A snack gone wrong

Grocery stores operate a little differently here than what one may be used to say in Canada. At Canadian (and I'm sure American) grocery stores, strict guidelines are adhered to, to ensure that items on shelves are of consumable quality. Ones that are about to expire are taken off the shelf and very rarely are they left there past their shelf life. It is because of these kinds of quality checks that I am not used to checking expiration dates of products I buy. Yes, I know it's not good practice but in my defence, I've been spoiled.

When we first got here on the island in 2005, we were told a very interesting story, a cautionary tale, if you will. One of Hubby's coworkers told us that his grocery shopping trip a few weeks into arriving on the island turned into something he could not have imagined. He bought the usual items, among which were bread, deli luncheon meat, that sort of thing. After consuming his homemade deli sandwich a few hours later, he started to feel a little queasy. And then it got worse. He had a severe case of food poisoning which lasted about a week. A quick check among his recent grocery acquisitions in a attempt to single out the culprit, left him appalled with the finding that the deli meat had expired. A year ago! And yet here it was still on the shelf, for didn't he just purchase it a few hours earlier. He said it was the worst case of food poisoning of his life. Since then he's been diligent, performing checks himself, not leaving anything to chance and has been warning any and all newcomers onto the island to his very own helping of buyer beware!

Now, please keep in mind that this was almost three years ago (where have the years gone?). I'm sure the grocery stores have changed and such a thing is not an occurrence (I hope). But I posted this as a tale of caution that one must take to heart no matter which island they're on (just kidding - no matter which country they're in). You never know what you're picking off the shelf. I still morph back into my old Canadian ways, but Hubby, ever cautious & diligent enough for us both, reminds me to check the expiration date every time.

why did the chicken cross the road?

Driving into town on Monday, I almost ran over two roosters. They were both crossing the road, not together because that would be too weird (no jokes please). One actually made it a point to use the pedestrian crossing (still no jokes please) & the other just damn well ran through like he owned the road (like some people). Damn things. I know they mean well when they say free range chickens in Bermuda but this is a little too free, don't you think? I'd cringe if I were to be a part of any kind of rooster roadkill because I saw one a few weeks ago and it was not pretty. So, what are the chances of one of those roosters being one of the baby chicks from my Oct 30th post. It only takes a few months for a chick to grow into a full grown chicken, right?

noodles of fun

This here is called a 'noodle'. Made of styrofoam, it's a commonly used flotation device by practically everyone here on the island, especially by the adults who can't swim. I for one had not seen these anywhere else until I landed on this rock. Many use the noodle as an accompaniment when they're out snorkeling, or if they just want to relax in waters off Catamarans. Exactly like the situation pictured here. There's plenty of ways to position a noodle against or with you to help you float. You can wrap it around you, sit on it or just hug it. Either way works. And depending on the position (not pictured here), it could also look funny (ah just use your imagination). They also come in many colours - orange was just what this Catamaran happened to have plenty of. So, the next time you want to waddle in the water, don't be shy to take a noodle with you. It beats wishing you were a kid using the kiddie arm floaters to indulge in some ocean fun.

hello kitty

Like the previous posts, I'm going to end this week's with a visual aid as well. This was taken yesterday as I was driving (Yes I was multitasking but shhhh). Riding up ahead of me were a couple of guys on their bike. The passenger had a child's backpack on his person. He's obviously not ashamed to carry it in lieu of an adult one. I wonder what he had stored in it. I don't know where else you'd see this. I mean it's a common sight here in Bermuda but there's always a kid present somewhere in the vicinity of the kid backpack. But not here! Really, how many other guys would be man enough to don on a kid's backpack minus the kid? Definitely not anywhere else!

boring beige?

In a world where, especially in North America, being politically correct is checked at every turn, there are places where this is not so much of a rule to abide by. In North America, the words 'persons of X origin' is not only becoming commonplace, it's also deemed as the appropriate term to use. But isn't it exhaustive, at times to try and remember the right vernacular? Why can't we just say Black, Brown, Oriental or White instead of African, South Asian, Asian or Caucasian thereby worrying about offending someone? When did things become so black and white? Why is it acceptable for a person of colour to use the politically incorrect term, but a serious faux pas for a White person to use anything but? When did things become so grey?

As a minority, a person of colour, I have no problem using the 'politically incorrect' word. No problem at all. Perhaps it's because of my minority status, that I can get away with it. And it's true. Hey, you can call me brown. I won't be offended. Heck, to make things easier, I use the word to describe myself. Most times I no longer use the word Indian in North America, because some will stupidly ask me, 'Native Indian'? Well no, because then I would have flat out said 'Native', right? Oh and a heads up to the family & friends back on the other side of the world - we 'Indians' in North America are referred to as East Indian or South Asian, not Asian - that's for the Oriental folk and not just Indian, because there are present a lot of West Indians. And as I've said earlier, it's very clear cut in North America.

In Bermuda, no one's afraid to use the word 'black'. Not even the white folk. You can forget about being politically correct and perhaps there's a reason. Unlike in America where the word African American is used, using the word African in Bermuda may cause some confusion due to the presence of African expats here on the island. Also, using persons of African origin can become tedious to say, just as persons of any other origin. Over here it's, Black, White or Portuguese (a post for another day-I promise). Or if you really want to get down to it, it's either local or expat (wink wink). Getting back to and when talking about colour, it's refreshing to just get down to the basics. So, what brought this post on? While at a book store a few weeks earlier, I came across this sign. Now if this were in North America, the sign would read African/ American or African authors. But here it is... They're saying it loud & proud.

You know what though - all this talk of colour is going to be moot in a few hundred years.
According to Russell Peters, we're all going to be BEIGE.

omega 3 goodness

Salmon is hailed as 'the' fish to incorporate in one's diet. Loaded with Omega-3 fatty acids, it is literally food for the brain, among its many other dietary contributions. A couple of interesting facts about salmon: they are born as fresh water fish & migrate to the ocean, spending up to five years to reach sexual maturity after which they return back to fresh waters to spawn. It's said that salmon return back to the very place they were spawned. The unfortunate thing about this species is that most die soon after spawning, some within a few days, others within a few weeks. Such a waste, eh?

After the move to Canada, we began to incorporate salmon into our diet. Understandable given that salmon is native to Canadian waters and its consumption is far too salubrious. Countries everywhere are getting in on the benefits of incorporating salmon into their diet. And while Salmon is priced relative in Canada because it's a local fish, it would make sense that it would cost a bit more overseas. Definitely more so in Bermuda, (assuming this salmon came from Canada), most Canadian imports are even more expensive now due to rise of the dollar. But this much more? And for just half a salmon? I know it's fresh, but still...

sacre maroon

What do we not have in Bermuda, but plenty of in Canada? No it's not snow, although it does 'lurk' in the backyard, the front yard or anything with a yard. It's something I've never had to worry about growing up in Bombay or Dubai. Something that we had only heard of, like a 'suburban' myth! Run as fast as you can away from it, we were told. You don't want to be anywhere near it when it unleashes its defence mechanism, and that was enough to make us fearful, if we ever found ourselves in its path. We knew what it looked like. Plus there were cartoon characters based on this animal. But cartoons stand for nothing in the real world and Pepé Le Pew is no exception. Yes, we're talking about the dreaded skunks, and while skunks may look cute (sort of), they are anything but. Beware of the spray, run away. Skunks are a common prowler in our Toronto suburban backyard. I've seen them many a time in our front yard too and have had to wait until it's made its exit. Sometimes for upto a minute. Shooing it does not work and I've never stuck around long enough to find out what would. One of Toronto friends once told me that he got away from a skunk Mission Impossible style, barely missing the spray, and then running for his life. I couldn't help but laugh while he reenacted his moves. There's no way to scare a skunk. So, what if you do get sprayed by one, accidentally? How do you rid yourself of that dreaded smell? Apparently, tomato juice, and I don't know who discovered that and how, but tomato juice is the only remedy. You don't drink it but rather bathe in it. Many times. Fill up that tub & get ready for rounds two, three and possibly four. Eck!

Yesterday another Toronto friend of mine said her cat got sprayed by a skunk. Poor Norman! (Yes, the cat's named Norman). HEY! A skunk and a cat? Sound familiar? This is exactly like Pepé Le Pew and his attempted daliances with a cat mistaken for a skunk, except the roles are reversed (maybe! we don't know if the skunk was female). One of the comments she did received was that maybe Norman tried to 'hit' on the skunk. I did ask her if she tried tomato juice on Norman & if it actually worked on animals, like it supposedly does on humans. She replied saying she used pasta sauce instead...and no it didn't work! Course not. Poor poor Norman! If the skunk makes an appearance again, they may just have to name it Pepé.

gobble gobble

Do you ever get the feeling that you've been exposed to something new this year that while has been around before, just hadn't caught your attention last year. Happens to me every year. Mostly it's to do with spring. Every year I will notice something different foliage wise - a new flower or a new plant that has been staring at me right in the face, but I've just been too blind to notice the previous year.

Looks like this year's theme is festivals/ holidays. First it started out with Diwali, which was celebrated with much fanfare all over the world by people of all religions, more so than the years before. For the first time, I was privy to pictures, emails, wishes - ones that had missed me completely last year. Is it that I have gotten in touch with more relatives residing all over via a family tree project, that have been sending me Diwali wishes, even though they're not Hindu. (Not surprising, since Indians have long been celebrating each others' festivals regardless of religious affiliation). Or is it that people the world over are getting into the spirit of multiculturalism, which is such a nice thing to see happening.

We here in Bermuda are often asked if Thanksgiving is celebrated at all - Canadian (celebrated in October) or American (celebrated in November). We always answer with a resounding NO! It's not celebrated by the locals, just the expats, depending on their nationality. Or at least that's what I thought. Apparently, American Thanksgiving is celebrated by many Bermudians - turkey, stuffing, dressing, the whole nine. Even the tradition of Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving, where rock bottom prices hit & shopping records are in the making), is a fever that has caught on in Bermuda. (By the way, can I just say that I am horrified that they call it Black Friday! Borderline blasphemy). Maybe having a car exposes us to a little of Bermuda's what happenings via the local radio stations which we seem to have on most time, despite the car being equipped with an MP3 player. Maybe this year we will scope out the Black Friday sales, just to see what Bermuda has to offer (remember people, it's tax free). Anyway, Thanksgiving may not be a day off in Bermuda but it will definitely be celebrated.

So what's next for me? Christmas? Hanukkah? Kwanzaa?

the lopsided cake

Riding a scooter/moped/bike here is the fastest, most fuel efficient way of getting around the island, especially during rush hour. Faster but not necessarily safer. There are many that are killed each year from motorcycle accidents & almost always speed is the underlying factor. A balancing act involving transporting things to and fro factor in at other times. It's always amazing how much you can fit in/on a bike. Groceries can be packed in every nook & cranny, depending on how creative you are. We've managed to bring home many an item of varying sizes that one may think unmanageable on a bike. However, depending on what the item is, it might not always retain its shape by the times its made it home.

This past Monday was Hubby's birthday and I set out to surprise him with a cake for later on in the evening. As I brought the cake home, I was taken back to our first year here in Bermuda. We'd invited a few friends over for dinner for Hubby's birthday that year. Since no birthday dinner is complete without some birthday cake, I had to go into town with Hubby to get it as I'm not one to get on a bike and drive around town (In fact I still refuse to do it). I was hoping the cake would remain intact everytime we drove over uneven spots on the road. Upon our arrival home, we set the cake on the kitchen counter. I was pleased that see that it hadn't crumbled and that's when I noticed it was a little lopsided! From the bike ride home! Like the leaning tower of Pisa! Of course, I lacked the moxie to try and get it back into shape. It brought out some good laughs during dinner. In fact, it was barely noticeable in the pictures. Ok maybe a little! Still tasted delicious, though. This year I managed just fine, now that we have a car and I of course, have no problems driving a car. This year's cake made it home just fine. After all, a car is no bike. No more lopsided birthday cakes in this house!

a day without...

Bumper sticker seen on a car in Bermuda: A day without sunshine is like....night!
How especially true for today!

happy children's day

If you were in India, you'd be celebrating Children's Day today. It's a day that's just that, a celebration of children. There are many other countries that celebrate Children's Day on various different dates, but in India, since 1959, it's been celebrated on the birthday of India's first Prime Minister - Jawaharlal Nehru (also the father of Indira Gandhi). This day was specifically changed & chosen to fall on his birthday, because of his well known love for children. So, what does this day mean for children in India? Well, it's a fun day where kids all over the country, who normally wear uniforms on every other day, get to don on their nicest (non uniformed) clothes for the school day. When we were kids, we'd call this 'coloured clothes' - a treat, only otherwise reserved for one's birthday! As I remember it, every year on Children's Day, we came into school in our 'coloured clothes' like it was a regular day , except there were no classes, no books, no tests! What we did have was a giant jolly big party. There were candies & chocolates, songs & dances, games & shows - just a whole day of fun. A day we always looked forward to.

America has been celebrating Children's Day since its inception by then President Clinton in year 2000. Unfortunately, neither Canada nor Bermuda celebrates this day & I am surprised. I think it should. It would be worthwhile to celebrate such a day as this. With the growing number of child abuse cases every year everywhere, a day dedicated to children, is a day that can make a difference to the very same children who are the innocent victims of today's dysfunctional world. Wouldn't it be reassuring to your child, to any child that they are being celebrated just for who they are & what they are. It's a great way to build self esteem, pride & create a common thread among children, regardless of colour or race. So, to all the children in the world over, HAPPY CHILDREN'S DAY! I hope you're having as much fun as you possibly can.

take a page, stat

Here in Bermuda, Remembrance Day is a day of observance & a statutory holiday. Since it falls on Sunday this year, we have today (Monday) off to make up for it. Now I've mentioned before how the newspaper is not in production during statutory holidays. Well, last night I found out, the local news isn't either. So, no newspaper & no nightly news? How on earth would we know what's afoot on Sunday? Well surprisingly, at least the newspaper's website is up & running, with breaking news that Bermuda has lost the cricket match against Dubai, being played in UAE's capital - Abu Dhabi. I had no idea Dubai's team or more precisely UAE's team was that good. They beat Bermuda! Well, in the first place, I had no idea there was a match on. What am I saying??? It's cricket! There's always a match being played somewhere! I'm sure my father's watched it though & had I spoken to him last night or in the wee hours of the morning, I would have heard all about it.

Anyway, enough about cricket. Getting back to the lack of newspapers & newscast coverage on statutory holidays. The rest of the world should take a 'page' from Bermuda's policy of statutory holidays. This is how stat holidays should be observed, dontcha think?

from an hour to fifteen

The biggest change one experiences after moving to the island is that life is at a slower pace than before. No longer having to suffer through one hour (one way) commute on the subway but now breezing through a fifteen minute morning commute is just a breath of fresh air. And it really makes all the difference. Instead of catching a few winks on the subway, we have the comfort of our bed to indulge in that extra half hour of sleep in the morning, which would be welcomed by anyone. Suddenly, there's more time for everything else too. Dinner is ready earlier and there's even time to hit the beach, if one's in the mood. Sure we give up a few things when we assimilate ourselves into the island lifestyle, but there's things we gain as well. There's always a balance, if you know where to look for it.

The bee's knees

I've heard that some people are allergic to bee stings. Now, I've never been stung by a bee (yet) & have no idea what it would feel like or if I would be allergic. You never really know until you've received your first sting. I may have come close to it though. I remember a particular incident with bees while I was in my teens, living in Dubai. Our third & final residence was a third floor apartment with an extra long balcony, that probably stretched about 40 feet in length. A few years into our residence, we started to notice bees hovering outside our windows. About one or two everyday, but their appearances were consistent. We could not explain it. Until that is, we (my father & I) decided to spring clean the corner of our balcony. Stacked behind an old bicycle, some boxes (and other things I cannot seem to recall), we were amazed to find a bee hive. And now we knew why we alone were privy to the appearance of bees. Unfortunately, we had to get rid of the bees, by a process of which I will not & cannot go into. I felt guilty enough getting rid of the bees. My father was adamant we get rid of them now that there would be nothing for them to hide behind. In the moments to follow, I was an accessory to murder, more like an annihilation. You may think I'm being a tad dramatic, but you'll see. To make matters worse, once we got rid of those bees, we were left with their life's work - HONEY!

There are a couple of interesting facts about honey. The first: babies under the age of two should NOT be given honey (among strawberries & peanut butter), due to its allergy causing factor. The second: its lack of an expiration date. That's right. If stored correctly, honey does not spoil & can last forever. I recently read that a discovery of an Egyptian tomb in a pyramid, also yielded within the tomb, a container of honey. Pyramids are known to be thousands of years old & the honey found in that pyramid was no exception. Of course, it was put to the test & amazingly, it tasted like a batch of honey that was extracted yesterday. A two thousand year old jar of honey??? You need a moment to digest that fact? Go ahead. I sure did.

Too often we look at buzzing bees with annoyance. Much too ready to kill them off before there's a chance they'd sting someone, not much thought is given to their importance & how vital they are. Of course, you're thinking the only thing they are good for is honey. That's what I thought too, until I watched a shot local documentary last night, on a new Bermudian channel - CITV (I promise to do a post on this at a late date). However, in the meantime, in short, CITV provides information on Bermuda & anything Bermudian. Mini documentaries are just one part of it. Last night it had an excerpt about Bermuda's bees, its beekeeper & the island's honey production. More importantly, it sadly stated that this year's honey production (harvested twice a year) was at its all time low. Add to that, there was also the finding that something is killing off bees & this something is not limited just to Bermuda. I had heard earlier on in the year that bees in other parts of the world are also dwindling in numbers, dropping like flies. Scientists are not sure why. The documentary further went on to say that bees are vital to our survival. Most of our produce (vegetables & fruits) is only possible with the presence of bees & the byproduct of their honey production which is pollination. If the bees were to disappear, we can kiss our vegetables, fruits & flowers goodbye. For first come the flowers & then the fruit & the completion of a flower's life cycle is only possible with pollination. Can you imagine a world without flowers, fruits and/ or vegetables? What on earth would we do? How on earth would the Vegans survive? Perhaps, honey may be the only thing we may have left. And thankfully, it does not expire. How ironic! I can tell you this. I feel terribly guilty, guilty for killing those bees, those years ago. The neglect of our planet, our wanton ways, our misuse of earth's precious resources, our pollution, is all finally, finally catching up with us. It's horrifying to think that the earth as we know it may not be around in about 50 years, at the rate we're going. Heck, I'd settle for 20 years right about now. The bees are just one chapter of this ongoing ecological damage, damage that may be irreversible. Who knows what's next?

Maybe we should start with the bees. SAVE THE BEES, SAVE THE WORLD (Yes, I watch Heroes, thank you). So, the next time you see a bee, what are you going to do? Please for the love of... don't kill it. There will be one less. Dangerously one less. The picture in this post is of Bermuda bees, hard at work (one on a flowering Cacti, the other on a Banana tree flower). How oh, how could we have been so careless?! And what are we doing specifically that's killing off them bees?

remember, remember the fifth of november

Last year on this day, Hubby & I were getting ready to watch V for Vendetta, a movie incidentally about the 5th of November. If you haven't watched it, I suggest today's as good a day as any. It's one of my favourite movies & on this particular day last year, it was all a coincidence really. We had some idea of what it was about but not the fact that it was about Guy Fawkes Day. I remember reading about Guy Fawkes as a child, fascinated with the fact that they'd in indulge a massive bonfire & burn a Guy Fawkes dummy. It reminded me of something similar, though set on a different day!

Growing up in Bombay, I lived in a neighbourhood of nine apartment buildings, with an apparent baby boom in the works during those days (must have been at least a 100 of us children at the time). And so because there were so many of us kids of varying ages, holidays & festivals of all religions were celebrated communally with much much fanfare. In India there are many festivals, as the government recognises quite a few religions which results in an abundance of public holidays. One of my favourites was New Years' Eve, where we children (under strict supervision) were able to partake in the largest bonfire every year & set atop it Old Father Time in the form of a dummy. Now I never knew where the dummies came from but I assume someone in the 'colony' would be kind enough to make it for us year after year. Old Father Time would crumple up in a blaze right before our very eyes, signalling in the New Year. The night also concluded with each of us receiving a party bag, filled with candies & mini toys. Ahh the memories! And while we'd get to stand around & watch the wood snap crackle & pop, we were hypnotised, for it was not often would we get to play with fire (literally speaking). Besides, what child can resist the lure of a flame. I know Hubby can relate - as a kid, he once set his carpet on fire. It was a small fire & easily doused when he realised what he'd done. However, explaining the burnt hole in the carpet to his parents when they got home was no easy feat. Kids & fire, especially bonfires, are like a moths to a flame.

And so! To my AN Colony friends...do ye remember those days? Thanks to the older guys for making it fun...You know who you are!

Guy Fawkes Day is still celebrated here in Bermuda. Not surprising, considering it's still a British Territory. I'm sure for many Bermudians, it's a chance to relive childhood memories & also to be able to pass the torch, so to speak, to their children. I'm sure I will get a whiff of one or two bonfires around the neighbourhood & I hope to scout the area for some photographic opportunities.

And last but not least, Guy Fawkes Day in our house is also known as Dad's birthday! My dad, of course!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAD! Hope it's a fiery one!

shake it to the left

It's still windy here & Tropical Storm Noel has been upgraded to a Hurricane BUT, its path has shifted more towards the east. That can only mean that it's farther from Bermuda & closer to the American East Coast. What can I say? The Gulf Stream saves Bermuda, again. A note to my American & Canadian friends, BRACE YOURSELF!

On another note, I love how the Bermuda local nightly news (obviously a repeat of the evening news) still slates Noel as a Tropical Storm. Understandably. I had to tune into the American news (more precisely Boston's Channel 7) to hear the update on Noel now wreaking havoc as a hurricane.

the first noel, an early arrival

The wind is blustery & the windows or in our case, the sliding doors have been rattling since last night. It's a sound we haven't quite heard all through the summer months, until now. Time to put everything away. Just as Bermuda's hurricane season comes to a close with no reportings for this year, we now have to prepare for our first, Tropical Storm Noel, expected to reach its closest point of approach by Saturday. Luckily all we're going to get are the remnants of the storm, but that means we're still going to be hit with a lot of rain, gale force winds, rough waves, that sort of thing. Grrr! This weekend is definitely shot to hell.

chicken run

This summer, a couple of our friends left Bermuda to repatriate back home to Canada. Their summer was going to be consumed by their wedding, a three month honeymoon to various many countries around the world & finally settling down in Canada at the end of the year. All good stuff.

So, it was during the summer that we were helping our friends transport some of their belongings to be shipped, ones they could not bear to leave behind on the island. We made way for the Cargo Terminal at the Airport & for anyone that doesn't know, this is where you go to if you were to send or receive any shipments. We arrived closer to the lunch hour. Definitely the wrong time to get any sort of personal shipping done, as the cargo area was abuzz with Bermuda's businesses waiting in line to pick up their shipments. Everything from perishables food items to flowers from Holland to non perishables were slowly being carted out & deposited into the appropriate vans. And so while we waited our turn, our attention turned to the little cargo that had just been deposited at the entrance, awaiting pick up. Baby Chicks! A few hundreds of them chirping away, waiting to be let out no doubt. After a few inquiries we found out these were destined to roam the island to fulfill their destiny as free range chickens. What happens to them once they're grown is another story. But hey, at least they get to reach adulthood (they've probably grown by now). I managed to get a closeup shot with my camera phone. Adorable, aren't they???

Fast forward to a couple of days ago when said friends posted one of the following pics on their album from their ongoing three month honeymoon. Taken in Thailand, this picture is heartbreaking. Inhumane, insane, disgusting are some of the other words I could use to describe it as well. It's a dish of chickens but not the kind you would expect. BRACE YOURSELF! It's a dish of baby chicks that were apparently deep fried, but first thrown in alive. If you're brave, then go ahead & click on the picture. Of course, our friends were just as disgusted. How on earth can anyone eat baby chicks? Are these people blind? Do they not see how adorable baby chicks are? And what I can't understand is, with Thailand being agriculturally blessed with abundant fertile land, is there really a need to resort to the kind of food shown & mentioned here. Apparently, deep fried maggots were also on the menu. Circle of life! Or maybe a case of vengeance? That's all I'm going to say about that. What on earth are they eating over there? My parents visited Thailand way back when & never said a peep about this sort of cuisine. Perhaps I should ask again since they may have wanted to spare us kids unnecessary grief. And according to our friends, China is not any better (worse in fact) & I am loath to go into any details, but I will say this: Sometimes you hear about these things offhand, but are reluctant to believe it, just because it sounds unbelievable. Well, not anymore, here are pictures & first hand experiences to prove this.

40 minutes or it's free...

Years ago before, when we first started dating, Hubby had this friend who would constantly hound him. She was crushing on him big time, but he didn't reciprocate. No chemistry, he said. Still she persisted. So, to get her off his back he finally gave her his phone number when she asked him again for the millionth time. He told her it was Nine Six Seven - Eleven Eleven! Now Torontonians, you SHOULD recognize this number & by now have the jingle in your head! It was the number of Ontario's #1 Pizza Restaurant. And like a fool she called & actually told him the next day that Pizza Pizza picked up! True story! Ha I never did like her. Anyway, we're now moving onto pizza.

Remember when you were back home, before you moved to Bermuda, & you'd order a pizza & get it delivered to your home? Remember the ease & convenience. Not to mention the delivery cost that was next to nothing & that if it wasn't at your home in 40 minutes, it was free! Remember that?

Well, then you land on this island & on one night decide to order in a pizza or two. Let's stick with one for now. Hey, the price point is decent, considering it's Bermuda. Then you're given the option for pick up or delivery. Ah, what the heck you say, let's get it delivered. There's no way I'm going to manage that pizza on the scooter. Delivery it is.

Forty minutes later the doorbell rings with your much awaited smell good pizza. You're given the bill & as your reach for your wallet, your eyes land on the amount due. Your eyes then manage to not pop out of your head completely because you can't believe the price. It's fifty frigging bucks! Yeah $50.00 for a pizza. That's right, ONE pizza. They didn't accidentally bill you for two or three, just one! Know what pushed it way over the edge? That's right, the delivery! (Remember folks, everything in Bermuda that involves labour is going to cost you a mighty penny, or in this case, 500 pennies). Damn this to hell, you mutter & reluctantly hand over more cash than you anticipated parting with. This better be one good pizza! Why the hell didn't the delivery guy take longer than 40 minutes & why don't they have that '40 minutes or it's free' offer here? This is where it would be very much welcomed. You can bet you're never going to get a pizza home delivered again. You'll have no problem going down there & getting it yourself all the while performing a balancing act on the scooter, but you'll never ever order in again!

This didn't really happen to us, thankfully we were forewarned when we got here. And so now I'm passing it on. Consider yourself warned!

On another note, the pizzas here are really good. Try Upper Crust & Speciality Inn (Yes that's how it's spelled!).

get a move on

What drives me absolutely INSANE is when people stop their cars right smack in the middle of nowhere & everywhere to chit chat with someone they see. This has been happening a lot of late. Right in the middle of traffic. Rush hour traffic. Often times there's not room to pass them, what with the oncoming traffic and all. Do these people not get that it's one lane roads here in Bermuda? ONE LANE ROADS PEOPLE! Call them on the phone & catch up later. Get a move on! Sheesh!

dear editor

Reading Bermuda's newspaper the first time I got here on the island, caused me to do a double take. There are a couple of newspapers on the island and one is reputed to be better than the other. I won't say which one but anyway, the one that I was reading - there was a spelling error. Hmm, that's a first, I thought. I shrugged it off thinking that the writer/editor was probably having a bad day. Until a couple of days later, when I came across another spelling error, on another day. And then another one error on another page, on the same day! What is going on? This is unheard of.

You know how when you're in high school, no matter where, teachers ask you to look an at article from the newspaper & critique it for an assignment? I'm sure everyone has been given this assignment at some point in their high school years. For me, this was in Dubai and the one newspaper that consistenly met our teachers' standard was Canada's Globe and Mail. We had more articles to critique from the Globe that we did from the NY Times. Once I arrived here in Canada I was so proud that the Globe was Canadian. Sure everyone's heard of Terry Fox but to hear about the Globe on a consistent basis on the other side of the world - that's monumental for the Globe, whether they're aware of it or not. I started to read the Globe daily and I was addicted. In fact, I still am. They have the very best writers on their staff and their writing style coupled with wit is something I can only hope to aspire to. Someday. It truly is a paper to be looked up to. But even so, there are other newspapers out there. We also looked at the Times of India & the Telegraph, during our critique session. My point it that newspapers are the ones that get it right. It isn't just about who, what, where, when & why, it's more than that. It's scentence structure, vocabulary and most importantly we look to it for new words, how they were spelled & what context they were used in. If you want to better your English, read the newspaper, they say.

And so Bermuda shocked me! A spelling error in a newspaper? Well, if the newspaper can't get it right, then seriously, there's nothing more to report.

what not to wear

A comment from a visitor on my previous post prompted me to post this.

While the beaches here are beautiful & evoke a sense of relaxation & a lax attitude, the rules governing beachwear etiquette are not. Swim suits are not to be worn anywhere else but on the beach. You certainly cannot walk around town or dine at a restaurant in your swimwear attire & that means no bikini tops, no matter how hot it is. Flip flops & shorts (at most restaurants) do not make up for appropriate attire either. This is not Mexico! And unlike Mexico, there are absolutely NO nude or semi-nude beaches here in Bermuda. This island promotes a family friendly atmosphere & we all know how nude beaches violate that milieu.

Lets face it, if you have kids would you not want to have control of what body parts he/she views & at what age. This largely depends on where you're from. Some argue that the Europeans are not as obsessed with nudity it's because their children are exposed to it early on prompting a casual 'been there seen that' attitude. The Europeans do say that the Americans are obsessed with nudity for the mere fact that everything is guarded & censored from a very young age. It's very hard to make that change now in North America. Unless it starts with the next generation & for them to establish it as the norm. In the meantime, it's each to his own. In any case, if you're expecting a free form sort of vacation at a Bermuda beach, think again. There's always Mexico!

a fly on the wall?

One never knows what they're sitting next to while outdoors in Bermuda. You might stand up to find a harmless 'companion' on the wall. Depending on your threshold for bugs & how you keep your cool is another thing. This one looks like a grasshopper, but let me assure you it's the largest grasshopper I've ever seen, about the size of my palm. This one was at the end of the island in St. George & while they do say that bugs at the ends of island are much larger than the more populated areas in the middle of the island, I sure am glad I don't live at either end. There are other bugs that I have a low tolerance for & we all know which ones those are.

the long & short of it is

I failed to mention how Bermuda shorts came about, probably because I wasn't thinking hard enough to find out. And then I came across this...

Bermuda Shorts
n. Tailored shorts that are long to above the knee. Bermuda shorts were created to solve a moral dilemma. In the 1940s, the island of Bermuda passed a law saying that women were not allowed to walk around with bare legs. So, knee-length shorts - worn with knee socks - were born.
http://fabsugar.com/541866

Spider spider on the wall

If you're afraid of spiders, I suggest you not read any further. It's been reported that a person eats an average of 12 spiders in their sleep during their lifetime. It's true, I'm not making this up. I can't make this up. I'm sure that this average is increased as there seem to be a lot more spiders in Bermuda than any other place. A select few (maybe one or two that have been accidentally brought on the island) can be dangerous but for the most part they're harmless. But they're everywhere. They do seem to get rid of some of the ants that make it through, so I don't mind them sticking around. Except when they're super sized, or start laying their eggs in the thousands, or are found invading my personal space. That's when they've got to go!

he wears short shorts

Even if you have no idea where it is, Bermuda is synonymous with two things. A song & a pair of shorts!

The song:
Kokomo by the Beach Boys, the song that made Bermuda famous. I know that's where I first heard of Bermuda. I remember singing away to this when I was a kid. Little did I know I'd be living here someday. It's funny where life takes you.
Bermuda, Bahama, come on pretty mama....
(That's the Muppets version, which I think is cute. I don't care how old I am, Kermit always puts a smile on my face. Enjoy!)

Ok, now to the shorts:
Bermuda shorts keep cropping up every so often. They were around when I was a kid & they've recently made a comeback in the fashion world. In North America they're more popular with the women, but here in Bermuda, the shorts are more popular & practical summer wear with the men. It's also the official attire for men & more than acceptable for work wear. The shorts are accompanied with a blazer, tie & knee high socks, in addition to the shirt & shoes. While it does look quite smart, I cannot get used to the knee high socks on men, not with shorts. And while the shorts do come in a variety of colours, nothing looks quite as sharp on a man who's donned pale pink shorts with a navy blue blazer. Sharp! And I have to say many many men here throw caution to the wind & don on pink shorts. Pink shirts are also quite popular here, but not together with the pink shorts. How silly would that look? I know this for sure, a man who wears pink is definitely comfortable with his image & his sexuality. Maybe we're past the days when men thought it girly to wear anything pink.

please stand by...

You tune into Bermuda's Weather Channel in the hopes of getting informed about how productive your weekend's going to be, weather wise. Well, don't be surprised to find this on your screen instead of Celsius & Fahrenheit readings.

Obviously, the Weather Channel was experiencing some technical difficulties. Or should I say IT difficulties. Not the first time it's

happened either. What I don't understand is why they don't revert to the standard screen shot that says: "We are experiencing

Technical difficulties. Please stand by..." instead of us having to view an IT personnel's attempt to end task & then un install

the anti virus software (which apparently seems to be causing the problem). Yes, that's what he's trying to do. Or she. Could be a she.

But I love it. Where else would you get to see a behind the scenes look of any weather channel?

Only in Bermuda, folks.

the rain gods

It's been one of those weeks in Bermuda where it's rained everyday. It feels more like the month of Feb or March. While we have seen & felt the sun on & off during the week, the rain has, perhaps been a bit too much for us. The Bermuda Music Festival is on right now with many many international artists gracing the island & the rain does not make for a very good backdrop while the crowds gather to hear their favourites belt it out. Today is pretty much the first day of rain relief that we've had all week. But we here know that we're on dangerous ground when we complain about too much rain. Too much rain? What's the matter with you, many reading this will demand to know. For the love of...don't anger the rain gods. They may just hear us & decided to take a month off or maybe more which will not be very becoming for our water supply.

aluminium or aluminum?

Some say English is the hardest language to learn & that at times words just don't make sense the way they're pronounced. At first, I'd vehemently dismiss this utterance but I have now come to realize this just might be true. Learning English really is a whole different ball game. Some words are pronounced & enunciated differently if you've learned the Queen's English compared to American English (which at times this seems to shadow Canada as well). Coming from India & Dubai, my family & I have all had to realign certain pronunciations of some of our words. My mother says it best: I learned English when I was a kid in India & now I have to learn it all over again? Bloody nonsense! Of course, she exaggerates a little. It's only a few words, but getting caught with just those few can depending on the situation, cause you blush a little when you realize that the other party can't quite understand you.

A few years ago in Toronto, I was watching CityLine's Design Thursdays, with Marilyn Dennis hosting & in one segment, interviewing a guest of Asian origin. While discussing products available on that particular show, he mentioned the word aluminium, a common one in the design world. Now if you're from the East, you're going to read this word like the British do & if you're from North America you're going to read it like the North Americans do. What's the difference? Allow me to demonstrate, as best I can. The British version of aluminium is probably said 'aalumineeyum'. The North American version is said 'aloomenum'. The reason for the difference in pronunciation explained here. Of course, Marilyn dared to poke fun at the guest saying: "Aalumineeyum? What the heck is aalumineeyum? It's aloomenum." Suffice to say the guest was significantly embarrassed & could do nothing else but, along with the audience, laugh at himself. Not Marilyn's best moment, I know.

And while I tend to forget about this incident from time to time, I did remember it today while listening to the news on the radio (seems like I listen to the radio a lot lately, but it's only while I'm driving). Anyway, this particular news broadcaster on the radio of British origin also appears on the nightly news as well (many of you know of whom I speak). I can't remember what the context was but he said aluminium exactly the way the Brits say it: aalumineeyum! Nothing wrong with that but it put a smile on my face as it reminded me of the Cityline episode & Marilyn's faux pas.

I'm sure there are more words like aluminium that you may have heard of or come across while in conversation. Like roof, pronounced rooof the British way but sometimes pronounced 'ruf', the American way. Or route, pronounced 'root' the British way, but 'raut' the American way. At this point I would also like to mention that while Canadians for the most part follow the Queen's English, we (not me, except for the word aluminium) sometimes tend to pronounce some words the American way due to our close proximity . Why oh why do we have to deviate & more importantly who is the deviant? It's a rhetorical question, for we know who the culprit is. (Oh! culprit is another word I'm going to touch upon in another post for another day). But getting back to our word of the day, I'm calling all Bermudians (& everyone else too): How DO you pronounce aluminium?

Oh & did I mention my brother & I have a super fun time teasing my parents when they slip back to the British pronunciation of words. Which reminds me, it's my brother's birthday. Happy Birthday, Bro. I can't believe how old you are now. Only a year & a half younger than I but still. Sheesh!

custodial rights

Only in Bermuda will a song on the radio be interuppted to announce that Britney Spears has lost custody of her two sons. Honeslty, do we care? If she were a non celebrity, an average Jane, she'd have lost custody of her children a long time ago, just based on the photographic evidence, courtesy of the paparazzi. I'm not going to go into details because I don't really care to, even though I've been keeping up to date. The radio host, however, was apparently blithely unaware of the facts & was upset that custody was awarded to the 'ex-huband'. Apparently this was a huge no no in her books. Never mind that the ex-husband is in actuality not just the ex-husband but the father who has so far displayed a more than mature attitude than his counterpart, which by the way wasn't even brought up during the impromtu interruption.

Just a thought - is it then common opinion that fathers are unfit to have sole custody of their children, that it's impossible for men to be primary caregivers? That in no way should custody be awarded to the ex-husband/father, should he be a responsible one. Who then should the custody of children be awarded to? Grandmothers? Aunts? Uncles? Where are the responsible fathers' custodial rights in all of this?