COUSIN PHIL

One thing you learn quickly living here in Rosehall, is that the O'Garro family is a large one. An evening amble around the village usually is extended by at least half an hour as one has to stop at regular intervals to pass the time of day with some distant cousin, nephew or other. We are usually accompanied by either Fred (a cousin) or Phil (another cousin). At the house there is also Cousin Elwyn and of course Bloggo who wanders around the outside of the property mumbling to himself in an incomprehensible diatribe. The most interesting of these by far is Cousin Phil. Phil is the nearest relation to Gladstone, Trish's father.

Phil is a very sprightly 70 year old. He loves his cricket and always has an opinion about the state of play in the game of games. I feed him with a constant flow of DVDs from England. He especially liked the 7 disc set showing England's humiliation of Australia last winter and proceeded to regale me with stories of how the Australians got their just deserts in the late seventies at the hands of Clive Lloyd's resurgent West Indians following the disgraceful racist and physical abuse metered out to them in the 75 tour.(as seen in the excellent DVD documentary 'Fire In Babylon')

Even more interesting are Phil's stories of England in the late 50's early 60's. Phil, at the age of 17 decided he wanted to go to England to seek a new life. A few goats sold later and he had his fare. He arrived and immediately wanted to go home. The cold weather coupled with signs in in the windows of houses with rooms to let stating 'no blacks, no Irish, no dogs' turned the land of milk and honey to the land of the rock and a hard place. Phil persevered, his mother ignoring his begging letters, and was soon raising a family, working hard and saving up enough money to return in 1991, able to buy land and property here in Rosehall.

The house he designed and had built is a lovely, airy, colourful two story dwelling with a balcony that runs all the way round it, affording a splendid view of Mount Sofrie the resident volcano and the sparkling Caribbean Sea. What a pity a few more of our 'citizens' don't have Phil's attitude instead of the 'what's in it for me' attitude that haunts our society. His ultimate reward however he has just had installed; cable TV and Test Match cricket.

Moving on to Montserrat tomorrow, Liat willing. Next Blog from there.

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