Trinidad’s geographic location as the most southerly of the West Indian islands situated just north of Guyana which, of course, is actually part of mainland South America, does not auger well for dry weather. We have had a fair amount of rain during the week off between the last ODI and the 1st Test due to start today (Thursday). The weather has already interfered with the two day warm up match meaning that the South African’s had a day of batting but only just a few overs of bowling.

The inclement weather has also meant more time in the Hyatt Hotel and given us all ample opportunity to discover just how to use the hotel lift! Now you may think that is an outrageous statement, I mean for crying out loud, a lift is a lift. You press the button to go up and when the lift arrives, you climb in, press the button for the desired floor and get out when the lift stops at that floor – simple. Not that simple at the Hyatt hotel Trinidad. All the floors are marked on a panel outside the lift at lobby level and you put your key into a slot and choose the floor you wish to go to on the panel. A female voice with an American accent and suffering from a cold (or she was when she recorded it) then tells you which of the 4 lifts you should get into. This is all very sophisticated but if you happen to be in conversation with someone at the time and hoping to conclude the discussion in the lift, there is every chance that you will be separated mid sentence should the person you are talking to not sleep on the same floor.

Okay, so one can put up with that to a degree but the fun starts when you want to come down from your room to the fourth floor where the swimming pool is. Initially, no problem, you get in the lift, push your key into the slot provided inside the lift and press 4. That works provided someone else doesn’t get into the lift on the way down. If they do and press the button for the lobby, the light for the fourth floor goes out and hey presto, you’re in the lobby before you know it. You then get out of the lift, put your card in the slot on the outside, press 4 and wait for the lady with a cold to tell you which lift you must now get into. The first time I went to the pool area to check out the bar, I went from the 8th floor where my room is, down to the lobby, back up to the 21st floor and only then down the 4th!! Thirsty work!

Talk to you again soon