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So TJJ was back on the "Northern Greens" where the once present North Stand stood. Yes, we still missing the North Stand!! The action started at 9am, and we arrived at the Queen's Park Savannah around 3pm after getting a bess parking spot just outside the venue. The sun was blazin', but the cool island breeze together with an ice cold beverage was just what the doctor ordered.

The pan crews were in full effect. Red Ants (Riddin de Riddim), Caesar's Army, b-Mobile, Local Flavor and Battery were some of the bigger crews we bounced up. Battery (Energy Drink) crew was located in the middle of the action, and was jammin' some serious brass in between the pan bands. And when we finally found the Red Ant's nest, it was some serious tassa action... 'jamishness' in de ants nest, yes! Big up Dwayne and the entire Red Ants posse!! There was even "D smallest POSSE" reppin' for 2k8. Oh yeah... MACO Magazines, thanks for the t-shirt!

Now when it boils down to all inclusive limes, we gotta large up the "Eat It (Eatit) Premium Posse" and "A.W.O.L" crews!! They always show TJJ mad love. Happy Birthday to Lester and Shakey!! Yeah man, birthday cake and ting was cut in de Savannah, oui! And we cannot forget about Eat It's food.... everything was fresh and on point. That stuff dumping with curry crab need to get an award!! Enjoying crab and dumpling in one bite without having to crack a crab shell.... that win!! In fact, Trini Jungle Juice giving it the "Most Original and Bess Tasting Dish" award for 2008 (and de year now start)!! And their Pineapple Chow.... with jus enough pepper.... WOW! We looking forward to Beach House 2008 Carnival fete since we heard Eatit catering.... can't wait.

On the topic of awards, lots of original expression t-shirts. Although we liked "My perfect BOOBS command you to buy me a drink" tees (photo), the 1st prize goes to "Are you looking at my cock?" and "Are you looking at my ass" tees (photo)!

Pan Prelims was such a sweet lime that lots of folks joked about it actually being one big lime with some steelpan as the background music.

At the end of North/East Preliminaries, 42 bands comprising 14 in each of the three categories moved on to the National Panorama Semifinals at the Queen’s Park Savannah on Sunday January 27th. Trinidad All Stars and Phase II Pan Groove tied for 1st place (scoring 268.5) in the Prelims, closely followed by Exodus (scoring 267). And these same 3 bands also placed in the top 3 in the Semifinals. The Finals for Medium and Large Conventional Bands will be held at Skinner Park, San Fernando on Saturday February 2nd. Here's the 2008 National Panorama Finals Order of Appearance:

MEDIUM CONVENTIONAL BANDS

1. NLCB Buccooneers
2. CLICO Sforzata
3. HCL Valley Harps
4. Carib Dixieland
5. Arima Angel Harps
6. Sangre Grande Cordettes
7. Courts Sound Specialists of Laventille
8. Steel Xplosion

LARGE CONVENTIONAL BANDS

1. BP Renegades
2. Neal and Massy Trinidad All Stars
3. Tropical Angel Harps
4. WITCO Desperadoes
5. Sagicor Exodus
6. Phase II Pan Groove
7. Silver Stars
8. RBTT Redemption Sound Setters

Enjoying de lime and some pan on the greens,
Chooks aka Daddy Juice

ps. Come next year, as soon as I get home from pan, I writing the review, yes! Why? You see, once the fete-ing starts and the drinking and lack of sleep kicks into full gear.... meh memory does get shot! But for the records, we'll call it "writer's block". Hehe.