Hello out there all you lovely people. I am sending you a smile and remind you that you rock. A candle is lit for all of you and I hope this post spreads a little happiness around the blogosphere.

Update on Bee

Ah, I have spent the last couple of weeks working and going to doctors or hospital appointments. And I had hoped so much not to this year. However, I hurt my wrist in January. At first, it was only a short pain while leaning on it but over time it changed when I did certain movements. Turning and bending it gave a sharp pain and it felt like two bones are locking into each other. I had to wriggle it to get it loose again. My doctor wasn’t sure what it could be so I got an x-ray appointment and now am waiting to speak to him what to do about it. All I know is, it’s nothing bad. Ah, well, then…

I have also started bleeding again which worried me quite bit. My last period was in September 2019. After chemotherapy, I got the information: Hey, your menopause is over. And I was delighted. It never got me anything to celebrate about with fibroids, excruciating period pains and mood swings. I felt like coming into my own at last. Of course, starting again happens. And according to the nurse I spoke to it happens quite often. But with a history of cancer she did not want to assume anything. So, I had an appointment for a scan which showed a thickening of the uterus walls. Normal again as I take Tamoxifen and this is a side-effect. A biopsie didn’t show anything negative. Phew.

However, today I am going to have a hysteroscopy (I always want to say hysterectomy… 🙂 ) and a polyp is going to be taken out. It won’t be fun but hopefully paracetamol will keep the pain at bay.

On top of all that I was supposed to see the surgeons about last years operation. I have quite some trouble with my arm and it is still swollen so I am desperate to see them. Unfortunately, my appointment was cancelled twice. So please, cross fingers for me that the next on the 26th takes place. Thanks. So you see I am not getting bored.

Otherwise, I feel well just still getting tired fast. That’s annoying but I can live with it. As long as I keep my inner critic at bay. But now enough of my endeavours and off to Jamaica.

1. Introduction to Jamaica

Woa, let’s get the rum out, Reggae on the playlist and slow down to relax. Oh dear, here goes the prejudices but I have to admit I love all three of these things. I have not much good to say about my father, however, he introduced me to Bob Marley and his music and that was one of the few good things he has given me.

But, of course, there is much more to Jamaica than the first look offers. There are a couple of crazy things like a spring that you can set on fire: Firewater as the locals call it in St. Anna’s Bay still seems to be a secret even to the Jamaicans. Many minerals gives this spring healing qualities and natural gasses enable the fire fun.

Jamaicans like to call their villages and cities according to stories that happened there. My favourite is ” I-No-Call-Yu-Noh-Come” which according to Jamaicans.com was founded by maroons who didn’t like unexpected visitors. But find out more about this and other Jamaican places here.

Apparently, they love bobsledding. No, I won’t mention “Cool Runnings” and one of my biggest ear worms ever “I can see clearly now”. I also won’t mention that there is no snow in Jamaica. What do you need snow for when you can put the vehicle on rails and have lots of fun like at Mystic Mountain? And according to Jamaicans.com it is an environmentally friendly business. Brilliant.

Jamaica has some rainforest with flora and fauna that hasn’t been disrupted which helps biodiversity greatly. But there are also the beaches full of tourists at Montego Bay, for example. I didn’t know that’s in Jamaica. Oops. And if we think Rastafarians are a majority in Jamaica we are utterly wrong. The majority follows Christianity and Marijuana wasn’t legalised until 2015. I never thought I will put these two in one sentence… Looks like I am losing my cool so I better let some great vloggers tell you more about this exciting country.

As always: I have no rights to the videos. Copyright lays with the creators and please forgive adverts in the videos. That’s how creators can be rewarded for their hard work and I feel they deserve it.

So, please come away with me to Jamaica:

Do you miss going travelling? I have to admit the older I get the less I want to travel even though there are a couple of places I still want to see. Jamaica though made me want to travel at least a little bit.

2. An Artist of Jamaica

Margret Chen was born and educated in Jamaica. After school she chose to study art in Canada where her first works came into being. However, in the 1980’s she chose to come back to Jamaica. Her works are often large in scale and combine natural and man-made items. She pays much attention to detail as well as describing her work as a process. Find out more about Margret Chen here.

4. Food of Jamaica

Did I write Jamaica makes me want to travel again? I take it back 😉 . Yes, Jamaica is another meat loving country even though I suspect there are vegetarian options available too 🙂

That sounds amazing. So if you want to discover more and even try to cook some at home check out these posts at Jamaicans.com

3. & 5. A Poet & Climate Acitivist of Jamaica

Adwoa Addae defies categorisation. Transgender poet/ess, climate activist, multidisciplinary performance artist and community organiser who now lives in the United States and prefers to be called “they”. It is amazing how humans today are changing the unyielding categories we are used to be put in. I am not sure I am capable of introducing Adwoa adequately to you so I leave you two links and a video with their poetry.

Adwoa Addae on Amplify Africa

Adwoa Addae at Greenpeace

6. Mental Health in Jamaica

We might have hoped that a country famed for it’s relaxed life style has a good mental health record, however, that does not seem to be the case. Find out more about Jamaica, mental health and youth in this video from The Dutty Berry Show:

7. Some musicians of Jamaica

Dear readers, I am sitting here grinning like the Cheshire Cat. This playlist offers some of my most favourite songs and I have cheated a little. Only two members of the last band on the list are from Jamaica. One is from Aruba and the other from Montserrat. Can you guess which band it is 😉 ? I put it last because they are a little like Marmite. I love them but most hate them I think.

Are you inspired by my virtual travel around the world and want to share your music or travel post? Please feel free to add it to this Linky:

Please, click and add your link. You will also find other posts there. Happy posting and virtual travel 🙂

And where are we going next week?

Come Away With Me 2021 Musical Challenge Country for Monday, May17th, 2021

I am taking a rather random route around the world, but sometimes it makes sense. Next week we venture to Haiti 😉 . Please find musicians from Haiti on the BBC page.

As for the suggestions to take part:

1. Join in! No matter where, when and with what. You missed the first year? Don’t worry. Just jump in when it suits you.
2. Send us the link! The ping-back option does not work because my blog is now private so please leave a link in the comments of the post on the day you take part. Or leave it at the “Come Away With Me 2021 FB page“
3. Tag your post either with ” Come Away With Me Musical Challenge”/ #CoAwWiMeMuCh” / “Come Away with Me 2021 Musical Challenge” o/“CoAwWiMe2021MuCh” / . You can also use these as hashtags for Twitter and other Social Networks to give your post more exposure. If you add #blog and #music with your hashtags it will get you more readers.
4. No matter which music or country the prompt favours you create with it whatever you please. This is supposed to be a fun challenge and no chore.
5. I post a prompt for the next week with every “Come Away With Me 2021 post” I write.
6. If you like, use this picture for your readers to find the posts.

Just one more thing before you go: The hospital that is treating me is fundraising for a dedicated breast cancer unit which would allow some same-day diagnosis and better premises for patients and staff.

Please, if you can spare a little money hop over to their Just Giving Page and give as little or much as you can. Or share the page on your social media. So far the campaign has raised about half the amount needed: £450,061 of £800,000 (May 2021).

Your support means a lot to me! Thank you very much.

Thanks, my dears, for staying with me until the end.

I appreciate your presence.

Please stay safe, stay kind and remember that you rock!