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.