A humorous observation about Islanders stocking up on pre-hurricane essentials, notably rum, and the almost carnival atmosphere of people as Hurricane Florence bore down last month are included in a glowing article about Bermuda that has appeared in a national newspaper in the UK.

And the article notes the "smart decisions" made by successive Governments from the 1960s onwards to reject the idea of allowing cheap charter flights to come to the Island and the careful monitoring of the activities of hotel and private home developers that have both assisted in helping Bermuda keep its traditional exclusivity.

Travel writer John Graham-Hart comes to that conclusion in a lengthy article for the Sunday Telegraph newspaper, a popular national broadsheet newspaper in the UK that sells 670,000 copies each week.

Mr. Graham-Hart speaks about Islanders stocking up on essentials and being in a "quasi-carnival atmosphere" as Hurricane Florence approached. He also praised the Island for its colourful houses, azure lagoons and the spa treatments available at hotels.

Headlined "Reasons to be Cheerful" the article makes much of the cheerfulness of the writer's taxi driver, whom he refers to as Ray, and the sights, noting: "He (Ray) is managing to be modestly self-satisfied but, to be fair, few Bermudians showing off their ridiculously pretty and prosperous isle are ever going to sound anything but hugely pleased with their lot.

"It is solidly middle-class where banking, re-insurance and tourism have resulted in wealth of which most of its Caribbean neighbours can only dream. Every house glows with a fresh coat of paint ? pink, blue, green or yellow. Each azure lagoon bobs with yachts and speed boats."

The travel writer visits Elbow Beach Resort and Cambridge Beaches where he indulges in spa treatments and then writes about the preparations as Hurricane Florence approaches, observing: "A quasi-carnival atmosphere seized the Island and rum shops swiftly sold out as Bermudians stocked up on basic essentials."

Mr. Graham-Hart writes that the following day the sun is back out bathing houses and lawns in warmth and his taxi driver Ray arrives with "a smile and a wave".