Woolly Hats and Rainbows part 2

And so to lack of blogging.

It’s been a funny couple of months, with friends coming on and off the Island, some on leave, others at end of contract and a few who have decided to go early. This makes to a very busy social period – dinners with friend going on leave – after all they will be away for almost 3 months, leaving do’s for those at end on contract or heading home, plus invitations for relatively new people and some that we know very well.

The working week usually finishes with meeting friends around 16.00 in either the Mule Yard or Donny’s for a well-earned end of week drink and catch-up for a couple of hours. Sometimes we grab something to eat at Get Carters (who operate on a Friday evening and Saturday – as they work elsewhere full-time in the week). However, it is important to note for newcomers – fast food isn’t – fast that is! Anywhere. No MacDonald’s. Burger King or KFC here or any other food chain. There are no speciality restaurants, apart from one Chinese in Jamestown – booking essential, or else they may not open!

A Saint was telling me yesterday that some visitors had gone out on Sunday and did not find anywhere open to eat – this is common, so be prepared.

So this last weekend, we were at Donny’s for a couple of hours on Friday after work, then back down in town for Boot Camp at 8 am Saturday morning. This was followed by a quick sandwich in Half Tree Hollow on the way home. In the afternoon, we had been invited to a BBQ and spent a very pleasant few hours in great company. On Sunday we called round to help a friend with the internet and ended up having an impromptu Sunday lunch, where we pretty much remained until the early evening. At 3pm, Andy had taken Henry to football, then collected him a few hours later. Crystal Rangers celebrated their first ever WIN, coming back from 5-1 down at half time to win 6-5 – the team were ecstatic and quite rightly so. So when Henry returned, our hosts very graciously reheated their leftovers to provide Henry with a slap up celebratory lunch – thank you Nicola and Stephen.

Whilst not every weekend is as hectic as this, it doesn’t slow down much! This coming weekend, the boys are going sea fishing on Saturday. Boot Camp will be calling me  early on Saturday and some friends have a market stall selling ‘stuff’ as they are leaving soon. The following weekend there are several ‘leaving do’s’ and a few friends are also returning after leave, so more get-togethers  to come.

Time for a rest I think and in 9 weeks we will begin our journey back to the UK for some well-earned leave 

Looking back over 2013 – The Highs and the Lows

2013 has drawn to a close and an eventful year it has been. Even though I consider us far too young to start losing friends, at least 2 have been taken from us far too early.
Steve Waughman – A lovely, polite, gentleman who I had the honour and privilege to know and work with for 7 years. Although, as Steve’s Head of Service, we didn’t always share the same views and opinions, we were always able to share banter and a joke during the working day. Following the relocation of our offices to a single site, I often sat at the desk next to Steve and on that tragic day, that was exactly where I was, although Steve was working from home. A couple of months earlier Steve had learnt of my impeding departure to the middle of nowhere (St Helena Island) and he had been fascinated by the prospect of me upping roots and trekking half way around the world. It did stimulate much interest and discussion and Steve often came up with previously unknown facts about my new home! Steve was a very keen (and talented) photographer, so I had intended to send him photos of the stunning landscape and rare birds/plants etc. He would have been in his element. But it wasn’t to be. My colleague Phil took a phone call that afternoon informing us that Steve had been rushed to hospital following a suspected coronary. A couple of days later, the life support machine was switched off and a life was lost far too early. A few weeks later, just before I was to leave the UK, a friend of Andy’s, Mark Stretton, was diagnosed with a brain tumour. Surgery was attempted, but he never recovered and he died a few days later. I was unable to attend Mark’s funeral as I had already left the UK. Andy undertook this sad last tribute on our behalf. It certainly makes you think about life. This was the first complete year since my Dad passed away and this time of year always reminds us of our eldest son whom we sadly lost too.
I left family, friends and beloved pets behind when I set off at the end of May 2013. Andy and Henry due to follow in July, when the dogs would be dog sat by Simon and Dawn until their ever changing departure date, which finally came around in September. Leaving my son, George, behind was hard too, but I know it was an opportunity for him to take charge of his life rather than being reliant on us.
And so to the highs – what a fantastic Island St Helena is! We have been to places we’d never ever imagine – made some great new friends, settled into Island life, seen Whale Sharks in their natural habitat. Andy and Henry have been learning to scuba dive – Henry’s now qualified and Andy is not far behind, now his plaster is off! I’ve been completing my Masters in Strategic Change it. It’s been hard work at times, but very rewarding – I am looking forward to whatever 2014 brings us

Whale Sharks and Fishing
Andy and Henry were invited to go fishing at the weekend – an early start – picked up from the wharf steps at 06.30. Sun cream, pizza and beers were packed, along with hats and swimming gear the night before – the weather looked good and there had been lots of Wahoo and Tuna caught recently too. After motoring out towards Lemon Valley, they watched the sun come up over the Island before settling into some serious fishing. The fish had other ideas though and bites were slow. David caught a 20lb Tuna and some others caught Congers and smaller fish (including Henry) but it was the incredible sight of Whale Sharks accompanying the boat and dolphins swimming alongside that really made the trip. Unfortunately the photos don’t really do it justice, but 4 huge Whale Sharks swam just a few meters from the boat.
Tired and hot, the intrepid fishermen returned home some 5 hours later. Andy offered to help David with the Tuna. I am not sure what observers would have thought to Andy and me leaving David and Hazel’s house with a cleaver along a blood splattered path…. Ando so to the next social event – Sundowners on Friday – a boat is hired and copious amounts of food and alcohol are taken on board for consumption whilst the boat bobs around whilst watching the sun go down.