A Relaxing Weekend

Hi

For once we had a quiet weekend. We skipped the Mess Happy Hour on Friday as Jacob and Abi had woken up at 5.30am so were pretty tired by 5pm! Instead we had a tasty tea and DVD together. Saturday is homework morning, then, as it was rubbish weather, I took them to see Where the Wild Things Are at the cinema. This is one of my favourite books, mainly due to the illustrations. The film was good but a little sad for me. Abi was a fidget bum and was on and off my lap for most of the film. They did enjoy it.

Jacob is now riding his bike with much more confidence so we decided to cycle to the Mess for a late breakfast on Sunday. I've included a photo of them both cycling around our circle. It was a calm day here on Sunday, very unusual, so we played some golf out the back of the house - another photo of that. Then we did a walk up Pleasant Peak. It's very close to the base. You may well see the base in the back of one of the photos. There are 2 memorials up there but we've only managed to get to one of them so far. So, on Sunday, we climbed to both. Quite steep drops in places but we were fine. Abi managed to sit in a very wet patch and Jacob's foot went in a really muddy bog bit but everyone enjoyed it. I felt like I'd worked off my cooked breakfast and Jacob and Abi loved the rock climbing. The rest of the day was spent playing outside, going on the bikes and playing at the park.

As I'm typing this it is throwing it down, probably a bit like the UK!

Hope all is well with everyone

Rachael.

Grandma's Second week

Hi

We've been out and about showing Marion things that she didn't see last time she was here. We went to Fitzroy, two ships were sunk here during the 1982 conflict so there are quite a few memorials to the sailors lost at sea. I've put in a photo of one of them. We spent quite a bit of time skimming stones on the beach as well as looking at all of the memorials.

We also had a night in Stanley. We stayed at the Hillside camp, it's an extension of our base here. It mainly has a bomb/weapon disposal section there that deals with old weapons that have been found around the Falklands. These date back to the first world war but a lot are from 1982. We had a tour of the things that they have found over the years and it was quite surprising. We also walked to the lighthouse. There's a memorial at the lighthouse for the Atlantic Conveyor. Another ship that was lost in 1982, it was a big loss as it was carrying supplies and helicopters. We had a very nice meal out in town but a disturbed nights sleep due to heavy rain and people having a party next door!

We also went to Darwin house for Smoko, coffee and cakes. It was rather tasty. After gobbling lots of cakes we went for a walk to the Brodie Creek Suspension Bridge. It's the most Southerly located suspension bridge in the world. I've included a photo of it, it is rather knackered and you can't go on it any more!

Put our red car up for sale and sold it easily so that's good. Took our 'new' Freelander off roading to the bridge and it managed easily.

The flights in and out of here are a bit all over the place due to the UK weather. It's 2 days late in at the moment. Hoping Marion's flight will still go ahead on Tuesday. School starts again Tuesday, holidays go way too quickly for me. The weather here has warmed up but it's been pretty showery.

Hope all is well with everyone

Rachael.

Carcass Island

Hi

We have just returned from a 2 night away trip to Carcass Island. It takes about an hour and 5 mins to get there by helicopter. It's to the far west of the West Island of the Falklands (we live on the East Island). It's a beautiful island, similar to Pebble. The seas around it are so blue and green, truly breath taking. I could have easily sat and stared at the sea for most of the time, well that would be if I didn't have Jacob and Abi to sort out! We stayed in a fully catered lodge. The food was excellent so now the diet starts! We got there in time for afternoon tea and then went out to the closest beach, a 30 second walk. The first 2 photos are from that afternoon. There's a cruise ship in the distance, they were only there for the afternoon and we didn't see them our end. We had loads of Magellanic penguins around, 2 even lived in the lodge's garden. Six French people arrived on our first night, very noisy and got up at 5am to go out and take photos. They only stayed one night thankfully.

The next day, Rob, the owner, drove us to a beach 2 and a half miles away. It was full of magellanics, so full we weren't sure were to sit! We then walked back and spent the afternoon building sandcastles with moats and relaxing in the sun.

On Monday Rob dropped us at the far end of the island so we could see the elephant seals. The next photos are of 2 elephant seals, Jacob took the shot and then one of elephant seals and penguins. We walked quite a way along the coast and it was full of the huge seals, we had to be careful were we were walking so as not to tread on penguins or seals. We had a lovely break away. The weather was gorgeous and the food excellent.

Allen's got most of this week off so hoping to go into Stanley and visit a few places that Marion hasn't seen yet. I'm showing Lady Peach around pre school tomorrow, no kids in though as we're still on holiday so a bit of a waste of time really. Oh well it'll make me tidy it up I suppose!

Hope all's well

Rachael.

Allen's 39th Birthday

Hi

Allen celebrated his 39th Birthday yesterday. He had a relaxing start with coffee and bacon sandwiches in bed. He then went off to the gym for 2 hours. I made him prawn sandwiches with a special homemade seafood sauce in for lunch and then we went off to the beach again. It was very different to the day before weather wise. It was blowing a gale and a bit damp! We did however see a king penguin, some gentoos and some magellanics. I've not seen all of those at Burtha's before so I was impressed. The kids had fun playing in the sand. Unfortunately it was too rough for the dolphins.

We then went to the cafe for cakes and I cooked a fish tea that everyone enjoyed. We made Allen a ghost cake and put candles that were like sparklers in - I've included a photo of Allen and the kids with the cake and one from the beach.

We then watched the new Star Trek film which I really enjoyed (I slept through the last one I watched!).

Happy New Year everyone

Rachael.

Grandma's Arrival

Hi

Grandma Melrose arrived safely on Monday afternoon. The airbridge down here is currently a bit all over the place. FlyGlobeSpan went bust, that's the airline that was used from here to the UK. So now it's any airline they can get! Marion came on HiFly. It had rained all day but as she landed it cleared up and was a lovely calm evening. The next day was sunny so we got the key for the beach and headed down there. It was beautiful, calm (unusual) and sunny. We same loads of dolphins. I've included one of a jumping dolphin. They were really showing off, splashing their tails and swimming through the waves. We also saw a group of penguin swimming. I've also put in a photo of Marion and the kids on the beach and one of just the beach as it looked so good!

Rachael.

Christmas 2009

Hi

We had a very Merry time over Christmas. Jacob and Abi were up at 5am, I couldn't believe it! Santa had delivered a stocking to their bedrooms, a mistake on his part I think. They'd opened this and were outside our room by 5.30am. I was annoyed I'd missed the present opening but luckily Santa had delivered another stocking under the tree in the lounge so at least I saw them opening that one. So they were in front of a Spongbob DVD by 7am and we were back to bed!

We gradually opened presents during the morning. I've put in a photo of Jacob playing with his favourite present - his Playmobil house and accessories, a brilliant ebay purchase. The other is of Abi in her pink roller boots. She wore them all day.

Our babysitter came around at 11.30 for bucks fizz and Jacob and Abi decorated Christmas biscuits. At 12.30 we went a couple of houses up the road for our big Christmas celebration. Lunch with 33 was fun, loud and definitely not boring! Joss had set a table for 13 kids in the conservatory and another one for 20 adults in the lounge/dining room. One family had done starter for everyone, very tasty and then we progressed with other families bringing dishes for main course and then pudding. We took gammon, mince pies and brownies. There was loads of food and lots of wine flowing. We staggered home at 7pm to watch Dr Who - I slept through it and had to watch the repeat! I've put in a photo of me and Allen at the dining table and one more of the kids in front of the tree at our house.

Hope everyone had a Happy Christmas!

Rachael.

Santa at MPA!

Hi

Jacob and Abi went to the children's Christmas party on base today. It was a lovely weather day so I walked across with them. They then played outside in a courtyard for most of the party. Lots of the adults were hung over from the Christmas do at the Mess. Allen went into work and to the gym so he missed it all. I enjoyed chatting and sitting in the sun. Santa arrived and gave out all the gifts. I've put in a photo of Jacob and Abi with Santa and then one of Jacob pulling a cracker - a great face on him! A busy week ahead leading up to Christmas Day when we're sharing dinner with 33 neighbours. Have a Merry time everyone,

Rachaelxxxx