ISLAND PICTURES FOR 49TH ANNIVERSARY OF BAHAMAS INDEPENDENCE

 

Pictures depicting each island of The Bahamas have been on show in Rawson Square, downtown Nassau, Bahamas, for the 49th anniversary of The Bahamas' Independence July 10th, 2022. Also visible in the middle rear of the square is a statue of the late Sir Milo Butler GCMG, GCVO, who was the first Bahamian Governor General (1973 to 1979).

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NASSAU BAHAMAS TROLLEY TOURS?

 

A TOURIST TROLLEY STOPS AT

MARGARITAVILLE BEACH RESORT,

NASSAU, BAHAMAS

This is something new in Nassau, Bahamas. Haven't seen these trolleys here before. I think it might be Trident Pedal Tours.

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UP AND AWAY!

 

These e-scooters are all over Nassau! They have slots for people to pay for them by credit card and then off they go!

JUNKANOO THEN AND NOW!

The aftermath of a past Junkanoo 

in downtown Nassau, Bahamas

Sadly, our popular Junkanoo festival here in The Bahamas has been cancelled again this year. The New Year's Day holiday, which will be observed on Monday, January 3rd, won't ring with the excitement of New Year's Day 1966 and successive New Year's Days because of Covid-19. 

Fifty-six years' ago, I rode side saddle on the back of Erskine's scooter "Over The Hill" after a party that he and his band "The Invaders" had played at on West Bay Street. Discarded Junkanoo floats and costumes were strewn all over the streets. We went from night club to night club until the wee hours. I wore a long white evening gown, but by the time the sun rose my dress was no longer white!

In my novel "Dangerous Devotion" (described by Juanita Coulson, "The Lady" Books Editor, as "A moving tale of family dynamics and relationships in later life"), Gordon and Violet experience the Christmas season in Nassau, but because Gordon is Scottish, they fly back to Scotland for Hogmanay.

Excerpt from "Dangerous Devotion":

"Bell ringers stood at strategic points on downtown Bay Street, collecting money for charity in Salvation Army kettles. The street was decked out with festive decorations. A heavily laden Christmas tree towered next to the colonial buildings in historic Rawson Square. Bleachers for the upcoming Boxing Day and New Year’s Junkanoo parades were already in place."

"Dangerous Devotion" is available on Amazon as an e-book at $2.99 and in paperback $13.99. Click the link below to go the book's Amazon page:-

DANGEROUS DEVOTION

Wishing everyone a Happy and Healthy 2022!

 

 

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS IS ALL TIED UP RIGHT NOW!

 

On Saturday October 9th, 2021, a man attempted to destroy the statue of Christopher Columbus outside Government House, Nassau, with a sledge hammer! He was arrested, but not before he had done substantial damage. The statue has been there since 1830 and there are a lot of interesting stories about it that you can find if you do a search online.

See The Tribune article HERE

Since then, the statue has remained covered with a tarpaulin - I guess, until they decide what to do with it or perhaps they have to wait for an insurance settlement!

By the way, the scaffolding in the background is because they are currently renovating Government House.

NASSAU'S FAMOUS STRAW MARKET REOPENS!

 

Nassau's famous Straw Market in downtown Bay Street has reopened!

 

Read Tribune article HERE

BAHAMAS NEW CABINET OFFICE TO BE BUILT

 

Churchill Building, Nassau, Bahamas

The Churchill Building on downtown Bay Street, Nassau, is being demolished to make way for a new Cabinet Office.

In 1965, while I was working as a secretarial temp in the Churchill Building, it housed The Bahamas Treasury. At the time, I went up on the roof of this building with my colleagues to watch the S.S. Bahama Star bring in the survivors from the burning S.S. Yarmouth Castle. I took photos and three of my poems about this tragedy were published in "The Tribune" newspaper, Nassau.

THE PASSING OF THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH

The last time Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, visited Nassau, Bahamas (March, 1994), my husband Erskine's secretary Marcia and I went out on a highway, where we knew the royal couple would be driving back to the airport.

We stood on a grass verge with no one else around as they drove past. I had made a little British Union Jack on a stick and Marcia had a little Bahamian flag. We stood there waving furiously at them as they passed us by. The Queen waved back.

I often wondered if they ever remembered those two lone figures waving little flags at them on an isolated Bahamian highway!

BAHAMAS SEA PLANE MEMORIES!

 

Part of the fabulous mural by Allan Pachino Wallace at The Point's

Margaritaville Beach Resort, Nassau, Bahamas. The entire mural

can be viewed at the edge of Junkanoo Beach.

The sea plane depicted on this brilliant mural by Allan Pachino Wallace at The Pointe's Margaritaville Beach Resort near the British Colonial Hilton Hotel, Nassau, Bahamas, reminds me of my days as PA to Eric Crouch on Bay Street, downtown Nassau, in the seventies. Mr. Crouch used to send me with Lee Stocking Island's weekly payroll to the British Colonial beach to meet the seaplane from his client's island which is situated in the Exumas. The owner of Lee Stocking Island at the time was John Perry, who founded a marine science institute there.

I would roll up my capris and with shoes and payroll in hand wade out to the waiting sea plane. I would hand over the precious package and then make my way back to the shore, watching the sea plane roar away and take off into the sparkling blue.

NEW YEAR'S DAY 2020 DOWNTOWN NASSAU BAHAMAS!

Woodes Rodgers Wharf, downtown Nassau, Bahamas -
New Year's Day 2020

Back on the rock just in time for New Year's! Downtown Bay Street, Nassau, Bahamas, was blocked off after Junkanoo so traffic was diverted along Woodes Rodgers Wharf, which was hopping. Happy New Year to all!

Instagram video at faykwrites: NASSAU NEW YEAR'S DAY 2020

BEAUTIFUL BAHA MAR WEDDINGS!

The Baha Mar wedding chapel, Nassau, Bahamas, is located in pristine grounds - a delightful setting where newly-weds and their guests can step out of the chapel right into a highly organized reception on a beautiful lawn! 

It's a bit different from the mad drive from St. Anne's church to the old Queen Elizabeth Sports Centre catered reception that Erskine and I had 53 years ago!

WE WILL OVERCOME - #BahamasStrong

What an amazing sight on a rooftop here in Nassau, Bahamas, this morning - 13 Ibis on Friday, September 13th! Some might say this was a “sign”. I like to think it was an indication that Grand Bahama and the Abaco Islands will bounce back even stronger from the deadly Cat 5 Hurricane Dorian that devastated those islands last week.

Although we didn’t get Hurricane Dorian in Nassau/New Providence we still felt the effects of beta bands from Hurricane Dorian with torrential rain and thunderstorms and flooding in low lying areas. But that was nothing compared to what the hurricane inflicted on the Abaco Islands and Grand Bahama. So many on those islands have lost everything.

We have heard tragic first hand reports from evacuees of the hurricane ravaged islands as people escaped to New Providence. It is heart wrenching. There has been much activity on land, air and sea on and around New Providence with relief efforts for the devastated islands of Abaco and Grand Bahama and incoming evacuation of traumatized victims of Hurricane Dorian. Many have died and hundreds are still missing.

Bahamian and International communities and organizations are pulling together to help the victims of Hurricane Dorian. The UK and Denmark sent aid ships to help with relief. The U.S. sent search and rescue crews and helicopters to help with evacuations. The list of international help is too long to mention here, but there are international and local organizations that continue to feed thousands of evacuees on New Providence. They work in conjunction with NEMA (The Bahamas’ National Emergency Management Agency), which gives daily press conferences.

Last Sunday New Providence Community Church's service was held in the Andros Ballroom of the Baha Mar Convention Centre, as the church is being used for their Hurricane Dorian Relief Initiative. Many evacuees from Grand Bahama and Abaco were present at the moving service. The New Providence Community Centre on Blake Road, Nassau, is receiving donations from 7.30 a.m. - 8 p.m. daily. They also have a Call Centre set up to report missing persons in Abaco or Grand Bahama or to receive emergency relief - Tel. 698-CARE (2273). NPCC updates can be found on their Facebook page. Many other local churches and organizations have undertaken similar relief initiatives.

As power, water and communications begin to be reconnected to the afflicted islands, The Bahamas is determined to move on #BahamasStrong.

JOURNALISM OF YESTERYEAR

Driving past “The Tribune” newspaper in Nassau, Bahamas, this morning, and noticing the car park empty reminded me of what it was like in years gone by.

When I arrived in Nassau in 1965, while attempting to travel around the world, I took a bus to the “Manpower Agency” in Oakesfield, to look for secretarial work. They sent me out on “temp” jobs. The most interesting was when I filled in as secretary for the publisher/editor of “The Tribune” at the time, Sir Etienne Dupuch. His secretary was apparently travelling in Europe.

Sir Etienne also travelled abroad while I worked for him. I remember receiving long yellow sheets of paper from him, with prolific editorials for me to type up.

The car park would never have been empty on a Saturday in those days! I don’t think Sir Etienne would have approved of The Tribune only being published five days a week. However, life in general was less stressful at that time, not like nowadays when journalists definitely need a break from deadlines!

I think Sir Etienne would have been proud of me, publishing my book of romantic short stories "Sunbeams from the Heart"!