Shibby-fest 2013

Today was....Shibby-fest!  It was as awesome as it sounds.  What is Shibby-fest you may ask?  Well, a Shibby is an Irish girl who lives in Bermuda and spends a lot of time doing things for other people.

This is a Shibby...waiting in the spa lobby earlier today

If you show up at her house to give her a lift somewhere, she will probably make you eat at least a tuna sandwich before carrying on.  If you drop in for tea, there will likely be an assortment of munchies that appear for you to graze upon, usually ranging from nuts and chocolate to crisps, and other irresistible things.  If you have a cold she will appear with medicinal supplies as well as traditional Irish cold supplies (lemons and whiskey).  If she goes away on a trip, she brings you a present.  If something good or bad happens, she gives you a gift.  One day when having a particularly bad run of bad news, the poor girl trudged over with a whole bag of presents to give me for each event.  So a Shibby is a generous, outgoing, and caring thing -- but also a good friend and partner in crime.

The Shibby with some of her other partners in crime, Allison and Karen under the moongate today

This particular Shibby in question was born a Siobhan across the pond one December 23, really not so long ago.  In past years in Bermuda, her birthday has been combined with Christmas gatherings and meals, to which of course she says it's no bother and she wants no fuss.  I decided this would have to change in 2013, and so about a month ago I promised her that this year, we would have "Shibby-fest!", a day dedicated to her birthday and not Christmas.  Unfortunately I could not get Monday off for her real birthday, but since I had today off, we celebrated Shibby-fest early and make her a Princess for the day!

Princess Shibby -- crowned at the start of Shibby-fest at the entrance to the Hamilton Princess Hotel this morning

I got a Princess hat for the day too!

We decided to make it a girly day.  One of the girliest things to do on the island is High Tea at the Hamilton Princess.  To give a brief history of this, the Fairmont Hamilton Princess is THE oldest hotel in the global Fairmont chain, opening its gorgeous doors in 1885.  Now, Queen Victoria's daughter, Princess Louise (who resided in Canada I might add) fell in love with Bermuda in 1883.  When the Fairmont opened, it was called "The Princess" in honour of the royal visit.  After it's opening, Mark Twain was a regular guest, and it is said that Ian Fleming based the bar in his James Bond movie Dr. No on the bar at the Hamilton Princess where he was also a guest.  Now, high tea is an English custom dating back to the 1840's.  It was a little hard for the ladies to actually eat in their tight corsets and through the need to put on dainty and delicate airs in high society of the time.  So afternoon tea used to be served in the bedroom -- where the lady could get some sandwiches, scones, and deserts before dressing for dinner (which she presumably couldn't actually eat).  It is called High Tea to distinguish it from the working class custom of afternoon tea.  The hotel says that Princess Louise ordered high tea during her stay, and it has long been offered daily at the hotel.

Princesses Shibby and Moira through the tiers of High Tea (once most of the goodies had been cleared out of the way)

But first -- we decided to add a trip to the Hamilton Princess Inverurie Day Spa as a start to the day, as High Tea is not served until 2:30.  So, we put on some dresses and heels and headed out for a pedicure to start off Shibby-fest.  It was a gorgeous day outside, bright, clear, and warm as early summer.  We spent an hour having our feet pampered before letting Allison and Joy take over the pedicure post.  I must recommend the spa to anyone who needs a quick and convenient treatment in town -- I have to admit I did not know that it existed before today, but it had some reasonably priced spa services (for Bermuda) and they treated us very well.  Siobhan and I had an hour while the other girls had their treatments, so carefully walked in our fancy dresses and flip flops (I had to use the disposable spa flip flops) through the fancy lobby and into the hotel bar for a glass of birthday Proscecco, and then carried it through the courtyard to 2 oversize wooden chairs overlooking the harbour.  I knew Shibby-fest was already a success when she walked out of the hotel lobby and into the sunny courtyard in her fancy dress, sunglasses and flip flops with a glass of bubbles and said in her Irish accent "I feel like a posh b...."  Goal achieved.

Look at that Posh .....!

I had a wee Shibby-fest gift of spa-credit and this awesome little "Cosmopolitan" in a can that I found at Marks and Spencers.  We made good use of it to refill our Proscecco glasses with a nice pink cocktail from our lawn chairs -- and I had to comment that she actually looked happier with her smuggled "cosmo-in-a-can" than posh Proscecco, and she said "yeah....I like to feel a bit naughty."  She better hope Santa wasn't listening!

Pedicures and Bubbles in the sun

After getting in a little more sunshine, and possibly even turning a little bit of color from our time in the sun, we headed back indoors to meet Karen, Moira, and reunite with Allison and Joy.  When we were seated for High Tea, we were not in the normal windows by the courtyard, but upstairs in the same room where we had the reception for the Caledonia Ball.  Much to our surprise, we were seated in the midst of the Annual Teddy Bear Tea, where families bring their children dressed in their Christmas best, with their teddy bear's, for holiday tea and treats.  It was, as always, a delicious assortment of scones with clotted cream, mini sandwiches, and decadent deserts (I finally met a chocolate too rich for me to eat...my candy nemesis), and a good time to get some nice pictures and chat.  In one of my favorite moments of the day -- Santa came!  He sat patiently while all the little girls and boys sat on his knee and whispered their Christmas wishes.  As he began his jingle his way out of the Teddy Bear Tea, I caught Santa's eye with my most innocent smile and pleading eye. As he stopped by me, I pointed at Shibby and threw her under the bus, saying "It's her birthday!  Can I get a picture?"  Although it may take her a few days to forgive me for that one, it was absolutely worth it as Santa took it one step further and asked her to stand up so that he could take her chair and have her sit in his lap.

Oh yeah, now she's bashfully remembering that comment in the courtyard about liking to be a bit naughty

Is it me or does Santa look a little disconcerted?  Wonder what she asked for!

In a room full of tiny princesses, Princess Shibby was the envy of the room.  Plus I like to think it will help some of the little ones believe in both Santa and eternal Princesshood a little longer.

As the lovely afternoon of Shibby-fest came to a close, we got a few more pictures in the courtyard with the whole crew, and then this Princess decided to take a nap with the last hour of her afternoon.  Tomorrow, the figurative glass slippers (aka disposable flip flops) will once again be replaced with running shoes and the Donna Karan will hang in the closet while the shapeless faded blue cotton scrubs once again take charge of the wardrobe.  For another couple of days anyway.  Until then, am glad that we rocked Shibby-fest!

The Cast of Shibby-fest 2013

Bibbity Bobbity Boo

It has been a week of blog abandonment.  A combination of plain old busy, bits of adventure, and scheduled laziness have kept me away until now.  In a rare move, I booked a week off work with the express intention of getting rest and a well needed break.  Normally when I take vacation I try to get on the first plane out after my shift ends and land a few hours before the next shift starts, cramming as much as possible into those treasured hours of freedom.  Maybe I am getting old.  Maybe I was just that tired.  But I decided I just needed a week off.

But before all of that -- there was the Caledonia Ball to attend.  A new sparkly dress had been purchased, and we were all gearing up to be working class princesses for a night, Cinderella's waiting for a magical night out.  There was no fairy Godmother for us...no magical wand to tap us on the head and supply us with perfect hair, glass slippers, coach and gown...nope, it was wages spent at a store, the old faithful straightening iron, and Helen came through with Xena, our little car for the evening in lieu of horse drawn carriage.  Being the shortest of us all, I dubbed Helen Bibbity for the evening, leaving me to be Bobbity, and Siobhan to be Boo.  We did clean up rather nice after trading in our scrubs for frocks.  Prince Charming, in case you are wondering, was a no show for the event.  Except for Carol's Keith of course.

The Fairmont was Christmas Ready for the November 30 Ball

The Fairmont Princess in Hamilton was the location, decked out in lovely Christmas decorations already.  A towering tree glimmering with lights and ornaments, festive bows in the lobby, and off to the ballroom it was.  Ready for a night worthy of the Scottish reputation, we clicked along the marble flooring to the ballroom, ready for bagpipe, traditional food and dance, and many cocktails in mind -- for which the Scots also have a long standing reputation for.  As we enterred the ballroom, a hostess greeted us, saying "Are you here for the AA conference?"  We laughed at the alcoholic anonymous reference at the Scottish Ball and said "Of course, who isn't?"  She looked at us, and a few seconds after we passed called out "No, really, this is the Alcoholics Anonymous Conference."  We all stopped dead in our tracks, looked back and said "You ARE kidding right?"  "No, not at all," she said.  The Fairmont, notably, has several ballrooms.  "Oh, ok.  Well, maybe we'll see you tomorrow then," and off we clicked towards the stairwell to the ballroom on the next level.  This time we were greeted by a man in a kilt directing us to the cocktail reception and knew for sure we were in the right place!

"The AA A-List" Helen (Bibbity), Keith, Carol, and Siobhan (Boo)

Note that the AA A-List were the first to arrive at the lovely but still empty cocktail reception

The cocktail reception was in a smaller ballroom, soon adorned with the Scottish Pipeband, who lit into some Scottish theme music as the VIP's enterred (the Govenor and his entourage), and led us to the larger ballroom where we were seated at our tables of 10 for the event.  We had the lovely Beattie, Liz, Rachel, Kim, and Christine as company, although I am remiss to say I am not in possession of any of the group photos taken.  We were treated to a choice of red or white wine at the table, and in short order the appetizer of Haggis arrived.  My first taste of Haggis, and I can happily report that it did not look in any way shape or form like sheep stomach, nor could any part be discernibly identified as such...it actually tasted pretty good...well, actually, i tasted predominantly pepper, but it was a pleasant surprise!  Second course was the Cullen Skink, a really good soup with a strange name -- haddock, potatoes, and onions...no skinks or skunks at all.  The next course was black pudding stuffed quail and veggies.  The little quails looked so small and sad, roasted up for our culinary pleasure, that I had a hard time eating it.  I always feel remorse when my food resembles its original and non crispy form.  I am not sure if it was that quail has  a "gamier" flavour or if that was from the black pudding, but this course tasted a little unfamiliar to me, and being a bit of a culinary wimp, i did not enjoy it as much as the Haggis.  To my delight though, the Tipsy Laird was a trifle...jello custard and graham wafer crust soaked in some sort of alcohol.  Very tasty.

The pip band leading us to the main event

The traditional dancing of ceilidh ensued, and the regulars were more than happy to invite the newcomers in to participate.  This Cinderella is happier watching than trying to dance, but several from the table gave it a go, reeling and turning in a loop of kilt and gowns.  By the stroke of midnight however, Boo and I had the prescence of mind to relocate, knowing that midnight brings a close to the tale.  Sadly however, even on a Saturday Bermuda itself turns into a pumpkin by midnight as well.  The doors to Harry's were long closed and everywhere else was grumpy and closing up shop...so home it was, to remove the glitz and glimmer of the fairy tale that ended just a bit too soon.  Perhaps the fairy tale of living on an island is all the magic this girl can handle anyway.

If one decides to belle up for another ball this year though, there is still the fabulously named Hogmanay Ball on New Year's Eve...also put on to the Caledonia Society.  It should be said that they put a great deal of time and effort into creating a few special nights in the season for Bermuda, and hats off to the group and their work committee for a job well done.  Am glad I was able to experience the ball on my last Christmas in Bermuda.

Boo and Bobbity..princesses for a moment or two