Bermuda Groceries are EXPEN$IVE

If you think inflation has driven prices up where you live, consider Bermuda — out in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Almost everything is imported.

Price comparison — a 5oz package of Organic Girl baby arugula costs between $3.29 and $4.49 in the US; in Bermuda the same product costs $5.99 on special or $7.99 at the regular price.

Royal Gazette – Understanding food supply chain and drivers of soaring prices

BUT there must be some good deals. Right? Right?

I found the downtown MarketPlace to have the best selection. Prices are often better, too, than the other 7 MarketPlace stores on island.

Two litre Diet Pepsi $4.49 on sale. New York price $2.28.

Red Baron frozen pizza $8.59 on sale. New York price $4.47.

1kg mixed flash frozen vegetables $8.29. New York price $2.28.

La Vielle Ferme wine $12.99 on sale. New York price $8 and up.

Family size Raisin Bran Crunch cereal $9.19. New York price $5.38

Whole rotisserie chicken $13.49. New York price $8.

1.5 quart (1.42 litre) ice cream $8.49 on sale. New York price $4.97.

Just Bagels 6 pack frozen $6.59. New York price $4.18.

Raisin Bran Crunch must be healthy, I ASSuME. So worth the higher price. 😀

P.S. Unleaded gas price February 2023 was U.S. $2.27 / litre. Only Iceland and Hong Kong were more costly that month. Norway was $2.20.

The Breaker by Nick Petrie

The Breaker (2021) is the 6th book in the Peter Ash series. And the best, so far.

This one is set in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where the author lives.

Peter Ash came back from the wars in both Afghanistan and Iraq with PTSD and claustrophobia. He has problems going indoors.

In this book he’s working renovations with his best friend, fellow veteran, Lewis.

Ash has a false identity as he’s wanted by police in both Iceland and the States.

As with the Jack Reacher books, the characters here are drawn into a worldwide crisis by coincidence — they happen to see a shooter in a busy city market. And try to stop him.

Ash’s girlfriend June identifies the gunman. And off we go.

As their parallel investigations draw together, they’re thrust into the path of a ruthless tech thief, an eerily cheerful assassin, a brilliant and troubled inventor, and a revolutionary technology that could wreak devastation in the wrong hands. …

Amazon

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

The Goodbye Man by Jeffery Deaver

The Goodbye Man is another well written, original story by a master craftsman.

It’s the second book in the series about Colter Shaw, a fascinating character.

Shaw is an itinerate “reward-seeker,” traveling the country to help police solve crimes and help private citizens locate missing persons.

He does this for the reward offered.

Shaw refuses to call himself a bounty hunter — he’s an expert tracker — and goes to great pains not to use firearms. I appreciate that.

In Goodbye Man, Shaw signs up for a 3 week course at a mysterious, remote cult retreat called The Foundation. Cost $7500.

It’s creepy. More creepy than Nicole Kidman’s in the TV series Nine Perfect Strangers which I was watching at the same time.

Colter Shaw is in the retreat investigating what happened to one of the young men he as tracking in a previous case, accused of defacing a church with neo-Nazi slogans.

Personally, I preferred book #1 – The Never Game.

This book is very good. But had fewer twists and surprises than the usual Deaver plots.

It was muddled in places, as well, with flashbacks at inappropriate times.

The plot was interesting, but some of the incidents highly unlikely.

David Byrne singing “Heroes”

Easily the best version of the Bowie classic I’ve ever heard.

Watch David Byrne sing David Bowie’s “Heroes” with beautiful, massive backup choir (video)

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

The House of Silk by Anthony Horowitz

The House of Silk is a Sherlock Holmes novel written by British author Anthony Horowitz, published in 2011.

I’d say it’s better than any of the original books by Conan Doyle.

In a new case, Sherlock turns to the Baker Street Irregulars, street kids who work for Holmes as intelligence agents. 

The newest Irregular, a boy named Ross, is killed while staking out a cheap hotel.

Investigating that murder leads Sherlock into the House of Silk case.

The book is full of surprising twists and turns. Watson is a few steps behind, as usual. 😀

Acapulco – season 1

Acapulco is a Spanish / English comedy hit. 100% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Nothing amazing. But I do love the look of the 1980s Mexican resort.

And it’s charming. And silly.

A likeable poor kid from the neighbourhood gets his dream job as the  Las Colinas Resort as a pool boy.

His buddy Memo is entertaining, too.

Camila Perez as Julia Gonzalez, a receptionist, is the potential love interest. Gorgeous.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

The Word Is Murder by Anthony Horowitz

Anthony Horowitz is an English novelist and screenwriter specialising in mystery and suspense.

Super popular, I’ve only read one other of his books.

He’s well respected. The estate of Arthur Conan Doyle chose him to write two NEW Sherlock Holmes books: The House of Silk (2011) and Moriarty (2014).

He’s written for the Ian Fleming estate, as well.

The Word Is Murder is the first novel in a series. An intriguing plot.

Anthony, the narrator (a barely fictionalized version of the author), is approached by ex-Detective Inspector Hawthorne, with whom he worked on a television series.

Hawthorne, who is in need of money, proposes that Anthony write a book about him and one of the cases he is working on in exchange for a 50/50 split of the advance and royalties.

The case involves a woman who, six hours after planning her own funeral, is found murdered. Initially reluctant, Anthony agrees and proceeds to document Hawthorne’s solution of the case.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Whitechapel (TV series)

Whitechapel (TV series) detectives in London’s Whitechapel district deal with murders which replicated historical crimes.

The first series was broadcast in the UK on 2 February 2009 and depicted the search for a modern copycat killer replicating the murders of Jack the Ripper.

Phil Davis as D.S. Ray Miles (far left) is good.

But my favourite character is Steve Pemberton as Edward Buchan. He’s a student of famous London killers and consultant to the police.

There’s much to criticize. Especially the gawd awful video editing. Film students should study this show to see how NOT to do transitions from one scene to the next.

They should watch Benedict Cumberbatch in Sherlock Holmes to see that done well.

But there’s something entertaining about Whitechapel. … But I can’t explain what it is. 😀

Next in Line by Jeffrey Archer

Next in Line (2022) is the 5th and most recent book in the popular William Warwick series.

London, 1988. Royal fever sweeps the nation as Britain falls in love with the ‘people’s princess’.

Which means for Scotland Yard, the focus is on the elite Royalty Protection Command, and its commanding officer. Entrusted with protecting the most famous family on earth, they quite simply have to be the best. A weak link could spell disaster.

Detective Chief Inspector William Warwick and his Scotland Yard squad are sent in to investigate the team.

Maverick ex-undercover operative Ross Hogan is charged with a very sensitive – and unique – responsibility. But it soon becomes clear the problems in Royalty Protection are just the beginning. A renegade organisation has the security of the country – and the crown – in its sights. The only question is which target is next in line …

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.