Summer House happenings: The Public Library of Antigua and Barbuda

 I currently attend university in the United Kingdom. however I have never made it a secret that I intend to move back to the land of my birth, my diamond paradise. Now Today I was just sitting here chilling out before I go start my notes for my economics theory exam and a though assailed me. What is the public library like in Antigua? When I move back home I cannot possible purchase a new book every time I want to read something. So I went on facebook and asked a few of my friends who were online at the time, and no one had an idea most of the responses were along the lines of "I haven't been there in years". This just crushed my pretty much in the same way I  was crushed for the past few summers by the number of people who had not visited the national museum any whoo I digress.

I remember a few years ago there was a big hoopla surrounding the new public library which was being constructed. Pity me the fool who was thinking the library was completed. I was informed I will probably die before the library is ever finished, open and operational. A statement was made to me by a friend " I don't know how we are comfortable with not having a library, a proper one" and my response was this  "People in Antigua rather gossip than read, go to the nightclubs and other frivolous events to be seen by people who do not even acknowledge their presence, instead of educating their children, and are too damn happy living in a state of mediocrity rather than  challenge the leaders to do more."  This is why our NEW public library is not finished, however the old public library is  located on market street above lolitas fabric store.

I read not just for school and because I have to read. I read to learn new things, to improve myself, to acquire knowledge and for the sheer love of reading. My people, my fellow Antiguans  there is power in reading, never ever forget that.


A nations wealth is in the intellectual ability of its people, so the people must be educated, the people must be able to read. 

Summer House happenings: My Hair care challenge.

     
     For most of  my relaxed hair life, I have maintained my hair at chin length. However last summer I experienced a bit a breakage and  this challenged me  to address the way I take care of my tresses. First on the agenda were the hair care products I stopped using the regular store bought shampoo and conditioners, possessing sodium laureth sulphate as an ingredient. My new hair care regime now consists of using Matrix Biolage shampoo, conditioner and deep conditioning mask. For the last year I have been deep treating my hair every 2 weeks religiously. Also I have been drinking copious amounts of water to keep my body hydrated. Since my hair is a by product of my body then I must make sure that the items I put into my body  nourishes it. Hydrated body equals hydrated hair. 


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_LKGqydL8s

     My Hair regimen consists of combing and de-tangling my hair before I get into the shower. Next I run water over my hair for 2-3 minutes. After this I then apply the first lather, I massage the sides of my hair, then the back and front. I rinse and then repeat this procedure. Next I apply the deep  conditioning treatment to semi dry hair, I then cover my hair with a plastic bag and wait 30 minutes. My natural  body heat allows the treatment to penetrate the hair shaft.  After rinsing the deep treatment out my hair I then blot my hair 90% dry. I spray my hair with some leave in conditioner and I comb that through with a wide tooth shower comb.  After this I spray my hair with some Matrix Biolage heat protection spray, after working this through my hair. I then blow dry my hair in sections, and flat iron. To maintain my hair between washes (remember I wash and deep treat my hair every 2 weeks) I apply coconut oil  to my scalp and I moisturise and seal my ends twice a week every Sunday and Thursday. 


moisturise and seal

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuCbZMHwLug&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0_93jySKiM&feature=related


Now my hair health has increased greatly, but now I want longer hair not just healthy hair so I am on a challenge to grow my hair to APL (arm pit length) by new years day.


xoxo

Summer House happenings: Burges Salmon

     Well I was supposed to go to Antigua for summer holidays, as I usually do however this year I really wanted to move up in the work environment. So I applied here there and everywhere for a summer job. I was not successful and to some extent I felt alot resentful that I didn't even get to the interview stage. However It was not to be and the lord had another plan in store for me. My university has recently launched an intern ship scheme and I applied for one particular job which caught my eye, Operations and Project management intern. Whoop whoop now anyone who has ever studied operations management will know it is the most tedious subject to study for. 

      I am intrigued with all of these little processes which make the business successfully turnover. Also in my many years as an employee I have found that many employers are only concerned with the finished product. They forget all the background work which goes into making that product and from this is where you get resentful staff, poor performance and high levels of staff turnover. Even the packaging and the way customers are treated falls under operations management. I prayed and prayed and prayed, I believed that I was meant to have this internship and when I got the call I was soooooooooooo ecstatic and overjoyed.

      I bought a new skirt navy blue with with a military style front from H&M, paired it with a navy blue and white shirt with contrast collar and cuffs. I looked amazing. I had no idea where the place was so I left home an hour early (the importance of a trail run). I wound up being 45 minutes early but this was my dream job in the making so who was counting. The interview went smoothly I answered the questions with relevant examples taken from my previous experience in other forms of employment, spoke a bit about myself and why I was the ideal candidate for this position. My interview was 20 minutes long it was at 12 and by 3.17pm she called me to inform me I had received the job. :)

Prepare yourself for your future, your destiny is your creation

xoxo

Did I mention that Burges Salmon is the 43rd Largest Law firm in the UK, with roots going back to the 18th Century. Daniel Burges one of the founders was also a founding member of the Bristol Law Society, the Oldest Law society in the UK. 

Summer House Happenin's: Carnival please stay dont go away

I love mas for those of you who don't know I am a first generation Antiguan. Antigua is one of the Caribbean islands and is a twin island state Antigua and Barbuda. During the last week in July and the First week in August. Carnival in Antigua came about as an evolution of the celebration of emancipation.

 A group of businesses got together and decided to put together a week long festival of cultural activities and fifty plus years later carnival is still here. I remember when I was young and Carnival was the height of summer. We waited in earnest for carnival to watch the shows and see the parades. Later on it was a jump up or two. 

Then I played pan with the best Hellsgate Steel Orchestra, in 2001 I played mas for the first time and since then it has been a wrap. In 2009 I played mas with MYST mas troupe and I was home. Myst is my family and my parent will never divorce and leave me without my brothers and sisters.

Summer House Happenin's: End of exams

   

Hello well the end of exams came and it went just as swiftly. Leaving me in its wake with a beating delivered by managing finance, Economic theory, and business statistics----------> shudders. For those who think that student life is easy let me tell you it is not. You are broke and constantly in need and the time. The light at the end of the tunnel is your only hope that gets you through day by day. There are highs and there are lows, and some days there were just tears. However this year has been unlike any other. I have opened up myself to my faith more than ever before, also let some new friends into my life. These new faces have been the source of much laughter, joy, arguments, debates, inspiration and motivation. My love for my family has been ever bountiful for on the days when I didnt believe in myself they kept me going with kind words about my capabilities. I am so grateful to the lord for blessing me with what I have.

xx

Dress to Kill

"If you are what you wear then you better dress the part you want. A few lucky ladies can do no wrong looks perfection and they have accessories to match, but most girls get tired of the same old look and they will do anything to get that hot new piece on their arm, and then there are the thieves of fashion who will do anything even steal the shirt off your back. Always remember appearances are deceiving  but whatever you wear always dress to KILL." xoxo gossip girl

I was truck by this quote today watching my latest episode of gossip girl now most people would think that its frivolous and pass it by. However if you really examine the words think and meditate on them then you will realize the deeper meaning.

I'm no thief of fashion, or ordinary girl. This girl forges her own path in everything with her own style.

xx