September 22

Today is my brother's birthday and also the 50th anniversary of Hurricane Janet - the most devastating hurricane to hit Barbados in the 20th century. Thirty-five people died, 20,000 were homeless and 8,100 homes were destroyed.

In North America today folks are awaiting the passage of Hurricane Rita - a category 5 storm.

CNN announced today that you can follow the storm live by visiting hurricanelivenet.com.

Above: A building in Galveston, Texas, is readied for the approach of Hurricane Rita. Rita, one of the deadliest storms ever recorded, sent millions fleeing, threatened vital oil production and cast fear far and wide as it ripped across the Gulf of Mexico, whipping up winds of 170 miles an hour (275 kilometres).(AFP/James Nielsen) .

Here comes Hurricane Rita - Wednesday Sept 21

As if it isn't enough another major hurricane is making its way to southeast Texas and coastal Louisiana. It is expected to hit the Lone Star State this weekend.

Again folks are being asked to evacuate, but I guess they will this time after seeing the fury of Katrina.

To think that Texas had just welcomed thousands of evacuees after Hurricane Katrina hit, and many are now having to flee again. What a pity.

Above right: Long lines of cars are heading out of coastal Texan towns as Hurricane Rita gains strength to become a Category 5 storm with maximum sustained winds of 165 mph (267 km/h). September 21, 2005. (Reuters Photo).

Tuesday - Only five days left

Spent some time reading this evening but took a break to watch Oprah. She interviewed the famous Lance Armstrong, Sir Anthony Hopkins (from Silence of the Lambs - I just love him), and the man who will always hold a special place in my heart -Luther Vandross.

Usher and Patti LaBelle performed two tracks from the upcoming album "So Amazing: An All-Star Tribute to Luther Vandross". You know I've got to get that.

Oprah also paid special tribute to John H. Johnson of the Ebony/Jet fame.

Then I switched to UPN to watch the new Tyra Banks show. It was all about breast - Victoria Secrets and all. I had to switch the television off though after listening to two minutes of Anna Nicole Smith. Can someone tell me what's the dumb blond's claim to fame?

How time flies

Well I'm exactly one week into my vacation and to date nothing really exciting has happened. Can someone tell me why I opted for such a short holiday?

Now there is a tropical depression on our doorsteps - anyway we could do with some rain... not the torrential stuff, but enough to keep the place cool and green.

Hey, watched a movie called "After the sunset" tonight.

It's about a master thief who retires with his girlfriend to an island in the Caribbean. The thief's nemesis, a crafty FBI agent, appears on the island and a game of cat-and-mouse ensues. Check it out. What I liked about it most is that it has real Caribbean music - including Kevin Little (of St. Vincent & the Grenadines) hit "Turn Me On"... and you know I love that song.

Tropical Depression No. 17

Just checked the weather and it seems like Tropical Depression No. 17 is set to become a tropical storm later tonight.

At 5 p.m. EDT the centre of the depression was located near 13.8 north, longitude 55.2 west or about 290 miles east of Barbados. The depression is moving towards the northwest near 9 mph and this general motion is expected to continue for the next 24 ours.

The weather people are saying that maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph with higher gusts and the depression is expected to become a tropical storm later tonight. Its name will be Phillipe.

Let's hope Phillipe keeps out of our face and not add any more trauma to the Caribbean or the southern part of North America - they can't handle any more.

The beautiful beach at Brandons was picture perfect today.

Lovely site

I was looking for some information this evening and went to Oprah's website, and to my amazement it's has been transformed... wow, it's really very nice. Take a look http://www.oprah.com/index.jhtml

Check out the Barbados Hilton

If any of you who read my blog is thinking of coming to Barbados then I suggest you stay at the Barbados Hilton.

The hotel is simply one of the most beautiful in the Eastern Caribbean. I have stayed at a number of five-star hotels in the region but the new Hilton is now definitely one of my favourites.

Click here to visit the Hilton's website.

Reopened in May this year, it is set on a beautiful peninsula at Needham's Point, and is close to numerous south coast restaurants and also the shopping areas in Bridgetown.

The premises are outstanding and most of all the staff is extremely friendly and helpful.

I wanted to spend this weekend there but it was fully booked.

The prices are not in the Sandy Lane visit Sandy Lane range (a hotel on the west coast to die for) - but it's worth whatever is charged.

If you are planning a vacation then make it a point to visit our island paradise... you may run into Tiger Woods at the Royal Westmoreland golf course, or the prime minister of England - who is a regular visitor to Barbados' shores.

Two weeks after Katrina

It's exactly two weeks and one day since Katrina struck and the stories are still grim.

Reuters reported today that more than 40 mostly elderly patients were found in a flooded-out hospital in the biggest known cluster of corpses to be discovered so far in hurricane-ravaged New Orleans.

What a real pity.

At top right: Neighborhoods are flooded with oil and water two weeks after Hurricane Katrina went though New Orleans, September 12, 2005. U.S. President George W. Bush, on a tour of devastated New Orleans on Monday, rejected charges the government was slow to respond to Hurricane Katrina because most of the victims were black or because the nation's military was over-extended in Iraq. Hurricane Katrina hit the region on August 29 causing numerous deaths and severe property damage in Louisiana and Mississippi. (Carlos Barria/Reuters)

Monday - 1st Day of My Vacation

Went down to the Mall at Holetown today with my other half, who had a business appointment. It was a really relaxing feeling to know that I did not have to rush to get back to work today.

At left is a restaurant at Holetown called Ragamuffin's - cute isn't it.

I saw the most beautiful shoes at the store next to Cave Shephard and I resisted the urge to try on any of them.

Then there was Ela boutique - fantastic works of art for clothing. Anyway only bought a Spanish kit. It contained 2 CDs and looked like it would be fun... learning from the kit I mean.

Thank God It's Friday

Well it's Friday and in a few hours I will officially be on a two week vacation and the Lord knows I really need it. Wish I could have taken four weeks though as then I would have been able to visit Lanzarote in the Canary Islands. Anyway, that's another two weeks saved for the trip.

I have achieved the goal I set for myself at the beginning of August and that was to shed 7 pounds. I don't believe I really did it and it didnot take any real effort. I just cut back on the sugary stuff - no sodas, no fruit juices, no chocolates, no icecream and filled up with lots of chicken and salads, water and my favourite fruit.

In the next two weeks I hope to take some time off to visit Barbados' newest tourist attractions like the Bird Sanctuary, and the Marine Park as I have been working almost seven-days-per week from January. When I return to work I hope I can get into the FIVE DAYS only mode.

Wednesday - Katrina

It's now one week and two days since Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf states and although I do not live in the USA it has had a tremendous impact on me. I guess it's because the Big Easy was a place we were thinking about visiting some time soon.

I watch/read the reports on a daily basis and think about how one's whole life can be changed just like that.

Just two weeks ago life there was normal - then came Katrina, the flooding and now talk of bacterial infections lurking in flood waters...

In Barbados things are so peaceful and quiet - one of our 'big' news stories last night was that chicken is scarce, yet the report continued that the birds are to be back on the supermarket shelves by the end of the week. Can you imagine...

Wednesday - My Pledge

Being my best in service to others. My character is forged by my choices. You will see it in my manner and my confident optimism. It is how I stand and talk, laugh and listen. Use my honor and integrity as the example. Give me work to do; point me to my neighbor in need. Choose me to go first or last. Let me challenge myself to do more. I know what is right. I pledge to improve myself and help others. I am an Action Principles Champion®.

Tuesday - What would you do?

Cuban President Fidel Castro has offered to send 1,500 doctors to the U.S. Gulf Coast to help victims of Hurricane Katrina. So far American officials have made no response to the offer. What would you do?
Tell Castro go to hell, accept the offer as these doctors have help the Asians during the tsunami, or galvanise 1,500 American doctors to assist.

Houses in New Orleans, Louisiana with water at the level of their eves have only roofs visiable one week after Hurricane Katrina went through Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama September 5, 2005.

Monday - Why is the place so hot?!

There are supposed to be three tropical systems in our region - Hurricane Maria - who is moving in a north easterly direction and two other little guys, but the place is soooo hot. I could do with just a little rain and a soothing tropical breeze to ease the situation.

Well it's that same old story again this Monday with my weight... do I go crazy on weekends or something? I had no pone, no sweetbread, no icecream - just some good old Bajan rice and peas with chicken (am trying to keep away from too much sugar and the carbs)... and it's back. Think I need to go running on the beach.

Sunday... on a lighter note

Barbados-born, 17-year-old songstress Rihanna is the new rave in the USA with her chart topper "Pon De Replay".

Check her out on the Def Jam Recordings website.

Rihanna is a former student of the Combermere School.

Will post more news about our newest ambassador soon.

Sunday

At left: A dead body floats in front of a house on the east side of New Orleans, LA., in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina Saturday, Sept. 3, 2005. Gov. Kathleen Blanco said Saturday that she expected the death toll to reach the thousands.

I never thought last Sunday morning as I was following the calls for evacuation by the authorities in Lousiana that today there would be thousands of people dead in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

The Nation reported that nine Barbadians stranded in Biloxi, Mississippi, after Hurricane Katrina devastated that state, were rescued yesterday. You can follow the story here http://www.nationnews.com/story/297157953393103.php.

Today New Orleans is now gathering up and counting the dead. I've always wanted to travel to "The Sleeping Giant" to experience their unique culture and check out the jazz spots ... what a pity that they have had to suffer so.

El Grifo Wine Museum

Spoke with my 'Spanish' sister tonight and was giving her all the updates with all that's going on around here. Asked if she heard about the hurricane and she said yes - she has BBC, Fox, MSNCB - it's amazing how small the world has become.

She has asked me to check out El Grifo Wine museum at Lanzarote... and I sure did. That's where she's at now.

Now I am going to learn all about wine from her as I am sure she will become a wine connaisseur.