Summer Holiday Celebrations 2015/16
|
Tristan's Unique Christmas and New Year Summer HolidayLife in the world's most isolated community is very distinctive. Here is a guide to the 2015/16 events and we will add photos and reports as they come in. Quiet Sea LanesThe last Christmas post arrived on 28th November and the two Ovenstone vessels (Baltic Trader and Edinburgh left on 7th and 11th December, carrying visitors, ex-pat workers and Islanders going for a summer break in Cape Town. So the village is quieter, with no ships due to call until MV Edinburgh returns about 20th January. |
Christmas Festivities start with the Pensioners Tea PartyReport from Alex Mitham. Photos: Kelly Burns Hasene held the Pensioners Tea Party on the 4th December at 15.00 in the Prince Phillip Hall. Thankfully it was not raining! It was the last pensioners tea party before the island celebrates the 200th Anniversary. While I hope it was fun, it was also a poignant moment as the reason we are able to celebrate 200 years on Tristan is in no small part to all the assembled pensioners hard work and dedication to their community over so many years. |
|
During the event Kelly Burns from the Tourism Department kindly organised the Bingo with Eddie winning many of the prizes. There were mutterings that he had a helping hand from God! (As he is a Lay Minister at St Mary's Church) As ever a great deal of time and effort goes into organising the event which included: Beverley Repetto, Desi, Anita and Lynette |
|
Food from the following: Beverley Swain: chocolate slabs It even gave me an opportunity to try out the new bus and be the bus driver for a day with Geraldine acting as conductor. |
Sheep Shearing Day - Saturday 12th December |
|
|
Farming |
Here are a small selection of Janine Lavarello's Sheep Shearing Day photos which are all displayed, |
|
|
|
Robin Repetto (centre in left picture) is drinking a bottle of Bushy's Isle of Man Beer - to find our more about Bushy's Beer on Sheep Shearing day go to the Albatross Bar page. |
|
Long work and shopping breakOutsiders who have never been to Tristan are amazed at the long break from Government and Factory work. 'Break-Up Day' this year is Friday 18th December when offices and departments close at noon and then work teams celebrate 'break up day' with departmental parties. Work at the factory and in Government departments doesn't resume until Monday 11th January. Those abroad who revel in shopping until late on Christmas Eve and resuming by queuing for bargains at the Boxing Day sales will not revel in this life 'far from the madding crowd', but many discerning people will envy Tristan's traditions that place families, subsistence farming activities, attending Church and taking part in community activities above commercial interests. The Island Store is not closed for three weeks, however, as it closes on Tuesday 15th December and re-opens on Monday 11th January. So families must be organised to have a full larder of provisions. But the best food is locally produced - see the Farming Section below. Nevertheless families also have access to the Government Freezer (where they hire walk-in compartments for their frozen meats and other foods) on six occasions during the break. |
|
Pub and Internet Cafe 'Opening' HoursPerhaps the greatest surprise to those who don't know Tristan is the fact that the Albatross Bar (known just as 'The Pub' will open until 17th December and will not re-open until 11th January! Nevertheless most homes are well-stocked with drinks. The Internet Cafe will be open until 17th December and will also re-open on 11th January 2014. Internet access will be available for those able to access Government offices or who have wireless access in their homes. HealthSurgeries will continue at Camogli Hospital on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays 8.00am to 10.00am. The Doctors will be on call and continue any necessary home visits as usual. |
Church ServicesChurch Services are always well attended and people often arrive an hour early for Midnight Mass at St Mary's and may bring their own chairs! St. Mary's Anglican Church held a Carol Service on Sunday 13th December. They will hold a Midnight Mass and Blessing of the Crib at 11.30pm on Christmas Eve, and a Morning Service at 8.00am on Christmas Day. Services will be conducted this year by Islander Lay Ministers Lars Repetto, Eddie Rogers and Carlene Glass-Green as priest Rev. Denzall Snell is on leave in South Africa. St Joseph's Catholic Church will hold a Midnight Mass at 11.30pm on Christmas Eve and a Morning Service at 9.00am on New Year's Day. Services are all run by Islander Lay Preachers Dereck Rogers, Anne Green and James Glass. |
The crib in St Mary's Church |
ExcursionsThe extended holiday is also an opportunity for Islanders to visit and stay at The Caves or at Stony Beach, where a wild cattle herd grazes. Often Islanders go out in a dinghy or RIB on a good day for a spot of fishing to add some fresh fish or crawfish to that in their freezers. Many stay at their camping huts at the Potato Patches and enjoy swimming or fishing on Runaway Beach. |
A Summer Scene on Runaway BeachDawn Repetto's photos taken on 28th December show islanders between Christmas and Old Year's Night, beach fishing, swimming and relaxing in the sun. Swimming is only safe in rock pools, which abound on Runaway Beach and keep out sharks and swimmers from strong currents. Nevertheless you need to watch for octopus, known here as 'catfish', that lurk in the pools. |
|
Old Year's NightThe Administrator invited everyone to the Residency for drinks between 6.00pm and 7.00pm. Afterwards all men of 18 years or more were invited to the residence of the Chief Islander. The famous Old Year's Night Okalolies again made the night spectacular and unique - see the Old Year's Night 2015 page for more.> |
And finally -On Monday 11th January 2016 Government and Factory employees returned to paid work having concentrated on their farming, household and social activities during the long break. |