06032021 WEEKEND

Thursday, June 3, 2021

art film interview books gardening history food puzzles animals

Weekend

World comes to Palmdale Pages 08-09

Kings and Queen Artist blends real and surreal

pg 07

02 | The Tribune | Weekend

Thursday, June 3, 2021

art

Millions to view Bahamian art at Atlantic fair TERN’s pre-existing relationship through Amanda Coulson, the gallery’s director, with the fair’s founder, Lisa Howie, sealed the deal on the MILLIONS of people around the Bahamian gallery’s participation in globe will have a chance to engage the event.

Ms Howie, formerly the director with the artwork of several Bahamian artists as the local TERN of the Bermuda National Gallery, Gallery participates in the Atlantic developed a connection with Ms Coulson during her time as direcWorld Fair this month. tor of the National Currently, the Art Gallery of the artists’ work is Bahamas (NAGB) being featured on and knew she had the home page of experience in putthe fair’s website, ting on in-person Artsy. This virtual art fairs.

Atlantic World Art TERN partners Fair will run until Lauren H Perez June 21. and Jodi Minnis The fair feawere immediately tures the talents enthusiastic about of contemporary participating, and artists from the so the gallery Caribbean, the signed on.

Atlantic islands For its part, and the region’s TERN is presentwider Diaspora, ing a wide range of whose creative artworks encomexpressions reflect passing drawings, intertwined histopaintings, photos, ries, relations and cultures informed ‘Your Country Name II’, photography videos, sculptures and ceramics. by peoples of by Averia Wright and Jodi Minnis “For our first Africa, the Ameriappearance intercas and Europe.

Nine galleries and curatorial nationally, we really wanted to be agencies will be represented in the sure we presented the scope of artistic practices here in the Bahamas and inaugural edition of the fair. regionally. Some media are harder than others to present online — 3D artworks or mixed media objects with depth — but we really see this as an opportunity to represent the gallery’s full purviews,” said Ms Perez.

The opportunity allows for more exposure for artists who are often limited to local audiences.

“The most-often heard phrase at NAGB when visitors left was, ‘Wow, who knew?’ So for Bahamian art in general the goal is to bring an end to our creatives as being the ‘best kept secret’. Artsy — the platform running the online fair — has more than ‘Seasoned Rice Pot’, porcelain, by two million subscribers and four milAnina Major lion social media followers, so we are

By JEFFARAH GIBSON Tribune Features Reporter jgibson@tribunemedia.net

‘Starry Night’, photography by Delton Barrett bringing a huge new audience to the Bahamas and its artists by participating,” said Ms Coulson.

“For the artists themselves, they are being put into a conversation with regional colleagues and being given an opportunity for curators and collectors to have immediate access to their work. The great thing about an online fair on Artsy is that the artwork can be accessed well after the closing date of the fair, giving the artists a constant presence on the site.”

For artists who may be hoping to participate in a fair such as this, Ms Coulson said artwork that is captivating is key.

“Certainly for an online art fair, artworks that reproduce well on a screen or in 2D have an advantage.

If the work is textured, layered, has translucent or other visual qualities that you can really only grasp in

person, it can be a little harder. Also, a fair is a little like speed dating: There is so much to see and so a work that grabs the viewer is more likely to get longer views,” she said.

Next up for TERN will be launching a pop-up concept store in the gallery space, which will later exist online through its website, offering carefully selected items and objects from Bahamian designers and artists.

“On June 10, we are opening our next show, ‘Notions of Self’, featuring painters Heino Schmid, Tessa Whitehead, Dominique Knowles and Leasho Johnson. In September we aim to be at our first in-person fair in New York, followed by Miami in December during Art Basel week, where we’ll be celebrating the gallery’s one-year anniversary,” said Ms Coulson.

The Tribune | Weekend | 03

Thursday, June 3, 2021

Weekend Inside

My Perfect Bahamian Weekend Marlene Minus Administrator

Interview 4 – 5

Following a horrific accident one year ago, artist Kim Smith has fought his way back. He shares his story of the good Samaritans who came to his rescue and his gruelling physical recovery with Tribune readers.

Puzzles 6 Art 7

Dyah Neilson unites the real with the surreal in an ethereal manner.

I

Food 8-9

A new restaurant seeks to bring world-class service and multicultural cuisine to Nassau’s Palmdale area.

Film 10

Has Disney finally hit a home run with its live action remakes with ‘Cruella’?

Q: What will you be binge-watching?

“I love cooking, so I will be binge-watching episodes of ‘Emeril’ and also baking competitions.”

Books 11

New author aims to foster hope with devotional “Fierce Forty”.

Literary Lives 12 – 13

The Dutch girl who went from an iconic movie star to a passionate UNICEF ambassador.

Forgotten Facts 14

History cannot be rewritten on the Blue Hills of New Providence.

Animals 15

Farewell to a faithful friend, plus Pet of the Week.

Gardening 16

Reflecting on what we have here at home.

Cover | ‘Kingfisher’ by Dyah Neilson

THIS WEEKEND IN HISTORY June 4

• In 1717, the Freemasons are officially founded in London, England, with the establishment of the Grand Lodge.

• In 1940, the British complete evacuating 338,226 allied troops from Dunkirk, France, via a flotilla of over 800 military and privately owned vessels.

• In 1989, Chinese troops clear the Tiananmen Square in Beijing of student protesters, unofficial figures place death toll near 1,000. It has become known as the Tiananmen Square Massacre.

Today’s birthdays: Sex therapist and media personality Dr Ruth Westheimer is 93. Actor Bruce Dern is 85. Actor Noah Wyle is 50. Actorcomedian Russell Brand is 46. Actor Angelina Jolie is 46. Olympic gold medal figure skater Evan Lysacek is 36.

June 5

• In 1099, members of the First Crusade – called by Pope Urban II to recapture the Holy Land – witness a lunar eclipse and interpret it as a sign they will win Jerusalem.

• In 1873, under British pressure, Sultan Bargash bin Said closes the infamous slave market of Zanzibar in modern day Tanzania.

• In 1968, US Senator Robert F

11

Q: What’s on the weekend menu?

“Well, definitely various flavours of my Bahamas famous – soon to be world famous – ‘nana ‘ bread’, my banana bread brand. I make it every week and they tell me that it’s delicious and irresistible.”

Q: What plans do you have for the holiday?

“It’s a holiday weekend so

Kennedy is fatally shot by Palestinian Sirhan Sirhan at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles after winning the California presidential primary. He dies the next day.

Today’s birthdays: Actorsinger Bill Hayes is 96. Author Ken Follett is 72. Financial guru Suze Orman is 70. Jazz musician Kenny G is 65.

Singer Brian McKnight is 52. Actor Mark Wahlberg is 50. Rock musician Pete Wentz (Fall Out Boy) is 42.

June 6

• In, 1716, The French transport the first African slaves to Louisiana. after capturing a number as plunder during the War of the Spanish Succession. Ultimately, the French

am definitely hitting the beach with my godchildren.”

Q: If you could be quarantined with any celebrity, who would it be and why?

“Shhhh it’s a secret ...

I don’t want to make anyone jealous.”

Q: If you could have a COVID-free trip, where would you go?

“A COVID-free weekend for me would be spent right here in my Bahamaland on an exclusive island.”

transported more than 2,000 Africans to New Orleans between 1717–1721.

• In 1683, the world’s first university museum is opened in Oxford, England by archaeologist Elias Ashmole, donated his collection to the school, which ordered the construction of a building to display the items permanently. That building was designed by acclaimed English architect Sir Christopher Wren.

• In 1944, D-Day begins as the 156,000 Allied Forces land on the beaches of Normandy, France, during World War II. Today’s birthdays: Actor Robert Englund is 74. Record producer Jimmy Jam is 62. Actor Jason Isaacs is 58. Actor Paul Giamatti is 54. TV correspondent Natalie Morales is 49.

04 | The Tribune | Weekend

Thursday, June 3, 2021

interview

Kim Smith One year ago, this well-known local artist met with a horrific and life-changing accident.

He tells Cara Hunt how he fought his way back and how grateful he is to all his friends and good Samaritans.

IF THE past year has taught us anything it is that life can change in the blink of an eye.

And while the majority of us have spent the past year hoping for a return to our pre-COVID-19 version of normal, local artist Kim Smith spent the past year struggling to survive after a tragic fall on the Montagu Foreshore left him temporally paralysed from the neck down and forced him to rely on the kindness of others to help with his basic needs.

Kim is a member of the local art community and is well known for his fine pencil drawings, his teaching and for founding the Place for Art on Village Road.

The Place for Art, like so many businesses, had taken already taken a financial hit due to the pandemic and had to close its doors in last spring. Shortly after, on June 2, 2020, disaster struck.

“I have always walked along Montagu every morning,” Kim told Tribune Weekend.

“Usually, my route is along Montagu Beach to the Yacht Club and back to my home, but because of COVID protocols, the beach was closed and so instead I would walk up and down the Montagu foreshore. It was my third time walking along the strip that day. I am a fast walker, usually about three miles an hour, and then I fell.”

Kim fell hard on his face, smashing his glasses and damaging his spinal cord.

“I managed to roll myself over a bit and realised that I was spitting out blood and pieces of teeth, and then I realised that I had no feeling below my neck and my only thought as I lay there was, ‘Oh God, I can’t be a quadriplegic’.”

Fortunately, several people also walking along the strip and came to his rescue, calling for an ambulance.

‘I realised that I had no feeling below my neck and my only thought as I lay there was, “Oh God, I can’t be a quadriplegic”.’

EXACTLY one year since his life-changing accident on the Montagu Foreshore, artist Kim Smith has fought through his recovery with the help of friends, medical professionals and several good Samaritans.

When Kim was finally able to meet one of his good Samaritans, Deshawn Moss, this week, she told him how she had walked home with his blood on her clothes, praying that he would not die.

“I was alert the whole time and I remember joking with the paramedics that this was probable the fastest they were able to get down Shirley Street because there was no traffic due to lockdown,” said the artist.

Kim remained in the hospital for the next 14 days, having suffered from a compression fracture of the spine between C3 and C6 vertebrae. He also needed eight stitches to his chin and still may require reconstructive dental surgery.

Initially, it was unclear if he would regain the ability to move, but Kim was determined that he would make a full recovery.

“When I asked the doctor if I would need KIM SMITH being spoon-fed by a private nurse dur- surgery, he said that we would begin with physiing his recovery. otherapy and if I reached a plateau then surgery

The TheTribune Tribune||Weekend Weekend||XX 05

Thursday, June 3, 2021

would be required. I just told him that we would not reach a plateau.”

Instead, Kim has spent this past year dealing with gruelling physiotherapy, doctors’ visits and the mental trauma associated with his fall.

There were also quite a few financial hurdles he had to face as well.

“Two months before I fell, I had to close my doors and was not making any income. In that time, my health insurance was not up to date. I was not sure how I would have paid for my hospital stay, but within hours of me being admitted my friends got together and my bills were taken care of,” he said.

Kim also may not be eligible for disability assistance because there is a probability that he will not be able to return to work, at least not full-time.

Fortunately, the Place for Art has been able to reopen and a good friend of his, Nancy Swaby (whom Kim had just happened to instruct on framing a few months before his accident) has been able to step in and help run the store as Kim heals.

Kim said he will forever be grateful to his village of friends and the prayer warriors who have supported him in so many ways throughout this ordeal.

In addition to the huge medical costs, Kim said he has had to deal with the loss of independence and having to rely on others to help him with basic hygienic needs as well as simple day-to-day activities. People had to cook for him, help feed him and drive him to his medical appointments.

“The hardest part of this has definitely been the loss of my independence,” he said. “It is so frustrating having to ask people for help. It’s been really hard. There has

FROM learning to walk again using a walker, above, to standing on his own two feet, right, a year after the accident. definitely been the depression that has come with it,” he said.

“But I am so grateful that so many people have been so willing to help in whatever way that they can. I am also just so happy that I have recovered. I could very well have been a quadriplegic and needed someone to take care of me for the rest of my life.”

Instead, he has made a tremendous if not complete recovery. He has been able to return to the Place for Art a few days out of the week even if it is just to socialise with his customers.

He said that his artistic and creative spirit has actually helped him in his recovery.

“I remember looking at the doorknob and my fingers didn’t know how to turn the lock. I actually had to visualise turning the lock in my head and repeat the movement with my hand. I still can’t use a stapler or fasten a paper clip. I am not yet able to drive, but it could have actually ended up a lot worse than it did. I am determined to recover.”

Yestermarked KIM SMITH with, from left, friends Gigi Lightbourne, Bura day the first Rodgers and Emma Tinkler.

anniversary of the fall and Kim returned to the spot where is happened just for a moment of reflection on what the past year has meant and just how far he has come since the moment his life was truly changed in the blink of an eye.

Kim says that he has not been the first person to fall in that area. He said former PLP Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell fell and broke his leg and several other persons have shared stories of falls and near misses with him.

When he visited the site yesterday, he said he thinks he knows why the area is a problem.

“The concrete walkway has wooden shims in places running from side to side of the walkway in spaced-out locations. Either the concrete has settled, or the shims have swelled and raised, however, these wooden shims are between 1/4” to 1/2” in height.”

He hopes that something good will come out of telling his story and the area will be fixed to prevent any future accidents.

06 | The Tribune | Weekend

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.

section

Across: 1 Memorable, 7 Heroic,

27 Amateur often concealed money (4) 28 Maybe trumpet session gets help (7,3)

9 Sidecar, 10 Trug, 12 Fin, THe AL Thursday, June 13 Chemist, 14 Ely, 15 Cafe,3, 172021 Diehard, 19 Sienna, 20 Ambitious.

Down: 1 Mistress, 2 Emir, 3 Mud, 4 Recumbent, 5 Arabic, 6 Licit, 8 Concedes, 11 Gemini, 13 Claim, 16 Frau, 18 Ago.

THE ALPHABEAT

TARGET

t A E uG i nDM

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

● 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 28; very good 42; excellent 56 (or more). Solution on Monday

Yesterday’s call 0907 181 2585 Sudoku for Answer today’s target solution *Calls cost 80p per minute plus your telephone company’s network access charge.

BATTLESHIPS CRYPTIC PUZZLE Across 1 Easy to identify this literary character (10) 6 Dish from the west - of Ireland? (4) 10 Cathy rocks the boat (5) 11 Pay a visit after some persuasion? (4,5) 12 Count as an old gasbag (8) 13 A sect represented in a class of their own (5) 15 Talk about being second in Olympic event (7) 17 Frightened by Capone with a gun (7) 19 A snuff-taker (7) 21 Force holds our weapons (7) 22 Flight leader (5) 24 Hills split internally by floods (8) 27 Cranks may be motivated by such an odd character (9) 28 I was tired to some extent being out of bed (5) 29 Unexceptional call for help that comes to nothing (2-2) 30 Nevertheless there’s no variety (3,3,4)

1

2

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4

Down 1 A month getting round an Irish county (4) 2 Presses for reductions? (9) 3 He gets put out, being angry (3,2) 4 Jams sold in jars (7) 5 Region where men burst into song (7) 7 Tie up a bundle of straw (5) 8 Literally the longest days (10) 9 Announce that one is no longer an amateur? (8) 14 Unusual biblical book needed to make up a set?

(3,7) 16 Mounting a revolt (8) 18 Raise the stake on a horse and it may blow its top (5,4) 20 After a number on the side (7) 21 Almost a month before a bed bears fruit (7) 23 Worn cuffs (5) 25 A girl needs two keys to escape (5) 26 Untie a reef knot (4)

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Yesterday’s Easy Solution Across: 1 Copious, 5 Pains, 8 On one side, 9 Sum, 10 Else, 12 Unwieldy, 14 Ritual, 15 Ruined, 17 Cosmetic, 18 Lewd, 21 Tie, 22 Off target, 24 Liken, 25 Lobster.

Down: 1 Chore, 2 Pro, 3 Over, 4 Skinny, 5 Previous, 6 In silence, 7 Samoyed, 11 So to speak, 13 Cape Town, 14 Recital, 16 Fitful, 19 Deter, 20 Daub, 23 Gut.

Yesterday’s Cryptic Solution Across: 1 Legends, 5 Emote, 8 Gruelling, 9 Foe, 10 Ruby, 12 Kangaroo, 14 Roosts, 15 Encore, 17 Peek-a-boo, 18 Type, 21 Tea, 22 Nanny goat, 24 Dread, 25 Anxiety.

Down: 1 Lager, 2 Gnu, 3 Nell, 4 Spiral, 5 Engaging, 6 Offertory, 7 Eyesore, 11 Brokerage, 13 Strained, 14 Reputed, 16 Cornea, 19 Entry, 20 Lynx, 23 Ole.

EASY PUZZLE

Across 1 Out of favour (2,3,5) 6 Journey (4) 10 Dance in triple time (5) 11 Unthinking hostility (9) 12 Extend in length (8) 13 Article of faith (5) 15 Simulate (7) 17 Temporary substitute (7) 19 Relevance (7) 21 Control the mind of (7) 22 Capital of Tibet (5) 24 Striking (8) 27 Required as necessary (6,3) 28 Penniless (5) 29 Part of outer ear (4) 30 Present a united front (5,5)

Down 1 US Middle West state (4) 2 Russian guitarstyle instrument (9) 3 Group of twelve (5) 4 To corrupt (7) 5 Serving no purpose (7) 7 Rule as monarch (5) 8 Regrettable state of affairs (6,4) 9 Glossy (8) 14 Devilish (10) 16 Lively (8) 18 Inexperienced person (9) 20 Profitable (7) 21 Ancient writing material (7) 23 Freely (2,3) 25 Restrained (5) 26 Untidy state (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 on Monday 1

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black squar 29, 31, 36, 37 Across: Blac Dozer, Aerop Squawk, Fox, Down: Disma cAnTArgeT you crack the Alphabeater? EachKohlrabi, grid Pro Ajar, Eddy, Cr number represents a letter – or black square.

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● Alternatively, for six Extra Letter clues text DXBEAT to 84901. Texts cost £1 plus you

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The Tribune | Weekend | 07

Thursday, June 3, 2021

art

Where real meets surreal

By DIANE PHILLIPS SOME artists live to paint. Dyah Neilson lives amidst her paintings. To get to a drawer for a T-shirt, she has to shuffle past art supplies before she juggles canvases leaning up against the dresser.

To climb into bed, she crawls over works in progress.

Dyah’s bedroom-turned-studio is her safe haven, but the industrious artist, who also holds a nearly full-time day job at the Oasis furniture and décor store, is bursting out with more work than she has space to contain and more desire to paint than she has hours in the day.

“I usually start in the late afternoon and work well into the evening, sometimes until one or two in the morning,” said the 25-year-old.

She exudes the same almost ethereal quality that fills the canvases of her work, a juxtaposition between the real and the surreal.

In one large piece, a young man with long dreadlocks and eyes closed seems only mildly aware that he is holding a giant grouper while another is atop his head. The theme of animals imposing themselves, competing for attention, even dominating humans, is a main feature of many of her portraits.

“My work is creative portraits that combine animals and people, compositions where the person is the focus but the animal is used to symbolise different things throughout history, or culturally and spiritually. In a commissioned piece called ‘Kingfisher’, the prominent-beaked birds by the same name adorn a dark-skinned woman. We know little about her from the painting despite the intense

detail showing thick, coiffed hair, a cowrie shell strand around her neck, strong breastbone structure.

We sense an inner strength, but what we do know is about the birds that have chosen to land on her shoulders and over her head. The Artist Dyah artist chose kingfishNeilson and, ers because they are below left, symbolic of prosperher creation ity, abundance, wealth Seahorse Queen. and peace,” she said.

Although portraiture is her favourite, the young Bahamian artist, who holds a Bachelors’ degree in Fine Arts from York University in Canada, is equally comfortable with wildlife and historic sea life.

What seems different from the rest of her work, as if she had lived in another era, is the body of work she calls seascapes. In those, she depicts two-masted ketches, wooden hulls, rounded bow and stern like a double-ender, full sails but struggling, always a hint of trouble ahead.

Dyah started painting as a child.

“I never thought about it. There was never a moment that it was not part of my life,” she said. “I have proof from when I was in kindergarten.”

That’s when she wrote the following on a bear the teacher gave her to colour: “I want to grow up to be an artist and be happy.”

Her parents saw her interest and encouraged her; her father creating a gallery wall to hang

her pictures on. Her mother also showed artistic promise – something she is just getting back to now after a decades-long break – and both her father and her sister have a passion for photography.

Dyah studied with Sonya Isaacs and Kim Smith when she was young and did an internship at the National Art Gallery of the Bahamas before leaving for college. She had a successful one-woman show at Doongalik Studios and her work is in private collections ranging from California to Canada.

Originally, however, she intended to study interior design.

“I love design and I worked at Restoration Hardware in Canada for a while,” she said.

Now, she is the store manager at Oasis, which offers contemporary indoor furniture at Sandyport and an outdoor style location on East Shirley Street.

“It’s the best of both worlds,” said Dyah. “I am around beautiful things all day, the owner, Brooke Pyfrom, encourages me to display my work and supports it, refusing to take any commission, and I am able to keep working more every evening at home.”

According to Brooke, blending a furniture, décor and gift store with art is natural.

“When what the eye sees brings a smile to your face, that’s what matters. It may come in the form of a beautiful, handcrafted table, the fragrance of a candle or a canvas that Dyah created. It’s all about hitting that certain happy place in your heart,” she said.

The only problem for the artist herself is squeezing so much inspiration into a day that has only 24 hours and so many supplies into a narrow room built for sleeping.

10 | The Tribune | Weekend

Thursday, June 3, 2021

film review

Has Disney hit a home run with Cruella?

By CARA HUNT Tribune Features Writer cbrennen@tribunemedia.net

I can think of at least 101 reasons why I loved “Cruella”, Disney’s latest live action movie that provides a new back story for one of Disney’s most infamous villains.

Emma Stone shines in her portrayal

A TALE of two Emmas, as Emma Stone as Cruella and Emma Thompson, inset as the Baroness Von Hellman, do battle. of Estella, later known a Cruella de Vil, the fur-loving villain of “101 Dalmatians”. She is both endearing and horrifying at the same time.

The movie begins with a young Estella Miller who is born with the

famous half black, half platinum blonde hair colour. She has a passion for fashion, but is also mischievous, headstrong and has a slight cruel streak, leading her mom (Emily Beecham) to nickname her Cruella.

A tragedy early on helps us understand just why Cruella has an obsession with Dalmatians. It also leads her to a life of petty crime on the streets of London, alongside her accomplices and new-found family Jasper (Joel Fry) and Horace (Paul Walter Hauser).

When, in a state of drunkenness, she restyles a window display at the prestigious department store where she temporarily works, she lands her dream fashion job with the Baroness Von Hellman, a renowned fashion designer. Emma Thompson plays this role to perfection.

When Estella/Cruella realises the childhood connection she has with the Baroness, she seeks her revenge in true Disney villain fashion.

What follows is pure eye candy set to one of the best movie soundtracks ever. Just think Nina Simone, Joe Dolan, The Bee Gees, Black Sabbath, David Bowie, Judy Garland, Queen and The Clash…and no, that’s not even all the cool artists featured in this movie.

Who knew Disney could rock out like that without the usual obligatory princess theme song? Trust me, I can’t wait to download this soundtrack.

And what better to go with the tunes than some far out 70’s inspired fashion. Cruella, after all, is best known for her iconic black and white hair and

that spotted Dalmatian coat (which yes, does make an appearance).

The fashion in this movie is incredible. My personal favourites are Cruella’s white coat, which goes up in flames to reveal a stunning red number underneath, and her bombastic garbage truck dress.

The soundtrack and fashion alone make this movie worth the $15.99 Disney + streaming free.

While I have to admit I thought it was a bit slow in the beginning, once the movie got into its groove, it’s became a great watch for the entire family. It’s smart, funny, heartwarming and clever and still manages to hit on some of those traditional Disney themes, such as following your dreams and finding family.

Humanising one of the most iconic and most evil Disney villains ever was a risk, but this film makes it work (and no, there is no animal cruelty in this version). While you want to hate Cruella, knowing about her actions in original cartoon movie, at the same time you also secretly want to love and root for her in this prequel.

So, grab the kids and some popcorn and enjoy one of the best Disney’s movies live action films made in a while. I can only hope the end credit scene is in fact a hint that there will be a “101 Dalmatians: movie with the same cast in the future. I also hope this paves the way for more unique and original villain back stories.

My picks for the next two are Ursula from “The Little Mermaid” and Lady Tremaine from “Cinderella”.

The Tribune | Weekend | 11

Thursday, June 3, 2021

books

New author aims to foster hope with devotional ‘Fierce Forty’

Author Sandena Neely, whose new book Fierce Forty is a step-by-step devotional.

By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Reporter acadet@tribunemedia.net AS A lawyer, life coach, pastor’s wife, and as someone who has lost a beloved sister to a violent crime, Sandena Neely has a lot of life experience.

She has seen, if not all, then at least a lot of this world. And the lessons she learned along the way are what she wants to now share with others in her new book.

“Fierce Forty”, she explained, is a day-by-day, step-by-step devotional that walks its readers through Bible scriptures that help to combat worry and fear – the two giants that rule people’s everyday life.

The new author said she hopes her book gives readers the key to how curate and cultivate a life built on hope and assurance. There is a scripture for every day, along with a devotional, journal prompts, prayer points and a space to journal and to write your prayers and declarations.

The wife of Pastor Jevon Neely and a mother-oftwo, Sandena said she is passionate about growth

and positively impacting lives.

She said her inspiration for writing a book came from the enormous burden she felt to share her gift of being fierce about prayer. Sandena believes prayer is one of the strongest tools you can have in your arsenal.

“This is my very first book and I did not imagine that I would ever write a devotional book or anything religious, however, this is as a result of total obedience to God’s instructions,” she said.

“The motivation for writing the book came from the inaugural ‘Fierce Forty, 40-Day Prayer Journey’ that I led earlier this year from January 9 to February 17, where we prayed and journeyed through 40 plus scriptures. The name of the book is inspired by my private journey over the past six years where I committed to being obedient to the voice of God in my life, no questions asked, no wavering, and I was determined to be fierce and passionate about it and it has been a remarkable, transformative and lifechanging journey.”

When asked if there is a specific message in the book that she wanted readers to understand and absorb, Sandena said she wants readers to know worry and fear will always be present in life, but the good news is that God has blessed His people with hope and assurance.

The book draws from Sandena’s personal experiences and there are several instances where she takes readers through pivotal moments in her past

where she found herself with her back was against the wall and she had to lean heavily prayer to get her through.

She shares one particularly life-changing moment on Day 22 in the book, where she writes about her sister Latoya’s violent murder in 2014, and how the passage 2 Corinthians 12:9, which talks about the grace of God being sufficient, was made very real to her.

The new book has already received a lot of positive feedback from those who have gotten an advance copy of “Fierce Forty”.

Kandice Eldon, the executive director of Corporate Relations at the University of the Bahamas said, for instance said: “Through Sandena’s practical daily lessons, faith can arise along with a renewed sense of hope and a stronger prayer life.”

A virtual book launch was held yesterday via Sandena’s Facebook page (Sandena Neely). There will also be an in-person launch this Saturday, June 5, at The Chapter One Book Store at the University of the Bahamas.

Sandena said the sessions will be very intimate with all the COVID-19 protocols in place. People can choose to attend the 1pm, 3pm, 5pm or 7pm sessions by registering via Eventbrite (Fierce Forty) or by sending an email to sandenaneely@ gmail.com.

Later this month, Sandena hopes to alsi host a ‘Brunch with the Author’ and a virtual book review.

“Fierce Forty” is now available for purchase on Amazon and will be available in The Chapter One Book Store, Logos Bookstore in Harbour Bay and at the Bible Book and Gift Centre in Palmdale starting this Saturday.

12 | The Tribune | Weekend

Thursday, June 3, 2021

literary lives - Audrey Hepburn 1929-1993

From a Cockney flower girl to a UNICEF ambassador Part II Sir Christopher Ondaatje continues the life story of the British actress and humanitarian recognised as a film and fashion icon, and one of the greatest screen legends in Golden Age Hollywood.

“I never thought I’d land in pictures with a face like mine.”

- Audrey Hepburn ALTHOUGH she appeared in no film releases in 1955, Audrey Hepburn received the Golden Globe for World Film Favourite that year. She had become one of Hollywood’s most popular box-office attractions and starred in a number of successful films in the rest of the 1950s. She played Natasha Rostova in the BAFTA and Golden Globe nominated War and Peace (1956) – the Tolstoy novel which starred Henry Fonda and her husband Mel Ferrer. She also performed opposite Fred Astaire in Funny Face (1957) where she got a chance to exhibit her dancing prowess. She starred opposite other older actors Gary Cooper and Maurice Chevalier in Love in the Afternoon (1959). After Roman Holiday (1954) and Sabrina (1955) she was in danger of being typecast with ageing suitors.

“Why change? Everyone has his own style.

When you have found it, you should stick to it.”

- Audrey Hepburn Audrey Hepburn played Sister Luke in The Nun’s Story (1959) with co-star Peter Finch. It was a difficult role, and she spent much time in convents to perfect her portrayal, for which she received her third Academy Award nomination.

“Her performance will forever silence those who have thought her less an actress than a symbol of the sophisticated child/woman. Her portrayal of Sister Luke is one of the greatest performances of the screen.”

- Films in Review, 1959 After The Nun’s Story she received less of a reception for her roles in Green Mansions (1959) when she played a single girl who falls in love with a Venezuelan traveller, and for The Unforgiven (1960) opposite Burt Lancaster – her only Western film.

In 1961, Hepburn starred as New Yorker Holly Golightly in Blake Edward’s Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961) based on the Truman Capote novel. The character, for which the author wanted Marilyn Monroe, is considered one of the best-known in American cinema, and a defining role for Audrey Hepburn. The little black dress she wears during the opening credits is one of the most famous icons of the twentieth century, and Hepburn deservedly received another nomination for an Academy Award for Best Actress.

“I’m an introvert. Playing the extroverted girl was the hardest thing I ever did.”

- Audrey Hepburn AUDREY In 1961 Hepburn and HEPBURN, in Shirley MacLaine starred her iconic role in William Wyler’s The in Breakfast at Children’s Hour playing Tiffany’s troubled teachers when two pupils accuse them of being lesbians. It was an emotional film with muted themes and required sensitive acting by both Hepburn and MacLaine.

Again, in 1963, Hepburn was paired in the romantic comedy thriller Charade opposite the 59-year-old Cary Grant who had previously withdrawn from starring male leads in Roman Holiday and Sabrina because he was uncomfortable about his age difference with the 34-year-old Hepburn.

The filmmakers agreed to alter the screenplay so that it appeared that Hepburn’s character was pursuing Grant rather than the other way around.

Charade, an ingeniously entertaining film features Hepburn in an array of expensive Givenchy costumes, and is recognised as being the best Alfred Hitchcock film that Hitchcock never made.

Hepburn’s role earned her third and final BAFTA Award, and another Golden Globe nomination.

Paris When It Sizzles (1964) reunited Hepburn with her Sabrina co-star William Holden. Neither the comedy nor the pairing that had worked so well in 1954 worked this time. Holden’s alcoholism and his attempt to rekindle his romance with the now-married Hepburn contributed to the failure of this light-weight comedy - uniformly panned by the critics when it opened in New York.

“People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anyone.

- Audrey Hepburn George Cukor’s film adaptation of the stage musical My Fair Lady premiered in October 1964 generating huge excitement, not seen since Gone With the Wind in 1939. Julie Andrews, who had

The TheTribune Tribune||Weekend Weekend||XX 13

Thursday, June 3, 2021 been a hit on stage, was not offered the part.

Jack L Warner (Warner Bros) instead offered the part to Audrey Hepburn because he thought that Hepburn was more bankable. Hepburn also thought the part should be given to Andrews but was eventually cast in the role. Rex Harrison sensibly got the part of Professor Higgins. Despite Hepburn’s lengthy vocal preparation for the role of the Cockney flower girl Eliza Doolittle, the producers decided to dub Hepburn’s singing voice by using Marvi Nixon. It was a great disappointment to Hepburn who had sung successfully in Funny Face. Nevertheless, critics applauded Hepburn’s performance. Time magazine reported that Hepburn’s acting was “the best of her career”, while Soundstage commented that: “Audrey Hepburn is magnificent. She is Eliza for the ages. Everyone agreed that if Julie Andrews was not to be in the film, Audrey Hepburn was the perfect choice.”

- Soundstage, 1964 Jule Andrews won the Academy Award for Mary Poppins at the 37th Academy Awards.

Hepburn was not nominated. However, she did win nominations for both Golden Globe and New York Film Critics Circle awards.

As the 1960s continued, Hepburn appeared in How to Steal a Million (1966) opposite Peter O’Toole, and followed it with Two for the Road (1967) with Albert Finney, and Wait Until Dark (1967) where she played the part of a terrorised blind girl. It was a difficult film for Hepburn on the brink of a divorce from her husband Mel Ferrer who was the film’s producer. She won her fifth and final Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.

“As you grow older you will discover that you have two hands. One for helping yourself, the other for helping others.

- Audrey Hepburn After 1967, Hepburn chose to spend more time with her family. Her fourteen-year marriage to the actor Mel Ferrer was coming to an end. They had a son Sean Hepburn Ferrer who was eight years old. Ferrer and Hepburn were divorced in 1968.

She met her second husband, psychiatrist Andrea Dotti, on a Mediterranean cruise with friends in June 1968. She wanted to have more children and stop working. She married Dotti on January 18, 1969 and their son Luca Andrea Dotti was born on February 8, 1970. The Dotti-Hepburn marriage would last 13 years but was dissolved in 1982.

“Good things aren’t supposed to just fall into your lap. God is very generous, but he expects you to do your part first.”

- Audrey Hepburn Hepburn made an attempt to come back to films when she was paired with Sean Connery in Robin and Marian (1976), with Connery starring as Robin Hood – a sensitive period piece.

“Connery and Hepburn seemed to have arrived at a tacit understanding between themselves about their characters. They glow. They really do seem in love. And they project as marvellously complex, fond, tender people; the passage of twenty years has given them grace and wisdom.”

and clean water programmes. In September 1992, four months before she died, Hepburn went to Somalia.

“I walked into a nightmare. I have seen famine in Ethiopia and Bangladesh, but nothing like this – so much worse than I could have imagined.”

- Audrey Hepburn

AUDREY HEPBURN, working in her later years as a UN Ambassador.

- Roger Ebert, film critic and author She was reunited with director Terence Young in Bloodline (1979) with Ben Gazzara, James Mason and Romy Schneider – a critical and boxoffice failure. One of her last starring roles was also opposite Ben Gazzara in the Peter Bogdanovich comedy They All Laughed (1981) – a film overshadowed by the murder of one if its stars Dorothy Stratten. Six years later she co-starred with Robert Wagner in a television film Love Among Thieves (1987). When she had finished her last motion picture role she only appeared once more in the critically acclaimed Gardens of the World with Audrey Hepburn – filmed on location in seven countries in 1990 and aired the day after her death on January 21, 1993. A spoken word album Audrey Hepburn’s Enchanted Tales was recorded in 1992 and earned her a posthumous Grammy Award.

In 1989, Audrey Hepburn was appointed a Goodwill Ambassador of UNICEF following trips to Mek’ele in Ethiopia and Turkey in 1988.

“I feel desperate. I can’t stand the idea that two million people are in imminent danger of starving to death, many of them children ... food sitting in the northern port of Shoa. It can’t be distributed ...

I went into rebel country and saw mothers and their children who had walked for ten days, even three weeks, looking for food, settling onto the desert floor into makeshift camps where they may die.”

- Audrey Hepburn, 1988 She told the US Congress of her experiences in Venezuela and Ecuador, and saw these mountain communities, slums; shantytowns receive water for the first time – because of the miracle of UNICEF. She toured Central America in February 1989, and met with leaders in Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala. She visited Sudan and reported that, because of civil war, food from agencies had been cut off. In October 1989 she went to Bangladesh. A UN photographer reported that Hepburn would hug diseased children covered in flies. They reached out to touch her. She was a Pied Piper.

In October 1990, Hepburn travelled to Vietnam for UNICEF to collaborate with the government for national UNICEF-supported immunisation

She was a tireless ambassador for UNICEF. In 1992, President George HW Bush presented Hepburn with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in recognition of her work with UNICEF, and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences posthumously awarded her the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award for her contribution to humanity.

From 1984 until her death in 1993, Hepburn was in a relationship with the Dutch actor Robert Wolders, the widower of actress Merle Oberon.

She called the nine years she spent with him the happiest of her life.

When she returned to Somalia in 1992, Hepburn began suffering from abdominal pain. A laparoscopy performed at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre in Los Angeles in November revealed a rare form of abdominal cancer known as pseudomyxoma peritonei. The cancer, over several years, had metastasised over her small intestine.

After surgery, she began chemotherapy. Hepburn and her family returned home to Switzerland for her last Christmas. Fashion designer and longtime friend Hubert de Givenchy arranged for the Mellon private Gulfstream jet to take Hepburn from Los Angeles to Geneva. She spent her last days at her home in Tolochenaz, Vaud.

On the evening of January 20, 1993, Hepburn died in her sleep. Her funeral was held in the Tolochenaz village church on February 24, 1993.

Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan of UNICEF delivered the eulogy at the funeral which was attended by her partner Robert Wolders, half brother Ian Quarles van Ufford, ex-husbands Mel Ferrer and Andrea Dotti, Hubert de Givenchy, executives of UNICEF, and actors Alain Delon and Roger Moore. Flower arrangements were sent

by Gregory Peck, Elizabeth Taylor and the Dutch Royal family. She was interred at the Tolochenaz Cemetery the same day.

In 2002, at a United Nations Special Session UNICEF honoured Audrey Hepburn’s legacy of humanitarian work by unveiling a statue, The Spirit of Audrey”, at UNICEF’s New York headquarters.

Sean Ferrer, her son, founded the Audrey Hepburn Children’s Fund in memory of his mother shortly after her death. The US Fund for UNICEF also founded the Audrey Hepburn Society, chaired by Luca Andrea Dotti, her other son, which celebrates UNICEF’s biggest donors, and which has raised over $100 million so far. Dotti also became Patron of the Pseudomyxoma Survivor Charity dedicated to providing support to patients of the rare cancer from which Hepburn suffered.

• Sir Christopher Ondaatje is the author of The Last Colonial. He acknowledges that he had quoted liberally from Wikipedia; Audrey Hepburn (1994)

by Warren G. Harris; Audrey Hepburn, an Elegant Spirit (2005) by Sean Ferrer; Audrey Hepburn: A Biography (2009) by Martin Gitlin; and Dutch Girl: Audrey Hepburn and World War II (2019) by Robert Matzen.

14 | The Tribune | Weekend

Thursday, June 3, 2021

history

Trying to change history

PAUL C ARANHA

FORGOTTEN FACTS

ALICIA Wallace’s column in the May 19 edition of The Tribune, entitled “If we’re going to have national debates – at least do your homework”, hit the nail on the head. Our children deserve better.

Probably in the 16th or 17th century, people would stand on the highest points in the town of Nassau and see an unexplored range of hills in the distance and, as has happened in other places where people experienced the same optical illusion (Kenya is a good example), the hills received the name ‘Blue Hills’.

Eventually, someone decided to walk through the bush and explore these Blue Hills. Most likely, to the best of his ability, he walked in as straight a line as he could, while he and his companions cleared a narrow bush road that got the name Blue Hill Road.

In the beginning, the road was narrow, not more than a footpath, but as more and more people walked to the hills, the road widened and, most likely, horse owners started to ride to the Blue Hill, making the path even wider. I suspect it was a long time before the first vehicle travelled the Blue Hill Road, because in 1742 there

THIS small portion of a map, published in the 1927 atlas “Maps of the Bahamas - Published by Authority”, clearly shows the Blue Hill Road, extending from Cumberland Street to Carmichael Road. (The atlas is in the collection of the Royal Geographic Society) were no wheeled vehicles on New Providence.

Along the northern slopes of the Blue Hills, a road was cut by Loyalist Alexander Harrold, so he could get to his Blue Hills plantation. As late as the 1960s, this road was still nothing more than a tract, marked by the wheels of whatever vehicles had passed that way and not wide enough to turn a vehicle around, as I found one day when I was showing a friend around. There was a bush fire on both sides of the track, and we had to drive through it. The flames were uncomfortably close.

In 1888, Alexander Harrold (owner of 200 acres) and Isaac Baillou (owner fo 580 acres), both Loyalists, received neighbouring grants in Blue Hill. Decades before

that, the name Blue Hill Road was firmly established in Bahamian history and I found an advertisement in the Archives which seems to support the argument that Isaac Baillou knew that he lived on the Blue Hill Road – and that there was never a road named after him: ROYAL GAZETTE September 17, 1894 “TO BE RENTED – Mount Hope Plantation - Situated at the Blue Hills, about three miles south of the town of Nassau. For particulars, apply to ISAAC BAILLOU.” Several well-informed historians, including, but not limited to, Paul Albury, Sir Etienne Dupuch and Seighbert Russel, have tried in vain

to un-brainwash the public. I, too, have written about it, more than once, which made me particularly surprised when, very recently, I had a very long WhatsApp conversation on this subject. I was unable to convince my keen history researching friend that the Blue Hills and Blue Hill Road are the only correct names for these hills, and for the road that leads from Government House to Carmichael Road. That is history!

Sadly, my friend ended the conversation with, “Then you must change the historical records.”

Yes, records can be changed, but history remains the same.

• For questions and comments, please send an e-mail to islandairman@gmail.com

The Tribune | Weekend | 15

Thursday, June 3, 2021

animals

Farewell to the best boy

By KIM ARANHA Animal Matters CHIEF, Chiefie, a giant amongst dogs, is gone. His earthly body is gone, and his big goofy smile is now a cherished memory.

My boy passed away on Thursday, May 27. That dreadful, unforgiving cancer got the better of him.

He had an international following and his amazing personality enabled me to write frequently about him to such an extent that perfect strangers would come up to me and ask about him.

How do you begin to say good-bye to your best buddy, your confidante and your furry friend?

Words will never do him or the remarkable connection we had justice!

Fifteen years ago we were blessed to adopt a sweet, small, golden potcake puppy who had been rescued off Blake Road. Little did I know then how long we would be together, nor the adventures and life events we would experience together. He grew, and grew, until he weighed in at 80 pounds plus of splendid, muscular, glowing Potcake with the softest fur ever.

This was my boy Chief.

Last Thursday, he lost his battle with cancer. He fought valiantly and bravely. Over the years Chief had battled several medical issues and won, but at 15 he was tired and the cancer was too aggressive. It all happened quickly and our hearts are broken.

He was always there, right there for me.

When I travelled, I am told that he took up vigil in the garden where he could watch the gate for my car (even though the car was in the garage) to return, even if I were gone five weeks, he would spend several hours every day watching. He knew that I would come back (I had told him that) and he waited patiently.

When I returned I was greeted with circular wags and kisses, partnered with high-pitched woofs to punctuate his delight.

People who came to my house when I was away always told me that our other four dogs continued life

CHIEF has lost his battle with cancer at the age of 15. as if nothing had changed, but not Chiefie, he wanted his Mum home.

We were pals, he was spoiled, and I enjoyed spoiling him unashamedly.

About five years ago he kicked me out of my TV chair and I had to sit beside him. He bristled with pride and would reward me with a lick and a tail wag. It was his happy place and he was very satisfied that he had usurped my age-old spot! I didn’t mind one little bit and sat beside him, stroking him quite contentedly.

I have often wondered what I would say about Chief when the time came. I have written about so many dearly loved dogs, cats and horses, but this is the most difficult. Working through the tears is hard enough, but the desire to just sit and think and look at photos is almost crippling.

In the last couple of years Chief became “pen pals” with Archie in Australia, who loved playing in the mud, Archie passed away suddenly a few months ago and I was shattered

pet of the week

for his human. Now she is comforting me, remembering the Chief stories and putting a tribute on the Senior Dog page. Dogs bring the world together.

Chief was just a regular potcake, but we gave him the chance to express himself and with that freedom came personality. He knew he was important, he knew that he was loved and he had tremendous self-confidence.

When he was in the States a few years ago for his radiation treatment, he was a different dog, nice and allowed strangers to stroke him. The moment he was back in Nassau, the guard dog returned and no stranger could touch him. He had two persona, and both were fiercely protective of me. He was a happy dog.

Content to sit on his favourite sofa near my desk and watch me write. I would hear him sigh contentedly. He slept on my bed, frequently almost pushing me off the bed. His last days I slept on the sofa-bed in my den so he could still sleep on my bed.

Our Bernese mountain dog, Star, brought Chief up, and did such a great job. She, too, died of cancer when he was one years old. She took him over as her pup. He learned well from her, above all how to “speak”.

He was such a good boy: feisty, fussy, demanding, funny and smart.

Everything you could hope from a dog you got as a puppy and had no idea what he would grow into.

This morning I could have sworn I heard him calling me. I heard him barking in the distance…I have a feeling that he was telling me to cheer up and treasure the memories and enjoy the beautiful sunsets that he is sending me.

We were blessed to have him for 15 years and I cherish all the memories.

By THE BAHAMAS HUMANE SOCIETY

book. To find out more information on Odette or the other adoption animals, please call 3235138, or drop by to visit. Odette looks forward to making your acquaintance!

TWO-YEAR-OLD Odette may look like a kitten, but this laid-back lady is well past her kitten antics.

She’s very mellow but enjoys meeting new people.

Odette is fine hanging out with the other adoption cats at the Bahamas Humane Society, but she’d really like a home of her own for this summer.

•The BHS Thrift Shop is open.

Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 11am to 3pm and Saturday from 10am to 2pm. We sell gently used items to raise funds for the shelter. If you’d like to donate, we’d be grateful to accept your donation. If the shop is closed, please leave them in the main shelter. Thank you!

Ode to Odette

PHOTO/Linda Gill-Aranha She promises to keep you company while you watch your favourite shows or read a treasured

16 | The Tribune | Weekend

Thursday, June 3, 2021

gardening

Gardening reflections I’ve had the opportunity to spend the last few weeks in Florida (following all the best recommended protocols and all that), scouring nurseries from the deep south all the way to Georgia, east coast and west, and poking my head into people’s gardens.

I have a passion for plants, and no matter where I go, I take notes about local practices, planting schemes, material used etcetera.

I gathered a few ideas as I always do, and I also realised (once again) that we are very fortunate here in yhe Bahamas, as we have so many options with what we can do in our gardens.

Our choices are massive compared to many places. With our tropical to sub-tropical weather we are essentially limited by three things: our own imaginations, material availability, and for most of us, budget.

Growing plants takes time, labour, and material inputs. Growing high quality plant material takes more time, more labour, and more material inputs. The same goes for a beautiful garden. I helped a few friends with some garden design, and I picked up a few collector’s items. Here’s the kicker: price.

We as Bahamians are generally adept at believing that everything available locally is overpriced, and I am here to tell you, this is a fallacy. In our own nursery, the pricing is very competitive, not only compared to the local market, but also when compared to the Florida retail market. I paid more for some plants over there than I sell to our customers for here in many instances!

The best example is some collector’s material that I have been growing for a few years (extremely slow, extremely rare).

I have a hard time asking $100 or $150 for a plant, yet, there were a couple of nurseries that I visited that specialise in the rare materials and they were asking six or seven times that amount. I paid $20 for a hanging basket of a typical fern that I price at $15 locally.

This can go on and on.

My point is this: we have a huge selection of material available to us in New Providence especially, and while a little less so through the islands, there are nurseries that I have visited that had some decent selection. We are spoiled, and we don’t even know it. This is due to the highly competitive market conditions and the very

limited size of our market. I wish to encourage everyone to shop locally. Often with plants this is the only option, but there are also those out there that do not contribute to the local economy, they go straight to Florida for their material. While there are viable reasons for this, and I won’t go into it now, but supporting local gardeners, plant sales and nurseries only helps the local economy, and that is important to me as it ought to be for all of us, in my opinion, there are knock-on effects that benefit us all.

Gardeners pour their hearts and souls, and often large portions of their wallets, into their gardens. It is a labour of love for many of us, and the rewards continue to show off year after year. Conversely, many of us put everything into our indoor living spaces, our office, home, whatever it is, and so many of us neglect the outdoor spaces.

While programmes like the best garden initiatives et al are helpful to encourage folks to upgrade and make beautiful outdoor spaces, so many of us tear down the native trees and shrubs all the way to scraping the land to white rock,

only to have to replant, or in too many instances, not replant, and pour concrete or tarmac. We are not doing a service to the natural world when this happens, and I would love to see a mandate that requires a certain number of tree or shrub material replaced onto land that has been decimated by machines. Even small spaces and rented apartments can be made beautiful by simple additions of plant material in pots that can be moved if needed, or a few plants in the ground. I want to encourage all of you out there who have a passion for growing a garden, whether for aesthetics or for sustenance, to spread the word, share cuttings and seeds, and shop locally! The gift of gardening can be addictive. If there is such a thing as a healthy addiction, then gardening would certainly top the list. Go on, get out there and get in the garden, or go out and get some pots and plants and create a container garden, and involve the kids!

The peace that a garden can bring is something that this world needs, we all seek a place of solace, and what better place to start than in one’s own home. As always, I wish you happy gardening, and please, spread the joy!

• 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.