About Me

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Predencia
A few years ago I decided to start a new career as a performer. I used to be a biology teacher but couldn't face walking around in a white coat all day teaching children who didn't want to learn. Actually it wasn't so much the children as the system cause I think all children want to learn - they just don't all want to learn in schools. Anyway I now work as a Life and Executive coach. Work is perhaps not the right word because it never feels like work. I just love to see people grow and change. I love it when they peel of the layers of limiting beliefs and find their true self. And I make some great frends in the process. I've re-discovered my writing and have published two poetry books and now working on 2 CDs, a novel, a book of short stories and talking to someone about a collaoration on a film script. That should keep me busy for a whild. Oh and I do bellydance.
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Tuesday 11 May 2010

Island Safari

Getting into a higher holiday gear. Went on an Island Safari today in a 4x4 which took us to places you wouldn't normally get to in an ordinary car. I was expecting to be taken into the forests and up on the hills (such that they are in Barbados) and all my expectations were more than met on that score. What I wasn't expecting was to be supplied with gallons of rum punch on the trip. My other 8 travel companions began drinking at 9 a.m. and continued almost non-stop till our lunch stop at 2 p.m. Not happy with the strength of the punch supplied they asked the driver to stop and buy a bottle of Mount Gay to top it up. They were pretty sozzled by lunchtime and one became particlarly abnoxious. Trust me to be sitting beside him.

Lest you be put off taking such a tour if you come to Barbados - let me say that there were lots of other jeeps whose passengers drank responsibly. Some of them felt sorry for me. It felt like being the driver on a drinking night out, the sober one who. I have every admiration for the driver and tour guide who navigated his way around them with professional aplomb. Just the right amount of humour and gentle steering (especially one of them back to his seat after each stop).

Lunch at the splendid Sunbury Plantation House was a dream Caribbean buffet which three people from our party felt the need to complain about. I felt duty bound to put a different point of view to the manager who offered me a free visit for my trouble. Not sure if I'll have time to get back up there. The journey back was a pretty straight drive for which I was really grateful. I asked to be dropped of at the beach. I don't think I could get complacent about the beauty of the waves as they gather and then release their power over the sand; the way the sun sets slowly into the sea and the translucent air as day slowly turns to night. Everything is perfect then.

I asked my friend "What am I supposed to have learned from today?"
"Tolerance" she answered.
Sunday 9 May 2010

Beautiful Barbados

Amazing what 12 days in one of the most beautiful places on God's earth can do lift one's spirits. Flight re-booked for the 28th and I was happy to accept the extra six days because they couldn't fit me into a flight 14 days later. As they say....it's an ill wind....

I've just come back form a Mother's day lunch at Weisers Cafe Restaurant on Brandon Beach. Lucky me to have 2 mother's day in the same year. The buffet meal bagan with a virgin pina colada (just as well it was virgin as there was probably enough rum swilling about inside me from last night to make it a real one) and ended with a bread and butter pudding with guess what? Yes, rum sauce. The bit in between included breadfruit and redherring salad, rice, lamb, fish and a 'carribean jeark chicken' Now I'm not wishing to be nationalistic here but Jerk Chicken is is a Jamaican dish and sorry Weisers but it does not have a sauce of glazed mango. Don't get me wrong it was lovely, but putting some jerk seasoning on it does not make it 'jerk'

Anyway, that aside, the atmosphere was festive but relaxed. The baloons and ribbons made us mothers feel special, as did the waiting staff. And the view of the beach and turquoise water in the distance...well...a bit different to Cafe Rouge in Brindley Place. It would have been perfect if we could have stayed to watch the volley ball game. Those fine young men doing wonderful things with their balls.

It took me a few days to settle into the holiday mood, to leave the concerns of everyday life behind. Last night we went to Plantation night club in Christchurch for their 'Golden Oldies' night and I resolved to learn ballroom dancing when I get back. I was envious of the way some of these older folk glided gracefully across the floor. Made some of us younger ones look like clumsy oafs. I say some.. because some of the younger ones have obviously been practicing and also looked graceful. It was such a pleasure to be asked 'young lady may I have this dance'. Despite my protestations that I was inexperienced I was assured that if I just followed his lead I would be fine. And I was was. It wasn't all waltzes and foxtrots though. We got a chance to get down to some classic reggae lovers rock and wine to some soca. Could have rung my clothes out. Not since my wedding did I get to bed after 4 a.m. from a night out.