Ferntrail Garden Centre



Hmm, nice framework.

 

Well, my girl finally threw in the towel (along

with the stress) on her 9 to 5! 



 Faith now resides in her beloved garden developing into the income generating vehicle its capable of becoming. 

Fewer people get the opportunity to work until retirement age, they don't get that gold watch and don't pass Go.

So many stumbling blocks, company restructures, going out of business, stress, poor health, something or somebody seems to get to you. 

Congrats to the brave ones who stop the madness and make do with what they have.

I'm gonna be a brave one, just watch me!



Seriously? I guess I could lend a hand!

The garden needs some work but she has a lot to

work with.



Mussaenda and Acalypha
complete for space

Dee's passion is ferns (ferntrail.com) but she's also

an expert with orchids and cacti. 

Dee is our go-to person for plant identification, botanical or Latin names, plant species, pest control, basically anything 'plant'.

One of the fern houses.



Different shades of Desert Roses.



Ooh! a big boy Staghorn Fern.

Princess Magogo - The rise of a Star





Thobekile Mbanda, playwriter and artist

If you weren’t at The Steel Shed in the historic Queen’s Park last Wednesday night you missed a fascinating show. 





The all Bajan cast





 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 A group of local actors took on the character and spirit of the Zulu people in a play written by the South African play writer; spoken word artist, story teller, teacher and community activist, Thobekile Mbanda.

She  is a granddaughter of Chief Dlokwake Mbanda from the Inchanga Village in Kwa Zulu Natal South Africa.  She is well travelled as an artist and known as Thobs the Zulu Queen.

 

Princess Magogo preserving the tribe's stories in song.

 

The play is based on the true story of Princess Magogo Dinuzulu, the Zulu Princess who revolutionised Zulu tribal music long before apartheid and Nelson Mandela and describes how she was able to bring about an empowering change for women who  were never allowed to become praise poets and singers. 

 

She is like the Bob Marley of Zulu music and inspired such artistes as Mariam Makeba.

 

The play explores the culture of the Zulu and through the eyes of Magogo’s takes the audience on an enchanting journey of Zulu expression and song. 

Princess Magogo being tormented by her sisters
because of her passion for singing.

The Bajan cast did very well, the affected accents bought some authenticity to the play. 

Princess Magogo was played by the lovely Ayesha Gibson-Gill who has a lovely singing voice and bought credibly to the role.

King Zinizulu and Queen Mandlovu rejoice that the Princess has
chosen the family and marriage tradition before her singing. 

 

The evening was rich and great value for money.  After the play ended we were entertained by a hastily put together girl band, Thobekile herself on guitar, other girls on bongo drums, steel pan, drums, and electric guitar, most of the music was original and good.  A few other artist performed including Adrian Green, the lyricist and spoken word artist.

 

Thanks to Thobekile Mbanda for sharing this experience with us, for giving local artist the opportunity to perform their craft. Gracious thanks to Sonia Williams the play director (and general factotum), your hard work paid off.

We see the production of plays less and less plays each year so it was uplifting to see the theatre folks catching up with each other.  Wednesday night's performance was sold out to a mostly young audience which is very encouraging, clearly they too are yearning for more cultural events.

 

 

 

Flawless Skin

I just happened to pop into a department store and walked into a makeover demonstration.  Now, I’m not one to give this neither thought nor time but I was in no rush and sometimes its fun to step out of the box. 

Some beauty consultants (or do they prefer to be called makeup artists) can be quite condescending but this young miss was very nice and inviting.  It helped that her model was full of nervous laughter which was infectious.   As the banter was light and easy I hung around.  

The process started ...... she cleaned the model's face, applied primer, liquid foundation, pressed powder, highlighter, blusher, layers and layers of stuff, tweaked here, dabbed there and on and on .... It was taking a bit long for my liking and I was anxious  to move on to my real love, designer handbags!

In the end the model look lovely and surprisingly quite natural.  Great for her but I certainly don't have the time or inclination for ritual.  I quickly apply moisturizer, sun block, my never to be seen without lipstick, bit of eyeliner, pencil my eyebrows and voila! Done.

 

I'm a child of the 70's and as I stood there I reflected on my early days experimenting with make up.

 

Remember Biba and the stagy look of the 70's makeup?

 

 

Being sociable I had a mini consultation and the consultant said (no lie) that I had flawless skin (it's the genes my friend, not the regime) and recommended only two of the multitude of layers.  Just as well because 10 minutes in front of the mirror is too long. 

 

Back in the day I spent most time was plucking and shaping my eyebrows to get the rounded thin pencil look.

 

70's brows.

 

 

Other 70’s hot picks.

 

Charlie, brilliant for work.

My best party perfume, so heady.

Loved platform shoes.

 

Before the mortgage I frequented the Lancôme, Clinique, Elizabeth Arden, Fashion Flair, counters, thereafter it was a bit of this, bit of that, and high street specials!

 

So, it's a wonder and a blessing that I ended up with flawless skin.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Show of Floral Art

 

I spent a joyful evening at the

Barbados Association

of Flower Arrangers’ second

Annual Flower Show.  

Celebration time.

The floral show was indeed an art, the talent and creativity was overwhelming.  It was evident that the arrangers were not afraid in their approach to themes such as Expectations, Horizons, Suspense, One world, Rhythm, Neptune, Celebrations,

Welcome, Aaaaah … Surprise and Reflections.  

 

Psalm 150. Praise him with stringed instruments.

A cute lamb!

A personal favourite!

 

Height optimized.



Reflections, A miniature exhibit.

Another miniature.



A dried exhibit.

Featured local plant material.

Horizons - a First Place.

Bible theme with harp.
 

Overall, an excellent presentation of exhibition.