motorists heading into Hamilton on Thursday morning.

For Johnny Barnes, Bermuda's early morning goodwill ambassador, was not at his post at the Foot of the Lane Roundabout.

A number of people called The Royal Gazette demanding to know where the cheery 75-year-old was.

And a call to his Valley Road, Paget home was answered by his wife, Delvina, sparking some concern.

But she quickly put her husband on the phone who revealed that he had gone under the knife on Wednesday in order to have one of two cataracts removed from his eye.

Mr. Barnes admitted that he woke up at his usual time on Thursday (2.30 a.m.) and considered heading to the roundabout to greet motorists, but decided against it in the end.

He had the bandages off later in the day and felt fine, he added.

Motorists can expect to miss Mr. Barnes again in a few weeks time when he has a second operation to remove the other cataract.

HUNTING FOR A HOME CHU HSG Hunting for a home Finding an affordable home is proving a herculean task for 66-year-old Telvina Simons.

Mrs. Simons, a widow, has been living in a dilapidated cottage belonging to St. Mark's Church in Smith's Parish for the past 18 months.

She received a letter to vacate the premises on New Year's Eve, but since that time has been unable to find anything she can afford.

Mrs. Simons, who lives with her dog and son, had been given until the end of the month to go.

However, Rector of St. Mark's Church, Father Robert Thacker, said Mrs. Simons would not be thrown out as long as she has nowhere to go.

POLICE PROBLE THEFTS CRM Police probe thefts Police are investigating several thefts from private residences and a guest house.

A total of $1,150 in mixed currency and a black leather ladies wallet was stolen from an apartment on Cottage Hill, Hamilton Parish on Wednesday.

The money was stolen from a purse and a bank bag inside the residence.

Entry was gained by forcing open the sliding glass doors.

Thieves also gained entry to a house on Harbour Road, Paget on Wednesday through an insecure front door.

A microwave oven, portable television and a double bed were stolen.

Also on Wednesday, an unattended Motorola GP300 handheld radio -- valued at $1,400 and marked with a Bermuda Central Station logo -- was stolen from a guest house on Richmond Road, Pembroke. The radio was believed to have belonged to a worker on the site.

JEWS MARK PASSOVER CHU Jews mark Passover More than 400 Jews visited the Island this weekend to celebrate Passover at the Southampton Princess Hotel.

For six years, Stirling Experience, a Seattle Washington based travel company specialising in tours for Orthodox Jewish people, has celebrated Passover in Hawaii.

But requests from East Coast travellers prompted managing director Mandel Kuber to choose Bermuda as a destination.

The Princess has been chosen because the hotel's owners, Canadian-Pacific Ltd.

have extensive experience handling the special Kosher meals required by Jewish law.

CHURCH WATCHED CHU Church watched Police at the East End will be closely monitoring the site of the Unfinished Church in St. George's.

The move follows a third incident of vandalism on the property.

Last Monday morning Police went to the church site where construction is underway. The construction shed appeared to have been broken into and a transistor radio broken.

In another incident, eggs were smashed against the wall of the Kiddie Academy on Middle Road, Warwick between last Sunday night and Monday morning.