FIVE interesting Jamaican place names: There are several towns, villages, streets and districts in this land we love. However, these places all have interesting names with quite a history. Here are just a few of many that deserve some recognition.

✭ Half-Way Tree, St Andrew - Believe it or not, before the stop lights, four-lane roads and hustle and bustle of buses, cars and pedestrians, this area was once occupied by a large cotton tree that stood there before the 1655 English conquest.

The tree marked the halfway point between Greenwich, St Andrew, an army base, and a fort in Spanish Town. Hence, the name.

✭ Wait-a-Bit, Trelawny - This name came about as a result of the presence of the 'wait-a-bit thorn', believed to have been brought to Jamaica by African slaves.

✭ Bull Bay, St Thomas - Once an area known for buccaneers to roam when hunting for wild cattle.

✭ Oracabessa, St Mary - One would think this was just one of those made up words, well it actually comes from the Spanish for 'aura' meaning 'air or breeze' and 'cabeza' meaning head, resulting in a phrase that could be read as 'fanciful'.

✭ I-No-Call-You-No-Come, St Elizabeth - It was derived from the Maroon policy of maintaining a comfortable distance from those outside the Cockpit Country.

FOUR Jamaican sport personalities larger than life: Quite a debatable topic, yet one has to admit that these people surely are not far from such an entitlement.

✭ Courtney Walsh - Jamaica's very own pace bowler, former West Indies captain and former Test record wicket taker in 2000 is now a budding entrepreneur and is esteemed among the greats of the game.

✭ Asafa Powell - Fastest man in the world (four times), he was born and brought up in this little island. Imagine that!

✭ Merlene Ottey - She hasn't won gold like Veronica Campbell or Deon Hemmings, but at the age of 48, the evergreen warrior is still breaking the age barrier.

✭ Ricardo Gardner - One of the youngest Jamaicans to be drafted into the English Premier League with Bolton Wanderers after the FIFA World Cup. He's established himself as a prominent overlapping defender in the English league and shows no signs of stopping.

THREE of the oldest high schools in Jamaica:

✭ Wolmer's School - 1729

✭ Manning's School - 1738

✭ Rusea's High - 1777

TWO things to do on a first date: Forget about the dinner and movie; here's something different to try next time.

✭ Picnic by the water - This could be, say, by Port Royal, the quaint township whose serene atmosphere makes for a great getaway.

✭ Dinner's on me - Cooking for your date may be the sweetest thing with the convenience of having complete privacy.

ONE group that we respect the most in Jamaica:

✭ Single mothers in every corner of the world are held in the most high esteem, especially here in Jamaica. Many women, filled with determination, bravely and successfully raise their children and we give credit to all for doing so.

Merlene Ottey ... still making strides despite criticism