Nov 10
Remembrance Day, 11/11, is actually a public holiday in Bermuda, which is a very honourable way to remember the 125 brave Bermudian’s that were lost during the World Wars.
I’m taking the opportunity tonight to fly home for the weekend. Land Friday morning, depart Sunday afternoon. In and out, no time to get affected by the time difference, and a crash bang wallop opportunity to see family and friends and against my better judgement the Addicks.
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Outside the rattling of the windows has been replaced by the lullaby of the tree frogs as Nicole moves away from us and although the island is still under storm watch, driving around tonight you’d never know this place got battered all day by 125 mph winds. Bermuda really is a resilient little country.
Where we live the back end of the storm after the eye passed over around midday was no where near as bad as the first lashing we got. The east end of the island nearer the airport, Hamilton Parish and St George’s if you know it appeared to fare far worst. I think the airport and the causeway connecting it to the rest of the island sustained damage.
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Rain is swirling outside like a Catherine Wheel firework as gusts of wind are now close to 100 mph with the eye still two hours away but with the wall of the eye just approaching us now.
Nicole’s eye is 50 miles wide, which is twice the size of the island, which will mean a very surreal experience when it moves over us. The weather nerd in me is looking for way to seeing that in about 90 minutes.
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The worst hurricane to hit Bermuda since Fabian in 2003, which claimed 4 lives, sits just 200 miles outside of my window tonight. Nicole is currently a CAT 3 with sustained winds of 115 mph and will give the island a direct hit around tomorrow lunchtime, only the 4th direct hit since 1950.
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Two days off work as Bermuda grinds to a halt for a cricket match. Somerset, in the west of the island host their east end rivals St Georges in the 114th annual two day, two innings, Cup Match Classic. I don’t know many other countries that shut down for a cricket match but no one is complaining as people either head for the sweaty confines of Somerset Cricket Club (photo) to drink, gamble and party (the cricket is a bit of a side show), or laze around someone’s pool drinking, take a boat out on the water and drink, camp around the island, drinking, or disappear of the island on holiday. Which probably, if you are me, involves drinking. Please don’t judge.
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Jul 23
My son has been with us since last weekend which has meant a lot of time in the sun. Understandably he just wants to be outside and in the water, whereas selfishly this time of year here in Bermuda I just want to hide under an air-conditioning unit inside. 100% humidity is no fun, and although the temperature rarely exceeds 29C (85F), the Gulf Stream can bring many winds to this little isle and the summer southern ones bring horrid humidity.
Today to wrap up his latest visit we rented hydro bikes. It was fun biking across the shallow waters of Daniels Head. Out there is the hotel Cambridge Beaches, Daniels Island plus what is left of the 9 Beaches resort, which although in a state of dilapidation or still eerily charming. The shipwreck HMS Vixen is also within reach and the whole area is a haven for turtles and fish. The bikes were a lot of fun and quite a little work out.
One place we all tried for the first time was the new Hamilton Princess Beach Club (photo), which is only around the corner from us. The Green family have completely renovated the 130-year old Hamilton landmark and it is unrecognisable from the over-priced, outdated pink elephant that charged 5 star prices for 2 star quality just a year or so ago.
The Hamilton Princess is a city hotel so the Green’s also acquired the previous land that belonged to the Pompano Beach Hotel on Bermuda’s south shore and in their own inimitable style have built a simple but beautiful Beach Club on the land. We all had dinner there last night with the beach as a backdrop and the fantastic Big Chill as the backing soundtrack. Very nice indeed.
We fly back to Gatwick tonight and will spend a couple of days with parents down in East Sussex where I believe the weather has been equally as hot.
May 24th is Bermuda Day here, a public holiday that kicks off the summer and the date that Bermudians jump in the ocean for the first time of the year, crank up their barbeques and dig out the Bermuda shorts. Except, sat here in my kitchen at this time the rain is slashing it down outside and I will need a sou’wester and not my shorts if we are to brave it to go outside.
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We always try to grab the chance to watch a live event here in Bermuda, especially if it has ‘International’ in it’s description. On Friday night we were at the island’s national stadium to watch the first Bermuda Invitatiomal Permit Atheltics Meet.
Athletes came from the USA, the Caribbean, Great Britain and Africa, and were joined by Bermuda’s best sprinters, hurdlers and middle distance runners. There was also a competitive line up for the men’s long jump and women’s high jump.
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Ordinarily New Year’s Eve is a time for reflection but I sit here this morning ruminating over the future of something I have loved since the first afternoon my Dad walked me down the huge steps of the East Terrace in 1975.
Two years ago today the club was shrouded in rumours of an impending takeover by a mysterious Belgian, one of the richest men in the country. 24 months later hardly a day goes by that further shocks me at what damage this man has caused. The spivs’ CV is widely impressive compared to what has gone on since their departure, but potless and disinterested we all welcomed new investment, enthusiasm, better communication and an opportunity to build on the foundations that Chris Powell and players that etched their name in CAFC history like Yann Kermorgant, Dale Stephens, Michael Morrison, Ben Hamer, Rhoys Wiggins, Chris Solly and Johnnie Jackson had started.
Only Solly and Jackson remain and they cut forlorn figures on The Valley turf at the end of the game on Monday as anger poured down from three sides of the ground. Shiny new seats and painted steps a reminder of how f**ked up this whole journey has been.
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I have now lived in Bermuda over 7 years, 2 more than I lived in Chicago, which every time I think about it just sounds more incomprehensible. Chicago was a place where everyday I experienced something new. I never found a routine because the city would always throw up alternatives.
Bermuda is not like that, little changes apart from the tide of the sapphire blue Atlantic Ocean. However this year the island finally appeared to come out of the other side of a tough recession and there is a very noticeable wind of optimism coming in with that tide.
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Seeing JPR Williams, one of Britain’s most recognisable rugby union ex-players, walking around Hamilton yesterday can only mean one thing. Add to that loads of big fellas trying to balance on moped’s driving past me in a line on a typically windy Bermuda road this morning and it has to be Bermuda Rugby Classic week.
The Bermuda Rugby Classic began here in 1988 after organisers crystallised many years of end of season rugby tours during the 70’s and 80’s starring players like JPR and John McBride to create a veterans tournament that spans a week of drunken frivolity, and that is just the players!
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Ever since the 2017 America’s Cup was awarded to Bermuda last December the buzz has gradually built into a crescendo. There has been a real feel good atmosphere around the island supressing the negativity of poor economic conditions, the countries debt and record unemployment.
However the 2017 America’s Cup has already seen some green shoots of recovery with new hotels under, or ready to start, construction and hundreds of competitors and their families already living here and bringing a boost to the island’s economy.
This weekend the island, particularly the capital Hamilton was fully decked out to celebrate the The Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series. This is a qualifying race for the main event in two years time.
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A little windswept today after 12 hours of hurricane force wind buffeting our house, which is pretty exposed on the island’s south shore. Everyone is fine, if not a little tired and sweaty as we and 15,000 other households remain without power.
We had plenty of debris in the garden, some large branches, lumps of wood and a few chickens (alive) wondering around looking pretty confused. We also had rainwater get into the house but as soon as we can get power back then life will be back to normal with schools re-opening in the morning and hopefully public transport up and running.
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After pummeling parts of the central Bahamas for more than 3 days and with a ship lost, the 3rd hurricane of the 2015 season Joaquin continued to move away from the east coast of the United States and towards a little blip in the Atlantic Ocean, Bermuda.
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I have my son with us here at the moment which always makes me happy. We have been running around all week, avoiding the heavy rain showers with my daughter, and tomorrow is the start of a four day holiday weekend.
Bermuda’s Cup Match weekend has the annual cricket match between the west and east end’s of the island at it’s core, but there are all kinds of other activities going on mostly held in beating down sun and heat. The rain is expected to clear away for the weekend which will be most welcome.
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Out of the frying pan and into the fire as I escape a scorching and sweaty Bermuda for a scorching hot and sweaty London!
I fly to London tonight for a week primarily to see family and take my son into the City for the day and attempt to show him what the old man does for a living, albeit nowadays not in the square mile but in Bermuda.
Careers week for me when I was at school was an hour with a scary lady sat in an office talking to me about apprenticeships and higher education, and writing a letter to every company listed in the Yellow Pages, which I actually did, pretty much anyway.
The topic of careers advice was taken away from local authorities and given to the schools under the coalition government, and I think has been met by much negativity mostly because many schools have neither the skills nor the finance to provide any external services.
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The 2018 World Cup may or may not take place in Russia, but wherever it is Bermuda won’t be there as the island’s 2018 World Cup dream ended 3-years prematurely last night after losing to Guatemala at home 0-1 to go out on aggregate after holding the Central American’s to an away goalless draw Friday night.
Without the still injured Nahki Wells, who in all honesty is probably the only player that would get into Guatemala’s team, Bermuda struggled to make chances and Guatemala after taking a lead in the 27th minute through Stefano Giordano, were comfortable winners. The goal was well taken but Bermuda’s defence and goalkeeper Dale Eve, who is on the books of Stoke City, did little to prevent it.
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Work has reached a crescendo of uber busy so it is with great joy that I woke up this morning to a national holiday. Explaining to our overseas colleagues and clients that Bermuda shuts down today was a little tricky but the office is closed, the lights are dimmed and the air conditioning is off.
National Heroes Day first came to prominence around 7 years ago when the Bermudian government ditched the Queen’s birthday and decided to celebrate those closer to home instead
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Bermuda’s 2018 World Cup journey continued last night in Guatemala with the 2nd Round of qualification, and without star Nahki Wells the Gombey Warriors grabbed a meaningful 0-0 draw with the home leg to come on Monday night.
The game in Guatemala City was suspended with 5 minutes to go due to a power blackout but was restarted after 20 minutes. Bermuda saw out the game thanks to some heroics from goalkeeper Freddy Wells, who played last season in England for AFC Telford but was recently released. The 30-year old once had a trial with Charlton.
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The Harlequins Rugby Club have been in Bermuda this week to play the Bermuda Barbarians and Friday night I was invited to the ‘gala dinner’ which is a fund raiser for the Beyond Rugby charity, a very worthy cause that in Bermuda offers the opportunity and encouragement for kids to turn away from gang crime and instead put all of their energies into competitive sport.
The dinner was attended by around 400 people and what with tickets, prizes and numerous auctions, which of course in a maze of alcohol reach silly portions – I give you a Juan Mata signed Man U shirt sold for $2,500 – the evening’s events would have raised an awful lot of money.
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First day of the summer, a bit of a swim, and heat up the barbie, otherwise a lazy Monday, although I will carve out some me time later to regale myself with some play-off memories.
It’s bank holiday Monday in Bermuda as well, as the island celebrates Bermuda Day. The highlight being the traditional running of the ‘Derby,’ a half marathon road race that this year runs from the far east of the island in St George’s up and down hills to the capital of Hamilton. A record number of over 1,300 runners are expected to participate in 106th year of the race.
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A 7,000 sell out crowd at Bermuda’s National Stadium yesterday afternoon watched a bit of a dull game, although when you are 5-0 up from the 1st leg, that tends to happen, at least until the final 10 minutes when the Gombey Warriors hit three late goals to beat the Bahamas 3-0, and therefore 8-0 on aggregate in the CONCACAF 1st Round 2018 World Cup qualifier.
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Bermuda strolled to a 5-0 1st leg victory in the Bahamas last night, making the 2nd leg on Sunday here on the rock almost redundant.
1,500 were present at the impressive Bahamas national stadium in Nassau, gifted to the people by the Chinese. China is big in Nassau, as they are also behind the $3.5bn brand new Baha Mar resort.
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The 2018 World Cup Finals kicks off in 1,209 days time, but for the island of Bermuda and others in the Caribbean the road to Russia starts tomorrow.
Bermuda are ranked 169th in the FIFA rankings and have to begin their qualifying in the CONCACAF 1st Round and have been drawn against 194th ranked Bahamas. The tie is two legs with the first game in Nassau and the return in Bermuda in four days time.
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We arrived home from our Christmas excursion in Atlanta this afternoon and since putting the little ‘un to bed we have followed the same pattern as every other parent in the world and wrapped presents, sipped wine and argued over who will neck the majority of a glass of port and leave crumbs from a deliciously flakey mince pie!
This is the first Christmas we have spent in Bermuda for 5 years and now we are at home and unpacked I am very much looking forward to our own bed and not having to live out of a suitcase for a week, even though tomorrow I know we’ll have a moment when we’ll have a yearning to be with family.
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The Americas Cup, the world’s oldest competitive sporting trophy and pre-eminent sailing event was today awarded to Bermuda for the 2017 series.
What this means for the island in terms of economy, tourism and global media spotlight is immeasurable. For the Bermuda tourism industry hosting the Americas Cup will be a game changer with visitors running into tens of thousands, effectively doubling the size of the population for almost a month.
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At least it is in the Chicago Addick household. Today we emptied umpteen boxes of Christmas decorations and started the long but merry process of putting them all up.
The music is on, my daughter has had a Rudolph flashing nose stuck to her face all day and the smell of mince pies is coming from the kitchen, and yes I know it’s only November!
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After watching the All Blacks comfortably beat a fancied Argentina in the semi-final on Thursday they looked like they had a bit more in the tank than the Classic Lions who outpointed South Africa in a blood and thunder tussle the night before, and so it proved as New Zealand beat the Lions 17-3 in last night’s final to take the 2014 Bermuda Rugby Classic.
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Yesterday I took the family around the Royal Naval Cemetery as planned although my daughter’s curiousness as to “who am I walking on Daddy” meant she soon disappeared with her mother to dip their toes in the ocean, a sensible decision with the humidity in Bermuda yesterday at 98%.
However, it did leave me to explore this fascinating burial site for British military families who lived in Bermuda in the 19th and 20th centuries.
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11th hour, on the 11th day of the 11th month.
Bermuda takes today very seriously and the day is a national holiday with shops and businesses closed to remember those that were lost. The island lost 125 brave men and women during the World Wars fighting overseas on behalf of the Brits, Americans and Canadians protecting the freedom of those back home on a 21 sq. mile island in the middle of the Atlantic.
At 11am today guns are fired at Fort Hamilton and Ordnance Island in St. George’s, to signal a two-minute silence and a parade by war veterans is held in Hamilton ending with wreaths being laid at the Cenotaph and new war memorial on Front Street
A national holiday is a creditable way to honour those that lost their lives, and it is a shame that other countries don’t consider today as worthy.
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What do they all have in common?
Driving into Hamilton today I at first thought that a huge block of snazzy flats had been built in the harbour, but on closer scrutiny it was in fact the return of Roman Abramovich’s 533ft long super-yacht ‘Eclipse.’
It was here last year, which I did a little bit of research for, but since then the Russian billionaire has lost his title of owning the world’s largest superyacht to Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s whose newly constructed Azzam, which is 57 feet longer! Boys and their toys, although both yachts are available to charter, which is more tax efficient apparently, the Eclipse to hire for a week? $2 million. A snitch.
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My body is normally a temple, as those that know me will attest! But this morning it is questioning how it ever got mixed up with me in the first place. The last four Sunday’s I have been in Bermuda, Los Angeles, Miami and Eastbourne. Not quite Del Boy’s van, but in the same condition.
This morning we are off to meet an old mate of mine from Chicago and his beautiful new fiancé for breakfast in Bills. Just what I need, another pile of bacon, sausage, egg and mushroom, but I am looking forward to seeing them all the same.
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Hurricane Gonzalo left the island bruised but not beaten on Saturday morning. It had slowed in both pace and power when it reached landfall at 8.30pm on Friday.
The Atlantic Ocean is 41 million sq miles wide and Bermuda is a 20.6 sq mile island in the middle of it, yet the eye of the Gonzalo still managed to cross straight over the it bringing darkness and an eerie silence except for the chirping of millions of very confused tree frogs.
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We landed at a reasonably warm Gatwick Airport this morning, and have just said goodbye to my girls who are heading into London’s west end, whilst I shower and get myself ready for the drive to Royston in Hertfordshire for my mate’s wedding this afternoon.
I felt a mixture of relief and chicken when I boarded the BA flight last night and our thoughts are with friends and colleagues who remain on the island. It will be difficult to think of much else
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Bermuda is bracing itself for potentially the most powerful hurricane it has faced in 50 years. So far Gonzalo has all the characteristics of Hurricane Fabian which killed four people and caused $300m of damage to the island in 2003.
Currently fluctuating between a CAT 4 (wind speed up 156 mph) and a CAT 3 (wind speed up to 129 mph) around 590 miles away from here north of the Dominican Republic, Gonzalo is barrelling towards Bermuda and is anticipated to bring 27 hours of tropical storms beginning tomorrow afternoon and 8 hours of hurricane force winds beginning Friday lunchtime. It is currently expected to be a CAT 3 when it arrives, but hurricanes although predictable are also highly erratic in their behaviour.
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The last ever Bermuda hosted PGA Grand Slam – the end of season money spinner for the winners of the four majors – has taken a bit of a back seat here, what with the impending Hurricane Gonzalo, on which I’ll write more later, but I did manage to get to Port Royal today to see Martin Kaymer collect the winnings after seeing off Bubba Watson in a one-hole play-off.
The PGA Grand Slam is a great tournament, four of the world’s best players play two rounds of golf in beautiful and relaxed surroundings to crowds both so polite and sparse that you can touch and chat to the players at everyone of it’s 36 holes played over two days.
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Whilst I was swashbuckling my way around South Beach last night, Bermuda was getting walloped with a Tropical Storm.
As my wind-swept over half will tell you I have a mystifying habit for being off island when big storms take a swipe at the island and last night TS Fay took a direct hit to Bermuda with winds gusting to 120 mph and people waking this morning to a lot of damage.
Our house was fine, although the alarm rang for the whole night, although a couple of guys I am with in Miami lost windows.
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My little girl, not so long a baby so tiny that she could slip through your fingers starts ‘big school’ today.
Almost 5-years old she starts Primary school at Bermuda High School (BHS) today, and watching her last night help lay her school uniform out and runaround in her new school shoes bought a lump to my throat. Where did that time go?
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I’m flying back to Gatwick tonight with my son, who has been with us for two weeks.
We had our final swim a little bit earlier and I’m feeling nicely sleepy for the flight. My son, as tired as he is, will watch movies from the minute we take off until the moment we land.
I am only back for two nights and have a bit of running around to do. I will base myself at my parents down on the South Downs, but will be in the City Monday night to meet up with some mates for drinks and then Tuesday we will be at The Valley.
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Bermuda is not a place for petrol heads or car buff’s. Limitations on choice and size of cars plus the extreme expense cloud real excitement in buying a new motor.
I bought my first new car in my mid-20’s. Probably one of the most exciting days of my life. I love cars, I don’t know much about what goes on inside them, but to drive, stroke and admire, oh yes, yet, I have never really owned a properly nice car.
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Thursday and Friday in Bermuda are national holidays, officially known as Emancipation Day and Somers Day, but more widely known as Cup Match, when the two end’s of the island take each other on at cricket.
It’s a fun time to be in Bermuda, but I’ve ticked that box a few times and it is hard to give up an opportunity to go away for a long weekend. Thus, we find ourselves at the airport on our way to Miami, a familiar retreat for us.
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The bi-annual Newport, Rhode Island to Bermuda sailing race has been occupying most Bermudians this week and filling Hamilton harbour with colour and atmosphere.
This was the 49th running of the Newport to Bermuda race, the first one taking place in 1906, and is therefore the oldest ocean race for amateur sailors.
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We’ve taken down the St George in our house and my daughter has decided we are now Brazil fans. I got hold of a Brazil car flag last week at a function I was at and that now adorns the car (photo). Don’t worry, I told the kid that you can change your country, but never your team. She understands.
She was of course born in Bermuda, which appears to give you the right to support whatever country you want and more than one, as it is not unusual to see a car drive by with three or four different flags fluttering from the window.
Our landlord (house not pub) came over in the week full of the World Cup, loves it he does. “Who’s taken your fancy then,” I asked.
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During the next month this Blog will be 10 years old and I’m giving myself a pat on the back.
I remember that June Sunday evening well, sat in my apartment in Chicago juggling with Blogger’s idiot-proof yet bewildering templates to pen my first post.
Only the venerable Professor Wyn Grant has being blogging Charlton longer, although Daryl, the original inspiration for me to start still writes intelligent and punchy words here at 853.
As others will tell you blogging is often a labour of love and can be equally time consuming and frustrating. It has never been a chore though, otherwise I would have stopped. Writing has always been a release, and despite many bumps in the road, I have selfishly pushed on, writing 2,824 posts in the process but always taking great delight in knowing that many of you stop by to read my latest ramblings on whatever pops into my mind and not just the trials and tribulations of Charlton Athletic.
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The Queen’s baton relay came to Bermuda yesterday, the 59th stop on it’s journey around current territories and former glories.
The baton began its journey in Glasgow on October 9th, 2013 and travelled first to Asia, then Oceania, Africa, South America, and then the Caribbean. The baton was last in Belize and via a turnaround at Miami airport it arrived in Bermuda on Friday night.
The baton flies to Canada today and then will visit Cyprus, Malta, Gibraltar and the Channel Islands before reaching the UK and the Queen will await its return in Glasgow for the Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony on July 23rd.
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Exciting foodie news in Bermuda yesterday with the Hamilton Princess announcing that celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson will create the hotel’s new restaurant as part of the $70m renovation of this famous landmark property.
I am a big critic of the restaurants in Bermuda, particularly Hamilton, not necessarily because of the food but what has always annoyed me is the complete lack of any innovation or creativity with one or two exceptions.
Menu’s rarely change, service is mostly lacking and I invariably leave Hamilton’s restaurants after paying more than New York prices cheated, uninspired and apathetic.
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Bermuda’s football fans were out dancing in the streets this afternoon after their most famous current sports star scored a last minute winner for Huddersfield Town on his debut. I almost joined them doing the electric slide down Middle Road.
By all accounts Ian Holloway’s team deserved a point but Nahki Wells had other ideas and finished excellently to grab all three points for the Terriers.
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The first of my seasonal Chicago Addick Top 5’s and I begin with those on my doorstep. Apparently looking at this list I do a lot of eating, which might explain my pre-festive girth. Hmmm. So off we go then with my Top 5 Favourite Bermuda Things over the last 12 months:
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Happy Thanksgiving to all of my American readers and buddies who will spend today throwing the Buds back and eating copious amount of deep-fried turkey, all while sat on their butts watching sport all day long on the television. And some people say they are stupid!
I became quite enamoured by this little pre-Christmas ritual when I lived in the States and have in the past couple of years followed suit and taken the time off from work to mostly drink, eat and watch telly! When I was a kid, harvest festival was all about giving, but hey, I’ll go with the Land of the Free’s definition.
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A long week of being out every night, and it was topped with another night Saturday at the Rugby Classic. I took the family, so there isn’t a hangover today to join my tired eyes, but it was a very nice way to round off one of Bermuda’s best weeks of the year.
As my other half flinched, our 4-year old daughter loved it as she cheered every bruising tackle and maul right in front of her stood on a chair a couple of feet from the action. Last night she slept with her mini rugby ball. I think we have a rugby fan on our hands. The other half is well chuffed!
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The sight of a 6ft 6in, 300lb bloke riding atop a tiny scooter along Front Street is a tell-tale sign that this week is Rugby Week in Bermuda. The unique World Rugby Classic kicked off on Saturday and features veteran stars from 8 nations, and it is a highlight in island’s sporting calendar.
I would go as far as to say that this week is one of my favourites helped by today being a national holiday as Bermudians properly remember those lost in battle.
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A decade ago today I flew from Heathrow Airport to Chicago with two suitcases, a rucksack stuffed with some photos, a work visa and an address of an apartment building.
I had always wanted to experience living and working abroad, and on that Tuesday 10 years ago, I was finally going to realise my ambitions. Mind you if I was told before boarding that plane that I would still be away 10 years later, I wouldn’t have got on, no chance. That was certainly not in my plans.
I wrote a diary those first few months, and I re-read back the first week recently. It was a mixture of sadness, apprehension and wide-eyed excitement.
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A god-awful start to the weekend fortunately turned into a very good one. We spent the whole day yesterday with an old mate who is here this week with his work and on Saturday night we were lucky enough to get invited to the Lennon Peace Day Concert.
Little known, but John Lennon wrote his last ever album in Bermuda in 1980. After his son Sean was born, Lennon performed and wrote hardly any music as he concentrated on his family life in New York. Then in the summer of 1980, after being pretty much closeted in his Manhattan apartment for 5 years, Lennon felt the need for adventure and bought a small sail boat and with a crew sailed from the Newport, Rhode Island to Bermuda.
There is a wonderful article written here explaining that journey and how bad the crossing was, reinvigorating Lennon’s wonderful creativity and inspiring him to write the album “Double Fantasy”, named after a freesia of the same name, a flower that Lennon had observed in his daily visits with Sean to the Botanical Gardens in Bermuda.
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Well that was fantastic, a great week of sport, competition and friendship ended Friday night at Bermuda’s National Stadium with the last Track finals and Closing Ceremony.
I first came across the Island Games 4 years ago, the summer after I moved here. Those games were held in Åland, a Swedish speaking Finnish archipelago in the Baltic Sea, and in a nice little co-incidence my 3-year old daughter was walking around the house this morning waving the flag of Åland, given to her by one of their athletes.
I have been lamenting all week that Bermudians had not been coming out for the events, not helped by a non-existent marketing campaign, and despite of both Bernews and the Royal Gazette providing an excellent service.
However, and deservedly so, the athletes from the 22 Island Nation got the reception their efforts deserved Friday night as the National Stadium was packed and excitable and every competitor was cheered to the rafters.
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I popped along to watch some of the Badminton at the Island Games late this afternoon and I was pleasantly surprised at the quality I witnessed. There was a couple games going on, both semi-finals at the Bermuda High School.
Two brothers from Menorca featured in both semi’s but both lost. Albert Navarro Comes to Ben Li from the Isle of Man, who was backed by some noisy team mates, and brother Eric to Paul Le Tocq from Guernsey.
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Back to Bermuda last night after a quickfire visit home. At one point yesterday between junctions 5 and 6 on the M25 I was convinced I might have to extend my stay another day as the congestion was so bad. Only because I left my mate’s house in Chislehurst so early did I make my flight.
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I am fortunate to get readers from all over the world, particularly Addicks in far flung places, but two of my favourite comments in all the time I have been doing this were on a post I wrote for the Island Games two years ago.
First of all Isle of Wight Blogger and Charlton fan Wighteye left a comment followed later in the day by Shetlander Addick Sam. Other writers of Blogs will tell you that there is nothing more reassuring than people leaving comments, and I get markedly excited when they are from overseas Charlton fans. Yes, the Isle of White and Shetland Isles are across the sea.
Anyway, the reason I raised this is that tomorrow here in Bermuda the XV Island Games begin. 2,200 athletes from 24 member nations will take part in 17 different sports held across the island over the next week kicking off tomorrow night with the Opening Ceremony at the National Stadium.
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Today 237 years ago wasn’t one of Britain’s best days in it’s history, but I have overlooked that and accepted my companies offer of a day off to celebrate America’s independence. My company are headquartered in London, I am in Bermuda, but hey, small details.
Those of you that have read any of my worky posts, and I wouldn’t blame you if you hadn’t, will remember that our workload is heavily front-loaded into the first half of the year, getting steadily more frenetic as the calendar rolls around to July 1st.
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It is five years today that I left Chicago for Bermuda. In the blog post I wrote the day after I arrived I said work was like the first day at school, and I have just been thinking about that, and remembered how long 5 years was when I was actually at school.
Can you remember how long being at school appeared? I stayed on in sixth form for a year, but 5 years is a whole lifetime at secondary school, and it is seems implausible that I have now been in Bermuda that long!
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One of the things I love about Bermuda is the stars. Because of the lack of light pollution and remoteness of the island the stars and moon provide the night skies with such an intense glow especially on clear evenings.
Saturday night’s Supermoon was so big and vivid that as we sat outside enjoying drinks and dinner with friends at a great little place called The Dock, the moon was like a huge burning candle sat overhead.
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Happy Father’s Day Dads.
Whilst we have to celebrate two different Mother’s Days, because it falls on a completely different day here and in the U.S., I only get to revel in one. Once actually we were in Mexico and we had to get wrapped up in their Mother’s Day celebrations too as that was also incommensurable. Bloody expensive that year.
Anyway, I had a lovely day today as the three of us hired a little motor boat and cruised around the very scenic Castle Harbour at the north-east end of the island.
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Yesterday was my companies Global Community Day. I had volunteered to do some painting at what I mistakingly thought was a kids charity but I later found out was an animal shelter. Easy mistake to make!
Our brief was to repaint 3 rooms that are used as indoor cat playrooms. This was a particular own goal on my part as I hate cats, and these rooms, which probably hadn’t seen a lick of paint for a decade stunk like a feline public toilet.
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South Downs, East Sussex
