Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Barbados Report No 6

Been to Bridgetown today. Bus left hotel at 8.30. Rosalin, the bus conductress spreads panic when she asks if all those intent on duty free shopping have their passports and airline tickets. So we all rush back to our rooms. 5 minutes later she asks, "Is everybody back now"? Silly question. No reply came there from the one who wasn't.

Lots more feminine elegance on display in the capital city - smart business wear, well cut denim and the haughty Naomi Campbell look. Serious hair town is Bridgetown. Not an ordinary cut to be seen. General Election day. No alcohol for sale or consumption between 6 am. and 6 pm.. Island tradition dictates that every one must be totally unaffected by alcohol when they cast their vote. So no rum punch until the polling booths close. Almighty p*** up expected afterwards, so the next day is always declared a national holiday.

Saw a wonderful election poster today, just outside the Barbadian Parliament Building. A big picture of Thompson, the opposition leader accompanied by the words 'He will not Lie, Cheat or Steal'. The inference was clear. It reminded me of 'We will be Whiter than White'. Just a touch more direct.

Walked up to the Mecca of West Indies cricket, the Kensington Oval for a look around. It dominates Bridgetown, a bit like the Millennium Stadium dominates Cardiff. The magic comes from the legends that played there. How's this for a team? Greenidge and Haynes to open, Sir Garfield Sobers, Sir Frank Worrell, Sir Everton Weekes, Sir Clyde Walcott, Joel Garner, Malcolm Marshall, Wesley Hall. and Charlie Griffiths - and Winston Reed. All Barbadians. Sobers would have to keep wicket. "Who is Winston Reed', you may ask. Well, he was Barbados' leading spin bowler until his retirement last season, and he took me out to the square for a feel of it today. So he's in my team because I like him, with Otis Gibson as 12th man.

There were only two other people in the ground today. As we were passing each other, they said "Hello Glyn". Hard to believe. They were a couple from Crickhowell who knew me, on a cruise which had docked at Bridgetown for the day. Dangerously small world.

8 comments:

Dr. Christopher Wood said...

For a while my parents lived quite close to old Cardiff Arms Park ... we could hear the hymns and arias ... so how is Max Boyce now-a-days?

The Half-Blood Welshman said...

Sobers to keep wicket? Be a bit of a waste given that he was also a superb spin/medium pace wobblers bowler. Why not make one of the full time batsmen keep wicket? After all it's what England do...

Glyn Davies said...

half -blood - I remember Sobers keeping wicket once when the regular wicket keeper went off injured. The man could do just about anything with a cricket ball. Anyway, I wanted to play Winston in my team.

Have not seen Max for a while.

Anonymous said...

so how is Max Boyce now-a-days?


Still trying to be funny.

He really ought to get a proper job.

Anonymous said...

As we were passing each other, they said "Hello Glyn". Hard to believe. They were a couple from Crickhowell who knew me, on a cruise which had docked at Bridgetown for the day. Dangerously small world.

Oh dear,
pass me the bucket, I have come over all sick.

Glyn Davies said...

anon - it may make you sick (why I know not) but it happens to be true.

Anonymous said...

Max knew, cos he were there!
2 steps behind Glyn!
Glyn the most famous Welsh to hit the Bajan shores, oh my kiddy aunt fanny!

Anonymous said...

And he was singing, hymns and arias all through the night!
Oh Glyn what a man you are!
Cheryl Gillan will have to watch out for her job when you get there, you will be a handful!!!!!