In my mid twenties wondering what on earth I was going to do next I accepted a job as nanny to an English family living in Antigua. It wasn't good money, but I thought - Hey ! it's Antigua !

I was a bit lonely for a while but eventually settled in & discovered a whole new world which included yachtties ! I got invited out on sail boats - the likes of which I'd never seen before and included in an exciting social life.

My little charges & I would go beach combing and collected wonderful sea urchins. So pretty & delicate.

I met my husband to be in Antigua which you can imagine was very romantic. He was skipper on a charter yacht.

We left Antigua a year later but returned ten years later for a six month stint with our young children. I wasn't in " a good place " in those days and I struggled with being there again. Still the kids have some happy memories.

Twenty years after we left ( cripes ) my husband was asked to skipper a yacht for the ARC race - the Canaries to St Lucia. The boat wintered in Antigua & we were invited to stay on her over Christmas. It was magical - a holiday of a life time. The teens had a fantastic time.

We sailed to a tiny island off the coast & stayed there a few days full of swimming, bonfires on the beach & beach combing. Simply wonderful.

These beautiful sea urchins come from there. A magical day in a magical place.