Signing off from the Falklands ...

Well that's it, we are going offline on Thursday ready for our journey back to the UK and onwards after that. It has been a good posting here in the South Atlantic and we have enjoyed lots of aspects of it, like having family time, relaxed pace of life and small community. But I would not be easily persuaded to come and live here for good, the wind is simply exhausting and the lack of stimulation can be a bit strange at times. Plus the distance from friends and family can make a person feel a little excluded from their loved ones.

One of the last trips around the islands was to Saunders Island at the weekend with Grandma where we saw 3 species of penguin, black-browed albatrosses and lots of other bird life. Now I feel I can say I have been everywhere I want to see here. Been there, got the t-shirt, big tick! So in the words of Mr Tumble, it's time to say TTFN, ta-ra, bye bye, arrivederci!

Last chance saloon

Our penultimate month here in the South Atlantic and we have been hastily trying to see the remaining places on the visit wish list. So we have been to Stanley as a family for one last time and photographed all the iconic tourist attractions that line the road into town. Some of them are inserted below to give you an idea of a typical trip to the capital for us and thereby thoughtfully saving you the expense and hassle of a flight out here!

Sunrise before setting off, light glinting on the Land Rover roof.

Roadworks, Falkland style. Hard to imagine another country where the main highway between the international airport and capital is gravel with pot-holes.

Minefield sign showing one of the many minefields still lining the main route

Boot Hill, a ritual whereby I believe people leave a boot on a stick as a memento of their stay.

Totem pole showing lots of varied destinations and the distance.

A taste of Yorkshire as you reach the top of the hill.

Not sure I will miss the 35 mile drive as it is the noisiest, bumpiest most dangerous thing in our aged Defender but perhaps next time I am stuck in a traffic jam I might look back fondly on the days when the only impediments were sheep!

The craft fair last weekend was a success, we raised over £100 for the new polytunnel cover, which has now arrived and waiting installation, I have already handed over coordination of the venture, which is a nice relief. I was interviewed for FITV at the fair, which was a bizarre experience to say the least. Some young lad turned up with a small camera, panned about a bit, asked me if I would talk about the event, but with no pressure, adding 'nobody watched it anyway'!!!

Today we have been to Volunteer Point so I could finally see the fluffy brown baby king penguins.

It was a good day out apart from woozles needing use of a paper bag en route after some unnecessary aerial acrobatics in the helicopter. Still, 13 degrees and only a breeze meant the weather couldn't have been better for the time of year so at least there was no complaining about the cold wind.

The next blog entry may well be the last one from the Falkland Islands and then we will begin our new adventure in the tropics (need to check if Brunei is south of the equator but pretty sure it is!).