In Barbados, Brush Your Teeth — Quick!!
I awake this morning a couple hours after my early-bird husband Greg. I check the sea as I always do. The sea is full and it is raining. The usual serenity of the water has devolved to major upset with waves crashing. I stumble into the kitchen, put two Weatabix in a bowl, pour milk on top, and sit down to breakfast.
A few bites in, I hear Greg yell from the bathroom, “Janie, quick, go brush your teeth!”
I try to recall other recent behaviors indicating my husband had gone bonkers. Can’t think of any.
I keep eating.
Again he shouts, “Go! Go now!” This time he pokes his head around the corner as he says it. He waves his arms to demonstrate urgency.
I take another bite. He reads my face: it says my husband had gone nuts.
He slows down and explains, “The water pressure is diminishing rapidly. Soon we will have no water at all.”
Ah, now I get it. I bolt to my bathroom. I brush. (“I’m Jane and I’m addicted to freshly brushed teeth.” Don’t judge; i thought about this and want to know what’s the one thing you’d do if you knew the water would be off in five minutes or less?) I am just in time. I watch the water from the tap slow during the very long two minutes of my electric toothbrush. For my final rinse, the tap barely trickles. Then, nothing.
The taps have been dry ever since.
Water going off is a very rare occurrence in Barbados. We (the whole island) is not prepared in any way for this. The water has gone off exactly twice since I moved to Barbados nearly 3 years ago; each time it was off less than an hour.
The Caribbean Sea behind the St Lawrence Church next door to where I live, on a usual day. Calm. Peaceful.
Same area during today’s small storm (I took this at 4:30pm). Safely on my patio, I love witnessing the Caribbean throw a hissy fit.
It’s now 5:00 in the afternoon and still no water. The Barbados Water Authority offers no explanation, gives no estimated time of repair. The radio says two-thirds of the island is without water. Greg arrives home from work and hauls buckets of sea water into the apartment to flush our toilets.
A few guests in the building are angry. “What,” I think to myself, “they’ve never had an upset they can turn into a little adventure?” I mean, hunkering down for the duration – banding together to get through and all that – it’s kinda fun. It’s not like we’re in any danger or anything. Hunkering down while watching the roiling sea from the comfort of our patio is a blast, and even more fun with a rum punch and pizza ordered in.
I text a guest arriving today into Apt 11; I want her to know the situation the moment her plane lands. “Terri, hi. Welcome to Barbados,” I text. “I’m sorry but we have no running water; most of the island is without. However, I called the Hilton and they do have water; if you would like to stay there instead, I understand (and will refund your $).”
Terri’s plane lands. She reads the text and calls me; she wants to stay here, water or no, she says. We welcome her with open arms. And a rum punch.
13 Responses to “In Barbados, Brush Your Teeth — Quick!!”
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Beautifully written! At least the water’s now back… after 48 smelly hours.
If this happens again and your guests would like to have a shower, they are welcome to come to our home at Batts Rock with their soap and towel.
Corrie
I agree, turn a little problem into an adventure.
We had to do the same thing on St. John when the cistern ran dry. We used buckets of pool water to flush the toilets. It was sort of fun.
Did you go to the store to get bottled water? Hurricane supplies in storage?
Cheers!
Hi Jane…I would beg to differ with you on this point: Water going off is a very rare occurrence in Barbados.
There are areas of Barbados that are constantly plagued by little or no pressure, and often without water altogether.
Unfortunately the BWA has some serious issues including manpower, tools and equipment etc.
How insensitive (even arrogant) of me to assume that the entire island functions exactly as it functions where I live! I didn’t realize that there was a chronic water problem in some areas of the island. I’m sorry … when it’s an ongoing, everyday challenge to get water into one’s home it’s not fun-and-games-let’s-pretend-we’re-camping.
You are right about the Barbados Water Authority’s issues around manpower, tools, equipment … I will add that their customer service and public relations could use a makeover as well.
Thank you for writing, HomeGrown. I appreciate your input.
xx Jane
I have no hurricane supplies in storage, RumShopRyan. None. Zip. I really need to get with it. A hurricane hasn’t happened in Barbados since the 1950s but that doesn’t mean it won’t ….. cuz it will.
Thank you.
Corrie, you not only make beautiful art, you are a kind and generous soul. Thank you for your kind offer. Let’s hope it won’t be necessary, but time will tell … ! You may have a line of grateful folks with soap and towel in hand outside your door one day.
Not being able to, it struck me how many times a day we actually do shower. I’m in the sea or pool at least twice a day … both requiring a shower after. Then before bed to help me sleep and again in the morning to help me wake up. It’s a bit much and I’m trying to cut back a bit and make the showers I do take quicker.
[…] … continue reading Jane’s article at Planet Barbados. […]
Y’all does crack me up (hehehe) especially Jane. The next time Greg tell you to brush your teeth quick … go do it.
Water Surprise Tip: Keep a bucket of water handy at all times … the water fairy (BWA) could sneak up on you like a thief in the night … hehehe (Oh lawd my belly)
The water in our neighbourhood went off as morning broke on Christmas day last year! Not fun for those of us planning to have the whole extended family around for lunch, dinner, open house, etc.! But one of us had access to a tank, and another to some water, and another to a pick-up – and together we pulled through. The water came on again by the mid-afternoon. It was not fun at the time, but in retrospect it made me appreciate what great friends and neighbours we have around here in time of need 🙂
Yes, I’ve learned my lesson … the guy’s not a crackpot! .. he just gets to the point! 🙂
Great information 🙂