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HARMONY HALL NEWSLETTER –JANUARY 2010

Once again, August was a month of huge rejoicing in Jamaica. Nobody was expecting our athletes to surpass their performance in Beijing, but they managed an astonishing 13 medals (7 gold, 4 silver, 2 bronze) at the world championships in Berlin, finishing second overall in the medal table. Usain Bolt did it again, smashing both his 100 & 200 m. world records. Amidst all the doom and gloom of the past year, it was lovely to have something to cheer about.

In September, we gave Harmony Hall a major facelift, repainting the roof, the exterior walls and the fretwork, replacing much of the interior woodwork, and renovating all the galleries. The large crowd that came to the opening of our Anniversary Exhibition on November 15 were charmed by the improvements, and by the exceptional works on display. The weather was perfect, and everyone seemed to have a good time. After a predictably quiet summer businesswise, it was a relief to record some decent sales. The momentum reached record levels immediately after Christmas, and we have been keeping DHL busy with shipments all over the world.

Our other exhibitions for the season include a welcome return by Deryck Campbell on January 31, and debut exhibitions by long-time Jamaica resident, British artist Andy Jefferson (February 28) and Vancouver-based Garrett Campbell (April 4, Easter Sunday). Our website is up and running at www.harmonyhall.com           
  
                    
Despite all the economic problems, people still seem to manage to travel. We enjoyed a fabulous year for guests in our cottages in Jamaica, and bookings for 2010 are most encouraging. In Costa Rica, La Casita Grande is undergoing a major refit a following the departure of our tenant of the past five years. We are installing a bathroom in the upstairs bedroom and generally sprucing up the house. Puerto Viejo is gradually hauling itself into the 21st. century, with a new supermarket, another bank coming into a new plaza, and other construction going on in typically laid-back style.

Nobody seems to know what the future holds on the economic front. Only economists can understand how the recession may be over, but unemployment will continue to rise. We can only hope for the best, and enjoy ourselves while we can. At Harmony Hall, we are particularly fortunate as we are surrounded by beautiful works, and many of you seem to agree, and are prepared to carry on collecting. We thank you most sincerely, and would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone and a very happy, healthy and prosperous 2010.