Moments

CHARLESTOWN....NEVIS (early 1990's)

Carlton offered to take them to the other side of the capital of Nevis - Charlestown, to visit the larger of the two laundromat facilities. He acted as chauffeur and guide. They noted the custom of greeting the familiar, with the honking of the horn of tthe automobile.

Later, they used the telephone to contact realtors, informing them ,that if they were collected ,they would allocate maximum time to view ,what real estate they had for sale.

Johnny Clarke couldn:t commit. He was busy. Later in the week, he rang to say the same thing and added an apology.

They also rang Pinky Hart who was representing Kitty Burke.

They listened attentively to Pinky, as she showed them around the half a million dollar house : outside, at ground level there is a swimming pool that is empty; the acreage around the house is enough for additions; the elevation of the land is high. From inside and outside of the house the view of the Atlantic is distant and alluring. The house, they conclude, is ideal for an author, painter , composer or sculptor.

Pinky drove them back to Meadeville, in Charlestown. They thanked her for the time she had spent with them, showing them real estate, that was in excess of their budget.

IN - TRANSIT

When they arrived at Newcastle Airport ( now referred to as Vance Armory Airport ) it was already evening. Taxis were available; and they approached the nearest, and made their request.

Nevis is a sparely populated, Eastern Caribbean island. Most of the roads are either semi-lit or pitch dark at nights.

They conversed with the taxi - driver : a local man, who they discovered had a passion for politics.

Driving through Cades Bay, the night outside was pitch black, except for the bright lights emanating from the front and rear of the taxi. 

Outages were being enacted at the time, the driver explained, apologetically.

Later, when they arrived at their destination  - Meadeville, in the capital, Charlestown, Sylvia and Carlton Meade - their hosts, were waiting to greet them.

COTTON GROUND VILLAGE

The late Mr. Warner's property didn't include a grocery store anymore. Mrs. Warner, who was still alive, welcomed him enthusiastically, when he made a brief stop.

Walking on, downhill, at the bottom : a two story house, and the owner - occupier is a retired nurse - his next door neighbor, during his early years growing up in Cotton Ground Village, Nevis as a youth, in the Eastern Caribbean.

He could easily recall their mutual interest : sport  - cricket. the retired nurse Clifton had  memory lapses and throughout their exchange he became downhearted.

Further on, he arrived at the spot that was still being referred to as - Five Turning; since his childhood, this was the place where buses and other vehicles stopped, temporarily, to pick up passengers and hitch-hikers ; to take them in one of five directions : towards the local police station and health center; to Collhoon Estate; towards the capital - Charlestown; and to the airport in Newcastle.

The return journey to Charlestown, by bus, produced flashbacks into the past : walking on foot; riding as a passenger behind his father on both of his motorcycles - a James and a Triumph; going by the Anglican church where he attended Mass, and Sunday School; and his Primary school, a little further on.

MEADEVILLE

Their accommodation at Meadeville was three star : a small bedroom - sitting- room, and an annex - a tiny kitchen.

From the first evening they had to use the mosquito net suspended over the double bed. The window next to the bed was the shutter type; like all the others in the room. Immediately outside, were tall trees, and shrubbery, that housed crickets and other loud chirping insects. At night natural sounds dominated their hearing environment. Mosquitoes were the evening spoilers.

Carlton and Sylvia, their hosts, intorduced them to the locale - Charlestown, and soon they were pre-occupied memorizing the names and faces of the locals.

Carlton took them for short guided tours around the capital in his Suzuki jeep and another of his automobiles; which he referred to as a buggy.

They bought groceries from Toni's and other food stores; and did home cooking. What they bought included such Caribbean delicacies as salt fish; fish was also available from an area in the center where boats pulled in early mornings - daily   

FORT YOUNG HOTE L / ROSEAU  / DOMINICA   

They retrieved their luggaga from Roland and Maria in Canefield. During their stay in Roseau, they met and spent time with Dominica's first lady of song - Ophelia. They photographed with her, after dinner at Fort Young. She presented them with a video copy of her recordings.

A relative paid them a visit - George; a native of Antigua, he had been living in Dominica for most of his life. 

LONGBAY BEACH RESORT ( Tortola / BVI )

The next day, a Sunday, after breakfast, they made their way by taxi, to the pier, from where the ferry made regular round trips to the neighboring sister islands : Virgin Gorda and Jos Van Dyke. They chose Virgin Gorda.

They purchased round trip tickets and shortly after boarded. It was a rough crossing; and the time taken to complete the journey was longer than they had anticipated.

On arriving ,they soon realized ,that it would be impractical for them to explore the interior of Virgin Gorda ,given the planned duration of their stay. They restricted their exploring to the periphery; wandering around aimlessly, close to surf; and occasionally venturing in to calm sky - blue sea to wet their feet.

Much later, they regretted not purchasing swim wear, because the conditions were ideal for non-swimmers.

On the return journey, after disembarking from the ferry, they took a cab back to the Long Bay Beach Resort in Tortola.

As soon as they returned they started to pack and prepare for their flight back to St. Kitts - the following day.  

CAYMAN ISLANDS

1994

The hotel they checked in to in Cayman was undergoing refurbishing. They weren't pleased that workmen were working immediately outside the door to their room. They remained tight -lipped; suppressing what they were feeling.

The alternative to the interior of the Treasure Island Resort was outside.

They strolled to nearby hotels : the Sheraton, the Holiday Inn, and others; realising, if their choice of hotel had been different, their first impressions of Cayman, would have been the same as that of Montego Bay, Jamaica.

MONTEGO BAY

The Half Moon Resort in Momtego Bay, Jamaica, is much older than the Four Seasons Resort in Nevis, and the Chenay Beach Resort in St. Croix, U S Virgin Islands; but what appealed to them more was their proximity to still an calm Caribbean Sea.

From the verandah of their room, they could talk, if they wish to, to bathers - other guests.

They unpacked and made plans : the next morning they would travel to Negril, by  limousine, to have Sunday brunch.

The ride to and from Negril, and dialogue with the chauffeur was much slower paced than that of the previous day's ride from Kingston.

In Negril they invited the chauffeur to join them for brunch. While they ate the salt fish and johnny cakes, etc. the topics discussed included the future of reggae.

After, they were taken to a concert venue; and the familiar name John Holt was mentioned; as well as others.

They were brought back safely to the Half Moon hours later. 

NEVIS

The former Prime Minister, Simeon Daniel, took them out to dinner. He drove them through Cotton Ground Village, and around other surrounding villages; including Barnes Ghaut - the birthplace of the ex-premier.

The restaurant, located on the Atlantic sideof Nevis, has owners, who are also the chefs;  they greeted them warmly.

As soon as they sat down around the table offered, the lights went out. Outages on the island occurred frequently and on this occasion - unexpectedly.

They ate what the ex- Premier recommended, in candle light.

The evening was a success, and they returned safely to Meadeville, in the capital Charlestown, in high spirits.

CHARLESTOWN / NEVIS

Barbara had flown in from Anguilla ,to meet and greet them, with a firm handshake, hugs, and stimulating conversation. Waiting with Barbara was a dark skinned woman, who introduced herself as Maria. she was, along with her family and relatives, occupying the smaller section of the duplex that they were going to move into.

Maria and her family - migrants from Santo Domingo, with St. Kitts - Nevis ancestry, had come to Nevis to seek work and a better life style..

They took occupancy of the much larger half of the duplex facing Featherbed Alley. Between the verandah and the alley is a lawn area that has a pathway leading to and from the front gate; this space is large enough to accommodate parked automobiles.

Indoors, there is a sitting room; the same size of the two bedrooms adjoining it; and a kitchen; at the back of the bedrooms is a bathroom and toilet - combined.

Noise carried and it was impossible to be private in the bedrooms. However, the upside was, much was gleaned about Nevisian society; Maria's hairdressing activities attracted a steady stream of customers. 

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Quotes from the late Edgar Bridgewater OBE

Life is a goal - achieve it

Life is a puzzle - solve it

Life is a struggle - fight it

Life is a journey - complete it

Life is an opportunity - take it

Life is a mystery - unfold it

Life is a game - play it

Life is a duty - perform it

Life is a tragedy - face it

Life is an adventure - dare it

Life is a gift - accept it

Life is a challenge - meet it

ESSENCE

I remember moments,

When my heart stood still;

I can recall ideas - great,

Beseeching me against my will;

I can recount an on-going rivalry

With history;

I can remember a mind

Too cluttered to foresee -

Essence

Edmund L Bridgewater

NEVIS ' ESTATES '

Hanley's

Fothergill's

Hamilton

Brazier's

Eden Browne

Garrick's

Mount Pleasant

Jone's

New River

Coconut Walk

Old Manor

Montpelier

Hermitage

Golden Rock

Zetland's

Nevis Plantation

Vervain

DEEP

Within,

An explosion nullified;

Within,

A glare so arresting;

Within,

An agenda so overpowering;

If only I could smile -

On the inside.

Edmund L Bridgewater

TRUST

Shattered by

a foreboding,

an accelerating of

intentions,

bubbling inside,

solidify  trust.

Edmund Bridgewater

PRECOCIOUS

Night calm;

A recollection :

Sailing on boats,

Overloaded

With sugar cane;

Dad's fixation,

In rough seas,

Instructing militarily,

On the experience

Of fear.

Edmund Bridgewater

THE HOLY LAND

Hot, no wind,

Storms, early

beginning of sun;

Praying for a

week-end, calm -

in the Holy Land.

Edmund Bridgewater

IMMINENT

Besieged by weather,

Inducing confinement,

Indoors; an inner search

Of self, unfolds,

Another revising of goals -

Imminent.

Edmund L Bridgewater