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By Kalyn Oden, PR Intern
Aries? Taurus? Leo? Whatever your Zodiac sign might be, Houston Ballet has the perfect performance for you! Houston Ballet is proud to announce Artistic Director Stanton Welch's world premiere of Zodiac. The company will perform Zodiac in a mixed repertory featuring works from some of the most talented choreographers called "Morris, Welch & Kylián" from May 28 – June 7, 2015.
Have you ever wondered who composes the music for new pieces? Wonder no more; I am honored to introduce Ross Edwards, one of Australia's best-known composers. His compositions range from symphonies, children's music, film scores, opera, music for dance and several other genres of composition.
How did you get your start as a composer?
It happened more than 50 years ago when I was still a student. My teacher arranged a performance of one of my early works, the score of which has fortunately been lost, but it created considerable interest at the time and gave me a start. In 1980, I gave up a tenured teaching position at the Sydney Conservatorium to compose full-time and I've never looked back. (See my website www.rossedwards.com for a biography and list of works).
How did the score for Zodiac come about?
I had a call from choreographer Stanton Welch, a fellow Australian who had already created a ballet based on the score of my violin concerto, Maninyas. I saw a performance of it many years ago by the Singapore Dance Company and liked it a lot. Happily, it's still very much in the repertoire. Stanton now proposed that I write him a specially commissioned score for a ballet based on the zodiac. It seemed an interesting idea, and after some thought I got back to him and agreed.
What research did you do before composing the Zodiac score?
I did a lot of research, narrowing down the information I found on each of the twelve signs to what I considered their essential characteristics to be interpreted musically. For example, Aries, the Ram, was "adventurous, competitive, aggressive, headstrong"; Taurus, the Bull, "warm-hearted, loving, and sensual". And so on.
How are you trying to differentiate between each of the signs? Does each sign have its own theme or something to make it stand out?
Each sign has its own distinctive musical characteristics and the orchestral scoring for each reflects its individuality. For example, Aries is a tempestuous, driving dance scored for the full orchestral resources with some electronic effects mixed in, while Taurus is a limpid love duet, lightly scored, with harp accompaniment. Since the music for each of the signs is necessarily distinctive and there can be no thematic link, Stanton asked me to create a context in the form of eerie, psychic "bookends" – a Prelude, recurring at the end as a Postlude – to suggest that the intervening activity isn't bound by natural laws.
How long did it take you to compose the score?
(Sigh)… as usual, much longer than anticipated. A forty minute orchestral score and piano reduction for rehearsal is no small task, especially as I compose with a pencil and ruled paper, later to be typeset. I had to work on other pieces at the same time in order to ensure all my deadlines were met – a constant juggling act.
What do you enjoy about working on commissioned works?
They all have a different kind of challenge. I've just completed a piece for two pianos and didgeridoo. Before that, a double concerto for alto saxophone and percussion, and now I'm doing a movement for a ballet to which several other composers are contributing. All quite different and all totally absorbing.
Ladies and gentlemen, your horoscope reading for today is: You do not want to miss this world premiere performance!
Check out a video of Zodiac
From May 28 – June 7, 2015 Houston Ballet offers up a mixed repertory program titled Morris, Welch & Kylián featuring three of today's most dynamic and musical choreographers. A world premiere of The Letter V by acclaimed American choreographer Mark Morris, the world premiere of Stanton Welch's Zodiac and the revival of Jiří Kylián's iconic Svadebka make this program a must-see for all ballet lovers. Zodiac is made possible through the generosity of Leticia Loya. Houston Ballet will give six performances of Morris, Welch & Kylián at Wortham Theater Center in downtown Houston.


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subset: commoncrawl


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Sunday, December 11, 2011
Neglected Tropical Diseases: Neglected for a Reason
It's good to hear calls for 'neglected tropical diseases' to be addressed, rather than taking the sort of vertical (single disease at a time) approach that is favored by big institutions and by countries who allocate large amounts of money to health related development. But even some of those calling for this move are still pegging vital broader health issues to the extremely narrow HIV agenda.
People living in areas with a high disease burden, poor nutrition, poor living conditions and the like, are going to be infected with many diseases during their life, HIV being just one. This is not a recent discovery, nor is it very surprising. It is also not a surprising discovery that HIV positive people are more likely to transmit HIV if they are also suffering from other, easily treatable and preventable diseases.
So, the big missed opportunity is not one for HIV prevention and treatment alone, it is for health and development in general. Picking off a few headline diseases is little better than concentrating almost all attention on HIV. But making lasting improvements to living conditions, nutrition, water and sanitation, infrastructure, health systems and education are the real missed opportunities, without which HIV prevalence will remain high for a long time to come.
I hope the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene succeed in getting more general, non-HIV related health issues some attention and funding. But addressing health more generally, avoiding the 'silo' or 'vertical' approach, is probably the best way to treat and prevent HIV, also. Doing things the other way around has not worked and never will. If you see HIV as the problem and set up a parallel health infrastructure you will fail with most or all of the other health issues and this is unlikely to have much impact on HIV either.
But Walson and others put their finger on the very difference between HIV and other diseases they now hope to deal with, ones they refer to as 'diseases of poverty'; HIV is not a disease of poverty, at least, not to the extent that intestinal and other parasites, malnutrition related conditions, waterborne diseases and acute respiratory diseases are. HIV in African countries tends to concentrate to a disproportionate extent in urban dwelling, wealthier, better educated, more mobile populations.
From a commercial point of view, there just isn't much money in 'diseases of poverty', whereas there is a huge amount of money available for HIV; that's what makes HIV an entire industry, and diseases of poverty a mere development issue. In wealthy countries enough people can afford HIV drugs, despite the fact that they are grossly overpriced.
But even in developing countries, donors, up to now anyhow, have been interested in funding HIV. They're mostly interested in funding treatment because that's a lot more lucrative than prevention. But the word on the street now is that 'treatment is prevention', so even more money may end up being spent on this single disease. Though HIV treatment is not, in any useful sense, prevention, this is unlikely to worry those whose income comes from treatment.
Waterborne diseases, respiratory diseases and the like, those that kill more people than all the headline diseases put together, do not involve lifelong treatment with expensive drugs, which need to be replaced, eventually, with even more expensive drugs as resistance builds up. Some of the most ignored drugs are ones for which the treatment is a once or twice off occurrence and the treatment is dirt cheap. What self-respecting pharmaceutical multinational corporation wants to bother producing such drugs?
There is mention of the Gates Foundation but this institution has only shown token interest in anything but wealthy institutions and industries, with pharmaceuticals and genetically modified organisms receiving massive amounts of funding. Gates himself is not shy about promoting vaccines, preferably one for each disease, but he's a lot less interested in, for example, water and sanitation, provision of which could take care of a whole spectrum of diseases. Which is not to say he spends nothing on water and sanitation, just comparatively little.
People and institutions who wish to address various health issues because they reduce the quality of life and the life expectancy of hundreds of millions of people are to be encouraged, particularly if their 'success' is not going to be judged entirely by HIV related indicators. But HIV is not just highly funded because it threatens the livelihood, health and lives of so many people; just about all diseases fit into that category. There's long been an obsession with HIV that may not be so easy to dislodge by a few public calls for change.
Posted by Simon at 9:01 PM
Labels: blood-borne risks, cosmetic services, hospital acquired HIV, hospital transmitted HIV, iatrogenic, nosocomial, prejudice, risk, stigma
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Welcome to Duckling to Swan : The Bachelor, Hasslich Edition! First off, I want to give a huge thanks to everyone over at the Sims Forum who submitted and voted for our beautiful bachelorettes. I'm super excited to introduce you to our NINE gorgeous bachelorettes, our handsome bachelor, and to see how this competition plays out! Secondly, I need to give credit to the creator of the amazing build being used for the challenge: Modern 1 Million Mansion by Luna3001!
Now, without further ado, let's meet the ladies!
In a three way tie for 7th place….. Eiline Keller! Congratulations, Marialein!
Am I really the first one here? I mean, the place looks empty, but just look at the size of this house! There could be a firing squad hiding in there, and I'd never know the difference. On second thought, maybe there is a firing squad in there. A firing squad of crazy women, just itching to eliminate the weakest link. Which is me, obviously. I'm the weakest link. I cringe and I wonder, not for the first time – what am I even doing here? I don't know how to be friends with women. And I really don't know how to flirt with men. This whole thing is totally out of my element. Maybe I should just turn around and march right on home…
But no. I square my shoulders. I'm not really that intimidated….am I?
I take a deep breath and determine to stay. I tiptoe through the house, heaving a sigh of relief when I realize that I really am alone. So far, anyway. I make my way to the backyard and find an absolutely breathtaking garden, and for the first time, I smile. The perfect hiding place!
I can do this, I convince myself. I'll just hide here behind this plant for a little while. Just until I stop shaking.
In a third place tie for 7th place……. Lexie Gunderson! Congratulations, Maladi777!
The first thing I see when I arrive at the mansion is a gorgeous pond and waterfall, and immediately it reminds me of the setting of one of my favorite books – so clearly, I take it as a sign that this is exactly where I am meant to be right now – fate and all that, you know? The water sparkles and glitters and I can barely tear my eyes away from the stunning beauty of it all! This whole bachelor thing is just so exciting. A real epic adventure! I wonder what the girls will be like, but mostly I'm curious to meet this mysterious bachelor. I've heard all about the Hasslich family, and they're all so exotic. The thought of it thrills me, and I can't help but grin.
It will be just like a romance novel, I can sense it already. And I – naturally – will be the leading lady.
In a three-way tie for 7th place……Marissa Harp! Congratulations, IchigoUsagi!
I knock at the front door of the mansion, but no one answers, so I slip in unannounced. A little awkward, if I do say so myself. And I'm the queen of awkward, so I should know. I was expecting a welcome wagon, or maybe a butler. Whatever – I'll just show myself around, I guess.
I start up the stairs and stumble over my own two feet, grasping for the railing. No one's ever accused me of being graceful, that's for sure. I glance around and hope no one saw my misstep, but there's no need to worry, because there's not a soul in sight.
I'm more cautious as I climb the rest of the stairs, and when I make it safely to the next level, I spot a fully stocked bar across the room. I'm liking this place already!
Nothing like a good stiff drink to calm the nerves. So I help myself.
In sixth place, Deven Jones! Congratulations, Sterretjeee!
Look, I don't do drama and I don't do catty bullplum, either. I'm not here to make friends. I have two of those at home, and as far as I'm concerned, that's more than enough. But I'm not here to stir up trouble, either. Like I said, I don't do drama. My plan of attack is lay low and keep my distance, which should be easy. I've got a lot of practice in that department.
I'm here to meet the bachelor, end of story. If he likes me, fine. If he hates me, whatever. I'm not out to impress – what you see is what you get.
I guess it would be nice if he liked me, though. Don't tell anyone I said that.
So anyway, I don't do drama and I don't do games. But I do do food. So when I walk through the front door and my stomach grumbles, I make a beeline for the kitchen. A fancy place like this must have some pretty fancy food, right?
Well – not exactly. Grilled cheese will have to do, so I set to work.
Turns out I'm better at eating the food than I am at cooking it. I panic and scream, and to my great relief, a bouncy redhead bounds through the door and extinguishes me.
She's exactly the the kind of peppy little cheer freak I would usually avoid. But she just saved my life, plummit, and now I have to be nice to her.
So much for keeping my distance.
In fifth place…..Norah Churchill! Congratulations, Twiggy!
I stand on the front doorstep of the mansion and pull out my compact mirror. A last look at my reflection only proves what I already know to be true – I look stunning, as usual – perfectly pulled together, and elegant in a subtly sexy way. Men have always been helpless to resist me, and the bachelor will be no exception. The question is whether he will be worth my time.
I smile at my reflection, and wink in the mirror before heading inside. At first glance, the place is indeed impressive. Large and spacious, which is a good start, of course, but size isn't the only thing that matters. Style and elegance are key, and I quickly realize that this place is in serious need of redecorating. Sub-par accommodations, I note, and what is that smoky stench in the air?
But I suppose I can rough it for a few days until I decide if this bachelor is sub-par as well. It won't take long. I know exactly what I want, and I refuse to accept anything less than perfection.
In fourth place….. Emmeline Frost! Congratulations, Lupus95!
When I enter the mansion, an uproar of laughter erupts from inside, and I follow the voices to the kitchen. The competition, I see. Not much of it, though, if you ask me, which comes as no shock. Emmeline Frost does not compete, and especially not with the likes of them. That silly little redhead can't get out of her own way – unrefined is the kindest description I can think of, and that's to put it mildly. A girl applying for a woman's job.
And then there's the other one – the pretentious pretender in pearls, nose so high in the air she can't see her own inferiority.
I nod in their general direction – it can't hurt to be cordial, after all – but I sweep by them without so much as a word. I'm not here to make friends. I'm here to win, whatever the cost.
And Emmeline Frost always wins.
In third place……Camille (Cam) Hayes! Congratulations, IchigoUsagi!
Twenty minutes in this swanky mansion and already I feel like the elephant in the room. I mean, not an actual elephant, that would be dumb. What I mean is, I feel like the out of place oddball, the one that sticks out like a sore thumb. I barely even know these girls yet, but just looking at them I feel under-dressed. That blonde chick makes everyone look like a slob, in that skintight bandaid she's wearing – but even the other girls are wearing skirts. All but that Deven girl – I think I like her already.
Maybe I didn't get the dress-up memo. Or maybe I did, come to think of it. Did Kira mention something about high heels and lipstick? Kira's my brother's fiance. She took me shopping before I came here (read: RETAIL TORTURE), tried to give me all that girly-girl advice. Glitter and tutus, or at least that's what I imagine she said. I was only half-listening, but standing here now in my boots and t-shirt, I kind of regret tuning her out.
I'll check my suitcase later to see if she packed me some lipstick. But right now, there's not much to do but climb the ladder and dive (or cannonball) in.
In second place…..Priya Dewan! Congratulations, Sterretjeee!
Statistically speaking, my chances of winning this competition are one in ten. But anyone with half a brain knows that statistics are frequently misleading, which in this case, they are. In reality, my chances of winning this competition are far better than one in ten. Why, you ask? Because most of these women think that this is a game of beauty and chemistry and compatibility. This will be their downfall.
What these women don't know is that this is actually a game of logic and strategy. And that they're competing against a veritable genius with a blueprint for quantifiable success (that would be me).
Of course, my hope is that the bachelor is a man of true substance – a man who values intelligence over aesthetics. But even if he isn't, I still don't doubt my success. I'm a double threat, after all – a complete package of beauty and brains.
All I need to do is focus.
And lastly, in first place….. Walburga Mortis! Congratulations, Lupus95!
Why am I here, you ask? Why am I anywhere? Why am I here at the mansion? Or why am I here in this particular astral plane, inhabiting my current physical body? The answer is I don't know, nor am I meant to know. That's what my grandmother always said. We're not meant to know all the answers – the truth would blow up our brains! Okay, okay, that last part is my own little addition, but I think it keeps in the spirit of what grandma was saying.
Look, a lot of people think I'm crazy. Evil, even. But what is evil, anyway? Is the world really so black and white? Is there really no gray? Even evil, crazy people want love. Want to belong. And I'm not really so different that I wouldn't want that.
I know all about the Hasslich family – not that I put a spell on them or anything, if that's what you're wondering. Though I could if I wanted to. Now that I think of it, maybe a voodoo doll would give me a leg up in this competition… Nevermind, back to the point! I know all about the Hasslich family. And if blue people and aliens can find love, then I don't see why I can't too.
Now if you'll excuse me, please – I have a voodoo doll to find.
Stay tuned this weekend to meet the mysterious Hasslich Bachelor!


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In a move sure to anger the White House and her Democratic colleagues, Louisiana Sen. Mary Landrieu announced Thursday that she will block President Barack Obama's nominee to head the Office of Management and Budget until the administration eliminates or significantly modifies the moratorium on deepwater oil and gas drilling.
Jack Lew, who served as OMB director in the Clinton administration, has won rare bipartisan support for his nomination, getting a 22-1 favorable vote Thursday by the Senate Budget Committee and an earlier 9-0 vote by the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.
Landrieu, who in previous years held up votes as she sought offshore oil production revenue sharing for Louisiana and other states, said she took the unusual step because the "devastating" moratorium remains in place, threatening the region's economy.
She also complained of what she called a de facto moratorium on shallow-water drilling since the BP disaster.
"Although Mr. Lew clearly possesses the expertise necessary to serve as one of the president's most important economic advisers, I found that he lacked sufficient concern for the host of economic challenges facing the Gulf Coast," Landrieu said in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. "The fact that the most acute of these economic challenges, the moratorium, results from a direct and reversible federal action only services to harden my stance on Mr. Lew's nomination."
Landrieu's action could jeopardize Senate plans to confirm Lew before it recesses in the next week or two so members can campaign for the mid-term elections.
"Jack Lew has received overwhelming, bipartisan support from senators across the spectrum in both Committees," OMB spokesman Kenneth Baer said. "Especially during this critical time in our economy and in our fiscal situation, the Senate should move quickly to vote on his confirmation before it recesses at the end of the month."
Regan Lachapelle, Reid's spokeswoman, declined to comment.
Since he took office in January 2009, Obama has had a tough time with "holds," the system in which a lone senator can block a nominee from getting an up-or-down vote. The vast majority of the holds have been placed by Republicans, not Democrats such as Landrieu.
Ken Salazar, the Interior Secretary who imposed the moratorium, said it was critical after the April 20 BP oil spill to develop improved regulatory procedures, as well as a better spill response plan before deepwater drilling should resume.
Salazar said Wednesday that's he's expecting a report in the next two weeks on whether the moratorium could be modified or shortened without jeopardizing safety, leaving the possibility it could be lifted before its Nov. 30 expiration date.
Salazar said the report, being put together by Michael Bromwich, director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement, is designed to put in place "reforms that are raising the bar for the oil and gas industry's practices, as well as to help inform recommendations on whether and how to lift the current deepwater drilling suspension."
Landrieu said she's been frustrated that administration officials continue to disregard the devastating economic impact of the moratorium, not only on rig workers, but nearly 3,000 businesses in Louisiana that provide support for the industry.,
"I have done everything within my power to get this administration's attention," Landrieu said. "But the policy remains in effect, and Louisiana's economy continues to suffer."
But in an interagency report last week, the Obama administration said the impact of the moratorium has been far less than originally predicted.
According to the report, the actual job losses are likely to run between 8,000 to 12,000. Of the 46 rigs affected by the moratorium, the report said 41 remain in the Gulf region, and a majority of rig operators are retaining employees because they don't want to go through the expense of finding replacements who would need substantial and expensive training when the moratorium ends.
Industry and state officials have pointed out that a loss of 12,000 jobs is not insignificant and that companies are taking losses and curtailing investments to keep things in place in hopes of an early lifting of the drilling ban. They also say that the job losses are still likely in the future if the government's post-moratorium permitting process is greatly slowed, as it has been with shallow-water operations.
Bruce Alpert can be reached at email@example.com or 202.383.7861.


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The PDF pattern to make Chimp Champ. He is a champion of all chimpanzees. Be it a contest for eating the maximum number of bananas or the maximum number of lice, he wins it all. Oh! and how can I forget to mention the number of swooning female chimpanzees who especially love his muscle power and you know what ;). They all wish he notices them one day and hopefully choose them as his alpha female. All he does to deter them is smile with his lopsided grin.(cause you know - He's shy)
Finished Size:
8" tall
5" wide
A pattern in PDF format will be emailed to you within 24 hours of purchase to the email address on your invoice. The detailed instructions will have step to step instructions on how to make this amigurumi. Please contact me in case if you face any difficulties.
Skill level: Easy


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Related subjects Americas; Countries
| Motto: "Quo Fata Ferunt" (Latin)
"Whither the Fates Carry [Us]"
| Anthem: God Save the Queen (official)
Hail to Bermuda (unofficial)
(and largest city)
| Hamilton
|Official languages
|Ethnic groups
|West African, British, Portuguese
|British Overseas Territory
|Queen Elizabeth II
|Sir Richard Gozney
|Ewart Brown
| 53.3 km² ( 224th)
20.6 sq mi
|Water (%)
|2007 estimate
|66,163 ( 205th1)
|1,239/km² ( 8th)
3,196/sq mi
|2005 estimate
|$4.857 billion ( 165th)
|Per capita
|$76,403 ( 1st)
|n/a (n/a) ( n/a)
| Bermudian dollar2 (
|Time zone
|Atlantic ( UTC-4)
|Internet TLD
|Calling code
|+1 441
|Rank based on 2005 figures.
|On par with US dollar.
Bermuda (officially, The Bermuda Islands or The Somers Isles) is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, it is situated around 1770 kilometres (1,100 mi) northeast of Miami, Florida, and 1350 kilometres (840 mi) south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about 1030 kilometres (640 mi) west-northwest. It is the oldest and most populous remaining British overseas territory, settled by England a century before the Acts of Union created the United Kingdom.
Although commonly referred to in the singular, the territory consists of approximately 138 islands, with a total area of 53.3 square kilometres (20.6 sq mi). Compiling a list of these islands is often complicated, as many have more than one name (as does the entire archipelago, which, in addition to its two official names, has historically been known as "La Garza", "Virgineola", and the "Isle of Devils"). Despite the limited land mass, there has also been a tendency for place names to be repeated; there are, for instance, two islands named "Long Island", three bays known as "Long Bay", and " St. George's Town" is located on " St. George's Island" within " St. George's Parish" (each known as St. George's), whereas Bermuda's capital, the "City of Hamilton", lies in Pembroke Parish, not in "Hamilton Parish", on the largest island, "Main Island", which itself is sometimes called "Bermuda".
Bermuda has a highly affluent economy, with a large financial sector and tourism industry giving it the world's highest GDP per capita in 2005. It has a subtropical climate, beaches with pink sand, and cerulean blue ocean.
Bermuda was discovered by Europeans in the early 1500s, probably in 1503, according to some sources. It was certainly known by 1511, when Peter Martyr d'Anghiera published his Legatio Babylonica, which mentioned Bermuda, and the island was also included on Spanish charts of this year. The discovery is attributed to a Spanish explorer, Juan de Bermúdez. Both Spanish and Portuguese ships used the islands as a replenishment spot for fresh meat and water, but legends of spirits and devils, now thought to have stemmed only from the callings of raucous birds (most likely the Bermuda Petrel, or Cahow), and of perpetual, storm-wracked conditions (most early visitors arrived under such conditions), kept them from attempting any permanent settlement on the Isle of Devils.
Bermúdez and Gonzalo Fernández de Oviedo ventured to Bermuda in 1514 or 1515 with the intention to drop off a breeding stock of hogs on the island as a future stock of fresh meat for passing ships. However, the inclement weather prevented them from landing.
Some years later, a Portuguese ship on the way home from San Domingo wedged itself between two rocks on the reef. The crew tried to salvage as much as they could and spent the next four months building a new hull from Bermuda cedar to return to their initial departure point. One of these stranded sailors is most likely the person who carved the initials "R" and "P", "1543" into Spanish Rock. The initials probably stood for "Rex Portugaline" and later were incorrectly attributed to the Spanish, leading to the misnaming of this rocky outcrop of Bermuda.
For the next century, the island is believed to have been visited frequently but not permanently settled. The first two British colonies in Virginia had failed, and a more determined effort was initiated by King James I of England (and VI of Scotland), who granted a Royal Charter to The Virginia Company. In 1609, a flotilla of ships left England under the Company's Admiral, Sir George Somers, to relieve the colony of Jamestown, settled two years before. Somers had previous experience sailing with both Sir Francis Drake and Sir Walter Raleigh. The flotilla was broken up by a storm, and the flagship, the Sea Venture, was wrecked off Bermuda (as depicted on the territory's Coat of Arms), leaving the survivors in possession of a new territory. (William Shakespeare's play The Tempest is thought to have been inspired by William Strachey's account of this shipwreck.) The island was claimed for the English Crown, and the charter of the Virginia Company was extended to include it. In 1615, the colony was passed to a new company, the Somers Isles Company (The Somers Isles remains an official name for the colony), formed by the same shareholders. The close ties with Virginia were commemorated even after Bermuda's separation by reference to the archipelago in many Virginian place names, such as Bermuda City, and Bermuda Hundred. The first British coins in America were struck here.
Most of the survivors of the Sea Venture had carried on to Jamestown in 1610 aboard two Bermuda-built ships. Among these was John Rolfe, who left a wife and child buried in Bermuda, but in Jamestown would marry Pocahontas, a daughter of Powhatan. Rolfe was also single-handedly responsible for beginning Virginia's tobacco industry (the economic basis of the colony had been intended to be lumber). Intentional settlement of Bermuda began with the arrival of the Plough, in 1612.
With its limited land area, Bermuda has had difficulty since then with its population growth. In the first two centuries of settlement, it relied on steady emigration to keep the population manageable. Before the American Revolution, more than ten thousand Bermudians emigrated, primarily to the American South, where Great Britain was displacing Spain as the dominant European imperial power. A steady trickle of outward migration continued as, by the end of the 18th century, with seafaring being the only real industry, at least a third of the island's manpower was at sea at any one time. This limited land area and resources led to the creation of what may have been the earliest conservation laws of the New World, when in 1616 and 1620 Acts were passed banning the hunting of certain birds and young tortoises
In 1649, the English Civil War raged and King Charles I was beheaded in Whitehall, London. The execution resulted in the outbreak of a Bermudian Civil War; it was ended by embodied militias. This created a strong sense of devotion to the crown for the majority of colonists and it forced those who would not swear allegiance, such as Puritans and Independents, into exile in the Bahamas.
In the 17th century, the Somers Isles Company suppressed shipbuilding as it needed Bermudians to farm if it were to generate income from the land. Agricultural production met with only limited success, however. The Bermuda cedar boxes used to ship tobacco to England were reportedly worth more than their contents. The colony of Virginia far surpassed Bermuda in both quality and quantity of tobacco produced. After the dissolution of the Somers Isle Company, Bermudians rapidly abandoned agriculture for shipbuilding, replanting farmland with the native juniper ( Juniperus bermudiana, also called Bermuda cedar) trees that grew thickly over the whole island. Establishing effective control over the Turks Islands, Bermudians deforested their landscape to begin the salt trade that would become the world's largest, and remained the cornerstone of Bermuda's economy for the next century. Bermudian sailors would turn their hands to far more trades than supplying salt, however. Whaling, privateering, and the merchant trade were all pursued vigorously. Vessels would sail the normal shipping routes, but had to engage an enemy vessel no matter the size or strength, and as a result many ships were destroyed. The Bermuda sloop became highly regarded for its speed and manoeuvrability. In fact it was the Bermuda sloop HMS Pickle, one of the fastest vessels in the Royal Navy, that brought the news of the victory at Trafalgar and the death of Admiral Nelson back to England.
After the American Revolution, the Royal Navy began improving the harbours and built the large dockyard on Ireland Island, in the west of the chain, as its principal naval base guarding the western Atlantic Ocean shipping lanes. During the American War of 1812, the British attacks on Washington D.C. and the Chesapeake, that would result in the writing of " The Star-Spangled Banner", were planned and launched from Bermuda, the Royal Navy's 'North American Station'. It was here that the British soldiers assembled before being sent to attack Baltimore and Washington. In 1816, Bermuda's Royal Naval Dockyard was fortified against possible US attacks by James Arnold. Arnold was the son of famed US traitor Benedict Arnold. Today, the "Maritime Museum" occupies on the Keep of the Royal Naval Dockyard, including the Commissioner's House, and exhibits artifacts of the base's military history.
As a result of Bermuda's proximity to the southeastern U.S. coast, it was regularly used by Confederate States blockade runners during the American Civil War to evade Union naval vessels and bring desperately needed war goods to the South from England. The old Globe Hotel in St. George's, which was a centre of intrigue for Confederate agents, is preserved as a museum open to the public.
In the early 20th century, as modern transport and communication systems developed, Bermuda became a popular destination for wealthy American, Canadian and British tourists. In addition, the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act enacted by the United States against its trading partners in 1930 cut off Bermuda's once-thriving agricultural export trade (primarily fresh vegetables to the US) spurring the overseas territory to develop its tourist industry, which is second behind international business in terms of economic importance to the island. In 1949, Henry Vassey, then Chairman of the Bermuda Trade Development Board, urged the House of Assembly of Bermuda to pursue a political union with Canada. Four Methodist Church congregations in Bermuda are part of The United Church of Canada, forming Bermuda Presbytery of the United Church's Maritime Conference headquartered in Sackville, New Brunswick, Canada.
Executive authority in Bermuda is vested in The Queen and is exercised on her behalf by the Governor. The governor is appointed by the Queen on the advice of the British Government. The current governor is Sir Richard Hugh Turton Gozney KCMG; he was sworn-in on December 12, 2007. There is also a Deputy Governor (currently Mark Andrew Capes JP). Defence and foreign affairs remain the responsibility of the United Kingdom, which also retains responsibility to ensure good government. It must approve any changes to the Constitution of Bermuda. Bermuda now exists as an overseas territory of Britain, but it is the oldest British colony. In 1620, a Royal Assent granted Bermuda limited self-governance, thus making Bermuda's Parliament the fifth oldest in the world, behind only England, the Isle of Man, Iceland and Poland
The Constitution of Bermuda came into force on June 1, 1967 and has been amended in 1989 and 2003. The head of government is the premier. A cabinet is nominated by the premier and appointed officially by the governor. The legislative branch consists of a bicameral parliament modeled on the Westminster system. The Senate is the upper house consisting of eleven members appointed by the governor on the advice of the premier and the leader of the opposition. The House of Assembly, or lower house, has thirty-six members elected by the eligible voting populace in secret ballot to represent geographically defined constituencies. Elections must be called at no more than five-year intervals. The Progressive Labour Party won the most recent general election held on December 18, 2007, winning 22 of 36 seats in the House of Assembly.
Following his victory over former Premier Alex Scott at the Progressive Labour Party delegates' conference in October 2006, the current premier is Ewart Brown. The United Bermuda Party serves in opposition. The Progressive Labour Party leadership favours independence from the United Kingdom, although polls have indicated that this is not supported by the population. While a referendum in 1995 on independence was defeated by a substantial margin, the Bermuda Industrial Union and the Progressive Labour Party (then in the Opposition) had called for a boycott of the referendum, having an unquantified impact on the result.
There are few accredited diplomats in Bermuda. The United States maintains the largest diplomatic mission in Bermuda - comprising both the United States Consulate and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Services at the Bermuda International Airport. U.S. Consul General Gregory W. Slayton is the U.S. Chief of Mission in Bermuda. Given that the United States is by far Bermuda's largest trading partner - providing over 71% of total imports, 85% of tourist visitors while there is an estimated $163 billion of U.S. capital in the Bermuda insurance/re-insurance industry alone - and the fact that an estimated 5% of Bermuda residents are U.S. citizens which represents 14% of all foreign born persons - American diplomatic presence is seen as an important element in the Bermuda political landscape.
Parishes and municipalities
Bermuda is divided into nine parishes and two municipalities.
Bermuda's nine parishes:
- Devonshire
- Hamilton
- Paget
- Pembroke
- St George's
- Sandys
- Smith's
- Southampton
- Warwick
Bermuda's two incorporated municipalities:
- Hamilton (city)
- St. George's (town)
Bermuda's two unincorporated municipalities:
- Flatts Village
- Somerset Village
Once known as the Gibraltar of the West, the defence of Bermuda remains the responsibility of the British government. Until the American Revolutionary War, following which Bermuda became the Royal Navy's Western Atlantic headquarters, the Bermuda government had maintained militia for the defence of the colony. Once the Royal Navy established a base and dockyard defended by regular soldiers, however, these militias became superfluous and were disbanded following the War of 1812. At the end of the 19th century, the colony did raise volunteer units to form a reserve for the military garrison.
Due to its strategic location in the North Atlantic Ocean, Bermuda was vital to the Allies' war effort during both World Wars of the 20th century, serving as a marshalling point for trans-Atlantic convoys, as well as a naval and air base (during the Second World War).
In May 1940, the U.S. requested base rights in Bermuda from the United Kingdom, but British Prime Minister Winston Churchill was initially unwilling to accede to the American request without getting something in return. In September, 1940, as part of the Destroyers for Bases Agreement, the United Kingdom granted the U.S. base rights in Bermuda. Bermuda and Newfoundland were not originally included in the agreement, but both were added to it, with no war material received in exchange. However, one of the terms of the agreement was that the airfield the US Army was to build in Bermuda would be used jointly by the US and the UK (which it was for the duration of the war, with RAF Transport Command relocating there from Darrell's Island in 1943). Construction began in 1941 of two airbases consisting of 5.8 km² (2¼ mi², 1,400 acres) of land, largely reclaimed from the sea. For many years, Bermuda's bases were used by U.S. Air Force and, later, U.S. Navy planes patrolling the Atlantic for enemy submarines, first German and, later, Soviet. Although leased for 99 years, U.S. forces withdrew in 1995, as part of the wave of base closures following the end of the Cold War.
Canada, which had operated a war-time naval base, HMCS Somers Isles, on the old Royal Navy base at Convict Bay, St. George's, also established a radio-listening post at Daniel's Head, in the West End of the islands during this time.
In the 1950s, after the end of World War II, the Royal Naval dockyard and the military garrison were closed. A small supply base continued to operate within the dockyard area until it, too, was closed in 1995, along with the American and Canadian bases.
In both World War I and World War II, Bermudians served in the British armed forces. Amongst the latter was Major-General Glyn Charles Anglim Gilbert, Bermuda's highest ranking soldier. After the war, he was instrumental in developing the Bermuda Regiment. A number of other Bermudians and children of Bermudians had preceded him into senior ranks, including Bahamian-born Admiral Lord Gambier, and Bermudian-born Royal Marines Brigadier Harvey, who, when promoted to that rank at age 39, following his wounding at the Anzio landings, became the youngest-ever Royal Marine Brigadier. The Cenotaph in front of the Cabinet Building (in Hamilton) was erected in tribute to Bermuda's Great War dead (the tribute was later extended to Bermuda's Second World War dead) and is the site of the annual Remembrance Day commemoration (see photo, above).
Today, the only military unit remaining in Bermuda is the Bermuda Regiment, an amalgam of the voluntary units originally formed toward the end of the 19th century. Although the Regiment consists of 'voluntary units' there still exists conscription in which balloted males are required to serve for three years, two months part time, once they turn eighteen.
Role in International Relations
As an Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom, Bermuda has no seat in the United Nations and is represented by the UK in foreign affairs. Bermuda's close proximity to the United States has made it the site of past summit conferences between British Prime Ministers and U.S. Presidents. The first summit was held in December, 1953, at the insistence of Prime Minister Winston Churchill to discuss relations with the Soviet Union during the Cold War. Participants at the conference included Churchill, U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower, and French Premier Joseph Laniel. In 1957, a second summit conference was held, this time Harold Macmillan was the British Prime Minister and he arrived earlier than President Eisenhower to make it clear that they were meeting on British territory, as tensions were still high regarding the conflict over the Suez Canal in the previous year. It was said the two discussed the general situation of the world. Macmillan would return in 1961 for the third summit with President John F. Kennedy, who was familiar with Bermuda having made numerous personal visits. The meeting was called to discuss the Cold War tensions arising from construction of the Berlin Wall. The most recent summit conference in Bermuda between the two powers occurred in 1971, when British Prime Minister Edward Heath met U.S. President Richard Nixon..
Bermuda is located in the North Atlantic Ocean, roughly 580 nautical miles (1070 km, 670 mi) east-southeast of Cape Hatteras on the Outer Banks of North Carolina and roughly 590 nautical miles (1100 km, 690 mi) southeast of Martha's Vineyard. The island lies due east of Fripp Island, South Carolina. It has 103 km (64 mi) of coastline. There are two incorporated municipalities in Bermuda: the City of Hamilton and the Town of St. George. Bermuda is divided into various "parishes", in which there are some localities called "villages", such as Flatts Village, Tucker's Town and Somerset Village.
Although Bermuda's latitude is similar to that of Savannah, Georgia, it is much warmer in winter, and slightly cooler in summer. Its subtropical climate is warmed by the nearby Gulf Stream, thanks to the westerlies, which carry warm, humid air eastwards over Bermuda, helping to keep winter temperatures above freezing. The climate is humid and, as a result, the summertime heat index can be high, even though mid-August temperatures rarely exceed 30 °C (86 °F). Winters are mild, with average daytime temperatures in January and February around 20°C (68°F), although cold fronts, which dominate the local weather for most of the year, bring arctic air masses that can result in rapid temperature drops. Atlantic winter storms, often associated with these cold fronts, can produce powerful, gusting winds and heavy rain. Factoring in the wind chill, the felt air temperature in winter can fall below freezing, 0°C (32°F), even though the actual temperature rarely drops below 10°C (50°F).
The only source of fresh water in Bermuda is rainfall, which is collected on roofs and catchments (or drawn from underground lenses) and stored in tanks. Each dwelling usually has at least one of these tanks forming part of its foundation.
Bermuda's currency is the Bermudian dollar, which is pegged to the US dollar. US notes and coins are used interchangeably with Bermudian notes and coins within the islands for most practical purposes; however, banks levy a small exchange rate for the purchase of US dollars with Bermudian dollars. Bermudian notes carry the image of HM Queen Elizabeth II. The Bermuda Monetary Authority is the issuing authority for all banknotes and coins, as well as being responsible for the regulation of financial institutions. There is a permanent exhibition of Bermuda notes and coins at the Royal Naval Dockyard Museum.
Bermuda's per-capita income is approximately 50% higher than that of the United States; according to the Bermuda Government's Economic Statistics Division, Bermuda's GDP was $4.857 billion in 2005, or $76,403 per-capita, giving Bermuda the highest GDP per capita in the world.
The affordability of housing has become a prominent issue over the past few years. The CIA World Factbook lists the average cost of a house in June 2003 as $976,000, while real estate agencies have claimed that this figure had risen to $1.6 million by 2006, and to $1.845 million by early 2007, though such high figures have been disputed.
Bermuda is an Offshore financial centre, which results from its low direct taxation on personal or corporate income. The local tax system is based upon import duties, payroll taxes and consumption taxes. The legal system is derived from that of the United Kingdom, with recourse to English courts of final appeal.
As the offshore domicile of many foreign companies, Bermuda has a highly-developed international business economy; it is a financial exporter of financial services (primarily insurance, reinsurance, investment funds and special purpose vehicles (SPV) ).
Large numbers of leading international insurance companies are based in Bermuda making the territory one of the world's largest reinsurance centres. Those internationally owned and operated businesses that are physically based in Bermuda - of which there are around four hundred - are represented by the Association of Bermuda International Companies (ABIC). In total, over 1,500 exempted or international companies are currently registered with the Registrar of Companies in Bermuda.
Thanks to its favourable tax regime and a highly reactive regulatory framework Bermuda is the domicile of choice for the implementation of insurance related innovative solutions also known as Alternative Risk Transfer (ART). ART includes captive insurances, Finite Risk insurance and insurance securitisation such as Cat bonds.
The Bermuda Stock Exchange (BSX) first established in 1971 is now the world's largest fully electronic offshore securities market, with a current market capitalisation (excluding mutual funds) in excess of US$ 330 billion. There are four hundred securities listed on the stock exchange, of which almost three hundred are offshore funds and alternative investment structures, attracted by Bermuda's regulatory environment. The Exchange specialises in listing and trading of capital market instruments such as equities, debt issues, funds (including Hedge Fund structures) and depository receipt programmes.
The BSX is a full member of the World Federation of Exchanges and is located in an OECD member nation. It also has Approved Stock Exchange status under Australia's Foreign Investment Fund (FIF) taxation rules and Designated Investment Exchange status by the UK's Financial Services Authority.
Tourism is Bermuda's second largest industry, with the island attracting over one-half million visitors annually, of whom more than 80% are from the United States. Other significant sources of visitors are Canada and the United Kingdom. Tourists arrive either by cruise ship or by air at Bermuda International Airport, the only airport on the island.
The Bermuda Education Act 1996 requires that only three categories of schools can operate in the Bermuda Education system:
- aided school, has all or a part of its property vested in a body of trustees or board of governors and is partially maintained by public funding or, since 1965 and the desegregation of schools, has received a grant-in-aid out of public funds.
- maintained school, has the whole of its property belonging to the Government and is fully maintained by public funds.
- private school, not maintained by public funds and has not, since 1965 and the desegregation of schools, received any capital grant-in-aid out of public funds. The private school sector consists of 6 traditional private schools, two of which are religious schools, and the remaining four are secular with one of these being a single gender school. Also, within the private sector there are a number of home schools which must be registered with the government and receive minimal government regulation. The only boys' school opened its doors to girls in the 1990s and in 1996, one of the maintained public schools became a private school.
Prior to 1965, the Bermuda school system was racially segregated and when the desegregation of schools was enacted in 1965, two of the formally maintained "white" schools and both single gender schools opted to become private schools. The rest became part of the public school system and were either aided or maintained.
At present there are 26 schools in the Bermuda Public School System, eighteen of which are primary schools, five are middle schools, two senior schools and one special school. There is also an Alternative Programme provided for students with behavioural challenges who cannot function in the public mainstream. There are two aided primary schools, two aided middle schools and one aided senior school.
For higher education, the Bermuda College offers various associate degrees and other certificate programmes. Bermuda does not have any four-year colleges or universities.
Sightseeing and attractions
Renowned for its pink sand beaches and natural beauty, Bermuda offers a number of other attractions, as well. Historic St. George's is a designated World Heritage Site. Scuba divers can explore numerous wrecks and coral reefs in relatively shallow water (typically 30–40 ft/9–12 m in depth) with virtually unlimited visibility. Many nearby reefs are readily accessible from shore by snorkellers, especially at Church Bay.
Bermuda's most popular visitor attraction is the Royal Navy Dockyard and Museum. Other attractions include the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo, Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute, the Botanical Gardens, lighthouses, and the Crystal Caves with its impressive stalactites and underground saltwater pools.
It is not possible to rent a car on the island; however, visitors can hire scooters for use as private transport, or use public transport.
Arts and culture
Bermuda's culture is a mixture of the various sources of its population, though little trace remains of the various Native American, Spanish-Caribbean, African, Irish or Scots cultures that would have been evident in the 17th century, with Anglo-Saxon culture becoming dominant. Today, the only language other than English that is spoken by any substantial part of the population is actually Portuguese, following one hundred and sixty years of immigration from Portuguese Atlantic islands (primarily the Azores, though also from Madeira and the Cape Verde Islands). There are strong British influences, together with Afro-Caribbean. A second wave of immigration from the West Indies has been sustained throughout the 20th century, although, unlike the Africans who immigrated from that area as indentured servants (or who were imported as slaves) in the 17th century, the more recent arrivals have mostly come from English speaking countries (albeit, most of the West Indian islands whose populations now speak English were then part of the Spanish Empire). This new infusion of West Indians has both accelerated social and political change, and diversified Bermuda's culture. West Indian musicians introduced calypso music when Bermuda's tourist industry was expanded with the increase of visitors brought by post Second World War aviation. While calypso music appealed more to the visitors than to the locals, Reggae has been embraced since the 1970s with the influx of Jamaican immigration.
Bermuda's literary history was largely limited to non-Bermudian writers commenting on the island. In the 20th century, a large number of books were written and published locally, though few were aimed at a wider market than Bermuda (most of these being scholarly reference books, rather than creative writing). One Bermudian novelist, Brian Burland, has achieved a degree of success and acclaim internationally, although the first (and undoubtedly the most important, historically) notable book credited to a Bermudian was the History of Mary Prince, a slave narrative by a Bermudian woman, Mary Prince, which helped to end slavery in the British Empire. Bermuda's proximity to the United States means that many aspects of US culture are reflected or incorporated into Bermudian culture. Many non-Bermudian writers have also made Bermuda their home, or have had homes here, including A.J. Cronin and F. Van Wyck Mason, who wrote on Bermudian subjects.
Dance and music are important in Bermuda. The dances of the colourful Gombey Dancers, seen at many events, were influenced by imported Native American and African slaves.
Bermuda has produced, or been home, to actors (such as Earl Cameron, Diana Dill, and most famously, Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones). Noted musicians have included local icons The Talbot Brothers, who performed for many decades in both Bermuda and The United States (and appearing on Ed Sullivan's televised variety show), jazz pianist Lance Hayward, pop singer Heather Nova and more recently dancehall artist Collie Buddz. In 1979, Gina Swainson was crowned " Miss World".
Every year Bermuda hosts an international film festival, which shows many independent and interesting films. One of the festival's founders is film producer and director Arthur Rankin, Jr., co-founder of the Rankin/Bass production company.
Bermuda watercolours painted by local artists are sold at various galleries and elaborately hand-carved cedar sculptures are another speciality. One such 7 ft (2.1 m) sculpture created by Bermudian artisan Chesley Trott is on display at the airport's baggage claim area. Local artwork may also be viewed at several galleries around the island. Alfred Birdsey was one of the more famous and talented watercolourists, his impressionistic landscapes of Hamilton, St. George's and the surrounding sailboats, homes, and bays of Bermuda are world-renowned. He also painted some sailboat artwork that was used to promote the America's Cup when it is sailed from Newport, Rhode Island, USA to Bermuda.
Every Easter, Bermudians of all ages build kites, usually of a traditional Bermudian type, which are flown to symbolize Christ's ascent. A Bermudian kite is made to geometric designs, quite colourful, and is an art form as much as a recreational tool. Despite this, Bermudian kites are very airworthy, holding world records for altitude and duration of flight.
Sport is a popular pastime in Bermuda, especially sailing, cricket, golf, football (soccer), and rugby.
Bermuda's national cricket team participated in the Cricket World Cup 2007 in the West Indies. Their most famous player is a 130 kg (290 lbs, 20½ stone) police officer named Dwayne Leverock. He took a catch against India on the 20 March 2007. However, they now hold the world record for conceding the highest number of runs ever in the history of the World Cup. They conceded 413 runs in a 50 overs, one-day international, game against India. Also very well known is David Hemp, who is the current Glamorgan captain in English first class cricket. The annual "Cup Match" cricket tournament between rival parishes St. George's in the east and Somerset in the west is the occasion for a popular national holiday.
Bermuda has the world's highest acreage of golf courses as a percentage of its total landmass. In 2007 Bermuda hosted the 25th PGA Grand Slam of Golf. This 36-hole event was held on October 16-17, 2007, at the Mid Ocean Club in Tucker's Town. This season ending tournament is between only four golfers - the winners of the Masters, U.S. Open, British Open and PGA Championship. The event returns to Bermuda again in 2008.
The Government announced in 2006 that it will provide substantial financial support to Bermuda's cricket and football teams. Bermuda's most prominent footballers include Clyde Best and Shaun Goater. In 2006, the Bermuda Hogges were formed as the nation's first professional football team in order to raise the standard of play for the Bermuda national football team. The team plays in the United Soccer Leagues Second Division.
Sailing, fishing, and equestrian sports are popular with both residents and visitors alike. The prestigious Newport–Bermuda Yacht Race is a more than 100-year old tradition. In 2007, the 16th biennial Marion-Bermuda yacht race occurred. A sport unique to Bermuda is racing the Bermuda Fitted Dinghy. International One Design racing also originated in Bermuda.
At the 2004 Summer Olympics, Bermuda competed in sailing and equestrian events. Bermuda has had one Olympic medallist, Clarence Hill, who won a bronze medal in boxing. Bermuda also recently competed in Men's Skeleton (head first luge) at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy. Patrick Singleton placed 19th, with a final time of 1:59.81. Bermuda also competes in the bi-annual Island Games, which it will host in 2013.
Population: 65,365 (July 2005 est.). 54.8% is listed as black, 34.1% as white and 6.4% as multiracial. The islands have a small but growing Asian community. A significant segment of the population is also of Portuguese ancestry (10%), the result of immigration from Portuguese-held islands (especially the Azores) during the past 160 years.
Some islanders, especially in St. David's, trace their ancestry to Native Americans. Hundreds were shipped to Bermuda, possibly from as far as Mexico. The best known examples were the Algonquian peoples who were exiled from the New England colonies and sold into slavery in the 17th century, notably in the aftermaths of the Pequot War, and King Philip's War.
Several thousand expatriate workers, principally from the UK, Canada, the West Indies, and the U.S., also reside in Bermuda, primarily engaged in specialised professions such as accounting, finance, and insurance. Others are employed in various trades, such as hotels, restaurants, construction, and landscaping services. Of the total workforce of 38,947 persons in 2005, Government employment figures state that 11,223 (29 percent) are non-Bermudians.
|1 January
|New Year's Day
|Good Friday
|Bermudians fly home-made kites to celebrate Easter
|24 May
|Bermuda Day
|Originally celebrated Queen Victoria's birthday as Empire Day; later changed to "Bermuda Day" to provide an official opportunity to celebrate the islands' heritage and culture. On September 18th, the government officially changed the Bermuda Day holiday to National Heroes' Day in an attempt to create greater national pride and in memory of Dame Lois Browne-Evans. It was recently changed back to Bermuda Day.
|Second Monday in June
|Queen's Official Birthday
|Thursday before the First Monday in August
|Emancipation Day
|First day of Cup match
|Friday before the First Monday in August
|Somer's Day
|Second day of Cup match
|First Monday in September
|Labour Day
|11 November
|Remembrance Day
|25 December
|Christmas Day
|26 December
|Boxing Day


text:
Mary's Changeable Charmer in Seattle
Like this entry? Favorite it below!
- Name:
- Mary
- Location:
- Seattle, WA
- Square Feet:
- 750
- Division:
- Little
- What I Love About My Small Home:
- We love our art, our location, our weird taste, our furniture that we built for the space, and the way we've made it our own. Our bedroom is very separated from the rest of the apartment, which actually makes it feel bigger- it's hard to hear each other when we're in different rooms.
We made a big closet into a cozy lounge that guests sleep in when they visit, and get creative with our nooks and space while trying not to over-fill the main areas.
- Three of My Best Tips and Tricks for Creating a Successful Small Space::
- 1. Figure out the main pieces you need and build around those. We wanted a big table for entertaining, which doubles as our working space. We also wanted a cozy sofa. After that, everything else is something we love like our art and books, or something functional.
2. Just go with what you like. We like bolder colors than we see in blogs, and we have very varied taste in art. Right now, we're arranged our things by room with a color code. It won't last, but we have fun. It makes our home delightful for us, and unique to our guests.
3. Honestly, we don't have very much furniture and we move it constantly. If something isn't working, we try something else. We're not afraid of change, I guess!