Carol and I took a day trip to the private island of Mustique during our brief stay in St. Vincent and the Grenadines in 2018. It was our honeymoon, so we had decided to splash the cash and spend a day on the island where celebrities and royalty holiday in order to escape the paparazzi.

Unfortunately, the weather had taken a turn for the worse on the morning of our departure. Dark clouds had formed before breakfast, which soon turned into a storm. The weather eased a little, meaning that our trip was given the go-ahead. We had mixed feelings about this; we were happy to embark on a once-in-a-lifetime trip but we were wary of the day becoming an expensive washout.

We had to take a speedboat from St. Vincent to Mustique, which took about an hour. It felt like a lifetime. The distribution of sick bags was a clear indication of the rough crossing that lay ahead. In typical Caribbean fashion, we were also given a cup of rum punch!

We struggled to even hold our drinks without the contents dispersing over the deck. The odd drop that I was able to consume was nice enough, but it hardly seemed an appropriate time to be drinking alcohol. This was not a case of gently gliding over the waves; our speedboat was elevated a few feet into the air every few seconds before crashing back down onto the surface of the sea. Our bodies felt a jolt each time we landed, as if the speedboat was colliding with concrete.

The combination of the gloomy skies above, the rough sea conditions and the terror written on our fellow passengers’ faces caused our guide to say to us: “I bet you did not expect to be experiencing this on your honeymoon! If we survive this trip, you will have to name your first baby Vincent!”

Carol and I noticed that, due to the abundance of delicious food on offer, my belly had increased in size by the time of our second week in the Caribbean, leading us to name my ‘baby’ Vincent. Over two years later, we are still waiting for his arrival. I have not only become the first man that I am aware of to become pregnant, I am currently enduring the longest human pregnancy in history!

Upon arrival in Mustique, we were relieved and excited in equal measure. The island is owned by the Mustique Company, which belongs to the island’s homeowners. There are around one hundred private villas on the 2.2 square miles that make up the island. Celebrities and royalty enjoy the privacy that can be found within the villas, whilst most local workers live in Lovell Village.

The likes of Mick Jagger and Tommy Hilfiger are amongst the famous faces that have helped shape the island, along with Princess Margaret and Lord Glenconner. Queen Elizabeth II, the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge have all spent holidays in Mustique. You can add the names of Mr. and Mrs. Chapman to this prestigious list!

Thankfully, the weather improved almost immediately after we had set foot on land. The beautiful golden beaches and lush vegetation looked splendid underneath the bright blue sky. ‘Jonny P’ provided us with a quick tour of the island, including its library, the police station and the privately owned Mustique International Airport. The tiny runway can only accommodate small aircraft. Perfect for private jets, I guess. We then had a few hours to do as we please. We spent this time walking along some of the pristine beaches and swimming in the clear blue sea, before savouring a drink in a beachside bar. We did not encounter any celebrities or members of the royal family though.

Carol and I love Vincent, and we believe that he will be adored by many. He may even become a Saint.