I'm Going to Willow's Third Annual Ball

Quickly, quickly! I need help.   I am able to make it to Willow's Ball after all but I can't decide which ball gown to wear.

Willow throws such fabulous parties and for a moment there, I didn't think I was going to be able to make it.  But Gary Oldman talked me into taking a  break for a few hours so I'm slipping away. He's arranged the jet and it's on the tarmac, engines revving.  The limousine's outside so I'll just throw in three dresses and decide when I get there.

But if anyone does stop by, leave your comment on which dress to wear.

I'm only taking one pair of Jimmy Choo shoes as they will go with which ever dress ends up on my body.

I decided to stay away from black this year.

or 

 or this one?

Can't wait - Willow, Willow here we come!

Lurking

Republic Day in Trinidad and Tobago

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO REPUBLIC DAY

Trinidad and Tobago became a Republic on August 1st, 1976. The event is celebrated as a public holiday on September 24th because this is the date when the first Parliament met under the new Republican Constitution. The date was removed from the official calendar of holidays from 1999 to 2001 to make way for the Spiritual Baptist (Shouter) Liberation Day which is celebrated on March 30th. The Republic Day holiday was reinstated in 2002.

Happy Republic Day to my adopted country, Trinidad and Tobago of which I am not a citizen but a resident.

Trinidad Under Water

It another one of those days yesterday.

Two hours of torrential rain and the capital of Trinidad and Tobago as well as other parts of the island came to a standstill. In the city roads turned into rivers, cars were washed away, people were stranded, traffic jams aplenty, shops washed out, power outages, cars totally submerged and four wheel drives stuck. In fact - total chaos reigned. I watched one man being interviewed on last night's news and he had lost files and his lap top as water rushed into his car.

Motorists left their vehicles, commuters started walking home whilst others just waited for the waters to subside. The emergency services were totally overwhelmed.

The Meteorological Office described the occurrence as an odd afternoon thunder shower and nothing to be too concerned about! However this 'odd afternoon thunder shower' affected most parts of Trinidad. Highways too were flooded, rivers overflowed and the downstairs of a friend's house was completely washed out as were many others.

 
When the government solves the country's drainage problems and a law is passed which stops people from carving into the rain forests to build their mansions, we may see an improvement. Until then, an umbrella is useless.

Second Time Round

I promised myself an early night last night and the night before and the night before that.

Tonight I have reason to have a comparatively early night because I'm going to bed with Rafael. I seem to be getting on better with him this time round than the first time which is nice because I was skeptical at starting again. But it's proving to be quite enjoyable.

Rafael is the central character in the first book my ex sister-in-law had published in 1991. I remember her writing it long before that - it was already in the works when we visited her in Hong Kong in 1979. That's patience for you.

The cover you see here is not the same as the one that was on the first edition which is waiting for me on my bedside table.

Night - I'm off to curl up with Rafe! I don't know of Elizabeth would be impressed - we haven't spoken for years!

My First Award

I have received an award from

http://thethingswefindinside.blogspot.com/2010/09/another-award-for-ttwfi.html

 

Thank you so much Marie.

Pope Visits Britain

Something else to ponder as opposed to burning of religious books, whether or not the burkah should be banned, whether or not a Muslim Recreation Centre (it's not a mosque!) should be built near Ground Zero: POPE'S UK VISIT: Benedict defends Christmas and warns religion must not be sidelined in Parliament http:// www.dailymail.co.uk

Sep 18, '10 2:18 PM by Bee for everyone

Rally Sunday

My son's rallying this weekend.

Silly Me! What Do I Know???

MEMO TO SELF: in order to keep your sanity, conserve your energy and keep a cool head, refrain from getting involved in Multiply blogs that are remotely concerned with anything political/religious/racist. Avoid all discussions about Islam, Christianity, the building of mosques, the burning of religious books, Crusades, the possibility of Muslim/Christian communities actually interacting on a loving basis, Obama, Republicans, Democrats, the British government, sexual abuse within the Catholic church, the Pope's visit to Great Britain, racism etc... etc.... What the hell do I know? I have amongst other things, only lived in Muslim countries, seen abject poverty in Africa, am a practicing Roman Catholic who is horrified at the cover ups, am married to a black man whose mother was pure Chinese, have seen racism of all kinds, was the only white child in an all Chinese Girls' Convent, was a member of the Young Conservatives and have chaired debates on most of the above. Silly me..........whatever made me think that I knew anything?

e

Song Saturday

Earlier in the week, Heidi in a note here thought it would be a good idea if everyone had a theme song that was played when they walked into a room. I commented would be fun to know what everyone's was and why. The videos came in fast and furious! What fun!

Here's mine!

Our House: Of Husbands and Neighbours

 

It's 8.10am in the Lake household. It's Friday 3 September.

Ding-a-ling-a-ling - well something like that - husband's cell phone.
Husband answers on first ding-a-ling.

Husband:              Good morning Joan
Silence
Husband:               Yes
Silence:
Daughter:              Did you see how fast he answered that phone?
Me:                        Yes!
Daughter:              And when we call, we have to wait forever for him to
                             answer it!
Husband:               I should think he's on the road by now so I'll call him a
                             little later.
Daughter:              Dah-dee-dah-dee-dah ( you all know the tune)
Husband                I'll call you back.
Daughter:              Eh heh?  (Trini expression!)
Me muttering:        My name should be Joan..........
Husband:               Fine. No problem.
Daughter
  under breath:      You're in trouble now!
Silence
Husband:               Fine. Later. Bye.
Me:                        Silence
Daughter:              Whoops!
Me starts to hum:   ........................
Husband:               That was .......       
Me:                        I know who it was
Daughter:              Dah-dee-dah-dee-dah...........
Husband:               She's having problems with her AC
Daughter:              I think you've said enough
Me:                       Wonder who she called before we moved here
Husband to
      daughter:        Hand me your mother's phone.
Me:                       What!
Daughter:              What! Are you mad??
Husband:               Have to call Clyde
Me:                        So?
Daughter to me:    Where's your phone - (sniggering)
Silence
Husband:              Morning Clyde. My neighbour has a problem with her  
                             AC unit and can only deal with it tomorrow as she's a
                             lawyer in town
Me:                       What the hell has her profession got to do with it?
Daughter:             They'll come faster. Status!

                            My daughter knows how the system works.

Me:                      Charming! I should be a lawyer then!
Husband:             Okay then, I'll call you back when you're out of the
                            shower      
Daughter:            Dum-dee-dum-dee-dum.. Really dumb!
Me:                      I wonder who she called before we moved here!
Husband:             Listen.....
Daughter:            To what?
Me:                      Hums
Daughter:            Giggles

Silence

Me singing:          When you've got friends and neighbours
                           Oh the world is a happier place
                           Friends and neighbours put a smile
                           On the gloomiest face.........
                           Just take your troubles and share 'em
                           With the folks next door..........

Daughter:           He's vexed?
Me:                     He can give but he can't take!

Husband walks out of the front door.
Collapse of mother and daughter into a whole heap of laughter

In car:

Husband:            I just want you both to know that I can take as good as
                           I give.
Daughter:           Right!
Me:                     When you've got friends and neighbours..........

I think I came to work on kangaroo petrol!

Song Saturday Tonight

Times gone by.......................

A Sure Winner

A friend sent this to me and it made my day.

You had better arm yourself with a box of Kleenex!

A SURE WINNER

Keep watching/listening after the first song. There are several clips after the first one.

This is Mark Vincent from Australia . You aren't going to believe this young man's voice... are you in for a treat!

Don't stop listening after the judges speak because he sings the Ave Marie like an Angel!

He then speaks about the challenges of being 15.

He will then knock your socks off with "Alleluia" and "It's Time To Say Good-bye" is absolutely amazing.

What a timely video to see. Absolutely inspiring.

'Click' here: http://charliephillips.net/videos/theater-9/mark-vincent.html