Today is Friday, when the Penguin News is issued. Frankly it is a must-read after all the political pouting of the last fortnight. Turns out the local Chilean workforce have been protesting about the interference with their air and sea connections, the Falkland Islanders have been protesting about all the bizarre commentary relating to their security and some Argentinians have been posing around Stanley in 'I Love Las Malvinas' t-shirts. Had no idea all this was going on! Perhaps I should get out more.
On the domestic side, the egg shortage has really hit home. What with all our birds being in moult, the ones in the shop here being ancient and borderline rotten, and the usual farm suppliers being completely bare due to town shortages (because the annual mid-summer re-supply charter flight has been thwarted by a certain Kirchner person) - I was starting to panic. Anyway, I was rescued this morning by a neighbour with a couple of chooks in a more sheltered garden, either that or she gives them little jackets to wear (now there's a thought) who gave me four beautiful large eggs with gorgeous orange yolks that didn't fall to pieces immediately. Sigh of relief.
Second time is clearly the charm when it comes to the dashing Duke who was relaxing in the cafe on his no-fly day. Managed to elicit a smile during my encounter with him and his cronies ordering their elevenses. His choice of snack? Millionaire's shortbread. Very apt.
Friday 17 February 2012
Monday 13 February 2012
Month of madness!
It has been a time of craziness here in the Falklands, where to start...
It was my birthday last month, necessitating a small celebration befitting of my age group. I had a lovely quiet day, being serenaded by the Mums at playgroup in the morning, friends over for cake in the afternoon and my dinner cooked by Big Man in the evening.
That week I fitted in a cheeky trip to Whale Point, where I have been once before when Grandma was visiting. It is only a few miles beyond a nearby farm but without road or any other amenity to speak of. There is a colony of elephant seals, gentoo penguins and shipwreck of the St Mary hosting night herons. This time was different though as I drove our Defender off-road myself! Apart from a couple of worryingly steep banks and a minor fuel scare (administrative oversight) it went off fabulously well. Not quite as epic as the trip to Paloma beach with the Conservation Group, when I rode in with another army wife and we drove to what seemed like the edge of the earth. Her blog is an interesting read and is at:
http://www.candis.co.uk/candis-online/blogs/my-life-in-a-box
Enter 'Broccoli-Gate'. As you may recall from my previous posts, fresh produce is scarce here. The standard fayre in our shop is carrots, potatoes and onions, in varying states of bendyness. The powers-that-be, in consultation with the families, told us at our regular meeting that they would spice it up a bit and, when feasible, order in a few new things. Cue ripples of excitement through the room. The next week the toys were flung angrily out of the pram when it was alleged that one family had taken way more than their fair share of broccoli, leaving most people without. The shame! I finally got my hands on a head of broccoli and a pineapple the next delivery and must stress how much you taste the difference after so long eating only frozen or tinned.
The weather has been a massive disappointment. After a hot and sunny December, the last fortnight has been cold, windy, with occasional hail and horrendous wind storms. Because of this, my courgette plant, which was doing so well in the polytunnel has now retreated into itself and is threatening to give up unless the sun comes out again. Don't blame it. Rita is moulting too.
As you will have read, HRH the Duke of Cambridge is now on base and busy flying helicopters about. I managed to bump into him at the beach, so to speak, and can confirm that he is as tall as he looks on telly, is very polite, but alas, is not here to socialise with the likes of us commoners. Well that is how low key his presence is here but the Argentinians have been rattling their cage ever since! On Friday their Foreign Minister gave a long (and tedious) presentation to the UN in New York, making out that Britain was increasing the military capability in the South Atlantic to an excessive level, bringing in warships (never mind that it was on a like-for-like basis), nuclear submarines (not sure if there is proof of that) and whizzing Typhoons about all over the place. Basically it was a rather feeble attempt to make Britain look like the bad guy, although I will admit at least it was aimed at opening negotiations like grown ups. Makes a change.
This Saturday we stayed on base and watched a few wretched fools pull a Hercules (big, heavy, large, weighs a lot, etc) 1 km along the runway for charity. Well, I think it is fair to say it was harder than they anticipated. After a nice rolling start they soon started to bunch up and lose rhythm and after only 100 m it wasn't looking good. Drinks breaks seemed to become more and more frequent and shouts became more and more desperate, til we all wondered if they would give up. But no, they fought on with burning arms and burning legs and managed to pull the plane over the line. Still took over an hour mind. More details at: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=Herculespull
In a similar vein Him Indoors has finished collecting in the money for his charity tab and managed to reach the target of £2,000, so thank you to everyone who sponsored them. And his feet are mostly better now I think you are all massively relieved to know.
That's it from us to date. Toodle pip.
It was my birthday last month, necessitating a small celebration befitting of my age group. I had a lovely quiet day, being serenaded by the Mums at playgroup in the morning, friends over for cake in the afternoon and my dinner cooked by Big Man in the evening.
That week I fitted in a cheeky trip to Whale Point, where I have been once before when Grandma was visiting. It is only a few miles beyond a nearby farm but without road or any other amenity to speak of. There is a colony of elephant seals, gentoo penguins and shipwreck of the St Mary hosting night herons. This time was different though as I drove our Defender off-road myself! Apart from a couple of worryingly steep banks and a minor fuel scare (administrative oversight) it went off fabulously well. Not quite as epic as the trip to Paloma beach with the Conservation Group, when I rode in with another army wife and we drove to what seemed like the edge of the earth. Her blog is an interesting read and is at:
http://www.candis.co.uk/candis-online/blogs/my-life-in-a-box
Enter 'Broccoli-Gate'. As you may recall from my previous posts, fresh produce is scarce here. The standard fayre in our shop is carrots, potatoes and onions, in varying states of bendyness. The powers-that-be, in consultation with the families, told us at our regular meeting that they would spice it up a bit and, when feasible, order in a few new things. Cue ripples of excitement through the room. The next week the toys were flung angrily out of the pram when it was alleged that one family had taken way more than their fair share of broccoli, leaving most people without. The shame! I finally got my hands on a head of broccoli and a pineapple the next delivery and must stress how much you taste the difference after so long eating only frozen or tinned.
The weather has been a massive disappointment. After a hot and sunny December, the last fortnight has been cold, windy, with occasional hail and horrendous wind storms. Because of this, my courgette plant, which was doing so well in the polytunnel has now retreated into itself and is threatening to give up unless the sun comes out again. Don't blame it. Rita is moulting too.
As you will have read, HRH the Duke of Cambridge is now on base and busy flying helicopters about. I managed to bump into him at the beach, so to speak, and can confirm that he is as tall as he looks on telly, is very polite, but alas, is not here to socialise with the likes of us commoners. Well that is how low key his presence is here but the Argentinians have been rattling their cage ever since! On Friday their Foreign Minister gave a long (and tedious) presentation to the UN in New York, making out that Britain was increasing the military capability in the South Atlantic to an excessive level, bringing in warships (never mind that it was on a like-for-like basis), nuclear submarines (not sure if there is proof of that) and whizzing Typhoons about all over the place. Basically it was a rather feeble attempt to make Britain look like the bad guy, although I will admit at least it was aimed at opening negotiations like grown ups. Makes a change.
This Saturday we stayed on base and watched a few wretched fools pull a Hercules (big, heavy, large, weighs a lot, etc) 1 km along the runway for charity. Well, I think it is fair to say it was harder than they anticipated. After a nice rolling start they soon started to bunch up and lose rhythm and after only 100 m it wasn't looking good. Drinks breaks seemed to become more and more frequent and shouts became more and more desperate, til we all wondered if they would give up. But no, they fought on with burning arms and burning legs and managed to pull the plane over the line. Still took over an hour mind. More details at: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=Herculespull
In a similar vein Him Indoors has finished collecting in the money for his charity tab and managed to reach the target of £2,000, so thank you to everyone who sponsored them. And his feet are mostly better now I think you are all massively relieved to know.
That's it from us to date. Toodle pip.
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