The next decade....what's in store?
Musings of a yamfooted traveller still trying to shake off those last 20 pounds as she treks across the Caribbean
I tell you, last night was stress bwoy. Had a couple articles to do for a couple of media, with time deadlines, forcing me to think creatively in a short space of time. Check Nation News and Caribbean Cricket.com for the results.
I felt the tension headache come on in a flash, and the effects lingered long into the night, so much so that if I got one hour's sleep, I got plenty.
So I will be on the train today from Leeds to Nottingham like a zombie. Hopefully, by the time I get back on the train in Nottingham after seeing school mates, and head to London, where I will see another in the train station, I will be more like myself.
Lack of sleep is not good!
Walked into Leeds city centre today...in the freezing rain I might add!
Did a spot of shopping, and headed to the Headrow to catch a bus back. It was still raining. As it's Sunday, there aren't too many buses too often, so the bus stop was jam packed. Got on, and stood near the front because I know is only a few stops to my stop.
At the next stop, an African man gets on. He goes and sits in the back of the bus, so I assume he going far. Not so. The bell rings for the stop before mine. One lady gets off. A few seconds pass, and then Mr African makes his way to the top of the bus. By this time the bus driver has started to move off. Silly man. Before him shout out "getting off driver" or better still, walk to the front of the bus BEFORE it gets to the stop, him expect that the driver must see through the throngs of people standing, to know that one person needs to get off.
Do you know the man argued with the bus driver? The bus drivers here are not like those at home where they will stop outside of the bus stop. Eventually the driver did let him off before the next stop, probably because he was very annoying. Jeez, you gotta learn the systems man!
Imagine, two tiny nations - Grenada and Trinidad & Tobago, have won gold at the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show in London.
Last year, Grenada went down a step when they won only silver. In previous years, they had won gold always. I believe this is TT's first gold, based on what I heard the TT lady say on TV tonight.
Go Caribbean!
Many years ago, I formed the opinion that England did nothing for its former colonies in the Caribbean. This evening, while waiting at a bus stop by the cricket ground in Headingley, Leeds, this thought ran across my mind again.
I thought about countries like Martinique and Guadeloupe, still under French rule, which I understand are quite modern in bits. Will be going to Guadeloupe next month so will see what that is like.
If England was interested in helping its colonies, it would have...
1. Arranged that all its citizens received the benefits of free education, instead of restricting it to the wealthy.
2. Developed the infrastructure in the colonies on par or at the same rate at which it was developing theirs in England.
Just doing those two up to 1962 (or is it 1964....I can never remember when Jamaica got their independence!) would have influenced how Jamaica turned out.
Grenada too. In Grenada, had they educated more of the masses, there would not have been a revolution. I maintain that people were easily led by the Bishop-Coard faction because many of them were uneducated, so it was easy to put guns in their hands.
So perhaps it was understandable that Mike Henry walked out when the British Minister was saying that there should be no talking about no funds for colonies, but for Africa instead. Steups.
Britain, and all the other nations who colonized helpless islands and killed off their natives, should feel ashamed.
The weather was absolutely 'brill' today. Clear blue skies, warm - most importantly. I travelled from London to Cardiff to see Mr Endicon, my opera singing friend.
Dx who I am staying with in London helped me to carry my disabled suitcase to the tube station. The handle doesnt extend all the way up so you kind of have to stoop, and one wheel has been eaten off, maybe by a sidewalk. Dx warned me not to come back with it. I told her that was the plan, to buy one either in Cardiff or Leeds, to where I am going tomorrow.
Mr Endicon met me at the station, we took a taxi to his place, dropped the bags, went and had lunch, he went off to do stuff and work, and I wandered around the City Centre. Spent a helluva long time in Boots, and I am just now realizing ah didn't buy di knee highs! Tomorrow for sure, as not sure how much time I will have in Leeds for shopping. Talk about priorities!
I find that in the afternoons I feel for a pick-me-uppa. Today I decided to try Starbucks, for the first time ever in my life. You see, I was never a coffee drinker, then I have become one. Only one cup per day. But this afternoon, that is all I felt for. I had a Frappucino - Mocha Light, and was disappointed. Actually I think it might not even have been coffee but was too embarrased to ask for a full explanation. But it did say 'Light' so I figured it was a good choice.
The coffee came after I found a nice suitcase, cheap too! Only GBP25. So was wheeling it around town. Headed to Marks & Spencers only to find out it was closed.
Went to Sainsbury's to pick up a few things, for I promised Mr Endicon I would cook dinner for he. He had secured some Salmon. Took the bus home, rustled up a combination of wholewheat pasta mixed with vegetables, and salmon baked with olive oil, garlic and some other herbs. It was great....so said Mr Endicon.
Tomorrow I am making Ackee & Saltfish for him, along with yam and fried plantain.
Oh, did I neglect to say that the dinner was finished up by some Hagen Daaz ice cream sprinkled with oatmeal and raisin cookies? I said it was a perfect day didn't I?????
if ever there was a stodgy cricket ground with a staid atmoshpere, this is it. Lord's in St John's Wood is a most boring place to watch cricket. I am actually falling asleep! Had to have some coffee just now.
In the press box, or rather the press bubble - for it looks like a space ship - you can't hear anything that is going on down below. The match actually started on Day 1 and I didn't know! Normally at other venues, you would hear the teams walking out, well not really hear, but you would hear applause. Not so here. The glass must be soundproof.
And you can't blame the architect I don't think. He must have been going off what the journalist people here would have wanted. Or maybe is what the Lord's masteres desired. Just awful. Lord.
The forecast here in Anonymous London is for sun tomorrow....and Friday. Yippee!! Warm too...20 degrees C.
This picture is always a welcomed sight on the weather forecast page.
I went to two houses on the same day, and it struck me how different the two kitchens were.
In the first one, the counter was very clear, except for maybe a breadpan, a toaster, a microwave oven and a basket which had some fruits.
In the second one, there was lots of stuff on the counter, and the kitchen looked like it was the hub of all activity in the house.
My kitchen probably looks a bit like the first one I've mentioned. On the counter are a toaster, a juice extractor, a microwave oven and...only because I haven't packed them away yet....six tins of Grace Ackee. There are no fruits, only because I am away though. Normally on top of the fridge I would have oranges, grapefruits, apples and ripe banana in them. I think you could tell from my kitchen that I don't cook much. Same like the home of the first kitchen.
So what is the personality of your kitchen?
I like travelling...don't get me wrong. But I liked it better when I was not working and then I could have lazily packed several days before.
I have been at work some pretty long hours this week, except one day when I went in at 7am and left at 6pm because I wasn't feeling well. Each night I tried to do a little bit, and I am trying to think that the task is not insurmountable. But I am having a stress headache, I just know it.
Went to work at 8am today. Had a training session from 9am until 1:30pm. I try to avoid conducting training on the day before I travel, so that I can spend the time clearing my desk and doing handover notes. I couldn't help it today however, so I didn't leave work until about 9:45pm, so pretty long day you will agree.
I am just doing these things on the computer, while listening to some music like what they play in our Spa, I'm going to have some Cammomile tea, then turn on the air conditioning and pack in the cool. Hopefully by then, the raging headache would have subsided.
And I will try not to pack too heavy. Have to leave space for the Boots and the M&S booty wear!
Email is a good thing, but it can also be a bad thing. I have 1,230 emails in my In box that I have failed to file away in their respective folders. Cricket World Cup added plenty to it. I tried using filters, where it would send the email straight to which ever folder I wanted, but what I found is that I would forget to check each folder!
So I just sit and look at the email and endeavour on each trip while watching cricket, to file them away. Let's see if being at Lords will inspire me to get rid of them.
Look up the meaning here and see if you are a termagant. For the ladies only.
You know, this is why you musn't give lizards a bligh.
Imagine, I being nice to these lizards who running over my kitchen counter when I am out in the day. Being nice means not spraying them and killing them dead.
So I come home yesterday, go in the bathroom to see one very nicely perched on my potpourri basket on top of the toilet tank! I take up the basked, he falls off on the way to the door, I kick it out and coax it outside. I don't killing them so I am very careful.
Today, I come home to find one perched on the fan in the living room! I spray it lightly to stun it, then it runs under the bed (remember I moved one of the beds in the living room to veg out on when I am watching TV, and now I sleep on the bed). While trying to coax it outside, I see another ON MY PILLOW!
Damn out of order. Anyway, with the help of a broom, I help them both outside, spraying a dose of spray at them to remind them what they will face next time they come in. Negative reinforcement it's called. They come through a leeway in the screen in the kitchen window. I shall have to close the window when I leave on Friday, else they will have the run of the house for three week!
Is not even like if you kiss dem dem will turn into gorgeous Belgian Chocolate type men!
Ah cyan tek when tings not good.
I bought some regionally made Knee Highs to wear to work. I think they made in Panama. I really should get up to go check the label, but I jes know it nuh mek in UK or USA.
I can only get one wear out of a pair, and that is not very economical. It always runs at the toe. Bloody annoying I say.
I was in the pharmacy in Jamaica the other day and picked up a whole heap, and then remembered I was 'hoff to Hingland' in a few and prompty bought only just enough to tide me over until next week when I arrive there. I'm a Boots brand devotee. Good and sturdy, like me.
Please keep the weather good for me. I hear it's been brilliant.