Broomsticks and beaches

Sadly, not the flying broomsticks of Halloween, but the down-to-earth kind used for sweeping floors. A sudden change in the weather, as we edge into summer, made a full spring clean of our outdoor space a weekend priority. With a flight of stairs, three terraces (about 85sqm), dining for six to eight, sofas, chairs, coffee tables and more, cleaning outside is a far bigger job than tackling the inside.

Sweeping, mopping, waxing wood furniture, laundering cushions and throws — it all kept me busy. No slacking for the husband either, who was tasked with assembling flat-pack outdoor furniture, changing lightbulbs in impossible places, and servicing the hot tub. Effort deserves reward, so we gave ourselves a well-earned pat on the back, settled into our new chairs, and opened a chilled bottle of rosé.

One of the many good things about owning a dog is that they make you get out and about. Domestic duties have to take a back seat when it’s time for a walk. Cleaning was pleasantly interrupted by a trip to the beach. Now that the water’s warmer, swimming after sticks and bobbing in the gentle waves is back on the agenda. Somebody, however, won’t so much as dip her paws in the Indian Ocean during winter — even though it rarely falls below 21°C. What a princess.

The beaches were buzzing last weekend thanks to the All Saints Day public holiday. In a multicultural country populated by Christians, Muslims and Hindus, any excuse for a day at the beach is warmly embraced. We joined friends for a neighbourhood “Sunday Sundowners” — beers, wine, crisps, and a spectacular sunset. Local Mauritians would have been unimpressed by our modest spread: a proper beach picnic here means at least ten or twenty family members, a huge pot of biryani, a barbecue, and enough rum and whisky to float a small boat. And yes, that applies across all religions!

All Saints Day, on 1 November, commemorates the departed with flowers, candles and blessings at the graves of loved ones. Halloween, of course, stems from All Hallows’ Eve, the first of a three-day Christian festival known as Allhallowtide, running from 31 October to 3 November. During the same period, Mexico celebrates the Day of the Dead — a time believed to allow souls of loved ones to return. Like All Saints, it involves offerings of marigolds, food and candles. Its origins are debated: some trace it to Spanish Catholic influence, others to Aztec traditions honouring the ancestors.

Halloween as we know it, though, has long since been commercialised — now more about skeletons, masks and zombies than saints or spirits. Shops in Mauritius were as full of costumes, plastic pumpkins and fake cobwebs as anywhere else. The local mall even boasted a Haunted House attraction — yet another strain on parents’ wallets. Thankfully, as far as I know, trick-or-treating hasn’t arrived here yet. Perhaps it’s just not worth the effort in a country of gated communities and apartments.

Not long now until the next religious festival that’s been thoroughly commercialised. My plum pudding has kindly been procured from Jo’burg — now fingers crossed that Waitrose in Dubai has parsnips!