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Friday, December 24, 2021

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Weekend

Happy holidays! Forgotten Christmas traditions and new yuletide ideas

pgs 08 - 11

02 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, December 24, 2021

photography

Capturing Cat Island New coffee book features stunning scenery and weathered infrastructure

By CARA HUNT | Tribune Features Writer | cbrennen@tribunemedia.net Photos by Alessandro Sarno

enowed Italian photographer Alessandro Sarno has once again captured the unique beauty of the Bahamas, this time turning his lens on Cat Island. His newest book, “Cat Island Diamond and Rust”, is the third installment in his series of coffee table books, each capturing the scenery and the essence of the people of a single Bahamian island. Eleuthera and Exuma were the first two islands featured. “I actually did a photography book featuring Cat Island before,” Alessandro told Tribune Weekend. “It was many years ago, soon after I had I first came to the Bahamas, but the quality of that book does not compare to the first two in this series and I wanted to rectify that so the quality of the books is consistent.” “I love that people are seeing it as a series and that they are eager to buy all the books now.” Alessandro said that Cat Island is a dazzling juxtaposition of stunning natural scenery and weathered infrastructure. “You see this beautiful island with so many nooks and crannies to explore, but then you may see an abandoned car or a dilapidated building, hence my title of ‘Diamond and Rust’.” Like every island he has visited, Alessandro says Cat Island has a unique personality. “If you compare it to the other islands in the series, there are very big differences. Exuma, for example, is a lot of water dotted with beautiful cays scattered here and there and so much of your experience there is water based. Eleuthera has a very international feel, because there are more restaurants and people; you see a lot more people and traffic…you know for an island…than Cat Island, which is a bit quieter and more unspoiled. You can go miles and miles and not see anyone,” he said. And just as each island is unique, Alessandro wants each of his books to have its own personality as well. He has devoted special sections to some of his personal favourite areas on the island, including the Hermitage, Orange Creek, Concepcion Island National Park – “an exceptional land and sea sanctuary of unspoiled beauty, rarely seen”. He has also focused on the island’s farmers and school children. And for the first time in the series, he has included photographer’s notes so that the reader can have some insight into what he was thinking when he snapped the images.

And to complete the more immersive experience he wants to provide for his readers, he has also included QR codes throughout the book as well. “This way, they can be transported to the image, hear the winds and the waves, see videos, listen to the rape n’ scrape of Cat Island,” he said. Alessandro has also enlisted the help of several local residents who have contributed poetry to the book, including Garth King and Anishka King. During his time visiting the island, he became friends with many of the residents. Sadly, several of them have since passed away and the book is dedicated to those individuals as a tribute to the legacy they left behind on Cat Island. The book includes a foreword, which was written by the island’s representative, Philip ‘Brave’ Davis, shortly before he was elected prime minister. “It is quite an honour to have this written by him,” said Alessandro.

He said he was absolutely delighted when Mr Davis gave a copy of the book to Barbados’ Prime Minister Mia Motley during his recent visit to the country. “For me, it was a wonderful recognition of my work and that the Prime Minister would deem it an appropriate gift to give to another leader,” he said. The next island he plans to feature will be New Providence. He also wanted to thank his publisher, Beat Schlagenhauf, for always believing in him and this project, as well as Patrice Francis of New Providence. The book is currently available online at Lonelyphotographer.com and at several local bookstores, including Logos Bookstore, My Wish List, The Curated Closet, the Island Store in Lyford Cay, Maison Décor in Lyford Cay, Bon Vivant in Sandyport, The Green House in the Old Fort Shopping Centre, and at The Current at Baha Mar.

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Friday, December 24, 2021

Born on Christmas Day Christmas is a time for celebration for millions around the world. But for some people, the day has another special meaning: it’s their birthday. Here are some famous people throughout history who were born on Christmas Day: • Isaac Newton, who was born in 1642, is considered one of the most influential mathematicians and scientists of all time. He is most famous for his formulation of the three laws of motion – the basic principles of modern physics. He died in 1727 at the age of 85. • Clara Barton, born in 1821, was a pioneering American nurse who founded the American Red Cross. She was a hospital nurse in the American

My perfect Bahamian Christmas Miss Bahamas Universe Chantel O’Brian

: What’s your favourite Christmas movie? “ ‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’. I would actually watch that in the middle of the year.”

: Real or artificial tree? “I’ve never owned a tree, so I am not partial to either one. Maybe next Christmas I’ll have one.”

ISAAC Newton

HUMPHREY Bogart

Civil War, a teacher, and patent clerk. She died in 1912, aged 90.

her one of the richest women in the world. She died in 1965 at the age of 92. Her brand still exists today as part of the L’Oréal company.

• Humphrey Bogart, born 1899, was a legendary actor who is remembered for his performances in iconic films like “The Maltese Falcon” (1941), “Casablanca” (1942), and “The Big Sleep” (1946).

• Louis Chevrolet, born in 1878, was a Swiss-American racing car driver who cofounded the Chevrolet Motor Car Company in 1911. He died in 1941, aged 62. • Helena Rubinstein, born 1870, was a Polishborn American cosmetics entrepreneur and philanthropist. Her cosmetics company made

He died in 1957, aged 57.

: Rum cake or fruit cake? “Can I say neither? But if I had to absolutely choose, probably fruit cake.” : What would be your dream Christmas present? “Well, I have a bit of a list, but keys to a home. The Christmas tree and movie on a big screen would tie it all together. My mother would love it.”

AURA REOPENS TO ADD TO ATLANTIS’ HOLIDAY ENTERTAINMENT By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Writer acadet@tribunemedia.net AURA Nightclub operators at Atlantis are excited to reopen this holiday season for the first time since closing at the onset of the global pandemic in 2020. “The team is excited…We are opening this year with all staff and guests required to be fully vaccinated before they are able to come in. We want to make sure that we have a safe environment for all our patrons, and for people to have fun,” said Tamir Shanel, senior vice president of Food and Beverage at Atlantis Paradise Island. Tamir said Aura wants to continue its past success with quality DJs. Several are already booked for December 27 through to mid-January. “We will continue throughout with DJs next year Bahamian and a couple people well-known from the United States. I think what we are looking for is just

having a great party,” said Tamir. Emcees in the lineup include DJ Reach, DJ Tony Martinez, DJ Anjie Vee and DJ Irie. “Aura will be as safe a place as any restaurant or nightclub in the Bahamas and the United States. The normal social distancing does not really apply to a club because people go to the dance floor and they dance. So we just want to make sure that anyone who goes into the environment is safe to be around,” said Tamir. Speaking of other nightlife activities on the Atlantis property, Tamir said Dragons is also a big hit with party-goers, and of course there is Junkanoo and other entertainment at Marina Village. “A lot of yachts are going to be docked at Marina

Village. I think it is going to be a wonderful time and a very exciting time for all of us to see the place vibrant with a lot of energy and people,” said Tamir. He added: “There are a lot of big plans for Aura and some other areas of Atlantis. I am not at liberty to disclose it yet, but there will be plans announced in the next few months regarding several areas.” Angelo Hart, Atlantis’ executive director of Guest Activities, also noted the number of activities that people can enjoy this holiday season, like the Junkanoo Bahamian Fest on December 24 , 27 and 29, where guests will have the opportunity to celebrate Bahamian culture through art, music and local food vendors, culminating with a Junkanoo rush-out. There’s a Festive Paradise event on the lawn at Dolphin Cay on December 23 that includes outdoor movies. Karaoke Party nights began this past Tuesday and will take place again on December 28. There are also several events planned for the kids, such as Breakfast with Santa at Atlantis Kids Adventures on December 23 and 24, and photos with Santa in the Royal Lobby on those same days. There will three New Year’s Eve parties on December 31: the Party Like a Royal event for adults on the Royal Deck, the Flamingo Ball for kids at Atlantis Kids Adventures, and the Black Out teen party at CRUSH. International superstar Doja Cat will be live in concert on the Royal Deck on January 1.

04 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, December 24, 2021

interview

Renbert Mortimer From fun caricatures to helping people work through trauma and stress, this young artist does it all. He tells Cara Hunt how it was important for him that his newest venture benefit Bahamians who have suffered mentally during the pandemic.

enbert Mortimer is a true creative who is using his talents to not only change Bahamian’s perspective when it comes to art, but also to help them use their own artistic talents to relieve any stress they may be feeling. “I am a caricature artist by trade, but I really prefer to call myself a creative because I do so many other creative things, such as graphic design. So really, I would say that I use my God-given ability and find a way to bring everything my mind thinks of into reality. I have a passion for the creative arts,” he told Tribune Weekend. Growing up, Renbert was certainly exposed to creative arts. The first person to inspire him was his father, who an art teacher at St Augustine’s College and also taught at BTVI. He supported Renbert in all his artistic endeavours and was himself well-known for his mural designs. Renbert is a graduate of the College of the Bahamas (now the University of the Bahamas) where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology. He is the chief graphic designer for RGMII Waynehead Productions, a marketing, concept design and animation company. He recently was contracted as the public relations and brand coordinator at the University of the Bahamas and designed the logo and mascot for the UB Mingoes, the school’s varsity intercollegiate athletic programmes. Renbert was delighted to have been asked to create the mascot for his alma mater, explaining that it was more than just creating the blue flamingo named Mingo. “It was also creating the chants and the cheers that fans can say in the stands when they see him. There is a lot of behind-the-scenes design work that goes into something like that,” he said. Renbert has also made a name for himself designing caricatures for Bahamians and visitors alike through his business WAYNES. He is the first Caribbean and Bahamian registered under the International Society of Caricature Artists, and continues to compete against artists who are the best in

“They were called lockdowns, but really, they were a form of solitary confinement, and many people’s mental health suffered, because anxiety and boredom are a dynamic combination.”

Friday, December 24, 2021

the world. He has drawn alongside them at places like Disney World, and he was named the World’s Fastest Caricature Artist in 2017. And while he loves creating caricatures, he said Bahamians are often not fans of exaggerated versions of themselves. “They see them more as a way to get a portrait of themselves, but they want to be painted exactly as they look,” he said. For the past five years, Renbert has also taken to making caricatures digitally as well. During the pandemic, he found the perfect way to marry his love of psychology with his love of all things creative when he started his new company The New Norm. “The New Norm seeks to provide experiences that are fun but are also a form of art therapy,” he explained. “They were called lockdowns, but really, they were a form of solitary confinement, and many people’s mental health suffered, because anxiety and boredom are a dynamic combination. Art is a great way to relieve that stress. We even worked with people who may have had suicidal thoughts and creating art helped them. I named the company, The New Norm because having COVID-friendly activities and ways to relieve stress is now our new norm. “We do things like ‘beer yoga’, which is a great way to have the serenity of yoga but with the buzz of alcohol for a heightened experience, and it is something that you have to try to know how amazing it is. And then we do things like the sip and paint. The great thing about that is when you hear people who say they have no artistic ability and then for the next two hours they are so immersed in their painting and selecting the colours that they don’t even look at their phones; they are just enjoying what they are doing. There is that flow, where you become so focused on what you are doing that you lose yourself.” His success, with his art and now the The New Norm, is a testament to the fact that it is possible to have a lucrative career in the art industry. “I had several young artists working for me and they were able to be paid and paid quite well, which is a great way to prove that their career choice is valid. It used to be that people thought they had limited options,” he said. He hopes people will continue to see the financial value of art. “I think applications like Canva has cheapened art, because you can go on them and create images, so people think that they are making art. Other artists are also to blame. “I can paint a painting for an exhibition and list it at $8,000, but someone can see that piece, take a photograph and ask another artist to replicate it for $50 and because they need the $50, they will do it. But the paint alone I used may have cost more than $50. When you ask an artist for a discount, they may give it you, but are you prepared to have a discount in the quality when they do? You get what you pay for,” he said. Renbert said he is inspired by fellow local artisans such as Jamaal Rolle, Allan P Wallace, Stan and Jackson Burnside, to name a few. He always draws inspiration from Bahamian culture. “I like to draw pictures of people with a tooth missing, because what’s more Bahamian than that?” And as a book illustrator, he likes to draw inspiration from local mythological A TYPICAL Renbert Mortimer caricature characters such as Ber Bookie and Ber Rabbie.

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grass (4) 28 Obtain key to poem and password (6,4)

06 | The Tribune | Weekend

4 Inimical; 5 Linger; 6 Also; 11 Remember; 13 Elevator; 15 Escape; 17 Accuse; 19 Hoop; 21 Glen.

neo An l D i D

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)

A 35 30 33 B C 21 38 11 D E 8 39 34 F G 1 19 37 H I 7 12 32 TODAY’S TARGET J Good 25; very good 38; excellent 51 K 11 23 13 (or more). Solution on Monday L Yesterday’s Yesterday’s M 30 3 37 call 0907 181 2585 N Sudoku Answer Kakuro Answer for today’s target solution O 38 33 39 *Calls cost 80p per minute plus your telephone P company’s network access charge. Q 39 15 18 R S 10 26 19 T U 40 19 12 FIND where the fleet of ships shown is hidden V in the grid. The numbers to the right of and W 33 2 13 below the grid indicate how many of the squares in that row are filled in with ships or X parts of ships. The ships do not touch each Y 31 38 21 other, even diagonally. Some squares have Z

BATTLESHIPS

Across 1 Tear after father - or mother (6) 4 Converse of those doing nothing (4,4) 9 Does badly without copper for currency (6) 10 Order out in test given to university students (8) 12 Instruments that break the laws (4) 13 Tracks of birds (5) 14 Backward island not lacking in skill (4) 17 Physical training manual? (8,4) 20 Livid having been beaten badly (5,3,4) 23 Male and female parent (4) 24 It’s used in a row or a sword fight (5) 25 Fit properly (4) 28 A course that is purely experimental? (5,3) 29 Will a nut go into this? Yes (6) 30 Untidy room used for a guest at the tea party (8) 31 Having the flavour of the seasons (6)

Down 1 Is ready having shaved in advance (8) 2 Remembered and telephoned again (8) 3 Out of gear (4) 5 Bounder badly shaken might need it (6,6) 6 Where they teach only ten letters of the alphabet? (4) 7 A disposition of arms (6) 8 He finishes off the game with hesitation (6) 11 An impostor’s standard (5,7) 15 Rate at which colds get better? (5) 16 Believes they’re used for cargo (5) 18 Being so one may react rashly (8) 19 Humiliated being dejected indeed (8) 21 Put on the hook from a debit? (6) 22 Repair broken weapon (6) 26 A voice raised in a loyal toast (4) 27 It helps with the cleaning as shown on TV (4)

10 11

20 21

Yesterday’s Easy Solution Across: 1 Cycle, 4 Inhibit, 8 Sum, 9 Have words, 10 Accused, 11 Venus, 13 Drench, 15 Primer, 18 Venom, 19 Flannel, 21 Small talk, 23 Map, 24 Relaxed, 25 Waste. Down: 1 Custard, 2 Come clean, 3 Ethos, 4 Invade, 5 However, 6 Bar, 7 Tusks, 12 Name names, 14 Complex, 16 Relapse, 17 Afraid, 18 Visor, 20 Askew, 22 All.

Yesterday’s Cryptic Solution Across: 1 Chill, 4 Actress, 8 Imp, 9 Versatile, 10 Derided, 11 Excel, 13 Treble, 15 Rebuts, 18 Set-to, 19 Logical, 21 Oversight, 23 Inn, 24 Parapet, 25 Pulse. Down: 1 Chindit, 2 Imperfect, 3 Lived, 4 Abrade, 5 Trapeze, 6 Eli, 7 Shell, 12 Churchill, 14 Looks up, 16 Silence, 17 Flight, 18 Sloop, 20 Get up, 22 Ear.

EASY PUZZLE

Across 1 A salad vegetable (6) 4 Very successful show (5,3) 9 Unlucky accident (6) 10 Supporting framework (8) 12 Properly (4) 13 Commonplace (5) 14 Small monastic room (4) 17 Having natural aversion (12) 20 To delight (4,8) 23 Loud deep sound (4) 24 Outspoken (5) 25 Business concern (4) 28 Athletics field event (4,4) 29 Choice (6) 30 US national legislative body (8) 31 Superfluity (6)

Down 1 Curative (8) 2 Forlorn (8) 3 Influence (4) 5 Follow most direct route (4,1,7) 6 Soft lustrous fabric (4) 7 To this place (6) 8 Slight stinging sensation (6) 11 Worsen existing ill feeling (3,3,6) 15 A flowering branch (5) 16 Full of life (5) 18 Person fleeing (8) 19 End of the line (8) 21 Gambol (6) 22 Automatic gun in aircraft (6) 26 Slightly open (4) 27 Highest point (4)

been filled in to start you off. Solution on Monday

9 10

3 1

Q E N H N I D

L T Y N L N R

O U Q K A H A

targEt thEeach alpha cAn you crack the Alphabeater? grid bEachhEad number represents a letter – across: or blackAbsolve, square. abed ache ached ahead Ziggurat, As inaced Alphapuzzle, every letter of the Served, alphabe baaed bade beach beached Smacks, Flying, Jo is used. But youbeech havebehead to complete the grid to BEACHHEAD bead Very, Trounce. cede each head headache down: Palace, Mo use dace the given letters and black squares below heed Viceroy, Blazed, S the grid to start. the grid is ‘rotationally Forgot, Squally, Ac Potato, Needed. symmetrical’ – in other words, it looks the same if you turn the page upside down. Solution on Monday

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.

CRYPTIC PUZZLE

A E W V R B N

THE ALPHABEA

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.

X A C G K M H I C M M W Q S W P T A Q J E E Y T E N M O R G A

Friday, December 24,H2021 R U T

1 x Battleship

3 x Destroyer

2 x cruiser

4 x submarine

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Friday, December 24, 2021

fashion

Jewellery to celebrate Bahamian resourcefulness By Alesha Cadet | Tribune Features Writer | cbrennen@tribunemedia.net

n a world of high-end brands like David Yurman and Tiffany and Co, a small Bahamian jewellery company has been making its mark for nearly a decade now with handmade sustainable designs that have meaning. Always by Allia, founded by designer Allia M Dean, is constantly evolving. It’s newest addition, the Michelle Collection ’21, celebrates Bahamian resourcefulness and national development, “telling the story of Bahamians from slavery to present”, but in a new way. Before bringing out this latest assortment of designs, Allia emphasised self-care with her previous collection, Everyday Essential. “We did this by creating jewellery pieces that hold essential oils that help with everyday mental health and wellness from an aromatherapy spectrum. This year, the Michelle Collection ’21 continues the self-care and self-awareness approach from a more abstract (viewpoint),”she told Tribune Weekend. “My middle name is Michelle…I am Bahamian. Hence, the Michelle Collection ’21 addresses national development…and focuses on the stance that handmade pieces do not need to be made from ‘Bahamian’ material like shells, sand, sea glass or coconuts to be Bahamian. If I am Bahamian, then whatever I produce, whether tangible or intangible, is then Bahamian. And so, the Michelle Collection embodies handmade pieces inspired by Bahamian culture, design and produced abstractly.” The new collection, which once again takes a minimalistic approach and is inspired by architecture to some degree, was launched with a special event that included a live performance by up-and-coming singer-songwriter Katya. “This was our first jewellery event hosted at our store, the Lia Michelle Bahamian Boutique in the Cable Beach Shopping Centre next to Buttons Bridal. It was a wonderful time to show off the space and get others familiar with our offerings,” said Allia.

DESIGNER Allia M Dean Over the years, Allia has expanded from just producing and selling jewellery to also offering jewellerymaking classes and demonstrations, as well as event consultation. She has collaborated with other artists and designers across the region, implementing programmes that give back to the community and empower

entrepreneurship and overall economic growth. “Ten years from launching our business, we are steadfast in our original mantra of advancing the handmade jewellery,” she said. “Next year marks our 10th year in business. We are looking to fully expand into factory mode where

job creation, empowerment and full-fledged economic development is achieved through our brand on a noteworthy level. Simultaneously. we hope to enhance the customer experience by increasing access to our offerings from a virtual perspective.” To that end, the new website, www.alwaysbyallia.com, was recently launched.

08 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, December 24, 2021

holidays

Christmas décor that wows

Ragged Island designer takes a unique approach By JEFFARAH GIBSON | Tribune Features Writer | jgibson@tribunemedia.net

eSean Bowe has been in high demand recently, and for good reason. It seems this young Bahamian has a knack for designing Christmas trees in such a way that they almost look they could be staged for a magazine spread. Each tree he designed over this festive season – like the one with pink and white floral décor which paid homage to breast cancer awareness – is unique and Although the Ragged Island native has almost been run ragged designing trees, wreaths and other clever decorative pieces, he’s also enjoyed the outlet for his creativity that this season provides.

LeSean is a graduate of Barry University in Florida, where he earned his Bachelor degree in Accounting. And while accountants are usually not considered the most creative people, LeSean said he has always been very passionate about fashion design. He has been earnestly designing for the past five years. Some of the major influences for his Christmas décor come from, believe it or not, Japanese anime, as well as high. fashion. He also has his mother and aunt to thank for inspiration as well. “My mom, (the late) Emmaline Curling, and my aunt Avilda Curling are a big inspiration. I spent most of my childhood watching them design their homes and friends’ houses.

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Friday, December 24, 2021 My mom was a big part of it just she because she encouraged my creativity. When it comes to the out-of-the-box designs, they are based on my love for anime,” he told Tribune Weekend. Speaking about the decoration trends for Christmas 2021, LeSean said wreaths for house doors have been in high demand. Other major trends include keeping things simple and natural.

“For the most part it seems my clients were doing either a minimalistic or woodland approach with a pop of bling. They are also using the buffalo plaid. That is big this year,” he said. While utilising plaid and classic Christmas colours and motifs, LeSean said every tree he designs starts with a plan, features uniqueness details, but also stays true to the season. “What I tell my clients is ‘find a theme and stick to it as much as possible’. If you have kids, cater to them a little with the tree design and choose something that will wow them. With colour schemes, the theme normally helps, but when in doubt or you don’t have a theme, go with your favorite colours,” he said. And for those lastminute people who may be just setting up their tree today, or even for those who are already all set, there are some simple things that can add that extra pizazz, said LeSean. “A little sparkle goes a long way, but if you’re a sentimental person like me, a personal touch is welcomed. Personally made or customised or photos ornaments do the trick. I have photo ornaments of my mom on one of my trees since Christmas was her favourite time of the year,” he said.

DESIGNER LeSean Bowe

10 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, December 24, 2021

gardening

Christmas in the garden

ood day, gardeners! Many of us seek peace at this time of year, and all year long we as gardeners try to share the peace that comes in tending even a small garden patch or a single pot of herbs, vegetables, or ornamental plants, let alone the joy of tending or absorbing an entire garden space. I’ll be honest, this is not an easy time of year for me, yet the grace that is given through the gift of gardening is one thing that helps keep me somewhat sane, although surely that depends on who one speaks with. I’ve been enjoying a few homegrown strawberries in the last couple of weeks and yes, of course they are far tastier than anything one can buy from a store. They are also easy to grow once established. This simple rule of thumb applies; not too wet, not too dry, and it’ll be alright. Full sun or part shade, as with most things bar the shade lovers. I always have a tough time growing strawberry plants from seed and I give kudos to those that do. Starfruit are showing up on some of the trees, and avocados are still hanging around, if the rats or raccoons don’t get them first. I often wonder if my cats and dogs aren’t living too high on the hog with the frustrations that I have encountered of having to sacrifice some fruits to the rodents. Balance is the key for any garden or pot. Too much sun or too much shade will both yield decreased results. Too much water or too little water, same result. Too much love, and not enough, same result. While every plant is different in their cultural needs, as is every garden space different. Hence rules of thumb as

a starting point. Each and every one of us will be able to grow plants successfully in a bit more sun or a bit less, with a bit more water or a bit less, than the next person. Time and attention to detail always pays off in the end. Solstice has passed, and the days are now getting slightly longer, each one more so than the last until the summer solstice on June 21. This essentially means that we have six more months of growing tender vegetables. Are you succession planting? One crop is never enough. Aphids are a current issue on my cabbage crops, and strawberries in too much shade are playing host to whitefly. Tomato, tomahto. Keep even watering on tomato plants to avoid blossom end rot. If you do get BER on your tomatoes, try to increase the frequency of watering, before wasting time believing that Epsom salts will cure all. Food. Maintain feeding patterns through the “winter” months, but most things will need less for the next several months than summer applications call for. Reduce watering on most everything during cool weather, indoors and out. Don’t toss out your poinsettias after Christmas, rather, find a nice sunny spot, or a spot with part shade, and plant them in the ground for year after year of display. Watch out for citrus pests. Greening is a problem, and the Asian psyllid is the culprit. Did you know that orange jasmine is a host for the Asian psyllid? If you’re growing citrus plants, be sure to eradicate all orange jasmine in the area to decrease the likelihood of infection. If you spot the psyllid, spray, immediately. If you have a citrus plant that is infected, there are cures being worked on, vigorously, through science. Be safe, good people, through the holiday season, and I wish you all the best, and as much time in the garden as possible. Merry Christmas to all, and 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.

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Friday, December 24, 2021

history

Eating eels, electing bean kings and Roland the Farter: medieval Christmas and New Year festivities By Giles Gasper Professor in High Medieval History, Durham University (THE CONVERSATION) - The festive season in medieval Christendom included many traditions that are not echoed in the current celebrations, and a few that are. Here are seven which capture and evoke the spirit of Christmas and New Year long past. These cover the 6th century to the 16th, and focus on Christian Europe. Festivities extended from December 1 to at least January 6 and for some as late as Candlemas, a Christian feast day on February 2 commemorating the presentation of the baby Jesus at the temple in Jerusalem.

Serve up the boar Christmas and New Year coincided with the hunting season for wild boar, at least in medieval England where it ran, similar to today’s hunting season, from September 8 to February 4. References to boars’ heads at feasts of the period are common. A recipe from the 1420s associated with the master chef of Savoy, Chiquart, gives detailed instructions for decorating the heads in bright colours. They were then paraded breathing flame (courtesy of a candle, camphor, and spirits) as part of the dinner spectacle. A famous procession of the boar’s head around Christmas time was associated with Queen’s College, Oxford, from the 14th century. This honoured a student who had unexpectedly encountered a boar in the woods and, with great presence of mind, dispatched it with a copy of the works of Aristotle he was carrying. The boar’s head also inspired it’s own medieval carol: The boar’s head in hand bring I, Bedeck’d with bays and rosemary. And I pray you, my masters, be merry

to bring an ox and a donkey, and to hold a service in front of it that evening. He preached to the townspeople who had gathered around, and a soldier among them became convinced he could see the holy infant sleeping in the manger. And the nativity tableau was born.

Bean kings and boy bishops

FEAST of the bean king 1640-1645 by Jacob Jordaens Quot estis in convivio (as many of you as are gathered together)

A Christmas feast of codlings and eels References to the word Christmas only begin in the 11th century to indicate the first service of the day as Christ’s mass. The four weeks of Advent were established by Pope Gregory the Great in the 6th century. These were designated as a period of fast, so in dietary terms fish predominated. In 1289, the Bishop of Hereford served a Christmas Eve meal to his guests of herring, five conger eels, 30 codlings and an expensive salmon, bread and wine. Christmas itself was given the status of a feast, and this was extended up to the Feast of the Epiphany, the visit of the three kings, on January 6. This made the twelve days of Christmas a period of holiday for all medieval Christians, and one where meat could be eaten.

Deck the halls Christmas trees are a post-medieval innovation – which became

popular in some European countries in the 17th century, via the German wife of George III, but didn’t really catch on in Britain until the 19th when it was made popular by Queen Victoria and her German husband Prince Albert. Medieval Christmas was not, however, without festive greenery: bay leaves, rosemary, holly, ivy and mistletoe were all used as decoration. This is similar to the Roman celebration of Saturnalia (December 17-23) over which the Christian Christmas festive season lay.

Medieval Christmas could be a world turned upside down. One example, in vogue at the English and French royal courts in the 14th century was choosing a Bean King. This individual, who selected a slice of cake with a bean in it, was then elected “king” for the proceedings. By the later Middle Ages the more raucous tradition of the boy bishops was well established, where a boy was elected in a parody of an adult bishop, leading proceedings, but also incorporating pranks. Sometimes elected on December 6 – more often on January 1 – the bean kings merged with the Feast of Fools, when a mock pope was elected.

Roland the Farter

Strange as it may sound the idea of reenacting the nativity scene had to wait until the third decade of the 13th century. It seems to have been the brainchild of St Francis of Assisi, founder of the Franciscans. Francis was famous for his sermons not only to people but to also to animals.

A real person, probably a jester at the court of Henry II of England (who reigned from 1154 to 1189), Roland’s festive duties consisted of making a jump, a whistle, and a fart (bumbulum in Latin) before the king. He must have impressed his audience and patron since he was rewarded with an estate of some 12 hectares in Suffolk. While some of the medieval traditions have faded away, in the 21st century many modern Christmases still retain a bit of misrule, a fart joke and plenty of cake.

In 1223 Francis happened to be in the town of Greccio, Italy, for Christmas, and asked for permission from the pope, in case he was thought to be making light of the Christmas story, to set up a manger full of hay,

• This article is republished from The Conversation, an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com

The nativity play

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literary lives

The Royal Society of Literature Ondaatje Prize: Born in fireworks Aida Edermariam, an Ethiopian-Canadian journalist and a senior feature writer at The Guardian newspaper in the United Kingdom, continues her history of The Royal Society of Literature Ondaatje Prize.

ntil COVID made it impossible, shortlisted authors were invited to a black-tie dinner which had moved, by the second year of the prize, to an upstairs ballroom in the Traveller’s Club in Pall Mall. Many of the Fellowship attended, as well as previous winners, and guests from across the cultural spectrum. Sir Christopher Ondaatje, who until recently, when he began to spend more time in Canada and deputised his daughter Jans Ondaatje Rolls, was present at every event. “I really liked meeting the authors and talking to them about what they were writing about.” He is clearly still very engaged, reading winning titles, curious about how they then make their way through the world. “I love putting on my glad rags and going out,” says novelist and poet Michèle Roberts, the only person to have judged the prize twice. “And it’s a very generous thing that dinner – it’s very unusual. Very grand – and fun.” The seating plan, overseen, along with the food and wine, by the prize’s long-term administrator Paula Johnson, who has more recently been joined in her administrative duties by Martha Stenhouse, places shortlisted writers on tables with partners and publishers/agents, but otherwise aims for good conversation, sometimes rearranging things until the last minute – ‘I’ve had some people who’ve come up and changed themselves around,’ says Johnson.

JOURNALIST Aida Edermariam SIR CHRISTOPHER ONDAATJE, sponsor of the annual Royal Society of Literature Ondaatje Prize

“I’ve changed them back again.” “It does become a wonderful celebration of the prize,” says RSL chair Daljit Nagra. “And a must go-to party.” As the RSL’s 2019 A Room of My Own survey discovered, two-thirds of writers had earned £10,000 or less in the previous year from their writing (a sharp decrease, according to the

figures from Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society, from the average of £18,000 just over a decade earlier, and likely to have been further undercut by the pandemic). In that context the RSL Ondaatje Prize can, on a purely practical level, make a massive difference to a writer’s ability to go on working.

Part II

“I had only recently moved from a brain-damagingly noisy street in East Oxford to a quiet medieval cottage in Cumnor,” says Graham Robb. “Resources were perilously depleted, and so the generous prize for The Discovery of France (2008) was a welcome safety net.” Ruth Gilligan’s win this year, for a novel about the BSE crisis set on the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic, means she can finally build herself a writing shed. “The money was marvellous,” says Francis Spufford, who had been short-listed before, for non-fiction, but was especially grateful to win for his first novel Golden Hill, set in an area of 18th-century New York that no longer exists because it’s been obliterated by the financial district of Lower Manhattan. It helped him “cut back my teaching hours and devote more time to my actual work: for a writer, the biggest luxury of all.” The prize money has also been used to buy a car (Adam Nicholson, who won for his account of his family home, Sissinghurst) and three paintings by Bengali artists (Philip Hensher, whose Scenes from Early Life (2013) is a semi-fictional account of his husband’s early life in Dhaka). But a large proportion of the difference it has made has been more intangible. The generous — and yet also quite specific — rubric means that it can catch books that have gone un-noticed elsewhere, or have dropped through the cracks between prizes more limited in scope. Mama Amazonica “hadn’t been shortlisted for any of the main poetry prizes,” remembers author Pascale Petit. “Then, when it won, I realised that even if the poetry world didn’t rate it, the wider literary world did.” For Ruth Gilligan, it “was a moment of pure joy after what had been a spectacularly suboptimal publication process”: The Butchers had been published in the same week as the first UK lockdown, which meant almost all ways of letting people know the book existed, and celebrating it, were cancelled. And, although not everyone feels this way (Hensher believes “a writer would be a fool to take the award of

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Friday, December 24, 2021

prize AUTHOR Ruth Gilligan said her win for Butchers, which deals with the BSE crisis in Ireland, “was a moment of pure joy.”

JUSTIN Marozzi’s winning for Baghdad: City of Peace, City of Blood felt like “a real vindication of all the years of living in Baghdad…” as validation”), for many it is welcome recognition. Justin Marozzi won in 2015 for Baghdad: City of Peace, City of Blood. “It felt like a real vindication of all the years of living in Baghdad, a good deal of which were very challenging, in the middle of a vicious insurgency which killed a number of friends and colleagues.”

“A prize like that,” as Nicholson puts it, “has a way of putting a floor under you, like a stance halfway up a rock climb. You have been up there before. There is no reason why you should not be up there again. You are not adrift in the universe.” For Alan Johnson, the former Labour cabinet minister, who was utterly determined not to write “a standard political memoir,” it quite simply “validated me as a

THE POET Roger Robinson, who won last year for his collection A Portable Paradise, documented the Black British experience. writer. … A book of mine won Royal Society of Literature recognition, so I must be able to write.” In my own case (I won for The Wife’s Tale, a biography of my grandmother, much of which is set in 1930s and 40s Ethiopia) the emphasis on quality of writing, and the fact of being judged by serious senior writers, was the aspect that meant the most. But the ramifications are not merely private. The poet Roger Robinson, who won in 2020 for his collection A Portable Paradise, is clear about his satisfaction that it brought to added prominence a book that so deliberately documented the Black British experience — not least because it tells “a younger generation of Black writers that their place, community and stories are deserving subjects of literary examination”. And Hensher has been struck by how much it meant, “to some Bengali readers. When I was next in Dhaka, I was made very aware that a book written by a man married to another man, a Bengali, was a talisman of possibility to a small minority living with extraordinary bravery against a background of terror. (The terror was real: one of the men I met at a fabulous party, Xulhaz Mannan, was subsequently murdered with machetes after founding Bangladesh’s first gay magazine, Roopbaan). The apparent validation of a prize may have meant more to those people than it did to me.”

When COVID shut the world down, the prize moved online – but with flair: each shortlisted book received an individual animation. “We were really lucky that Sir Christopher Ondaatje and Jans Ondaatje Rolls agreed to support that change,” says Molly Rosenberg, director of the RSL. “A lot of funders might have been reticent, particularly when our worlds had changed so recently (the first RSL Ondaatje Prize without a party was May 2020, only a month and a half into lockdown), but they were really supportive of trying something new and creative.” It meant that in a time when so many artists were suddenly losing their livelihoods “we were able to offer a substantial commission to a young artist early in their career. It felt very positive.” In the past two years it feels as though the idea and spirit of place — the places we have been stuck in, and noticing as never before, and the places we dream of — are more important than ever. There is no reason why this prize, born in fireworks above Trafalgar Square — and which, over nearly two decades, has only grown in capaciousness and resilience — should not be the same. • Aide Edermariam, who has worked in New York, London and Toronto, is also the author of ‘The Wife’s Tale: A Personal History’.

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history

Christmas in Sweet Sears Park

he erotic drama “365 Days” has taken the Bahamas by storm. Like in most countries around the world, the Polish film has been in Netflix’s top 10 for the last three weeks. The movie, based on Polish author’s Blanka Lipińska’s trilogy of books, can best be described as “Fifty Shades of Grey” meets “Beauty and the Beast”, with a huge dose of Stockholm syndrome and featuring sex scenes that leave little to the imagination. But what exactly is the appeal of a movie in which a man, a Sicilian Mafia boss no less, kidnaps a young woman and holds her hostage, giving her 365 days to fall in love with him before he releases her. A multitude of critics have spoken out against the premise, saying it glorifies violence against woman; some have even called for its removal from Netflix. Bahamian fans of “365 Days”, however, say they are able to separate fantasy from reality and the film should be seen as sexy, harmless fun. “I know that the premise of the movie seems dark, and in reality I would never condone violence, but this is just fiction,” attorney Tia* told Tribune Weekend. “Did I find the movie sexy? Yes, I did. Did I think it was a good movie? No one ever said it was trying to be Oscar material, but I thought it was silly fun; a way to pass some time in lockdown. I didn’t do too much social analysis on it. Malika, who works in human resources, said to her the movie is like an erotic version of a Disney fairy tale. “I didn’t have a problem with the premise. I think every woman deep down fantasises about a sexy billionaire falling madly in love with her and sweeping her off her feet. They also have fantasies about having a day of wild sex like Massimo and Laura had on the watch, but they may just not want to say that out loud,” she said. Malika said she is always not here for those criticising a movie they haven’t even watched. “I always love how the people who never actually watch films or shows like ‘Fifty Shades’ or ‘365 Days’ or even Scandal are always the ones to be so judgmental. ‘Oh, he is violent, he’s forcing her to have sex with him; you cant watch that!’ But anyone who watched it knows exactly what happened. She was equally attracted to him and wanted an affair with him. It was consensual, even if it started off creepy. So no, there was nothing alarming about this movie. Now, I agree the sex scenes bordered on pornography and it’s definitely not a movie youngsters should have easy access to,” she said.

Media specialist Desirée said she doesn’t understand where all the outrage over this film is coming from. “I’ll start this off by saying I loved the movie and I plan to watch it again. But I also want to say, during the first 20 minutes of the movie I was completely lost as to what was going on. Then that quickly FORGOTTEN FACTS turned into, ‘oh, this is creepy, what the heck is happening here?’ Then this turned into ‘awww, sexy, cute’ and so forth. Yes, it was a lot going on. There are so many reviews on this movie, but I love that it kept me interested I wasn’t bored. And any woman that doesn’t admit Massimo is sexy is crazy. That man is walking eye candy. I feel there’s a lot that can be taken from the movie, but I just took it as fun; no serious judgement needed. How can someone say they enjoyed ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ and think ‘365 Days’ is creepy? Both men were dominant and weird, both women fell in love; it didn’t even take Laura the contractual time to do so. Moreover, I understand there are two more parts to come. I can’t wait to watch,” she said. However, not all Bahamian women are enthused about the love story of Massimo and his captive Laura. “I read the movie synopsis and I knew it was not one for me,” said Marie, a banker who scrolled right on by when it came up on her Netflix feed. “It just seems so ridiculous. In what world is it OK to kidnap someone because you want them to share romantic feelings for you. How is a love story romantic when its foundation is based on the fact that you treated me like I am your personal property. I know people compare it to ‘Beauty and the Beast’, but at least Beauty went to the castle willingly. It seems a bit cringe to me.” Married mother-of-two Michelle said theme aside, she was just not impressed with the movie in general. “I have no problem with the kidnap plot; crime happens in all kinds of really enjoyable movies. My problem was that this was supposed to be a love story. I want to crush on the guy and live vicariously through the girl, but they were both so creepy and unlikable that they me and then there were so many plot holes; it was a confusing mess,” she said.

PAUL C ARANHA

AUSTIN T Levy

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Friday, December 24, 2021

animals

Hello from Rainbow Bridge on Christmas Eve

e are so busy up here, there has been very little time to be in touch, but we still have time to look down through the clouds to check on our families. The humans on earth have been pretty busy too, hopefully staying safe from COVID. I have been making sure Mum is being good about masks and hand washing – I followed her plane to Eleuthera and was delighted that she is with friends who have five dogs – I have sent her a special on-ground emissary to watch over her: Alice is a beautiful white and grey potcake at the hotel where they are staying and checks on them regularly and gives licks and hugs as needed. Big news: I have taken on a helper to make cloud sculptures. Did you see the amazing one I sent to Mum the other week that looked like a heart? She needed a message, she posted it on Facebook and said she knew I sent it (my tail is wagging). My new helper is Lilly; she was a bit glum and didn’t know many people up here. I thought bringing her on our team would do the job…was I ever right! She is hardworking and has fit into the cloud team well, her tail is always wagging! Her Mum would be very happy to see her. We are working on spectacular sunsets and clouds over the Christmas period. Be sure to check out what we send tonight. Did you know that we actually help Santa Claus from the Rainbow Bridge? Many children ask Santa for a pet for Christmas. You should never give anybody a pet as a gift without permission. Our first job is to obtain permission from the parents, we know that they will be the ones doing almost all the work and have the expense and responsibilities. Once permission is confirmed, Santa asks us to get working on the perfect pet programme - hundreds of fur angels travel everywhere making sure the right fit for the child is available - it has to look like the parents are choosing, but we have a huge hand (or paw) in it - birds, cats, kittens, dogs, puppies, turtles, horses, hamsters, you name it. Remember that you must never

give a pet to a child without clearing it with the parents. A pet is for life - a dog can live for 15 years (like I did), cats even longer, parrots and turtles are off the chart; it is a very serious decision. They do not deserve to be ignored, they become a member of the family, not just until they grow up, but forever. This year, we do not want to have to welcome lots of healthy young dogs on New Year’s Eve either. Fireworks spook many dogs and yet humans insist on going out and everybody lets off those noisy fireworks that can really frighten even the most mellow of dogs. I am asking you to secure your dogs when you go out. When I say secure, I mean that you put them in a room and close the door (properly), you leave the light on and if possible you turn on the TV - and the air-conditioning - these two things provide background noise that will help to drown out the noise of fireworks. Do not leave them in the garden, please. I have never been up here for New Year’s Eve, but St Francis and Nimba were telling me that lots of spooked dogs manage to get out of their yards

PET OF THE WEEK

PHOTO/LINDA GILL-ARANHA

Animal matters Kim Aranha

and just run. They are so frightened that all they do is run and run, on the road, where there are cars, sometimes driven by people who have been celebrating and not quite as quick-witted as normally, and the next thing you know, we have a new arrival at the Bridge, confused, too young and sad to lose their earthly life so quickly. Of course we take care of them and help them settle in here lovingly, but it should not happen to them so early into their earthly lives. I know this Christmas will be my family’s first Christmas without me, but I am watching over them as much as time allows. I fly along with their plane when they travel and I check on them when they are sleeping. Sometimes Mum thinks she hears me, and she does. I put my head on the side of her bed and I mentally send her all my fur angel love (am I making you cry?). If you have a fur angel, they will be watching over you this weekend, so be vigilant, you might hear them or catch a glimpse of them. Believe! Merry Christmas (from Mum too).

Holiday adoption By The Bahamas Humane Society The lovely Foxtrot is a shy young man but he’s here to wish you all a very merry Christmas from all the folks and animals at the Bahamas Humane Society! Foxtrot’s lucky; he was adopted by the Thrift Shop staff and lives comfortably in the shop yard. There are many other adoptable animals at the Bahamas Humane Society, hoping that you’ll give them a very happy holiday season by adopting (but please do remember a pet is not just for Christmas; it’s a lifelong commitment, with food, water, medicines, housing, lots of love and exercise

involved). For more information on the available adoptions, please call 323-5138. The BHS is closed Christmas Day (Saturday, the 25th) and the Boxing Day holiday (Monday the 27th), and will close at 1pm today. Have a very merry Christmas! Thank you for all your support! • The BHS Thrift shop has closed for the holiday season and will reopen on Wednesday, January 5, 2022. Donations may be left in the main shelter while the shop is closed. Thank you!

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