tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-125274972024-03-19T12:06:56.195+00:00Where is Sarah?In Southampton splashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04836353910210609404noreply@blogger.comBlogger68125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12527497.post-88449471442079745102012-06-17T22:46:00.002+00:002013-01-18T20:49:34.699+00:00Falkland Reflections<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_4IydEcVDZc/T9zui08pIxI/AAAAAAAABAM/DFNJowc1Xvg/s1600/P1030082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_4IydEcVDZc/T9zui08pIxI/AAAAAAAABAM/DFNJowc1Xvg/s320/P1030082.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Stanley Harbour</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So 30 years after Liberation, what's happened to the Falkland Islands?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In my view the islanders have used the opportunity given to them and made a real difference to the islands. Partially that opportunity came from financial help after the conflict but also from the judicious use of their natural resources, such as organising the commercial sale of fishing licenses.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As a result the islands are now self-sufficient apart from defence, and they'd like to pay for that too. They have invested heavily in education, in health and in infrastructure. In 1982 the only roads were in Stanley, now there are paved roads in Stanley and gravel roads in many parts of the islands. Pre-82 education often finished at 15, now the offer is there for all young people to continue to degree level with government funding. Large farms have been bought from absentee landlords and divided and sold to local farmers.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> The islanders show</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> immense gratitude and kindness to those in the armed forces who fought to liberate them in '82.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The islands have changed, there are more people living in Stanley than the countryside now. Tourism has boomed as the pristine nature of the islands and its fantastic wildlife has been recognised, it is now the second largest source of income for the islands. The internet, although it is expensive and slow, means that the islands are connected to the world - fancy dress costumes can be bought on ebay and posted via the twice weekly flight from Brize Norton.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are challenges. Argentina's sabre rattling unsettles people and takes up a lot of time in terms of communicating the islanders' views to the rest of the world. If oil can be produced in commercial quantities, then there will be big decisions to make about how to spend the money. Various sectors could grow but need the labour to do it, so the islanders need to decide if and how much they want the population to grow.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I hope that the Falkland Islanders make the right decisions about the future for themselves. They have a strong and positive community, which they are justly proud of. They live in a spectacularly beautiful place, which they cherish. I feel very privileged to have been invited to share in their commemoration of the events of 1982 and their celebration of their freedom and I hope that they will be left in peace to continue with their lives as they choose.</span>splashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04836353910210609404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12527497.post-1522433308091165692012-06-14T19:03:00.000+00:002013-01-18T20:50:01.683+00:00Liberation Day<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNxuJDP0dS3xm5niNrECjq6n9tx1fJLwZAupxeR27R7Gc3Fb3RFRr_jWoh_WRPm52C3tV7_fZ43chdFJw1CvLRlSgTjUWuJoU1TJedQzSvieT0AjXwFFH163OSqjkMnYwZ-Ec-pg/s1600/P1030184.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNxuJDP0dS3xm5niNrECjq6n9tx1fJLwZAupxeR27R7Gc3Fb3RFRr_jWoh_WRPm52C3tV7_fZ43chdFJw1CvLRlSgTjUWuJoU1TJedQzSvieT0AjXwFFH163OSqjkMnYwZ-Ec-pg/s320/P1030184.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Falkland Island Defence Force on parade</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">June 14<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> is liberation day. It is a
public holiday on the islands with numerous events to celebrate.</span>
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">The day dawned dry and cold, but the clouds promised
rain. We set off for the cathedral
service at 10am, very well wrapped up.
The service was led by the Reverend Hines but included prayers led by
the forces chaplain, the Catholic parish priest and a representative of the
Tabernacle Free Church ; with readings from a school pupil, a veteran of 1982 and the Governor, so it was a service for all of the community. The
service was one of thanksgiving, remembrance and also looking forward to the
future.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">At the end of the service we then moved outside to walk down
to the memorial ready for the service there.
The weather was awful, it started off as light snow and then turned into
horizontal, in your face snow. However, no one was put off and the ceremony and
parade took place with significant numbers of spectators and was broadcast live
on the radio. There were short prayers
and then wreaths were laid – I was proud to lay one on behalf of Chichester
College. The services then paraded past,
looking immaculate despite the conditions, whilst some of their comrades stood immobile
at each corner of the monument. They didn’t twitch despite the fact that they
were slowly freezing. Once the parade had
finished everyone got inside quickly.
There was a community event at lunchtime, with around 1,000 people
attending, and which featured a 45 foot model of HMS Invincible made out of sponge
cake, quite a sight! Once the choir had
sung, the Governor measured the cake and the food was finished, we slipped
away, leaving some stalwarts still celebrating! </span></div>
splashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04836353910210609404noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12527497.post-31086430154332530492012-06-14T18:58:00.001+00:002013-01-18T20:50:21.113+00:00TheWild West<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">On Wednesday we visited the settlement at Fox Bay on West
Falkland after the service at San Carlos.
We were travelling in three of FIGAS’ four Islander aircraft and even
this short journey demonstrated the changeability of the weather here. When we left San Carlos it was snowing but by
the time we arrived at Fox Bay it was a bright, sunny day.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKU1QwkhFBpltA64YZBDISYMY6oPFeW8DRf3U1zCq28abTYK_Ur0vvGgIVRMqfCIC1cVHqZS6YKLFTCbGa8TDzbV1yE26IeqP7SRQfrRyTQsnLTfks1KfmXjl6esjyylljRJvXxA/s1600/P1030159.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKU1QwkhFBpltA64YZBDISYMY6oPFeW8DRf3U1zCq28abTYK_Ur0vvGgIVRMqfCIC1cVHqZS6YKLFTCbGa8TDzbV1yE26IeqP7SRQfrRyTQsnLTfks1KfmXjl6esjyylljRJvXxA/s320/P1030159.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">We visited the school at Fox Bay, which has a school
population of two children, from two different families. They are taught by Jim, who is a travelling
teacher working with children in isolated areas. He spends 2 weeks out of 6 with each family,
which means 4 weeks at Fox Bay and then 2 weeks with another farming family in
the north west of this island. There are
no roads to his other pupil’s home, so Jim’s driving skills and determination
are tested in the winter, when travelling conditions are very difficult. The normal routine is that rural children are
taught by travelling teacher or in a settlement school but transfer to Stanley
primary school at about 9 years old and live in the hostel there. This isn’t always the case and I meant one
teenager who had done all her secondary education by distance learning and had passed
her GCSEs, a testament to her motivation.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">The community at Fox Bay were very welcoming. They had
organised a display of unseasonal sheep shearing and explained how they shear
to ensure high wool quality and a good wool price. The farms run very large sheep flocks, 7,000
sheep is not unusual and so the islanders have professional shearers, who can
shear upwards of 350 sheep in one day. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">We then enjoyed a lavish lunch in the community’s social
club, with spectacular views out over the bay. On a bright, still day it was
absolutely beautiful and didn't live up to West Falklands' nickname of The Wild West!</span></div>
splashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04836353910210609404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12527497.post-11365160989897550482012-06-14T02:12:00.000+00:002013-01-18T20:56:13.373+00:00Remembrance<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">One of the themes of this trip is remembrance for those
involved in the Falklands war, both in the armed forces and the population.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span><br />
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Yesterday, we attended a short ceremony at the memorial for
those killed on HMS Glamorgan. The
memorial is about two years old and is on the shoreline near Stanley. HMS Glamorgan was hit by an Exocet missile
whilst supporting 45 Commando in their attack on Two Sisters, near Stanley. A mix of residents, veterans, forces
personnel and visitors participated in the ceremony to remember all those
affected.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtYRf4Ah66xa-azXFwf7mHd7dhgdaiPqXK-hc38s0e4u3wFX4UaeEPB92GQEMI6jHS5IGZ970WdTy4T1yAmrF9rtZjU-kAAqINaf3lb3zdi_uzg0cJcus7sjZgq2OZjevEswOchw/s1600/P1030148.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtYRf4Ah66xa-azXFwf7mHd7dhgdaiPqXK-hc38s0e4u3wFX4UaeEPB92GQEMI6jHS5IGZ970WdTy4T1yAmrF9rtZjU-kAAqINaf3lb3zdi_uzg0cJcus7sjZgq2OZjevEswOchw/s320/P1030148.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span><br />
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Later in the day we visited an exhibition in the museum
about the war. There were lots of quotes
from residents, including a letter from a child to her grandma telling her
about the invasion. She ended by saying
words to the effect that - this is a sad letter, I’m sorry, but I needed to
tell someone. Other exhibits told of terrifying
experiences, such as when residents were inside their houses, when fighting was
taking place round them (the houses here are usually wooden and easily penetrated
by bullets). The exhibition vividly brought to life the hardships of the local population during the invasion and the war. It was clearly something that none of us would want to happen to us.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;">
Today, Wednesday, began
with a short flight to San Carlos, where the British cemetery is and memorials list
all of those who died during the conflict. It is a beautifully made cemetery
maintained to a very high standard, as are all the memorials on the islands. The service was attended by the Governor,
the Foreign and Commonwealth Minister, as well as the President of SAMA and
others who laid wreaths in remembrance.
It also seemed to be attended by quite a lot of media, so you may have
seen it on TV before reading this. It was
a bitterly cold day, and the weather conditions and the difficulty of the
terrain that we flew over made us think about the many adversities faced and endured
during the campaign. This service, like all those we have attended,
was thoughtful and grateful and the islanders’ gratitude for their freedom was
very clear.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhes3OSmpn7vNqqt2mk_sYE6BWar4td5tAWBZtyto38pmt4Z_2Mpm-25nfDLYY_5LkCU_kHSFWsIIb06YAj3kHOdqzf-1ueZp2U9h2fYaSSwAVxx8ifvtcdprqr4epF-1zsBSxK0Q/s1600/San+Carlos+ceremony.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhes3OSmpn7vNqqt2mk_sYE6BWar4td5tAWBZtyto38pmt4Z_2Mpm-25nfDLYY_5LkCU_kHSFWsIIb06YAj3kHOdqzf-1ueZp2U9h2fYaSSwAVxx8ifvtcdprqr4epF-1zsBSxK0Q/s320/San+Carlos+ceremony.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span>splashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04836353910210609404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12527497.post-90351661671849499862012-06-14T02:07:00.000+00:002013-01-18T20:51:18.948+00:00Wildlife Paradise<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">First thing Tuesday morning we were taken by helicopter to
see some of the Falklands famous wildlife.
The helicopter flight was only 10 minutes from Stanley to Volunteer
Point, a journey that takes around 3 hours in the summer by car and
considerably longer in the winter, depending on how often you get bogged
down. Locals develop excellent off road
driving skills and can drive in places that most of us would struggle in.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">At Volunteer Point we saw two types of penguin that live on
the islands year round – Gentoo and King penguins. It was an incredible experience. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimGD9UwTy10zEI07I-dLa-tg6DSUPiF3vcPjvp5i4qzDdP6j0KRLwn553IJHa0IVWOlKSwfJ3_eAuP3tzKe_aU3SlhyOF0rrwZpBeo_GuGLMvKa5jxVAGT7tHdOR3HFKug2jfmaA/s1600/P1030132.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimGD9UwTy10zEI07I-dLa-tg6DSUPiF3vcPjvp5i4qzDdP6j0KRLwn553IJHa0IVWOlKSwfJ3_eAuP3tzKe_aU3SlhyOF0rrwZpBeo_GuGLMvKa5jxVAGT7tHdOR3HFKug2jfmaA/s320/P1030132.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">The landscape is spectacular and the penguins
are relaxed about people, so you can walk very close to them and if you stand
still they will come even closer to you!
Whilst we were looking at the King penguins, some of their adolescent
chicks came so close they were almost standing on our feet. During the winter they only visit their chick
three times, so these chicks are hopeful that even people might have some food
for them. These colonies of penguins are
healthy and in general wildlife on the Falklands is doing well.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">The marine wildlife has become increasingly important to the
islands, as they attract tourism, a growing sources of income. Last year around 40,000 people visited, the
majority for day visits from cruise ships.
For anyone interested in seeing animals in the wild, I think the
Falklands is an incredible destination.</span></div>
splashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04836353910210609404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12527497.post-75593778304945931042012-06-13T10:27:00.000+00:002013-01-18T20:51:38.055+00:00Saying thank you for freedom<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Later on Monday we were invited to dinner by the 30th
anniversary liberation committee where we met islanders and veterans. In the
welcome speech the theme was that the islanders very much wanted to say thank you to those who gave them
their freedom, to those who supported them afterwards, to all those who
continue to support their right to choose their own future and to those who
help them develop. They are also looking forward to those who work with them today on development - which is why
the colleges were invited. Before 1982 few islanders stayed at school past 15
and levels of education were limited. After liberation education became a key
focus and this investment in their young people is why so many come to study in
the UK at 16.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">When I first saw the guest list, I didn't
understand the connection of all of the invitees. As people talk I begin to
understand it more. Jersey and Guernsey have been invited because after the
liberation in 1982 they gave the Falklands substantial financial gifts to help
them rebuild. Jersey alone gave five million pounds. Both islands did this
because of their experience of the trauma of occupation during the Second World
War. Gibraltar share with the Falklands the fact that the population wish to
remain British but another country wishes to claim them. The minister from Gibraltar
replied to the opening speech at dinner and was passionate about freedom and
democracy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">
<br />
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I think living in the UK, we take our freedom and our rights for
granted. This week is making me think about it more and making me appreciate
its value.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span>splashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04836353910210609404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12527497.post-49507371921021880752012-06-13T09:37:00.000+00:002013-01-18T20:52:20.799+00:00Remembering the 8th June 1982<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We were met from the plane, at Mount Pleasant, by the
organisers of the trip and made very welcome.
We drove towards Stanley but turned off after 15 minutes or so, towards
Fitzroy, where there are monuments remembering those who died in the bombing of
the Sir Galahad and Sir Tristram on the 8<sup>th</sup> June 1982. As some of our party are from the Welsh
Assembly, it was very important to them to visit Fitzroy and lay a wreath there
in memory of the many Welsh Guards who died that day. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: 324.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We were met at the monument by the
Reverend Richard Hines and Tim and Jan Miller from Stanley who are very
involved with supporting returning veterans.
There were also a number of visiting veterans from a range of the
regiments involved in the conflict. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: 324.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The site of the Welsh Guards monument
is on a small cliff overlooking an inlet, nearby are monuments to those from
the RFA, the medical corp and engineers who also died that day. As far as the eye can see is moorland – covered
with snow, as it’s the middle of winter.
Various seabirds were about, skimming the water, splashing down and
making a lot of noise in an otherwise silent landscape. There was a short,
heartfelt service of remembrance. Dusk was
falling and we got back on the road to Stanley.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span>splashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04836353910210609404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12527497.post-50483676709111189412012-06-12T20:07:00.000+00:002013-01-18T20:52:50.283+00:00Flying down to Stanley<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CPluDBYV9mM/T9zufNMdNPI/AAAAAAAAA_k/85r23h2Fg94/s1600/P1030072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CPluDBYV9mM/T9zufNMdNPI/AAAAAAAAA_k/85r23h2Fg94/s320/P1030072.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">We assembled for the flight down
to the islands on Sunday 10<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> June at RAF Brize Norton. The flight was scheduled to leave at 23:59
but we were told that we had to check in at least 3 hours beforehand. At least it gave us the chance to introduce
ourselves and start to learn each others’ names. From the start this trip has felt very different
to other college trips, the VIP lounge at Brize Norton had 3 clocks on the
wall, set for the UK, Kandahar and Kuwait.
Seeing those clocks was a simple reminder of the major areas that our
armed forces are committed to and are continuing to work in while we get on
with our day to day lives. The plane (a standard Boeing 767, with all mod cons)
left on time for the first leg of the journey to Ascension Island (just 9 hours
flying time!). Ascension is just below
the equator, some considerable distance off the West African coast. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--VA_oqwizSQ/T9zub-mTdxI/AAAAAAAAA_E/arpwSEM0Ysc/s1600/P1030067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--VA_oqwizSQ/T9zub-mTdxI/AAAAAAAAA_E/arpwSEM0Ysc/s320/P1030067.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">At Ascension Island we were whisked off
the plane and driven for about 20 minutes to the Administrator’s Residence.
Apparently Ascension Island is called Cinder Island by those who are posted
there. It’s a volcanic island, red and
barren with one Green Mountain where the Victorians managed to get plants and
small trees to grow, creating a damper micro climate on that mountain. It has a population of about 800 people, all
living there because of work. There is
no resident population, even if a child is born there they do not have the
right of residency. The population seems
to consist of the RAF, the US Air Force, the BBC who have a station that
transmits into Africa, and Cable and Wireless who maintain their transatlantic
cables. Actually there is a resident
population – thousands of green turtles and maybe on the way back we will see
some. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">The Residence, a stoutly built Victorian single storey
building, is high on Green Mountain with amazing views across the island and a hair
raising drive up a single track road with very sharp hairpin bends. Scraping noises as the back of the minibus
ground on the road, only happened on half the bends! We had time at the Residence to admire the
views and have some welcome fresh fruit before we had to come back down to the
plane for the second leg of the journey, another 8 hours to Mount Pleasant on
the Falklands.</span></div>
splashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04836353910210609404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12527497.post-22082034551449992242012-06-12T19:58:00.000+00:002013-01-18T20:53:19.185+00:00An unusual invitation<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Some time ago Chichester College was invited by the Falkland Islands Government to send a representative to participate in the events organised for the 30<span style="font-size: small;"><sup>th</sup> anniversary of the
liberation of the islands from the Argentine invasion. This invitation was in recognition of the work we do in educating their young people, post 16, and is linked to a theme of theirs this year, which is focusing on the future of the islands. I was very privileged to be be asked by Shelagh, if I would come and represent the College on this important occasion.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From the information
sent to us, it was clear that this anniversary is one where the islanders and
those who fought, remember the war and the sacrifices made by all those
involved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is also a moment for the islanders
to show how their community has developed since the war and to show how they made the most of their freedom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also it is a time for
the islanders to strengthen friendships, so that they can continue their way of
life, despite continued Argentine claims that they should be part of Argentina.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The party includes a shadow cabinet junior minister;
Lt Gen James Dutton, president of the South Atlantic Medal Association, who was
in the Falklands war in 40 Commando; politicians from the Scottish Parliament,
the Welsh Assembly and Jersey, Guernsey and Gibraltar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Completing the party are the principal of
Peter Symonds College in Winchester and myself for Chichester College.</span></div>
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</span><br />
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</span>splashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04836353910210609404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12527497.post-17545331822454446132009-05-02T18:18:00.002+00:002013-01-18T20:54:01.668+00:00YippeeHurray a female poet laureate and one who can rhyme prayer with Finisterre! <br />
<br />
To those, who are getting this post as an email please tell me if it annoys you and I'll take you off the list. I thought it might be a way of keeping in touch better, but it may just clog up your inboxes and irritate you - please say.splashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04836353910210609404noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12527497.post-50494964136469379692007-03-04T11:15:00.000+00:002007-03-04T11:29:11.799+00:00Reading GroupsI've always thought that a reading group would be a fun thing to join, and now I've done it and I'm really happy to report that it is exactly what I hoped it would be.<br /><br />The thing that had stopped me in the past was the lack of knowing anyone else who wanted to do the same thing. I used to mention in passing to friends that I'd like to join a reading group but no one ever said, "So do I, why don't we start one?" or "Do you, I know someone who's a member of one". Then one day I googled reading groups in Southampton and that took me to the library website and they run reading groups. I emailed into the ether and nothing happened and then months later, when I'd forgotten all about it, an email came saying the Library was setting up a new reading group and would I like to go.<br /><br />Off I went on the agreed date, curious to see who else would be there. We are a fairly electic group, mostly female (do men not read?) but with a shared passion for reading. It has done all that I hoped for me. We've just read our third book, Helen Dunmore's "The Siege" and all 3 have been high quality novels. I haven't liked all of them but being part of the group has made me read all of them to the end and then I am surprised that in the group sessions I have lots to say, even about the books I'm not that keen on.<br /><br />This book, "The Siege" is my favourite to date. It's historical, set in Leningrad during the German siege of the Second World War and it tells the story of the city through the experiences of a family. It's incredibly evocative and makes you feel what it must have been like (as much as anyone can by reading about something so awful). It also gives a feeling of what living under Stalin was like for Russians and how appalling that was. Despite the bleak setting of the story it is an easy book to read and ultimately uplifting in people's ability to survive the most appalling circumstances.<br /><br />So we'll discuss it next week and it'll be something new. Can't wait.splashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04836353910210609404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12527497.post-1154366514998817092006-07-31T17:17:00.000+00:002006-07-31T17:32:18.086+00:00Blackbird Success - so far so good<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5519/1066/640/IMG_2591.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: all; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5519/1066/320/IMG_2591.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; BACKGROUND: 0% 50%; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; moz-background-clip: initial; moz-background-origin: initial; moz-background-inline-policy: initial" alt="Posted by Picasa" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" align="middle" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:verdana;">After watching the pair of blackbirds in my garden working a flat out shuttle system to feed their vocal brood, here's proof that they had some success. We've seen two youngsters out of the nest with the female. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">The thing that really surprised me was that they come out of the nest when they're very vulnerable, they can flutter and hop but not fly. The youngsters then live mostly on the ground while they continue to develop while the mother continues to feed them. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">When I first saw this one hopping about behind the shrubs in my garden I thought he'd left the nest too soon, but having read up on it a bit, it looks as if it's normal. Seems like a high risk strategy to me but luckily we don't have any cats living nearby.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">This photo is at about 2 weeks out of the nest. We're still seeing them around a bit but I think they're nearly at the stage when they'll be on their own. It's been great fun watching them and I'll be a bit sad when they're gone!</span>splashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04836353910210609404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12527497.post-1152785724265553672006-07-12T22:01:00.000+00:002006-07-13T10:15:24.276+00:00In praise of Winchester Cathedral<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5519/1066/1600/IMG_2587.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5519/1066/320/IMG_2587.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Winchester, original capital of England, depending of course on how you define England. Without doubt capital of Wessex, which during the Viking years became the dominant kingdom in surviving Anglo Saxon England. <br /><br />Enough of Anglo Saxon political history. Why visit Winchester Cathedral? Not because it's the prettiest from the outside (it's not), not because it recently featured in the Da Vinci Code (although it did), rather because it is full of unexpected gems:<br /><br />- Temporary scaffolding that is 500 years old. In the Triforium Gallery you get a fantastic view of the Norman structure of the cathedral. They meant to update it to the same style as the Nave but ran out of money, they'd put some wooden supports in, ready to lower the roof...it's still there 500 years later.<br /><br />- The Winchester Bible, a gem of a medieval illuminated bible<br /><br />- See Canute (the king who told the waves to go back) - he and several other Anglo Saxon kings and bishops are buried in finally decorated mortuary chests which are now poised on the walls surrounding the high altar. The oldest one dates to around 670 AD.<br /><br />- The fantastic modern art that the cathedral continues to commission - a Graham Sutherland sculpture in the crypt, modern icons near the site of the shrine of St Swithin, the altar and candlesticks in the Angler's Chapel<br /><br />The cathedral is a monument to English history and yet it lives and grows as well. Go and see for yourself.splashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04836353910210609404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12527497.post-1150798782517484292006-06-19T22:06:00.000+00:002006-06-20T10:19:42.526+00:00Lima - redeeming its reputation slightly<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5519/1066/640/110_110.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: all; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5519/1066/320/110_110.jpg" border="0" /></a>Whenever you look at guidebooks or talk to people who've been in Peru for a quick visit, they tell you what a horrible city Lima is. I think they're being a bit unfair!<br /><br />A lot of it stems from the fact, that if you arrive off an international flight, tired and jet lagged, the first thing you see as you leave the airport are some poor and ugly slums. At this point all the warnings about safety and theft reverberate in your head and you feel distinctly nervous.<br /><br />You spend maybe a day in the city, being whisked round museums in a blur and closing <a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5519/1066/640/111_111.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: all; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5519/1066/320/111_111.jpg" border="0" /></a>your eyes and hoping you aren't going to die as the traffic rampages round at speed. If you've come to Peru with Inca ruins and mountain wildnernesses in your head, then Lima isn't going to appeal.<br /><br />But even for the short stay tourist, there are nice things to do and pretty sights to see. In central historic Lima, efforts have been made to smarten things up and the central square is lovely, with the cathedral providing an electic range of religious art and tombs and San Francisco round the corner with an extensive collection of bones!<br /><br />And if you have more time, walk down the shopping street between the Plaza de Armas and the Plaza San Martin and start to get a feel for daily life. It might be the city and it might be Lima, but it's all part of Peru and if you want to get to know the real country and not just the tourist hotspots it's a good way to start. <a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a> splashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04836353910210609404noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12527497.post-1150797496913579442006-06-19T21:57:00.000+00:002006-07-26T17:52:05.426+00:00Brayan and I at Esperanza<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5519/1066/640/107_107.jpg"></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5519/1066/640/104_104.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: all; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5519/1066/320/104_104.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5519/1066/640/105_105.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: all; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5519/1066/320/105_105.9.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; BACKGROUND: 0% 50%; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; moz-background-clip: initial; moz-background-origin: initial; moz-background-inline-policy: initial" alt="Posted by Picasa" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" align="middle" border="0" /></a>splashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04836353910210609404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12527497.post-1149428636399854342006-06-04T13:34:00.000+00:002006-06-04T13:47:51.160+00:00Someone else´s election - Reflections on PeruToday I´m coming home from Peru, as voting takes place in the second round of the Presidential election. It´s been very interesting to see the last two weeks in close up and through the eyes of the national press, rather than through the filter of other foreign observers.<br /><br />I´ve been asked what do I think and I find it hard to answer, because I´m not a resident and so don´t have lots of background into what is going on but for what it´s worth here goes:<br /><p>The choice of presidential candidates doesn´t seem a great one as it´s between Ollanta Humalla, who launched a failed coup a few years ago and Alan Garcia, who was president before and failed to do much good for the economy or to successfully tackle terrorist activity. What´s interesting is that watching television performances it´s obvious that the ability to come across as a strong leader by giving charismatic public speeches is really critical in Peru. I´m not sure that´s true anymore in the UK where the ability to manage the press seems more important than true charisma.</p><p>There´s been loads of outside commentary or interference. The Peruvian press loathes the interventions of Hugo Chavez and the existing government isn´t happy either. It seems incredible that Chavez, a canny individual, doesn´t seem to have grasped the fact that his continuing commentary is damaging Humalla´s electoral prospects. That or his real intention is continued worldwide pubilicity reinforcing external perceptions that he´s a key leader in South America and the damage it´s doing to Peruvian-Venezuelan relations is a price he´s prepared to pay. On reflection I´d bet on the latter.</p><p>By contrast the Chilean government acted decisively to stop Alberto Fuijimori (renegade Peruvian ex president) from talking to foreign press and interfering in the election. Less posturing more action.</p><p>From all the polls in the run up it seems that Alan Garcia is going to win handsomely, but whoever does I hope for the country´s sake that they get a president who isn´t corrupt and who works effectively to improve things for all the people in the country and narrows the wealth divide.</p>splashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04836353910210609404noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12527497.post-1149303217310321692006-06-03T02:20:00.000+00:002006-06-06T20:52:52.380+00:00HopeI´ve been in Peru for the last couple of weeks and one of the things I´ve done is visit Bryan, my "ahijada" (literally godson) but actually a child that I sponsor. Last year while I was living in Cusco I had quite a long conversation with a street child and one of the things I decided to do when I got home was to look for a charity that supported children.<br /><br />Of course there are lots, but I decided to go through SOS Children´s Villages <a href="http://www.soschildrensvillages.org.uk/">http://www.soschildrensvillages.org.uk/</a> as they focus specifially on abandoned or orphaned children and as it was a street child who´d triggered my interest, it seemed the right thing to do. I felt a bit odd about the visit in advance, no real expectations of what it would be like, but also a bit apprehensive as I´m not a parent and so don´t have huge exposure to children all the time. I also felt concerned that I'd feel patronising rather than helpful, be shown round like some honoured guest.<br /><br />The charity in Peru were incredibly accomodating, when I asked how to get to the village, they said don´t worry about it, just come to the office and we´ll take you. So off we went, Jacqueline from the charity, Fernando my boyfriend and I. We´d established that I spoke Spanish which slightly rebounded on me, because Jacqui talked at high speed and it was quite a test for my understanding.<br /><br />While I was concentrating on listening, Fernando was asking appropriate questions, like where do the children come from? Jacqui said that they work closely with social workers who refer children who are orphaned, abandoned or at risk. They also get sad sad cases such as children literally threwn away and found with rubbish. I got the feeling that in a poor country like Peru, SOS and other charities like it, are providing the social safety net that the state provides in developed countries. Of course the demand is sadly more than the charities can meet at the moment. SOS is continuing to open new villages in Peru as communities ask for them but it can only do so as its funds permit.<br /><br />We wound our way up a river valley to Choisica, a pretty town that is about an hour out of Lima. There are two SOS villages there, Rio Hondo and Esperanza, where my child lives. We got to the gates of the village and went in. Jacqui was at pains to explain that the village is being seriously renovated so there´s loads of building going on and not all the houses are currently occupied. However, to me it looked very nice and a calm environment as well. The houses are one storey and painted white with lots of greenery around and flowers.<br /><br />The SOS approach is to place the children within villages, communities of several houses, each with a mother who is totally responsible for her own house and children. As a mother will have many children, she has the help of aunts, often mothers in training. If there are suitable schools nearby the children attend these, if not the community might have its own school.<br /><br />We walked through the community to the house where Bryan (my ahijada) lives. Tania, the house mother came and welcomed us with Bryan. The others (there are 11 in the house in total) were all doing their homework and were all looking over very curiously. Bryan is 7 and he has lived in the village for several years, his older brother Franco is also there and his younger sister. One of the things I like about SOS is that they don´t split families up and the children grow up together.<br /><br />Being Peruvian he is tiny and slight, to my surprise as we watched him and Tania come to the door I felt quite emotional. He kissed Jacqui and I hello and very formally shook Fernando´s hand. Then I gave him a bag with some gifts. He took each one out very carefully, looking at it attentively before moving on to the next thing. The football at the bottom of the bag got a huge grin and it got carried around a lot.<br /><br />I´d brought a photo album with pictures of my family and the area round Southampton.<br />He was fascinated by the photographs of the liners and when he looked at the dinghy photos, he wanted to know if the sailors were going to drown!! A photo of breakfast was also of lots of interest because you could see into one of the bowls and he wanted to know what it was. The answer was cereal and milk but I´m not sure I really explained it.<br /><br />He very proudly showed me round the house, including his bedroom, which he shares with 3 other boys, and the bedroom his little sister sleeps in. It was all incredibly tidy and each child has a small selection of toys and their own space to keep things in. Then we all walked round the village with Bryan pointing out the hens and dogs and took photos of all of us. When we got back to the house he got his homework books out to show me. He took us through every page of them - writing practice and maths as well. He seems to be doing well and the books were beautifully tidy and cared for. Then too soon, it was time to go. Bryan and his mother walked us to the gate and waved goodbye as we drove away.<br /><br />So after my visit how do I feel? I didn't feel awkward during my visit, I really enjoyed meeting everyone and Jacqui told me that very few sponsors do visit so the children are really curious to meet them. I was committed to sponsoring a child for the long term before I visited (SOS support them through school and then help them settle into the adult world through a slow transition process). However, meeting Bryan in person has made it very real for me and I hope that he enjoyed meeting me.splashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04836353910210609404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12527497.post-1147715520961835342006-05-15T20:36:00.000+00:002006-05-17T15:25:13.193+00:00Quintessentially English<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5519/1066/1600/IMG_2095.0.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5519/1066/320/IMG_2095.0.jpg" border="0" /></a>A bluebell wood in full bloom this weekend on the Isle of Wight.<br /><br />And of course a blackbird update, they're definately nesting in the clematis. The female is egg sitting and the male hangs about and defends his territory. He gets most upset with any pigeons who come into the garden looking for food and squares up to them, fluffing up his feathers to look big and aggressive. He doesn't seem to have realised that being a third of the size of most of the pigeons, they don't care!splashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04836353910210609404noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12527497.post-1147089807906418852006-05-08T11:56:00.000+00:002006-05-08T22:27:25.986+00:00Island in bloom<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5519/1066/1600/IMG_2064.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5519/1066/320/IMG_2064.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />May hedges on the Isle of Wight and gorse bushes across the Downs.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5519/1066/1600/IMG_2069.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5519/1066/320/IMG_2069.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5519/1066/1600/IMG_2068.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5519/1066/320/IMG_2068.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5519/1066/1600/IMG_2067.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5519/1066/320/IMG_2067.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p>splashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04836353910210609404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12527497.post-1146862617575637322006-05-05T20:40:00.000+00:002006-05-05T20:56:59.576+00:00A Blackbird RambleSo Spring is really here, it really is.....and just to prove it my local blackbirds are building a nest in my Clematis. I know that blackbirds are very common and in no way endangered but I like them being around, they often hang around when I'm in the garden and they sing beautifully. (I think I notice bird song more since my time in the rain forest last year. The sad thing is that I have no idea what I'm listening to, apart from blackbirds!! In fact I could probably still identify more rainforest birds than English ones on their songs....)<br /><br />I am really pleased that the blackbirds are having another go at nest building in my garden because last year they had a bit of a disaster. At the same time last year they decided to build a nest in my rambling rose, it always looked like a high risk strategy because the rose was trying its best to rip the trellis off the fence and so it wasn't a very secure place to build. However, they built, they laid an egg, the female sat on it for a week or so and then one day there was a lot of wind, the rose waved about a lot, the branches moved and the nest slipped, end of egg!<br /><br />I had enjoyed watching them so much that I decided to help out this year, so I bought a blackbird friendly nest box and put it up. Of course they have ignored the sturdy safe option of the nest box but I'm delighted that they've built again and fingers crossed this time I'll get to watch fledglings learn to fly.splashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04836353910210609404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12527497.post-1145212732474073442006-04-16T18:25:00.000+00:002006-04-16T18:38:52.503+00:00Spring is sprung<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5519/1066/1600/IMG_2041.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5519/1066/320/IMG_2041.jpg" border="0" /></a>Here's the Solent from Cowes parade, looking particularly spectacular on a glorious sunny Sunday....(no pun intended).<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5519/1066/1600/IMG_2042.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5519/1066/320/IMG_2042.jpg" border="0" /></a>And here is Freshwater Bay on the west coast of the Isle of Wight, I'm looking down from Tennyson Down. <br /><br />This down is named after Alfred, Lord Tennyson (writer of Charge of the Light Brigade and other well loved English poems) who lived nearby and loved walking there. On a day like this you can see why. Although the picture doesn't show the piercingly cold wind that was whipping across the down. <br /><br />And here's a link to some antiquerian views of the Isle of Wight and some more information on it: <a href="http://www.freshwater.shalfleet.net/freshwater3.htm">http://www.freshwater.shalfleet.net/freshwater3.htm</a>splashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04836353910210609404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12527497.post-1145211898083212922006-04-16T18:03:00.000+00:002006-04-16T18:24:58.096+00:00A soft Southerner's view of Lancashire<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5519/1066/1600/IMG_2053.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5519/1066/320/IMG_2053.jpg" border="0" /></a>Southerners in England are renowed for not knowing anything about the North of England, but I'd like to be the exception!! <br /><br />When people talk about the North of England, they often think of the cities and the towns but round them is fabulous scenery and landscape.<br /><br />Just outside Bolton you're straight onto the moors, fantastic semi wild areas with lots of space and sky. A great place to walk or cycle. <br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5519/1066/1600/IMG_2055.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5519/1066/320/IMG_2055.jpg" border="0" /></a>I took the opportunity of Easter to go and visit friends who live in Lostock, near Bolton. These pictures are all from Easter Saturday walking round Entwhistle Reservoir. The first one is a shot of a really sweet idea, an Easter tree with eggs and toys for children.<br /><br />Here is Entwhistle Reservoir itself. Spring is still getting a toehold here, so the trees are still brown rather than green.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5519/1066/1600/IMG_2058.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5519/1066/320/IMG_2058.jpg" border="0" /></a>And here are some spring buds (very small on the tree) and some rather sad looking dry stone wall.splashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04836353910210609404noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12527497.post-1144245533450172612006-04-05T12:50:00.000+00:002006-04-05T21:35:08.953+00:00Foolish things...April Fool's Day - where did that come from? I don't know and I suspect that if I started to Google it I could waste a serious amount of time (no change there then). But there were some very good things around on 1st April this year, my favourites were:<br /><br />Google Romance, the people that revolutionised online searching want to revolutionise dating - <a href="http://www.google.com/romance/index.html">http://www.google.com/romance/index.html</a> What could be better?<br /><br /><br />The Guardian's report on Chris Martin's support of David Cameron due to his green credentials <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1744447,00.html">http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1744447,00.html</a><br /><br />and even better the lyrics of a song "he's written" for David Cameron<br /><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1744448,00.html">http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1744448,00.html</a>splashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04836353910210609404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12527497.post-1144241343541719662006-04-04T19:44:00.000+00:002006-04-05T12:49:03.556+00:00Woooo hoooo<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5519/1066/1600/PB%20broaches.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5519/1066/320/PB%20broaches.jpg" border="0" /></a>It was very windy this Sunday, very windy indeed, here we are on Pocket Battleship with it all going horribly wrong.....leading to a short stint on our side. Oddly enough the boat doesn´t sail quickly like that.splashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04836353910210609404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12527497.post-1143070860233483052006-03-30T23:17:00.000+00:002006-03-31T16:32:12.830+00:00Book raves<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5519/1066/1600/1491.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5519/1066/320/1491.jpg" border="0" /></a> Two books that I've really enjoyed reading recently - "1491" a history of the Americas pre Columbus and "De Repente Un Angel" a novel.<br /><br />First the history....stop yawning, it's interesting honestly. "In 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue"..............and after that Europeans got to be top dog and brought civilisation to America!<br /><br />That's probably what most of us were taught at school. But this book works through what we know, think we know and are still finding out about the Americas before Columbus arrived. Charles C. Mann uses recent research and findings to challenge the old beliefs, for example he demonstrates that the cities that Cortez encountered in Mexico were bigger and as sophisticated (if not more so) than the major European cities of the time. Charles Mann is a journalist and writes in a great easy to read style. He's enthusiastic about what he finds out and eager to share, so it's not some crusty tome. This is history for everyone. Enjoy.<br /><br />And probably less accessibly for most people I know, "De Repente Un Angel" (Suddenly an angel) by Jaime Bayly, a Peruvian novelist. It's a powerful story of families and forgiveness, which at times made me laugh out loud or cry. At the same time it paints a picture of<br />Peru today, of a hierachical society of privilege and poverty which I recognised from my time there. It's earthy, romantic, shocking and beautiful. I couldn't put it down but unfortunately I suspect it doesn't exist in English. But if you do read Spanish I'd recommend it.splashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04836353910210609404noreply@blogger.com0