The venue for this year's Laughing Horse Awards Ceremony can now be revealed. It is Little St James Island in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Bloggers and blog supporters will fly into Cyril E. King Airport on the main island of St Thomas on New Year's Eve before being ferried to Little St James.
All accommodation, food and drink will be supplied free of charge courtesy of our generous sponsors.
Once a luxury private retreat for a wealthy New York-based financier, the island has effectively been in mothballs for almost ten years. I understand that the fellow in question ran into serious legal troubles and ended up in an American jail. Rumour has it that he later committed suicide.
The Laughing Horse Awards Committee were able to rent the entire island for an attractive knockdown price. It seems that the property hire company, Paradise Resorts, have struggled to find tenants which is rather surprising as Little St James is blessed with beautiful white beaches and clear seas. Furthermore, the New York financier had spared no expense in upgrading the main house, the swimming pool, the boat wharf and subsidiary accommodation.
Just perfect for our purposes. Why - our visit will even be facilitated by a team of local hospitality workers who once worked for the old owner of the island. Mysteriously, team supervisor Rhymer Todman who has known Little St James all his life said, "We were all sworn to secrecy. Bossman said that what happened on the island had to stay there and man I saw some things!"
Guests are sure to have a memorable New Year's break as well as witnessing the awards ceremony itself. It really does not seem like a year since Isle of Man globetrotter JayCee Manx waltzed off with the coveted "Blogger of the Year" award for 2024.
Oh my. I might have to sit this one out! Bad karma on that island! :)
ReplyDeleteWhat on earth do you mean? Have you been drinking martinis?
DeleteIt looks beautiful, but I'm not sure I can make it. If I do you will easily recognise the dumpling-on-legs by my floppy blue sunhat and black sunglasses.
ReplyDeleteYou will be there Elsie. You have no choice in the matter.
DeleteSteve is right! Bad juju there, YP.
ReplyDeleteAre you pulling my leg Mrs O'Hara?
DeleteUS did you say? I must make my apologies for my absence.
ReplyDeleteAnd I must apologise for your forced transport. Nude swimming is not my cup of tea.
DeleteHmm ... well I could attend, provided you reserve the Presidential Suite for me.
ReplyDeleteWhat? The President of the Air Miles organisation?
DeleteO.K. and I will be thinking of the celebrating crowd when we'll be clinking glasses of Moet Chandon at midnight tomorrow. Or maybe we'll rather be thinking of our plans to get married in 2026.
ReplyDeleteYou will be there Meike. But may I say that I am most delighted that you and OK are getting married. That is delightful news and I send you my most hearty congratulations!
DeleteI want to know which scale was used for the designation "attractive knock down price" because depending how well off the "committee" is, I might make an effort to be very friendly to them!
ReplyDeleteYou will be whisked there in a jiffy Kylie - travelling business class.
DeleteWhile I can see the island's need to up its reputation, I'm a little worried that the choice of venue might backfire on the reputation of your prestigeous award... As last year I was kidnapped and dropped by parachute to that year's event, I guess I won't have much say in whether to attend or not this year either, though! .....
ReplyDeleteI hope you are ready to sing those ABBA numbers with Tasker Dunham!
DeleteEpstein Island? Pretty bad taste. Is it too late to switch venues?
ReplyDeleteI don't know what you are talking about Debra. It is called LITTLE SAINT JAMES ISLAND! As far as I know, The Beatles' original manager, Brian Epstein, never went there.
DeleteI'm afraid this may not be a popular choice of venue. All of the natural beauty in the world can't erase the horrors it has seen.
ReplyDeleteThe stealing of turtles' eggs was indeed horrific.
DeleteY'all send me a postcard. I am avoiding Predator Island!
ReplyDeleteY'all get ready to be frogmarched to the plane by ICE agents. You have a conga dance to lead Bob!
DeleteI know a good lawyer in the US Virgin Islands, if anyone gets out of line.
ReplyDeleteWhich line? The conga line? Or the fishing line that Wicked Hamster will get caught up in when nude swimming with John Gray?
DeleteI think I have to wash my hair that night.
ReplyDeleteLOL
DeleteSteve will also be "washing his hair" but you are both still going. You have no choice in the matter!
DeleteI enjoyed San Remo, on the "Italian Riviera", for a few days. Perhaps an alternate venue?
ReplyDeleteMaybe next year. My mother once went there with some female friends. Are you my real father?
DeleteYou pick some great locations to have the awards.
ReplyDeleteI hope you have been practising your limbo dancing Red!
DeleteI would have to have my mug shot and fingerprints taken before I could enter Tr*mpland.
ReplyDeleteNo worries Shammy. Little St James is nowhere near the vulgar palace of tastelessness they call Mar-a-Lago. That is in Florida.
DeleteGoogle is being very kind today and allowing me to comment!
ReplyDeleteMuch as I would like to be amongst the crowd of onlookers, cheering on the winners, I've heard the dentist's will be open. Two for the price of one - not something I can miss!
Sorry Carol. You must be there are as you are the leader of The Blog Babes backing singers and you will be up on stage.
DeleteOh dear. Not THAT island. Nope.
ReplyDeleteIs there a teams link? 😜
ReplyDeleteOh dear, that place and travel and crowds and parachutes. I may have to plead a subsequent engagement.
ReplyDelete