So much retraining necessary this time of year.

Christmas concert time. We were treated to lots of singing, a ballet recital, a gymnastics demonstration and a musical instrument demonstration.

Buju is back in Jamaica after seven years in federal prison on drug charges. My friend Erin Macleod and I collaborated on this piece for the Guardian. This one was a privilege to write. As an angsty teen/early 20s, Buju’s Til Shiloh got me through a lot of tough times. I played it over and over. It seems he is the type of artist who connects with people at the heart.

Fellow journalist Zahra Burton ventured out to XFactor winner Dalton Harris’ childhood home to talk to his mother. She wrote a piece for the UK Sun newspaper. Check it out here.

Row homes In Tivoli Gardens.

We took a trip to the Public Library the other day. It is quite pleasant and has a good selection of children’s books. The requisite grumpy librarian was there as well, scolding me and the children for trying to put the books back on the shelf.

An interesting perspective on Reggae music gaining recognition from UNESCO.

Christmas is coming.

The National Youth Orchestra of Jamaica performed last weekend at Hope Gardens. It was a lovely performance by a very talented group of young people from all over the island.