So I'm on my way home in a maxi this evening and a lady gets in with a little child. She presses the bell to get out at Bon Air and proceeds to pay the driver. The driver exclaims 'Is $4 each yuh know'. The woman then pully out another dollar and pays - she paid the driver 2 dollars short. He takes the dollar and then says 'yuh owing ah next dollar'. The passenger in the front realising the woman is short for cash quickly cuts the driver across saying 'I will pay d next dollar.' I wondered then and there where is the love.... So dis greedy money hungry driver would not have driven off if he did not get his $1. So yuh cant even travel with a lil short change nowadays...my reaction to this is he was jus damn Greedy..cuz $1 won't make or break him.
So some ppl say 'Age ain't nothing but a number'. But to who does that go for....older men with young ladies or older women with the young guys.
To me it only refers to the Older men that are with the young ladies. Recently in the news there was the story of the young guy that raped and murdered his woman's daughter. He was in his early 20s could be 24 while the woman he dated was in her late 30s early 40s can't remember too clearly.
Anyway when that story first broke most ppl were saying 'Wha she doing with da young boy'. Had she been the young girl and he the older person I am sure such a comment would never have been made. So for who does the saying 'Age ain't nothing but a number' compliment.
It's 4 am and I jump up wide awake. I guess my internal body clock is not on "Trini Time" as Trini time is anytime after the official time. Unable to fall asleep again, I get up and begin looking around the house for bit of stuff to do to keep me occupied till daylight. I find some things to keep me going and around 6 am, I hear the oldest alarm clock know to man (the rooster in the yard) going "cock-ah-doodle-dooooo".
Soon the forgotton sound of parrots screeching as they fly from one hillside over the house to the other hillside is heard. I step out to the gallery to have a look at them fly by. Somewhat softer and more melodic is the sound of other birds waking up and beckoning the mornng's sunrise with their singing.
It's funny how soothing and relaxing this can be when 90% of the year you live in a concrete jungle.
Well ah reach and although it is overcast, it sill hot like hell. At least that's what I think as I seem to be the only person with rag in hand and hand moving in an upward and sweeping motion, wiping the sweat from across my face.
As I wait for my ride home, I find myself just looking around at the familar site of cars with the "hard pound" pulling up and parking to pick up travellers right in front of the no stopping sign with no regards to the wrecker directly opposite. In the distance North I can see the hillsides. Funny I never notied that before, but when you got time on your hands yo seem to notice a lot. I say to myself this is Trinidad, I love it to bad and smile to myself.
Nice! The ride arrived, we throw (literally) the suitcases in the trunk and head off down the highway. First thing catching my eyes is how Trincity Mall get so big. My brother then tells me that it's now the largest mall in the Caribbean and I would need more that a day to fully see and appreciate it. Probably plenty money as well to shop in it I replied. Further down the highway I could see that construction on the monstrous flyover by Grand Bazzaar is progressing. It's much needed I think to avoid some of the issues with traffic congestion.
By this time my eyes began to get tired and all I could think about was reaching home. Finally we got there and the smell of fish frying in my grandma's pot greeted me. After a quick chit chat and a bath, I sat down and taught that fish a lesson. Belly now full, I am off to bed as tomorrow is another day.
What do you do when you are sitting in the airport waiting to board that flight home? For me home is Trinidad nd Tobago, so I sit and wait with excitement. A million thoughts pass through my mind as I think about when last I had a roti (even though Roti Joupa has the best in the UK), I think about doubles (well not so much since it the price raise to 5 TTD); and flip the scorching hot sun.
There is great anticipation about how the country now looks. I sit and wonder if a Maracas lime has the same vibes and if "Shark and Bake" taste the same. My mouth is beginning to water. I seem to have forgotton if mango is in season now, and if it is, I sorry for my grandfather starch mango tree.
Ok meh granny know ah flying in so ah sure to get that pot of pelau soon after touching down. All these thought seem to have me thinking I will get no sleep during my time back home as the crew ready to roll and lime.
Time to head to the gates now, "Trinidad ah soon see yuh"
Ah jus had to say somethin about de gov'ts band load of MISFITS for public servants. I'm sorry if I defend d 'minute' number of persons in the public service when I make that statement but in my view.....GOVERNMENT SERVICE IS DE WOOOOORRST.... It really is...let me give u 2 incidents over the last week that make meh say wha ah saying bout dem...
On Wednesday my son had an incident in school where another school boy ran into him and burst his upper lip. I took him to the hospital when I got home from work at 8pm because I thought to myself he may need dressings or stitches (it was sooo swollen) and since it was his lip a visit to d hospital shouldn't take so long. When I got there first off d receptionist told me take a number. I got number 71 - remember is 8PM. I wasted no time in takin my son to the nurse on duty to ask whether he would need dressings, stitches or simply take him back home and it would heal on its own. D nurse said he will need dressings so I waited. I waited for over 3 hrs which is now after 11 in d nite mind u. I went back to another group of nurses and told dem ah cant wait any longer and I need to know if there is anything I can do tonight to decrease d swelling until I take him to a private doctor in d morning. Remember when I got there I pulled number 71 up to now i ain register yet. I had to lie and tell dem dat I had to be up by 4 in d morn to get to work" she replied yes we will call you jus now...so i had to repeat myself "all I want all yuh to tell me is what to do for d night. Tomorrow I will take him to a private doctor to be seen about." D nurse realising my arrogance then told me go to the front register and come back. In 10 mins doctor saw my son and advised "Oh no man he don't need anything. Is just for d swelling to go down. Let him use some salt and gargle that." I was so relieved to b out of there that I said nothing I jus left thinking to myself that I could KICK the nurse I saw at 8o'clock that nite.
My second incident would be the next morning when I visited Licensing office to do my Driving test. Ah gone make sure ah hand in meh paper 8 o'clock at d #2 counter. Nex ting I know a clerk calling my name over d system. When I gone she is to tell me dat my regulations expire and I have to pay $100 to re-do it before I can do d driving test. By then all my frustration with d Government service had to come out. I let that lady have it. In letting her have it I explained to her all d time I coming here and NOBODY else could tell my my regs going to expire by such and such a date. She could only say "I understand but it expire and you will have to pay $100." I told the clerk I have no time for this nonsense today...give me a new date let me go do my other duties. So now my regs is now Tues 8th July. Ah only hope when ah go back on dat day ah ain get no jackass tellin me no shit.
I does often wonder if dese ppl working in d gov't service does realise when ppl come to dey office is not because dey want to spend a day with dem. And is not just licensing office and d hospital eh...so doh tink I casting aspersions on just 2 incidents..is hundreds...from d passport office to d licensing office to d hospital to d registrar office to d court house. I've had many experiences with d BAND OF MISFITS d gov't does hire.