Free Time

So what is it like to be an ex-pat on a remote South Atlantic Island, cut off from the outside world for most of the time? And what do we get up to? Here's a snap shot of last weekend!
It's Friday night (well 4.30 in any case!) We all went to Donny’s on the seafront for a beer after work – followed by Pizza from one of the few eateries open - Get Carter's – it’s not always Pizza – it varies weekly. On Saturday morning Henry and Andy went scuba diving, whilst I went ‘shopping’ in Town – just a walk up and down Main Street really – we all met up later at the Coffee Shop with some other ex-pats for coffee and lunch.
In the evening one of our neighbours (Andy at No 2) hosted ‘Piccolobury’ (Take on Glastonbury!) He had hired a local band to play on the veranda, lots of beer and wine and Thai food all in aid of his 'closer to 60 than 50' birthday party. The band, Blue Magic, were fab.The event was well supported by ex-pats and locals alike - I really prefer and enjoy evenings where we are out-numbered by Saints! The party went on into the early hours although we left before midnight as we had an early start on Sunday morning!

Now normally on a Sunday morning the boys are up early to play a round of golf with friends – a group of them tee off at 9am across the road (literally) at St Helena Golf Club - membership is very reasonable and to be recommended – It means I get to relax, maybe go for a walk or go to a friends for coffee – me time! But this week a ‘Round the Island’ boat trip had been arranged by Dave Higgins – apparently not for the feint hearted or weak traveller!

So a group of around 30 met at the wharf steps at 9.30 full of Stugeron and light breakfast for a trip of a lifetime – they rarely go all the way around as it is very rough on the ‘other side and previous trips had run into difficulty! Andy and Henry chose to stand up on the bow for the duration – I secured myself a little cubby hole where I could hang on! I don’t particularly like being out in vast open water at the best of times, but when there’s little between you and hundreds of miles of Ocean, it is even more daunting for those of us who find the concept less of a pleasure. However, unperturbed, I wasn’t going to miss the trip because of a little unfounded fear! We had been warned that on the last trip round the Island out of 40, 36 were sick so it was with some trepidation that we set off!
It was fantastic and although a couple of people were unwell the vast majority (including several children) were fine – it took 4 hours to go right around and cost just £10 a head. Exceptional value!

We were lucky enough to pass between Shore Island and George Island on the south east corner, close up.

The views of St Helena Island from the south side were stunning: sheer rock faces and some familiar places that we have walked to, like Shark’s Valley, Cox’s Battery and Sugarloaf, now viewed from a completely different perspective.

The sea birds were amazing too, swooping low over the boat, following the wake for most of the trip. In addition we were lucky enough to see three of the remaining Whale Sharks too. The season is coming to an end and so they are not quite as easy to find in the waters! Once Speery Island had been negotiated, it was a calm and smooth trip back to James Bay.

When we returned home we found a note from Andy inviting us to a ‘finish up last night’s food party, so I didn’t even have to think about cooking, just wandered over to Andy’s for wine, beer and more lovely Thai food.

This is a good example of life here - over the next few weeks we have our own party - Andy and I will have been married for 25 years next week and Deanna Woosey will be 18. There is also a afternoon tea and drinks organised by Dave Higgins to celebrate Mother's Day - Full on indeed!!!!!!!

Do walks get any more spectacular?

I don’t think so! Although every time we go somewhere new the landscape literally takes my breath away. This weekend’s adventure was a walk to Sharks Valley!
We arrived at the agreed rendezvous and were met by David Pryce (AKA ‘Bug Man’) in his land rover. He works for the St Helena National Trust and had offered to drive us ‘off road’ to a starting point lower down the valley. We all piled in and set off on a fairly scary white knuckle ride down to the start of the Mango Groves.

Setting off through the Groves was amazing and so dark. The foliage is very dense so a torch is recommended particularly for negotiating the natural streams that run through! The walk is pretty much downhill there, which of course means uphill back. Once out of the Mango Groves the walk is mainly along narrow ledges – not my favourite, but en-route we pass a spectacular waterfall and overhanging rocks and boulders.
After about an hour and a half we could see the beach and the sea.

The only way down was to scramble down a steep rock face with loose stones underfoot. I am not sure how we all made it down without injury, but we did. After a bite to eat and drink we set off back the way we had come, slipping and scrambling up to meet the path. The walk back was harder. The sun had increased in intensity and the ground underfoot was difficult to walk on. I lost my footing at one point and crashed to my knees luckily falling on the rocky path and not falling down the steep slope on the left! I wasn’t the only one. By the time we got back to the land rover, several of us were nursing cuts and bruises. Just the white knuckle ride back to the starting point remained. We arrived back safe and well, just in time to have a quick shower and head down to Donny’s Bar in Jamestown, where we had been invited to a wine tasting afternoon - what better way could there possibly be to recover from a mornings walking….

Social Life and More!

It’s been particularly busy over the last few weeks! I have been putting the finishing touches to my Masters and been heavily involved in preparing the final documentation for the Department for International Development (DfID) to secure the Budgetary Aid settlement agreed by DfID representatives when they made their annual DAPM (Development Aid Planning Mission) visit in January. It wouldn’t usually be part of the ‘Day job’ but my Boss Susan O’Bey has been seconded to undertake a very important role as Deputy Chief Executive (and currently Acting Chief Executive) leading St Helena Island’s economic development, As a result, her vacant post of Director of Strategic Policy and Planning has been split in 2 and I am covering the performance and planning side until a replacement has been recruited, so it’s been full on.
After a nervous few weeks wait, I got the results of my MBA (Strategic Change) and got an A (distinction) so am delighted with that!!

I’ve also been teaching A Level and GCSE Business Studies at Prince Andrew School one afternoon a week to help them out. It’s something that I very much enjoy doing and reminds me of why I went into training and coaching much earlier in my career. So I spend time at the weekend lesson planning then teach 2 classes back to back.
Burns night came late to St Helena. There is a sizable Scottish contingent here, but a fair few were off Island, not returning until the end of January. So St Helena Burns Night took place at the Consulate Hotel on February 8th and a fantastic time was had by all! It was also the last social event we attended with Martin Sutcliffe and Linda Woods, who departed the Island a couple of weeks later following the completion of Linda’s contract.

After a brief stopover in Scotland, they are heading off to San Francisco where Linda is starting her next contract – Good luck guys – Miss you!
It’s an odd concept really – people come and go on a regular basis, not just ex-pats, but many Saints too. Due to the poor economy many Saints live and work overseas, predominantly on Ascension, the Falklands or in the UK. In fact two of my A Level students are from Ascension. They have moved here to complete their A Level studies and are living with relatives having left their families behind – it’s very hard for them to be apart, but I know they are really looking forward to visiting Ascension in the summer before commencing their second year of study here.
True friendships are hard to establish as often by the time you’ve got to know someone, they are off either for good or extended leave. But you do find yourself mixing with large social groups and attending lots of ‘do’s’

So to Christmas Day number two!

Bob, Paula and Pip had spent Christmas back in the UK and Pip had been disappointed not to be having a Piccolo Christmas, so we arranged to do a second Christmas on her return. They were due back on 31st January, so Christmas was set for February 1st. A few days before they were due to fly to South Africa to board the RMS, Pip went down with chicken pox! She wasn’t able to fly. Luckily, they were able to secure flights and accommodation to Ascension the following week enabling them to catch up with the RMS in Georgetown a week later. Christmas Day had to be postponed and due to Burns Night taking place the following Saturday, we settled on 15th February. We didn’t hold back! Starters – Lemon and herb breaded wahoo stick and scampi with Tartar sauce, followed by Roast Turkey, roast potatoes, fresh vegetables, pigs in blankets (home-made!)roast parsnips, washed down with a bottle of bubbly (courtesy of the Governor) and lots of wine. Crackers and presents too! Everyone contributed to the day and a fun time was had by all.