19 August 2007

Dean hits Jamaica in the afternoon, but not before I managed to watch City beat United on my laptop. The rain began about midday with the winds started picking up about an hour later. By 2 pm we were all called down to one of the storm shelters and had to choose between the hotel lobby; the restaurant or the bar. No choice really.

The bar was secure and despite trees falling all around out and occasional gusts driving the rain through the boarded up windows, we were pretty oblivious to the whole situation. Quick sorties throughout the afternoon, revealed a colleagues car crushed under an ackee tree and a full mango tree in the pool behind. The only nod in the direction of hardship and our refugee status came, when we went to play poker and realized we had left the chips in the rooms. Needs must , and in a move that McGyver would have been proud of, bought the small concession out of Mentos sweets. Mint sweets were now worth J$500 and Fruit J$100. Game on.

Other (female) colleagues chose to sit out the storm in the lobby. A very unsafe storm shelter, because of the high percentage of glass, it was also noisy and drafty. Their pained expressions and white knuckles contrasting our alcohol fuelled jocularity. We tried very hard to set them at ease inviting them to join us, but all we got for our trouble was a lecture on our irresponsibility. We left them to their hand wringing and in an ironic gesture of irresponsibility decided to sign all our bar bills to their room.

Back at home Sky News is full of its usual hyperbole. This is only serving to increase anxiety in Lady of Leisure and other distant relatives of mine, who have been in touch for reassurance / support. Of course HRH the Queen Mother is complaining of some debilitating condition or other lest someone should be deflecting some of the limelight from her.

18 August 2007

House is completely boarded up and feels pretty secure. No light and no air moving makes the place feel a bit like a coffin. Despite this secure feeling, the boredom is already getting to me and I’m only pretending there is no electricity. I pack a suit case, books, PSP, playing cards, game of risk and check myself into the Courtleigh for the duration. A number of colleagues seeing the obvious merits of staying somewhere where the beer remains cold and food hot, immediately follow suit. Looks like its going to be a proper Hurricane Hooley down the Courtleigh.

17 August 2007

Dean has become a hurricane and we are locking work down. By 2pm I realize I have still to shop for hurricane supplies. We have not officially gone to hurricane watch (36 hours before it hits) but the lack of preparation among the Jamaican is astounding. Many are flatly denying it will even hit. Luckily this means I will get my shopping done before the panic buying starts.

Twenty Two thousand Dollars on water, fruit Juices, dry goods and tins, paper plates batteries and of course 2 crates of red stripe. I have a barbeque to cook on and a reserve water tank – so I should be ok to get through the aftermath.

I have managed to convince the Lady of Leisure and kids to hang on until Friday. This was the compromise day. Surprisingly as well, we were able to take out travel insurance even at this stage to help defray the costs associated with the change of flight.

16 August 2007

Despite my best intentions, I have done little or no treadmill, and watched all 7 series of the west wing. Tropical storm Dean is looking likely to turn into a hurricane by the weekend and with the family are supposed to be returning on Monday. I will have to persuade them to stay a while longer, though it will be tough as familial ties have been stretched to breaking point in the “Of Leisure” clan. Need to get some hurricane supplies.

26 July 2007

Harry Potter VII arrived today. Cant believe I have been waiting this long or that I am this excited about it – What age am I? I should explain, I began reading the books to Little Madam many moons ago and although she has long since grown out of them, I am showing my usual nerdy completist self and just have to finish out the series.

Have to clear the diary and settle in the hammock for the weekend.

23 July 2007

Can’t continue being such a lazy sod and drinking my way through the month until the family return. Need to get back on the tread mill.

18 July 2007

The family have abandoned me. Little bit of me was exited at the though of batchelorhood for a month. Few pints with the boys, perhaps even my first round of golf in 14 months.

Reality is much less exciting – worked late getting Board papers out, though of course they didn’t go. God forbid we would actually do something ahead of schedule so despite my boss’ platitudes about not being “Last minute.com” all the time, he thrives on chaos as a management tool and refused to let the papers go.

Walking into the dark and empty house, my heart fell. It didn’t feel like a home. This is going to be a long month, though I find a few Red Stripe helps most evenings pass a little quicker.

16 July 2007

I think I have contracted Dengue fever. Lady of Leisure is trying to convince me to visit a doctor, but I don’t see the point. If I’m right, then there is very little a doctor can do. And there is a very good chance I am right as I have spent a good half hour on self-diagnosis, consulting renowned medical databases such as Wikipedia.

Still no car after 5 weeks.

11 July 2007

We have booked our holibobs in Dubai in October. One or two wags pointed out that it will be nice to go somewhere warm for a change! The point is that we are making an effort to visit people that we consider genuine friends.

Expatriate living is very false and can be suffocating in a small community. I find that many of the friends are little more than colleagues and while I can manage a beer on a Friday evening, conversation soon, runs dry beyond work and football.

It often feels like my life is on hold while I’m here. Things like friends, culture, restaurants, family, shopping, proper schooling are all among the things deferred. Any one of them and it is easy to say , “Well we are not in Jamaica for ever…..” and you can cope with a little sacrifice, but at some point you have to have a look at the bigger picture. Two or three years is a long time and the cumulative effect of these small sacrifices is actually quite large.

Our friends are also pretty much career expatriates, so a good chat with them might help to give me a little perspective. The fact that Dubai would be good destination for my next little foreign adventure should I let myself be convinced on the expat thing is an added bonus.