Island Holidays Blog

Good to meet

You might find this hard to believe but, until yesterday, I'd never clapped eyes on the man who designs and runs my website!   So you can imagine how delighted I was to hear that Rich was to be in Edinburgh this week (playing tourists) and that we were able to arrange to meet for lunch.

We went to a lovely little Bistro in Edinburgh's Grassmarket called The Lot which donates all its surplus funds to charity.  And the food was simple but good with lots of Fair Trade stuff around.   Rich's partner, Nicole, was with him and we had a very jolly time with much laughter.   Wouldn't it have been awful if we'd taken an instant dislike to each other?!!!!

We were talking about Facebook at Twitter and I was absolutely delighted that a teckie like Rich doesn't have a Facebook page and doesn't Twitter.   We really are like-minded in many ways.   Certainly more and more of our clients are into technology but there are still a lot who prefer the old fashioned ways.  And there's absolutely no question that you can't beat eyeball contact.   This new way of having "virtual friends" somehow misses the point.

Anyway, it's that time of year when I'm working on the programme for next year, Karon's on holiday and the pressure is on.  It's also a "running day" for the Comrie Railroad so all the steam buffs are here and there is much cooking and fun.  As for the housework ........

Airport for St Helena

Just as we thought the airport would never happen, the Government have announced that it will.   Again.  Not that anyone's holding their breath.  What is breath-taking is the amount of tax payers' money has been (and probably will be) spent on consultants and tenders and all the other stuff which has already been done.

The rights and wrongs of an airport are debatable and it is certainly wonderful for the visitor to go to an island which has no air connection and is completely unspoilt.  But if you're an islander and can't get work or can't afford to see your grandchildren who live in the UK or wherever it's a different matter.   All this poor wee tour operator can say is "make up your minds, stick to it and for goodness sake save money on consultants whose reports are not heeded".   The other thing, of course, if you want to see the island as it is is to hurry and book!!!

Fabulous Faroes

If you want to be popular in the Faroe Islands tell them you're Scottish.   That's because the Faroese beat the Scots at football a few years back and have never forgotten it (nor allowed us to).  Mind you, considering how football mad they are, I was surprised not to see more coverage of the World Cup while I was there last week.   But we had better things to do.   The islands were their usual selves - glorious warm sunshine one day, force 11 gale with lashing rain the next.  In fact our last full day was so bad everyone loved it - the water tumbled off the mountains in spectacular waterfalls and any thoughts of a walk quickly evaporated.   I think they call it a "go out and die day" in the Faroe Islands.

Now if any one knows of a Danish-speaking (or even Faroese) student who would like to do a PhD on the archives on the island of Suduroy please get in touch.  Their National Museum can't help but there is masses of material which doesn't even have fire protection.  It really needs to be studied and catalogued and recorded but there's no money.

It was such a good trip - 12 clients and me and our local guides - and everyone seemed to have enjoyed themselves thoroughly.   I know I did.  We're already planning next year's visit and details will soon be available.   Meanwhile Rich is working on our new website - the old one is still up and running but will soon be replaced - hopefully by the middle of next month. It's a lot of work and he does it so well.   Cuba is already filling up for next March - another popular destination - and we've still got space on our Falklands and St Helena trips in January.

This will be the first year that I've not produced a brochure and it's bliss!  I was able to go to Spitsbergen and the Faroes at a time of year that I've been tied to my desk for years and years and years.  Such freedom.   Not that there isn't lots going on - our newsletter has to be out by the Bird Fair and there are also some new exhibition panels to be dreamt up plus all next year's tours to be sorted out and costed.  But it's less pressured this way.   Having said that, it still takes a lot of time so I'd better get on.  

How to avoid grief and aggravation!

If you're anything like me, you'd love travelling if it wasn't for luggage!   I've got a dream about being really rich so that everything I needed would be laid out in my hotel room when I arrived - walking boots, clothes, toiletries, swimming togs, reading material - everything.

Now, I've just got back from a brilliant expedition voyage from Oban to Spitsbergen via St Kilda, Torshavn and Jan Meyen during which I met a lovely lady who told me of a service of which I'd previously been unaware.  It's called First Luggage and the deal is that they collect your check-in bags from your home and deliver them to wherever it is you're going (in this case on to the ship in Oban).  Then at the end of the trip you simply leave the bag(s) at an appointed place (in the port/airport or leave it at your hotel) and, lo and behold, it's delivered to your doorstep shortly after you get home.  Is that brilliant or what?   OK, it doesn't come cheap.  I checked out their website this morning to see what it would cost me to have my luggage transported to South Africa and the cost was quoted at £300.   Quite a chunk of money but, on the other hand, if you're spending a lot on a holiday why not spoil yourself and take away all the check in queues and hassle, to say nothing of simply walking away from the flight without the drudgery of baggage reclaim.  I've put a link to their website so check it out.  And no - there's nothing in it for me!!!!

Simply to mention casually that I went on the trip is to demean what was a fabulous experience on the new expedition ship Plancius.   The only disappointment was that we didn't see Polar Bears, unless you count a tiny and very beatiful cub on an ice pack.  Trouble is it was dead.  There wasn't a dry eye in the house.  But we saw three Blue Whales (the largest animal in the world) plus lots of Fin Whales (the second largest, but not even a close second), Orca and much more.   For me the highlight was when we stopped to visit a Walrus colony and, behind us on a small lake, were three Grey Phalarope in full breeding plumage.  They were real crackers.   I just love being at sea, so the voyage suited me down to the ground.  The ship was really comfortable too.  There were lots of lectures to keep us entertained on "sea days" and the expedition staff put on a brilliantly funny version of "Call my Bluff" called "Arctic Bluff".  We had a quiz as well - all good clean fun and not a posh frock in sight (which is one of the many things which makes me careful to see that I've been on an expedition voyage, not a cruise!).

Habit

You know how I was off message for quite a while?  Well, it's far too easy to break the habit and, between then and now, I've simply forgotten to do a blog!   Too many other things on my mind I guess.   It's been all go at the office today - a new front door (the old one was rotten), a new posh post box attached to the outside wall near the door and the place is getting painted and decorated - the new door is being primed as we speak.   All this activity and I've got Mango back as well.  Did I tell you about Mango?  She's an adorable black and white springer spaniel, very like my old Toby was but half the size and a bit timid.   Her favourite thing in the world is playing ball and you've never seen an animal move so fast!  At the moment she's curled up under my desk sound asleep (lucky dog!).  Not that I want to be curled up under my desk, but the sleep bit sounds good.

I've had a last minute invitation to join the new expedition ship, Plancius, on her voyage from Oban on the West coast of Scotland to Svalbard (Spitsbergen) in 10 days' time.   The journey takes us via St Kilda, the Faroe Islands and Jan Mayen and it should be absolutely fanastic.   The only downside is that the timetable to get ready for the Bird Fair in August has been shot to pieces.   Not to worry.   I've got a trip to the Faroes at the beginning of July (leaving on my birthday!) with a full group which should be super.  I do love that place, not least its people.   Then in August it's the British Birdwatching Fair at Rutland Water - and this will be the last time I exhibit there for reasons which will be apparent - no, we're not closing Island Holidays - far from it!   September will find me heading off to the Azores on a new itinerary which includes the remote islands of Flores and Corvo, not visited by the majority of people who get as far as The Azores.  Yes, there ARE still a few places left and I can't recommend the tour highly enough.  It's special.

The last thing to tell you about is what will be a trip of a lifetime - again on board the Plancius - starting
in Ushuaia on the southern tip of South America and going to the Falkland Islands (where Island Holidays' first ever tour went in 1988), South Georgia (one of my dream destinations) and the Antarctic Peninsula.  Excited?   You bet!  Again there are places available - check out our website for full details.  There's a 20% reduction on published prices and you'll never get an opportunity like this again.   All that and the pleasure of my company!!!!!

Well, that's you up to date.  I'm going to be very naughty later this afternoon and sneak off to watch Andy Murray play his second round match at the Paris Open.  The first round was a 4-hour marathon of serioulsy high quality play from both Murray and Gasquet.   I do love the tennis.   Maddening that I'll miss the Wimbledon finals because of being in the Faroes but I guess you can't have everything.

Sorry for silence

Hello everyone.  So sorry for the long silence.  It's all because I hate technology.  TypePad (who I used to provide the service to write this blog) changed the way of getting into the site and I couldn't work it out.  I sent them several emails asking for help, all of which were totally ignored.   Eventually I got in touch with my mate Neil Maclean who set up the thing in the first place and who kindly indulged my stupidity and got me on the right track.  Thanks Neil.  Actually Neil and I go back a long time to the days when he was a travel and food writer (of the top class variety) and I was a PR consultant specialising in tourism and food. It's good to keep in touch, albeit seldom these days as he's really busy with his exciting new business using the latest technology as a PR tool.

Talking of old chums, I tootled down to Oban (a mere 70 miles) to have lunch with Ko de Korte who is one of the original expedition cruise people.  He's now with Oceanwide Expeditions and was over from Holland for a couple of business meetings (Oban is one of the ports Oceanwide uses).  It was a pleasure to see him and to discuss future plans which could  be rather exciting.  I'll keep you posted.

Other news is that we're redesigning the Island Holidays website to reflect a new approach which is being introduced gradually.  Watch this space.  And now I'd better go off and vote.  No, I'm not going to tell.  Suffice it to say that I'll go with a person who I know and trust and who has a proven track record.  But I do believe it's important to exercise the right to vote: speaking as a woman, I have to say that others of my ilk died to enfrancise the likes of me and it would be positively criminal to walk away just because politics is rubbish!

Talk again soon - promise!

Shetland

Have you been watching Simon King's Shetland Diaries on BBC2 (Thursdays, 8 pm).  It's fabulous!   As someone who has spent a lot of time on the islands it's been a real trip down memory lane.  Before Island Holidays existed I was a PR consultant and Shetland Tourist Organisation (as VisitShetland was then known)  was one of my biggest clients.   In fact, it was because of that that I met Bobby Tulloch and we set up Island Holidays together back in 1987/88. 

Every time I go back to Shetland a bit of me wishes that I had taken the plunge and gone there to live. At the time I decided I'd rather be a welcome visitor than a "white settler" (which is probably frighteningly incorrect politically!).  I guess we all wonder "what if?" of various major decisions in our lives.

Anyway, if you're watching Simon King's series and are tempted by the sheer beauty of these wonderful islands which have Britain's most northerly everything, you'll be pleased to know that we've made getting there and seeing the very best of it possible with two of our holidays.   Both go in June to coincide with the peak of the seabird breeding season.  The first is linked with a visit to Orkney and is very much a  birding holiday with stays at the famous North Ronaldsay and Fair Isle Observatories in Orkney and Shetland respectively, as well as a stay visits to Unst and Fetlar (tick those Red-necked Phalarope!). 

The second tour is stand-alone Shetland offering the opportunity for a more in-depth look at these wonderful islands including their built as well as natural heritage.  We visit the famous archaeological site of Jarlshof and the nearby seabird colony, take a boat trip round the National Nature Reserve island of Noss with its dramatic cliffs and vast Gannet colony (Bobby used to describe Noss and Hermaness as "Sea Bird Cities").  We'll go out to the fabulous broch on Mousa as the short darkness falls to see the Storm Petrels changing nesting duties.  All in all, you'll get a really good feel of what these most beautiful and fascinating islands have to offer.

With all the publicity from Simon King's programmes we're expecting these tours to fill quickly so, if you want to sign up, get in touch with us as soon as you can.

Back home

What a month it's been.  As I told you from St Helena, internet access has been intermittent at best and non-existent most of the time.  I have to say, it's been extremely pleasurable.  You don't realise just how much pressure this constant communication requirement puts on you until you can't do it and the stress rolls away.  I haven't heard any news (except for the tragedy in Haiti, God bless them) for a month and don't feel in the least deprived.  I'll bet you nothing has changed. 

Ascension, St Helena and the Royal Mail Ship were terrific as always.  Being so familiar with the islands and the ship makes everything so easy and it's almost beginning to feel like going home.  This time we finished up in Namibia instead of South Africa and that was a novelty.  Some of the group joined me and Patrick Cardwell from Avian Leisure (based in Cape Town) for a few nights up the Skeleton Coast.  The desert was mind bogglingly beautiful and we discovered that there's life there in spite of it looking so hostile.  Everything adapts incredibly well - for instance a beetle which basically stands on its head so that the moisture in the nightly fog rolls down its back and into its mouth.  Amazing.  There's a lizard which is transluscent and lives deep in the sand during the day - it would die within minutes if exposed to the sun.  All that and much more - the most fascinating environment.

 All the clients really loved the experience and I've got a feeling might be signing up for our Namibia tour in September (which I need to get up on the website soonish - watch this space!).

I'll tell you more in a couple of days - I'm writing this at Heathrow and my flight's about to be called.

Cheerio for now.

Libby

Back on St Helena

Sorry there's been such a long silence.  For a kick off we were delayed by 48 hours because of the snow and blogging was the last thing on my mind as I tried to make all sorts of scenarios to be prepared for any eventualities.   We were eventually bussed from Brize Norton to Birmingham where the incoming flight had landed - driving through glorious snow-bedecked Cotswold villages - and landed in Ascension Island two days late.   There was no internet access there for various reasons and there never is any on the Royal Mail Ship.  Now I'm on St Helena and the tour has gone really well, but with internet access costing £6 per hour, forgive me if this is simply a touch base.

Sailing tomorrow for Namibia and goodness knows when I'll get a chance to bring you up to date on what has been another brilliant trip.  There's something very special about the South Atlantic.

Talk to you again soon.

Libby

White Christmas

We were very lucky up here in Perthshire - enough snow for a white Christmas but not so much as to make it difficult to get around.  That was until during the night on Boxing Day (Saturday night) when it dumped about 4 inches (I still can't get my head round centimetres!) on top of ice.  And it's freezing again.  Very beautiful with the sun shining, but the roads are awful.  It's probably OK when you get to the main road but that's the challenge - especially the very pretty hump back bridge which you cross to get there.  We once had a party for that bridge to celebrate its 200th anniversary.  Great fun.  Now that's going back a few years ......

One of the disappointments caused by the snow was that the "steam up" on the Comrie Railroad which, for those of you new to this blog, runs past my back door through the woods had to be cancelled 'cos nobody could get here.  Not quite true:  some folk made it from Oban but it wasn't the big event it usually is.  Thank goodness I'd decided against having a party this year - what I'd have done with lunch for 100 people doesn't bear thinking about.

So today it's back to work in a desultory way.  Karon's got another week off - she'll be back a week tomorrow and then I go off to St Helena the next day.  Talk about ships that pass in the night!  I just hope this snow has gone by then.