Blogs from Saint Helena, Atlantic, Oceans and Seas - page 2

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

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

Dear Family and Friends. We arrived at St. Helena Island on Tuesday morning 24. July after 13 days at sea.Lots of wind, high seas and no wind brought us here safely. We plan to stay 10 days before leaving for Brazil. This remote place makes us feel at home, because we have been here before. Celebrated the first leg of our world cruise with local people, called Saints, in a traditional pub.... read more

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

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

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

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

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

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