Stredwick

I want my readers to know that most of my stories are true. Maybe I've twisted them a bit that if the actors read them they wouldn't recognize themselves. Most of the characters are dead. A lot of these stories were told to me by mt grandmother. She also told me that she once lived in a community where the men would go out at nights to catch fish in a nearby river. The type of fish she said was in those rivers are no longer there. Maybe it's because the river has been dammed. But our people don't write and I never got around to asking any old timers from her village to verify her story. For example in Son Tai's Murder, the man who killed him actually returned from prison. I saw him about the place a few times. There are so many stories to be told but when we live in an oral society like Jamaica a lot of it will be missed. For example an organization to which I'm affiliated tried to organize a writing workshop and had to cancel it because of a lack of interest.

I don't agree with the proposed building of s new bus terminus for Portmore. For example it is being that many motorists will park their vehicles and ride to work on the buses. This was tried already and failed. My understanding is that the money to build the new bus park will be by way of a loan. I wonder where they will get the money from to repay back this loan. I think it would be better if a park similar to Mandela Park be constructed and persons pay a fee to use it.

 Taking a short cut home by Austin Mitchell This is a compilation of fifteen short stories. The book is on Amazon as a paperback. I will soon be putting it on Kindle. Here is a short summary of the stories: After many years of not seeing each other, two friends hardly have time to get reacquainted, before one of them is caught up in an ugly incident. Read the full story in The Incident at Mc Alpine Street. Caston didn’t want any trouble, but bully boy, Keswick, wouldn’t let him be. Read all about Caston’s   reaction to his taunts   in The Stabbing Incident. When Carlene’s dead body was found in a dry river bed, suspicions immediately fell on her boyfriend, Denzil Barned. He was the one who had found her body. Ambitious young Sergeant, Peter Brown, is out to gain more stripes by pinning the murder on him.   Read the full story in The Body in the River. How did Pearline and her associates get away with running an illegal Cash Pot operation for so long? Read the full

I see the supermarkets, the shops and the wholesale stores filled with bun and cheese. I am disappointed because the buns are so sweet. Some buns do not have a label to show the amount of sugar, salt and other ingredients. In the 1960's and 70's we used to have a lady buying our buns for us and we would go to her house for it. If we wanted cheese we could get it at a local shop. Cheese seemed to be spinning out of the reach of the poor. I remember buying one of the large tins every year for several years. I think the Ministries of Health and also Commerce ought to do something about the amount of sugar in the buns. They are contemplating a tax on certain drinks. They should consider a tax on things like buns, bullas and other baked products above a certain sugar level.

This novel is doing poorly on Amazon Kindle. I think I know the reason. It does not have a professional book cover and it needs editing. This is a very big book with more than 300 pages. I am trying to edit it. I realize that I didn't use enough pronouns. Frankly I don't think the book might reach its true potential because of a lack of funds on my part. Readers can see parts of the book on typotic.com. I don't know if it's free anywhere else.

It seems that there is a breakdown in discipline in many high schools, especially the newly minted high schools. I am on the road often and I see male and female students and their manner of dress doesn't give me confidence that they are interested in learning. Most if not all schools now have a dean of discipline. Children go to school to learn, if they are not going there for that purpose then maybe they should go somewhere else. One of the questions I would like to ask is  what percentage of the Grade Six Cohort actually sat the Grade Six Achievement Test for 2017. I spent only a few years as both a teacher and a student. I know that not all students will matriculate to our top schools. I am pleased that the government has agreed for some students to remain in school for an extra two years.

So Jamaica has a new Commissioner of Police. I must congratulate him and wish him the best of luck. He needs all the luck he can get. He has his job cut out for him. This is a country full of indiscipline people. I would suggest that he starts with a non tolerant attitude towards even the most minor crimes. Because of this eat a food mentality the police a turning a blind eye to some minor transgression especially on the roads.

I am glad that the government has listened to reason and reduced the property tax increases. What the government must realize is that the majority of people owning property in this country fall into a certain age group. Many of them are pensioners and some depend on the property for income. For example for many persons they have to depend on NIS which can't do anything. So it was really hard on most persons to fork out money to foot the increase in property taxes. Another point is the vast difference between a MP's pension and the NIS pension. One is not saying that the NIS pension should compare to these big government officials but it is nothing to write home about.

I am one of those people who believe that the government should roll back the property tax increases. I hear of some astronomical increases that is bound to affect people's finances in a negative way. No matter what, I think the increases should have been gradual and reasonable. It's not our fault that they weren't increased from 2013. They can't blame the opposition since they are not the ones implementing it.

Summary of Short Stories in Going to the Bushes to cut Firewood. Three years ago Chanella Pearson and Debra Deacon were fooled by two men at around Christmas time. They seemed to be falling into the same trap yet again. Read the full story in Christmas Love. Dougal got drunk and lost his boss’ money. The man is threatening to sue him if he doesn’t find the money to repay him. Read the full story in Dougal’s Luck. Mendes moved from being a goat thief to a big time robber. But has he gone too far this time? Read the full story in The Big Steal. Why were Never and Biggerton always in a tug of war? Read the full story in Never Tired. The Mc Farlanes seem to take to trouble like a duck to water. The three brothers and their only sisters were getting into one scrape after another. Read the full story in The Trouble with the Mc Farlanes. Man is tricked by a longtime associate and seeks revenge. Read the full story in The Highflyers. What secrets could the teache

One retailer reported that one of my books was sold out. I am hearing that I need to find out how this retailer got hold of my books. This retailer probably has all of my books, selling. I don't understand because if I upload my book to a particular distributor how did this retailer get hold of these books. I asked the distributor and they told me to inquire of the retailer. No revenues have been reported to me. I even see one site offering downloads of one of my books.

Jamaican schools boys and girls athletics championship came to pulsating finale on Saturday evening. I had no favorites among the boys, I have always supported Edwin Allen. I had my doubts as to whether KC would dethrone Calabar and so it proved. Nevertheless it proved a titanic struggle between those two schools. I think in years to come the battle will be just as intense. Both schools seemed to be moving away from the other schools. I wonder if its because they both have Astro turf running tracks. Meanwhile other schools seemed to be bunching up behind Edwin Allen that I wonder for how long they will be able to keep them at bay.

I am the publisher and copyright owner of the following books in whatever forms they are published. Undercover Soldier Uptown Lovers Bring back the good old Days Waiting to Cross the Bridge Going to the Bushes to cut Firewood Taking a shortcut Home The Fire by the Wayside Days up the River Riding the Milk truck to School Making grass mats to Sell Going into the hills to Teach