Well here I am, back on St Helena and loving it. I've got 12 delightful, interesting and interested clients with me and we're having a terrific time. Now, just before 6 o'clock, I'm sitting at the desk in my room with the windows wide open and listening to the Myna birds settling down to roost and making a heck of a racket. It seems that every time I come back there are more and more of them - and it's not a Good Thing. For a start, they predate the critically endangered Wirebird (which we're going to study tomorrow) and, besides that, the pestilence is a bit on the scale of pigeons in Trafalgar Square.
This afternoon we were shown round Plantation House, the official residence of His Excellency the Governor. The building was originally constructed as the headquarters for the East India Company and the plantation supplied the needs of the massive garrisons based here when over 1,000 ships a year called at the island. In the grounds you will find Jonathan, a Giant Tortoise from the Seychelles who was given to one of the Governors something like 100 years ago, give or take (forgive me - the actual date and age of the animal escapes me at the moment and, with WiFi Access £6 for an hour I really can't check it out!).
We've had an amazing 10 days, starting at RAF Brize Norton where we took a flight to Ascension Island. It should be pointed out that civilians are known as "self loading freight"!!! We had two nights on Ascension and managed to see a little of this superficially hostile environment which reveals more and more hidden delights the longer you stay. Then it was on to the Royal Mail Ship for the 3-night journey to St Helena. When we arrived it seemed that we had forever here, but now we have just received embarkation instructions for Sunday.
Tomorrow morning we head off to Deadwood Plain where we'll be meeting up with folk from the St Helena National Trust and hearing about the fantastic conservation work relating to the only endemic bird on the island, the afore-mentioned Wirebird. After that we head off to the Millennium Forest where each of us will plant an endemic gum tree. I first did this about 6 years ago and "my" trees are thriving - we know exactly which ones they are which is super.
I'd love to tell you more, but we're just off over the road to Wellington House where Ivy does wonderful home cooking. One of our party, Helena (so appropriately named, don't you think?) has her birthday today and I've organised a cake instead of dessert. It's been a bit tricky because she can't eat egg white, but the inventive "Saints" (as the locals are known) will be producing an egg-free cake. I must find out how they do it. Or perhaps you know?
There's no internet access on the Royal Mail Ship, so it will be about 10 days before you hear from me again once we reach Cape Town. If ever you have the chance to come here, do it. It's the most extraodinary island which gets under your skin, even after one visit. I wish I could explain it in words but it defies that possibility.
Anyway, hope all's well with all my regular subscribers and, if you're new to the Island Holidays blog, welcome - and keep visiting. It's updated on average every 10 days - no guarantees!!!

ading naturalist in Tasmania) was on the Australia stand in the next marquee and there was much coming and going between the two.
When I was there last November (Tasmania, not marquee 4!) it was a bit frustrating as I'd broken my foot (falling off my bicycle!) on Lord Howe Island and couldn't drive. Tonia looked after me on Bruny Island and we managed to see half the
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