Page 2 of Michael Theobalds Travel Blog Posts


Oceans and Seas » Atlantic » Saint Helena August 30th 2012

More from Di ... Why on earth would anyone want to throw tennis balls onto our roof, or at least that’s what it sounds like? As I stir from my sleep I glance at the bedside clock and find it’s 7.30am and I realise, of course, that it’s the roof of the house expanding as the warmth of the sun strikes it’s surface. All the roofs are made of corrugated metal, some green, some pink but most are brown, I guess shipping slate isn’t feasible and so it features regardless of how ‘grand’ your house may be. Now I don’t want you to get the impression that we are basking in glorious tropical sunshine here, far from it. The days start in much the same way at this time of the year. The weather in ‘Scruffy ... read more
Painting at Julie's SH
Nosey neighbours!
To park or not to park?

Oceans and Seas » Atlantic » Saint Helena August 21st 2012

Words from Di (you may be lucky and get two blogs this week if Michael gets time to do one). I’m beginning to get into the swing of life on the island – still waving and saying ‘Hello’ to everyone of course, if you don't the islanders say "Bad Manners"! (Standing at Donny’s bar on Friday we were told we should have been there earlier as the whales were close to harbour and ‘leaping’ – shame we weren’t!) The winter rain has persisted over the last week unfortunately limiting activities, except for some sunny intervals over the last few days. On Saturday a group of us obtained the key for the Fort (you go to the tourist office and ask for the key and take it back when you have finished, paying £2 each (if you’re ... read more
Prince Andrew School St Helena

Oceans and Seas » Atlantic » Saint Helena August 12th 2012

Forgive my intrusion into M's space but he is quietly snoozing after a hectic last week at Harford School while I take on the blog! (I will not attempt to match his writing style so please forgive my clumsy efforts). Despite leaving the UK on the Friday the Olympics started, Heathrow T5 was remarkably quiet – I guess all who were coming to the UK had already arrived! The journey to Cape Town was uneventful except for a slight flight delay caused by a malfunctioning air con unit on the plane and a passenger who decided to leave the flight at the last minute! Having settled into my very comfortable hotel in CT the V & A wharf beckoned. This development is a pleasant spot on the sea front in CT with music, restaurants and shops, ... read more

Oceans and Seas » Atlantic » Saint Helena July 21st 2012

Home thoughts from abroad My apologies, dear readers, for the delay in composing this latest blog entry. The reason for the delay – well a whole range of small things, really. Partly, it will be that the adrenalin flow of doing something extraordinary in a far distant place tends to reduce. In the main, life is as ordinary and everyday here as it would be anywhere – it just feels like 50 years ago which is pretty extraordinary in its own way. There is plenty to record at a mundane level – how wonderful at this phase of life to meet so many new and interesting people, all whom have a tale to tell and a life story to retell. Well, let’s get the news out of the way. Firstly, Wahoo has not returned home but ... read more

Oceans and Seas » Atlantic » Saint Helena June 24th 2012

Did the Vikings discover St Helena? Your correspondent from the South Atlantic has had to buckle down to some serious work and energy levels have prevented me from undertaking any adventurous activities this week. First, to answer some questions that will have been at the front of your collective minds: The disappearing cat was sighted once again (I think) as a Wahoo-coloured creature paced past the patio window again. No sign that the animal recognized ‘chez-nous’ as his second home. If, as I think it is, it is Wahoo then he has clearly either gone feral and is using the grounds as part of his hunting ground or, perhaps, someone else has fallen for his neutered but still masculine charms and is being fed elsewhere. Despite some robust responses from some of this blog’s female readership, ... read more

Oceans and Seas » Atlantic » Saint Helena June 16th 2012

Top 3 Top Story Now, from the news of the week on St Helena what is it that would be most engrossing to the international readership of this blog? Clearly, news of the disappearing cat will be of interest to you animal lovers out there. On Tuesday, during a particularly blustery and wet evening a feline shadow, with markings very similar to those of Wahoo, paced past the window, and then was gone into the darkness of the night. I waited for the familiar shrill cry, but nothing. I waited for his return – there was none. Not only did the wretched cat not return, he didn’t so much as glance into the window seeking out his erstwhile friend (perhaps, I’m over-stating that) or even some kind of recognition that this had been his temporary home. ... read more

Oceans and Seas » Atlantic » Saint Helena June 5th 2012

The Lot’s Wife’s Sanction What a full and interesting week in St Helena. Those of you still waiting to hear of my professional work will, I’m afraid, have to remain frustrated as I am sworn to secrecy …. So you will have to suffice with my diary of events since I last communicated via the blog. Firstly the tale of the disappearing felix – Wahoo has been and gone on several occasions – each time returning with his snarl and demand for food before retreating into the wilderness of New Ground. It is now Tuesday and I haven’t seen him since last Thursday – I trust that he is safe and will return at some stage. The ‘Lost’ notice has been placed once again on his owner’s house and the local vet has been informed. I ... read more

Oceans and Seas » Atlantic » Saint Helena May 28th 2012

The Mystery of the Disappearing Cat Those of you with a literary bent with a particular knowledge of mid-20th century children’s fiction will have noticed that I have nicked the title of this blog entry from the title of one of Enid Blyton’s Five Find-Outers series of stories. Sometimes I feel that I’m in the middle of someone else’s story with me cast as a bit of flotsam in a tale of torment. Let me start at the beginning. Several weeks ago I admired Owen’s cat that was preening itself in the sun – handsome animal. Owen’s response was something like ‘You can have him if you like’ as Wahoo (the cat’s name) was the last of an enormous number of feline waifs, strays and kittens acquired over the previous year. No, the rest hadn’t been ... read more

Oceans and Seas » Atlantic » Saint Helena May 19th 2012

Slow, slow, quick, quick ….. Back in the olden days when everything, of course, was in black and white my friend Bob Withey and I decided to join a ballroom dancing school that was running a series of classes over the Easter holidays. We had no interest in dancing and no idea what it really entailed. The theory was that ballroom dancing classes were an excellent way to meet girls. Haven’t you always found that there is a significant gap between theory and practice when things social and personal are involved? Well, we signed up for the class at the front office and then stumbled in our boyish way into the dance hall. Blimey, strike me down with a fever – girls? The hall was full of them – about 30 all told – and just ... read more

Oceans and Seas » Atlantic » Saint Helena May 13th 2012

True or False 1. The death of Napoleon I seem to remember that, in my youth, there was a television programme (yes, such things did exist in my youth – although on a black and white screen that would sporadically disappear upwards on a never ending cycle) that had as its tag line the following ‘the following story is true, only the names have been changed to protect the innocent’. Well, the tag line of this blog entry might have been ‘the following is true, only the facts have been changed ….’ So, some strange and unusual things about St Helena – you will have to decide which are true. Some have claimed that the term ‘bogeyman’ derives from the time of Napoleon Bonaparte. Although this charming little ditty seems to suggest that parents weren’t unhappy ... read more




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