Following the departure of our guests in February and March, we had some down time which we used very effectively doing some refurbishing. Work on the pool, plumbing upgrades, a lot of woodworking, and a really great new ceiling in the conference room and library suite.

The end of May brought us enough rain but also helped to bring all the flowers back in bloom. With Beanie working on the beach things look quite lovely. We were eagerly anticipating June and the arrival of a group of 38 students from the New york area. A 10 day trip, arranged by Eric Wills, Director of the Jamaica Field Service Project and accredited by the State University of New York has an emphasis on Jamaican tradition. Students spend the mornings volunteering in School and Health Care Facilities and evenings working on their drumming. Students are mostly in the fields of music ed., music therapy or literacy education. We applaud their efforts and appreciate their choosing Lost Beach for their venue.

We have several more smaller groups coming in this summere and are already looking forward to a great Season again this Winter. Hope to see all our friends and family again this year.

It occurred to us that our Lost Beach friends might be interested in our current plan to truly embrace our ‘golden years’. We are almost really finally retired now and we have decided to free ourselves from all unnecessary responsibilities as much as possible. So we’ve decided to pursue our original dream from decades ago to build ourselves a little home with a garden at the bottom of the Lost Beach property (down by the old barge) - time to fish and grow things like old people do ;>) Since our kids are grown and busy making their own dreams come true now, we’ve also decided to sell the hotel (500 ft. of our beachfront, approximately 2 acres of land all together, from the front gate to the last gate just past Sarge’s but not including the beach cabins or beyond). We have already listed the property for sale with a Jamaican Realtor for US$1,450,000 and will soon list it in the States as well. We thought that maybe some of you might want to escape your daily grind and flee to our little piece of Jamaican paradise to take on the job of hotelier – challenging yes, often fun, always interesting! Rest assured that Lost Beach Resort is open and will remain so … as long as Jennifer is willing to run tings that is ;>) We are now offering a great all-inclusive deal, The Real Deal, at Lost Beach - $79 per person per night for beachfront accommodations and three (great) meals a day plus local beverages (like Ting, Red Stripe, Rum, etc.) All of the Lost Beach crew is looking forward to the new season and we all hope to see many of you again this year at Lost Beach.

Take care, and stay warm!

Steve and Beth Welch

http://jamaicanresortforsale.com/

3 weeks ago on a rainy Sunday I was in my kitchen, making dinner.  I heard someone shouting me and knew immediately it was bad news or they wouldn’t be out in the rain.  I went to the front veranda and it was Rowan Kinglock, informing me that the Sea had washed away the Lost Beach Boat.  He assurred me that with 8 men they could re-cover it and bring it back to shore.  I left Sebert home watching the dinner and trudged off to Lost Beach.  Phoning Mr. Welch as I went, we agreed that we had to save the boat at whatever cost.  Reaching the hotel, the rain was torrential.  I started down the beach, stumbled - dropped my cell phone in the water and broke my glasses.  Now I’m blind trying to navigate the beach and water.

Reaching the old barge, sure enough, there was our boat, rocking up against the rocks while the 8 men tried to manhandle it back to shore.  They did!  We pulled it way back into the bush, and “fishroe”, the man who first raised the alarm agreed to keep an eye on it.  I broke out a bottle of rum to warm up the fellows who had rescued us, and went home.  Thankfully to a hot dinner.

Went to bed early, as it was really raining hard and dark.  Woke up at 6am as usual to let the dogs out and had the surprise of my life.  My front yard was knee deep in Sea water, and my back yard had water up to my mid thigh, hovering at the very edge of the veranda.  We were totally surrounded in a Sea of water.  Ducky and Tipper were horrified….where they going to pee???

Mid morning we decided to walk out and found our entire neighborhood under water.  Miraculously, Lost Beach was not under water, although it was blowing in and pooling in some areas.  Security was there and no other real damage, just tree limbs down, so we struggled back home.  Sebert had on water boots up to his knees, but I was wearing flip flops which tended to get stuck in the muck underneath the water.  It was sslow going.  We decided to stop at the shop, as we hadn’t prepared for this storm, hadn’t even heard of it.  It didn’t even have a name yet!  Later, we knew it as Nicole.  Well, the shops were sold out…. no-one could drive through the water, so we were stranded.  We bought a tin of mackerell and a tin of sardine but I knew I wouldn’t eat that.  Lucky I had tinned tomato products and pasta, so it was spaghetti.  We had lots of company, everyone wanting to see what the weather had done to us.    It turned out to be a time of real camaradery, neighbor helping neighbor.  Our nearest neighbor, John Wayne had a new river bed cut through his property, about 6 feet deep and 3 feet wide.  That was amazing.  Just yesterday he had 10 loads of marl trucked in to fill it back in again.

I won’t bore you with the clean up details, suffice to say that it’s being done and as usual in Jamaica nature is already repairing the damage.  The cottonwood tree in front of the hotel lost all it’s leaves and this morning we marvelled that it is fully recovered, having budded and turned out all new leaves already.  In my yard all the flowering plants are still in bloom, the hibiscus didn’t miss a beat, flowering throughout the storm episode.  Only my night blooming jasmine lots its flowers and blossoms.

Amazing isn’t it that a storm could hit us with such force, and not have been visible enough to even be named!

It is true that the last month has been one of violence, gunfire, killings and much publicity as police attempt to locate  and capture “Dudas” alleged drug-pin, gun runner and international fugitive.  Over the month there have been roughly 50 deaths attributed to this sordid episode in Jamaica’s history.  It all came to an end when Dudas was captured in a road block as he was returning to Kingston, allegedly to turn himself in to the US Embassy.  Dudas faces extradition to the US on multiple charges related to drugs and guns.  The Minister accompanying him stated that Dudas preferred to turn himself in directly to the US Embassy as he felt he would be safer then in a Jamaican jail.  However, in the US he faces almost certain life in prison for his alleged crimes.

Unfortunate as all of this has been, it is not a situation that affects the daily lives of most jamaicans and currently not the tourists.

Lost Beach continues to provide the same level of service as usual to our guests.  We currently have a honeymoon couple here from the states and a returning guest for a month in one of the Beach Cabins.  If guests are uncertain of travelling plans based on this situation please be assurred that you will be safe at Lost Beach!

We’ve had all inclusive guests here for the last month, so we’ve been working hard on our menus. We’ve finally finished a 2 week rotating menu that will allow us to advertise some of our specials and put out flyers in Negril. Last night was French onion soup, a filet of beef appetizer on toast points, either Lobster or Escoveitch Fish and Key Lime Pie or Brownies with Ice Cream.

Fishing has been fantastic. The freezer is full of Tuna, Mackerall and King Fish, but lobster Season is over now, giving them time to procreate.

We’re approaching hurricane season, but haven’t heard any dire predictions for this year.

Hope to hear from or see some of our old friends!

Jennifer

News from former guests include: sadly that Marcie and Peter’s son DJ died of cancer this past year. They were here in Febuary and we planted a tree in his memory. It was a great visit, but sad moments remembering DJ’s visit’s here.

My Mom is here right now for 2 weeks. Can’t tell you how wonderful that is.This is her 2nd visit to Lost Beach and I know she’s enjoying every minute. Walks on the beach, lots of family memories, and of course the good food. She’s 80 now, but beautiful, energetic and such fun to visit with. The staff and neighbors love her. I’m hoping next year will be a month.

Graham and Barbara have finished building their house, so are no longer guests, but neighbors.

The Wissel’s are well established now also as neighbors and have been here 3 times this last year.

Sadly, Kevin has left Jamaica, so no more nature walks to visit his snake sanctuary. We wish him well in his decision to return to the States to care for his Father.

We will not close this summer as we’ve done for the pst 2 years, but will take reservations for groups of 8 or more. With the $69 per person special that we ran this Season for an All Inclusi e plan we’ve generated new business and friends and hope that will contine over the Summer months.

I’d love to hear from some of you who haven’t visited in awhile. My e-mail is listed on the website, but is www.broughtonbeach@yahoo.com.

Blessings, and Jah Guide.

Jennifer

We’re hard at work now getting ready for an opening date of November 1st.  Lots of painting, staining, carpentry work and CLEANING.  If you’ e never lived in the tropics you just don’t realize the issues with salt air, sand and breeze on equipment and buildings.  Good news though is that we are ready and eager for old and new friends to start visiting.

An exciting program for me is upcoming.  We are planning to host a dog show at Lost Beach in late november.  It will be televised and the competition will include security, dog obedience and show dogs.  I’m planning on Tipper (the chihuahua)  to be in costume.  Surely he’ll win the prize for smallest dog.  Should be alot of fun!

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Jennifer

Sad news from one of our regular guests, Marcie and Peter, who lost their beloved son DJ to cancer last week. Marcie told us that in his last days they were looking at the pictures from their visits to Lost BEach, and DJ was sharing with the staff his fond memories of Lost Beach. Love and prayers to this family from everyone here at LB.

Summer has been unreasonably hot for the last month. Some of us feel this is an indicator of a bad hurricane season. Hope we’re wrong….

Hoping to hear from some of you regarding reservations.

Ducky reports that he has a new frind in our yard…. “Teddy bear” a little Shi tzu…. Gotta get some pictures on-line!

Irie vibes from Jennifer and all the crew here.