Tag Archives: Hurricane Irma

1899-2017

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1899-2017.
A hundred and eighteen years.
That’s the length of time since Antigua was affected by three hurricanes in one hurricane season. On Monday night – Tuesday morning we had the third hurricane in the space of thirteen days. So what’s with the talk of Global Warming? If we were having three hurricanes in one season a hundred and eighteen years ago it’s not a new phenomenon.

But whatever the reasons – it’s harsh, it’s brutal and it’s scary. Antigua has been spared the worst of it. This third hurricane – Maria – was the worst of the three. We … Read the rest »

No Way Jose!

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Well, after much macho, Alpha Male posturing and threatening, Irma’s mate Jose stamped his foot, flipped his cape and turned north in plenty of time to miss us head on and to act out the worst of his anger over the Atlantic. Phew! What a blessing! Our small island has had quite enough to deal with.

When I look at the radar picture showing Barbuda in the eye of Hurricane Irma and us just thirty-nine miles to the south my stomach churns and I break out into a cold sweat.

And still she races forward. How many people have had … Read the rest »

Blue Angel and Clary Sage

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During the school holidays when we were children, the Sister and I used to get Our Mum to make us jam sandwiches and we’d take them and a plastic flask filled with water, or if we were really lucky, Tizer, and go into the garden or over the park to have An Adventure. We never really knew what An Adventure was; we’d just knew that’s what the Famous Five and the Secret Seven did so we followed suit.

In sixth form I was the first to put her name down for the school trip to Majorca because I knew it … Read the rest »

The Bitch Is Not For Turning

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It’s 4.15am and I am wide awake.

Today’s the day.  Irma will be passing too close for comfort late this afternoon through the evening and night and into tomorrow.  Already I can hear the wind outside as she starts to make her presence known.  I was awoken by a phone call from my neighbour S who was in the departure lounge at Gatwick North, waiting to board her flight here.  She asked me to check on a couple of things for her.  And, once awake, it’s been impossible to get back to sleep so I’ve spent the last hour online … Read the rest »

Waiting for Irma

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The heat is like none I have ever experienced before anywhere in the world.  Not even in the market in Port Louis, Mauritius when I thought I was actually going to melt.  This is a heat that surrounds and encloses you; makes you feel as if you’re in a tiny cell with walls of heat pressing in on you.  And it’s been like this for several weeks and that apparently, is a sign.

The Fella tells me that the water is hot out on the reef and that’s another sign. And my friend Z’s mum says the signs have all … Read the rest »

Connected Again

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Woo hoo!  Start spreading the news!  Time to celebrate!  I. HAVE. INTERNET.

Yay!   After five months of what I can only describe as piss-taking by APUA my internet provider, on Wednesday I finally decided, “Enough, already!”  I had told myself I couldn’t afford to pay for a contract with another provider – I know, how negative is that????   But when I worked it out, all the coffees I was having in coffee shops with internet – whose own internet sometimes wasn’t working either, so good is the reception island-wide! – plus petrol driving their or to my lovely friend B’s … Read the rest »