Hester, on her third Manhattan at the Pickled Onion, did a double take when XL Capital head honcho Brian O'Hara got up on stage with energetic in-house songstress "Lucy''. It appears the usually reserved Brian's a natural up on stage. To the delight of his entourage, which included tennis star/Bermuda resident Patrick Rafter and his Aussie swimwear model girlfriend Lara, Brian snatched a microphone and belted out Ride Sally Ride and a couple of other 70s rock 'n roll hits just like a pro.

Hester hears Brian's hippy roots are no secret over at Cumberland House...the insurance big shot, who used to live in San Francisco, counts among his favourite bands Jefferson Airplane.

Perhaps word got out about the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce's annual report -- heavily critical of Government policy, or perhaps, turning down an invite to the social event of the year, the Peppercorn Ceremony in the Old Town is an unthinkable action for anyone, let alone our Government MPs. Hester, who eagerly had her hat shipped in from Harrods for the splendid occasion some months ago -- still to be outshone by the Premier's fantastic topper -- was told by one of her many moles in Town that the poor showing of Government MPs at the Chamber's AGM was more than noted by the Island's movers and shakers.

While UBP MPs and heavyweights came out in force ( Grant Gibbons , Sir John Swan etc.) for the event at the Princess, not one Government Minister or backbencher attended the AGM, which is viewed as a very big deal in the local business community.

In fact, the only Government reps at the event, whose guest speaker was e-commerce guru Dr. James Martin , were two Telecoms Ministry civil servants.

Apparently everyone else was sipping the finest champagne at the post-Peppercorn party at Tillie's; Hester of course had to rush back to work to finish her column.

It seems the mighty British press has picked up on a Royal Gazette exclusive about who will be the Island's next Guv once Thorold Masefield hands in his plumed hat. And The Sunday Telegraph just couldn't help having a bit of fun with it on its backpage diary section, taking the news a little less seriously than Hester's esteemed newspaper.

"The pocket-sized paradise of Bermuda is bubbling with rumours over who will be the Governor ..,'' the article reads under the apparently never out of date headline "Bermuda Triangle''.

"Among the names that have washed up on the island's pink shores are Mo Mowlam (chief Cabinet trouble-shooter and ex N. Irish minister), Jack Cunningham (Labour backbencher) and John Major (the former Tory PM).'' The article predictably adds, "Whoever gets the job...can look forward to...sunshine and swaying palms, the Italianate Governor's mansion, a Rolls-Royce and a tax-free salary of 95,000. And just imagine Mo in that plumed hat and spurred boots.'' Hester was intrigued to read that Government is to send "a slice of Island life'' to a ten-day Caribbean cultural festival in St. Kitts this summer. It seems the jet-setting gombeys are fluffing up their feathery headgear again 'cos Government's forking out a good chunk of dough to fly them down to the islands for "Carifesta'' -- along with selected local musicians, dancers, artists, chefs and youth.

In all Government's paying for some 32 folk -- and a good number of themselves -- to soak up a little Caribbean life in August. DOGS Minister Terry Lister even managed to push up Bermuda's number to 32 when the normal limit is 25! A plane has reportedly been chartered via Meyer Travel to fly the group to the event at a cost to taxpayers of $600 per person. In addition, Government is footing the bill for their stay at an all-inclusive resort for $85 per person per night.

Hester is told some 60 seats out of 172 remain on the charter flight for the general public to snap up at $800 a pop. So going by that, Hester figures some 30 Government officials must be accompanying the colourful entourage! Hester's definitely going to have to wangle a seat somehow, for this is one party she doesn't want to miss. P.s.: She was also just wondering why the gombeys get to go everywhere as a Tourism showpiece when a tourist in Bermuda would be hard-pressed to find them performing anywhere here on home turf? One of Hester's newsroom pals couldn't believe his eyes recently when making the rounds at Magistrates Court. He spotted none other than controversial Magistrate Ed King testifying under oath -- in his own courtroom! Turns out he won a civil claim against his former landlord, who then promptly filed a counter claim leading to this hearing. Acting Magistrate the dapper Tyrone Chin had his hands full throughout the day, and into the evening, with Mr. King, in fine form, cross examining property owner Raheem Shakir and his wife.

Poor Mr. Chin, he had an angry landlord, an angry defendant, a feisty lawyer, and watching over it all like a hawk the man who had made the seat warm only that morning.

Now Hester's newshound colleagues love Mr. King if only for the fact he helps a rookie hack provide several inches of copy. But it seems Mr. Shakir took aim at the Learned Magistrate's personality, saying he hung up on a hostile call from Mr. King "because of his argumentative nature''. The dispute is reportedly over Mr. King's rental deposit to the Shakirs and some yard work and painting. Hester's intrigued whether Mr. King got to see what being in his courtroom is like through different eyes -- those of a lowly defendant.

She hears the angry mutterings coming from Eddie were not unlike what he gets on a daily basis from the various crack heads, dealers, and sundry tough guys who pass through his lively courtroom. Well, at least Mr. Chin did not have to tell the judge "take your hands out of my pockets, Sir!'' as Ol' Eddie is terribly fond of saying.

And finally, it's congratulations and welcome back to the eleven lads from M.R. Onions' (one of Hester's favourite watering holes) football team who have returned from their Easter end-of-season tour with an unprecedented unbeaten record.

Cynics might say that they remained undefeated in Montreal only because they failed to arrange even one game the entire time they were there! Hester, who is always keen to hear from chaps in tight shorts, is promised more tales of their clueless behaviour next week -- if they can get it organised. She won't be holding her breath.