Last fall I was fortunate enough to be invited to go to Portugal for a short break with two friends who have a timeshare on the Algarve in Portugal.

You can imagine my surprise on having dinner in Albufeira, when it was announced that the cabaret act that evening was none other than Bermuda's own Pinky Steede.

I first met Pinky many years ago, when she came to work at The Woman's Shop, where I was also employed. Her career since that time is well known. What I think may not be so well known, is what an excellent "ambassador'' she is for Bermuda.

Pinky's performance, as well as being excellent, was sprinkled with references to her home island of Bermuda. I cannot imagine anyone there going away without the feeling that they must visit this enchanting Island.

I believe the Bermuda Honours List is open to nominations from the public.

Although, through force of circumstances, I am not currently resident in Bermuda, I am a Bermudian, and I would like to recommend Pinky Steede for her long service to entertainment and promotion of Bermuda.

Thank you for allowing me to express my feelings in your newspaper.

DESMOND BLYTH Northamptonshire England Fed up with delays The following letter was sent to Eugene Cox MP, Minister of Finance, and copied to The Royal Gazette .

January 29, 1999 Dear Mr. Cox, I would be grateful if you could look into the matter of postal deliveries.

One week ago, I received lenses, which were sent airmail from New York. The postmark was December 2, 1998. At that time I spoke with Mr. Crichlow, who stated that this is a problem which occurs every Christmas. He has made approaches to the US postal authorities, but Bermuda is a small fry and does not appear to "count''. I had other packages being sent by Data Express mail, which normally arrive within two days of posting, however, some of these took one month and came via the UK.

Again, today, I received another pair of lenses mailed out of New York on December 3, 1998, by airmail. The notice was placed in my PO Box yesterday, so this package took eight weeks. Orders placed before Christmas arrived after orders placed in January.

I am given to understand the airlines are using smaller aircraft and do not have the capacity to bring mail to Bermuda. Do the airlines have a contract with the Post Office to bring mail to the island? If they do, they are in contravention of such contracts and if there is not a contract, then it is high time one was made. If it means that larger aircraft have to be used during the Christmas period to handle the volume of mail, then so be it! It may be necessary for Government to intervene in this area. My patients are getting fed up with poor service, which is not my supplier's fault or mine.

Orders for lenses are placed the day the patients are seen and are processed within twenty-four hours. People are prepared to wait seven to ten days, but six to eight weeks is ridiculous.

Your attention to this matter will be greatly appreciated.

ANTONY SIESE FBCO City of Hamilton Motocross causes stress January 25, 1998 Dear Sir, I am compelled as a resident of Warwick to write this letter, as for a long time now (over two years) this activity on the makeshift track opposite the Paw Paws restaurant has caused us (the residents of Warwick) a great amount of stress due to the noise of these motocross bikes racing up and down normally in the early evenings and throughout the day at the weekends (Saturdays and Sundays).

I have even called the owner/manager of Paw Paws Restaurant to ask if he found this horrendous noise to be a nuisance for his restaurant and why was it allowed to go on. He thought that Public Works owned the ground and had given permission for this to happen. I live at least 300 yards from this track, next to a cottage colony, where tourists are staying year-round and they are also subjected to this noise nuisance.

I believe there are other holiday accommodations around this area that must also be subjected to this. One cannot sit out in the garden peacefully throughout the summer months to enjoy the summer weather, as the noise factor is very stressful. I also thought that the Police were making an effort to clamp down on noisy bikes.

There certainly has been a great improvement on the roads where licensed motorbikes are concerned but I wonder how this is allowed to go on.

I for one hope that they do definitely make it illegal to use Southlands on South Shore as a motor race track, not only for the safety of the BAA members but also for the peace and tranquillity expected for local residents, and the tourists who are paying top dollar for their holiday accommodations and do not wish to be subjected to the noise from high motorcross bikes during their vacations.

A WARWICK RESIDENT