30-year-old olive tree and saw it bursting with ripe olives.

When she built her house on North Shore road in 1961, the Agriculture and Fisheries department planted trees on her property to improve the amenities.

"One of the trees was an olive tree which until five years ago stayed the same size as when it was planted,'' Dame Marjorie said.

She added: "I went abroad on July 16 and returned on September 7 and did not look at the tree but recently I looked out at it and marvelled at its size as it had grown, and then when I took a closer look I saw little berries and low and behold they were olives, for the first time in 30 years.'' Dame Marjorie, who is in fact an olive lover, said after talking with some people she learned that her tree was one of a few olive trees in Bermuda.

And when asked what she intended to do with her new crop she said: "I thought I might pickle some of them.'' THIRTY YEARS COMING -- Dame Marjorie marvels at her olive tree full of olives 30 years after being planted.