Constantly Learning

It’s a bank holiday weekend here in the Falklands as tomorrow is Peat Cutting Monday, a day reserved to allow the population to stock up on peat ready for it to dry out over the Summer. A good article about it here: http://www.penguin-news.com/index.php/site_content/23-features/111-from-bog-to-stove-by-john-smith-written-1976

The vast majority of houses now run off kerosene tanks in front of the house but out in camp it still goes on. I’ve not had the opportunity to learn how it all happens but I’m sure I’ll be shown sometime. I did, however, go for a drive yesterday in what will be my new car; a 3 litre turbo Toyota Hilux Surf with the obligatory cracked windscreen of all Falkland cars (a result of all cars driving the infamous ‘MPA road’). I was expecting a test-drive around town but instead found myself driving off-road like I’ve never done before. Great fun! It was yet another occasion where I found myself thinking “I can’t believe this is my life now – I live in the Falkland Islands, driving a 4×4 off road”. Those moments are becoming more and more frequent and I hope they continue. It’s quite often when I learn something new, such as playing dice for the first time last night. I’d heard that rounds in the pubs here can be decided by dice (all very friendly as it is so cheap to drink here) but I didn’t realise what that involved. Poker dice, obtained from behind the bar, come in sets of 5 and have 9,10, Jack, Queen, King and Ace on. A best of three scenario goes on and you can keep dice back to keep your hand going. Another Falklands tradition acquired, albeit a dangerous one for those out on an empty stomach.