All that Jazz

Absolutely fabulous, wonderful, great, oh my God, there are just not enough superlatives to describe the performance of Celine Dion at the 2012 Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival. Even the fact that we were stuck for 2 hours in the parking lot at the Trelawny stadium after the performance did not dampen the great feeling of exhilaration that we all felt because of that performance. I had gone there in a chartered bus with 15 other people and for the two hours that we sat in parking lot, unable to  move because of the huge crowd that had attended, all we could talk about was the Celine Dion performance. 

Not only was her performance di lick, but also so was the fantastic backdrop which  kept us transfixed. Most of the back drop reflected Las Vegas images but when she did the themes from Goldfinger and Live and Let Die, James Bond movies, the appropriate action backdrops were shown. It was really professional and totally unmatched. 


I love Celine, but when I saw the line up for the Thursday night, I said it would have been the best night. That night was designed to reproduce Jamaica's musical growth over the 50 years of Independence. That covered the periods of ska, rock steady, reggae and dancehall. It was awesome. In fact it was more of a party than a concert and because alll the artists used 3 bands, Byron Lee, Lloyd Parks and I forgot the other, there was no lag between artists. I haven't danced so  much for years........ on my feet doing ska, rock steady and reggae from  about 10pm to about 3am to such greats such as Delroy Morgan (now blind but fulla vibes same way), Pluto Shervington, Yellowman, Marcia Griffiths, John Holt, Etana and other such greats kept us rocking non stop.

I really love Yellowman whom I have not see since reggae Sunsplash (and you know that has been no more for about a decade) and was really looking forward to seeing him. He certainly did not disappoint and was amusing too as he can't dance so he spent the entire half hour or so that he performed,  jogging up and down the stage and he carried the crowd with him all the way. It was invigorating and really enjoyable.

Of course Shaggy brought down the house (as usual) as the final act and had Ne-Yo as his surprise artist to do "It wasn't me" with him to the great delight of the audience.

We left there at 4am and I thought Celine could not top Thursday night. Richie Stevens also gave a memorable performance but words cannot describe what Celine did to us all.

Saturday night was not in the same class but reasonable. I slept during Celo's performance and Bobby Brown and his group.  They were sub standard and yuck.

There was however a young american guitarist named something Clue who played some great Jazz  and Destra had us on our feet for about half hour with some vigorous Soca. She also did some Whitney Houston hits and was really good and the Temptations were not bad even if a bit passe. Junior Gong who closed the night was also really quite good.

 However after all we got on Thursday and Friday nights, I would never complain about Saturday even if it was really bad for what the heck, how many great performances can one really absorb in one little weekend?

A Hell of a Fright

After driving for 48 year, I guess I have just been very lucky never to have had a head on crash. Well until today and it was a frightening scenario.

Here I was coming back to Kingston after one of the most memorable weekends in my life topped off with Celine Dion's fantastic performance at the jazz and /blues festival. We were in a great mood listening to music with the windows up. Coming down Mt. Roosser, quite slowly, thank god, I suddenly saw a huge trailer right in front of me on my side of the road, around a corner. In fact, I was so frightened that I thought it was on top of me.

Instinctively I slammed my brake but the car felt like it was not about to stop. Actually, I discovered afterwards that the car did stop but it was the truck barreling towards me that made It feel that way. Then came the impact, throwing me forward.

I hate seat belts but always wear them on long country runs and today was no difference. The impact made a big noise but then I realised that nothing had happened to us, just the car. Boy that Chev Aveo is fantastic. Although my right front side was badly mauled, there is a solid piece of iron under the plastic bumper so the damage was minimal but the big, ominous truck was so frail that the bumper came in on  his wheel and he had to pry it off with a piece of iron before being able to drive off.

Of course we could not get the police. 119 tried and the phone at the Ewarton was not working. They gave me the number and I tried also to no avail. In the meantime the traffic started to pile up behind us. One poor lady cried that she was on the way to the airport and was going to miss her flight. I had no problem moving after getting the particulars from the trailer driver, but he wanted to stay till the police got there. Eventually an off duty cop instructed him to clear the road and go report the accident.


Alls well that ends well.  I celebrated my near miss with some delicious jerk pork at Ewarton.

Another Dream

I had another dream last night, but I am convinced this particular one was a combination of my subconscious playing tricks on me by mixing up what I was hearing on BBC news (I tend to keep the radio on that station when I go to bed) with my own imagination, I guess.

The BBC has been carrying the news constantly about the running aground of the Italian cruise ship Concordia, near Giglio island.

 I suppose I was hearing another aspect of the report as I dreamt that I was stranded on an island , not as a result of a cruise ship going ballistic, for I had no idea how I got there. With me was a gentleman who shall remain nameless, but someone with whom I would never be caught  stranded on an island with! Naturally he wanted to have sex but I had to walk him out.

 The next scene was in a hotel and I went to the lobby to try and get a safe to store quite a lot of US dollars which I had in my wallet and which I did not want to leave in the room of my hotel.

Then I woke up.

What the heck kind of dream is this?

A Dream at last

Some time ago, I decided to start recording my dreams and ever since I wrote about it, could I remember one dream!

Well this morning (10/1/2012) as I walked with a friend, we started  to discuss a house we saw along the way and guess what happened.......I suddenly remembered that I had dreamt last night and more importantly, I could remember the dream in full detail what I had dreamt. This was absolutely amazing as before that instant, I hadn't even remembered that I had dreamt the night before!

Maybe this programme that I am starting in 2011 will give me an opportunity to review my dreams one day when I have nothing better to do and give me some understanding into what dreams are about.

The thing about this particular dream is that I saw a house that I have recalled having dreamt about many other times. In some dreams,  I own this house. In others, and last night in particular, I don't.

This house I am aware is in Washington Gardens off the Mandella highway but I do not know the exact location. It is a large bungalow, not particularly well kept but it was rearranged from being a one family home with into four or pershaps six separate flats. I saw one flat behind the garage and another just made up of two rooms with the bathroom behind that. I am aware of other flats  but don't know the exact location.

This dream started with me seeing someone I apparently know (but couldn't say who) who was saying they desperately need somewhere to rent and immediatelty I thought about that house. I then rode my bicycle to the place to find out from the tenants when it would be convenient for me to bring a client. I was met  and heralded into the kitchen by a very nice lady whom I obviously knew (but who I do not recognise in reality) but as far as I can recall, I got no further in that quest.

My next scene was somewhere in the Mountain View area where I ran into a black man who told me he worked with the US Embassy and they were having some kind of function there. He told me I was welcome to join in and enjoy some lovely roast beef they had. I asked him if I should go in and help my self but he said no way when in Jamaica they do not leave anything out in the open. (implying that we were a country of thieves). We went inside and as I walked along a passage, saw some people eating beef sandwiches.

That's all I remember but this was one confused, convoluted dream! I can only assume the recurrence of this particular house is linked to the fact that I am a real estate broker, but I wasnot aware that I carry my work to bed!

Christmas and all that

I think this is the first Christmas that I have spent outside of Jamaica in decades, in fact since I became a "returning resident" from Canada in the 70's.But how could I resist the idea of spending these holidays with my grandson Shadrach who was coming down to Florida from the Bronx on Kathy's invitation? Poor kid he is having such a hard time coping with the terrible weather up north, but his mother Michelle, though loving much warmer Atlanta, wants to stay close to her mother in New York. So until he finishes high school in two years, he is stuck there but grabs at every opportunity to go south.

L-R  Alexander, Joao(partly hidden) Amanda, Arianna, Shadrach.

The worse part of the trip was the fact that I got stuck with Spirit airlines to come up but once I arrived all went well.

Fact is I don't really like Florida as it is too flat and rather lacking in character so I have not stayed overnight here for decades, usually just catching a flight on my way some where else. In the olden days, (read 70's and early 80's,) when food was in short supply a "yard", I too took those beautiful flights to Florida to stock up on food. These days however, we have everything and unless I see a real bargain, I am not lugging anything to Jamaica for by the time you calculate the price, time, and effort its not worth it. Anyway people are now accustomed to the fact that when I return from "farin" I am empty handed. I was quite amused earlier this year when I told by new tenants that I would be going to Denver for a while and asked me to bring home a bag full of stuff for him. I set him straight there and then so am home free as far as expectations are concerned!

Anyway,  I have been totally out of touch with friends and family in Florida and its been great. We have been staying with Cardiff, Kathy and their kids in their huge house in Miramar.

As soon as I got here, I got in touch with Pixley, who had been my sea faring partner and very good friend for many years when he lived in Jamaica. Fact is I haven't been on a sailboat since he left for whereas anyone can steer a motor boat, it takes real skill to sail. He came over as we arrived on Tuesday night for he was in Davey with his in laws for he lives way up north in Fort Myers I think.

I have not seen my "little" cousin Michelle for years although we are in constant phone and email touch. Anyway her son Chris is 23 now and a great artist to boot, but I would never had known him in a crowd as have not seen him for donkey's years! She and her husband operate an excellent restaurant called Everton's Mandeville Delight in Miramar  and they make the best oxtail, rice and peas  and jerk pork I have had on the mainland. We went there for lunch on Saturday and I hear the curried chicken and curried shrimps were excellent too.

Hilmas's grandson, Shawn.

On Christmas eve we went to see Marsha. I have been dying to see her baby Sean, born in September. I feel so sad when I think about them. Not for her but her mom Hilma who was my best friend. 2011 should have been the best year of Hilma's life for that is when her first grandchild was born and her son Jerome, my godson, graduated as a doctor. Hilma would have given everything to be around in 2011, but unfortunately she succombed to kidney failure and the related problems in 2009.

Sean is a real Mr. Chin as his dad is Korean. A sweeter baby you cannot find when is mom is in view but when she gets out of sight he raises holy hell! Marsha says he does that even with his dad. I don't know how they are going to manage when he goes to day daycare, but its one day at a time.

Gino and Vinney

On Christmas day Anne Marie, Gino his baby Vinney and girlfriend came around. Gino is so tall and handsome and now has a beard. It was great seeing them and the baby is wonderful as he goes to everyone without any fuss and is always smiling.We are supposed to go down to Guyana in Easter to stay with Anne Marie and go touring in Brazil. I am really looking forward to it as I have always wanted to go to Brazil to sail down the Amazon. Anne Marie  speaks Portuguese fluently and having lived for many years in Brazil, knows all the great places to go.

The one problem I have with where Cardiff and Kathy live is the difficulty in getting around as there is no subway in Florida and the bus service up here sucks. I rented a car and we drove up to Port Charlotte on Tuesday after Christmas and we all drove up to see Lola and family and overnighted there. Port Charlotte is 186 miles up north and somewhat isolated but those guys know more about whats happening in Jamaica than most people do as they listen to RJR all day, via the internet. It was an easy drive but all the alligators we are told we would see along Alligator Alley were missing  on both our way up and down.

I not seen Damion since he was about 14. He is of course a big man now with a teenage son and two other cute boys. He spoke to Michele in Colorado on the phone and she invited him to come up and take the kids snow boarding. His second son has threatened to nag him forever until he doe! I don't think he is going to get away  with  just a promise! Lola seems comfortable and happy and tells mr she will be back in March.

Shadrach has been having a great time with the girls here and going down to the gym but I notice he avoids the pool although Florida is reasonably warm. Although he seems skinny, he is extremely muscular and very strong when he gets going. He hates the idea of going back to New York and cant wait to come home to do law at UTech. He has two years left to complete high school in New York. Unfortunately as he had to spend new year with his mom's family, He left on the 29th. Chris took him to the airport.

New year's eve was especially wonderful. We drove over to Hollywood to the Seminole reservation where they have Hard Rock casino. It is by far the largest and most impressive casino I have ever seen and I have been to casinos in Las Vegas, Atlantic city, Bahamas,  Colorado, Germany, London, St. Martin and Antigua. It is really vast and well laid out and I even made 40% interest on my money!  I love to play blackjack but with the minimum bet there being $25, I had to abstain.

I did not stay long in the casino as there was so much to do. I wonder how they make money in the casino section with so many other things, including live stage shows and dancers plus the numerous clubs and restaurants to distract. I am no good at estimating crowds but I think there was in excess of 10,000 people there new years eve!

The fireworks we saw from the casino were not particularly impressive .........not half as good as our on the harbour, but I suspect these were just individually done, not organised like at Times Square and places like that.

You know there was a time when I used to ridicule Floridians when I saw them on tv in winter gear....long boots,  winter jackets with hoods etc. Well I have to admit I stopped laughing on Tuesday for when I attempted to go outside to walk to the gym, I had to fly back in immediately, get a sweater and cover up under a blanket. I never went out for the entire day as it had dropped to he 40's.

The weather did  not stop us from going to Hard Rock live in the night though. you should have seen me in my winter coat with the hood over my head and i was still close. The show featuring Tavares and KC and the Sunshine Band  was excellent however. They both rocked the house down and for a couple hours we forgot the terrible winter outside. We had gotten so hot during the concert, that it did not seem as bad as we walked back to the car park.

Wednesday too was extremely cold and again it was again a winter coat and hoodie for me but by mid day it started to warm up.

The Jamaican elections

Despite being overseas, I have been monitoring the Jamaican elections closely for I just happen to be a "politics tetese" so listening to radio on the internet at every opportunity and reading the newspapers on line became a must during the entire period leading up to the polls and on election night I never turned off Power 106 until it was really over.

I must admit I was quite perturbed at not being able to vote for they set the date for the 29th December, long after I had made my plans. So this is the first election that I would not vote since 1976.

Man these results were a big surprise for it ended with the PNP winning a landslide victory. I say surprise since we have always depended on pollsters to give us an idea what was happening in the fields but the 3 polling organisations flopped terribly in this one. One group predicted a JLP victory, the other said it was too close to call and the third said it would be the PNP by a nose. Well it turned out to be a wipeout of the JLP and a huge mandate for Portia, Jamaica's first female prime minister.

She was not my choice despite most people thinking that I am a feminist, (I also think I am!) but just didn't think she was up to the job at this time when the world is in deep recession. She has too many dinosaurs around her who have been total failures in the past and can be nothing but the same the future. I hope she, has the good sense to select some capable people this time around..... young, vibrant, bright people for the old flops "canna cross It".

I am really disappointed in what will be the opposition now too. I  really cannot figure out Jamaican voters. How is it that someone  as despicable as Everald Warmington keeps winning and also J.C Hutchinson whose laziness is legendary! And James Robinson? Oh God.  I really never knew that country people had green and orange blood the way they do in the garrisons. Of course, there was no doubt about Desmond McKenzies, since he represents a super garrison but having people like those dominating the opposition is really frightening.

Boy am I glad that I expelled all desire to get involved in represetational politics in the 80's. Come to think of it, although I neither like the late Michael Manley nor Edward Seaga, I have a lot to be thankful to them for. To Michael for coming to Canada and encouraging us to return to Jamaica to help "build our county" , for despite the fact that he did the very opposite in the 70's, had he not visited us Jamaicans in Canada and delivered that inspirational speech, I would probably be there still, freezing to death and simply existing as opposed to enjoying life as I now do, a "Yard."

Then Seaga cured me of any desire to remain in politics, for after joining the JLP after the 1976 elections, to help defeat communism, one term of dealing with that megalomaniac Seaga, who has no respect for "thinking people" as he determined that he was the one don and knew everything, cured me by the mid 80's.

Quite frankly, being an impartial voter and a critic of all political parties and politicians, is much more fun!