Just wanted to commend UE and his co-cast members for a brilliant performance.  We thoroughly enjoyed the performance on Sunday night (well, my BF didn't enjoy the stripping parts, but that was to be expected).  You all did very well and should be quite proud of yourselves!

As a side note, the lady sat next to us obviously approved of what she saw on stage as she started screaming "Take 'em off" all throughout the last scene.  I don't know what I laughed harder at, the lady screaming or the look of terror on my boyfriend's face as she started screaming.  The ending - well all I can say is it was brilliant and very sneaky!

Bravo!

Best invest in a fleece or a thick, warm sweatshirt while you're at home and bring it with you; they aren't cheap here.  Some good, warm, waterproof gloves also are a must for winter riding on a bike.

For rainsuits (when you get here), try either the Coopers Men's Store on Front Street or Island Trading on Spurling Hill (both are in town).  I recently found myself a rainsuit for $50 from the Coopers Men's Store and it does the trick for me.

Mike is right, the best and quickest way to find out about accommodation here is through word of mouth, especially if you're willing to share.

Best of luck with the move!

UE - I've convinced the boyfriend to come with me for the Sunday night show so we will be there in the middle of the house to cheer you on!  Got my tickets from the box office last week and am looking forward to it!

Break a leg!

Bigmac, according to the Irish in my office - you can watch it at the Beach or at Docksiders.

It's still hot right now and will be for the next few months.  You'll still have plenty of beach weather, no worries.

Only Friday night hotspot I can think of which is sort of in your area is the Veranda Bar at Elbow Beach Hotel.  They do an all you can eat curry buffet and salsa dancing on Friday nights and the place is usually packed.  Get there early enough for a quick dance lesson, then boogie the night away.  There's also the Swizzle South Shore.  There was a shooting there when it first opened a year or two ago but I haven't heard anything since.  I've never been there but I imagine that if it is still a dodgy place, someone else on here will let you know if I have led you astray.  Apologies in ad\/ance if I have.

Otherwise, all the best action is in town, which is close to Warwick, especially if you take Burnt House Hill to get onto Harbour Road.  Burnt House Hill is very near Whites in Warwick.  If it isn't rush hour, it's a quick and scenic drive.

My experience at the ER a few weeks ago was enough to scare off my boyfriend from ever wanting to go to the ER here.

I went there with what I suspected was a kidney infection (and my suspicions were right).  I went in, obviously in severe pain with what could be quite a serious condition and it took me over an hour just to be seen by the triage nurse (and there were large gaps between people going into the triage office)!  Excuse me, but isn't the triage there so that they know who to treat first?  What I found worse was while the boyfriend and I were sitting there waiting for me to be seen by the triage nurse, a coworker of his came in with his wife.  She had been in a bike accident.  Now, if someone has been in a bike accident, I would think you'd want to triage them straight away, just in case of something serious, like, you know, internal bleeding.  Nope, she sat there for over an hour also waiting to be seen by the triage nurse and then sat in the ER even longer waiting to be taken in for treatment!

What irritated me more was mothers had taken their kids down there for treatment for things like an ear infection.  Now, I know ear infections are painful, however, if junior is running around happily playing and eating chocolates and candies like they are going out of style instead of laying there crying in pain (which to me indicates that this was something which didn't need to be seen at the ER but I'm not a medical professional so feel free to correct me if I am wrong), why is he being taken into the ER for treatment before the bike accident person who was there clutching her arm in pain?!

Must admit, once I finally got into the ER, things did move a lot faster and the doctor that treated me was quite nice and very efficient.  However, my boyfriend was horrified at how inefficient the ER was for an island which is supposed to have one of the highest GDP's in the world.

I heard on the radio during the drive to work this morning that when they cut open the shark, it had a whole turtle, another shark and other whole fish in its belly!

I second Elvis's recommendation of Bermuda Bride.  My friend used them when she came here to get married and the wedding was absolutely gorgeous.  My friend's budget was small; so small that I didn't think she could pull off a nice wedding with that kind of budget here in Bermuda but somehow this lady at Bermuda Bride managed to do it!

She had her wedding at Jobson's Cove and it was so romantic.  It's a little cove kind of away from everything - very nice.  However, if you intend to have lots of guests, then I wouldn't recommend it - it's a small cove so while you get the secluded feel, there isn't a lot of room for a lot of people.

Check out www.bermudarentals.com for inexpensive vacation rentals.  My friend used them when she came down.  My friend found the places on there to be reasonable and in great locations.

$130k is still a good salary.  You probably can find a decent place on your own with that salary which has a nice ocean view as well.

As for the ladies, well, there are quite a few nice single ones - you just have to know where to look for them.  My ex-pat coworkers seem to have no problems finding themselves girlfriends.  I wouldn't broadcast too much about the salary though - there are some gold-diggers out there.  The right lady will like you, no matter what you make.

Also, there are lots of Man U fans on this island so you should make friends no problem (I assume you are a Man U fan, based on your screen name).  Just go to the Robin Hood Pub and they'll be there watching the matches.

Trips overseas - well, when there is a seat sale (which is pretty often), you can get a ticket for around $300.  That's what I paid to go to Boston a few weeks ago for a long holiday weekend.  Tickets to the UK aren't as cheap.  However, if you time it right, you can get business class tickets for around US$2k return on British Airways.  I hear flying through the States is cheaper, but I hate flying so I try and get to my destination using as few airplanes as is possible.

If you want to come down for a scouting visit (which I HIGHLY recommend), the hotels are pricey (around $400/night).  If you want to see what island life is really like, you could do a vacation rental.  Go to the website www.bermudarentals.com and you should be able to find a reasonably-priced apartment to rent for the week.

Good luck!

Depends on your personality....and the Department of Immigration.

If you like a place to be quiet and 'laid-back' (read: slow - don't expect things to get done in a hurry), then you'll like it here.  If you're used to having lots to do and lots of space, then Bermuda may drive you mad in a year or two.  Lots of weekend trips off island can help keep you sane.  Don't feel bad for doing it, we locals like to get off the rock every now and then too.

You also need to keep in mind that there are now limits on how long a person that isn't Bermudian can stay.  Unless you find yourself a Bermudian woman and get married, then Immigration will be itching to send you packing in about 6 years; 9 years if you're proven to be a 'key' employee.

Hey Bigmac - try emailing bermudagaa@gmail.com for info on the GAA.  Best of luck!

If Bermuda Motors still gives you some trouble over fixing the bike, then contact the Department of Consumer Affairs.  They will either give you advice on what to do next or handle the issue on your behalf.  A brand new motorbike should not have such problems.  Good Luck!

Mr. Burchall sir, you're the one they should be consulting about education on this island.  I think you'd teach Bermuda's future some valuable lessons.  BRAVO to you for speaking up!

Jillian, your agency is quoting you an accurate figure, I believe.  I worked at the Ministry of Education as a summer student some years back and that number sounds about right for teachers salaries (in the public system anyway).  It's all done on scales and back then entry level salaries for teachers was around 50-60k (this was around 10 years ago). 

Just note that most of the teaching positions on the island which are available to expats are for middle school level and up as, apparently, there are enough Bermudians available to teach at the pre-school and primary level.  Special education is in high demand.  Also, if you're able to teach more than one subject (e.g. history and PE, maths and science, etc.) that puts you ahead of the game as well.

Your other half should make good money in his trade so you both should do well.  My friend's husband worked for Bda Air Conditioning for a few months (went home because he missed his now wife).  He did say that the 'helpers' tended to leave something to be desired but that, overall, it wasn't a bad job.

Cost of living in Bermuda is expensive but if you manage to find a reasonable place to live, don't party or travel too too much and get around with a moped, you should be able to stash away a little something, I think.

Also, I wouldn't recommend packing and bringing your worldly possessions, it's best to bring the bare minimum with you.  The Customs officers love to burn you with duty and if you don't have receipts, they get to assign what they think is a reasonable price and tax you on it.  There are always house sales where you can pick up great electronics and furniture at a decent price because of people selling their things when they leave the island.  I'm sure you've heard of e-moo as well - lots of good deals on there too.

I hope this helped answer some of your questions.  Feel free to ask if you need more info; this board is a wealth of information, as others have mentioned before. 

Yesterday the weather was absolutely gorgeous; it was perfect beach weather so my guy and I went to Warwick Long Bay to spend the afternoon. 

Well, much to our disgust, the beach was covered in horse poop.  The stuff was everywhere.  We were stepping through a virtual equine poop minefield in order to find a place to put our towels down.  It was disgusting.  I clean up after my dogs if they mess in public; horse owners should have to do the same.  Such a terrible thing for both locals and tourists enjoying the beach to have to put up with.  Shame on you, horse riders!