Closer Look at India...

Adjustments are being made to Brian Mc Farlane's website it seems, and I was quite pleased to be able to view an enlarged photo of the costumes. Hover your mouse over the drawings and an option will appear to "click to enlarge" highlighted in red.

All of the following drawings are courtesy Brian Mc Farlane's website, and these are the sections I really, really like. For the rest of the costumes please visit the website if you have not already done so. Click on the following photos for a larger view.

Hopefully these sections will be named and priced on the website in the near future, it would be nice to know the names of the costumes. Anyways, I am in love with this white costume! I love the skirt, headpiece and the top. It just goes to show how covered can look utterly sexy.



Although this green costume looks a bit cumbersome with the leg pieces, I LOVE the headpiece as well as the ornate collar worn around the neck/shoulders. I also like that the bottom piece is just a sliver of fabric, showing off the legs and belly; another costume for the ones that like showing some skin.


Another white costume, somewhat similar to the first one that I like with the sleeves and flowing paneled skirt, but I love the headpiece and hand held standard.


I love this totally divaesque costume! It looks like the wearer will be clothed in a jeweled body suit with "fire" shooting from head, shoulders and hip. This might be a challenge to navigate around Port of Spain but it will look spectacular I am sure! Beautiful costume!


Finally I really like the colours of these two costumes, but prefer the male. I love that the male costume includes a sitar and of course, I love the female headpiece though the rest of the costume is a bit too much clothing for my taste. In my opinion this is one of the nicest male costumes in the band.


Well, there you have it, my two cents added about Boyie's journey. I do like the other sections as well, in fact there is not one section that I do not like. It's just that these costumes appeal to me much more over the others.

Here is wishing Carnival was three days instead of two so that I can play with Mc Farlane on the third day. I am so loving these costumes!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

As we welcome Christmas day in the Western Hemisphere I would like to wish everyone and their families a very Merry Christmas!

I hope the meaning for the season is not lost as we open all our presents; remember it' s a time to celebrate with our family and friends and the gifts do not matter as much as the thought behind them.

And for all those watching their waistlines in preparation for Carnival, take a day off and eat some carbs! I am definitely having a pastelle today, lovingly made by my mom, and enjoying some sorrel and a turkey ham sandwich!

Enjoy your day where ever you may be!


Love,

Saucy !

Early Christmas gift for Chatam residents!

Stop the presses and protests; Prime Minister Patrick Manning in an address to the nation has stated that plans for the two proposed aluminium smelters will be discontinued.

Instead an industrial estate will be established offshore at Otahite where aluminium as well as other industrial activities will take place.

The decision was made coming out of the symposium about the proposed smelter plants, though he did reiterate that the aluminum smelter plants were safe once overseen by guidelines of the Environmental Management Agency (EMA).

So this post has absolutely nothing to do with Carnival but the issue has been weighing quite heavy on possibly every Trinidadians mind and now we can breathe a sigh of relief as we welcome the new year. Oh, and this address to the nation sounds as if elections might be called sooner than we think! Our Prime Minister has addressed every issue from the smelter plants to health care to traffic congestion to tertiary education to housing for all.

Merry Christmas everyone!!

Wedding pics!

Today's Newsday has a report of the Soca wedding which took place yesterday as well as a few photos from the Ceremony.The following photographs are courtesy Newsday and please check this link to read the full story. Both Bride and Groom looked beautiful!

It’s Christmas Eve!!!

Well the spirit of Christmas has finally taken a hold of me, though yesterday I swore of having kids after a trip to the mall with my girlfriend, her 6 month old baby and two nephews; one is two and the other twelve. What a nightmare having to drag a kicking and screaming two year old out of every toy store while we hunt for his Christmas present, a Kawasaki Bike!

Today I am taking my mom to the port to get the ferry to Tobago, she is spending Christmas in the sister isle and ever so often sends me into pangs of jealousy that come tomorrow she will be lying on Pigeon Point soaking up sand and that gorgeous blue water!In addition I will miss my mom on Christmas Day; though she did make me pastelles and black cake (did I not say I was on a DIET????) and ham!!

So far I have given everyone their gifts for Christmas; I like people having their present to open on Christmas Day instead of me delivering it when I show up. Yet, strangely enough I have only collected one gift from my mom, and that’s because she is leaving for Tobago today. And despite all my efforts to keep my gift giving list short, I managed to buy gifts for all the kids I know, friends and immediate family!! See, I told you I got the Spirit!

For everyone caught up in the last minute rush of preparations, cleaning, cooking, baking and shopping stop awhile, take it easy and enjoy the season! Have a great day everyone, no matter what you are doing today and for all those who will be out and about on the roads; BE SAFE!!!

Bunji and Faye Ann to wed today

I just want to offer my congratulations to the happy couple on their nuptials today. I hope the weather holds up well and everything goes perfectly, though somethings always happens on the wedding day that throws you for an unexpected turn. I know my friend, who is one of the 13 bridesmaid's, will looking beautiful in her blue dress and hopefully she will furnish me with a report on the day's events as they unfold.

In the meantime, the Newsday spoke with the couple recently and published the interview in their features section.

Bunji and Fay-Ann tie the knot

By Joan Rampersad Friday, December 22 2006

"Young soca couple Ian “Bunji Garlin” Alvarez and Fay-Ann Lyons will tie the knot this weekend after two years of happy partnership. Newsday spoke to the couple about the upcoming nuptials.

“I feel pretty comfortable about it,” 26-year-old Fay-Ann told Newsday. “A lot of people have been asking me how I feel but it is not a cliff that I am jumping off so there is no reason to be nervous or to get nervous about it. There is really nothing to be scared of.”

The more laid back Bunji, 27, said, “I feel cool, just good, excited inside and no nervousness. I am looking forward to enjoying the day and getting over it eventually. Because that day is going to be hectic so it can’t last forever."

For the rest of the article please click here.

Boyie has arrived

SO, I came home from lunch with my friend “Hot Boy” who is visiting from London for Christmas and another sojourn to the mall (where I ran into “no longer anon”) only to be greeted by the fact that Mc Farlane’s website is up!

If at first you can’t see anything new, click “tools” to the top of your browser window, then “options”, then “clear cache” and refresh the page; you should be able to see the new website then.

Now the website has not fully launched but from the drawings available for viewing the costumes look absolutely stunning! If I were playing in this band it would be a hard decision choosing a section for sure.

What I like about the costumes is that you can immediately identify the theme, some of the costumes looking more like elaborately decorated clothing, and that they are unique since I can not readily recall seeing any costume looking like these in years gone by.

Hopefully this presentation will finally lay to rest the Minshall/ Mc Farlane comparison and I cannot wait to see the website when it is fully launched.

Fete List

This is a preliminary fete list in lieu of Peter Ray Blood's "official" Carnival schedule which will be released on Christmas day. According to an Express report promoters are not easily finding a venue to host their fetes hence the reason so many venues are listed as TBA:


December:

26th
SOCA-Reggae Fest
Point Fortin Civic Centre
628-3460/4531

30th
Iwer Property
Annual fete Salazar Trace, Point Fortin
628-3460/4531

January
1st
Launch of Chutney/Calypso Touring Tent
Various venues across the island
624-1024

5th
First Taste of Carnival
Sting Nightclub San Fernando
622-6316

6th
St. Francois Girls College All-inclusive
St. John Ambulance and Brigade Headquarters
624-3468

Break 2007
Pier1 Chaguaramas
755-7020

BG's Energy All-inclusive
Chaguaramas Golf Course
628-0888 ext 2130

Comess Trinilimers
Charity All-inclusive
Sevilla Sports Club Couva
352-1452/687-5959/792-2351

7th
Soca in Moka
Trinity College, Moka
Maraval
629-0973,629-2078

12th
Kaiso House Grand Opening
Venue TBA
623-9660

13th
Preliminary of Chutney Soca Monarch
Samar Entertainment Centre Penal
653-8923/653-2908

Fire Fete
National Stadium Car Park
622-6316

BLISS All inclusive
Moka
625-6800

Outta De Blue VIII
Queen's Royal College
Port of Spain
622-2544

14th
Amnesia Ultra All-inclusive
628-9474

UWI Development and Endowment Fund All-inclusive
UWI St. Augustine Campus
653-8923/653-2908

19th
Vintage Fuh So
All -inclusive Calypso Show
Holy Name Convent Port of Spain
681-7013

Klassic Russo launches at Kavemar Pub
Henry Street Port of Spain

Festival Centre for the Creative Arts
Carnival fete

20th
Licensing Fete
Licensing Compound
Wrightson Road Port of Spain

Chutney Soca Monarch Semi Finals
Rienzi Complex Couva
653-8923/653-2908

Bishops Anstey All-inclusive fete
Bishops Anstey High School
786-6655

Soca Broadway
South Opening
Skinner Park San Fernando
628-3460/4531

UNC Carnival Fete
Rienzi Complex Couva

26th
Unite
UWI, St. Augustine
622-3157

Police and CCC Fete
TBA
628-3460/4531

27th
Republic Bank All-inclusive

FCB All-inclusive


Chuntey Glow Paria Suites Car Park
South Trunk Road, La Romain
653-8923/653-2908

Fete with the Saints
St. Mary's College
Pembroke Street
624-8468/684-0557

WASA Fete
WASA Sports Ground, St. Joseph
622-6316

COCA COLA Youth Fest
Venue TBA

28th
Hilton Annual All-inclusive
Hilton. Lady Young Road, Port of Spain
624-3211

Yorke Incorporated All-inclusive
Windsor Road, Valsayn North
684-0557

Children's Fest
Arima Velodrome

February
2nd
Barbarossa Cooler Fete
622-3157

Flour Mills Fete
Compound Wrightson Road Port of Spain
622-6316

3rd
Tobago Fest
622-3157

RBTT Carnival fete
Pier 1, Chaguaramas
622-6316

15th
Beach House All-inclusive
Venue TBA

Red Ants for J'ouvert

For those interested in playing with Red Ants for j'ouvert 2007, the prices are $280.00 for early Ants and $300.00 for late Ants; so I suggest for those wanting to be one of the "early" Ants, contacting TRIBE for more information on registration.

The email address is info@carnivaltribe.com

Other upcoming events are:

BLISS - Sat 13th Jan - Moka

WITCO ONE Fete - Sun 21st Jan - Oval

Red Ants in Blue Range All Inc - Sat 27th Jan

Pan Semis - Sun 4th Feb - QP Savannah

TRIBE Thursday - Carnival Thur (15th Feb) - Oval

Blue Range Cooler Fete - Carnival Fri (16th Feb)

The venue for BLISS is at Moka, glad to see that information has been revealed and I await prices now.

Apart from BLISS I will be going to pan-semis in it's "new" venue at the Savannah (providing of course there is no boycott) and I have been making preparations for that lime already!

Still waiting for Boyie

Well the 20th has come and gone and Mc Farlane’s new website has yet to be launched. I find myself clicking the link to the website ever so often hoping for something new, only to be greeted by the same old “preview” site.

All attempts to contact the mas camp for further information on when we can expect the new site to be up and running has proved futile thus far.

I guess I have to keep clicking away until something new appears!

More Changes for Carnival 2007

Apart from having a new home for Carnival 2007, the Dimanche Gras finals will also see a new feature; calypsonians will be required to perform only one song. Now, for those who are not familiar, the calypsonians usually perform two songs, inter spaced by the showing of costumes for King and Queen of the band.

The reason for this new development has been cited as time control, hence shortening the Dimanche Gras show. Now, I agree that sometimes the show does tend to run a bit long, but for me it was the perfect timing. After Dimanche Gras is over that’s the time to leave home for j’ouvert.

Apparently not all calypsonians are in favour of this change as reported in today’s Express:

One song? Not now, say calypsonians
Michael Mondezie mmondezie@trinidadexpress.com

TUCO's one song seems to lack harmony.

That was the consensus from several top calypsonians when the national Calypso Organisation hosted a Christmas gathering on Tuesday at its Jermingham Avenue office at Belmont.

While most of the genre's practitioners seemed to agree with the move they were unanimous that there should not be a rush to implement the measure and cited Carnival 2008 as the ideal time to make the change.

Culture Minister Joan Yuille-Williams said on Monday the National Calypso Monarch Finals would be moved to the Jean Pierre Complex and competitors would be required to perform one song instead of the customary two renditions.

To keep reading the rest of the article click here.

Express Opinions on Mas on the Streets

Interesting views on mas on the streets from the Express editorials today; as someone said to me recenelty, we cannot have progress without change and I sense the same sentiments in these excerpts:

Keith Smith:


Full circle wine for Carnival
Keith Smith

Wednesday, December 20th 2006



"I hear tell that Mr Hart has said that mas is for the road but I don't know if, like Archimedes or whoever, this is to be taken as a "eureka!" moment, meaning that next year's mas will now go not into but around the Savannah as the old John Humphrey has long suggested, the 'world's biggest roundabout' (Humphrey again) ringed with bleachers, the crowds (hopefully) cheering, steupsing or maybe just sleeping as MacFarlane, Trini Revellers and the rest make their way unimpeded (again hopefully) around the Savannah circle"...November 22

Well now we'll see, won't we? All those who have been arguing that the Savannah and, more particularly, the Savannah stage, was the biggest constraint to the free flow of the bands will be proven either right or wrong now that, as I sensed weeks ago, the mas is going to go 'round rather that through the Savannah. Let me say - up front - that while I am neither for nor against this new, well, design, I can hardly wait to see if it will make a sequin of a difference..........

but for me, and many (although not most, I suppose) like me, the real taste of this pulsating pudding of a thing is the free-spiritedness let loose in the Carnival air, some of my more enjoyable Carnival moments memorised in front of Doonie's Lucky Jordan recreation club not, mind you, that that was not a minor competition centre itself, only that the competition was not the major component, who win win, leh midnight meet we singing and dancing just like Trotman's drunken sailors, the Carnival now let loose from the Savannah providing a breather for the grass but only that since the plan is for us to wine back in due course to the old vintage, albeit in a new state-of-the-art bottle. So why worry, sister, eat, drink with this, the merriest of monarchs we have managed to conjure up, all ah we already knowing what they done say 'bout tomorrow meeting us done done.

Opinion:

Carnival changes and challenges
Wednesday, December 20th 2006

Carnival is an institution and, as with all institutions, it is resistant to any change not least because people like things to remain as they are, particularly those things that work to a greater or lesser degree. Whatever the criticisms in the past - and there have been some - the Savannah has long been the successful centre of the world-famous Trinbago Carnival....................

But challenge is also opportunity and one would expect, in the tradition of the Carnival experience, that the problems that arise will be met with the creative skill that has lit up Carnival for close to 170 years. In any case the move away from the centrality of the Savannah is temporary, so any ensuing hue and cry will be completely misplaced given that, in a year or two, all will be as it was before.

Indeed, the country may even grab the chance, as it confronts the shifts in the overall programme, to examine Carnival as a whole to see whether we are doing enough to ensure that it will retain the vitality that has made it the "Mother Carnival" for another 170 years what with the stunningly dramatic shows that today's generation has become accustomed to both here and abroad.

The most negative thing we could do is to become enslaved by the past. The very freeing of the spirit that Carnival epitomises should encourage us to venture into new arrangements while being self-confident enough to affirm those Carnival elements that have given it its distinctive character. Next year will not bring all that much of a change - just enough, perhaps, to give the country a refreshing taste for more change.

For the full articles, please click the highlighted links.

Brown skin gal stay home and mind baby!

I was reading Kevian’s “Theory of the Carnival Baby” over at her blog and it got me thinking of the supposedly higher birth rate in November. Seeing as I am born in November and consider myself a Carnival baby that gives credence to the argument of more sexual activity during Carnival not so? The thing is though, for someone who is passionate about playing mas this is actually NOT a bad thing. I mean, I am not talking about having indiscriminate, un-protected sex during Carnival, but planning your baby around the event.

When my girlfriend unexpectedly got pregnant in October last year, forcing her to eventually sell her costume, my first words were “so what happen to mas?” . Yes, I know it should not have been the first thing to come out my mouth, but I was actually concerned about what that would mean for Carnival before anything else. She held out hope for playing mas until January, sold her costume and spent Carnival in Tobago. After which she called me and said she was totally vexed when looking at mas on T.V. and seeing a pregnant Wendy enjoying herself in two bands. See, that is one of my greatest Carnival fears, especially when registering so early, an unexpected pregnancy coming out of the blue and disrupting my Carnival plans.

My co-workers have heard me make the statement that right after Carnival I am going to try and get pregnant so the baby can be born in November, giving me enough time to play mas in February the following year. When I say this I am not joking, though it always elicits a laugh from them. Thinking of it logically it does make perfect sense and truth be told I do know of one person who did plan her baby exactly like that; she had her baby in early December and played mas the following year with Harts.

I think it is an ideal plan so as not to interrupt my joy of playing mas. The biggest hurdle might be loosing the baby fat post pregnancy to be able to fit into the skimpy costume I would have to register for in August. But it can be done; if Heidi Klum can strut down Victoria’s Secrets runway in skimpy lingerie a month after giving birth, a mere mortal like me can hope to look decent enough in two months right? I think the key would be not to put on too much weight during pregnancy, you know some women go all out eating everything in sight, well that just cannot be done if the goal is regain your figure after the baby. All the “experts” have advised that it is not too hard to loose the baby weight if you eat healthy, exercise and breast feed.

So while it might seem like there are much more babies born in November, maybe those mothers are all part of this master plan to keep the mas going the following year. Or, it could mean they did have wanton sex during the drinking and revelry of Carnival and showed the result of their actions nine months later. The fact is, the more I think of having a “Carnival baby” the more it makes perfect sense to me; ironically the baby will be a Carnival baby in every sense of the word. Now all I have to do is convince my husband that I am not crazy and it is actually a well thought out plan. And even though conception may not occur on Carnival Tuesday night at least we can have fun trying for the rest of the month!

For the Bunji Fans

Get ready for a Global Musical Experience; on Carnival Saturday, February 17th, Bunji Garlin will be in concert.

This event adds to the roster of parties normally held on Carnival Saturday such as Amnesia, Dawn, Break and the Breakfast Fete. So for those looking for an alternative to the "norm" this one might be for you!

Click on the photo for a larger view

Missed the Boat!

Sorry folks just got word that Mc Farlane held a private media launch THIS MORNING!!
Needless to say I missed that one!

The website is scheduled to launch tomorrow, and I am anxiously awaiting the revelation of Boyie's journey depicted by Mc Farlane in mas.

Carnival Anxiety

Less than two months to go and I woke up this morning feeling worried about my Carnival preparations!

So far the change of diet has been working great, I have lost weight but not enough to, in my opinion, do “Fireman” justice; I still need to loose a few more pounds and Christmas is almost on the door step with lots of temptations! The main problem for me though is finding time to exercise and now that Christmas is here it is even worse! My main form of exercise has been walking the malls instead of walking the treadmill and the only benefit of this is that I have been doing a lot of walking finding no parking spaces close to any of the malls.

I have already made a firm decision to avoid many of the sinfully delicious foods this Christmas; there will be no pastelles, ham, butter cookies, black cake or ponch de crème in my house; sorry for anyone who plans on dropping by. Included on the menu for Christmas are lots of veggies, sea food and salads. I know it is difficult to not have pastelle for Christmas but I cannot afford a set back on the road to Carnival, I have come too far to ruin all my sensible eating choices by gorging this Christmas. I am breaking my “no alcohol” rule stocking the house with Lite Beer (half the carbs. and calories of regular beer), but there will be no other alcohol…no vodka, rum, scotch…nothing at all except Lite Beer! See why for Carnival Monday and Tuesday I will be breaking loose, stage or no stage? All I am seeing with these sacrifices is the goal at the end!

The other thing I have yet to start on is my Monday wear. My plan is to wear a “costume” on Monday and I have already gotten the design, but I have not made any attempts to get to Samaroos to look for the materials I will need for this project. I feel stumped on this whole Monday wear idea and I am seriously thinking of a plan B, just in case I do not have time to get the original costume. It would be really nice if I did not have to think of Monday wear at all, having it provided by TRIBE , like the other band does for their masqueraders.

Also, shopping for clothes is sort of driving me up a wall. I have found some really cute shoes and pants that are perfect for Carnival but I am coming up empty on finding tops. Is it just me or is every store carrying the exact same items of clothing? From Jebelle in West Mall to the cheaper stores on Frederick Street, all I am seeing are tops with that huge belt attached! With my first fete of the season in less than a month I was hoping to find something to wear during all my shopping trips, but I have been coming up empty! I think I need to visit Eva’s in Maraval. Thing is I really don’t like showing up at a party/event and looking like a clone of every other female in the party; it might be in style but that does that mean I am wearing it. Clothing that “speaks” to me are the ones that are different, unique and looks like a one of a kind item. How I miss Elements of Style!

Other items I still have to get, but can possibly wait until late January/February are:

2 pairs of mas stockings (one for Monday, one for Thursday)
Make up (eye shadow, gems, spirit gum/eyelash glue, lipstick, liner)
Tape (for boobs and toes)
Body Jewelry /Decorations

The only thing I have secured so far is my costume and footwear!As I look at the numbers drop daily on my count down clock to Carnival I am getting nervous, is it just me?

The Minister of Culture Speaks!

All speculation can now be laid to rest. The Minister of Culture Joan Yuille Williams in her address to parliament has stated that UDeCott has delayed construction long enough and while there was a delay the Grand Stand was allowed to be used for activities, however the widow of use kept getting smaller and if there is any more delay it will drive project costs up. In effect, the demolition of the Grand Stand will go ahead as planned with the raw materials being re-used in other projects.

Mrs. Williams stated that it is economical to reuse these materials and that nothing will be lost but the "physical structure" which will be replaced by the Carnival Centre and at that time our Carnival would have come of age. The following plans for Carnival 2007 were revealed:

• The Jean Pierre Complex will be used for Dimanche Gras, including judging of King and Queen and other Calypso competitions previously held at the Savannah.

• Mas will be on the streets; judging points are Down Town, Piccadilly on the Greens, Queens Park Savannah South (in the vicinity of Princess Building Grounds) and Adam Smith Square. Victoria Square will not be used but bleachers will be constructed for spectators.

• Panorama prelims will be judged in the panyard, semi-finals at the South Western end of the Savannah entering by the Paddock and exiting on Dundonald Street. Finals will be held at Skinner Park in San Fernando.
  

So, there you have it folks. I am sure all the daily Newspapers will be filled with all the details that I have missed so be sure to check the Express, Guardian and Newsday tomorrow.

These revelations have been such an anti-climax; just for one minute I had a ray of hope that they would use the Savannah one more time, even when I should have known better. Now, it is just to move on and make the best of what will surely be a new experience, "mas on the streets!"

Oh, and by the way I am sending an email to TRIBE that I am NOT in favour of Piccadilly Greens as a judging point and I hope they will skip that one!

Same old tune...

The Newsday is reporting that Culture Minister Joan Yuille Williams is expected to make an announcement on the proposed venues for Carnival 2007, today:

"Joan to end silence on Carnival venue

By SUZANNE SHEPPARD Sunday, December 17 2006


CULTURE MINISTER Joan Yuille-Williams is expected to break her lengthy silence on the contentious issue of the main venue for Carnival 2007 tomorrow. Well placed political sources told Sunday Newsday the Minister, who has been under fire from various quarters over a decision not to stage the festival at the Queen’s Park Savannah, will make a statement on the matter at a special sitting of the House of Represen-tatives tomorrow at 1.30 pm.

According to sources, Yuille-Williams will be delivering a “comprehensive statement” on the venues for next year’s Carnival celebration, including whether the Government will stick to a plan to demolish the Grand Stand and seek other locations for major competitions."

For the full article, please check the link to Newsday here.

To be honest, I have heard this before only to be disappointed when no announcement was made. I am not getting my hopes up today that anything would be different than the last few times the Minister was supposed to make some sort of announcement. I will be keeping my ears wide open, however, just in case the "well placed political sources" are correct.

Feteing now start....

Remember the days when the only schools throwing an all-inclusive fete for Carnival were Trinity, Bishops and QRC? Well, seems like all schools are now getting in on the action,with nearly every "prestige" school having an all-inclusive fete to aid "school repairs". While I see nothing wrong with this, can someone please tell me if St. Francois finally got their hall after 4 years of throwing a Carnival fete?

And what was once one of the cheaper all-inclusives, St. Francois is now $300.00. Guess that should have been expected with the double digit inflation rate. Trini Limers's fete at $250.00 is "cheap" all things considered, but who are Trini Limers and sorry to say but Couva is too far to go and party! That's a good fete for those South and Central residents though. Presentation College Chaguanas is another fete this "town" girl will pass on, but I am glad to see some all-inclusives being held in other areas of the country.

With Christmas on the near horizon and Old Year's parties stilll to be decided upon, these are the first all-inclusives to be advertised for Carnival 2007,the race is on people!

For more information check out my friends at Triniscene.com (yup got their permission to use their photos). If these are the indication of prices to come, it has just cemented the fact that I will be feteing less for 2007.

I shudder to think of the price of BLISS! Maybe I should put that down as a Christmas gift....yooo hoo, friends/family all yuh hearing?

Mall Madness

Now I know this has nothing to do with Carnival really, but how could I resist a post about the mall at Christmas time!? I have been living at the mall this weekend, visiting both West Mall and Trincity Mall numerous times between today and yesterday. In between shopping for gifts for others (only managed to get a few) I was busy shopping for me with my Carnival wardrobe at the back of mind (guess that's where Carnival comes in!).

My quest scored me some excellent finds at Westport Body (accessories on the cheap!), Suite 16 (you do have to hunt for the good stuff) AND I just discovered Suite 16 has opened a accessory and shoe shop at Trincity.... imagine,cute sandals for $65.00!

Here are some photos of my shopping expedition at Trincity mall; for those in Trinidad check out Suite 16's new store and for those of you overseas I hope these scenes at least remind you a bit of the madness that grips Trinis, sending them into a shopping frenzy, come Christmas time:


New Suite 16 store










Entertainment by Marcia Miranda.