Today, the last Saturday of November, I set out in my recently-purchased kayak for a four mile trip along the coast near my house on Grand Cayman. Shirtless, slathered with sunscreen and already somewhat sore from yesterday’s inaugural launch, I headed for the harbour in George Town, the capital city of this 22-mile long island.

As I try to do from time to time, I reminded myself that I live beside the ocean in the Caribbean, and that I am still wearing shorts only four weeks before Christmas.

It’s hard to resist the urge to rub it in.  I seem to be failing here.