Friday, April 20, 2018
carnival books gardening film music travel food history animals
Weekend
A TRIP TO
MOROCCO Page 8 & 9
Making a gentleman Fashion, Chivalry service seeks to refine Bahamian men 14 & 15
02 | The Tribune | Weekend
Friday, April 20, 2018
film Stunt actor Jason Elwood Hanna PHOTO/SHAWN HANNA
Fraternity celebrates Bahamian stuntman’s ‘Avengers’ success By CARA HUNT cbrennen@tribunemedia.net
“A
vengers: Infinity War” is perhaps the most anticipated movie of 2018, particularly after the phenomenal success of Marvel’s “Black Panther”, which has smashed box office records, making more than $1 billion in profits since it opened in January. And when local audiences flock to see “Avengers” next weekend they can once again expect to see Bahamian stuntman Jason Elwood Hanna on the big screen. He previously made an appearance in “Black Panther” as part of the Wakanda crew. In celebration of Jason’s success, the men of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity – Alpha Iota Epsilon Lambda Chapter will host a special premiere of “Avengers: Infinity War” next Thursday at Galleria Cinemas. The event will also serve as a fundraiser for the fraternity’s 31st Honours Day Convocation Scholarship Fund. The Convocation honours the top graduating male students in both private and public systems in the Bahamas. “Jason is a stunt actor in this movie and without stunt performers there will be no movie. His accomplishment as a young Bahamian man serves as a role model for other young men in our country,” said Nathaniel Cooper, fraternity member.
Bahamian stuntman Jason Elwood Hanna will be part of the contingent of Wakanda warriors who help battle Thanos in the “Averngers: Infinity War”. He added that Jason’s success proves that Bahamians are talented and able to make their mark in whatever industry they want to. “One of the things that we would also like to see come out of this is to hold a workshop or training session for young men about stunt work. Bahamian males especially have a lot of talent for stunt work. You can always see them doing flips, and the important thing is that they learn how to do them properly and how to fall correctly,” he said. Born and raised in Nassau, where he attended both Claridge Primary and St Anne’s School, Jason has a black belt in Jujutsu and other belts in Ninjutsu and Capoeira. After high school, he furthered his training both in Canada and the United States.
To date, he has worked on a number of projects, including the James Bond film “Casino Royale” when it was shot here in the Bahamas. Locally, he has also worked with Kareem Mortimer and done work for the Ministry of Tourism as well as a number of commercials in South America. His biggest films have been “Black Panther” and now “Avengers: Infinity War”. Additionally, he will work on season two of the Netflix show “Luke Cage” and the CW’s “Black Lighting” series. Jason’s advice to anyone who wants to get into the industry is to work on as many projects as possible, no matter how small, so that you get as much experience as you possibly can. The fraternity is hopeful that Jason will be able to attend the screening at
Galleria Cinemas, although scheduling conflicts may prevent it. “Avengers: Infinity War” is directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, with a screenplay by the writing team of Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, and features an ensemble cast including Robert Downey Jr, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Benedict Cumberbatch, Don Cheadle, Tom Holland, Chadwick Boseman, Paul Bethany, Elizabeth Olsen, Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, Danai Gurira, Letitia Wright, Dave Bautista, Zoe Saldana, Josh Brolin, and Chris Pratt. In this third instalment, the Avengers join forces with the Guardians of the Galaxy to stop Thanos (Josh Brolin) from amassing the all-powerful Infinity Stones. Sponsors of the premiere showing are Burns House and ALIV. General Tickets are $20 and VIP tickets are $40. VIP ticket holders will receive all-inclusive access to the prescreening cocktail event during which complimentary hors d’oeuvres will be served and an open bar is avaiable. The VIP cocktail event is slated to begin at 7.06pm and all VIP ticket holders will have the opportunity to win a prize courtesy of ALIV. Tickets are available at Quality Home Centre Carmichael Road, QBC Electronics Harbour Shopping Centre and Mall at Marathon, and at Galleria Cinemas.
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Friday, April 20, 2018
Inside Weekend
My perfect Bahamian weekend Rashad Leamount Singer, songwriter Q: Saturday breakfast or Sunday lunch?
Interview 4-5 Felicity Ingraham talks to saxophonist Gawain Clarke about his mission to preserve uniquely Bahamian music Food 7 Luxury seafood venue opens at The Cove Travel 8 - 9 A Bahamian travel blogger takes on Morrocco Carnival 10 Island Rhythms celebrate the Caribbean with new costumes Music 11 - 12 SuperCute are the Bahamas’ new girl power group, plus Papa Smurf hopes to get people dancing Fashion 14 - 15 A new subscription services seeks to turn men into gentlemen Entertainment 17 - 18 REACH Bahamas hosts a smooth and jazzy fundraiser, plus St Andrew’s International School prepares for Fair Day Gardening 19 Jack Hardy on how to make a potting mix Books 20 Two new thrillers, one psychological, the other action-packed Literary Lives 21 - 24 The unlikely life story of Sherlock Holmes’ creator Forgotten Facts 24 Paul Aranha takes a digital stroll through Nassau’s final resting places Puzzles 26
Animals 27
Kim Aranha shares latest BHS tidbits, plus the Pet of the Week Cover | Chivalry Bahamas
“Saturday breakfast....boil grouper with stew gravy (from Nesbitt’s at Delaporte) and a Kalik.”
Q: Wine, rum, cocktail or Kalik?
“Depends on what I’m eating. I’m always down for a good cocktail though.”
Q: Beach or sofa? “Beach for sure!”
Q: What is the one thing that you can’t live without? “Music....and my speakers.”
Q: Weekend away, where would you go? “Abaco. Nipper’s Beach Bar is my spot!”
Things 2 Do this weekend Friday
• ‘Canyon VOL II’ Release – Artist Talk & Book Signing
Time: 12noon to 2 pm Venue: Chapter One Bookstore
Celebrate the release of the new graphic novel by Maz Joachim. The event includes a talk about the creative process and a meet and greet with the artist. Copies will be on sale for $12 each. • Kalik 30th Anniversary
Time: 5pm - 10pm Venue: Rawson Square
Celebrate 30 years of the Bahamas’ beer with a live concert featuring QPID, Puzzle, D-Mac, KB, Lady E, Geno D, Fanshawn, Ira Storr and the Spank Band; the event is hosted by the Mighty Pencil. There will be a Junkanoo rush-out at 10pm and free beer until 7.30pm. • Pop-Up Exhibition by Philece Roberts
Time: 6pm Venue: The Current, Baha Mar Artist Philece Roberts presents “Perfectly Flawed, Divinely Made”, a collection inspired by the stories of women.
Saturday
• Atlantic Medical Insurance Fun Run
Time: 6.30am
Start: Montagu Beach
Atlantic Medical Insurance marks 20 years of hosting its annual Fun Run/Walk in Nassau. This year’s event will be held in honour of the late Alan Peacock, CEO of the Colonial Group of Companies, an avid sportsman who also shared a passion for the event. • BNT’s Fun Day
Time: 8am Venue: Nassau’s National Parks
The Bahamas National Trust will host a special day of events to celebrate National Park Week. On New Providence, they will host three fairs – at the The Retreat, Bonefish Pond and the Primeval Forest – all with their own experiences and activities. Visit their website for further details. • Shift the Culture Meet-up
Time: 10am
Venue: Starbucks, Harbour Bay Shopping Plaza A monthly and open meet-up for all creatives in Nassau. Grab a cup of coffee and join in on discussions on art, design, technology and business. • Baby Expo ‘Ready to Bloom’
Time: 12noon Venue: Sapodilla Restaurant
Produced by Parchomas, the event offers high-calibre vendors and new products for momsto-be, parents and babies.
• The Sober Bahamas Art Museum
Time: 10am - 3pm Venue: Bernard Road and Cockburn Street, Fox Hill Visit and take in a movie or lecture on alcoholism. Admission is free. • Art for Sail 2018
Time: 6pm - 9pm
Venue: 1er Cru Nassau This is the annual art show in aid of the Bahamas National Sailing School. The variety of work for sale includes original art and prints by Thomas Hairston, Malcolm Rae, Toby Lunn, Allan P Wallace, Marco Mullings, Katerina Kovatcheva, Trevor Tucker, Quentin Minnis and Ryan Turnquest, as well as photography by Montez Kerr; jewellery by Ava Forbes, Ras Hailu and Nadia Campbell; textiles by Emma Tinkler and Tiff Barrett; glassworks by Nouveau Glassworks; woodturning by Celestine Albury, and soaps and scents by Cia Monet.
Sunday
• Snorkelling with BREEF for Earth Day
Time: 12noon Venue: Caves Beach
BREEF invites you to celebrate Earth Day with them, while learning how to identify fish and snorkel in our beautiful waters. This is an event that all members of the family can enjoy.
04 | The Tribune | Weekend
Friday, April 20, 2018
interview Born to be a musician, saxophonist Gawain Clarke travelled throughout the United States only to find what he was looking for right here at home. He tells Felicity Ingraham about his new project to preserve the unique music that comes from the Family Islands for future generations.
Gawain Clarke
T
he saxophone is one of those instruments that is sexy, sultry, and can stand on its own in its ability to woo a crowd. So it turned out to be the best choice for an artist who loves to make an impression – Gawain Clarke. Pronounced “Gavin”, he is named after one of the Knights of the Roundtable. But while his namesake joined the quest for the Holy Grail, Gawain’s mission is a bit more earthly in nature: he wants to help preserve Bahamian musical talent for the generations to come. When you see him playing downtown Nassau, Gawain usually has an infectious smile on his face and his beloved saxophone seems to be an extension of himself....I certainly cannot remember having ever seen him without it. Gawain loves his country and he loves music, so in developing his latest venture he decided to focus on both. The project, “Music of the Five Islands”, will highlight the authentic music that evolved out of Abaco, Andros, Eleuthera, Exuma and Grand Bahama. “We want to look at the music on these islands as it was back then and as it is right now,” Gawain told Tribune Weekend, noting that he has formed a group with like-minded individuals to help make the project a reality. “We want to capture as much of the music as possible. Wherever the traditional music is
there are people thinking creatively about the music. We want to find them and capture what they are doing. We want to listen to how they sing, how they talk, and how they organise their music,” he said. “The fella in the bush like the late great Joseph Spence...I want to find that guy and sit with him and listen to him play.” He said that too much of the music that should have been captured, stored and properly archived over the decades was not preserved properly, and for this reason he wants to make sure that he can archive what exists now, “for the sake of the future composers that will come out of the Bahamas.” “I decided to take on the work myself of organising our music and providing it to our upcoming composers… the children who will one day be interested in recording. I need to be able to travel the islands and capture what Bahamian people are doing musically right now.” Gawain was literally thrown into music. He was just six or seven yearsold when Esau McKenzie, a musician at his childhood church, the Church of God on Fowler Street, picked him for a church recital. Mr McKenzie, a noted musician who is still making the concert circuit in areas like Lyford Cay, shoved a recorder in his hand and taught him a piece to play, letting him know that he would be performing in the next church recital. “Just a few weeks later when I got good enough he pulled the recorder and gave me a flute,” Gawain recalls. When he played at the recital, “the people went crazy” to see such a young boy play so well and hence he was bitten by the musical bug and has remained happily infected ever since. Gawain’s talent blossomed as Mr McKenzie went from handing him marching band music to concert music, such as the Hallelujah Chorus, Holy City, classical arrangements and Christmas music.
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Friday, April 20, 2018
“My mom (Shirley Clarke) must have had a premonition I would be a musician because I always had a keyboard,” he said. “I remember I would be frustrated because I could only play so many notes, then she would get me a different one. I never had lessons though. I remember this one recital, I put the keyboard above the organ so I could look at the keyboard keys to play the organ. At the time my legs were too short to reach the pedals. My mom must have seen something in me, and also Esau McKenzie. I didn’t know what was going on, I just did what he asked me to do. They must have seen something in me, looking back.” Of his mentor Mr McKenzie, he says: “He is a super gifted musician. He can play any instrument. I actually got a chance to play with him last year. Freddie Munnings was helping a friend with a birthday party in Serenity Gardens and when I got there Esau was there and we began vibing. We played ‘Hello’ by Lionel Ritchie – a song I love.” Like many artists, there was a lull in the journey. For Gawain, it was in high school when he began focusing on sports (track and field) instead. But one of his friends was in the brass band at his home church encouraged him to join because he was having so much fun. Gawain recalls going to his father, former Postmaster the late Godfrey Clarke, and asking him to join the band. His father said yes, but years later would tell his son that even at that young age he did not ask, but told his parent that he was joining the band. But there was a point at which Gawain thought there was no further he could go and he became bored and admits that he became hungry for more. He was at the College of the Bahamas studying engineering at the time. A friend invited him to a jam session with other musicians one night and there he saw his mentor Mr McKenzie again and some of his friends. “(They were all) playing this fast music; this nice vibe,” he said. It was then that he realised, “there’s more!” Since then, Gawain’s hunger for more sent him throughout the United States, listening and learning, and being immersed in jazz and other music genres. “I got to meet some of the giants in jazz. The most important one was Terrance Blanchard, who told me I shouldn’t be trying to do this music thing through jazz, but that I should go home, collect my culture and package that,” he said.
“I decided to take on the work myself of organising our music and providing it to our upcoming composers… the children who will one day be interested in recording. For this reason, Gawain is now back home, immersing himself in all that is Bahamian, and in music. He continues to connect with other musicians and is also working on a recording project. His dream is to see his venture, “Music of the Five Islands”, capture and preserve Bahamian music on these Out Islands, and then move on to cover more islands, creating a portfolio that future musicians can use for research and inspiration. People wishing to book Gawain for appearances can visit saxbygawain@icloud. com or call 462-6851.
PHOTOS/SHAWN HANNA
06 | The Tribune | Weekend
Friday, April 20, 2018
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Friday, April 20, 2018
food
An underwater world Michelin star chef opens luxury dining concept at The Cove
Scorched conch
F
ish by José Andrés has officially opened at The Cove, the luxury beach-side resort at Atlantis. Michelin star Chef José Andrés’ newest fine dining eatery is open exclusively for dinner and offers resort guests and locals a premium selection of responsibly sourced seafood that pays homage to traditional Bahamian cuisine and the ocean that surrounds the islands. The menu strives to highlight sustainable Bahamian fishing practices and includes a signature dish of simply prepared, fried local lionfish – a species that while delicious, has been severely damaging to the coral reefs of The Bahamas. Lionfish outlive, out-eat and outbreed all other marine species, which affects the health of the ocean. By overfishing the lionfish using a spear, so as not to damage the delicate reef systems, Chef Andrés, a fisherman and avid diver, is committed to hunting this invasive species, so that coral reefs and the local marine life can continue to flourish. A portion of the cost of this dish will go directly to the Blue Project Foundation, the resort’s nonprofit organisation dedicated to saving marine species and their extraordinary habitats throughout the Bahamas. “Anyone who knows me knows how much I love the ocean – whether it’s enjoying the freshest delicacies of the local waters or going diving,” said Chef Andrés. “Fish tells the story of this beautiful, mysterious thing we call the sea, through food -- and my team and I are very excited to create this new experience at The Cove. Our Bahamian team is as committed as I am to supporting sustainable fishing practices and the protection of the Bahamian coral reefs.”
Fried lionfish
The main dining room The restaurant’s menu items range from simple and flavourful to innovative and creative, and can be served as either small plates for sharing or in the style of larger-format dishes. The restaurant highlights the freshest possible seafood such as local Bahamian conch, served as traditional scorched conch or, with a José twist, as conch fritters with a liquid centre, much like Spanish croquetas. The menu also
features celebrity Chef Andrés and his team’s take on other Bahamian favourites such as local hog snapper, grilled over a wood fire and served with a crisp endive salad, marcona almonds and radishes and seared scallops, with Hawaiian hearts of palm, tamarind, caperberries and citrus. To start or accompany their meal, guests can choose from an array of
innovative, hand-crafted cocktails or choose from an extensive wine list. The design of Fish at The Cove by the Spanish firm Capella Garcia is meant to give guests the impression that they are diving into an underwater world – immersed in the marine life, the rocks, the sand and the flora and fauna that inhabit the ocean. As guests enter the space, they are greeted by a lounge with an undulating seating area. To the right is the bar with a glowing backdrop which gives the impression of a giant blue wave, luring guests to partake in a refreshing cocktail under the shelter of the crest. In the dining room, an entire wall of floor-to-ceiling windows connects the space to the resort’s white sand beaches, the beautiful Bahamian sky and the local vegetation. The dining room offers guests several different dining options – ranging from intimate banquettes and rattan partitions, to private dining spaces for larger parties that can be enclosed with fishnet curtains to offer privacy yet still allow guests to be part of the restaurant action. Large format photographic murals from Bahamas-based artist Elena Kalis are displayed around the dining room. The centre of the dining space features a large hanging koi fish that was handconstructed with delicate interlacing strips of wood by Spanish designers Inocuo The Sign and LZF Lab. “The inclusion of Chef Andrés’ craftsmanship at The Cove provides an impactful opportunity to showcase the exceptional elements of the Bahamas,” said Audrey Oswell, president and managing director of Atlantis. “We are incredibly proud that we have been able to create locally-infused, oceanlinked dining experiences for our guests, in partnership with visionaries like Chef Andrés, who is not only one of the most talented Master Chefs in the world, but also an advocate for the protection and preservation of our country’s natural resources.”
08 | The Tribune | Weekend
Friday, April 20, 2018
travel
How to do Morocco in three days Bahamian blogger Ianthia Smith ticks several items off her bucket list by visiting one the oldest and most colourful countries in the world, one made even more exciting by the millions of social media users praising its beauty and showing off photos of its picturesque cities and landscapes online.
L
ooking back at it now, I was hella crazy to think I could pull this trip off in such a short time frame. But I did it, so I guess I’m as crazy as they come! Morocco seems to be the new Instagram craze with its famous Blue City, the jaw-dropping architecture, the colour oozing out of every corner. It’s a travel blogger’s dream. After doing some research and learning more about the place, I knew I had to find my way there, and my New Year’s trip to Barcelona, Spain was the perfect opportunity to tack on another trip and visit Africa for the very first time. I was super excited to visit this picturesque country that I’d been
researching over for months. I had a amount limited time and so much I wanted to see and do. Look at a map and see how big the country of Morocco really is. The cities are literally days a part and trying to jump from place to place seemed near impossible. But here’s how I trekked through three cities in about three days and got to see (just about) everything I wanted to on this trip to Morocco. Day 1 - Tangier/Chefchaouen January 3, 2018 Our flight landed in Tangier around noon and we were on a mission. The most important thing for me on this trip was to see Chefchaouen, the ‘Blue Pearl’ of Morocco, made uber popular my hundreds of thousands of photos on Instagram featuring its almost
magical landscape and playful hues. The sole purpose of flying into Tangier was because this was the city closest to Chefchaouen. The airport was two hours away from the Blue City and it was a ride I knew would be worth every single mile. We negotiated with a crew of taxi drivers and one agreed to make the journey with us. We drove through the mountainous and hilly landscape that is Tangier, passing small shops and stores along the way. This area of Morocco is more country-like and doesn’t really have that big city feel to it. With limited time, but armed with a plan to see the Blue City and get out. We stopped to the train station on our way to Chefchaouen to purchase our tickets for the ride into Marrakech later that night. About $70 gets you
a prison-sized cot in a sleeper cabin that houses four. I’ll tell you about my unexpected cabin mates later. After making that pit stop to purchase our tickets, our drive resumed. Tangier is beautiful. I got a glimpse of its splendour as we zipped by buildings and homes and open, earthy green fields and farms for miles. As we approached Chefchaouen I literally saw the landscape go from green to blue and I knew we’d arrived. I finally made it to the so-called ‘Blue Pearl’ of Morocco and instantly checked off yet another bucket list item. Our driver hooked us up with a friend of his who ended up being our tour guide through Chefchaouen. He walked us off the main road through a little corner where vendors were selling fruits and vegetables. The more we walked, the more blue I saw. Walking through the Blue City is almost like walking through a maze in which you’re only guided by colour. The camera-ready city winds up a hill, and tucked into every nook and cranny was someone’s home or business. There are restaurants, schools and mosques. I felt like a predator, rummaging through this tiny community in search of the perfect photos. I could tell some of the residents hated that tourists stomped through their homes all day, every day. The hues of blue were endless. The walls, the doors, the flower pots, the clay powder, the curtains, the chairs, the carpets...everything was blue and accented by loud and vibrant accessories. It’s literally such a magical place that my phone and camera shutters went into overdrive. I vaguely remembered our guide explaining how the city became so blue. He mentioned something about it being inhabited by Jews and then something about blue keeping the mosquitoes away and being a shield against the cold. Something...anyway, I was too busy taking photos. As soon as we got there, I found a bathroom and changed into a blue dress I knew would photograph perfectly against the blue-washed walls. We stayed in Chefchaouen for about two hours and I swear I could live there. It reminded me of every Disney fantasy I’ve ever had; colourful, bold, magical, so beautiful it looks unreal.
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Darkness was falling and it was time to head back into Tangier to catch our train. It was time to head to Marrakech, the big city! During my research, I read glowing reviews of the train system in Morocco; always on time, dependable, safe and efficient. I was excited to ride an overnight train for the first time. We booked a double cabin with two sets of bunk beds. The space was very tight, closed, but surprisingly comfy. I thought we’d purchased the entire suite; all four beds just for the two of us. But to my surprise the train conductor brought two guys to our cabin and showed them to the remaining beds. Listen, I got annoyed instantly. I could’ve sworn this is what we ordered, but...language barrier. With no Wi-Fi, two dead phones, no sockets and a strange man sleeping above me, I lost myself in the pages of a book and scrolled through the photos I’d just taken at the Blue City. Day 2 - Marrakech January 4, 2018 The train ride from Tangier to Morocco was a whopping 10 hours! We boarded at 11.45pm and we arrived in Marrakech at around 9am. the next day. Thankfully our hotel was a mere five-minute drive from the train station and it allowed for early check in! YES! I needed a shower like a sinner needs Jesus. We stayed at the Mövenpick Hotel which is an amazingly luxurious resort. I partnered with Going Places Travel on this trip who booked me to stay at the most beautiful hotel properties. After checking in, showering and getting ready, we hit the town to see what Marrakech had to offer. The city was bustling. There was activity everywhere and at every turn someone was trying to sell you something. This was definitely my least favourite part of Marrakech. The chill and laid back vibes in Tangier and Chefchaouen did not prepare me for the hassle, aggression and near assaults I faced while shopping in Marrakech. I literally was near tears at some point as we moved through the Jemaa el-Fnaa square. I felt crowded, overwhelmed, sometimes attacked and discriminated against. As soon as we entered the area, a swarm of vendors and sellers had rushed us showing us their wares, some performing for us on the spot in hopes that they could make a quick buck. We somehow shook that crowd and sought to find our bearings and figure out the landscape. The deeper into the souk we went the more we were
bombarded. As content creators, of course we travel with cameras and take photos. Not in Morocco! The minute a store owner, snake charmer or fruit vendor sees you taking a photo they cover their items, stand in the way to ruin the pic or just tell you to pay for snapping the photo. It was so annoying. I tried taking a few shots of this gorgeous lighting store. I had already seen the culture there and was prepared to pay. I also wanted to buy a teapot I saw. As I approached the owner to ask for the price of the teapot and tell him about wanting to pay for the photos, he shouted at me, “No pictures, get away, get away!” So I left and he lost what could’ve been a damn good sale that day. He and his co-worker paced the shop ensuring I didn’t get my photo. I did manage to get some photos in another light shop, though, and yes, I had to pay for them. My fiance took a
few photos with his DSLR camera but wanted to get some with the phone camera. The minute he picked up his phone to get the shot, however, the owner started angrily shouting at us in Arabic. I asked him what the problem was, we had just paid him and were there for literally three minutes. I’d had enough and we stormed off. We found a restaurant in the souk and ran inside to escape the drama
outside. Unfortunately, most restaurants in Morocco don’t serve alcohol due to their religious beliefs, so any chances of us taking a shot of something dark and strong to shake the culture shock was pretty much impossible. Soon after lunch we headed back to the hotel to regroup and sleep. Day 3 - Marrakech Tour January 5, 2018 Our last full day and we still had so much to see and do! We linked up with a taxi driver outside our hotel and told him to take us to all the hotspots. His name is Abraham and he turned out to be such an amazing person. Our first spot was at the popular La Mamounia, which is a palace-turned-hotel and boasts beautiful pools and spas. Its architecture is astoundingly beautiful and just puts you at ease. There are flowers galore and an obvious ode to nature with orange trees, plants and other natural beings. I’d planned to get a day pass and chill out by the pools and get a massage, unfortunately they’d put a freeze on passes that day so we had to resort to just walking around the property and grabbing a few drinks and chilling out...and they served alcohol! Abraham picked us up about two hours later and drove us around the city. We stopped at the largest mosque in Marrakech, Koutubia, visited a pottery barn and tried to get into the Jardin Majorelle, which is a beautiful botanical garden owned by Yves St Laurent. The line wrapped around the building and we had time constraints. We opted to visit a smaller garden just around the corner. We ended the day riding camels and soaking in the Moroccan sun. Conclusion You know that person in your life who’s your cross: they annoy you every chance they get. They anger you in ways you didn’t even know existed but yet still you love them beyond words?You’re mesmerised by their unmatched beauty that sucks you into a trance, making you forget their antics and silliness. And just as you’re about to love them unconditionally, they annoy you again...then they make you fall in love again? This is my relationship with Morocco, and I can’t wait to go back! • Ianthia Smith is a Bahamian lifestyle and travel writer. Check out her blog, Mini Skirts & Microphones, at ianthia-smith.com.
10 | The Tribune | Weekend
Friday, April 20, 2018
carnival
Island Rhythms shows love for the diaspora By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Writer acadet@tribunemedia.net
“O
ur World, Our ßéCarnival” is both this year’s theme and the message that the Island Rhythms mas band wants to spread through the streets of Nassau leading up to the May 4 festival. The group’s Road March sections will highlight countries in the region, including Jamaica, Haiti and Trinidad, as well as Latin America. For Dario Tirelli, Island Rhythms founder and president of the Bahamas Carnival Band Owners Association, it is a great feeling to have come this far to celebrate and participate in yet another carnival season. He remembers the hard work and tears that initially went into the very festival in 2015. “After all the negative voices, months of hard work, tears flowed down my cheeks just to be part of something new, something great. Carnival is a year-round business for me as president of the Carnival Band Owners Association. And for Rhythms it’s a business that requires intense marketing, events and promotional activities to attract revellers and sponsors. We are all proud to once again to bring the greatest street festival to fruition,” he told The Tribune. As the lead costume designer for the Island Rhythms mas band, Mr Tirelli chose motifs which he said are sure to dazzle all who see them. After travelling to festivals throughout the world, and especially here in the region, Mr Tirelli said he felt inspired to represent these Carnival-loving countries with the 2018 costumes. “The variation of colours blazing in the sun will wow the spectators and other bands’ revellers. The Bahamian costume section depicts the colours in the flag, with gold, aquamarine and black feathers wonderfully (attached)
“Haiti”
“Jamaica”
“Bahamas”
“Latino”
to exquisite jewelled costumes. The head piece is hand-crafted to perfection with different shaped stones and patterns that will bling in the high sun. Get ready to be thrilled by wonderfully and creative artistic masterpiece,” said Mr Tirelli. With the help of social media, he said they were able to secured a numerous new members to the band this May. Last month, the group also hosted a pool party that attracted great numbers of revellers and interest in the Island Rhythms brand. “With the groups, we support each other’s band launches and show up as a unit. We ‘mashup’ fetes while representing Rhythms in our branded T-shirts,” he said. As for what to expect come May 4, Mr Tirelli said: “This year on the road, the public and spectators will enjoy a highly active and exciting group of revellers. Presidente is our title sponsor and a great beer brand that promotes energy. So, Rhythms will promote gyrating, rhythmic dancing on the streets. The world will see and hear about Rhythms. The beautiful and sexy members will be a sight to see.” As the Rhythms team continues to grow, Mr Tirelli said the ongoing journey will offer each member a profit-sharing experience, which will stem from costume production, marketing and public relations, to photography and event hosting. “My crew is young, so it is imperative that I keep them active with fetes, parties and socials. The band membership is made up of young soca and carnival junkies. We have a lively and provocative WhatsApp chat group, and this form of staying connected with each other goes a long way to keeping all engaged. Events242 is a promotional company that is also a subsidiary of Island Rhythms, therefore this allows the group to engage year-round in carnival and non-carnival activities. Each year, some of our team members go on the carnival circuit from Trinidad in February to Miami in early October,” said Mr Tirelli.
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Friday, April 20, 2018
music
A new generation of girl power Pop group SuperCute reaches for the stars By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Writer acadet@tribunemedia.net
A
dorable in both style and sound, SuperCute is the Bahamas’ new pop sensation with a mission to promote girl power
and self-love. Ranging in age from 10 to 14, the girl group is made up of Farrah Ali, Leah Clarke, Alena Munnings and Alaine St Forte. Strongly influenced by R&B and Caribbean genres of music, they are looking to make a name for themselves both at home and abroad. So far, they’ve celebrated music releases, filmed videos, interacted with fans on social media, did radio interviews, and even performed live on the TV show ‘The Stew’. “Being ‘SuperCute’ is about being your best self, not just about dressing nicely and having your hair done,” said the band’s manager, Malika Pryor. “Every time the girls share a new song they gain hundreds, if not thousands, of new followers and admirers. There are a lot of folks who support the girls here, but don’t necessarily follow them on social media.” In the last six months, the girls have released two singles, “A Girl Like Me”, a song released on World Children’s Day that speaks to the issues young people face in domestic violence situations, and most recently, “Neck Roll”, a more upbeat and fun song – the kind that gets stuck in your head, according to group members. Malika said there is also a special dance the girls came up with entitled #daneckrollchallenge. For SuperCute, the dance marks the start of a movement which they hope will encourage
“Every time the girls share a new song they gain hundreds, if not thousands, of new followers and admirers.” other young people and individuals of all ages to participate. The message is to not let negativity get to you, but in the event it does, give it a “neck roll”. SuperCute was officially founded in 2016 by Angelo “Cello” Martin. “Originally a group of three, one of the girls moved on and we added two new girls in Spring 2017 who now make up SuperCute’s final configuration,” said Malika. Even though the girls were all passionate about singing and having their own voice, Malika said they had to learn how to sing together and train in preparation to dance for an entire performance. Since relaunching last year, the SuperCute fan base has grown locally and internationally, and
the girls now boast thousands of followers on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. “As managers we are especially careful about where they perform and under what circumstances. That’s strange to some folks, but we believe their talent has to be given the best opportunities to shine,” said Malika. “Also, it takes time to make a group, a true group. They have to genuinely bond, train, learn from each other and others. We consistently have conversations with the girls about the possibilities of their future on television and in radio, and maybe if given a rare chance for a Bahamian, a shot at having a record deal with a
major record label. However, their desire for stardom and what they’ve already experienced, sometimes on a daily basis with having recordings in the public and on radio, keeps them motivated.” SuperCute has now completed their debut album which features 11 tracks. Its release date is to be determined. Additionally, the band will also have their first full concert in May. “We’re in the process of planning a show for the album release in late Spring. We are also planning their third video release coupled with more online content and some possible shows in the United States this Summer,” said Malika.
12 | The Tribune | Weekend
Friday, April 20, 2018
music
Papa Smurf moves to the Bahamian rhythm By JEFFARAH GIBSON Tribune Features Writer jgibson@tribunemedia.net
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e may have been laying low for some time, but Papa Smurf has been writing and doing a whole lot of recording. Over the past a few years Papa Smurf has acquainted himself with traditional Bahamian music from as far back as the 1960s, and which has inspired his newest single, “Move”. At the song’s core is the rhythm of Junkanoo that gives the song a traditional Bahamian flare. “I saw an old ‘It’s Better in the Bahamas’ ad with a picture of a woman and a man. The woman had an umbrella and they were standing in the prettiest turquoise coloured water that only
reached just above their ankles and the beach was in the background. It had some writing below it saying ‘There are places you can feel more alive than anywhere else in the world’.
“And this reminded me of how they used to promote the Bahamas back in the day; they used to promote the Bahamas with mystic and wonder, and so the style in which it was written became the style of how I wrote the song,” Papa Smurf told Tribune Weekend. “When I thought about it musically, and I came up with ‘Move to the rhythm of the Bahamas’, and with Junkanoo being the cultural music of the Bahamas, that became the concept of the song, and that’s what inspired me.” Eight years, Papa Smurf started out with making conscious and patriotic rap music. This time around it was a little bit different for the artist, who said he is in the process of reinventing himself. “I really haven’t written any songs that made people hit the dance floor. So I love that fact that this is a song
that people can dance to, and I also love the fact that it’s the most Bahamian song I’ve ever written,” he said. Papa Smurf said he hopes the song makes people take pride and celebrate their Bahamian culture. Now that the song has been released, Papa Smurf said he will be turning his attention to the making of music video, but hopes to secure sponsorship first. “I’m hoping that someone out there would hear the song and would want to sponsor the means to shoot an epic video for it,” he said. At the same time, he will also begin recording several new rake n’scrape songs he has written. For more information about Papa Smurf, contact Smurfbahamas@yahoo. com.
Review: Sting and Shaggy collaborate on sunny reggae album
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he fact that Shaggy and Sting are teaming up on a CD does, admittedly, sound like a gimmick. Why are these two very different artists together? Because they happen to be known by a single name? Why not keep going and add Shakira, Sia, Slash and Seal? Maybe one day, but put the snarkiness aside and enjoy this warm bromance between the Jamaican dancehall king and the cool, intellectual Englishman. “44/876” — the title is a combo of the phone country codes for Sting’s native England and Shaggy’s Jamaica — makes sense as soon as you recall Sting’s liberal use of reggae rhythms as part of The Police. It turns out there’s real chemistry between Shaggy, whose deep, thick cadences
made “Boombastic” and “It Wasn’t Me” such beloved hits, and Sting’s flexible, honeyed voice. The duo helped write every song on the 12-track album and their collaboration has triggered some interesting — some might say curious — songwriting, including lifted poetry from Lewis Carroll for “Just One Lifetime” and some role-playing (Shaggy portrays a judge and Sting a defendant on the innovative “Crooked Tree”). The first, title song smartly honors Bob Marley — Sting says Marley’s ghost “haunts me to this day/ There’s a spiritual truth in the words of his song” — as a way of inoculating everyone for this quirky offering. Then it’s off to more trop-hop on this sunny Caribbean jaunt. There’s the pro-immigrant, Motown-inflected “Dreaming in the USA” where Shaggy, a
former US Marine, notes he defended the nation. That adds weight to his statement: “I await the day when we will all inhabit a better America.” Sting, for his part, seems fed up with Britain: “The politics of this country are getting to me,” he sings in one song. Then in the slinky standout “Waiting for the Break of Day,” he hits again: “You see some politicians/ You hear the things they say/ You hear the falseness in their positions.” The album’s first single, “Don’t Make Me Wait,” a sway-inducing pop song with a reggae sheen, turns out to be only a taste of what these men can bring, their two vocal and musical styles melding into something as delicious as a plate of jerk chicken washed down with a cold beer. MARK KENNEDY AP Entertainment Writer
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Friday, April 20, 2018
celebrity
PART
With Karin Herig and Cara Hunt
HIT
SPLIT
SPLIT
FAIL
Viola Davis ”How to Get Away with Murder”
Emily Blunt ”A Quiet Place”
Padma Lakshmi producer
Alicia Keys singer
Karin says: “Fantastic choice! This outfit stays it all: ‘I’m hip, I’m stylish, I mean business, but yep, I’m sexy, too.’ Love the colour, the capri length of the skinny pants and the matching vest.” Cara says: “The lady in red. The bright colour really suits her, but I am not blown away. This ensemble needs something to help jazz it up. It’s matchy, but it’s just too plain.”
Karin says: “Complete style disaster. What even is this? A cow print baby doll dress with puffy shoulders, some weird belt and then some white pants without a hem. It’s plain awful. But kudos to her for still going (mostly) makeup-less.” Cara says: “This is an unusual outfit. I am not sure about this, to be honest. My first thought was cow print with an ugly belt, and I just don’t understand the fringe on the bottom of the pants.”
Karin says: “After her triumph on the Oscar red carpet, Viola is sticking to her bright pinks. And it works for her big time. I love the off-the-shoulder twist on your usual peplum business outfit. And of course her hair is fab.” Cara says: “Miss Viola is just living her best ‘go big or go home’ natural hair life. This pink looks incredible against her skin and I am loving the shoes and the simple yet effective style of her outfit.”
Karin says: “OK, this looks like a dress you can pick up at any department store, and yet it looks pretty on her. It is a bit bland and boring for a movie star, but I must admit I do like the red floral design on navy blue.” Cara says: “I wonder how this dress played out in person, because it looks a bit dull on the page, but I wonder if the flowers had some texture on them to helped kicks its drama factor up a notch.”
PHOTOS/EVAN AGOSTINI/INVISION/AP
The Weekend Fashion Report Variety’s Power of Women
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• See page 13 for more hits and misses
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Friday, April 20, 2018
celebrity With Karin Herig and Cara Hunt
FAIL
SPLIT
FAIL
SPLIT
Tina Fey ”Saturday Night Live”
Tamron Hall broadcast journalist
Amber Ruffin comedian
Karin says: “There was a period in the ‘90s where old women’s dresses were in...but they were usually paired with combat boots, colourful hair or some other ‘edgy’ accessory. Tina decided to forgo all that and just go with the old woman’s dress..” Cara says: “I like this dress a lot, like I would wear it, but it’s just too boring for an event of this calibre. I would wear this to work for sure, but then Tina has a much more glamorous job which requires more glamorous outfits.”
Karin says: “I love the coat. It’s unusual and really cool (especially the gold border). Does it necessarily work with a short belted, white dress? Nope. It’s a style clash. The overall picture just does not gel for me.” Cara says: “OK, I have to say I don’t like this combo at all. I like the jacket and I like the dress, but it wouldn’t be my choice to wear them together. A bit of fail here.”
Kerry Butler ”Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life” Karin says: “Is this supposed to be some sort of sexy Bo-Peep look? This kinda crop top and skirt combo only works on the really ripped and tanned. Also, why is she carrying a small suitcase around with her?” Cara says: “This outfit is just too young for her. That was my very first thought when I saw it. It looks like a prom outfit. I really also don’t like the huge handbag with the ensemble either.”
Karin says: “It almost looks like she’s wearing half of a nun’s habit sans the cowl. I don’t love it. There are much more attractive ways to reinvent the little black dress. That said, the kitten heels are actually not hideous and her hair is cool.” Cara says: “This is a very cute outfit. Simple, but cute. I love her little afro puff and the swing of the pouffy skirt. She looks adorable and like she’s having a ball in this dress.”
PHOTOS/EVAN AGOSTINI/INVISION/AP
The Weekend Fashion Report 74th annual Golden Globe Awards
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Friday, April 20, 2018
entertainment
St Andrew’s marks 70 years with fair The cast of St Andrew’s ‘Addams Family’ play By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Writer acadet@tribunemedia.net
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o commemorate its 70-year history, St Andrew’s International School will host its 2018 school fair under the theme “Celebrating our Past, Inspiring our Future”. Next Saturday, the school’s baseball grounds will be transformed into a venue offering a full day of excitement. There will be face painting, an archery corner, a dunk tank, book corner, massage therapy on-site, raffle drawings and a bean bag toss. Food stall vendors will include Twin Brothers, Chives, Rotary, Dairy Queen, Tasty Treats, and others. DJ Ovadose will keep guests entertained on the turntables. The fair runs from 11am to 5pm. Highlights will also include a 70-mile bike-a-thon led by St Andrew’s Principal Robert Stitch, to begin at 5am. He will arrive back at the school field at 11am via helicopter escort to officially launch the Fun Family and Friends Fair Day opening. Guests are expected to include Yamacraw MP Elsworth Johnson, Minister of Health Dr Duane Sands and Immigration Minister Brent Symonette. “We are hosting a school community fair as a precursor to celebrating 70 years of providing high educational standards enshrined in ethics and excellence. Seventy years is a significant milestone in the history of an international school. Not many international schools are anywhere near as old and as established as St Andrew’s,” said fair organisers. “The 70th anniversary gives the community a real opportunity to cherish the past and embrace the future. St Andrew’s is a very good school and is always looking to be ahead of the game. There are many exciting developments that will be highlighted during the 70th anniversary year. I would really hope that this could become an annual event with both a school fair
Sports Day at St Andrew’s
“We are proudly Bahamian and steadfast to community service and learning.” and bike ride as major fundraisers for the school.” Madison Smith, a St Andrew’s School sixth grade student, was the one to come up with the theme, “Celebrating our Past, Inspiring our Future”, and ninth grader Jamie Wong made the drawing for the event’s flyer. Among the parent volunteers who helped plan and organise the fair are Darlene Smith and Kaynell Ritchie, who said it was an honour and a privilege to play a part in this special occasion.
St Andrew’s students participate in World Scholars 2017. “All are welcomed, as we believe it is important to highlight our community spirit. We are proudly Bahamian and steadfast to community service and learning. A school fair has always been in the top three recommendations and feedback from parents and teachers when asked what fundraising events they would like the school to host...there has not been a fair at St Andrew’s in eight years. Hence, we were about to embark upon the school’s 70th anniversary, we felt a fair would be the perfect event to mark such a special milestone in St Andrew’s School history,” said the organisers.
By making the fair an annual occurrence, organisers said it will become a key focus on the school calendar. This will also enable the school to predict fundraising in order to support school developments. All proceeds from this year’s event will go towards improving the sports facilities at the school. The organisers believe the fair further exemplifies that St Andrew’s is made up of a community of families that work in conjunction with teachers and faculty to advance and improve the school for the benefit of all stakeholders: students, parents, teachers, administrators and donors.
18 | The Tribune | Weekend
Friday, April 20, 2018
music
Support autism awareness with a ‘Spectrum of Jazz’ By JEFFARAH GIBSON Tribune Features Writer jgibson@tribunemedia.net
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t will be the first fundraising initiative by REACH Bahamas that will feature sweet jazz sound, delicious bites and a soothing atmosphere. At tomorrow night’s “Spectrum of Jazz” event patrons will enjoy music by Jazz Etcetera in the name of a worthy cause. The event will be held at the Balmoral Club beginning at 7pm, with dinner served at 8pm. Additionally, there will be a silent auction featuring a number of items including a framed and signed Miami Dolphins shirt donated by former star quarterback Dan Marino. Jazz Etcetera is a well-loved local jazz band which performs an eclectic mix of musical genres like funk, R&B, soul, calypso and pop. “Jazz is an interpretative style of music and much like autism there is a spectrum of jazz influences and styles. No two people with autism spectrum disorder are the same, and similarly, no two jazz performances are the same. We wanted everyone to be able to hear and enjoy the music that they love in an atmosphere of fun and intimacy and to experience the nuances of their music. We felt that Jazz Etcetera was just the band to make that possible,” said Paula Hospedales of REACH. Coca Cola has created a signature drink for the event and patrons will be the first to try the “Light it Up Blue” cocktail upon entry. REACH is a nonprofit, non-government charity that has been in existence since 1999 to serve the wider autism community through support, advocacy and education. All funds raised from the event will be directly funnelled towards its 2018 summer camp. Last year, REACH hosted a therapeutic intensive summer camp for kids with autism who had little or no access to occupational, speech or applied behaviour analysis therapy. The kids
REACH Bahamas supporters during the ‘Light it up Blue’ event on Rawson Square.
Jazz Etcetera will perform during the ‘Specturm of Jazz’ event. were able to have swim therapy in addition to the other activities like art and gardening. The camp ran for four weeks and had 20 participants between the ages of four to 12. “It was extremely impactful for the students and their families. This year, we would like to expand the summer camp to include 30 kids and runs for six weeks. These types of camps are
expensive. ‘Spectrum of Jazz’ is one of the ways that REACH is trying to raise the funds necessary to be able to host the camp free of charge. Snacks and lunches for the campers are also provided free of charge,” said Ms Hospedales. REACH is hoping that with the support of the general community they can raise $20,000 from this venture, which
is less than half the amount that is required for this year’s summer camp. April is Autism Awareness Month and REACH has planned an active schedule of events for the remainder of the month. The next event will be the open house on April 25 from 10am and culminating in this month’s parent support meeting at 6.30pm. On Saturday, April 28, the organisation will host its annual fun run/walk starting at Montagu Beach at 6am. The third annual raffle will be drawn following the race. The top prize is one year free gas from Rubis. REACH will continue to offer free parent/caregiver training, monthly parent support meetings on every fourth Wednesday of the month, ‘Life Skills’ Saturday classes for older kids and teens with ASD, the annual summer camp and Christmas party. There are free horseback riding sessions at the Camperdown stables twice a month on Saturdays for all special needs kids, and Saturday choir practices and monthly birthday treats for kids. “This year we will be adding ‘Respite Care’ every Saturday and twice a month on Sundays to give parents and caregivers a well-deserved break to run errands or attend church with the assurance that their children are being well taken care of in a safe and accommodating environment,” said Ms Hospedales. “We are also continuing to advocate for more public school classrooms and support for pre-school to high school aged children with ASD. REACH will also like to have an activity/job training centre for the adults with autism that have aged out of the school system and who have nowhere to be and little or no job training. Tickets for “Spectrum of Jazz” are $100 and can be purchased from the REACH office on the Queen’s College campus. For more information, contact 328-4123 or e-mail reachautisimbahamas@yahoo.com.
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Friday, April 20, 2018
gardening
How to make a potting mix Making your own potting mix is rather like making a cake – a big cake – without having to bake it, says Jack Hardy
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here are many options available to personalise your mix and to adapt it for the plants you will be growing. First of all, let us consider the commercial potting mixes available. I am sure that at some time you have noticed that a potting soil is available from your favourite nursery that is half the price of your regular mix. You buy it and then find out why it was so cheap. Poor potting soils contain much in the way of twigs and bark that can be a nuisance when filling small pots. The bark tends to break down within a year and the mix compacts. Cheap potting mix can look suspiciously like rough soil. A potting mix is basically peat moss, perlite and/or vermiculite, and compost. Peat moss is like the flour for a cake and although I use sphagnum peat moss you can use chopped coir as the base ingredient. Your nursery will certainly have Canadian peat moss which is sold by the cubic foot in dry and compacted form. The operative word is peat. Sphagnum moss (without the word peat) is an expensive commodity used in propagation and also the growing medium for some orchids. Peat moss is a renewable commodity that will never run out.
Perlite sounds like a commercial name but is a natural product of volcanoes. When it is heated it puffs up like brilliantly white popcorn (though smaller) and has a very low density. Perlite is used to trap air within the mix and to keep it light. Vermiculite is a mined product that also expands when heated. Its uses commercially are very many but for gardeners it provides a substance that retains moisture within the soil. Soil is full of microbial activity that is beneficial to the roots of plants. Peat moss and perlite are both sterile so to make our mix organically active we must introduce microbes and bacteria and this is best done by adding mature compost to the mix. Some potting mixes contain fertilizer and some do not. Those that do use liquid fertilizer at low strength. You should not add granular or even time-release fertilizer to your mix. The presence of solid fertilizers will burn young roots and kill the plant. So here we go. Buy a bale of peat moss and a bag of perlite. Find a container large enough to hold one cubic foot of peat moss. I use a zinc washing tub. I do not know its official capacity but it is big enough to prepare a good cubic foot. Break the compacted peat moss with your hands and reduce the lumps to a minimum.
Make a hole in the middle of the peat moss and add about eight quarts of perlite. Mix this into the peat moss being sure to dig to the bottom and lift to the top. About halfway through add shovelful (about two quarts) of mature compost. I have access to goat and chicken manure but good compost is even more effective at introducing bacteria. Now back to the mixing. When you feel happy that all the additions are evenly mixed add water with a hose end sprinkler on shower. Thoroughly wet your mix and dig back into the batter. You may be surprised at how much of the peat moss remains dry. Keep watering and mixing until the potting soil is evenly moist. That’s it. The job is over. You have your potting mix ready to use. You will likely be making your own potting soil for a particular purpose. If it is for pineapples and strawberries you may wish to add flowers of sulphur (about half a quart) and about give seconds worth of Miracid from a hose-end feeder. If you are raising tomatoes and peppers in pots you can use a liquid tomato special. Flowers can receive a blossom special. Most other plants are happy with regular liquid fertilizer. I mentioned special additions. If you have no compost handy you can add a shovelful of Kow Krap or other ready-made animal waste conditioner.
I have heard some gardeners extol the virtues of a septic tank conditioner that is normally flushed down the toilet to promote bacterial activity. Another addition to your mix could be coffee grounds. This is fairly neutral, slightly acidic, and once mixed in will add bulk, no more than a quart at a time. Back to vermiculite. If you are preparing a mix for plants that are water lovers – celery, watercress and eddo come to mind – then use vermiculite instead of perlite. If you are using your mix for annuals in clay pots it would be a good idea to add two quarts each of perlite and vermiculite. My measurements are only a rough guide but be careful not to overdo any part of the metaphoric cake. If you double the amount of perlite, for instance, you will find your mix drying up very quickly. If your mix does dry out at any time you should place the pot into a container of water and let it sit overnight. Watering with a hose usually will not solve the problem. I do not want to get into the savings you earn by making your own potting mix but it will become evident to you that you are getting about one and a half to two times the quantity versus the most expensive commercial potting mixes. • For questions and comments, e-mail gardenerjack@coralwave.com.
20 | The Tribune | Weekend
Friday, April 20, 2018
books review
‘Our Little Secret’ is remarkable debut by Roz Nay
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This cover image released by St. Martin’s Press shows “Our Little Secret,” a novel by Roz Nay. (St. Martin’s Press via AP)
en years ago, in the little town of Cove, Vermont, a quiet girl named Angela Petitjean fell in love with the dashing captain of the high school swim team. Now, Angela stews in the local police station, stonewalling a series of grim detectives who want to know if she can explain why her
first love’s wife, Saskia, has gone missing. Their questions suggest they have a list of preconceptions they are trying to check off. This, Angela is certain, is no way to get at the truth. Finally, when Detective Novak takes a turn, Angela asks: “Do you really want to know what happened?” He does, so over the next 255 pages, she tells him — everything. “Our Little Secret,” a debut novel by Roz Nay, superficially resembles Paula Hawkins’ “The Girl on a Train” and similar psychological thrillers that have stormed the best-seller lists in the last decade. But Nay’s work transcends the subgenre. The plot is more textured and heartbreaking, and her prose contains startling turns of phrase that reveal the soul of a poet. As Angela speaks, it becomes apparent that she is odd. Perhaps haunted. The reader can’t help but wonder how much of her tale is true. She begins when her
Coulter and Ellison’s ‘The Sixth Day’ has horror and thrills IMPOSSIBLE assassinations and an ancient manuscript are only the beginning in “The Sixth Day,” the latest thriller from the talented duo of Catherine Coulter and JT Ellison. Nicholas Drummond and his partner, Michaela Caine, work for the FBI Covert Eyes team. Since Drummond is British, he’s getting accustomed to the differences between his country and the United States. On vacation in Britain, the duo is pulled back into service for two crises: One involves a major hack from a mastermind in the digital world and the other involves the mysterious assassination of prominent government officials. Drummond and Caine discover a blurry photo taken at the scene of the second murder that happened on the steps of 10 Downing Street. It shows
a small drone in the air. Their team deduces this seeming toy is capable of shooting a tiny projectile. Both victims died from a deadly and rare poison, and they must quickly try to figure out who might be next. Mixed in with the chaos is a mysterious and ancient manuscript that has baffled historians for centuries. The text appears to be gibberish, and several pages from it are missing. An expert on this manuscript has found the missing pages stored in the British Museum and thinks she can translate it. A madman hears this and believes that this information might hold the cure for his twin brother, who has a rare blood disorder. This man has the money, power and access to get what he wants, even if it means the bodies pile up along the way.
The previous novels in the series have all had Drummond as the odd man out while working in the United States. Since this story takes place on British soil, it’s Caine’s turn to be the fish out of water, and that aspect pays off in unexpected ways. The mix of history with the modern technology generates both horror and thrills. Coulter and Ellison have another amazing entry in this ongoing series, and a comment at the end of the novel hints at the possible next story the team will face. JEFF AYERS Associated Press
This cover image released by Gallery Books shows “The Sixth Day,” by Catherine Coulter and J.T Ellison. (Gallery Books via AP)
family moves to town, settling in a house “that was sad and gray and looked hunched, like it was coughing.” Her parents, whose ambitions had gone unrealised, were living vicariously through her. Her father’s good intentions, she says, “held all of his own life’s ruin.” Shutting them out, she finds friendship, and then her “soul mate,” in the swim team captain. They talk of marriage, but after graduation, she spends a year studying at Oxford. When she returns, Saskia has taken her place. Angela has never been able to let it go. As she prattles on, Novak grows impatient, interrupting with questions. Is Saskia alive? Did Angela harm her? In the end, she provides the answers — but only in the final sentence of this remarkable novel. BRUCE DESILVA Associated Press
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Friday, April 20, 2018
literary lives – arthur conan doyle
From mystery to mysticism Sir Christopher Ondaatje analyses the unlikely life story of the Scottish writer best known for his creation of the genius consulting detective Sherlock
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avier Marias, the venerated Spanish author, has said of Arthur Conan Doyle: “It seems implausible that a man as irreproachable and well-loved as Arthur Conan Doyle could, at the end of his days, have lost much of his reputation and even the respect of many of his friends. Yet this is precisely what happened when, 11 years before his death, he gave up his life to spiritualism, abandoned any writing that had nothing to do with that faith and devoted himself to travelling the world proselytising. Being a conscientious man, he estimated that in the first five years of his ministry he had travelled more than 50,000 miles and had addressed some 300,000 people, some of them far flung enough to have been of Australian or South African nationality.” Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle was born on May 22, 1859 in Edinburgh,
Scotland, to a prosperous Irish Catholic family. Doyle’s father, Charles Altamont Doyle, never accomplished much and in 1864 forced the family to separate because of his growing alcoholism. The children were temporarily housed across Edinburgh until three years later they came together in a squalid tenement flat at 3 Sciennes Place. Doyle’s father died in 1893. Doyle’s mother, however, was a gifted storyteller, had a passion for books, and enormously influenced her son Arthur’s life. “In my early childhood, as far as I can remember anything at all, the vivid stories she would tell me stand out so clearly that they obscure the real facts of my life.”
There was not much money, but when he was nine years old the wealthy members of the Doyle family paid for young Arthur’s studies at Jesuit boarding schools in England where he spent seven hated years – loathing the bigotry and brutal corporal punishment. His only release from this unpleasant and gruelling life was writing to his mother and playing cricket, at which he excelled. When he was 16 he spent a year in the Jesuit Stella Matutina school in Feldkirch, Austria, before enrolling at Edinburgh University’s medical school. From 1876 to 1881 Doyle studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh. The young medical student met other ambitious authors at university, including J M Barrie and Robert Louis Stevenson. However, one of his
teachers, Dr Joseph Bell – a master of observation, logic, deduction, and diagnosis, was the person who most influenced him. These qualities would later emerge in Doyle’s most celebrated character, Sherlock Holmes. Two years into his studies, now using the name Arthur Conan Doyle, he tried his hand at writing. His first attempt, “The Haunted Grange of Goresthorpe”, was rejected by Blackwoods Magazine, but “The Mystery of Sasassa Valley” was accepted in 1879 by Chamber’s Journal in Edinburgh, and the same year “The American Tale” was published in London Society. In his third year at Edinburgh University a strange thing happened. He was offered the job of ship’s surgeon on a whaling boat about to leave for the Continued on page 22
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Friday, April 20, 2018
Continued from page 21 Arctic. Near Greenland the crew hunted for seals – an appalling exercise whose brutality horrified the young medical student. However the eventual whale hunt fascinated him. The adventure “awakened the soul of a born wanderer” he wrote many years later. The experience was introduced into his chilling story “Captain of the Pole-Star”. Returning to his studies in 1880 he struggled through without much enthusiasm ... but managed to scrape through for a Bachelor of Medicine and Master of Surgery degree. Looking for adventure, he enrolled as Ship’s Surgeon on the battered SS Mayumba travelling up the West African coast – but he did not find Africa as seductive as the Arctic. Doyle returned to England and set up a practice in Plymouth with a former classmate George Turnavine Budd. He was compassionate and hard-working, but his heart wasn’t in it. For the next few years he divided his time between trying to be a good doctor and struggling to be a recognised author. He was reasonably successful, and in 1885 married Louisa Hawkins – the sister of one of his patients. The following year Doyle started work on his first work, “A Study in Scarlet”, which was to catapult him to fame. The book was taken by Ward Lock & Co and serialised in the Glasgow Herald, and two years later in Beeton’s Christmas Annual. The novel introduced us to the immortal Sherlock Holmes, and won instant fame. Curiously, Holmes was based on the character of his University Professor Joseph Bell. Robert Louis Stevenson was to write to Doyle: “My compliments on your very ingenious and very interesting adventures of Sherlock Holmes ... can this be my old friend Joe Bell?” Others have also suggested that
A young Arthur Conan Doyle photographed Arthur Conan Doyle wearing his deputy lieutenant by Herbert Rose Barraud in 1893. uniform in 1902.
“A Study in Scarlet”, which was published in Beeton’s Christmas Annual in 1887, catapulted Arthur Conan Doyle to fame.
Doyle was influenced by Edgar Allan Poe and his character C Auguste Dupin. A sequel to “A Study in Scarlet” was published in Lippincott’s Monthly Magazine in 1889 which planned an English edition of their American magazine. Both “A Study in Scarlet” and “A Sign of the Four” were published under an agreement with Ward Lock & Co. Doyle felt he was grievously exploited by them. He never worked with the company again. The first five Sherlock Holmes short stories were written after he moved to London, in his office at 2 Upper Wimpole Street – now marked by a blue memorial plaque. During this time Doyle wrote a strange and confusing book, “The Mystery of Cloomber”.
It was the beginning of his fascination with the paranormal. His daughter Mary was born. His medical practice was flourishing and his literary career – particularly in the United States – was blossoming. He was represented by the literary agent A P Watt who relieved him of the nasty business of negotiating – which he hated. He also had time to think – particularly when he fell victim to a particularly dangerous flu-like virus. He lay close to death for several days and as he lay immobile he came to the decision that he had been foolish to try to combine two careers. It was thus that he made the decision to abandon his medical career. “I remember in my delight taking the
handkerchief, tossing it up to the ceiling in my exultation. I should at last be my own master.” In 1892, Doyle’s wife Louisa gave birth to a son, Kingsley, which he called the “chief event” of their life. Extraordinarily, despite the popularity of Sherlock Holmes, the impulsively prolific author decided to abandon his star character. Doyle wrote to his mother: “I think of slaying Holmes ... and winding him up for good and all. He takes my mind from better things.” “You won’t! You can’t! You musn’t!” his mother replied. Determined to resist his publishers’ demands for more Sherlock Holmes stories, Doyle raised his prices to a level intended to discourage them, but to no avail. The publishers fearlessly and willingly paid the larger sums. As a result Doyle became one of the highest-paid authors of his time. Conan Doyle didn’t care. Travelling to Switzerland he discovered a place where he would finish his hero’s career. In “The Final Problem” (1893) Doyle had Holmes and Professor Moriarty plunge to their deaths down the Reichenbach Falls. As a result 20,000 readers cancelled their subscriptions to The Strand Magazine. Again, Doyle didn’t care. He decided to spend more time writing historical novels. He immersed himself into intense historical work which frenzied life led him to ignore his wife Louisa’s failing health. She was diagnosed with tuberculosis and given only a few months to live. He wrote incessantly, realising that Louisa was no longer a wife but a patient, and endured severe depression. It also
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Friday, April 20, 2018
caused him to delve more into spiritualism, and he joined the Society for Psychical Research – a public statement of his interest in and belief in the Occult. “Work is the best antidote to sorrow.” Doyle’s ministrations kept his wife alive well into the new century. Public outcry over the demise of Sherlock Holmes forced him to resurrect him again in the novel “The Hound of the Baskervilles”, inspired from a long stay on the Devon moors which included a visit to an inhospitable Manor House, an escaped convict, and a large sepulchral hound. Doyle is quoted as saying: “Why should I invent such a character, when I already have him in the form of Sherlock Holmes.” Doyle wrote the story as if it was a previously untold adventure, and the subscribers to The Strand Magazine were delighted. In 1902, King Edward VII knighted Conan Doyle – not for his contribution to literature, but for services rendered to the Crown during the Boer War. However, it was generally perceived that the King had put Doyle’s name on the Honours List to encourage him to write more stories. Conan Doyle published “The Adventures of the Empty House” in 1903, explaining that only Moriarty has fallen to his death at the Reichenbach Falls, but since Sherlock Holmes had other dangerous enemies – especially Colonel Sebastian Moran – he was to be perceived dead. Holmes was eventually featured in no less than in four novels and 56 short stories, the last published in 1927. Holmes has since appeared in many stories and novels by other authors. Doyle’s wife’s condition continued to deteriorate while he faithfully administered to her needs. During this time he started a platonic relationship with a friend, Jean Leckie – seeing her as discreetly as possible. With their two children Doyle and Louisa had moved to a house, Windlesham, in Sussex while keeping a small flat in London. After Louisa died in his arms on July 4, 1906, he slipped into a debilitating state of depression for months. Eventually, after nine years of clandestine courtship, Doyle and Jean Leckie married on September 18, 1907. Conan Doyle’s second marriage was a happy union and for some time his literary output decreased while he shared his wife’s activities. He wrote a Continued on page 24
Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson appear in The Strand Magazine, drawn by the original illustrator Sidney Paget.
Windlesham Manor, where Arthur Conan Doyle spent the last 23 years of his life.
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Friday, April 20, 2018
A grand friendship: Arthur Conan Doyle and famed illusionist Harry Houdini Continued from page 23 number of plays, without much success, including “Brigadier General”, “The Tragedy of the Korosko”, and “The House of Temperley”. Running out of funds he reverted to writing a fourth play on Sherlock Holmes which he called “The Stonor Case” – but had to change it to “The Speckled Band”, which had been better known. It was much more successful but he discarded this literary direction for the more rewarding Professor Challenger creation. “The Lost World” (1912) was another immediate success about outrageous and highly personable characters stranded on a plateau in the Amazon basin of South America. The book may have been one of the earliest “science fiction” creations – a term not yet used. “The Valley of Fear”, the fourth and final Sherlock Holmes novel, was serialised in The Strand Magazine in 1914-15. In May 1914, Sir Arthur and Lady Conan Doyle sailed for New York for the first time in 20 years and found it much changed for the worse. They also went to Canada, which they loved, but returned only a month later because for some time Doyle had feared a war
The Sherlock Holmes statue in Edinburgh, Scotland, the birthplace of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
with Germany was imminent. He had warned about it in both newspapers and magazines. When finally it did break out in 1914 he offered to enlist but was rejected because of his age. He was 55 years old. Nevertheless, he encouraged the use of inflatable rubber belts, inflatable lifeboats, and “body armour”. These suggestions were rejected as being pure fantasy by everyone except Winston Churchill who wrote a letter thanking him for his suggestions. At the height of World War I in 1916 a noticeable change came over Conan Doyle’s beliefs, partly prompted by the beliefs of his children’s nanny Lily Loder Symonds. This, together with the horrors he had witnessed in the River Somme, and the deaths he saw around him, made him rationalise that spiritualism was a “New Revelation” sent by God to bring solace to the bereaved. “The New Revolution” was the title of his first spiritualist work, published two years later. In the intervening years he wrote extensively on his new faith and lectured frequently about the truth of spiritualism. War related deaths gave conviction to his belief in life after death and spirit communication. The death of his son of complications from pneumonia after being wounded in the war provided the explanation for Doyle’s newfound beliefs, but he had voiced his belief in spiritualism and the occult a full two years before his son’s death. Doyle also lost his brother, two brothers-in-law, and two nieces in the war. Doyle pursued his new passion for the occult with the same determination he had shown for both medicine in his younger days, and in his writing. He wrote the spiritualist novella “The Land of the Mist” and many other non-fictional works – the most famous being “The Coming of the Fairies” in 1922 which championed the photos of fairies later determined to be faked. The press mocked him and the clergy disapproved of him. But he was not deterred. After 1918, and because of his deepening involvement into the occult, Doyle wrote little fiction, writing about spiritualism
instead. His journeys to America, Australia and Africa were only on psychic crusades. He spent freely on these missions and was faced with the necessity to earn money – writing “The Disintegration Machine” (1926) and “When the World Screamed”, and sanctioning the publication of his last 12 stories about the exploits of his immortal detective “The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes”. In the autumn of 1929, Conan Doyle was diagnosed with angina pectoris – a condition that occurs when the heart doesn’t receive sufficient levels of oxygen. Despite this complication Doyle made his last psychic tour to Holland, Denmark, Sweden and Norway. He was in such pain on his return to England that he had to be carried ashore. From that time on he was bedridden, but made one final sortie in the cold spring of 1930 when he left his bed and went undetected into his garden. When they found him he was clutching his heart with one hand and holding a snowdrop in the other. Arthur Conan Doyle died of a heart attack on Monday, July 7, 1930 surrounded by his family in the hall of Windlesham Manor, his house in Crowborough East in Sussex. His final words were addressed to his wife: “The greatest adventure of all ... You are wonderful.” He was 71 years old. When Conan Doyle died, and because he considered himself a spiritualist, there was some controversy about whether or not he was a Christian. Thus he was buried first in his Windlesham rose garden, but later reinterred together with his wife in Minstead Churchyard in the New Forest, Hampshire. A statue honouring Doyle was erected at Crowborough Cross where he had lived for 23 years. NEXT WEEK: A silver screen goddess who fled from fame. • Sir Christopher Ondaatje is the author of ‘The Last Colonial’. He acknowledges that he has quoted liberally from Wikipedia and from the official biography of the Arthur Conan Doyle Literary Estate.
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history
A digital tour of three graveyards Forgotten facts Paul C Aranha
S
ome months ago, I found myself in a discussion about graveyard tours. A friend had visited Boston and taken a historic night tour of one of the cemeteries in that city. She knew that I had photographed all the inscriptions in the five cemeteries close to St Matthew’s Church and wanted advice as to what one would find in them. Did I think visitors would enjoy guided tours through Nassau’s burying places? Not wanting to go out in the hot sun, we decided on a digital tour of the images in my computer files, starting in Nassau’s oldest cemetery, the Centre The final resting places of some of the Bahamas’ newspaper editors Burial Ground at the eastern end of the Eastern Parade. First, we paid our respects to cemetery and is right outside the north – The Bahamas Gazette. Sadly, the Thomas Pinckney of South Carolina, a door of St Matthew’s Church. I know Gazette did not survive the death of its resident since 1733. Nearby is Deborah publisher and Nassau was left without of no descendants of Neil’s, but his Gambier, whose husband was Lieutensister Flora (McQueen) Forsyth is my a newspaper for a long time, but the ant Governor of the Bahamas. Their mother’s great-great-grandmother and name Wells lives on in his Bahamian son, James, was born in Nassau and the grave is shared by my mother’s descendants. joined the Royal Navy at the age of father, my mother and my sister, Betty. This started us on a history of 11, rising to the rank of admiral and Having paid my respects to my relaBahamian newspapers and, withbecoming Baron Gambier of Iver in tives, we ‘strolled’ past the church’s out leaving the air-conditioning, we the county of Buckingham. Gambier steeple, through the gate into the crossed Dowdeswell Street into St Village is named after him, as is AusEastern Cemetery, to visit the grave Matthew’s Cemetery, ‘walked’ about tralia’s Mount Gambier and various of Mary Moseley, OBE (1878-1960), 100 yards and stopped and stopped sites in North America. long-serving editor/owner of The at the grave of Neil McQueen (1767But the person who inspired the Guardian. That paper was founded by 1838), the longest-serving publisher closest attention was John Wells her grandfather in 1844, making it the of Nassau’s second (and for a time, its (1752-1799), whose grave is just inside oldest paper in the Bahamas, but no only) newspaper – The Royal Gazette the gate, to the left and against the longer owned by the Moseley family. and Bahama Advertiser. McQueen’s western wall. He was publisher and editor of the Colony’s first newspaper is the oldest grave in that part of the One of his descendants, Lou Cuevas,
Fossil finger points to early humans entering Saudi Arabia NEW YORK (AP) — An ancient human finger bone found in Saudi Arabia provides a new clue about when and how our species migrated out of Africa. Researchers say it shows hunter-gatherers had reached that area by 85,000 years ago. Previously discovered human fossils show an earlier human
presence in Israel and possibly China. Scientists believe early people left Africa more than once after evolving there at least 300,000 years ago. The bone, from an adult and most likely a middle finger, was found in 2016 about 340 miles (550 kilometres) southeast of the Sinai Peninsula. Michael Petraglia
(peh-TRAH-lee-uh) of the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History in Jena, Germany, says the ancient people probably left Africa through the peninsula. He and others reported the discovery in this week’s journal Nature Ecology & Evolution. MALCOLM RITTER AP Science Writer
a Moseley by birth, runs Bahama Art and Handcraft on East Shirley Street, where lots of interesting historic pictures can be bought. A mere 25 yards away, and still in the Eastern Cemetery, is the splendid tomb of Leon E H Dupuch (1870-1940) founder, in 1903, of The Tribune, which you are reading now, and which is still owned and operated by the Dupuch family and still carries the original motto “Nullis Addictus Jurare in Verba Magistri” – Being Bound to Swear to the Dogmas of No Master. Eileen Dupuch Carron is the publisher/editor of this newspaper and the family also publishes The Bahamas Handbook and Businessman’s Annual, and a wide variety of other books. There are, and have been, many other newspapers in Nassau and other islands of the Bahamas, but this ‘tour’ is limited to this small group of cemeteries, but I can’t end without mentioning The Bimini Bugle (about six inches square), which proclaimed itself to be “the world’s smallest newspaper” and was published by Lester Hemingway, Ernest Hemingway’s brother. I spent countless hours in some 14 Bahamian graveyards, taking over 3,000 pictures of inscriptions. and was constantly reminding myself of a Noel Coward song which said “mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the noonday sun.” There can be no question that night tours must be far less sweaty. • For questions and comments, e-mail islandairman@gmail.com.
A finger bone of Homo sapiens from the Al Wusta site, Saudi Arabia. (Credit: Ian Cartwright palaeodeserts project, human bone, phalanx)
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To obtain our up to date list please visit 9 Start (5) 24 Notepad, 25 Tiers. be smoother (5) 19 Experiences initial difficulty www.expressbookshop.com, call 01872 562310 or write to Express 22 4 25 39 7 39 34 2 25 18 32 Y 21 oBLIGATEd oblige Down: 1 10 Plateau, Spaghetti, School 2 uniform items (7) Falmouth TR11 4WJ. SAE speechmaking (8)Please enclose an 25 An opening point given Bookshop, PO Boxin200, Z obliged ogle ogled toga for return. 3 Eaten, 13 4 Garter, 5 Iceberg, Noise (5)
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THE ALPHABEA
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EASY PUZZLE
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Call 0907 181 2586 for today’s Target solution
*Calls cost 80p per minute plus your telephone company’s network access charge. All puzzles use The Chambers Dictionary
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The Tribune | Weekend | 27
Friday, April 20, 2018
animals It is the perfect ending to a story that wasn’t going so well. Over the years we have found that some dogs just do not do well in a shelter. They languish and lose the will to live. Their miserable countenance makes them unappealing to adopt; people do not choose them and it becomes a vicious circle. Jessie was so lucky and her smile says it all. Party for the Animals: Party in this instance is a verb. The Bahamas Humane Society is having a party at Montague Gardens to celebrate the winners of the B-humane Awards and to present them with their plaques. Tickets are a very reasonable $60 with a cash bar, and one of the attractions is our all adult hoop-la table where the prizes are suitable for grown-up; all sorts of cool prizes. The four Bhumane Awards have been awarded to the following recipients: Shelley Hardman (New Providence Award),
Animal matters Kim Aranha
Notes from my desk
E
PET OF THE WEEK
Mission Miriam By The Bahamas Humane Society All smiles: Jessie goes to her forever home. toma and was scheduled for surgery, but there was grave concern about her recovery because she just wasn’t happy in a shelter environment. Well, an angel was sent, ladies and gentleman! A few days ago our faithful photographer and honorary board member Patricia Vazquez was at the shelter and she told one of the adoption crew that she had room for one more. ‘Which one, and how do I pick’, she asked herself ? So she told Gregory Lightbourne, of the Adoptions Department, to simply bring her back the dog who needed a home most. Gregory rushed out knowing exactly which dog he would bring back. Jessie has now had her successful surgery and I am delighted to report that she is happily recovering in her new home with her new, very large, animal family and her angel who saved her from sadness and gave her a safe and happy home for the rest of her days.
Name: Miriam Age: 10 months Breed: Potcake Your mission, should you choose to accept is, is to provide a loving home for young Miriam here. This lovely girl is very smart but a little bit shy and will need lots of loving assurance her first few weeks in your home. She’s friendly with most other dogs, and could probably learn to like cats as well. Are you up for the challenge? If so, come in to the Bahamas Humane Society to make Miriam’s acquaintance or call 3235138 for more information. The BHS is a no-kill shelter, so Miriam can stay as long as she needs, but we’re sure you’re ready to take her in. Adoption hours are 11am to 4pm on Monday to Friday, and 10am to 4pm on Saturday, with special Sunday hours from 12noon to 3pm during April. Miriam looks forward to shaking your paw! • Join us as we ‘Party for the Animals’ on Friday, May 11, at 7pm at Montagu Gardens. Tickets are $60 and are available at the BHS. There will be a cash bar, door prize, and
PATRICIA VAZQUEZ
very now and then there are small things to report, updates to share and tidbits to impart. No one piece of information and/ or story is long enough for an entire article, but the content is worthy of being shared and enjoyed. Hence this week’s ‘Notes from my desk’. Last weekend I was in beautiful Long Island, my first visit ever. The most splendid of beaches, and, never have I seen so many magnificent churches on one island. Hats off to the Bahamas Humane Society Chaplin Archdeacon Keith Cartwright who spearheaded and led the repairs of some 12 Anglican churches throughout Long Island ... they are beautifully restored. I was pretty amazed at how few animals I saw in total. I certainly saw more goats than anything else. The dogs that I did see were all beautifully cared for, a couple of cats and one very cheeky but magnificent rooster who was strutting around the airport as if he owned the place. Though some had warned me that Gordons has its share of sharks off the beach, I had an amazing swim there and did not see one dorsal fin. The highlight of my visit was seeing the fabulous and famous Dean’s Blue Hole. Changing gear: We returned to Nassau where I was saddened to have no more news or updates on the investigation of the pit bull killing the potcake video. Nobody is talking about it and I am sad that the support from responsible pit bull owners is seriously lacking. I do not intend to let this pass. We have reward money collected from close to one hundred people and I will continue to ask and agitate until I feel it is getting the attention it deserves. A very happy story to share with you: We had an older dog, Jessie, at the shelter for the past six months. Nobody offered her a home, and she was miserable. She had a ear haema-
Sally Gamble (Out Island Award), Super Value (Corporate Award), and Jim Crosby (International Award). It is such a pleasure to be in a position to recognise those who have gone the extra mile to make a difference. We are hugely indebted to these men and women and love being able to say thank you adequately. Another horrible moment: Just before I was to submit this article for print I received a call that a small grey kitten was seen being thrown out of a black Honda in the vicinity of Old Fort Shopping Plaza. The poor little one dodged the traffic and got to the other side. The person who saw it was not able to get the licence plate number of the old Honda (a 1998/1999 model). Now that poor little cat has to fend for itself, could be injured, will be hungry. Why could that person not just bring the kitten to the shelter? I repeat, what is wrong with our country?
adult hoop-la - and the BHumane Awards will be presented. Come and help support the BHS.
28 | The Tribune | Weekend
Friday, April 20, 2018