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Caribbean Love Island

30th June 202530th June 2025 funtime65

The studious taxi driver bemoaned how flighty Bajan women were and how the men were outnumbered, but you’d have licked your lips to be in such a Caribbean Love Island.

Me, I naturally asked him to turn the car around and take me back to the airport, as I couldn’t stay one more minute in this fleshpot.

Not!

Now because a gentleman never kisses and tells I’ll gloss over jumping with Dee-Dee at Barbados Crop Over.

Not that Dee-Dee reciprocated, of course, reminding me in a deep Bajan voice to watch and not smudge the make-up, Mon.

My indiscretions with Dee-Dee and jumping, chipping and wukking up with new-found friends and randomers came flooding back.

As our Caribbean friends flagged up that they were inviting applicants for Love Link Caribbean, the islands’ first online dating series.

Reality check in to Caribbean

Me-me and Dee-Dee: At Crop Over in Barbados

After the success of last year’s reality TV hit The Mixer.

The brainchild of Love Link TV are Antigua and Barbuda natives and media creatives Jamila Watkins and Donald Watkins, seasoned creatives.

Hosted by the chillingly cool Shermain Jeremy and Mario Connor, The Mixer brought together ten eligible men and women.

Antigua in the frame

Lie back: And think of Antigua and Barbuda

All ready to find love and set against the backdrop of Antigua and Barbuda.

And filmed at romantic hotspots like the historic Dow’s Hill Interpretation Center in English Harbour and other picturesque sites.

How to get started

Now firstly applicants should be between 21 and 35.

And as was pointed out to me in Sidetracks only last week this 59-year-old looks 35.

You will need to give your height and say if you have a valid passport and if you are willing to travel/relocate for work.

All of which takes you to the next stage your profile so be ready with your social tags.

The lifestyle section asks if you have any children and if you want any in the future, a chat-up line that never landed for me.

And what you do for a living and I held my breath as journalist often precludes you societally.

Your love profile is more probing still, asking about your relationship status, why your last relationship ended and your USP.

With me naturally mentioning my unique jumping and chippin’ and my limbo dancing prowess.

Those three words

You’re asked to describe in three words your perfect partner, eh, Robyn Rihanna Fenty obviously.

And if you would be interested in marriage… whoooo!

After which congratulations you are through to the last section, the deal breaking Vibes and Values.

And if you’re an introvert or extrovert, casual or excessive drinker and your idea of the perfect date… an adventurous excursion here.

Your vibe in a sentence, and panicking I put ‘fun-loving, passionate Sagittarian’.

Before pulling out at what I bring to the table and submitting photos and a one-minute video.

On account of me surely being a name already in the Caribbean.

Ri-Ri and Me-Me

Hot shot: Your video is your calling card

Well, I am on the Builders of Barbados Wall with Ms Fenty.

Good luck, of course, with your application, with casting ending on August 8.

Now viewers on this side of the Atlantic are casting their eyes to Mallorca and Love Island, already a well-established party livespot.

Here is an invitation on another scale, Caribbean Love Island on Antigua and Barbuda… and everyone is welcome.

Caribbean, Countries, Music

Antigua for the Caribbean Soca Showdown

5th August 20245th August 2024 funtime65

The West Indies are on a roll so ready, steady, go, it’s a hop, skip and a jump to Antigua for The Caribbean Soca Showdown.

Our favourite set of islands in the sun are beloved for their laid-back lifestyle.

But they do, of course, punch above their weight too on the sporting field as they continue to show at the Paris Olympics.

Jamaican flyers Usain Bolt, Don Quarry, Merlene Ottey, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce have led the way over the years.

As have cricketing royalty Sir Garfield Sobers (Barbados) and Sir Viv Richards (Antigua).

And my Foreday Morning mate Brian Lara and his footie pal Dwight Yorke from Trinidad & Tobago among many, many more.

Add to that new Olympic heroes from Paris 2024 in pride of St Lucia in 200m women’s champ Julien Alfred, their first-ever medal winner.

And the island looks like it will never stop partying since the weekend win.

While triple jumper Thea LaFond worked the same magic for Dominica.

Soca not soccer

Of course all eyes are on the Olympics right now but for many of us attention will switch back, and has already started with the resumption of Scottish league football, on soccer.

Soccer has its place in the Caribbean, but in truth, if you ask about it, you’re more likely to be taken to a big field for a Mas (party) and a festival of Soca, or So Calypyso music.

Where there is no tribal rivalry, only peace, love, rhythm and rum.

There will be good-natured island competition across 12 islands on Saturday it is true.

But that just adds to the carnival when the Kari Soca Caribbean Soca Monarch Showdown.

Take to the stage

Empress will proudly represent Antigua and Barbuda, while D Phillip Blackest will showcase talent from the US Virgin Islands.

Christy D will sing for Barbados, and Rae will fly the Trinidad and Tobago flag.

Dominica will have two representatives, Mr Gwada and Benji.

Montserrat have sent Lyrikal, Riggy is flying in from Grenada, and Eazi from Nevis.

Imran Nerdy is St Lucia’s pride and joy, TR Shine represents Belize, and Ras Kelly is St Kitts’ contestant.

None of the names there that I’ve come across and Biggie Irie, King Bubba and his pals will no doubt be jumping at Crop Over in Barbados just now.

So that means new names and friends to jump alongside.

So for a celebration of life and music get out to Antigua for the Caribbean Soca Showdown.

Caribbean, Countries, Deals

Andi Oliver’s food glorious food in Antigua

6th April 20246th April 2024 funtime65

Now it takes one to know one so I’m flagging up my fellow Caribbeanophile Andi Oliver’s food glorious food in Antigua.

You’ll have seen the awesome Andi on British television screens.

Not least on her odyssey of the West Indies, the Caribbean with Andi and Miquita, her daughter and fellow Celebrity Googlebox partner.

Their first stop in the BBC show is Antigua where they meet their eldest relative who retraces colonial days.

Before heading for Barbados ahead of Bim becoming a republic, and getting their DNA results.

Handi Andi

Reckon mine too would show Barbados roots, having found my name on the Building Wall of Barbados.

Next to Robyn Rihanna Fenty.

Antigua was where it began for Andi though through her mum’s family.

And she is heading back there for the Pepperpot Rum Shop pop-up experience in Fort James next month.

The collaboration between Andi Oliver, the Treehouse Beach Club and the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority launches on May 8.

Andi’s offerings coincide with the Antigua and Barbuda Restaurant Week (May 5-19).

Now you may have sampled Andi’s wares at her London restaurant Wadadli Kitchen, and foodie memoir, Pepperpot Diaries.

Curry favour

Visitors to the pop-up will be treated to some of Andi’s most celebrated dishes, like chocolate curried goat, alongside innovative new recipes.

A sensitive issue here having taken my goat Bandanaman to racing victory in Tobago.

Now having gambolled with goats and I draw the line at cooking them I am available to help Andi out.

Having learned ocra at the hand of Ruby at Club Barbados.

And curry with Auntie Ali and Uncle Kenneth at the Blue Crab in Tobago.

See, I told you I had Caribbean roots.

Pineapple Beach Club

If you want to enjoy the flavours of Andi Oliver’s food, glorious food in Antigua then..

A week at the Pineapple Beach Club by Elite Island Resorts for May 5 to 12 from London Gatwick with British Airways is from £2,061.50 pp.