Friday, April 22, 2022
home interview art gardening history puzzles animals
Weekend
Klimt inspired
Pages 08+09
Family in the frame Local photographer carves out niche to celebrate love
pgs 04 + 05
02 | The Tribune | Weekend
Friday, April 22, 2022
home
TRANSFORM any powder room into calm and tranquil with soft monotone papers (Image: Beach Style Home Design)
SET the mood with deep rich colours (Image: Home Bunch)
INSPIRED by nature (Image: Taruga Creaciones)
BRIGHTEN up and energise any space by adding lively wallpaper (Image: Hovia)
Endless possibilities of wallpaper The right choice lifts spirits and brightens even the smallest spaces
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ext time you think a room or space in your home or office needs a bit of a facelift, think outside the paint palette and go bold, adding texture, substance and colour with wallpaper. Wallpaper is one of my favourite design elements because it packs such a punch. Paper has come a long, long way since your grandmother proudly stood back and admired the teapots in her paper on her kitchen wall or the tiny pink roses against a creamy background in the bathroom. Of all standard design elements, in fact, probably none has changed more nor gained a greater place in the arena of home improvement in the last few decades than paper. Wallpaper is so popular and offers such diversity of effect that few designers face a project these days without recommending a trip to a wallpaper specialty shop or an internet browsing session to start.
The choices are endless and so are the possibilities from using a bright pattern on a single wall to covering three of four walls or, if choosing a textured paper without a pattern, all the walls of a room. Wallpaper is versatile, allowing you to liven up even the most mundane area. Botanical prints and leafy patterns are a great way to bring the outdoors in and offer a feeling of breathing in the fresh air. It takes deep pockets to commission an artist to paint murals on the wall, but wallpaper choices include murals and when murals are a bit too over the top, you can choose bright colours, strong patterns or geometric shapes to create a certain artistic flair. Not all paper needs to be bold. The use of grasscloth adds texture, depth, serenity and warmth. It is a subtle statement of respect for a space. Whatever you choose, remember that wallpaper creates a mood. If you are still unsure, try papering one room. Here’s an example from our
home. We have a small powder room with a high ceiling so I dared to go big, papering it with a strong banana leaf pattern in LIFE BY greens and whites and DESIGN it instantly BROOKE PYFROM transformed the ordinary space into an eye-popping wow. We added a large rattan framed mirror to continue the theme of outdoors and rattan sconces. In design, we often try to find one piece to set the tone or mood, one show stopper whether it be a grand dining table, a piano, a piece of art but wallpaper is one of the most transformative show-stopping elements and because the choices are
endless, it’s up to you to choose the mood you want to create. It can be soothing colours in the beiges and pale olives of grasscloth or bold, bright and strong or something in between but whatever you choose, I strongly recommend taking a few samples home and pinning it up to you wall for a few days before choosing. Also bear in mind the conditions of the area you are papering. If a bathroom, there will be moisture so choose accordingly. If you are selecting a single wall, make sure that it is a wall with finite corners so the paper does not appear to trail off into the abyss. Wallpaper – it’s come a long way since Grammy’s kitchen and its impact is hard to overstate and fun to achieve. • Brooke Pyfrom is the proprietor of Oasis, Sandyport, and Oasis, East Shirley Street. She sources exceptional pieces from around the world to combine trendy with traditional.
The Tribune | Weekend | 03
Friday, April 22, 2022
food
‘Chef Nuncy’ helps connect Bahamians in NYC with his cooking By CARA HUNT | Tribune Features Writer | cbrennen@tribunemedia.net
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Bahamian chef who has taken a bite out of the Big Apple recently shared a taste of the Bahamas with New
Yorkers. Rico Neely works in the passport office of the Bahamas Consulate General’s New York City office by day, but is also a chef and social architect by night. He and his twin sister Ricah cofounded the “Cooking with Nuncy” initiative as a means of connecting young culinarians with industry leaders and to teach them about international culinary trends Mr Neely, or “Chef Nuncy”, as he is also called, his work at the consulate showed him a need for community within the jurisdiction. “Bahamians overseas have a difficult time connecting with other Bahamians as there is a lack of public forums where we can network with one another,” he told Tribune Weekend. “I know this firsthand, as I would engage with countless Bahamians who would get excited with a sort of cultural nostalgia as many of them coming in for their appointment (at the consulate) haven’t heard their
this
weekend in history April 22 • In 1945, Adolf Hitler admits to his generals and staff with him in his underground bunker that the war is lost and his suicide is the only recourse. He had spent 105 days in his bunker located 55 feet under the chancellery in Berlin. • In 1970, Earth Day is celebrated
native accent in years; let alone run into another Bahamian as they would a Jamaican, Trinidadian or any other Caribbean nationality.” New York is such a global melting pot, he said, that finding spot where authentic Bahamian food and music can be found regularly is a rarity.
for the first time. The event was the brainchild of US Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin, an avid environmentalist who hoped “to get a nationwide demonstration of concern for the environment so large that it would shake the political establishment out of its lethargy.”
April 23 • In 1516, Duke Wilhelm IV of Bavaria endorses "The German Beer Purity Law”, ensuring beer is only brewed from three ingredients – water, barley and hops. Yeast was added to the list centuries later
when scientists discovered its fermenting properties. • In 1564, “The Bard” William Shakespeare is believed to be born in Stratford-Upon-Avon, England. His father John was a leather trader and the town bailiff, while his mother Mary (née Arden) came from a well-to-do farming family.
April 24 • In 1479 BC, according to tradition, the Greeks enter Troy using the Trojan Horse, ending the decade-long siege of the ancient city. According to the Aeneid by Virgil, a select group of men,
That was why he came up with the idea for “Taste of the Islands”, a Bahamian dinner and social event. The event was held at Basquiat’s Bottle in Brooklyn earlier this month. At “Taste the Islands”, guests danced to Bahamian beats by Freeport-born DJ K-9, while enjoying food choices such as conchy conch fritters, vegan rice cakes with a Bahamian tomato jam, salmon sliders with a goat pepper spread, crack conch and fries, chicken in da bag and fire engine tacos. In addition, guests were surprised with a Junkanoo rush-out. The event was a huge success, the chef said, and guests told him it felt like being back home at their local fish fry. At just 22, Mr Neely is making a name for himself. “Taste of the Islands”, he said, will be a monthly event. He will also be hosting intimate and invite only dinners as well as kitchen takeovers all around New York City. You can follow him on Instagram at @CookingWithNuncy or email him at cookingwithnuncy@hotmail. com.
including the hero Odysseus, hid inside the wooden contraption as the Greeks pretended to sail away. The Trojans pulled the horse into their city as a victory trophy, but that night the Greek soldiers crept out of the horse and opened the gates for the rest of their army. • In 1916, on Easter Monday in Dublin, the Irish Republican Brotherhood, a secret organisation, launches the Easter Rebellion – an armed uprising against British rule. Though eventually defeated, the Rebellion is considered a signifcant event on the road to establishing and indepedent Irish republic.
04 | The Tribune | Weekend
Friday, April 22, 2022
interview
Alexis Davis It’s all about love of family for this photographer. Coming from a strong and loving familial background, she tells Jeffarah Gibson how she has made family photography her niche, helping others capture their milestones and special moments.
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ORKING in the photography department of a major resort for seven years – learning all the ins and outs of the craft and mastering the technical and creative skills to capture the perfect shot – has given Alexis Davis with the confidence to step out her own and carve out a niche in family photography. “My interest in hobby began when I was a teen. Every year when we’d go on vacation, my mom would buy these disposable cameras and I would go to town with snapping,” she told Tribune Weekend. “From there I’d ask for little digital cameras for Christmas so I could capture everything going on in our lives. Then, when I got to high school, sometimes I would sneak my camera to school events for fun and shoot everything. It’s almost like a camera never left my hand.” Working at My Atlantis Photos at the Paradise Island resort helped Alexis with building on her skills, letting her learn the basics of both photography and business. “I resigned in August 2019 to pursue my own photography business full time,” she said. This was very scary undertaken because soon after the pandemic hit, but Alexis experienced a surprising outcome. “The pandemic assisted in helping my business to grow, as people quickly realised how short life is and how important photos are,” she said. Alexis grew up in a loving environment, with parents who have been together for 30 years. They instilled a love of family in her that shines through in her work. “This instilled a love in me for making family photography my niche. I love spending time with my loved ones, and I’m all about living in the moment and enjoying life,” she said. And Alexis is all about capturing those wonderful moments for others. “I’m proud to grow with my clients through all stages of life, so from the dating, engagement, wedding, to the maternity stages and so forth. It’s heartwarming and rewarding,” she said. She said her photography is not only a job, but a labour of love. “Sometimes you get a new family with three toddlers and I have to chase them the whole session to get the shots, which means being understanding and going over your time schedule, setting aside (sufficient) time so that the parents can have the images they want. I love it anyway, I enjoy it. I love doing extended families of 20 persons, and the fun auntie is telling everyone she’s the sexiest out the group. I love meeting new people from different walks of life.”
Friday, April 22, 2022
The Tribune | Weekend | 05
But it can also be a challenge as a new photographer seeking to make a name for herself in a saturated market. However, Alexis is sure her personal and welcoming touch make her stand out. “There is no other Alexis D. I think I add a special touch to each session by being personable and allowing clients I’ve built a relationship with to grow with me as well. A lot of them have me on different social media accounts and they get to see my family and I be playful, go on vacations, and vice versa. Because if I see someone celebrating, I’m going to celebrate with them the best way I can,” she said. “As in every business, you have growing pains. Although I’ve been shooting freelance since 2016, and full time since 2019, like I mentioned, shortly after I resigned the pandemic hit, and I was left wondering ‘What now?’, but I maintained my faith that God would take care of me, and sure enough. April 3, 2021, I opened my studio. After being freelance for so long, it’s been a rewarding journey. I was able to accomplish more and offer more, and I’ve been blessed to rarely have days when I’m like, ‘Where are the customers?’” One of the big challenges has been attracting the ideal clients. “The major challenge I’ve faced in my business is initially getting your name out there. I have amazing clients that refer me to their friends and family, so I’m thankful for the relationships that I was able to build so quickly. It’s also difficult to not give into the temptation of doing photo trends to grasp the attention of the younger crowd,” she said. “A major success for me has been building my brand name. I would go a lot of places and people who I’ve never met would be like, ‘Are you Alexis D? I love your work’, or sometimes my family would call me and say, ‘Someone asked me today if I’m your XYZ, and they gave me free stuff.’ And it’s not the free stuff that makes me extremely happy, I just love that I’ve built that respect for my family’s name.”
4 Attentive; 5 Links;
26 Book’s self-dedication (4) 27 All the people cook dory by Eve (9)
06 | The Tribune | Weekend
● The Target uses words in the main body of Chambers 21st Century Dictionary (1999 edition)
HOW many words of four letters or more can you make from the letters shown here? in making a word, each letter may be used once only. Each must contain the centre letter and there must be at least one nine-letter word. no plurals. Verb forms ending in s permitted’. TODAY’S TARGET Good 21; very good 32; excellent 41 (or more). Solution tomorrow
Yesterday’s call 0907 181 2585 Sudoku Answer for today’s target solution *Calls cost 80p per minute plus your telephone company’s network access charge.
BATTLESHIPS CRYPTIC PUZZLE Across 1 Fulfilling the conditions by paying in full (10) 6 Lock up silver in church (4) 10 It can’t run so takes cover (5) 11 Is strange in a way making a statement (9) 12 Regulation I ignored in making guns (8) 13 Broken lance not spotted (5) 15 Inadmissible charge set out in public (7) 17 Out of range of French explosive device (7) 19 Consequences of Ulster’s troubles (7) 21 He toils in far from friendly fashion (7) 22 Refuse to be seen out with Capone (5) 24 Cows, cats and hens are involved (8) 27 Go fishing but keep in touch (4,1,4) 28 Unusually dry around central Greece - piping required (5) 29 Badly hurt widow who married a wealthy farmer (4) 30 Having trouble when bathing? (2,3,5)
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Yesterday’s Easy Solution Across: 1 Measles, 5 Magic, 8 Take aback, 9 Run, 10 Espy, 12 King-size, 14 Canard, 15 Homage, 17 On the dot, 18 Tear, 21 Kin, 22 Augur well, 24 Dread, 25 Rigidly. Down: 1 Metre, 2 Ask, 3 Load, 4 Static, 5 Make good, 6 Germinate, 7 Concede, 11 Penitence, 13 Free hand, 14 Crooked, 16 Cougar, 19 Rally, 20 Drag, 23 End.
Yesterday’s Cryptic Solution Across: 1 Stepson, 5 Prime, 8 Spaghetti, 9 Tar, 10 Nigh, 12 Scottish, 14 Breaks, 15 Indian, 17 Grasping, 18 Unit, 21 Tot, 22 Evolution, 24 Darts, 25 Eclipse. Down: 1 Susan, 2 Era, 3 Soho, 4 Notice, 5 Pristine, 6 Intuition, 7 Earthen, 11 Goes after, 13 Skippers, 14 Bigoted, 16 Undone, 19 Tinge, 20 Bull, 23 Imp.
EASY PUZZLE
Across 1 Temporarily sold out (3,2,5) 6 Particular place (4) 10 Verify (5) 11 Guardian (9) 12 Good-looking (8) 13 Principle (5) 15 Mediocre (2,1,4) 17 To tender (7) 19 Social conduct (7) 21 Not in detail (7) 22 Well known (5) 24 A widespread Asian religion (8) 27 Communicative (9) 28 Give reason to believe (5) 29 Completely destroy (4) 30 Law no longer observed (4,6)
Down 1 As soon as (4) 2 On the other hand (4,5) 3 Counterfeit (5) 4 Highest (7) 5 Intimate view (5-2) 7 Assumed (3,2) 8 Capsize (4,6) 9 Rapid disastrous collapse (8) 14 Seize for military use (10) 16 Exaggerated (8) 18 Regard for the future (9) 20 Settle (7) 21 An unexpected blessing (7) 23 A yellow gem (5) 25 Lift with great effort (5) 26 Prophet (4)
FIND where the fleet of ships shown is hidden in the grid. The numbers to the right of and below the grid indicate how many of the squares in that row are filled in with ships or parts of ships. The ships do not touch each other, even diagonally. Some squares have been filled in to start you off. Solution tomorrow 1
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THE ALPHABEATE
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Sudoku is a number-placing puzzle based on a 9x9 grid with several given numbers. The object is to place the numbers 1 to 9 in the empty squares so the each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. The difficulty level of the Conceptis Sudoku increases from Monday to Sunday
C E P S T I I
Friday, April 22, 2022
14 Vanish; 16 Plump; 20 Pin.
TARGET Best described as a number crossword, the task in Kakuro is to fill all of the empty squares, using numbers 1 to 9, so the sum of each horizontal block equals the number to its left, and the sum of each vertical block equals the number on its top. No number may be used in the same block more than once. The difficulty level of the Conceptis Kakuro increases from Monday to Sunday.
C Y C I N U F
23 Girl with but 7 some 6 nothing Interminable; Witch; rope (5)10 Remainder; 13 Tatty;
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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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● Alternatively, for six Extra Letter clues to yo text DXBEAT to 64343. Texts cost £1 plus your usu
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The Tribune | Weekend | 07
Friday, April 22, 2022
food
‘Rustic with a twist’
Tippy’s Eleuthera restaurant in the spotlight By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Writer acadet@tribunemedia.net
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he island of Eleuthera abounds with dining options – elegant restaurants, down-home snack bars and casual lounges. There is something for every palate and every budget. In Governor’s Harbour, one of the local hotspots that has been featured in prestigious international publications is Tippy’s Restaurant and Bar at Pineapple Fields. Food and Wine and Bon Appetit magazines, as well as in The New York Times, have all highlighted the popular eatery. The décor is eclectic, with tables made from old shutters and antique piano keyboards hanging from the ceiling. The popular chalkboard menu changes daily, depending on the delivery of local produce and seafood. Elliot Rolle, Tippy’s co-owner, said the restaurant is known for not only its food and service, but also its ambiance. “I regard us as a fun place where we cater to all; we don’t discriminate. It is all about family. You come in as a guest and our aim is that you leave like family. We want to know you on a first-name basis and we want you to get to know us and see what is behind the big smile that we greet you with when you come in at the door,” said Elliot. In Eleuthera’s competitive culinary business, Elliot said they all aim to be pacesetters. So, when it comes to the menu, the kitchen staff creates their own dishes and adds some special fusion elements to everything. “We have a little bit of French and Italian. I like to describe Tippy’s as rustic with a twist. Most of the stuff that we prepare is local. We try to create farm-to-table. Right now, it’s avocado season, so we strongly push the avocado on the menu with a few dishes,” he said. A popular year-round dish is the Cajun grouper. “That is what I call down-home. We also have our conch ravioli that is made from scratch, and then we have our conch spring rolls. Recently added to the menu is a local taco trio that we came
up with; our coconut conch taco. It is a true island experience,” he said. As with the décor, where they try to reuse refurbished wood as much as possible, their “no waste” policy also applies to the food. “We grow some of our own vegetables and with our little waste, we have our own pigs at Pineapple Fields, so our scraps go to them,” said Elliot. To decorate the space, the team uses artwork by locals, including artist Marty Fernander and Tippy’s very own bartender Myeasha Pinder. “My partner and (Tippy’s) co-owner David Barlyn, he has a very eclectic mind. He can take sand and turn it into gold. So, most of the stuff that you see, the layout and everything, he is trusted with that. And he trusts me with the running of the restaurant, the kitchen, food and all that stuff. It is a team effort,” said Elliot.
10 | The Tribune | Weekend
Friday, April 22, 2022
gardening
A healthy base
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ood day, gardeners. Are you having trouble with small or slower than expected growth in the garden or even in pots? You have been watering, fertilizing, pruning, you may have even put a layer of mulch down, the soil is not oversaturated, or drought stricken, you have done all the things that are meant to encourage vigorous new plant growth and still the plants won’t “grow” as expected? The issue can often be found below ground, and very often it is in the form of soil compaction. Soils can easily and unintentionally, sometimes intentionally, be compacted by construction activity, foot traffic, and vehicular traffic, boat trailers etcetera. Compacted soils are far denser and heavier than loose soils. They lack the airspace, moisture holding capacity, and drainage that most plants including vegetables, require for optimum plant growth. In nature, soil compaction is rare (clay soils are a different story) and the exact ratios of air, water, and organic material are present in native soils for the native material to thrive. This only exists naturally outside of habitation and civilisation, today, unless you’re lucky enough to live on land that has native coppice (or mangrove or pineland) present that hasn’t at some point been cleared. Even still, in our region, there is a very scant national median of topsoil on top of the rock or sand, in all comparison. The red soils that are present on some islands tends to be a bit more compact than elsewhere due somewhat to the fine texture. Pineapple plants do not have large root systems and therefore is one reason they are able to thrive and be grown successfully en masse in north Eleuthera, for example. With any modern building activity, the native and added cracker dust, rock, sand, topsoil et al, many residential areas are highly likely to have compacted soils. So, what is the solution? It can begin at the initial phase of development by limiting traffic of any kind in certain areas of a property, or it can be remediated in gardens by turning in additional material such as composted manure, composted yard waste or other organic materials,
mushroom compost, worm castings, bat guano, seaweed…. The list goes on, aged pine bark, peat moss, coconut coir, et al. A product such as Black Kow, which is very popular (and suffering the same supply chain issues as so many other products and materials today), can actually increase or contribute to compaction if it isn’t mixed in thoroughly. The goal when a garden is compacted is to loosen the soil base to at least 12-18” if possible before you hit rock, if the rock is a barrier, then mechanical solutions may need to be considered where a pickaxe won’t cut it. For many it can be as simple as breaking up the soil that exists and amending it with additional organic materials to help build the general structure of the soils to allow for increased water movement and holding capacity and increasing the airspace available to the root system
of the plants being grown. Many veggies do not have very large or deep root systems and it is possible to get away with turning organic materials into the top 6” or so of the garden bed or area to be planted to encourage a healthier soil base. It will make a difference to annually amend your growing areas, and it is something
that I do in my own veggie growing area to keep it as productive as possible, with the least amount of work or material input to get the fastest results. Once soil compaction has been rectified, gardening becomes a lot easier and more rewarding for all the reasons mentioned of productivity, results, and ease of process between points a and b. For pots with compacted soil (it happens), simply repot with a loose, fresh planting soil (not Black Kow!). As always, I wish you happy gardening! • Adam Boorman is the nursery manager at the Fox Hill Nursery. You can contact him with any questions you may have, or topics you would like to see discussed, at gardening242@gmail.com.
The Tribune | Weekend | 11
Friday, April 22, 2022
art
Mother and daughter combine their talents for ‘Blended Creations’ By ALESHA CADET | Tribune Features Writer | acadet@tribunemedia.net
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any teenage girls are at a time in their lives where they want to distance themselves from their mothers and branch out on their own. Not so Coyann Jennings; she is enjoying working closely with her mother, Christanell Gordon, to create unique mixed media and acrylic art. The mother-daughter duo launched their Blended Creations business six months ago, selling home décor items, door wreaths and customised pieces to the public. Christanell told Tribune Weekend the idea came to her during the lockdowns. She spent a lot of time on social media and discovered YouTube channels dedicated to the art of acrylic pouring. She was immediately inspired to try it for herself and enjoyed it so much she decided it would be her new hobby. After participating in a local pop-up event, Christanell was confident she could sell her work. “I’ve always been a striving individual and believe in the adage that hard work pays off. I have a creative spirit and can find art in almost anything, but I cannot sketch or draw to save my life. However, my teen daughter is gifted in artistry, so we decided to step into the world of art as a mother-daughter duo. I choose the projects; she draws the outlines and then I complete the piece using various mixed media. I think about what substrate (starting material) would display the piece best; the size, the colour combinations, what kind of artistic media would complement it
and make it an eye-catching piece. I pride myself on being unique. While sometimes simplicity may be the way to go, my perspective with art is that a key element is a piece that starts up a conversation,” she said. “Blended Creations is actually my fourth business venture. The first was fashion jewellery, the second was a children’s clothing line, both were successful for a few years but unfortunately did not expand. The third is in logistics, still active, and now I am hopeful that this brand flourishes for years to come.” Christanell and Coyann officially introduced their artwork to the wider public last month when they participated in the Sip’n n’ Shop’n Popup Shoppes event held at the Latitudes restaurants. Christanell said in the past six months, Blended Creations has checked several boxes: improved their techniques, created an inventory, created social media pages, gotten a business licence, and particpated in multiple events. “Blended Creations has not had vast exposure just yet, but our brand is getting out there and we intend to keep pushing forward. Our goal is to continue creating and keep the passion flowing. As long as you enjoy what you do it never feels like work. One of our pieces was a gift for our customer’s granddaughter in Canada, we would like for our brand to be seen all around the world,” she said.
12 | The Tribune | Weekend
Friday, April 22, 2022
literary lives - Sir Malcolm Bradbury (1932 - 2000)
History man Sir Christopher Ondaatje writes about the English author and productive academic writer who became an expert on the modern English novel. American Studies at the University of Manchester in 1962 before moving to the University of East Anglia, where he finished his second novel Stepping Westwards (1965) and became Professor of American Studies there in 1970 before launching the MA in Creative Writing, attended by both Ian McEwan and Kazuo Ishiguro.
“In addition to haunting the coffee bars of Nottingham, shouting about Sartre and nibbling the ears of leggy girls named Ernestine, I had spent three years being a student at a certain nameless English provincial university. A strange youth, who wore pink intellectual shirts and clip-on bow ties that kept falling off suddenly into cups of black coffee, and spent most of those three years writing a novel about, of course, an English provincial university.” – Malcolm Bradbury (The nameless English provincial university he mentions was the University College of Leicester.) Malcolm Bradbury was born on September 7, 1932, in Sheffield, England, the son of a railwayman. The family moved to London in 1935, but returned to Sheffield in 1941 with his brother and mother. The family later moved to Nottingham and in 1943 Bradbury attended West Bridgford
Grammar School until 1950. He read English at University College, Leicester, and gained a firstclass degree in 1953. He continued his studies at Queen Mary College, University of London, where he gained an MA in 1955. Between 1955 and 1956, Bradbury moved between teaching posts at the University of Manchester and Indiana University in the United States. He returned to England in 1958 for a major heart operation, and was not expected to live. While in hospital, he completed his first novel, Eating People is Wrong (1959) – a title borrowed from the Flanders and Swann musical revue. He married Elizabeth Salt in 1959, the year of his first publication, and they had two sons. He got his first teaching post at the University of Hull. A study on Evelyn Waugh in 1962 began his career of writing critical books. From 1961 to 1965, he taught at the University of Birmingham, and completed his PhD in
He published Possibilities: Essays on the State of the Novel in 1973; The History Man in 1975; Who Do You Think You Are? In 1976; Rates of Exchange in 1983 (shortlisted for the Booker Prize); and Cuts: A Very Short Novel in 1987. He also published editions of Saul Bellow, EM Forster, and F Scott Fitzgerald, as well as handbooks of both English and American modern fiction. “English history is all about men liking their fathers, and American history is all about them hating their fathers and trying to burn down everything they ever did.” – Malcolm Bradbury Bradbury wrote extensively and lucratively for television, including scripting series such as Anything More Would Be Greedy, The Gravy Train, and The Gravy Train Goes East. His final teaching post was at Norwich University where he adapted novels such as Tom Sharpe’s Blott On the Landscape and Porterhouse Blues, Alison Lurie’s Imaginary Friends, and Kingsley Amis’s The Green Man. His last television script was Dalziel and Pascoe (Series 5) produced by Andy Rowley. The episode “Foreign Bodies” was screened on BBC One on 15 July 2000.
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Friday, April 22, 2022
BRADBURY’s portrait in the National Portait Gallery in London “I’ve often thought that my scruples about stealing books were the only thing that stood in the way of my being a really great scholar.” – Malcolm Bradbury MALCOLM Bradbury’s grave at St Mary’s Church, Tasburgh, Norfolk
Bradbury’s work was often humorous and ironic, mocking academe, British culture, and communism in a picaresque tone. “He was a loved teacher, a distinguished scholar, a valued mentor of young novelists and, one is told, a self-sacrificingly good parent. His weak heart finally caught up with him at the age of sixty-eight – years later than his doctors had earlier predicted.” – John Sutherland Lives of the Novelists, 2011 Bradbury died at Priscilla Bacon Lodge, Colman Hospital, Norwich on November 27, 2000 with his wife and their two sons present. He was buried in the churchyard of St Mary’s parish church, Tasburgh, a village near Norwich where the Bradburys had a second home. Bradbury was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1991, and was made a Knight Bachelor in the New Year Honours 2000 for services to literature. “Only the old are innocent. That is what Victorians understood, and the Christians. Original sin is a property of the young. The old grow beyond corruption very quickly.” – Malcolm Bradbury
BRADBURY’s lauded 1959 novel
BRADBURY’s most famous novel was published in 1975
• Sir Christopher Ondaatje is the author of The Last Colonial. The author acknowledges that he has quoted liberally from Wikipedia; Lives of the Novelists (2011) by John Sutherland; and Literary Encyclopedia (2014).
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Friday, April 22, 2022
history
Blind John
H
is name was John Adderley, but because he could not see, he was always called Blind John. He had uncanny ability to find his way around Nassau, crisscrossing streets without a cane and by himself. He was often teased, but never let it ruffle him. He was a Roman Catholic and attended Sacred Heart Church on Shirley Street. For me, the most impressing thing about John was his determination to ride a bicycle, whenever somebody would let him ride one. In this situation, I felt fortunate that I did not have a bike, because I had witnessed John’s riding into walls – several times. Sometimes he and the bike were damaged, but he never stopped begging to ride anyone’s bike. My siblings and I were raised in St Matthew’s Anglican Church, but we lived next door to Sacred Heart, and while I was away in boarding school, my sister, Angela converted to Catholicism. When her chosen godfather failed to appear, Blind John took his place. After that, John became a fixture at our home, on what is now Shirley Park Avenue. He and Annie would talk for hours. In the only photo of John that I have, John is holding my niece, Tammy, while my mother seems to be making sure he didn’t drop her. After I came home from school, I watched John walk up Shirley Park Avenue to the front gate of our home, a distance of 150 yards. He walked as fast as a person who could see, paused in front of our gate, then turned left, facing the gate and house. He stopped for a while then, with his hands reaching in front of him, he approached the gate
PAUL C ARANHA
FORGOTTEN FACTS carefully and made his way up six steps to our front porch. There, he turned right, walked quite quickly to the end and sat down in one of the chairs. John had a job at The Tribune and he could be seen and heard strolling down the streets selling newspapers. He would call out “Trib”, never the whole name, just “Trib” and, one day, Sir Etienne Dupuch wrote a column about Blind John, The Tribune’s messenger boy. I’ve lost the clipping that I saved so carefully, so I will tell the story as I remember it. Blind John A Roman Catholic Cardinal came to Sir Etienne’s office at The Tribune and saw John. Realising that John was blind, he asked about him and was told that John was the paper’s messenger boy who delivered things all around the City of Nassau, all by himself. To convince his visitor, Sir Etienne called John and gave him several envelopes to deliver to several different addresses over a six- to eight-block area of downtown Nassau, including several crossings of Bay Street. The Cardinal agreed to follow John and see for himself. I don’t remember all that Sir Etienne wrote, but after some time the Cardinal made his way back to Sir Etienne’s office alone. He had not been able to keep up with John and had got lost. • For questions and comments, please send an e-mail to islandairman@gmail.com
BLIND John” holding the author’s niece, Tammy
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Friday, April 22, 2022
animals
A sad story with a happy ending By KIM ARANHA Animal Matters
“M
any of you have heard my name by now and many of you have seen my picture on social media. I have become a bit of a star. My story is a sad one. Unfortunately, I cannot tell you what happened to me. It all happened in the past. People say I will forget as the months go by. I am already a very sweet and trusting boy, but I scrunch up my eyes when a person reaches out to stroke my head. There must be a reason why I do that, the moment I feel the gentle stroke I relax and my tail does this cool wagging thing. I am ‘White Boy’, the tragic, injured, neglected, and most probably abused 18-month-old-dog found walking the streets of Nassau with a ridiculously thick collar around my neck and trailing a piece of rope behind me. I was seen walking by a kind and caring lady on her way to work. She called Kim (who is writing this for me) and in no time at all the animal ambulance was dispatched. Fortunately, I didn’t walk very fast; I was in a very bad way. They picked me up and put me in the van. I won’t pretend, I was scared, I had no idea what was happening to me. Valentino was very kind to me. When we got to the shelter, the first thing they did was give me water, Man, that tasted good, fresh cool water… I hurt everywhere, especially my head around where my ears had been. There was a terrible sore and scabs and something else, but I wasn’t sure what was going on. I was tired, so tired. I had been looking for a safe place to lie down
BEFORE and after: From being wounded, in pain and alone in the streets to a dog that has something to smile about. (Photo/Jen Wallace) and let the angels come and take me to rainbow bridge and now suddenly everything had changed. These people were different; not like the others from before. They were nice to me and had kind voices, they touched me kindly. Well, a lot of things happened that first day. I got put on a metal table (didn’t like that much) and somebody called a veterinarian wearing scrubs and an assistant, also wearing scrubs, checked me out. I heard them say I had live maggots eating at my sores in my head… when people heard that they were all pretty freaked out.
Anyway, to cut a long story short, those few days at the shelter were a blur. I know they put me on that metal table a couple of times and made me go to sleep more than once. It’s called an operation, I learned that later. When I woke up, I had a needle in my leg with tape and they were giving me fluids and medication. I stayed very quiet for a few days. I didn’t want to eat, I didn’t know my tail could wag, I didn’t lift my head, but every day I got a little better, the bandages got gently changed, the needle came out, I went for little walks. I know not to make a
mess where I sleep. Everybody kept calling me a good boy! We don’t know what happened to me: was I a bait dog to teach other dogs to fight? Was I the victim of ‘home surgery’ to crop my ears, was I a victim of a large dog fight? Nobody ever will ever know. What we do know is that I am the nicest guy on earth with the sweetest disposition who loves to give kisses. I have my bandages off now, I am walking better, I hold my head up, my tail, though crooked (what did they do to that?) is amazing, it wags all the time. They say that is because I am happy. People come and visit me. I get treats, I never knew what treats were before this, and I have two toys that I don’t know how to play with yet, but I am confident that I will learn. I still have sores and bite wounds on my legs that are healing well and the nice bed in my hospital cage, that was donated for me, is a great help, I snuggle down at night and for the first time since I was taken away from my mother, I feel safe, feeling safe is a wonderful feeling. I am in a place where kindness is spoken. I am learning to be a happy boy, I love being hand fed special food, but I am also eating out of a bowl now.. I am a pit bull. I am one of the many, many sweet, kind and loving pit bulls needing homes. I thank God that the Humane Society was there for me and that the kind lady called them, that first step saved my life. – Love, White Boy.”
pet of the week
RubyAnn is a jewel worth having By THE BAHAMAS HUMANE SOCIETY “Good day! Well, I hope you’re having a good day. Me, I’m just chilling here at the Bahamas Humane Society waiting for you to come and adopt me, please. I’m pretty laid back and very happy to no longer have to worry about any more kittens in my life so I think I’d like a somewhat sedate home. If you need a cat who can relax with you while you watch TV or read,
(Photo/Linda Gill-Aranha) I’m your girl! I’m about two years old and definitely ready for a home of my own. Please call 323-5138 for more information or come to the BHS to meet me. I look forward to seeing you soon!”
If you can’t adopt, foster. If you can’t foster, volunteer. If you can’t volunteer, donate. If you can’t donate, educate! Help make a difference!
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Friday, April 22, 2022