Regular readers may recall Hester having a dig at Madam Prem last week for auctioning off her collection of hats to raise funds for the PLP St. George's branch.

Well although your columnist was unable to attend the Sunday sell-off, she hears that the event wasn't entirely a success. Apparently there were more models parading around in the haute couture headgear then there were buyers in the audience.

Hester's spies tell her that fellow St. George's MP Delaey Robinson forked out for a pair of the bonnets but the identities of the other handful of buyers remain a mystery. Hester has not been able to confirm rumours that former military man Sen. David Burch - who Hester hears just loves dressing up - saved the Premier's blushes by buying up the surplus stock.

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Another place where Hester failed to show her face at the weekend was the Southampton Princess Mid-Ocean Amphitheatre.

The Bermuda Broadcasting Company had the "exclusive rights" to air the the world heavyweight title clash between Lennox Lewis and Mike Tyson on Saturday night. But instead of broadcasting the event for free on ZBM, the Beeb decided to televise the one-sided fisticuffs "exclusively" at the luxury Southampton resort.

The reason for Hester's non-appearance? Well, it's nothing to do with an aversion to seeing two grown men try and beat each other to a pulp but rather a reluctance to pay the $50 cover charge it cost to get into the venue.

It's with a certain amount of smugness that Hester can reveal that numerous other bars across the Island, were prepared to screen the event via satellite without any additional cost to their much-prized punters. Seems the Beeb's "exclusive" rights weren't so exclusive after all.

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Bermuda has always had a certain amount of pulling power when it comes to attracting major celebrities to our shores. The peace and tranquillity, the ability to walk down Front Street without being harassed by autograph hunters and the paparazzi - is it any wonder the likes of Catherine Zeta Jones, Michael Douglas and David Bowie love it here.

Well it looks like another heavyweight celeb has decided to put down roots here in Bermuda. Flicking through the latest edition of BTC's telephone directory, Hester spotted that a certain Ms Dolly Parton is now living in Devonshire.

Hester can't wait to be invited round for a few pre-dinner Dark and Stormys with the buxom Country crooner.

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Hester might have a reputation for knocking other publications for the gaffes that are printed in their pages, but just to prove that she is no way partisan...

Two 'For Rent' ads in the classified section of Tuesday's Daily caught eagle-eyed Hester's attention.

The first, a three bedroom family home with private garden and water access, was available at an astronomical $40,000 a month, while the asking price for a second three bedroom family home with "great country kitchen, huge verandah and private tennis court" was a snip at just $1,500 a month.

No prizes for guessing which property owner was inundated with calls - and which one received not a one.

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And finally...how's this for dedication to duty. Hester hears how a certain ferryboat pilot awoke one morning this week to discover that his watch had broken. Realising that he would need a timepiece to make sure he arrived at his pick-up points punctually throughout his day at the helm, our skipper plucked his ornate, highly-valued decorative clock from the wall of his own living room and took it to work with him.

Hester notes that the ferry service that day was bang on time.