Adios, Adieu, Arrivederci, Auf Wiedersehen, Goodbye St Helena

It has taken me a while to plump up the motivation to write this piece as I really don’t want to draw a line under my time on St Helena.  But needs must and I am now back in the UK having completed my contract on the island. 

Almost five years has gone by since I first started this blog, which was initially to keep family and friends informed of my time on this remote island.  The blog has taken on a character of its own and has a loyal following with sometimes over 2000 people a week reading it. 
Where is it going to go from here?  Well I will be posting some other articles on the island given the massive amount of photographs I have on a variety of subjects.  So watch this space as they say and feel free to comment or request subject matter for the articles.

Farewell Sweet St Helena

There is still much to do on the island as we are still waiting for the green light with regard to the airport operating on a commercial basis.  In the meantime life will go on as it always has, the Saints are a resilient lot and for them it’s just another day ……..waiting for the RMS to arrive with food supplies and loved ones. 
Once we do have commercial aircraft making scheduled visits I know there are many businesses just poised to welcome visitors from all over the world, many of them having planned their growth around the new arrivals.

The ESH Gang all waiting for Lunch!

In the run up to my departure, which was via Ascension Island and the subject of another blog, I was blessed with a leaving party organised by my colleagues at Enterprise St Helena.  I shared the day with Merle Peters who was leaving to join the local Bank. 

Cara and Charlene

Sabrina and Mike

Lunch was served at KJs place in Longwood.  Pub Paradise has been famous for its Steaks for many years.  KJ the owner takes great pride in the quality of meat he buys and how it gets cooked.  Also KJ has been a staunch supporter of my work within the Hospitality Upskilling Project.  I was therefore thrilled when I learned of the location for lunch.

The girls enjoying the Sunshine

Susan saying nice things about us

The lovely gift from my ESH friends

The turnout was great with almost all my colleagues able to make it over to Longwood. 
The meal was lovely and enjoyed by all, including the homemade ice cream in large quantity. Speeches were made and both Merle and I received gifts.  
The locally hand carved box I received is truly exquisite and something that will be treasured and put on display here in England once it arrives with my belongings.

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A few days later I was on the wharf with many other travellers, saying goodbye to friends and co-workers.  It was all a bit surreal and in some ways I still can’t believe that my time on St Helena is over .  Well over for the time being anyway!

Merle with Gift

Gill with Gift and Cake!

My ESH Colleagues and KJ in the green shirt. What a fantastic bunch of people!

So goodbye St Helena and hello to Family and Friends over here who haven’t really seen much of me at all for the past few years.  Perhaps when the airport opens I can bring some of my family over to visit the island in the middle of the South Atlantic they call St Helena.

More of the team with me instead of KJ in the pic