Island Holidays Blog

Back in St Helena

I've only got 5 minutes on this internet access, so this is a quick one to let you know that we've arrived safely on the wonderful island of St Helena in the middle of the South Atlantic ocean, where it's hot and humid but wonderful.  There was a lovely welcome from lots of people - it almost feels like coming home!

My time in South Africa (only Cape Town this time) was wonderful as always and I was able to catch up with a few friends in the couple of days before the clients arrived.   It's an amazing city, although one is very aware of the undertones created by the problems facing South Africa at this time.

The journey on the Royal Mail Ship was as good as ever - lots of interesting people and a flat calm crossing!

I'll try to get back to this soon but meanwhile just wanted to touch base with you all out there and let you know that all's well and I'm thoroughly enjoying being back on the island with more lovely clients.  We've all got a love of islands in common and that's a great thing to share.

Kyaking in the Arctic

You know I love working with Oceanwide Expeditions who operate our expedition cruises around the Scottish Islands, in Antarctica and in the Arctic.   But sometimes they do drive me dotty!   I got an email yesterday telling me about a new opportunity to go kyaking in the Arctic in August.  Now if they'd told me that earlier we could have put it in our newsletter but by the time the next one goes out it will be too late.   I'll try to get the info posted on the website but that's a bit of a problem on account of the fact that I leave for South Africa on Monday and have a million and one things to do before I go.

I've only tried kyaking once and I loved it.  It was in the Galapagos and I went out with a fellow-passenger who was very experienced in the art and who taught me the basics which I took to like a fish to water!   Since then the opportunity simply hasn't arisen.   Much as I'd love to nip up to Longyearbyen and paddle around with the possibility of close encounters with polar bears and walrus and so on,  the voyage starts the day after the Bird Fair finishes which means I'd have to miss the last day at Rutland.  That can't happen as that's the day that the draw will be made to find out who has won two places on our 21st birthday expedition cruise around the Scottish Islands in 2009.   (By the way - tickets are £10 each and proceeds will go to the BirdFair Project.) 

Now if you aren't going to be at the Bird Fair and fancy kyaking in Spitsbergen, give us a call and we'll let you have the details.  I've got to work out the prices - it's all in euros - but hope to have that done before I leave on Monday.

The trip will take me to Cape Town and then on the Royal Mail Ship to St Helena where we stop for just over a week before continuing to Ascension Island.  As I may have mentioned before (probably ad nauseum)  I really love this trip and I'm looking forward to it.  But much remains to be done before I leave so I'd bet stop blogging!

Old folk

There is no end to the inspiration to be had from some of the old folk I am privileged to know.   Dik, who owns the cottage I stayed in on Islay and who lives in Holland most of the time (being Dutch), is now 94.  He can't go to St Helena in October but is planning to do so next year!   Wonderful.   

Y esterday a friend and near neighbour had her 85th birthday and we went out for lunch, preceded by a wee drive around Loch Earn which was looking lovely, absolutely calm and reflecting the snow-smattered landscape on its shores (sorry - didn't take photo so am using this one taken in the summer).  As we drove she told me (again!) about her time as a Land Girl during the war.  She's hoping to get a medal but the phone line which she had to ring to apply confused her too much with all its options and musack playing while she held on paying for a call she couldn't rightly afford anyway.  She gave up.   So that's a job for me tomorrow.  These phone lines drive me mad but for older people they must be a complete nightmare.

On the subject of birthdays, that wonderful wildlife artist John Busby had his 80th yesterday.  When he popped in to visit on New Year's Eve I was amazed to be told of the imminent birthday.  John neither looks nor acts a day over 65.

Today it's the turn of a wonderful lady of 94 who spent Christmas with me and who so enjoys going out for lunch, so that's what we'll do.   I wanted to see her before I leave in a couple of weeks for a month.  She's wonderful and found breaking her arm in a wee fall in her house in November "inconvenient"! 

All these people are real examples of how positive attitudes, interest in everything and everyone and a complete lack of self-centred-ness can lead to a good life, even in the face of the restrictions which age inevitably brings.   God bless them all.