Topic: Falkland Islands- what a detachment! (Read 112793 times)

Martin (Admin) · « **Reply #225 on:** November 16, 2012, 04:14:12 pm »

"Southern Caracara, a variable hawk, rock shags and ......black crowned night herons."

...... I think Nick's finally flipped!

Netleyned · « **Reply #226 on:** November 16, 2012, 04:18:35 pm »

Definitely been Benny'd

Ned

Arrow5 · « **Reply #227 on:** November 16, 2012, 04:54:41 pm »

what kind of jam

Netleyned · « **Reply #228 on:** November 16, 2012, 05:07:03 pm »

Deedle Dee Deedle Dee
Dundee Dundee

Ned

Arrow5 · « **Reply #229 on:** November 16, 2012, 05:10:10 pm »

Fancy me no kennin` that, jings

Norseman · « **Reply #230 on:** November 16, 2012, 07:12:05 pm »

Quote from: raflaunches on November 16, 2012, 03:30:31 pm

ferry service operates between East Falkland and West Falkland

Hi Nick

Did you by any chance happen to get a decent photo of the MV Concordia Bay?

Dave

raflaunches · « **Reply #231 on:** November 17, 2012, 01:08:46 pm »

Hi everyone

I don't know what you're talking about Martin, its you lot who are the wrong way up on the flip side!

Worryingly I think Ned maybe right, I was looking through all my pictures last night and found a picture of myself wearing a woolly hat standing next to a penguin! Definitely been benny'd!!! I have even taken a liking to the 'Diddle-dee' which grows every where on the island, its the size of a red currant and the same colour but is very sweet.
I managed to get one photo of the MV Concordia Bay but its only of the superstructure- we could not get any closer because of the wire fence and the hill she was sitting behind.
This will be my third to last instalment from the glorious Falkland Islands, I have finally cleared from Mount Pleasant and I am waiting for my replacement to arrive on Monday so I can fly home on Tuesday and hopefully land at Brize Norton on the Wednesday morning, if there is no problems at Ascension of course!

I am now packing my bags in preparation to drop them off on Monday morning so they can be loaded very early Tuesday morning- its amazing how much I have acquired since I've been down here! I bought a map of the islands showing all the wreck sites- there are a lot!!! Diddle-Dee jam for everyone to try back in the UK, some very interesting books about Antarctica, lots of copies of the Penguin News, and lots and lots of Penguins

!!!!
Interestingly, the locals are allowed to collect upto 3000 penguin eggs a year to eat, and it acts as a form of population control because who knows the penguins may rise up against us and take over the islands....

langsford · « **Reply #232 on:** November 17, 2012, 01:33:00 pm »

I run a stamp site which gives details of ships featured on stamps if anyone is interested. The Concordia Bay stamp and detail can be seen here:

http://www.shipstamps.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=12417&p=13427&hilit=concordia+bay#p13427

pugwash · « **Reply #233 on:** November 17, 2012, 02:19:50 pm »

Nick as your Falkland Islands journal is now nearing it close I must say I have enjoyed reading it -
and tend to look out for it most days.
I know it is a couple of days yet but have a nice if rather long flight home

Geoff

Arrow5 · « **Reply #234 on:** November 17, 2012, 08:05:13 pm »

I agree with Pugwash, dont forget the penguin (and other) pictures. Enjoy your trip home.

Wetwater · « **Reply #235 on:** November 18, 2012, 12:02:53 am »

Same here.

Interesting posts.

raflaunches · « **Reply #236 on:** November 18, 2012, 03:47:05 pm »

Hi everyone

It's my penultimate post from the Falklands which at the moment is suffering an un-natural heat wave, it reached 24 deg C on Wednesday, I have a sun tan and a wind tan but that could be wind burn!
I have almost completed my packing after a few swear words trying to get the bags to close, good thing I bought some extra straps just incase! It's been fun on my detachment but there have been some days which I would rather forget, especially the big exercise where I only got 10 hours sleep in 4 days, but I will miss the amazing wildlife and scenery, and the history of the islands. I have made a lot of friends on 1312Flt and in other trades on the station RAF, Navy and Army included and hope to keep in touch with most of them. My room is now neat and tidy for my replacement and this will be my last night in my Rome before I spent the last night in the dreaded transit room in my corridor. Looking forward to seeing everyone especially my Mum and Dad and start modelling again, after all there is a few corrections to be made on my gunboat!

Martin (Admin) · « **Reply #237 on:** November 18, 2012, 04:34:01 pm »

Quote from: pugwash on November 17, 2012, 02:19:50 pm

Nick as your Falkland Islands journal is now nearing it close I must say I have enjoyed reading it -
and tend to look out for it most days.
I know it is a couple of days yet but have a nice if rather long flight home

Geoff

Here. Here!

chingdevil · « **Reply #238 on:** November 18, 2012, 06:25:51 pm »

Have a safe flight Nick
See you Soon

Brian

Stormbringer · « **Reply #239 on:** November 18, 2012, 06:46:05 pm »

Safe journey home mate , i've really enjoyed reading your posts

irishcarguy · « **Reply #240 on:** November 18, 2012, 07:06:16 pm »

Thank you Nick, you wrote so well that on many occasions I felt I was standing there next to you. You have a rare talent & it is one of those threads not soon to be forgotten. It is my hope that when you are home & settled in that you will give us all another look at the Falklands through your images & memories. It has been one beautiful trip reading your daily posts. Safe trip home my friend, thank you, Mick B.

John W E · « **Reply #241 on:** November 18, 2012, 07:07:18 pm »

Hi Nick

Thank you very much for the daily reports - these are a very enjoyable read - it's like having a 'window' to another part of the world - SAFE JOURNEY HOME and look forward to the pics you post to complete the diary.

aye
john

Colin Bishop · « **Reply #242 on:** November 18, 2012, 07:17:26 pm »

Nick,

As the others have said, thanks for your vivid depiction of life in the Falklands. I have very much enjoyed your posts and look forward to the pictures.

Colin

Jerry C · « **Reply #243 on:** November 18, 2012, 07:39:30 pm »

Bon voyage and a good leave. Many thanks for your time and effort. Your thread will always be there to refresh your memories.
Jerry.

Tug-Kenny RIP · « **Reply #244 on:** November 18, 2012, 08:11:48 pm »

Thank you very much for your interesting postings Nick. We all enjoyed your 'Diary of the Falklands'

Do have a pleasant journey back home and we're already looking forward to seeing some pictures.

regards

ken

Stavros · « **Reply #245 on:** November 18, 2012, 11:45:47 pm »

Have a safe journey home looking fwd to meeting up in Wickki park thanks for all your daily ramblings most informative

Dave

raflaunches · « **Reply #246 on:** November 19, 2012, 11:30:26 am »

Hi everyone

If you don't know by now this will be final instalment from the cold/wet or is it sunny and hot Falkland Islands, the weather still hasn't made up its mind! I want to thank everyone who followed my progress from being the Falkland New Guy or FNG to the weather beaten wiser Falkland Old Guy (FOG), without your experiences and support there are many places I would not have had the pleasure to visit. I hope to reward everyone with the 1500 pictures I have saved to my lap top (and backed up on many discs!), there are a lot of penguins to see but there are quite a few ships and boats in-between too.

Today I deliver my luggage to the RAF Movers who no doubt will endeavour to destroy it or loose it or send to another island or country! Hopefully my replacement turns up at approx 1400-1500 hours local time, he will certainly have learn fast because my guided tour of the complex is going to be quick, we have to cover 1.5 miles in half an hour.

Its going to be a long trip back taking 18 hours to reach the UK (if there are no delays in-between) flying on an Airbus A340, at least its got four engines compared to the twin engined Boeing 767 that dropped me off all those months ago so I feel a little bit safer.
So keep an eye out in two days time after its gone quiet from the South Atlantic, there will many many pictures for everyone to enjoy.
Best regards

Nick Brown, 1312Flt VASS signing off, hopefully...

sailorboy61 · « **Reply #247 on:** November 19, 2012, 11:34:37 am »

Safe journey home, and thanks for the daily installments!

raflaunches · « **Reply #248 on:** November 19, 2012, 08:52:43 pm »

Post script...

Update, one very annoyed airman sitting in his room!

I spent the entire afternoon waiting for my replacement to get off the jet to discover that he hadn't even got on in back in the UK!

No idea why he didn't get on but all his paper work said he was supposed to be here today but after checking the aircraft bookings I now find out that he will be getting on the next flight!
After being laughed at by my collegues the WO gave me the nod that I could still fly home tomorrow

So I am very happy with this result, at least I don't have to spend the night in the transit room!
See you all soon... Fingers still crossed!!!

raflaunches · « **Reply #249 on:** November 22, 2012, 04:05:37 pm »

Hi everyone

I made it back safely after an 18 hour flight on an Airbus A340 with really uncomfortable seats! As promised here are the first batch of photos of my detachment. Might take a while I am still getting used to the new image hosting software!

I landed at Wideawake airfield on Ascension Island just south of the equator, weather was strange with high winds but with fog everywhere initially before being blown away.

My first shot of the view from my room at MPA, note the depth of the snow which is close to 1ft deep!

News:

Author Topic: Falkland Islands- what a detachment! (Read 112793 times)

chingdevil

Stavros