We feel the loss of your son and the community is here to support you

I wish to dedicate the first part of my column today to the Woodley family of Friswell’s Hill. 

They suffered the loss of their beloved Nikko Robinson-Woodley in a tragic car accident at the weekend.

Like most in Friswell’s Hill, the Woodley family come from tight knit Caribbean roots. 

As such, we have always grown up together through our extended families, Multiple generations living in the same area.

It was a warm, family atmosphere at the Woodley estate over the weekend. Whether it was friends, family or neighbours, everyone came to pay their respect to Nikko. But more importantly, they came to give comfort and support to the entire Woodley family.

On Saturday night, the Gombeys paid tribute by marching to Friswell’s Hill to fill our neighbourhood with celebration of life and love for Nikko. 

As anyone will know, the Gombeys can evoke spirits of our ancestors and put anyone within listening range in a trance-like state.

In the midst of our shock and sorrow, many felt the spirit of Nikko saying “Dance my people dance! I will always be with you.”

And so we danced and hugged one another. 

Nikko was also a client at my wife’s salon. He had been at the salon on Tuesday evening. As he left he spoke in his ever polite and mannerly ways to all at the salon, staff and fellow clients. This pretty much embodied the type of young man that his family has raised. 

As he walked out the door, I could never imagine this would be the last time I would see this young man.

To the Woodley family; you have the support and love of the entire Friswell’s Hill. We are here for you. 

Premature elation 

Well, well, a few weeks ago Liverpool fans were walking around like a bunch of prize bantam roosters. Strutting their chests out, near claiming the second coming of Christ with the advent of Suarez. Whoop, whoop, the glory days of Ian Rush and Bruce Grobbelar had returned.

Liverpool were firmly fixed at the top of the leagues.

Facebook, Istagram and Twitter suddenly became invaded by all of these “coming out of the closet” Liverpool fans. Everywhere you looked, this silly chicken with a feather was popping up.

Two weeks later where are they now? Not at the top of the league — and the Liverpool family has gone awfully quiet again.  The Liverpool Football Club motto is ‘You will never walk alone’. Well you won’t walk alone because there seems to be a lot of Liverpool fanatics. As they say, misery loves company. 

Weed everywhere

It seems young Thomas Moniz, son of OBA Minister Trevor Moniz, picked the perfect week to go to court for possession of marijuana. In that same week the first legal sales of recreational marijuana in the US commenced.

Not getting into the back and forth of whether young Moniz should have walked scot free, but speaking more to the issue of how marijuana has become so mainstream as of late. Look on any major media site CNN, ABC or Huffington post.

You will see an overwhelming amount of support for marijuana to become legalized throughout the world.

Puff, Puff Pass, Free Up the Grass.