Living in a country setting – to a city denizen at least – can remain a distant wish over many years of summing up the pros and cons of whichever lifestyle you feel the most comfortable with. Having all the services, conveniences, streetlights and ease of urban commute remains a deep-rooted warmth that many would not give up, even for the rustic purity of fresh air, more space and fewer vehicles clogging the highways. Some of us though have thrown caution to the big winds, made the move to the remote environs and as they say in ‘street cred’ “Bring it on, ‘mon’- bring it on!”

Our setting in the mid-upper Layou Valley of Dominica is virtually neighbourless with views that centre upon many tree-line levels, a backcloth of verdant cliffs and a picturesque winding road that provides us with a quick access to whatever social intercourse one needs without sacrificing one iota of privacy.

Though remote, we have always felt safe in this area and ‘tuned in’ with the locals. How strange then, that late in the evening - as I was battling with a Windward Islands version of ‘Montezuma’s Revenge’, the dogs struck up their loudest chorus and my better half shouted as if she was on the downhill descent from a roller coaster. “Someone’s climbing up the telegraph pole with a torch! Do something!!” In my state the only reply I could give to my wondrous one was that “I am doing something at a great rate and fixed to the spot. Improvise, will you?!”

When I eventually emerged from the bathroom it was greeted with a mildly sarcastic comment of “Well, here’s my hero now!” The dogs were not impressed with me either, but seemed to have downsized their excitement somewhat. Outside was blacker than liquorice, even the stars were in remission and whatever was upsetting the peace had disappeared. So I just stared at what was scantily possible to discern, thinking out loud as to what sort of a ‘torches and a telegraph pole’ mystery was about to unfold. Continue reading "Strange Overtones at the Midnight Hour - By Laurie Stevens"