Limin'

Laventille, Laventille

2008-08-29T19:16:00.001+01:00

To gain a sense of place, a sense of Trinidad, Port of Spain, Laventille, I read the work of others; such as travel guides, where Laventille has been described as:
“an Eastern suburb, the hills lined with houses roof to roof, some solidly constructed, others makeshift shanties.’ Where is might lack in sanitation and running water makes ups for it by being the home of steel pan.
I first came upon the place Laventille when I was teacher training back in 1996,
Laventille was a poem written by Derek Walcott.
He wrote,

‘we climbed where lank electric
lines and tension cables linked its raw brick
hovels like a complex feud,

where the inheritors of the middle passage stewed,
five to a room, still clamped below their hatch,
breeding like felonies,

whose lives revolve round prison, graveyard, church.'

I used this poem to illustrate the contrast between the holiday brochure images of the Caribbean; the tropical isles of paradise, sun sea sand, rum flowing freely at the ‘no problem’ bar with the reality of poverty, violence and suffering. I wanted my pupils to challenge the stereotypical images, get behind the façade to the reality beneath.
You can say over 10 years later I’m still working that angle, trying to get below the surface level to the truth below.
And back then on my young, flighty bachelor days, I didn’t know that I was connected to Laventille in such an intimate way, as I do know now.

Self-Medication

2008-06-12T19:20:00.001+01:00

Lime Freedom

2008-06-04T05:14:00.004+01:00

Freedom is an inspirational word. Freedom is a beautiful word. Freedom suggests endless possibilties. Freedom is about what options are open to us and freedom is about what options are right for us. There's a desire to do anything and everything. But in reality this might mean you do nothing.

Freedom is not about doing nothing but is doing things that you want to do that are not meaningless, worthless or dreaded. Freedom is about doing what you're passionate about and not really bothering about what others might think, say or do when you follow that course of action.

More time equals more freedom. I can remember when I'd break up from school for the six weeks holidays and feel that I had an infinity of time to play with. I spent days, weeks doing nothing, sitting around talking to friends, or alone picking my scabs, watching the sun go down. That was freedom, that sense of ease of being in the moment.

I think some of us have forgotten how to achieve freedom.

Sitting

2008-05-18T15:57:00.000+01:00

Hanging Around

2008-05-02T14:37:00.003+01:00

Hanging around, spending time, sitting on a bench, on a wall close to their home place, at bus stops without ever taking a bus, at refreshment kiosks, at street corners and other places, in a village or in the city.
“Spending time without activity” happens across the world, through different expressions with many different reactions.
But is it really, "spending time without activity"?
For someone, it could be their way of plugging themselves into the day to day of life.
For someone else, it could be their only contact with the outside world, with someone else.
We look and we judge in a blink.
But really we should stop and think; what are they really doing when they are hanging around?

Take a seat

2008-04-16T22:47:00.002+01:00

'Let meh explain. You no no set out to lime, it just happen. You meet one or two brudda’s down de road, in de street, roun de corner. Yuh jump up by chance and start de lime. Yuh ease into it, lean against de wall, take a seat and relax and let de juice flow. Talkin’ widout cares, telling tall stories and joke. De lime is juicy as long as de drink is coming and de man nat talk about his worries.'

nice 'n' easy

2008-03-21T19:38:00.007Z

Silence

2008-02-26T12:52:00.000Z

This is a rare moment during limin'. A rare moment of silence. Thoughts are circulating, thoughts are delving deep, thoughts will become words. Be those words jokes, anecdotes or stories. There is more to come. More to come as long as there's ice in the freeze, as long as the drink is flowing.
This gathering, closeness, space is missing in the UK life that I know. This time isn't about the drink or the relaxation. It's about connecting. Making it and keeping it. It's sharing time with each other, making each other feel good about his/herself and the life being lived.
It's special.

A Black Man

2008-02-24T00:55:00.000Z

This is Micky.

But ask him again and he's, 'Black Man'. 'Blackman, as in a surname?' ' 'No, I'm a Black Man'.

While we walked out together, down the street, up into in the hills, there was a chorus of 'Hey, Black Man', that followed us. He'd nod or wave a greeting, maybe hole dat and chat.

Yes, he is a Black Man.

Mr King

2008-02-11T13:18:00.001Z

Meet Mr King. I had the pleasure of limin' with this young man yesterday.
He opened his house to me. The men usually stay on the porch. It was an honour to be in his house. He keeps a good house too, clean and tidy. He's in his 70s. He used to be a policeman in the Caroni area, now retired he enjoys his time with close friends limin'. He would never live any other place but Trinidad. Trinidad has everything he needs. He'd be a sad, mad man if he lived anywhere else as he gets Italian football, cricket, music, food and lime.
He worked all his life, got seconded out of the force and then retired. Now is his time to enjoy. He limes with friends, the conversation and drink flow. There's tall stories told with humour and finesse about subjects ranging from the church to politics. And no stupidness is allowed. You have to be 'bright' to take part and be accepted. I passed the test and was treated like a queen. God bless Mr King, respect.

Limin'

2008-02-09T17:00:00.000Z

Limin' is de ting for mi, limin'. Let mi tell yu, limin' is de art of doing nothin'. And dere's nobody better at it dan mi.Yes man! Limin' is de ting for me in dis here country – Trinidad.

The guide books will tell you that the Trinidadian pastime of liming - doing nothing in particular-is as important as sports such as cricket, athletics and table tennis and the card game All Fours.
These generalised statements sustain the myth that the Caribbean is so 'laid-back', that the majority of people are horizontal. This myth is so entrenched that if you say you're going to the Caribbean, the responses are one of jealousy, as the individual conjures up images of sun, sea, sand, palm trees, relaxation.
But all is not paradise in the Caribbean.
The true picture is one of struggle, past and present, poverty, inequality, aggression, migration and disintergration.
Limin' is there on the surface to see and enjoy, visible but what lies beneath, what is invisible?

Yes man, liming is de ting for mi. Limin'.