Over The Moon

Ping Pong is now on the shelves of gift shops island-wide.

Andromeda Gardens Gift Shop

Barbados Museum

Best of Barbados Shops

Deanna Dash’s Toy Shops

Flower Forest

Gallery of Caribbean Art

Islandcrafts

St. Nicholas Abbey

The Tamarind Seed

Also available from these retailers are:

Would You Please Fetch Me A Pail?

Christophore

Away To Bequia

Ananasi And Herald, The Fowl-Cock

Giant African Land Snails is available on-line from Amazon or Book Depository - you may be lucky to find one of the last copies available on the island.

The Slipway - Carriacou

Dick and I recently visited our friends, Dani and Jerry, in Carriacou*. I enjoy visiting, as living appears unhurried there.

Last year Dani teamed up with Kate, an excellent chef, to open a restaurant on the site of the old slipway at Tyrell Bay. I was curious and eager to see it and found it delightful. Its location is cool and commands a great view of the bay. The second day we were there for lunch, an old ferry broke its mooring and headed towards the ocean. Miraculously it missed all the yachts at anchor. From our table we were able to watch the rescue operation.

The restaurant’s furnishings are simple and comfortable. They created some specials pieces by incorporating old machinery from the slipway in the bar and some tables.

We ate several meals there - all were excellent. Chocoholics must try the Chocolate Torte. The menu changed daily offering variety to suit most. There were fish, meat and vegan options at very reasonable prices. So when you’re in the Grenadines, check out The Slipway.

*Carriacou is the largest island of the Grenadines, an archipelago in southern Caribbean. It is 13 square miles of hilly terrain with a population around 5,000 persons. It has several natural harbours, coral reefs and small offshore islets.

LOKI

We brought home a new puppy yesterday - Loki or Low Key, depending on who you are talking to. Andrew and I agreed on the former, while Dick thinks the latter more apt. He is a fat, softie of seven weeks. His companion, Aris, now twelve weeks is lean and likes rough stuff.

The Aris Chronicles

Aris overturns the laundry basket and settles in for a nap.

Go, Girl

I received a notification for Fresh Milk III, described as a space for dialogue between artistes and the public. It was held at Annalee Davis's studio in St. George. So many turn up for this event that several spent the evening in the gallery listening.

Visual artists, Alberta Whittle and Harriet Rolitt, having recently graduated with MFA degrees, shared their experiences. These two quite different presentations were both informative and Alberta and Harriet explained their objectives and thoughts when creating the images presented.

There was a changed of format for the remainders of the programme where Dorothea Smart, Adrian Green, Linda Deane and Harriet Rollitt made presentation in the pecha kucha format. Here the artiste is allow ten minutes and twenty images to share their memories and thoughts on the chosen theme, which was ABROAD - any interpretation or meaning.

Photoed is Linda Deane during her presentation of memories of England. She combined song and dance to achieve a riveting performance.

Speculation at Limegrove

The low land just east of Holetown flooded every rainy season; the rest of year, depending on rainfall, it was a swamp or dry waterway - attractive only to a naturalist or children looking for small fish and water birds and later to land speculators, who saw the possibilities for cheap land so close to the famed platinum coast. Thus out of the swamp rose Limegrove Life Style Centre, a magnificent, three storied edifice housing a range of local and global retailers in a setting built around three distinctly different courtyards, to become the newest and trendiest places for Bajans and tourists to shop, dine and lime.

In one of the many cool and shaded nooks at Limegrove, two women sat on a brown, slatted wooden bench. They had chosen one the second floor; off the beaten path that affording them a view across the atrium of the walkways and shops on three levels. They were too far back though to see the four fountains splashing in the pool below.

The older woman leaned towards the younger, her arm stretched along the back of the bench; each comfortable in the other’s space. She wore a straw hat with a small upturned brim. A ribbon of the same colour circled the crown and was tied in a bow at the back. A large spray of yellow flowers decorated the front. Her yellow ochre, short-sleeved shirt style dress looked freshly laundered. Sensible low-heeled shoes completed her outfit. Otherwise unadorned, her sparse build spoke of industry and pride – an olde tyme Bajan dressed for the occasion.

The other was glamorous in a champagne, strap sheath and gold wedged strappy shoes. She pressed a large, olive, sequined shoulder bag snug against her body. The straight, shorthaired, black wig glistened. Fawn coloured, medium sized earrings and a matching necklace completed her outfit. She was slim, dark and smooth skinned. She too was meticulous in dress, neat and clean; appearing more educated, more moneyed, more sophisticated.

Mother and daughter, I speculated. The latter now leading; showing Mum the latest and trendiest in Bim and the new Bajan lifestyle.

Giant African Land Snails (GALS)

Like most Bajan gardeners, I'm at war with GALS. I hate the senseless killing but I don't plan on eating them. I also don't want to use the traditional poisons, which will also kill Aris. Initially I used a bleach solution with some success. I usually collected the snails in the early morning. I missed this morning and after the rains today I noticed that several snails were about. I got my bucket and assistant (Aris) and collected my largest harvest yet. I decided to use a saline solution and left the snails to expire in due course.

Not long after that, Dick went to change a washer in the garden tap and he shouted for me to come - a break out was in progress.