There is nothing – NOTHING – in the world like having a really good belly laugh with a close friend. \u00a0I can’t speak for men, but for women, those moments with a girl-friend when you laugh until you can’t speak or you fear you may wet yourself are priceless. \u00a0That’s how it’s been for me this week with my dear friend V, who I’ve just left at V C Bird International Airport as she waits for her BA flight home.<\/p>\n
We’ve know each other for years; have been there for each other through so many traumas and moments of great joy, too. \u00a0We love each other’s sense of humour and any outsider this week would have looked at us and thought ‘What the hell’s wrong with the two of them?’ \u00a0Silly little things, like me not seeing the horse galloping up the land and narrowly avoiding opening the car door as it thundered past. \u00a0The saga with the water shortage; her allergic reaction to her knicker elastic; the two ‘Lib-Dem’ Councillors at Shirley Heights; the guy on the cat who called her ‘Mammy’; the donkey braying; the election vans blasting out their messages; all these were moments that had us in stitches and have just started me off laughing again as I write this.<\/p>\n
Thanks for coming and sharing my stay here with me, V. \u00a0Safe flight home and see you soon!<\/p>\n
Yes, as you’ve seen above, there is a pending general election here in Antigua on June 12th. \u00a0The streets are awash with blue posters and bunting representing UPP or red posters and bunting representing ABLP. \u00a0Vans with loudspeakers are continually going round and round the streets with their propaganda messages blaring out – as early as 7 am!! \u00a0The majority of Antiguans are either wearing their UPP or ABLP t-shirts. \u00a0Antigua has election fever!<\/p>\n
It also is beginning to have Carnival Fever, too! \u00a0Although it’s not for another two months, the run-up is almost as exciting a time as Carnival itself. \u00a0Carnival songs appear every year and often the words are sexist and misogynistic. \u00a0A couple of years back the Carnival song’s chorus was: \u00a0‘Put your whole mouth over the hole.’ \u00a0I heard two of, I think, this year’s songs on the radio a couple of days ago. \u00a0One was about a man with a strong, ripe banana and the other was sung by a couple.<\/p>\n
HE: \u00a0I’m selling pipe. \u00a0How much inches of me pipe you want?<\/p>\n
SHE: \u00a0I want all of your pipe!<\/p>\n
It’s a Caribbean thing! \u00a0After all, ‘twerking’ is the normal was to dance here!<\/p>\n
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There is nothing – NOTHING – in the world like having a really good belly laugh with a close friend. \u00a0I can’t speak for men, but for women, those moments with a girl-friend when you laugh until you can’t speak … Continue reading