeres Mystery #3 Coming Soon! 

Sometimes life throws you a curve-ball

Max - September 2017
About nine months ago we adopted an adorable black and white part-terrier part-whatever dog, because he looked like a cousin to our almost-famous Sparky, plus the new guy desperately needed a home.He was known in his neighbourhood as Max, although I think he should be called Hoover because the dog enjoys his food. He had been living rough for five years, sleeping in the street until someone accidentally ran over him in January of 2017.
Max - Janaury 2017Dr. Delfino Guevara and his dedicated crew at Clinica Veterinaria de Isla Mujeres patched him up, and Eileen Regn of H.A.L.O. (Helping Animals Living Overseas) found him a caring, but temporary foster home on the island with fellow Canadian Sylvie Staines. Then when Sylvie returned to Canada in May, Eileen began actively looking for a new fur-ever home for Max. We said sure, we’ll take him.He’s a very affectionate little guy. He worships Lawrie as the first man who ever treated him kindly, and Lawrie loves him. Lawrie and the boys! Sparky and MaxBut in January of this year my sweetie, Lawrie, was diagnosed with a debilitating disease – PSP, Progressive Supranuclear Palsy. The left side of his body doesn’t get the messages from his brain as quickly as the right side does. PSP creates serious stability and mobility issues for him.Max likes to run and greet Lawrie with his paws on his knees, or to spin in happy circles. It’s just too risky for Lawrie having so much activity while he is trying to move around in the house.  From existing on the street for five years to living inside a house Max has progressed well in nine months that he has been with us. The funny thing about street dogs is that besides not knowing how to behave inside a house they don’t know how to play. We have taught Maxie to play fetch with a tennis ball, and he enjoys it. He swims in the oceans, runs up and down the beach and fetches anything he can including discarded plastic bottles and other bits of ocean junk. Max - learning to swim
He is housebroken, which he wasn’t, but he will have to adjust to your schedule. We are early risers and the boys zip out for a quick pee before we have our morning coffee, then we do a longer walk before breakfast, later a short afternoon respite for them and writing break for me, and finally a quick pee before bed. Once he settles into the new routine you will find that he is quite capable of ‘holding it’ for quite a few hours. He just needs to know what to expect from his new family. If you have a fenced yard, well, that would be doggy heaven for him!
Sparky and Max in our carito de golfMaxie is still a little timid with new people until he gets to know them better. Having said that, we have recently had eight men working in our casa on Isla Mujeres for two week, creating a main floor bedroom and bathroom for us to accommodate Lawrie’s reduced mobility. Max has been totally calm and accepting of the guys coming and going all during the day.
The first time I tried to put a harness on Max he was very nervous, but now he knows that it means he is going out for a walk or a ride and he is happy to cooperate. He walks very well with a leash and harness, better than Sparky who likes to pull me where he thinks we should go. The biggest difference that we notice between the two male dogs is Sparky will add his ‘mark’ at least thirty or forty times on a pee-walk, while Max usually has a huge pee and just gets it done! The look of pure relief on his face is comical.  Max on left - Sparky on right. Max had to figure out how to climb or descend stairs, which were a big mystery to him. Learning to get into a golf carts or a car was another new experience, and going for a ride has become one of his favourite activities. He will play fetch for hours with a tennis ball. I say “Ready?” Then toss the ball and he will bring it back. “Drop the ball.” I pat him, and he’ll do it again, and again. When he’s had enough running he will keep the ball and carry it back to the golf cart.  Sparky and Max not sure about the renovations to their houseHe enjoys his big comfy bed and his toys, which would go with him. He still carries his very first toy that Sylvie gave him a year ago. The blue and grey elephant is dog-eared and dirty, repeated washings are unable to remove his loving slobber. It’s his favourite. I have to check his mouth before we go out for a walk otherwise the elephant might be dropped and forgotten when an interesting bird or crab claims his attention.
Lawrie with Max greeting him at ferry
As for kitties, we had a black feral cat E.B, who tried to move in about the same time that we adopted Max, but she decided that the rules were not to her liking and moved on. In the meantime she frequently clawed Maxie in his delicate the nose as she was passing by, so he has a healthy respect for cats, especially black cats. He hasn’t been a barker, but he likes to play-growl when excited. 
He needs someone who is kind and patient, and he will return your love a hundred-fold. Giving him up is a heart wrenching, but unavoidable decision for us.
Max is one of the characters in my next novel, Book #3 Tormenta Isla, as a dog rescued after the hurricane that hits the island. So, he'll be a semi-famous pooch that someone can brag about to their friends. ​I will include a couple of complimentary paperback copies of 'his' novel for his new family.
Max gets a cameo appearance in #3We have asked our friends at Isla Animals and H.A.L.O. to help us find him a new home as soon as possible, as Lawrie’s condition is changing daily. Both of the animal rescue societies have the experience to get him to you, with the proper health certificates, anywhere in Canada or the USA. He has to be out of Mexico before the airline heat-embargo deadline in late April or early May. After that, pets aren’t allowed in the cargo hold until later in the fall.
We would really prefer it if Max could be re-homed off the island as we don’t want him trying to find his way back to our house, but that condition is very negotiable. 
We’ll do anything to find Max a happy place to love and be loved.
If you are looking for a devoted pet, who yearns to be your very best friend – let’s talk, as soon as possible.
Life tossed us a curve-ball, and we have to whack it back.​Hasta LuegoLynda & Lawrie  ~Are you missing your little piece of paradise?
Get your Isla 'fix' with the exciting Isla Mujeres Mystery series!
There's Trouble on Isla, Big Trouble!
  
Book #2 in the Isla Mujeres Mystery Series5.0 out of 5 starsFast and furiousBy CA reviews on September 26, 2017
Yasmin and Jessica are back and the gold they found in Treasure Isla is still haunting them, especially when Carlos, their boss at the Loco Lobo, and Yasmin’s new lover, is kidnapped. No spoilers here, but his captivity and the girls’ efforts to free him, with the help of Carlos’s pals—including local Isla Mujeres fishermen and a Mexico City cop—are the crux of this fast-paced story. Lock has created not only a compelling and authentic setting, but a well-developed ensemble cast. The next Isla mystery can’t come fast enough.
Available on Amazon e-books $2.99 USD
or Paperback $11.99 USD

Paperback are also available on Isla Mujeres at the Jenny Penny Boutique, Art Fair on Thursday evenings, or from the author. 

E-books  available on Amazon, iTunes, Barnes & Noble, Kobo and Smashwords


 Treasure Isla - where it all began!5.0 out of 5 starsCaptivating and authenticBy CA reviews on September 26, 2017

This was a truly fun in the sun kind of mystery, with an authenticity that was simply captivating. Set on the island called Isla Mujeres, not far from the better-known Mexican resort of Cancun, it follows the misadventures of two girlfriends, who on a drunken binge manage to wander onto the grounds of a cemetery and find a treasure map stuck in a crevice of an old pirate tomb. Jessica, from Canada, and local pal Yasmin both work at a tourist bar/restaurant called the Loco Lobo. Soon their boss Carlos and a handsome attorney named Luis are involved in the girls’ illegal hunt for pirate gold. Toss in a bad dude running from a string of crimes in Key West, and it’s the start of an addictive new mystery series.
Available on Amazon e-books $2.99 USDor Paperback $11.99 USD

Paperback are also available on Isla Mujeres at the Jenny Penny Boutique, Art Fair on Thursday evenings, or from the author. 
E-books available on Amazon, iTunes, Barnes & Noble, Kobo and Smashwords

It’s our favourite time of year, Carnaval!

The senior Isla women's group.  
There’s loud music, and outrageously flamboyant costumes, and laughter for five days.At four in the afternoon on Sunday, the dance groups were scheduled to assemble on the old airport runway across from the Navy base in preparation for the first parade. Of course this being Mexico where everything starts at least two hours later than planned, there were only two groups who were on time – one being a collection of my friends who decided to debut as dancers this year. Las Brujas de Isla MujeresTheir ages ranged from mid-thirties to mid-seventies, and they were all born someplace other than Mexico. Las Brujas de Isla Mujeres the Witches of Isla Mujeres are all gringas, foreigners. How did this come about?According to Garnette Hardesty, Betsy Snider started it off by posting a video in September to her Facebook page. (Most of you will know of islanders Betsy Snider and her husband Tony Garcia because of their fabulous photos of life in Mexico.) The video Betsy posted was an amusing rendition of the Wolfshager Hexenbrut Witches Dance. She hinted to Bev Willard and Garnette that it might be a fun idea for this year’s Carnaval parade. Our friend MelodieBev suggested that maybe Garnette could create a Facebook page to see if anyone else was interested in participating, so she did. Garnette and a few friends sent out invites to others asking them to join the Facebook group. Bev, who was visiting family in the US prior to Halloween, offered to bring back costume supplies for anyone who was interested. Those two actions really got the ball rolling.Starting January 6th, the eclectic collection of women began to practice the dance steps, sometimes at the Parque Gaviota in Colonia Salina Chica, or on the Malecon behind the Cultural Center, and sometimes at the home of one of the other members. Garnette - the green-faced brujaAt first they shuffled and stumbled over the unfamiliar routines and then they started to enjoy the dancing. They worked the choreography at twenty different daytime and evening rehearsals, so often they all knew the words to the song by heart. Without costumes. With brooms. And then with complete costumes and brooms. On parade day, Sunday February 11th there were twenty-seven witches set to scare the living daylights out of the crowd. They strutted and danced their way along Rueda Medina, from the airport north to Jax Bar & Grill. The audience loved them. Afterwards, the fun and laughter was evident in their many back-and-forth messages reliving the experience. More witches - Sue Lo in centreFor the second parade on Monday February 12th, the dance troupe was a little smaller. Several dancers had conflicting obligations helping out at the opening night of the annual Island Time Music Festival. But the ones that performed for the second parade had as much fun as the first time, despite tired feet, sore knees and aching bodies.The parade dancers included: Barbara Beck, Margaret Chiffriller, Melodie Deschamps, Esther Ellis, Charlotte Enroth, Kitty Goldberg, Jo Hall, Garnette Hardesty, Jan Johnson, Karon Kailles, Christina Keiffer, Anna Krallis, Ruth Lacey, Brenda Lamonica, Jeanette Lawrence, Lindell Lehrer, Tammi Lewis, Arla Licata, Sue Lo, Karen Mickool, Trina Noakes, Pattie Packard, Christina Rich, Layla Sanders, Ann Shannon, Cindy Tucker, and Cyndi Yates.
Colour and music!And a final note, a special thank you note from Garnette:
There are so many people to thank, and so many behind the scenes collaborators who helped get this off the ground, to make it all happen. The Municipality of Isla Mujeres, Dr. Antonio Coronado Rojas Secretario General, Carlos Ruben Perez Martin Centro Cultural Isla Mujeres, Betsy Snider, Beverly Willard, and Steve Broin the owner of Casa Sirena.
Glenn D, Lee K, Ann, Melodie D, Steve B, Roger H, Jerry E, Peter C, Gail-M S, Margaret C, Gail M and Ashley B for their assistance with planning, music, electronics, technical support, make up, costumes, music, drivers, equipment, water suppliers, plus the after party planning and hosting.
The boys!
Most of all I want to thank the dancers for their determination and dedication. ~What a great idea! And a great bunch of women. We hope you are game to do it again in 2019.Top of Form
Hasta LuegoLynda & Lawrie




Beautiful costumes


~Coming soon Isla Mujeres Mystery #3 Tormenta Isla

February on Isla Mujeres is jammed with fun, dancing, music, and food.

February is the shortest and the busiest month on Isla, plus we are currently undergoing major renovations in our little casa on the beach - so this week's blog is all about the visuals because my overworked brain just can't string the words together.
Willy and Deb at Captain Dulche's - F. Teny photoFebruary 2018 started off with the spectacular wedding of two beautiful friends, Deb Crinigan and Willy Chacon.
Lynda and Lawrie in the churchWe, being good little Canadians, got to the church early. Fifteen minutes later the pews were filled 

More people still arriving - the bride is waiting!~Then the next day was Superbowl Sunday with the underdogs winning the championship.


Philadelphia13-3-0, 1st NFC East91371241Final
New England13-3-0, 1st AFC East3914733 ~
A couple of days to catch our breath and it’s Carnaval 2018 starting Friday February 9th.





                                                        ~And by the time the exhausted islanders catch their collective breath again we are into the annual Island Time Music Festival with a lot of amazing musical events taking place all over the island. 


CheersLynda and Lawrie

Are you missing your little piece of paradise?
Get your Isla 'fix' with the exciting Isla Mujeres Mystery series!
There's Trouble on Isla, Big Trouble!
  
Book #2 in the Isla Mujeres Mystery Series5.0 out of 5 starsFast and furiousBy CA reviews on September 26, 2017
Yasmin and Jessica are back and the gold they found in Treasure Isla is still haunting them, especially when Carlos, their boss at the Loco Lobo, and Yasmin’s new lover, is kidnapped. No spoilers here, but his captivity and the girls’ efforts to free him, with the help of Carlos’s pals—including local Isla Mujeres fishermen and a Mexico City cop—are the crux of this fast-paced story. Lock has created not only a compelling and authentic setting, but a well-developed ensemble cast. The next Isla mystery can’t come fast enough.
Available on Amazon e-books $2.99 USD
or Paperback $11.99 USD

Paperback are also available on Isla Mujeres at the Jenny Penny Boutique, Art Fair on Thursday evenings, or from the author. 

E-books  available on Amazon, iTunes, Barnes & Noble, Kobo and Smashwords


 Treasure Isla - where it all began!5.0 out of 5 starsCaptivating and authenticBy CA reviews on September 26, 2017

This was a truly fun in the sun kind of mystery, with an authenticity that was simply captivating. Set on the island called Isla Mujeres, not far from the better-known Mexican resort of Cancun, it follows the misadventures of two girlfriends, who on a drunken binge manage to wander onto the grounds of a cemetery and find a treasure map stuck in a crevice of an old pirate tomb. Jessica, from Canada, and local pal Yasmin both work at a tourist bar/restaurant called the Loco Lobo. Soon their boss Carlos and a handsome attorney named Luis are involved in the girls’ illegal hunt for pirate gold. Toss in a bad dude running from a string of crimes in Key West, and it’s the start of an addictive new mystery series.
Available on Amazon e-books $2.99 USDor Paperback $11.99 USD

Paperback are also available on Isla Mujeres at the Jenny Penny Boutique, Art Fair on Thursday evenings, or from the author. 
E-books available on Amazon, iTunes, Barnes & Noble, Kobo and Smashwords