There is something to be said about a uniform – beyond the clichés. National Heroes Day was celebrated this morning at King’s House in Jamaica in the usual pomp and pageantry. Resplendent in theirs, uniformed men and women from the army, coast guard, police force, and fire department alternated on the platform with appropriately suited civilians to receive special recognitions from our Governor- General Sir Patrick Allen.

Awards and honours were this year bestowed on over 152 Jamaicans who have served Jamaica for long, distinguished service, for impromptu acts of bravery, and for excellence in their careers, whether in the private or public sectors. Some citations gave you chills while some warmed our hearts. Some added smiles, some rose special applause. All confirmed a knowing that Jamaicans are beautiful people at heart; creative, industrious, talented, brave and honourable. The civility of the ceremony, the order and appropriateness of it all, was a perfect match for the breath of fresh air that wafted under the sunny skies of Kingston.

We did not make it to Emancipation Jubilee in Seville, St. Ann. Instead, we stayed in Kingston and totally enjoyed a weekend filled with all the diversity that our city has to offer: Letters for Emancipendence written by Barbara Gloudon and performed by the Pantomime Company amused and amazed; the 14th annual Tribute to the Greats (in Jamaica’s extraordinary music industry) produced by Kingsley Goodison and his team, after which the wee hours had us dancing to the sounds of Merritone Disco;the 49th Season of the National Dance Theatre Company (N.D.T.C.);daytime was filled with tours of the Bob Marley Museum and the Hope Botanical Gardens, of the Mona Campus of the University of the West Indies, of Downtown and New Kingston and of the National Heroes Park, where monuments and memorials were brought to life by memories of the carefully crafted recollections of our National Heroes in Letters for Emancipendence.

To tone things down a bit in the middle of this Emancipation weekend, we took a leisurely drive up into the St. Andrew hills to Newcastle, with a surprise pit stop at the home of artist Sheila Burke. Taking a break from her wet canvas she generously shared ‘herstories’ of the three generations of artists in her family. Hands, richly coloured with paint, gesticulated as she recounted the stories behind her own artwork and favourites in her decades old collection, including those by her friends, sculptor Alvin Marriott and poet laureate, Derek Walcott.

Further up in the misty Blue Mountains, we passed the bottling station for Catherine's Peak water (Cheers!) on our way up to the Jamaica Defence Force’s training ground in Newcastle. This, and the ever-beautiful private gardens of Greenwich Drive provided perfect photo ops. The juxtaposition of a gourmet meal in the rustic setting of EITS Café was the next pause that refreshed before meandering down to the city for the NDTC's performance. A stop at the Devon House Bakery and Ice Cream Shops provided a sweet nightcap at the end of a culturally rich day in Kingston.

Thanks to the Collins Family for their hunger to know Kingston. To take from a Jamaican phrase made popular by Bob Marley, we hope that "yu belly full, but yu hungry" for more!

Kingston may be the cultural centre of Jamaica but when it comes to special holidays celebrations take place in every nook and cranny 

So, if you are up to parish-hopping, in addition to attending the remounting of Letters for Emancipendence in Kingston, which by the way will be performed over 2 weekends, go on over to St. Ann on the eve of Emancipation Day to the Seville Heritage Park and witness the 15th staging of Emancipation Jubilee. The festival celebrates Jamaica's emancipation from slavery by bringing together traditional folk forms in celebration of our African ancestors. 

The Jamaica National Heritage Trust, in announcing the renewal, said that traditional performances will be on show by troupes from around the island; the Manchioneal Cultural Group from Portland, the exciting Port Morant Kumina group from St. Thomas, the Islington Dinki Mini group from St. Mary, Nine Night from St. Ann and the Stella Maris Dance Ensemble from Kingston, as well as  other award-winning traditional groups will be joined by the Nigerian Dance Troupe performing courtesy of Nigerian High Commissioner, Peter Oyedele.

Outstanding drumming groups slated to perform include the Kingston Drummers and Children of the Drums. Check in for the clash of the drums.

Popular entertainers Delroy Sibbles, Delroy Morgan and Voice Mail, among others, will provide a mix to showcase diversity in Jamaica's culture.

Sounds like a plan!

Over ten years ago, I saw one of the first performances of the pantomime company's Augus Mawnin', a Jamaican heritage production celebrat-ing the return of August 1st. to the calendar of national observances. It became an  annual theatrical production on Emancipation Day. 
"Letters for Emancipendence" 
in rehearsal.

 Deciding that it was time to see it again, I called the Little Theatre Movement today to check for show times, only to find that we now have a heritage series and that this year will see the return of "Letters for Emancipendence" which was mounted for the first time last year.

This production features dramatized events in the lives of Jamaica's seven National Heroes, namely, Nanny, Sam Sharpe, Paul Bogle, George William Gordon, Marcus Mosiah Garvey, Sir Alexander Bustamante and Norman Washington Manley.

Well, this is certainly something to look forward to ths Augus Mawnin'! Come stay with us at Neita's Nest August 1 through 6 while you check out this and other calendar events celebrating Jamaica's heritage.

The Jamaica Military Band performed par excellence at the Hope Botanical Gardens amphitheatre this weekend, bringing back childhood memories for recent Neita's Nest guest, Yvonne Playfair-Scott, and her hosts, of pleasant Sunday afternoons with our families. 

Immaculately attired in their nigh-unique zouave uniform reminiscent of the West India Regiment, the orchestra was equally at ease with European classicals, Broadway musicals and our own Mento, and had us calling out for an encore. 

And as if we weren't satisfied, next we popped over for the tail end of the Jamaica Orchid Society's Annual Orchid Show and ended the evening with ice cream cones.

Champs! An exciting and  colourful Jamaican tradition of boys' and girls' hgh school athletics. All roads, all flights, all hearts and all schools lead to the National Stadium on March 30, 2011 for 4 days of exhilarating performance by our next Olympians. Check the ISSA website for details, Neita's Nest Bed and Breakfast for accommodation, and let the countdown begin.

Billed, The Art of Music, the JAMAICA Jazz & Blues Festival is celebrating its 15th renewal this year from January 23 - 29, and Trelawny is the mecca. Enjoy every note. then come, rest, relax and rejuvenate at Neita's Nest in the suburbs of Kingston, and take in the other side of Jamaica.

With Regina Belle, Diana King, Tavares, Maroon 5 and many more, you may be wondering where to stay during the festival. Not to worry, Blue Ocean Events just shared their package with us. Check it out. 

Now that you have your tickets for Champs 100, the 100th renewal of Boys' and Girls' inter-schools athletics meet, you'll still need somewhere to stay, and Neita's Nest Bed & Breakfast is ready and waiting for you...

Over 30,000 persons from home and abroad pack the National Stadium each year for this colourful spectacle of energy and enthusiasm, both on and off the track.