The Bermudians take their national holiday very seriously, which makes me feel sad that there isn't more camaraderie attached to St. George's Day. It took me till 2pm this year to realise which day it was and even then I was notified by a Canadian.
Since 1909 the day has kicked off with the Bermuda Day Half Marathon and Bermudian families go to extraordinary lengths to reserve a space to set up camp along the route. Sections of the curb all along Front Street are claimed with the use of duct tape bearing the family name, which appears to be taken as gospel. No one messes with the duct tape!! That's just the tip of the iceberg, some areas are roped off, spray painted on the pavement despite annual pleas from the Corporation of Hamilton to not deface their property. Many generations of families set up together beneath a gazebo with chairs, BBQs, coolers, flags and air horns, and some even camp overnight. Apparently the 180 degree view in from the camp is also claimed by the family by some unwritten law so if you innocently wander down to support friends along the route you get an ear full from all directions.
Having recently walked end-to-end, I have heightened R.E.S.P.E.C.T for those that took part today. Mhairi, Jackie and Tom are my personal heroes, and the 700 other runners of course!
After the race comes the Bermuda Day parade with floats and majorettes aplenty but given the weather we opted to take refuge at the good ol' Swizzle Inn with a burger and a nice cup of tea for a English (wo)man, an Irish (wo)man and a Scots (wo)man conflab on the crazy behaviour that happens all over in the name of cultural traditions. We concluded that it's what ever you grow up with! If your parents drag you out of your bed to sleep on the streets with your head resting on a cooler full of ginger burrs (beers), chicken wings and cod fish cakes during the wee small hours of Bermuda Day each year then the likelihood is that your find yourself doing the same as a parent.
Amongst ourselves we had vastly differently childhood experiences, growing up in the 80s as the daughter of a policeman in Northern Ireland must have been quite an eye-opener. But then I suppose my early years experiences in the self-proclaimed horseracing capital of the world, where horse life is valued at twice that of human life, shaped me too. Although not quite sure how?!
And with my usual seamless linkage I move onto another topic relating to socialisation. An appeal to the UK's Privy Council mounted by Bermudians Against the Draft (BAD) against compulsory national service for young Bermudian men. Hundreds of men aged 18 through 32 are recruited each year through a random ballet to serve in the Regiment since it formed in 1965. I find it really strange that conscription exists here as it is a British island and there is no required national service at home. A little Google research reveals it is the only land force under British jurisdiction to have involuntary recruitment. But then I guess the human rights lawyers have more insight than me on this so it stays.
And now for something completely different, due to being forced inside and onto the tinerweb by inclement weather I stumbled across this Bermuda-grown gem... steel pan versions of showstoppers http://www.tropicanasteelpan.com/music.html. I'm really stuck for a favourite at the moment between Truly Madly Deeply and the Phantom medley but you just can't beat a bit of steel pan music can you :-)
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