Sunday 18^th

A lazy day due to the weather (wind and lots of rain).  We keep being reassured that the weather is unseasonably bad and that it isn’t normally like this.  Apparently there is fine weather to come with temperature reaching 22c! 

HMS Dragon had left by the time we woke up, having set sail during the night so there was an empty space where we hadn’t expected it.  We decided to brave the weather to go to the sand dunes again.  It was still wild and windy there which cut short our trip. 

Driving

Apparently most of the children in Camp can drive reasonably well by the time they are 10.  The girls met some children at the Thatcher reception who were talking about their driving skills.  Maya has been pestering us since then. 

We caved in on Sunday at the dunes and gave Maya her first go behind the wheel.  She enjoyed it a lot.  Her aim is to be able to drive properly before we go back to the UK.  We may have to explain that driving a land rover off road isn’t the same as driving a small car on the road in the UK.

Monday 19^th

Government House

Our first reception at Government House hosted by the Governor.  I squeezed into my one good dress again, and made myself presentable.  It was a reception to encourage scientific collaboration between organisations here and in South America.  There were some fascinating people there.  It was good to be able to say hello to some familiar ones too. 

The House itself is beautiful.  Inside there are many, many photos and portraits of the Royal Family.  My favourite part is the glasshouse which runs along the front of the house.  It’s like a very miniature version of the Palm House at Kew and probably it’s contemporary looking at the design of it (although it’s technically a lean to).  It was just marvellous to walk into a humid, earthy smelling green environment. 

Tuesday 20^th

We went swimming and spent 2 hours there.  I asked if I could leave the girls in the pool while I got out.  Apparently as they are both over 10, they can take themselves there whenever they want.  So I left them there!

I walked home alone and left the girls to follow whenever they felt like it.  The freedom children have here is wonderful.  Later on in the evening, they decided to go for a run along the shore.  Matt and I went to the supermarket while they went out for an hour.  The girls are loving the freedom they have and regularly take themselves off.  Can’t wait until the container arrives and they have their bikes.

We met the Governor at the supermarket doing a quick shop.  We had a chat and then carried on shopping.  His dog was sat in his car waiting for him.  It’s the most beautiful Welsh Springer Spaniel I have ever seen.  We are missing Pippin terribly.

Wednesday 21^st Jan

Summer

Summer has arrived.  Shorts have been donned.  Longs will be donned before going to the beach though as the wind still whips the sand about.  We went to Surf Bay and there were people playing in the sea!  It was positively hot in the shelter of the dunes.  So this is what people have been talking about.  Summer does happen here.

It’s like that awful American song ‘Hello Mudda, Hello Fadda’ The rain has stopped and suddenly all the children are out playing on the street.  We went around for coffee at a neighbour’s this morning (someone we met at the reception on Monday Eve) and our kids seem to have hit it off.  They were called for this afternoon and I’ve only seen them to dispense glasses of squash.

Anniversary of British Possession

Wednesday 21 January 2015 - marks the 250th anniversary of the British possession of the Falkland Islands. Although there were earlier sightings and landings by British and other explorers, it was on 21 January 1765 that Commodore Byron landed on Saunders Island, off West Falkland, and claimed the archipelago for the British crown. – Quoted from the F.I. Association.

There are flags EVERYWHERE.  There is a house in the middle of Stanley with a Union flag painted on the roof.  It covers the whole roof.  There is a curious tug between Britishness and being a Falkland Islander.  Stanley is surprisingly multicultural with a mix of St Helenian, Chilean, Brits and native Falkland Islanders.  For the most part, the majority of the long term population are proud to be British but prouder to Falkland Islanders.  There is a little resentment that bubbles away about contract workers who come over for a couple of years.  I haven’t encountered it but I know it exists.

There will be celebrations happening all over the place during the week, I’m sure we’ll be celebrating at at least one of them.