1000

Hard as it is for me to believe, this is the 1000th post on A Limey In Bermuda. As such, if you'll forgive my indulgence, I'd like to take the opportunity to look back on some of my favourites from the previous 999.

When I moved to Bermuda in 2003, I braced myself to expect the unexpected. What I wasn't expecting, however, was a direct hit from a category 3 hurricane three months after arriving and three weeks before I was due to get married. 'Fabian Strikes' was my blow-by-blow account (pun intended) of the storm. Amazingly, my photos are still the first result returned by a Google search for "hurricane fabian".

Some of my favourite posts have been articles that I wrote for the Royal Gazette. 'Bermuda's Onoda Syndrome Sufferers', inspired by one of Alvin Williams' columns, described what I still consider to be a particularly good metaphor for the way Mr. Williams and others continue to view the subject of race. 'An End To Racial Politics', which described my frustration with the tone of local politics, was the easiest column to write. I had already written the first draft of another article for that week, but a debate on the site that day made me so angry that I wrote that piece instead, in just a few hours.

Easily my most controversial piece was 'Throwing the election', in which I satirised the PLP's determination to make independence an election issue. A less heavy-handed satire was my final column, 'Not a letter from the Premier', which found me dreaming about how the Premier might have handled the Tony Brannon saga.

In a similar vein, I've enjoyed putting together the Worst of Bermuda Awards, which I presented in 2004 and 2005. I got the idea after reading a letter in the Royal Gazette that challenged anyone to compile such an alternative to the Bermudian's Best of Bermuda Awards. I picked up the gauntlet, figuring I probably couldn't offend more people than I had already.

Some of my posts have been closer to reportage than opinion. Of these, my favourite is my report on Tim Wise's talk on racial equality - 'Tim Wise: White on White' - which I felt was sufficiently important to take a day off work to write. 'The good and bad of Ashay', my review of the Ashay Rites of Passage programme, was another piece that I was glad to be able to do, given the Government's refusal to make the syllabus public.

I've also been fortunate to have several prominent Bermudians contribute directly to the site. Former chairman of the Road Safety Council, Dr. Joseph Froncioni, was one, who addressed 'The Speed Limit in Bermuda'. 'Question time: Jamahl Simmons' featured the UBP's spokesman doing a live question and answer session.

Bermuda's a small place, and inevitably many topics keep reappearing. 'Human rights and the Bermuda Regiment' had one of the best discussions of the Bermuda Regiment's place in island life. 'Why you should support independence' was one of the more interesting debates on the pros and cons of independence. 'Equal rights for gays' was where I made my case for sexual orientation to be added to the Human Rights Act.

Not every post has been a success. Although I've only ever deleted one, I've found myself praying for a speedy exit from the front page for several others. 'Flying the flag' was one. In it, I suggested that flying a Bermudian flag in our yards might help to bring the Island closer together, but it was my disdain for the reverence with which Americans treat their flag that really raised certain readers' ire. 'Those in glass houses...' was another in which I could have shown more tact, particularly the bit where I said that Bermuda's whole culture is one of mediocrity and indifference. It still makes me wince to re-read it.

Which posts have you enjoyed and which have you hated - and why? Have any of them changed your opinions about anything?

Here's to the next 1000!

Comments

[Steve on 25.01.06 at 23:15]

Only 1000...seems like a lot more than that...:)

[Two Cents on 26.01.06 at 01:18]

Phil,

Well done sir. Here's to another 1,000 posts.

Also well done Mandy, you are a great woman for putting up with this blogging crap, and even coming to the LIB Christmas Drink's and again putting up with the random conversations from us "bloggies".

All The Best

Paul

[Phoenix on 26.01.06 at 08:39]

Loved the piece of satire that got P and his friends so worked up. Got pretty fed up with hearing the same old arguments about race without too many positive attempts at constructive suggestions.

[Combat Banker on 26.01.06 at 08:45]

I laugh, I cried, it was better than 'Cats', I'm going to read it again and again...

Well Done Phil. Here's to lonely shut-ins and recluses finding purpose by the cathode-ray light of the Internet everywhere! ;)

[sandgrownan on 26.01.06 at 08:45]

Keep up the good work - this is a very valuable forum.

[Full Fullish on 26.01.06 at 09:00]

Congrats Phil!

Hey, so which was the post that you deleted?

[Phil on 26.01.06 at 09:04]

Full Fullish

Hey, so which was the post that you deleted?

A bad lapse of judgement that I'd rather forget!

[VB on 26.01.06 at 10:52]

I only rarely post but I am a junkie lurker checking in at least twice a day. I am more inclined to pick up the phone for talk radio but even that is only a once or twice a week thing. I rarely call the 'Fool on the Hill'. Gotta have at least some standards.

Congrats & keep up the good work all.

[Fly Girl on 26.01.06 at 11:07]

Congrats Limey, I love your site, to the point I might be addicted. Even though I don't always put in comments, the reading is great.

[Git on 26.01.06 at 15:48]

Bravo Phil.

Appreciate what you do and how you do it. Keep on typing.

[Raptor on 26.01.06 at 16:50]

Congrats on your 1,000! And thanks for doing it!

[Uncle Elvis on 26.01.06 at 17:31]

Oh, so now I suppose you think you're special.
Oooh, look at me, Mr. I-got-1,000-posts-on-my-blog.

Bah...

Youuuuu got NOTHING! NOTHING I TELL YOU!

Well done.

[SmokingGun on 26.01.06 at 19:14]

You done good lad, you done good. Hope you get to post 1000 more before they come and take your PC away.....

[Ethiops on 26.01.06 at 20:09]

Phil for an onion like meself being offshore and all, your hobby is a godsend man. I’m really grateful you take the time to put up with us. I echo what’s been already said. Congrats and Keep up the good work. There have been so many good things we've talked about it would be hard as hell to single one out. As well as all those that give feedback here! I can’t help but think as a direct result of coming to limeyinbermuda.com and listening and speaking with you all I’ve let go old idea’s and have moved on.