Christmas News

On Friday the 14th December all Government Departments on Tristan closed for the three weeks Christmas break, including the islands only supermarket, and Pub. Work will commence again on the 7th January 2008, lets hope nobody forgot any items from the shop. Now that all islanders have phones in their homes families overseas for the first time will be able to wish each other greetings on Christmas day, with no restrictions on the length of time they can spend talking to each other. Greetings by e-mail are also available. Families again will be joining each other to celebrate Stuff Roast leg of Lamb which is usually the traditional dish on Christmas day, although turkey is also becoming popular.

The week before Christmas families are repairing and painting their camping huts at the patches before taking their children camping, any day after Christmas Day. The only black sand beach Runaway Beach children will play in the rock pools, whilst the parents try and catch supper or fish for the braai, to go with the lamb chops, garlic bread, lobster etc, not to mention the chill refreshments.

Most families will return to the settlement on New Years Eve, otherwise know by Tristanians as Old Years Night, where there will be drinks at the Administrators Residency and Chief Islanders House.

Nine Lessons and Carols

The joint Carol Service between the Anglican's and Catholic faith (the only two faiths on the island) due to be held on Sunday the 15th December was delayed until Sunday the 22nd, due to the death and burial of Margaret Repetto (Known by most as Margie) until the 22nd December.

Annual Sheep Shearing Day 2007

The annual sheep shearing day due to be held on the 8th December was delayed a week due to many people still suffering with the flu virus that had hit the islanders over the last eight weeks or more. Instead it was held on the 15th December and although there were a few sore heads from the office parties the day before when all Government Department shut down for Christmas, mixed with showers of rain, it did not stop most of the families from shearing. The rest of the islanders completed shearing and slaughtering for Christmas on Monday the 17th, with the Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANRD) staff dipping the sheep on the 19th before driving them to better grazing at the Bluff and Anchorstock.

At the last Island Council meeting before break-up, it was agreed to reduce the sheep to two per person, as there were signs of overgrazing, this replaces the seven breeding sheep per family. There is no intention to reduce the two cows per family, although the ANRD will be looking at alternative imported cattle feeds, to help the cattle through the winter months.

Sarah Glass