FINN(COM) DAILY RECORD: THURSDAY, 02 SEPTEMBER 2004
Compiled by J. Brock (FINN)
INTERNET NEWS:
Visitors to Antarctica may soon have to provide proof of adequate insurance and sufficient arrangements for health and safety, search and rescue and medical care in place before visiting the continent. The rules affect all non-governmental visits to Antarctica.
COMMITTEE NEWS:
The Planning and Building Committee met on Thursday morning to discuss applications, renewals of planning permission granted for the Trough and the Boathouse on Ross Road. Permission was also given for the Falklands Fresh Processing Plant, the rear of 5 Pioneer Row, 6A Pioneer Row and Stanley Golf Club. Three applications were deferred for 5 Kent Road, 10 Goss Road, and Atlantic House.
Stanley Lands Committee met at 1330. They discussed plans put forward by members of the public, naming the new roads at the former BFFI site and the Sheltered Housing on Villiers Street.
FIBS NEWS DIRECT: 02 SEPTEMBER 2004 (Sian Ferguson - SF)
BACK IN BUSINESS AT THE GOOSE:
The Upland Goose Hotel reopened yesterday morning under the management of Sodexho Defence Services. There have been no major renovations to the building but I visited the Hotel & Restaurant yesterday to meet Diane Robertson (DR), Contract manager for Sodexho. She told me what changes had been made.
DR: We have rearranged lots of furniture, pictures and tried to set up small areas where people can sit around in the afternoon drinking coffee, eating cake and just having a friendly chat. We had some of the rooms decorated and painted and all rooms have new bedding - duvets - feathers - fluffy duvets.
SF: I also spoke to new manager, Ian Thompson (IT), about his previous restaurant experience.
IT: I have 10 years’ experience. I am qualified to degree level in hospitality management. I have worked for a couple of famous people back in the UK - Gary Rhodes, Paul Heathcoat, and in Northern Ireland, I worked for Paul Rankin of Ready, Steady Cook.
SF: How are you enjoying being in Stanley working?
IT: I am really enjoying it. It’s a lot different to working at MPA.. It’s a lot more homely down in Stanley and I find the people extremely friendly and welcoming.
CONSERVATION BALL:
The Conservation Ball will be taking place on the 24th of September with fantastic prizes up for auction, live music and free champers on arrival. Sarah Clement (SC) joined Liz Elliot on this morning’s Lyfestyle Programme and told her more about the fundraising auction that will be taking place on the night.
SC: We have some fantastic things up for grabs. There is a chance of a cruise with Quark Expeditions. They have very generously made that donation. Last year, people who went on it had a fantastic time. Like in previous years, there is artwork up for grabs. This time we have pieces from Veronica Fowler, Una Hurst Originals, donated by the South Georgia Government, hopefully a piece from Ally Liddle, Becky Ingham and, fingers crossed, John Smith, Tony and Kim Chater, Mandy Shepherd, as well as original artwork we’ve also got some wildlife prints donated from the Falkland Islands Tourist Board, and a piece from John Gale, a person Becky met at the Bird Fair. Mr. Gale is a part time vet working in Devon and he’s been an artist for the past 14 years. He’s given a limited edition print of swimming King Penguins. We also have a signed set of prints from the Insect Guide. It’s the only signed set. This year, we also have services up for auction. We have a plumber, an electrician, a carpenter and a gardener, courtesy of the Market Garden.
SF: If you can’t get along on the night, there is the chance to bid for the items by phone. The auction will be broadcast live on FIBS. There will also be an exhibition in the Jetty Centre in the run-up to the Ball, where you can review the items available for auction. Tickets cost £12.50, available from Beauchene, the Conservation Office or MP Travel. Doors open at 1930, with the auction starting at 2000. Doors close again at 2200 and the bar will be open until 0100. All money raised will go towards the works of Falklands Conservation.
HILLSIDE VISIT:
As parents will all know, the kids have been back at their school desks this week. But for the transition group at the Community School, the first few days will bring back something a little unusual. The transition group are the school’s 6th Formers - the pupils who have finished their GCSEs but need to be in school until they are 16. Tomorrow they will be heading down to Hillside for a special team-building exercise. Steve Dent and the Hillside Outdoor Activity Staff will be putting the students through their paces and giving them a whole range of problem solving exercises.
AUGUST WEATHER STATS:
Sun worshipers will be disappointed about the amount of sun in August. Statistics from the MPA Met office show that the Falklands had just 68.4 hours sunshine for the month, compared with an average of 97 hours. We had 10 days of snow last month, with blizzard conditions on the 25th and 26th. On those days, there was a mean wind speed of 45kts. Gusting to 64kts. The average, maximum temperature was 6C, a fraction above the general monthly average. We had a warm day on the 11th, however, when the temperature reached 15.1C. The lowest temperature recorded was -4.7C on the 25th.
