How about mixing it up a bit? Two West Indies cricket T20 encounters last Tuesday. The men played their second match against Sri Lanka, and the women challenged England for a semi-final spot in the World Cup. At the tenth over, the women were 89-0, with openers Hayley Matthews and …
Read More »Vaneisa: A study of the mas and Minshall’s towering contributions to the arts
Early one Sunday morning, around dawn, I drove to Macqueripe Bay for a photo shoot. It was five days before I gave birth, 31 years ago. There, as daylight cast her yawning gaze upon the empty shore, I unclad myself and let Skye and Corinne wrap me in two beautiful …
Read More »Vaneisa: Under the crescent moon—the good, the bad and the ugly of the CPL
The day after the end of the T20 World Cup, my daughter and a friend of ours were at my home, and as I was talking cricket, he suggested we have a lime to watch the final. I burst out laughing, explaining that the final had already gone and the …
Read More »Vaneisa: Loads of rubbish—what do you do with your trash?
On Republic Day, some friends—mainly from the journalism world—reconnected at my home for lunch. It was a delightfully memorable afternoon, recalling stories of the craziness of the newsrooms and their eccentric characters. We drank a toast to our departed colleagues as we reminisced. But that’s not where I am heading …
Read More »Vaneisa: Musings at 58—safeguard your mental space
I turned 58 last Thursday. Never one for fussing about my birthdays, I didn’t make plans. But it turned memorable of its own accord, starting with a couple of people coming to my home to watch the CPL match the night before. Three, actually. Two of whom I had not …
Read More »Vaneisa: Taitree’s Avocat legacy; everything was mud
The column I had originally written for today was bleak and dark and the person whose story I was including was understandably reluctant for it to be aired because she feared repercussions—although no one was identified. She needed some time, she said, before she could deal with it. I respect …
Read More »Vaneisa: Faith, hope and gloom—are we really haters at heart?
Last Sunday, Queen’s Hall was the venue for Dawad Philip’s Sunday with the Warlord, a play about the calypsonian Lord Blakie (Carlton Joseph). Blakie was perhaps best known for his two Road March wins, “Steelband Clash” (1954) and “Maria” (1962), and the play is a sort of narrative about his …
Read More »Vaneisa: Slow down, you crazy child—family life suffering from excessive job demands
I came across this column I wrote in 1998, and for some reason it felt so relevant that I thought I would share this trimmed version (with a Billy Joel headline). When I quit full-time work, a major factor had been the desire to spend more time with my infant …
Read More »Vaneisa: The waiting game—the anxious mental strain of public sector visits
Not long ago, a couple of letters to the editor appeared where the writers complained about extremely long waits at public health institutions. I had immediately thought that this is why I walk with a book whenever I have to go to any institution, public or private. But then I …
Read More »Vaneisa: The dos and don’ts of supporting elite athletes
On Tuesday, Rob Stevens, writing for BBC Sport Africa, presented a comprehensive look at the overall performances at the Paris Olympics by Africans, as he explored what could be done to improve them in 2028. I was happy to see it because I had been looking unsuccessfully to find an …
Read More »Vaneisa: FLiRTing with Covid—there is more than dengue to worry about
I don’t mean to be harping on health issues, especially given my lack of medical credentials. But as I said, I’ve experienced enough to feel that it is worth sharing information when it relates to the public good. So bear with me. Please. A few weeks ago, my offspring called …
Read More »Vaneisa: If yuh iron bad… my adventures in haemoglobin
If I seem to be cantering down the road of health issues these past few weeks, it is because I have been talking to several sufferers who don’t seem to know what’s going on with them. Of course I have no medical training, but I have had such a diverse …
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