She Went Of Her Own Accord!**

Today is Caribbean Carnival Day in Leicester

This is the 25th Carnival, and the event happens every year on the first Saturday in August [yesterday, August 6th was Jamaican Independence Day]

We are going to miss the fun – as we are off on holiday to Cornerstones today – but I am sure it will be an afternoon of colour and full of great music, entertainment and food. And fabulous costumes…

However, we did take a minute to celebrate Caribbean Culture this week, and picked up some lunch from the Nine Mile Caribbean Takeaway in Evington Road. Connie, the exuberant owner, served us ‘taster’ bowls of her great food [such generous portions, I almost didn’t want any more lunch!]

Connie was so apologetic, she said she was so busy preparing for the carnival that she didn’t have as wide a choice as usual on the menu [so no fresh carrot milk- my absolute favourite West Indian drink!] We bought portions of mutton curry, oxtail and butterbeans, and rice’n’peas, and a bottle of sorrel drink. It cost around £12 – but there was so much food, it served us for both lunchtime and our evening meal.

You may have seen Connie on “The Hairy Bikers” programme in the spring. Bob has been hankering after visiting the takeaway ever since! I suspect he will be going back again before too long.

**for anyone who didn’t recognise the title of this post, its a VERY old joke – usually told thus

My wife’s gone to the West Indies

Jamaica?

No – she went of her own accord!

[Except in OUR perverse family, where we say Barbados – please don’t ask me to explain any further, it will get surreal]

One love, one heart
Let's get together and feel all right
As it was in the beginning
So shall it be in the end
"Give thanks and praise to the Lord and I will feel all right."
"Let's get together and feel all right."