Tantie Talk
Yuh know we living a real sweet life in dis town...even wid all de damn
fools dat making life hell for de rest of we, and yes de bandits an dem too. Is when yuh
travel outta dese blessed shores dat yuh does realise exactly how lucky we be. Yuh
Tants did take a lil outing de odder day an' went to check out Costa Rica...de place
real nice, but dem people ent have it easy at all. Dey salaries ent nowhere near T&T fuh
de average clerk or restaurant/hotel worker, but dey soldiering on anyway. It ent have
too many vagrant walking 'bout de place, an' dey have plenty beggars but also plenty
folks who ent begging but have some kinda lil hustle running - dey shining shoes or dey
selling souvenirs while keeping ah eye on de Police because dey ent have no license.
All in all de trip was good, an' I hope BWEE could keep flying de route
because I feel dat de experiences go be real good fuh Trinis an' de Ticos. One ting I go
tell any Trini who going dere is to doh be stingy wid yuh tips...de people money is 400 to
de US$ an' fuh sure it ent go bun a hole in yuh pocket to leave a US$1 fuh dem. We lil
better off than dem, so lewwe do what we could to help when we could (jes like we
supposed to be doing here at home), because guess what yuh know dem other
tourists from North doh tip de people at all?!
Anyways, as I did say it was a nice time...until we did reach de airport
fuh de return. De plane couldn' land because of de weather, so dey cancel de flight an'
say dey sennin' all who have visay to Miami de nex day to ketch a flight to T&T. De
ones who didn' have no visay had a choice - go to Caracas an' make yuh own arrangements or
stay 4 days till de nex BWEE flight. Most people did have visay an' went Miami, a couple
did go Caracas and some stay on fuh de nex flight. De fun was de "Miami Affair". Fus
to begin as yuh walking on de plane (American Airlines) de people hannin' yuh a lil
bag../ so yuh thinking nice man dem people givin' out lil souvenirs an' ting...noooo, dat was
yuh 'feeding bag' wid a small plastic ham an' cheese sandwich wrap up in more plastic, an'
a cookie. Where de drink yuh say? Well dat did eventually get give out on de flight,
apparently de foil cover on de plastic cup could trigger alarm if dey let yuh walk on de
plane wid it! Yeh, I know dem ent want to clean up no mess from people wid open cup when
dey taking off, but is why dey didn jes give everything one time during de flight? Anyways
flight uneventful except fuh de antics of de flight attendants - one setta pretty, pretty
boys an' a nex setta ugly, ugly women...is where AA does find dem??? De real fun is when yuh
land in Miami.
Doh feel yuh getting in de place easy...an' dis is de airport I talking
'bout, yuh ent arksing to run about dey country, yuh INTRANSIT waitin' on a plane to
get yuh outta dere as fast as possible an' de people gettin on as if yuh givin' dem a passport
dat have yuh name as "Osama Saddam bin Ladin al Hussain". Doh arks fuh if yuh actually
happen to have a even vaguely Islamic/Arabic sounding name...yuh visay gettin' scan' bout
fifteen times an dey watchin' yuh hard hard like if dey feel yuh go start sweating like mad
an' de disguise an' makeup dat de sure yuh wearing go slip. After yuh go through dat, is
now dey really start. Take off yuh shoes, remove yuh belt, empty yuh pockets, lemme see dat
hat yuh have on. Dey even make a woman travelling in a wheelchair take off she shoes an
socks too. An' when yuh feel yuh done is because dey scanning an' digging up in yuh luggage
as if yuh bet dem dey cyant find where yuh hide de drugs.
An' if yuh feel dat bad, wait till yuh hear what dey doin' up by de
Canadian border!
But dat go be a nex day, I gone fuh now.
:+:+:+:+:+:+:+::+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:
BACKCHAT: Issue 37
Could be that the facts of too many robberies, kidnappings and murders
have stunned the Trinis into silence Yes? While a good thing to actually have the
silence of a Trini, is not good for ALL to be silent, so I see how you's have great cause for
worry. Sitting in my safe house in UK and reading the local news did not encourage me at
all, at all to return. Friends of friends of friends caught up in the rush too, of
course we doh know all details why? But guess that somewhere is a good story which I
really not anxious to learn. Then next thing, flying Bwee. How we not hearing anything about
the new man on top? I ask the cabin crew and they say they just happy to have a job
but no news about who or what going on in the head office. The passengers can tell you
what going on in the galley during the flight doh. Is like a party on board, so much so the
cabin crew does forget is not mudder house but people plane. Hear dis one "Yuh en know
who going out etc" and "Wus ting yet etc" Kyak kayk kyaaaakkkkk! Buzz buzz Oh Sh!!!" etc. Really, somebody
had to pull them back so I did the 'Old Tants' ting and asked them to
stop ------ around the plane, keep the noise down. One step more to keep the airline's nose
above water maybe, except there was no tap water in one toilet, one of my chair arms
were broken halfway off, the seat next to me was broken, ..... they couldn't find
the special meals, and plenty people had 4 seats to stretch across on the way south.
Trinis too lethargic all year except for freeness and carnival. Is time for rejuvenation and
serious concentration to get the so and so officials to see that all ah we not
foolish blind or bazoodie, or maybe after all- - - - we is?
//UK
One month ago, I went down to Licensing, because my car, purchased 18
months previously, turned five, and I had to go and get that thing they call a "Certified
Copy", showing who owns the car, for the examiners to make an inspection to get the
sticker; you know the one, for the windscreen to say the car passed the test. Well, imagine my
surprise when the Certified Copy the gave me showed that the registered owners were
none other than.... the previous owners!! Those blasted, lazy, wutless, no-good, SPITEFUL
(see if you could even dare to argue with one on them behind one of those glass partitions
they have with that stupid little hole in it, and then go back and try to get something
done nuh?), dregs at the bottom of the civil service barrel, had not, after EIGHTEEN
MONTHS, got around to changing the registration on my car!! And somehow, I was the one being a
difficult so and so. Luckily, the car test people only wanted to see the certificate with
the car license number on it, so I managed to get the car tested. But what would have
happened if the car got stolen or damaged, and I had to claim on insurance; or I was trying
to sell my car? Would I also have been dragged out of the place by police as a suspected
criminal? How long was I supposed to wait for the proper certificate? These people are
almost medieval in their attitudes towards serving the citizens of T&T!!!
They talk about raising entry levels for the police service to five 'O'
levels in order for them to better serve the public. Well, isn't the entry level to the
Civil Service already five 'O' levels?? This means that all of them down there at
Licensing already have five 'O' levels, right?? To my mind education doesn't matter one
damn if the person you hire is accountable to no-one for the quality of work they do, and
they become effectively fire-proof. And that, my dear Tantie, is one wonderful
legacy of our Republican status: we eh accountable to no-one, for nuttin, especially
the Civil Service.
Jennifer Baptiste, you must be proud. Your Trinity Cross is in the mail. At least you
know you'll get it; they privatised THAT service some time ago, and it
now works!!
//Trinidad
On the subject of putting the little ones in car seats, just a reminder
to the parents of small children. Small children should always travel in a properly
adjusted car seat. Having said that, if you don't have one, an adult should sit with the
child in the rear seat! I am tired of seeing people in front passenger seat with children
on their laps! It is the worst possible place for a child to travel! Picture the crash
test dummies in the simulated accidents on television. What happens to the dummies in a
crash? They go forward to the dashboard. What would happen if there were a child in
between the adult's body and the dashboard/windscreen? Don't imagine you would be able to
either brace yourself or protect the child from injury in time. That is not always
possible. And if the vehicle is fitted with airbags, who knows what additional injury
could be inflicted on a small body. Sit with the baby in the back, and turn down the music if
you and the d river want to chat! While I'm on the subject, parents please don't have your little ones
jumping up and down in the back seat. Make them learn from early that they must sit with
their seat belts on until they reach their destination. Seat belts save lives! Let's use them.
//Hotmail user
You know I really have to get a print out of my TSTT calls. I have been
putting it off.... due to laziness...........but now I feel is the time. At my home no one
is there in the day. Who not working, in school...but I always get these TSTT bills
that say I made over 200 calls for the month. When I work it out, on average that would mean
we have to be making 6 calls per day every day of the wee. That is impossible!
Another point I would like to add is that all of you who use cordless phones or have a
neighbour living close with a cordless telephone BEWARE!!! Cordless phones have a way of
getting their signals tied up and that could cause telephone calls to be registering on your
bill that are NOT EVEN YOURS!!!! I got that info from my partner at TSTT and it is true. Since I got rid
of my cordless telephone,k my telephone bill has reduced noticeably.
But I feel it supposed to be reduced even more. I tell you, when TSTT have some
competition, they going to be dead, dead, DEAD cause I know plenty people will change
service provides without a backward glance
//Trinidad
Tants, ah love tha one bout the soldier,good humour, ah still laughing.....big up u self
//Hotmail user
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Stressed? Try Tobago!
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Rates: US$60.50 double/night inclusive (no govt tax extra). US$15 extra
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Email: impexbar@caribsurf.com
Have a look at our Tobago apartment website
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Phone/Fax: (246) 437-0238
Barbados (868) 639-7313 Tobago |
Michael
Baker's (CMB) apartments, Tobago. Self contained, kitchenette,
hot & cold, cable TV. TT$75 per person. Two hour show, World
class entertainment (calypso, reggae, ballads, oldies) One man
band.
Michael Baker's CD 2002 "one Aspiration" available.
Call 868-639-8243(home) ... 868-681-9717(mobile)
EMAIL: mbaker@visittobago.gov.tt
Daneil Trace Carnbee,
Tobago W.I. |
7th European Film Festival at
MovieTowne:
Thursday 2nd to Tuesday 21st - European Diplomatic Missions present the
7th European Film
Festival at MovieTowne, 2-21 October 2003. Featuring 27 European films
at special rate of $10 per person per movie. Show times: 1:00pm, 3:00pm, 5:00pm, 7:00pm
and 9:00pm daily and additionally 11:00am at weekends. Each film scheduled at least
three times over festival duration. Promotional leaflets, including schedule, available
at MovieTowne's box office.
See www.movietowne.com for details.
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Bonsai Society Workshop:
Saturday 4th - Joint Workshop: Members & Non-Members – 2:00 to 5:00pm.
at the Chaguanas Senior Comprehensive School on Helen Street, Chaguanas (off the Main
Road, Montrose; East of Chaguanas City Centre).
Workshops will be held concurrently:
1. An introduction to the Art of Bonsai for Non-Members: $30 Entrance Fee. Starter Plants will go on sale after the Open Workshop. A 'Guide to Bonsai
Appreciation' and the 'History of Bonsai' handouts will be distributed at the Workshop.
2. Members’ Workshop: Members are invited to bring their plants for consultation, wiring,
shaping or re-potting under the guidance of more experience members.
If re-potting, Members are reminded to bring their bonsai soil and that
goes for wiring also. Members are asked to volunteer at Sales, Registration and Wiring
starter plants. All sales will be conducted after the workshops only and not during
workshops. Soil,
pots, plants, tools, wire etc. will be on sale. |
Bishop Anstey High School Fundraiser:
Saturday 4th - BAHS Vision 2000 Fundraising Committee presents "A Night
of International Cuisine" at the school compound from 7:oopm to Midnight, with dinner
served from 7:00-9:30pm.
A donation of $125 is asked, a cash bar is available and music, door
prizes and take away as well as secured parking so you can be sure of an enjoyable evening. |
"Orchids: It's a Magical Dream":
Saturday 4th & Sunday 5th - Orchid Show "Orchids: It's a Magical Dream"
to be held at the Ambassador Hotel from 9:00am to 6:00pm. Admission: $20.00 /
children under 12: free |
Argentine Cinema Wednesday:
Wednesday 1st - "Kamchatka". Drama (2002) The issue of the 'disappeared' continues to
bring inspiration for good Argentine movies. It is part of the healing
process. In this
film, director Marcelo Piñeyro brings us a new perspective, the experience being narrated
by a child: how he has to grow, adapt and suffer, without losing the
magic of childhood
and finding new complicities with his parents in a process that can only
reinforce their
mutual love bonds. Spanish. 103 minutes. Showtime: 5:00pm, TATIL
Building, 4th Floor,
11 Maraval Road, POS. Seating capacity is limited. Please call to
guarantee reserved seats at 628-7557. Early arrival is recommended since main entrance to
Tatil closes at5:00pm. |
Studio Film Club Presents "Dancer In The Dark":
Thursday 2nd - The Studio Film Club is happy to present Lars von Triers'
moving musical, "Dancer In The Dark" starring Bjork and Catherine Deneuve. This film
won the top prize at the Cannes Film festival in 2002 and is considered to be possibly the
director's most compelling work to date. It's a musical like you've never seen before.
R. 140 minutes. October is Calypso History Month, and on this occasion SFC will be
screening short films related to the history of calypso throughout the month. These shorts
will begin between 7:30 and 7:45pm. Our main feature will begin at 8:15pm. |
George Padmore International Seminar:
Thursday 2nd to Saturday 4th - "The Life and Times of George Padmore:
Black Radicalism in the 20th Century". Thursday 2nd - 6:30pm: Formal Opening at The Learning Resource Centre, UWI
Friday 3rd & Saturday 4th - 9:00am to 5:00pm: Panel Sessions, Conference
Room, Sir Arthur
Lewis Institute or Social and Economic Studies, UWI. Registration:
Students in uniform -
free / UWI students: TT$25 / TT&Caribbean delegates: US$25 or TT$150 /
delegates outside
the Caribbean: US$40 |
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