Royal Air Force Station Ascension Island; The Navy's Secret.
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Royal Air Force Station Ascension Island; The Navy's Secret.
The next time you chaps stage through ASI, here's something to think about; BBC News - Charles Darwin's evolution experiment on Ascension isle
So Green Mountain wasn't always green.
Ascension was an arid island, buffeted by dry trade winds from southern Africa. Devoid of trees at the time of Darwin and Hooker's visits, the little rain that did fall quickly evaporated away.
Egged on by Darwin, in 1847 Hooker advised the Royal Navy to set in motion an elaborate plan. With the help of Kew Gardens - where Hooker's dad was director - shipments of trees were to be sent to Ascension.
The idea was breathtakingly simple. Trees would capture more rain, reduce evaporation and create rich loamy soils. The "cinder" would become a garden.
Egged on by Darwin, in 1847 Hooker advised the Royal Navy to set in motion an elaborate plan. With the help of Kew Gardens - where Hooker's dad was director - shipments of trees were to be sent to Ascension.
The idea was breathtakingly simple. Trees would capture more rain, reduce evaporation and create rich loamy soils. The "cinder" would become a garden.
Yes, and it buggered up the local microclimate to such an extent that 'island holding fuel' was in danger of becoming declared inadequate a few years ago.....
Which would have meant staging through Recife instead.
Which would have meant staging through Recife instead.
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at least motor cars are now so common in Norfolk that the locals have stopped pointing at them.....
STH
Indeed - they'm funny buggers that way....
If you hear the sound of drumming, run like f***. It'll be the locals drumming the webs between their fingers; this will inevitably be followed by chants of "Fresh meat....fresh meat...."
Even worse if you hear banjos...
"Squeal loike a pig, buoy"
If you hear the sound of drumming, run like f***. It'll be the locals drumming the webs between their fingers; this will inevitably be followed by chants of "Fresh meat....fresh meat...."
Even worse if you hear banjos...
"Squeal loike a pig, buoy"
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Plus one for the experiment.
At least it gave us somewhere to walk to, mind you there were SOoo many crabs. Lovely views too.
Prior to that, I'd always thought that crabs was something to be ashamed of . . .
At least it gave us somewhere to walk to, mind you there were SOoo many crabs. Lovely views too.
Prior to that, I'd always thought that crabs was something to be ashamed of . . .
Then there was the other Great Idea - cats....
When the Navy's wooden wonders called in for a spot of shore time, the cleverest of their rats obviously though "Thank f*** for that, follow me chaps and we'll escape this life of rotten meat and squalor", then led his chums to freedom.
However, having no natural predators, the little $ods bred like crazy.
"Hmm", opined someone in the Admirality, "what can we do? I know - let's send some cats - they'll sort the buggers out!"
So Qty. Lots of pussy cats were duly rounded up and transported to Ascension. They probably didn't get much of a vote in this - and were undoubtedly rather peeved to be booted out to fend for themselves upon arrival.
A few spotted the odd rat, but chasing them across the volcanic wastes was rather painful on the paws. But then one of them spotted a bird. Now birds knew what rats were, because they stole their eggs. But they'd never met these furry things with four legs and a tail before, so went over to say hello....
Mistake. BIG mistake!
From that moment, the cats never looked back. Rats were far TFD, but birds were a piece of pi$$....
Hence the current feral moggy population at ASI.
When the Navy's wooden wonders called in for a spot of shore time, the cleverest of their rats obviously though "Thank f*** for that, follow me chaps and we'll escape this life of rotten meat and squalor", then led his chums to freedom.
However, having no natural predators, the little $ods bred like crazy.
"Hmm", opined someone in the Admirality, "what can we do? I know - let's send some cats - they'll sort the buggers out!"
So Qty. Lots of pussy cats were duly rounded up and transported to Ascension. They probably didn't get much of a vote in this - and were undoubtedly rather peeved to be booted out to fend for themselves upon arrival.
A few spotted the odd rat, but chasing them across the volcanic wastes was rather painful on the paws. But then one of them spotted a bird. Now birds knew what rats were, because they stole their eggs. But they'd never met these furry things with four legs and a tail before, so went over to say hello....
Mistake. BIG mistake!
From that moment, the cats never looked back. Rats were far TFD, but birds were a piece of pi$$....
Hence the current feral moggy population at ASI.
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But apart from that. Anyway, thanks for letting the cat out of the bag on the negative points.
Dengue_Dude. The Andrew's been complaining about the crabs for years.
Dengue_Dude. The Andrew's been complaining about the crabs for years.
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Those of us six-fingered Norfolk brethren who understand the local accent will smile at this notice outside Stibbard village hall last week:
"People of Stibbard don't despair,
The Autumn Fair is nearly here"
"People of Stibbard don't despair,
The Autumn Fair is nearly here"
To be fair,
The crabs knew the land wasn't flat, and that sea monsters didn't exist long before the Royal Navy.
In fact I'm sure their charts (the ones omitting Norfolk Island) still have 'End of The World' printed on all four sides.
Nonetheless, well done on introducing trees to Ascension. You're well worth keeping post-SDSR!
The crabs knew the land wasn't flat, and that sea monsters didn't exist long before the Royal Navy.
In fact I'm sure their charts (the ones omitting Norfolk Island) still have 'End of The World' printed on all four sides.
Nonetheless, well done on introducing trees to Ascension. You're well worth keeping post-SDSR!
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And weren't the trees also planned to provide replacement masts for the RN's finest?
I was told that it was these particular trees that were planted to produce replacement masts - looking at them, I'd believe it.
I still like Green Mountain.
Also, wandering back from the Mess to Tristar village, I'd lay on the path and just look up (it was safer and assisted by the Bacardi) looking at the Milky Way and sundry satellites . . .
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Ascension Cat Killers
Was there earlier this decade for an 18 month stint and the Asi wild pussy problem (other than 216) was taken care of by a band of Kiwi cat killers contracted by the Foriegn Office. 
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I like the bit about "adapting to life in Norfolk".....just wondering if this course will be available to the rest of the UK population...
I want to spend a penny, not go to the shop: nurses to be taught euphemisms | Society | The Guardian
I want to spend a penny, not go to the shop: nurses to be taught euphemisms | Society | The Guardian
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They all speak exceptional English, but that doesn't necessarily cover the type of English spoken in Norfolk. We have many different phrases and sayings in this part of the world.