tim
Moderator
Reged: 06/18/03
Posts: 5999
Loc: Vélo, Virginia, Vitet
|
|
Time
This brief story tells what may be my worst experience with the concept of "island time" in my years on St. B. In need of some new upholstery for the funiture in our petite salon, I inquired on Monday with the owner of a local shop if they could help us with some and was immediately asked if I was in a hurry for it. It turns out I was not and so replied. She seemed satisfied with my response. My talented and artistic wife picked out some beautiful fabrics on that Tuesday, and we finalized the price, etc on Wednesday, at which time we were told to pick up the finished pieces on Saturday. They were indeed ready on Saturday and IMHO looked great. My evil twin is trying to talk me into ordering something else from that sweet lady in Lorient and saying I'm in a hurry just to see what happens. So much for "island time."
Life
I feel like I've made a major breakthrough in St. Barth Society. The trash collectors now recognize my face and occasionally wave to me! What can possibly be next - receptions at L'Hotel de Ville and dinner with His Honor, Mayor Bruno? Of course my bonding with the working folk is enhanced by our shared time on the road early in the morning when I play on the hills and they perform their invaluable service, both at nearly identical speed. Now if I could just figure out how to get my hands on one of those super cool tee shirts that say,
Maire de St. Barthelemy
Service de Proprete
Perhaps I have a friend who might score me one of those shirts in return for a favor already done - like locating his current New Hampshire license plate formerly hanging on the wall at L'Entr'Acte? I've seen the shirts in several different colors, and blue is my favorite - although the colors can be hard to differentiate after a few pickups.
--------------------
The best moderation is the least moderation.
|
JEK
Moderator
Reged: 01/20/04
Posts: 10725
Loc: Northern Virginia
|
|
Tim,
Thanks for giving us the opportunity to experience the daily life of SBH vicariously through your dedicated reporting. I still remember the story of the dog supervising the chickens from one of your Gr. Fond rides. I have a connection in the L'Hotel de Ville that can help if MikeR is unable to trade plate for shirt.
--------------------
Carnaval 2009: Mardi 24 Février 2009!!!!
JEK
|
tim
Moderator
Reged: 06/18/03
Posts: 5999
Loc: Vélo, Virginia, Vitet
|
|
The driver of the vehicle without the above identified license plate is curretly being sought for a wide variety of offenses. Anyone reporting his whereabouts is eligible for a substantial reward. All replies to this site will be kept in strictest confidence.
--------------------
The best moderation is the least moderation.
|
Mike R
Reged: 05/26/03
Posts: 15736
Loc: Stinson Lake - New Hampshire
|
|
ok...so here is the deal...IF you have the plate in your possession I will try to get a garbage shirt for you...but if not I can offer you a variety of very cool Summit HIgh basketball shirts...we have the "Summit Hoops - Breath Deep - 9700' " shirts..we have the "Summit Hoops - Got Oxygen? - Runnin and Gunnin at 9700' " shirts and we have the "Summit Basketball - Its a Matter of Pride- 2004-05 " shirts..the bumper sticker of the last shirt can be found on a shutter at Select, along with the other two programs bumper stickers I've coached at....
--------------------
karma is a beautiful thing at times
|
JimmyR
Reged: 11/05/04
Posts: 234
Loc: Mississippi
|
|
O.K.At the risk of sounding like a complete idiot,Can
someone please translate what exactly that t-shirt says?
It's obviously something to do with the garbage pick-up.
|
Mike R
Reged: 05/26/03
Posts: 15736
Loc: Stinson Lake - New Hampshire
|
|
I believe it means Mayor of ST Barts, Servicing property
--------------------
karma is a beautiful thing at times
|
tim
Moderator
Reged: 06/18/03
Posts: 5999
Loc: Vélo, Virginia, Vitet
|
|
Since I wouldn't last even one hour on "the truck", I'm probably not qualified to wear the proud uniform of the Service de Proprete. Therefore I accept with much gratitude your generous offer for Summit Hoops - Got Oxygen. It's sort of in keeping with that bicycle thing. Size medium would be perfect.
Proprete - nf. cleanliness, cleanness, neatness, tidiness, hygiene.(There's supposed to be an accent ' on the last e, but I'm not sufficiently computer literate to insert it.)
BTW, for such a small place the island has a relatively sophisticated system for collection, disposal, and recycling of solid wastes. One day when I'm feeling especially romantic and vulnerable, I'll try to do a post on it. I guess I'm going to have to be really careful in choosing the correct french word for "dump".
--------------------
The best moderation is the least moderation.
|
Mike R
Reged: 05/26/03
Posts: 15736
Loc: Stinson Lake - New Hampshire
|
|
so how and when did you get my plate?
--------------------
karma is a beautiful thing at times
|
GayleR
Reged: 11/18/02
Posts: 1206
Loc: Toronto, Canada
|
|
Collection may be sophisticated, but I am guessing from the sign on the road towards Vitet, past Trois Forces, about not leaving trash by the receptacles or risk attracting rats, that not all residents are as sophisticated. And I have seen a few island rodents and they are HUGE!
|
tim
Moderator
Reged: 06/18/03
Posts: 5999
Loc: Vélo, Virginia, Vitet
|
|
I deserve the shirt for just having gotten the information on where your plate is located. It's up to you to actually recover physical possession, but I'll go with you to hold your hand if you'll buy me dinner like a real date.
Yes, St. Barthelemy is blessed with a significant rat population, especially during this season. If people would quit feeding the blasted cats in all the restaurants, maybe they'd be hungry enough to actually go after some of the four-legged ones.
--------------------
The best moderation is the least moderation.
|
Mike R
Reged: 05/26/03
Posts: 15736
Loc: Stinson Lake - New Hampshire
|
|
well I could have figured al that out..a quick trip to the bar and JL would have told me...but I'll give you a shirt anyway just cause you're a nice guy....will you be there in June?? .... or April???....also..I've seen the cats...and I've seen the rats...and my money would be on the rats eating the cats... all the cats I've seen look pretty anemic
--------------------
karma is a beautiful thing at times
|
tim
Moderator
Reged: 06/18/03
Posts: 5999
Loc: Vélo, Virginia, Vitet
|
|
MikeR,
Anemic though they might appear, the Vitet gatherings of those rascals have the vocal cords of Tony the Tiger! What is it in the genetic code of cats that makes them scream those ungodly sounds at ungodly hours? Are they fighting or that other f___ing word? For those of us who appreciate the night air and only occasionally turn on the A/C just to confirm it works, there's are very few things worse than being awakened by that horrible racquet in an otherwise tranquil evening. If I could just get my sweet dogs down here and back without subjecting them to the baggage compartment or throwing away my retirement savings on a private jet trip, I think I could resolve the issues I have with my nocturnal cat friends - and maybe some rats as well.
I don't yet know my travel plans beyond March. I'm still accumulating ff miles faster than I can burn them, but I also want to maintain my gold status on U.S. Air. On the other hand, what good is gold status on an airline without wings? I'll get back to you on the schedule.
--------------------
The best moderation is the least moderation.
|
Previous
Index
Next
Threaded
Time-Life on St Barthelemy
Edit
Reply
Quote
[Re: 