Tuesday, October 31, 2006

Northern accents

That is definately worth a mention. Its completely hypnotising. Its not your typical british accent, far from. Love it, anywhere after middle England, esp Newcastle, Liverpool.
And let me not forget to give special shout out to the Irish & Scottish accents too.

I think the only one I have real trouble understanding is Welsh.

Monday, October 30, 2006

England pics 2000-Present

Arranging them as we speak. I've made an album so its easier to view, its too much trouble uploading on blogger.

I've trawled through our million and 1 pics from over the years to pick out some that may be of interest, and to go with my recent post supressing Oct blues. I wish I could share much more, but its difficult to find pics where we're not all over it. No I don't feel like brandishing myself on the internet. So even though I've left out quite a few places ( Manchester, Scotland, Peake Distrcit to name a few) these should be enough to please.

I have to add that these are all our own pics, taken ourselves with our camera - thank you digital technology.

Please check it out. Alexia the countryside awaits you.

Comments on Blogger Please if any. :-)
Goodnight

http://picasaweb.google.com/jknine3/London

http://picasaweb.google.com/jknine3/Bournemouth

http://picasaweb.google.com/jknine3/SouthamptonCommon

http://picasaweb.google.com/jknine3/AroundTheUk

http://picasaweb.google.com/jknine3/WhereILive

Notting hill carnival & Alternative concept 4 2006

This was the 2nd time since I've been here that I've checked out the Notting hill scene. The 1st time I was pregnant and it was too much jamming, is more people than anything. You don't move, the crowd moves you.
Went to see Machel & Allison Hinds at Alternative concept on the Fri, headed down to the kiddies on Sunday. That was great because my mom was up here, my brother and his wife came along, and a friend from work with her son. Nice family day out.

The reason I'm putting the Notting hill pics up , its just so that you can have a glimpse of English Carnival, and I thought it was funny that is was supposed to be kiddies day. But if you look you see more adults, and not so young kids along with the odd j'ouvert reveller. The sidestreets had different things going on. Main food area was really really busy, and evrything was really really oily, that didn't stop meh though, was a never see come see situation.
There were some brazillian street dancers doing their thing which was pretty cool

ENjoy!

http://picasaweb.google.com/jknine3/NottinghillCarnival


P.S Any comments can you post on here, not on Picasa please :-)

Saturday, October 28, 2006

HP Christie





I in love with these now.
Didn't see it in any of the stores in the mall. Not even in the store that I found the shoe in online.
I guess worse come to worse I'll but it online.
My feet too broad for dem pointy pointy ones. This will suit me good.

Check this out

After reading Saucy blog last night on the 2007 Soca, I went to check out Toronto-lime.
I've known the site before, but I never realised they had soca videos on them too.

As much as I love my Carnival, sometimes I feel like we rushing it. And no I never used to like the soca switch, because it kills all the good soca by the time carnival come round. But when I was watching those videos I ketch the vibes man it was nice.
And the last page on toronto lime has some old school Machel, even too young to soca.

I'll have to put up a link to that one.
Trinijunglejuice is quite good, they missing a few good songs but they have soca from 2004 up. Even the other islands carnival releases.
The other one I like is a soca station I have in my favs at home- but I at work so I'll put that up later.

Saturday working & Hush Puppy boots

This is the last of my Saturdays for a lil while. Thank goodness cause I can't handle it right now nah. I dead. I just bepping on myself. Really need to stop staying up late.

I had to watch Lost last night and tonight it will have to be Desperate housewives & Nip Tuck.
Can't let another night pass and I ain't watch the Nip yet. Can't get enough of these shows, and a couple others too - Laguna beach and The O.C.
Yes Laguna beach!
I don't watch too much tv, not a big fan of british sitcom or comedies, unless my husband makes me watch it. Some I like but very very few and far inbetween.

Hopefully I'll be in bed before midnight, cause I can't tell you when last I have done.

On another note I want to get a pair of hush puppy boots. Going to try them on when I finish work. They real cute - HP Christie they're called. I'll see if I could get a pic and stick up.
I have a pair of HP boots, because it had my name. Stupid, but who cares. My name is not that common and the boots were nice, that was good enough for me.
This isn't for carnival though.

Friday, October 27, 2006

Supressing the Oct blues

I don't want to sound like I bashing the people place round the clock. It not all bad. So when I get some time on my hands I want to do a list of the good, the bad, and the wierd.


GOOD/SAVIOURS

Bowling - Something we don't have at home
Feeding ducks & swans in parks by the ponds
Forest - walking through the forest, taking a bike ride through the forest
Theme parks - I'm not a big fan of rollercoasters, but its still nice to be able to have the opportunity. Coni Island doesn't cut it.
Play areas for kids
MTV Base
Trouble (tv station) - where I could find all my black sitcoms cause I love them.
The Beckhams - yes David AND Victoria
Footballers - I shouldn't have to explain why
Martial Arts - not sure if i would have been able to do it in Trini
Close to the rest of Europe
Concerts- the opportunity to see bands & artists that Trini can't bring.
Boots the store - lovin boots
Boots ( shoes ) - now I know it have people who does be rocking the boots in Trini, but it was to hot to be wearing black calf length leather. If its the ankle ones ok

Walking through the parks on my way to/fro work and seeing lots of squirrels
In Autumn when the leaves are blowing off the trees when you walking somewhere.
In Summer when the sun goes down between 9.30 - 10pm.
Job agencies- I know jobs hard to comeby in Trini. Here there are always opportunities.

The countryside is absolutely beautiful. I never expected so much greenery in this country, it was the first thing I noticed. You just expect England to be very close to America, and it isn't. Sometimes its a good thing, sometimes its a bad thing. But you could find really nice massive parks. And I love seeing sheep and horses. Think I'll have to do a seperate piece on beautiful and great places in GBR with pics.

My car. I would not have had the dinero to buy my own car if I was in Trini. And I love my car so much I dream about it.



WIERD:

Beans on toast - I love baked beans, but not on toast!
Speghetti on toast - ahm no.

White boots - I never see it looking right. If Chris Rock had something to say, it would be right up there with clear heels at the ho' convention.
Ice water coming out as your normal tap water
Bank Holidays - The only holidays with names are Christmas, new years, Good Fri & east Mon.
A good night out is supposed to include pub crawling, shouting over the blearing music, and getting shit faced.?? - whatever.

Why stores here only recently (nov05-feb-06) started using pin when you use your bank card to pay for something. We doing that long time. It in full effect since Feb06.

Some laws - if somebody break in my house to thief or God knows, the criminal in question should not be able to press charges against me. *steupseee*

Houses come in about 4 variations- detached (not joined on either side), semi-detached (the house joined to another house on 1 side), terraced (joined on both sides) and bungalows which are all detached I believe but single level houses nah. Colours don't vary much either its usully ugly brick grey or browny colour, or if you paint its usually white, cream. On your street you'll have the same type of houses.
All towns/cities have the same layouts. Same stores. Similar type shops and cafes, tea shops etc in smaller towns. Except London I suppose.

You could just not know your neighbours period.

Old people who have children that don't look after them.

Men that getting their hair did - getting highlights etc. Men who wear tight tight jeans, or bootcut, kickflare jeans.


BAD:

Never enough bank holidays
the cold duh!
Why do films always get released so late here?
And some songs don't even reach - I can't say I ever heard La Totura here yet- that is a real hot song, and is Shakira? They getting better but its still always a couple of months behind for alot of music/artists that aren't from the UK. Unless they real real popular.

Benefits system - People who generally scrounging. And people who plan all their kids so they get more benefits i.e money from govt for free, and don't have to work. Cause its the people that really need it that get less.

The Healthcare and Dental - well I don't even go to the dentist here, I just go by mine when I go home. 3rd world services. Imagine if you gone in the hospital for 1 thing, then catch something else in the hospital cause they don't clean it properly. MRSA. uhgeed.

Living space and parking spaces are small and congested. London and big cities are worse. You'd be lucky in some neighbourhoods if you could park your car infront your own house.
You have to pay to park 99% of places when you go out. After 6pm you should be allright. Its expensive to park. I have my car but I don't drive to work cause I can't afford to pay £5-£6 a day in parking thank you. I catch the bus thank you very much.

No culture unless you could count going to the pub and football as a culture.

Obsession with celebrity to the point where you could build them up, then knock them down ruin lives and they don't care (the media that is). You could be a celebrity for nothing. If i was pretty to enough to go and sleep with someone rich and famous, and then sell the story - that is good grounds for becoming a celeb. Too many Z-list celeb reality shows.

I saw a size 0 in the Gap. and a size 2 as well. ewww. Never saw it in real life, I thought it was only a celeb/Hollywood thing

The bread is go stale fast fast.
Alot of religionless people


Ok so this list isn't exclusive, but those are just some of the things I noticed, and there 's more but it would never end.

Tuesday, October 24, 2006

Ignorance is not bliss

Well I don't know who ain't go get vex with this one.

Gone to dinner last night with my 2 friends from work. Nicky and Huw (pron. Hugh). At some point during dinner, Nicky and Huw started talking about Trinidad. I was busy stuffing my mouth. Next thing you know Huw starts coming out with stuff like, " I thought they all live in shacks don't they?"
Nicky looks at my face and I stop eating. Is he for real? This boy don't want me to lunge across that table?

He says that on some documentary around world cup time, that one of our footballers took the camera crew to his parents house which looked like a shack??????? So he thought that we all lived like that. Now I don't know what he talking bout. And why whenever you see they showing things about Caribbean Islands in general, it always looking slummish? They always in town somewhere by the drag mall, or what used to be. Talking to the people who hustling on the streets. Is this how the rest of the world sees us ? its worrying. We have nicer houses in Trini than it have here. Every town looks the same, same shops, same layout, the houses have like about 4 variations, so they tend to look the same too.
I'm still highly insulted, offended and everything else. OMG if he is like that, are there other people out there that think that is how we live?

Oh and I keep getting called jamaican as if I have a jamaican accent. And if its not that I get American. Huh?

And even my mother in law thinks that Diego Martin is some part of Jamaica.
People ask me when am I going back to Tobago? Cause to some people I'm from Tobago, I don't know if they think that Trinidad is in Tobago. This came up in the discussion too. Yes its actually TWO SEPERATE ISLANDS. I love Tobago, but I not from there!! I suppose for touristy reasons on this side of the world you only hear Tobago, never Trinidad.

And speaking of the World Cup, they kept annoying me at work by saying Soccer Warriors. They were pronouncing SOCA as SOCCER - I'm sure you heard it on the tv from the commentators as well. OMG it drove me crazy. I was trying to explain to people at work, its because of the kind of music that we have. They just didn't get it.

My son's friends were saying how its cheating that we have 2 countries vs one for the world cup. 5yr olds were upset that England didn't win over Trinidad & Tobago, and we cheated because its 2 countries. What you say to that? what you could really say?

And somebody just last week said to me, "If you were anymore laid back you'd fall over". There is this we're just laid back, don't do shit. Just smoke the herb, men have ras or whatever. ARHHHHHGHHHHARGHGHHHHH Help me educate these damn people.
Now I know it have some people like that lol, but that is not how the whole flipping country does operate.

Oh yeah and do we speak English? Is English our first language - he ask that too. and I've had other people ask me before. That isn't too bad a question actually. But when he ask that, I was like do I sound like I speak something else. On the other hand don't answer - as he is the one that gave me the nickname Chutney, because he didn't understand what I was saying about JET Li, and thought I was speaking about Chutney.


What a ting. Anyway I've flooded his email with Trinidad pics. STEUPSE!

Girlie Evening

Yesterday my friend from work planned a girlie evening. The kids away - parents play.
We went out for dinner with another guy from work, stopped and got some courvoisier and a bottle of baileys, then went home put on a Chris Rock dvd. It was a good night. The husband was banished upstairs while we cackled the night away. Good times man.
She sleptover and we gossip all morning long. Good tmes.

Saturday, October 21, 2006

Blogging on Fri & Sat

Ketch meh nen nen trying to blog all yesterday.

We seem to be cool now. So I not hating.

Sat evening giving troble too. It can't be the internet cause everything running fine. So I figure its this site. In the end I had to give up.

Anybody else having troubles using blogger ?

Dove Intensive firming Gel-cream

Today I've started to use Dove Intensive firming cream, will see how that goes. Will update as I go along.
More or less had a good food day.
Swimming tomorrow with the fam.
Will definately back on track with martial arts this week too. I've been skipping somedays last couple of weeks.

Bought a black jacket finally.

Oh will also be trying out my Roc microdermabrasion kit tonight as well. see how that goes.

Friday, October 20, 2006

Blogging

I'm getting addicted.

I'm having alot of fun just reading other blogs esp from the trinis in foreign. Big shout out!
Its good to see we all experiencing the same kinda things.

My husband is an englishman, my son born here and I living here over 6yrs now, but it will never be home to me yes. This is just somewhere I live. When I dream 95% of my dreams are of my life in Trinidad.
The day he says lets go live there; I'd be packed and on plane before you say jack robinson.

Its only a few months again anyhow, not that long till Feb. I only talking so cause winter round the corner *shudder*
At work today I had on my winter coat in the office, it so fricking cold on my floor. The other floors ok but oh shit man. People only asking me if I cold. I have on a frigging coat inside, yes I cold!! They don't believe me nah. So I tell a couple of them to feel my skin, and they like, " Oh my Gosh, you're frozen!" Yes I know tell me about it.

Ate like a pig, and talking to my husband on messenger and he bringing me home a doughnut too, he did ask if he should bin it. I said no, I'll have it. I'll probably be oinking later with all them sausage rolls I eat today yes LOL. Its the little mini ones too.
Tom is another day yes. Its that time of the month I doh cater!
I'm a size 10, and a 12 for when my ass have to fit in it too.

Just one more thing - Food Friday

Its Food Friday tommorow at work. Everybody brings in some kinda food. And by food I mean some junk food shit. cookies, cakes, crisps, sausages rolls, chocolates, doughnuts.. and the list rolls on. ANd the eating usually starts from in the morning as soon as everybody brings their stuff in, or from before if we playing greedy, then till all afternoon.

So I'll actually try and avoid most of it. I have my weaknesses and I'm only human after all. Plus I really actually want to be all up in that, BUT I will try to see if I find some will power on the roadside somewhere on my way to work.

I bought some Doritos I want to try so I'll have them. Went grocery shopping this week and picked up some more of Sainsburys Toffee muffins it was a get 2 extra in the pack free. How could I refuse. By this week I meant yesterday and all the muffins gone. I did share with my son, and by share he had 2.
Its my sweet tooth that gets to me.

The Weather turning

Its little torrential outside, raining on and off. Lots of pools of water everywhere. Not exactly your trini floods but who wants them anyway. Straying for 1 sec it doesn't have earthquakes here.

As a vest, jeans and slippers girl, it still hard to adjust to layering my clothes properly, and I'm never comfortable when I have to be wearing one set ah clothes.
inside my house warm generally
Outside cold
work airconditioned.

Wrong, strong and Stubborn no ass - in my house in just a vest or jersey and shorts telling my husband it cold, so that he wouldn't mind if I put on the heater.

My skin is go all dry and funny in winter too. The health of my hair, skin and nails before living in this country was pretty damn good let me tell you. You don't even want to know the kinda moaning I put down between Oct and April.
My mother-inlaw come in here the other day bawling how the place hot. steuppse no time yes. If it cold outside, then it cold inside as far as I'm concerned and the heatin going on.
I'm much better than I was in the first 2 yrs I was here, when I'd be cranking the heating right up to 30 and not feeling the heat. I came here in MAY eh. But my husband at the time didn't have the heart to boff me up about it, and endured his nightly headaches. Sorry A.
Definately improved.

A friend of mine came to visit last Oct and she said to me, your house is always feel like it airconditioned so? - no I don't have airconditioning, it was early Oct and we hadn't started putting the heating on just yet.

Next friend I was playing J'ouvert with this Carnival gone there - 3/4am in the morning and we in the lil vest and shorts no duttiness on we yet, and she ask me ' Is this what the cold in England is feel like?'
I jus hadda laugh with that one. No that is what a cool summer's evening feels like.


I must say a special thank you to global warming to making the summers last a bit longer, cause we've had a good run to be now starting to go 18deg cel & under during the day, the nights are like 10-14deg only in this last week or so. We had the occasional bad weather in the summer where it was crisp at times (the BREEZE Lord it don't help). When we were having rains, and thunderstorms earlier in the summer it even hailed a little one day.

I could never sleep properly when I get back from Wushu. Its like 12.45am I deading and I'm sure I stopped making sense a long time ago, as this is an awful long blog about the weather.
Good night!

Thursday, October 19, 2006

Rosalind Gabriel - Many faces, One Nation.

Registration is on for all those interested.

12 sections - all the section names start with 'Faces of ..' e.g Faces of the Future

deposit is $350


From the costume she described to me, I ain't feeling it. But she said the older costumes look real good.

We're going with Spoilt Rotten.

Wednesday, October 18, 2006

Kiddies

Spoilt Rotten - we know have launched. I've actually contacted them via email for my own interests. She was saying that they finish registration fairly early, and to get intouch soon.
I think that is mainly because they are a small band

632-9664 or 757-8484 - Christine Nunes -band leader.

My son wants the Aladin costume, but I am trying to hold out to see what Rosalind Gabriel comes out with.

Speaking of which...
Apparently Rosalind Gabriel has started registration (without officially launching) and
'Many Faces, One Nation' is supposedly the name of the band. I am telling my moms to go check out the camp to see if they have any sketches up. So if you know for definate you want to play with her, you could go ahead and register.
26 O'Connor StreetWoodbrookTrinidad, W.I.Phone: (868) 628-8055

Links updated

another Tribe : IP like predicament :-(

Updates courtesy www.tntisland.com

First off it looks like I missing the Old Hilarians fete - Sat Jan 20th

- shucks! looks like I'll never make it to the old stomping grounds, unless I take a really really long holiday off work in the future.

&

Brass Festival too - Sat 3rd Feb 2007.

Sunday, October 15, 2006

David Rudder - where is he now?

He had that 'Sheila' song, which was catchy. But he seems to be more off the scene, than on. What happened?

The best Las Lap I had to date was when he had ' High Mas'. That jus ketch the whole vibes that Carnival Tuesday evening

Everybody was singing in unison, chipping behind the big truck going through Woodbrook, I'll never forget it.


"....As it was in the beginning of J'ouvert
So it shall be on Carnival Tuesday ending (good vibes)...Amen

Everybody hand raise
Everybody give praise
Everybody hand raise
And if you know what I mean....put up your finger
And if you know what I mean....put up your hand
And if you know what I mean....put up your finger
And if you know what I mean then scream
O, give Jah his praises
O, let Jah be praised
O, the Father in his mercy
Send a little music, to make the vibration raise
So Carnival Day, everybody come and celebrate
Everybody come and celebrate
See the ragamuffin congregate
Everybody come and celebrate
And everybody say, oo,a,a,oo,a,a I love my countryoo,a,a,oo,a,a I feeling irie ..."

I going to church with that one. Ah Gone!

Greedy Kelly

This morning while trawling the net for a picture of Terry Seales ( Saucy Trini fans knows why)
I saw a picture of Greedy Kelly.

I remember reading about her on one of the T&T newspapers online earlier this year. She was saying that everybody in Southampton knows who she is, and Southampton is such a close knit community. On that note: -

Now, I've lived in Southampton for just over 6 and 1/2 yrs. Never heard of her. I got some of my Southampton born and bred work colleagues to read the article they just laughed. My husband is also a Southampton native he found it hilarious. He loves soca by the way, sometimes I think more than me. All while I was shunning carnival between 2002-2005 he was there getting all the latest soca.
P.s, Southampton is sooo close knit, that we've never spoken to my neighbours on the right of us. Not through any hate, its just not uncommon in this country. Southampton is a City not a little town in the countryside somewhere. She is dellusional. Its a lovely city by the way, down on the south coast of England and I'm being serious.

Unfortunately, I didn't get to see her at any of the fetes I went to this year, was she any good?

Wednesday, October 11, 2006

In the UK going to the Caribbean? Going home for Xmas or Carnival? Check out T&T cheap flights

With Christmas less than 3 months away and Carnival on the brain, I put a link up to a couple of travel agents I find more than reasonable.

Now the cheapest route to Trinidad is to go to Tobago first then go over to Trinidad. And the beauty about that is, that if you not in a rush you could relax in Tobago for a couple of days, hit the beach, then go over to Trinidad. The flight over to Trinidad return is $300TT. And There is the fast boat too which is much cheaper than the flight, but you'll have to venture out of Crown Point and go to Scarborough but if you doing that make sure you have a ride or something!

The only downside to going to Tobago first is that you have to consider your luggage weight if you want to fly across to Trinidad! And we all know how important that is...

Mr Newmont uses XL, Brtish Airways, (BA) Virgin, Bwia, AA and others. Mr Newmont offers flights to Trinidad and to Tobago. The cheaper ones you'll find are the first 3 above in that same order - DIRECT TO TOBAGO ONLY. To go to Trinidad using BA or Virgin you'll have to change flights on another island, then go across. It'll be a Caribbean airline like Caribbean Star or Liat for the last leg of your journey. Flying Direct or 'via' to Trinidad will always be more expensive as you paying for convenience more than anything. Whatever works for you

Golden Caribbean is for Tobago only.
You'll find alot of travel agents and tour operators doing the Tobago flights as they are more popular, and you could probably get reasonable flights if you look around.

Our flights are already booked and paid for courtesy Mr Newmont and British Airways.

XL real cheap, it ok, but you get what you pay for. I've used them once or twice.
BWIA goes Direct to Trini but they stop in one of the other islands first for pick up etc then go over to Trinidad, but not for long you don't have to get off the plane or anything.

Now I know alot of people against the whole boat thing, but let me tell you why I mention it.
The downside to going toTobago first then flying across to Piarco is luggage weight. Because we all know that we have to bring ting for so for everybody and they nen nen. And when I flying back to England I have a suitcase just for the food alone papa.

My holidays go like this -
outside of Carnival: Call my mom and make a plan for her to come over with her car to meet up the day I reach in Bago. She meets me at the airport and we stay at my cousin's Marie's place http://www.mariescottages.com/ she has a big place, with her house in front, and 2 seperate cottages behind. She's close to Mount Irvine golf course and Buccoo. Head out to Store Bay and Pigeon Point for a couple of days then go over to Trinidad. My mom comes back with me to Tobago the same day my flight leaving or the night before and yes back in the car and the FAST boat. Park up by my cousin, go back to the beach and relax once more before getting ready for check in.

Carnival Season: Fly to Tobago, get flight same evening to Trinidad..wait for hours and hours in the airport for an earlier flight on Tobago Express and still party the same night even though I been up since about 5am London time. I didn't want to book a flight on the Express too soon after I landed just incase the flight from London was delayed, but it was early instead.

For Feb 2007 - Being spoilt again, although she offered first- Mommy will come to Tobago with her car on the fast boat and meet the fams. We go back the same evening on the boat and with luggage in her car (no weight worries). Doing a Thurs to Thurs flight so I get to be there for Fri night party and ting. And I want to make sure my son costume fit him before he have to play in Kiddies the same weekend.

I personally don't go down to the beach commess on Ash Wednesday, so I'll be looking to leave for Tobago and wind down for a day and 1/2 before coming back to Gatwick Thursday evening.
And seeing as moms all up working in the Carnival, I'm sure she'll be grateful to come with us to Tobago and get rested after all the hecticness.

Tuesday, October 10, 2006

Diego fellas and company

What happened?

As a Diego girl, I was always very proud of the kind of 'talent' that we had down in the west. When I was between the age of 13-18 :

I know alot of Diego fellas
Liked alot of Diego fellas
Had crushes on a few too
and as a result
Hooked up with alot of Diego fellas ( and not necessarily in 'that' way) you get the drift. We cool and ting though no sweat there.

Point is, I was just trawling through the galleries on Triniscene.com, and seeing some of the old fellas nah, l was ike Damn you used to look good what happened? Some of these are familiar on the social scene too. Could name drop but won't.
They just not as hot. And the Vale alone has/had its fair of hotties and man hoes. But looking at them now; too pumped up, too much ras and plaits, they get dry etc etc.Only one or two still have the cut. Mostly I'm just watching the pics and shaking my head.
Back in the day passing through any part of Diego for me was like a sightseeing tour LOL ;-) But in times when I've been back I can't even recognise some people you know is like 'Da is you dey? Wheey'

Now be clear on I not no miss hottie hottie or anything, but I just feel like is a loss of community service.

I know people must catch that sam vibe though, when you see someone from your past and you think Damn what happend to you. Its a shame, damn shame.

Missy @ BIC pictures

Missy's dancers



Purple & Miss Dynamite





Missy's dancers again






Her first set





Miss Dynamite - A little darker showcase



Missy again


Akala part of A little Darker showcase


I know they not in any specific order. Its better than nothing at all.

Sunday, October 08, 2006

Missy Elliott in the BIC

Went to see Missy last night. I was surprised she was down south. Ususally the big names go as far down as Milton Keynes and that's it. But I had to go see my adidas heroine.

DJ was real good whoever it was. Then we had some random man, didn't even catch his name, but he thought he was hot, and he wasn't really. His body was ok. Miss Dynamite came on a bit later showcasing some Akala, Purple (jah ras!) and a couple of other people. I myself not big on any uk garage, hip hop scene, it just don't interest me. The songs that actually get airplay are ok, but its still not for me. Miss Dynamite was cool, so could real rap dread, fast and hard. They had the crowd pumped up.

Let me make a special mention* to the posh preppy teens who was next to us, couldn't be no older than 16, that were all pretty hyper by the ILLASTATE showcase. They looked like they came fresh out the O.C or Laguna Beach. And get this, one of the girls, tried on a cap twisted it a bit to the side and then asked to one of her other poshy ones and asked, 'do I look gangsta in this?' I didn't get it, but whatever if they were all hyper for the artists them.

Missy came on later than expected. Shola Ama and on of the so solid guys - the one with the ras were hyping up the crowd, getting ready to introduce her and shit - cool. But after they left the stage we still had to wait another 15 mins or so.

Missy was fantastic, she had some real talented dancers with her as expected. And she had a male hyperupper with her as well props to him I think his name was Celo? that's what it sounded like she said anyway.
She did a couple of outfit changes, went in the crowd- to the back. Conducted the mexican wave. She performed all her hot tracks, of course a few were missing, but she's got more than an hour's worth of hits under he belt, so no time I guess. Yes she only performed for an hour. She gave some signed shoes and caps to the crowd. Wish I got a cap :-(.

Post pics later. Tired after standing up for 3 and 1/2 hrs.

Tuesday, October 03, 2006

Who's been a busy girl then

I got graded tonight at kickboxing and I've moved up to the blue belt. whoo hoo!

http://www.wutan-martialarts.co.uk/ That's my school. My 'master' They (pronounced tay) is training a team for the olympics, two of which are in my class. And he is the head judge for UK martial arts something or other. How special

Here it is



Had to stick it up eventually. Looks like a showgirl type outfit. Classy, but one hard act to follow, I'll try and do the costume justice.

Carnival and Celebs

Hi all, hope the week going good for the masses.

What celebs you think popping into Carnival 2007 ? We know our locals i.e politicians, sports personalites, local artists etc will be around. But the foreign celebs, who'll be checking us out 2k7?Although most of the 'good ones' seem to go with IP. Last year I saw Michael Ealy up in Tribe. Dry so, I was on the side of the road and he was just walking down the road with a few people. The time I whip out my camera I just about managed to get the side/back of him. I remember all the Halle Berry rumours, Richard Branson all up in the place- don't know who he played with though? I just like to see what they make of the whole thing you know, cause its a different experience I'm sure.
That's the beauty of carnival too. Because you'll never really be around all those different kinds of people on the regular. Everybody in the same boat, same vibes, same motivation and that is- carnival.
I know my best friend is not impressed that everything should just be forgotten for those 2 days, but I quite admire it, it makes me proud and I love it. The fact that everybody who out for carnival on that Mon and Tues have one vibe going. I get goosebumps when i tell you.

On another note-
I took all my carnival souvenier magazines and photos back in work. The men seemed to hang on to the magazines a bit longer than the women but anyhow. The impression they got is that we party all the time in the road with no clothes on and we basically rude because of how they showed some people dancing in the pics. At least we not like Brasil carnival and all the titties outside. Although I see we getting there - Goddess and Defenders, and DreamTeam. I like it though not sure if I'd be brave enough, but I like it. And no i don't seriously think that we'll have full out breasts out in the road EVER.

I took one of my friend's and her husband with me to Machel Alternative Concept this year for the Notting hill. And her husband just couldn't believe how fast pace it was you know. His wife is half jamaican, and he's just a regular english guy. He's been to Jamaica and some of the dancehall scene and the caribbean nights down in Southampton behind town somewhere. He was just wondering how we do that for 2 days straight at such pace you know. He did his best though but I don't think I'll be seeing him in the carnival anytime soon.

I'm my daddy's child for real. He used to play with Wayne Berkeley every year for as long as I can remember. He used to play with some other band at first can't remember the name He played until he was in his 70's. I'd always wake up early on Tues to see him before he went off and we'd take a picture together. And Lord knows Mon morning I'd wake up and no parents in the house because they gone J'ouvert. I remember I used to try and see if I could catch them on the tv YEAH RIGHT! They didn't go to get dirty I know that, unlike me. I all in that!

He was always the one fetting (spelling?) down the place. And my mom was good with the pan. But she never used to go out on Mon and Tues or any fetes. She was happy to take everything in on the TV. But low and behold she all up in the carnival now working with the bands and ting ting. This is in her late 50's this started, she not 60 yet. Good for her, she still not on the fetes and them though. I took her to one last year, rather she took me with her complimentry. And she can't whine, bless her. ( that's me being english- awww bless, bless him, bless her - what is that about?)

Went off on a tangent as usual. That's me for now. Kickboxing tonight. I did manage to do Pump it up on Sun, all of it without fast fowarding. Trying to eat right in the mean time.

Sunday, October 01, 2006

Attention Girlies - WAXING WAXING!!

In line with all the beauty and make up etc.

I want to know where is a good place to get waxed. I want some smooth legs, and you know with the whole 2 piece thing the bikini area have to get some attention too as it'll be on display. And I recently started on the underarms on the advice of work collegues. I think I'll stick to doing it too. Cause you know hands up in the air all round, and we all know how that could look sometimes. I recommend it though be prepared for the first time. But you'll find yourself playing with your underarm, its so smooth even when the hair grows back, no roughness.

One of my friends told me about Crowne plaza I believe. She hasn't tried it herself though. Her friends go there. (Hi Rip!!)

Anybody know if it any good? Or any other good places in the west to get some waxing done? And I don't want to go somewhere where when I leave half the hair still blooming there either.
I'd do it before I left here, but I know the time Mon, Tues come around it'll be growing back, so I ruling that out.
Where to get waxed, and if you know prices too, that'll come in handy. Full leg, bikini & under arm.

THIS IS FOR WESTERN TRINIDAD, not for Southampton west. I feel like a Fal-ing with the internet. LOL

Ponytail ready to go

I have a high ponytail ready to go, its 8:40pm, the child in bed, husband upstairs. Pump it up ready to go.

This week see if i can have some will power. Wallet stays at home.

I have some girlie questions I want to put out there, but after if I not dead.

Still have to bathe after and blowdry my hair before bed.

I keep looking at my costume, do you? I'm even tempted to print the pics and put them up by my desk at work.

This is procrastination now it not getting any earlier. AH gone!

New month Less time

Good Thing or bad thing?

Well I already have my excuse for the day it too breezy outside to go on the common. But what I will do is do my Pump it Up video. Banish my husband upstairs cause I don't like spectators.

I can't even begin to say how things went wrong after about Tuesday for the week.

I always like to exercise at the end of the day 6ish onwards. I just can't go and exercise then eat afterwards. So on days that I do my lil ting I make sure and organise myeslf eat dinner between 4 and 5, that way the food not coming up when I all over de place.

sometimes I'm so busy reading http://saucytrini.blogspot.com that I end up not writing on my own LOL. Ah well she have the hook up.

Made it to church all kinda ting this morning. My son and I, and he really enjoyed it too. I think after about 6+ years living in Southampton, in England I finally feel somewhat settled. But still can't call it home though. EVER!

Anyhow, taking it one week at a time the weight watchers way, trying to make the wise choices which I usually do until my sweet tooth kicks in, although yesterday I had Pizza too. But I didn't make it to my martial arts either last week. I usually pay for both, so if I don't go to 1, there a 99% chance I'm not going to the other. That's hardly ever though. £4 for one, and £5 for both.

I'll go book my slot downstairs for Pump it up.