Over the course of canvassing, we have found ourselves sitting or standing in many kitchens throughout Constituency 13. Often we are offered food or refreshments, which hearkens back to the days of how we all grew up.

Sometimes we arrive just as food is being prepared and get hypnotised with the aromatic smells. More often than not, while we are given bites to eat, we are also given soundbites of advice or feedback by constituents.

The very first experience was at the beginning of the campaign. We went to see longtime Devonshire resident Evernell Davis, from Vesey Street.

Many late nights after canvassing, we have sat and talked with her and others while enjoying copious amounts of her well-known peas ’n’ rice, broccoli casserole and farine pie. Often she would call her granddaughter, who is overseas in university, and have her on the speakerphone, creating a virtual round-table discussion. The conversation would often be centred on the concerns of seniors and Bermudians now living in Britain.

Another enjoyable experience was with a young man who had recently started his own law practice. In his opinion, he felt the Progressive Labour Party needed to include in its economic strategy something that he termed “new labour”. Over several bottles of water, he went on to explain that more Bermudians needed to be groomed to become entrepreneurs and economically self-sufficient.

Seemingly very pragmatic, his advice was that our political leaders need to find ways to reach out to this generation of university students and to seek input directly from them. His adamant desire was for Bermuda to develop an education system that promotes self-empowerment and teaches our children to be entrepreneurs.

We left after about an hour of robust and meaningful debate with he and his family. One of the more profound kitchen conversations was located in the kitchen of a family compound known as “Goaterville”. Located at the peak of Loyal Hill, “Goaterville” commands views of the entire North Shore, from Dockyard to Crawl Hill.

In the modern spacious kitchen of Kevin and Maria Goater, we listened to the need for politicians to spend more time in their respective communities checking on the seniors and engaging with the young people.

Many in his generation spent countless hours in the midst of Dame Lois Browne-Evans and Freddie Wade, who would often hold impromptu political and social education classes on the steps of the neighbourhood mecca, Belvin’s Variety.

For him, this showed the constant connection between the people and those that they had chosen to represent them.

Suffice it to say, this campaign has been a journey of a million steps and a thousand conversations. These short stories from the campaign trail are but a small slice of what has been shared with us over the past few months. The ability to be invited into the homes of fellow Bermudians of all stripes has been a big motivator.

On any given day, we will meet and engage with persons who support either party. Some shake our hands and give us hugs, while others clearly indicate they do not support us politically. Yet, through it all, we have been invited into their kitchens.

We thank each and every one who has taken the time to engage us. We look forward to gaining more advice from many kitchen cabinets throughout Bermuda.