March - May 2009

Yes, it's been a while since I got round to updating the blog. The main reason it has been so long is because last month my brother-in-law, Paul, died from cancer. Although he had been diagnosed as terminal it was still quite a shock how quickly he went. I was very fortunate with the timing of the ship that I was able to get back home for the funeral. I spent a good week with my sister, Helen and nephew and niece, Liam and Natalie up in Southport. I was away from the island for 3 weeks in order to spend 8 days at home. I'm very glad I managed to get back, even though it wasn't the circumstances I would have hoped to be back for. So here's a quick summary of what's been happening on St Helena over the past 3 months. New slideshow over to the right.

Dinner at the Governor's
Our time had come and we got our first official invite to dinner at Plantation House with the Governor and his wife. There were about 25 of us who were all fairly new to the island or just about to leave. After drinks in the library, we had a 4 course dinner in the dining room followed by coffee in the blue room (yes because it's blue). The men were disappointed that we weren't invited into a separate room for cigars and brandy and to talk politics. We had a very good evening. Clare had to sit next to the main man himself and obviously used all the right cutlery as we've since been invited back a couple of times.



Easter Parade
Every Easter each school takes it in turn to perform the Easter Parade through Jamestown. The children dress up in Easter costumes and are joined by anyone else who wants to go and a big crowd (big crowd for St Helena!) turn out to watch them go by. It was quite a spectacle and Clare did Tom and Milly proud with the costumes she made.



The Queen's Birthday
We are very patriotic here! We get a public holiday for the Queen's birthday and the Governor holds a garden party at Plantation House to mark the occasion. It's almost enough to turn you into a monarchist.



Anthony & Jenny come to visit
Visitors at last! Clare's mum and dad arrived in April for a 3 week holiday. They stayed at another bungalow at Piccolo Hill, which soon became Tom and Milly's second home (as well as all the other kids at Piccolo!). It was great to have them to stay and to show them around. As they both love walking and chatting to random strangers we knew that they would love St Helena - and they did!



Clare's 40th
We should rename this blog to the Jessons in Their 40s.

Clare has again caught up with me and so we can face our mid life crisis together.

We had a party at Jamestown Community Centre where we played the traditional St Helena sport of skittles and ate the local dish - plo (curry and rice).

Jenny and Anthony (Clare's mum and dad) had arrived the week before so were able to join in the fun (and help with the preparations!).

So apart from eating, drinking and being merry the skittles was the main activity of the evening. The kids tournament was first with the 20 or so kids split up into 4 teams each wearing a silly hat. I would tell you which team won but I can't remember.

Anyway, next up was the adults tournament where it all started to get serious. With the crowd getting excited and lining the skittles alley the 6 teams stepped forward and the pressure was on. Jenny's team came out winners.

We all had a great evening - good company, good food and good bowling!

That was the Saturday. Clare's actual birthday was on the Monday. I had arranged for the RFA (Royal Fleet Auxiliary) ship the Gold Rover to call in on St Helena and take Clare and I on a tour sailing round the whole island. OK that's not strictly true. The Gold Rover was stopping in St Helena on its patrol of the South Atlantic and somehow Clare and I had managed to get ourselves an invite on board in the afternoon to spend a leisurely tour around the island. Obviously if we hadn't been invited to that, I would have arranged for something equally as spectacular for my wife's birthday.

It was an amazing trip and a great opportunity to see the island from all sides, many parts of which are not easily accessible from the interior. Back on dry land we met up with Jenny, Anthony, Tom and Milly and went for something to eat at Anne's Place.






St Helena Day
While I was back in England, it was St Helena Day - another public holiday. There was lots of events going on in Jamestown, including floats and a march by all the scout groups, including Tom as a beaver.