The Met Office Weather Report

 

Statistics for the week ending

 

	Max (Celsius)	Min (Celsius)	Rainfall (mm)
AIRHEAD	30.0	23.4	14.7
TRAVELLERS	30.6	20.4	5.2
RESIDENCY	29.0	16.2	10.6
GEORGETOWN	31.0	23.0	7.1
ST. HELENA	24.3	18.3	8.8
UK	18.0	-5.0	36.9
FALKLANDS	17.3	1.1	19.1

“METCHAT” ************************ “METCHAT” ************************ “METCHAT” ************************“METCHAT”

Occasional notes from a Small Island.

Saturday morning, 10 am Rob Makem slowly coming to a low level of consciousness a rather enthusiastic rendition of "the Anvil Chorus" taking place in his head and the feeling that the bedroom carpet or part of it had transferred itself to his tongue. By his side, wife Sue also coming to some even lower level of wakefulness and muttering something about never again. The leaving thrash the previous evening had been a resounding success and once the barbecue had been devoured the talk had started in earnest and with it much raising of glasses. At 4 in the morning the last party goers had departed noisily and rather unsteadily to their respective beds.

Eventually after doses of caffeine and nicotine these two somewhat jaded persons joined others in the clearing up exercise. With other willing hands and heads of varying soreness the site soon reverted to its normal state. The state of heads mouths and stomachs was easily explained when the pile of "debris" was finally revealed. Then it was into the final packing of goods and chattels.

Elsewhere on the island others had work to do. At the airport the ongoing watches discovered, if they did not already know it that the water was off. Kettles to be filled from bottles, urns or cans. A plastic barrel of water together with a bucket had been provided to flush toilets but this involved a 40 metre walk for gentlemen nearer 5 for ladies. Mr Lathe the plumber had given up the previous evening . There were rumbles of a long standing social engagement but nothing was confirmed. The day got hotter, luckily none of the day workers had partied too enthusiastically or eaten food of origins dubious; an attack of the trots was not something to contemplate in such a situation. With the distances involved, by the time the toilet had been flushed it could be time for the next visit The expression "running sore" could take on a whole new meaning. Somehow very late in the afternoon the water began to flow again out of the taps. Just in time, with the overnight flight to the mainland expected early and lots of people requiring the "facilities".

Meanwhile in the company bar a few customers, old hands mostly and the odd returnee taking a little tonic water to help keep the malaria at bay. At 2230 hrs the L1011 could be seen heading north, much waving then to departing Rob and Sue. Eventually the bar closes and it's recent customers made their way slowly and rather deliberately towards their waiting beds.

Sunday dawned bright and sunny. The restaurant was very busy but soon most disappeared to their various walks and activities. Some to the mountain --- the KOS team, Knackered Old Sods. Others however had gone off to Pale Nag and the beach. The only thing off --we think -- at the airport was the water…….

Neither Mr Lathe or his merry men was able to fix the water problem over the weekend One reason given was vaguely connected with the nether regions of aquatic birds ---- allegedly. This does makes a change from "It'll be on the next boat" but in past times it should be noted that records had two sides. Monday morning 1030 am water returns and stays a little longer this time but off it goes again on Friday morning for a couple of hours, much to surprise of early arrivals. These cut-offs seem to have started soon after the arrival of posters urging all to save water. Whatever happened to "Save water --- shower with a friend ?" On second thoughts for some, that maxim may never have gone away.

We wonder how much water has been saved over the last 10 days or so. Perhaps Mr Lathe should receive an award for determined efforts to cut down water consumption. If the same thing happens at Nomads Rise the savings could be considerable. There are allegations that it was hoped that airport staff would buy bottled water in large quantities at the Nomad Rise emporium and hence increasing profits. Unsubstantiated rumours abound that Mr Lathe and Mr Birdie Manager of said establishment were seen in a huddle the previous week and also shared a drink or four in the Hillside bar. Perhaps someone saw them and could confirm.

The airport has been very busy this week with a VC 10, C17, C130 and a DC8 passing through in addition to the usual L1011. At one time 3 three aircraft were parked on the pan simultaneously, the island certainly was living up to it's reputation as an international airport beyond compare. The DC 8 arrived 3 days late, due to mechanical/engine problems it was reported. We understand that this has been the last visit of this particular aircraft. Time to be grounded and eventually end up in some aircraft graveyard. Rumours too of a large one expected in February. This did bring a quick intake of breath, rather glazed eyes and a look of hopeful anticipation in certain quarters but all soon replaced by a look of great disappointment and a curling bottom lip when it was explained that "large one" in this case referred to an aeroplane.

Whispers:

Beware Asian jewels. When handled and over indulged late into the night the results can be somewhat painful and dehydrating. Check with North End and the Scottish Control Centre.

Is there a connection between "Glass", " The Daily Mail" & "Just 17" ?

The Scribe

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Hello from Two Boats School

 

Bird Watch Week Last week all the pupils in the school were invited to take part in the annual Bird Watch competition. Tara and Richard, the Conservation Officers visited school and introduced the competition to the children. The visit was followed up by taking the children in four different groups to view the fairy tern colony on Green Mountain. Safety Awareness We also had a recent visit to school by a team of four members of the EOD team from the Falkland Islands. They spoke to all members of the Lower and Middle schools about the need to be aware of the danger that can arise from touching bullets and other munitions that they may find. The team gave the children a short presentation using video and drama and showed them the precautions that they, the experts took when confronted with such objects. The presentation ended with the children being able to see at first hand and use some of the equipment that is used. Music Assembly Last Friday we had a music assembly and all members of the Middle and Secondary School who study music as part of the curriculum performed. It was interesting to be able to appreciate the way in which the study of music developed through the different age-groups and it made for a very enjoyable assembly. GCSE Examinations At the end of the assembly I was pleased to be able to present to five of our Year 11 students the GCSE Certificate that they all achieved by gaining A-C grades in the English Language examination that they took at the end of Year 10. Well done, Alexi, Jodi, Justine, Jamie and Leroy. All of the year 11 students completed their 'Mock' Examinations last week and within the coming week the entries for the GCSE examinations to be taken in May and June will be finalised. We will have more news from school next week. David Higgins, Headteacher

 

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Your health this week

KEEP YOUR TOP ON - HEALTH RISKS FROM WORKING IN THE SUN A sunny day makes most of us feel good, but too much strong sunlight can be hard on the skin. The problem is caused by ultraviolet-UV- rays in strong sunlight. People whose job keep them outdoors for a long time, such as farm or building site workers, may get more sun on their skin than is healthy for them. What are the dangers? In the short term …….we all know that sun burn can blister the skin and make it peel. In summer, even on cloudy days, enough UV can filter through to cause burning. In the long term ……. The most serious effect is an increased chance of skin cancer later in life. It is almost always easy to cure but it should be caught early. Too much sun will also speed up the ageing of your skin, making it leathery, mottled and wrinkled. Some medicines and contact with some chemicals used at work (such as dyes, wood preservatives, coal tar and pitch products), can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight. Who is at risk from skin cancer? Some people are more liable t skin cancer than others. People of white skin are most at risk but vary a lot. Take particular care if you have: · Fair or freckled skin that doesn't tan, or burns before it tan; · Red or fair hair and light coloured eyes · A large number of moles - over one hundred in young people, or over 50 in older people. Can I protect myself? Yes. And you may need to make a few changes now. You should be particularly careful when working outdoors and the three or four hours around midday is most intense. Don't get burned Get to know how your skin reacts to sunlight. This will help you to decide what precautions to take. Getting burned now may increase your chances of skin cancer many years later. The best protection is to shade your skin from the direct sunlight. A suntan may give some protection against burning but does not eliminate the long term cancer risk: nor will it protect against premature ageing. Clothing Ordinary clothing made from close woven fabric, such as long sleeved work shirt and jeans will stop most of the UV. Get a hat. A wide brimmed hat will shade your face and head, the areas which suffer most from sunlight. Keep your shirt in especially if you are working around the middle of the day. Sunscreens Hats and clothing are the best form of protection, but sunscreen creams and lotions can add useful protection for parts of the body that are not easy to shade from the sun. Look for a sun protection factor(SPF) rating of 10 or more. Check your skin The first warning sign is often a small scabby spot which does not clear after a few weeks. Look for changed or newly formed moles or any skin discoloration. It is normal for moles to grow until you are about 18 years old, but as an adult you should show the doctor any moles which grow or change. Fortunately most of these signs will be harmless, but medical checks may be needed to be sure. Even if a spot is cancerous, simple modern treatments can usually cure it and most don't spread to other parts of the body. The smaller the spot, the easier it is to cure. So don't put off going to your doctor when you know you should.

 

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Adventures in a wheelchair

Swaise Turner is back on the island again. He was last here in November 2001 where he raised funds to support the local charity on Ascension and the Cancer Research Unit. Since then he has pushed in his wheel chair 500 miles from Stroud in Gloucester in the UK to Dundesdata in Germany and raised funds to support the disable people in Germany.

You will also remember the notorious events involving the terrorism act on Twin Towers. He have raised funds to support the American Police and Fire Bridge by pushing in his wheel chair accompanied by two British Police Officers and two Firemen. He travelled from the White House in Washington to the Pentagon and then on to Ground Zero. He raised a total sum of $38,000 (US Dollars).

He pushed from his home town in Merseyside to Buckingham Palace in London which was a journey of 210 miles. He also delivered congratulatory letters from the Lord Major on the occasion of the Queens Golden Jubilee. Funds were raised for the Fire Brigade Benvolevent Fund. His last pushed was in the West Falklands which was a 52 mile journey from Fox Bay to Howard. Again funds were raised to support the Cancer Research Unit.

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Conservation Group walk to Dew Pond

	Alan is no stranger to Ascension, he first visited the island in 1998 as part of an undergraduate expedition from Edinburgh University which was the first to assess the status of the endemic plants on Ascension for over 20 years. Now a postgraduate, he has returned to Ascension to undertake a study of one the endemic plants - the Ascension Spurge - for the USAF. Two of the six endemic plants of Ascension: Left: Xiphopteris ascensionis and below: Ascension spurge Euphorbia origanoides
This month the group headed for the highest spot on the island to search for some of the unique plant life found there. Ascension is home to six species of plant found nowhere else in the world. Four of these are ferns, of which two can be found in the bamboo thicket that surrounds the Dew Pond. The recent dry weather resulted in a cleaner walk than usual, and upon reaching the peak and signing the letterbox book the group was given an introduction to the plants by visiting botanist Alan Gray.
	Approximately 2,000 Ascension Spurge plants, about 98% of the known world population, grow on the leeward side of three hills that are within the bounds of Air Force leased land. A significant portion of the known population is threatened by erosion, and planned repair, of the Air Force road that leads to the telemetry facilities on the top of South Gannet Hill. Little is known about Ascension Spurge. One British researcher, Alan Gray, has provided almost everything that is known about these plants. The services of Mr. Gray have been retained by 45 CEV, through contractor Computer Sciences Raytheon, to study the spurge plant population and determine options of propagation and mitigation that will allow the telemetry road to be repaired.

 

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