NEWS FROM THE ISLAND

"I HAVE BEEN WAITING 40 YEARS for a real summer like this!" I heard someone say on the radio. And it has been a stunner, even with the interruption of a big stormy interlude. The gardens have suffered a bit from lack of rain and those winds, but in the main everyone on, and visiting, the Island is grinning, revelling in these summer days.

For the young it's a time of magic and playtime all day long.

"Will  she bring her little peacock chicks closer?"

I can't believe this is all mine!

And little Ella Fitzgerald for you, singing SUMMERTIME 

NEWS FROM THE ISLAND

The wharf taped off

WELL THERE WENT DECEMBER, very hot and very dry and full of scattered busyness so that each day went quicker as we scurried more frantically. Now the Christmas bling has been put away for another year and the New Year songs have been sung with gusto. And then along came the obligatory New Year holiday storm, though a little later than usual, so maybe that is why it built up an extra head of energy before emphatically reminding us yet again that nature is more powerful than humans are and approach the new year thoughtfully.

And the Island did not miss out being blatted. The wind certainly tried its best to shake us off our perches but it was the King High Tides fuelled by gale force winds that showed us how the strongest wharves can still get damaged. Schoolhouse Bay wharf was o k because it had been rebuilt through last winter but most of Mansion House wharf has had to be closed - tricky getting the crowds of tourists on and off the Island into the park now. But like all storms, elemental, emotional or physical, though real scary at their height are hard to believe they actually happened when they go away and the sun comes out again.

We look at the debris left behind on the beach and stand in awe

The seas are still grumbling a bit out there

who would believe yesterday's weather?

Holiday time and time to play cricket 

But the Weekenders are still recovering, tucked away in the bush, only their vehicles say they are here