I'm afraid this is the last time I'll be posting a message of my island activities on my blog. It's all a bit sudden, but having looked at my savings, unfortunately I can't afford to stay on the island. It's been an amazing four months and it's a real shame I couldn't continue for the full six months. I've learnt so much and have had a brill time. It's a shame I'm rubbish at keeping the posts up-to-date, I'm a tad late with this post. Seeing as I finished at the beginning of this month it's shocking really, but it's be strange to adjusting to a non-island way of life, but I guess this post is better late then never!
Anyway, I should give you a quick update on the activities completed in the last couple of days before I finished! They keep you working right up until you get on the boat!!!
Anyway, I should give you a quick update on the activities completed in the last couple of days before I finished! They keep you working right up until you get on the boat!!!
- Monday 3rd August 2009
So, Monday started with the usual weekly clean. However, the monthly clean also happened to fall on the same day, so my last clean was a bit more special! The clean was probably completed in the quickest time ever, being as there are so many volunteers on the island at the moment. All the cleaning tasks were completed by 10-10:30, which just left the monthly checks to be done.
Erin and I were given the monthly water checks to complete. Firstly, we needed to check and if needed change the particulate filters in the Farm House filter system. It can be a very wet job and water can go everywhere as the silicon on the seals can make it difficult to get a good grip on the outer container. Luckily though, we avoided soaking the drying/boot room and touching the filter with our silicon hands! Fresh water for all.
The next task was to check the temperatures of the first and last taps on the Farm House. This means remembering where they are and then waiting for the water to either get as hot as it is going to get or as cold, and then putting the thermometer into the beaker to record the temperature value. At the same time we checked that the outside taps were working and ran them for a short time to keep the system clear.
The water system checks in the Farm House were completed so then it was off up to Driftwood, with a slight detour to the Fog Horn Cottage. We needed to assess the strength of the wind, before checking the roof for standing water. It was unfortunately too windy and therefor unsafe to be working so high up. It would be very easy to go flying even in the slightest bit of wind, as you're so exposed to wind from any direction.
Driftwood was the next port of call. Again we were checking the tap temperatures at the beginning and end of the system and the outside taps; which all looked good. Then we checked and changed the particulate filter in the Driftwood water filter system. The last task was to check the level of water in the Victorian water tank.
This is a tricky and possibly a very dangerous job. However, it needs to be done and if you're careful and work as a team, it's a piece of cake. Firstly the big metal cover sheet has to be lifted off the tank's man-hole. There are usually one or two slow worms warming themselves underneath, and we found a couple of juveniles this time. So once the top sheet is removed, the next bit is lifting the man-hole cover. There is a reason why man-hole covers you see in the street are usually round, this is so they can't fall into the hole they cover. Unfortunately, the Victorian tank man-hole cover isn't round, it's square! We had to be very careful not to drop it into the tank as that would be the end of it and if you happen to be holding onto the cord attached to it, the end of you too. Well, if not the end, defiantly a trip in the helicopter, some surgery and a long stay in hospital. Hence some staff would rather not have to do this.
Anyway, we managed to take the cover off without it or ourselves falling in and check the level of water with the trusty weighted rope and the metre stick. Very technical apparatus... The water wasn't that much lower than the last time it was recorded. We had obviously been very good with conserving water and the staff weren't at all smelly!
After lunch a group effort was undertaken to weed around the Barracks building. It's amazing how much vegetation can grow in such a short time of a couple of months and how dense it can get. While removing the unwanted vegetation, we had to be careful not to uproot any of the wild leek. None of us fancied a £1000 fine, epically as this is a voluntary placement! With the weeds removed and the leeks intact, the building looked much tidier.
The last task for Monday was to start removing elder from around the WW2 buildings at the top of the ditch. It shows how over grow the vegetation was, as I didn't even know there were any buildings there!! Erin, Rob and myself made a good start and managed to remove a trailer load of elder vegetation which we added to the pile on West Beach. This will eventually be burnt as there is too much to remove on the Lewis Alexander, so there should be a good show when the wood gets lit. Let's hope it doesn't get struck by lightening beforehand!
Erin and I were given the monthly water checks to complete. Firstly, we needed to check and if needed change the particulate filters in the Farm House filter system. It can be a very wet job and water can go everywhere as the silicon on the seals can make it difficult to get a good grip on the outer container. Luckily though, we avoided soaking the drying/boot room and touching the filter with our silicon hands! Fresh water for all.
The next task was to check the temperatures of the first and last taps on the Farm House. This means remembering where they are and then waiting for the water to either get as hot as it is going to get or as cold, and then putting the thermometer into the beaker to record the temperature value. At the same time we checked that the outside taps were working and ran them for a short time to keep the system clear.
The water system checks in the Farm House were completed so then it was off up to Driftwood, with a slight detour to the Fog Horn Cottage. We needed to assess the strength of the wind, before checking the roof for standing water. It was unfortunately too windy and therefor unsafe to be working so high up. It would be very easy to go flying even in the slightest bit of wind, as you're so exposed to wind from any direction.
Driftwood was the next port of call. Again we were checking the tap temperatures at the beginning and end of the system and the outside taps; which all looked good. Then we checked and changed the particulate filter in the Driftwood water filter system. The last task was to check the level of water in the Victorian water tank.
This is a tricky and possibly a very dangerous job. However, it needs to be done and if you're careful and work as a team, it's a piece of cake. Firstly the big metal cover sheet has to be lifted off the tank's man-hole. There are usually one or two slow worms warming themselves underneath, and we found a couple of juveniles this time. So once the top sheet is removed, the next bit is lifting the man-hole cover. There is a reason why man-hole covers you see in the street are usually round, this is so they can't fall into the hole they cover. Unfortunately, the Victorian tank man-hole cover isn't round, it's square! We had to be very careful not to drop it into the tank as that would be the end of it and if you happen to be holding onto the cord attached to it, the end of you too. Well, if not the end, defiantly a trip in the helicopter, some surgery and a long stay in hospital. Hence some staff would rather not have to do this.
Anyway, we managed to take the cover off without it or ourselves falling in and check the level of water with the trusty weighted rope and the metre stick. Very technical apparatus... The water wasn't that much lower than the last time it was recorded. We had obviously been very good with conserving water and the staff weren't at all smelly!
After lunch a group effort was undertaken to weed around the Barracks building. It's amazing how much vegetation can grow in such a short time of a couple of months and how dense it can get. While removing the unwanted vegetation, we had to be careful not to uproot any of the wild leek. None of us fancied a £1000 fine, epically as this is a voluntary placement! With the weeds removed and the leeks intact, the building looked much tidier.
The last task for Monday was to start removing elder from around the WW2 buildings at the top of the ditch. It shows how over grow the vegetation was, as I didn't even know there were any buildings there!! Erin, Rob and myself made a good start and managed to remove a trailer load of elder vegetation which we added to the pile on West Beach. This will eventually be burnt as there is too much to remove on the Lewis Alexander, so there should be a good show when the wood gets lit. Let's hope it doesn't get struck by lightening beforehand!
- Tuesday 4th August 2009
The day started off with continuing with elder clearance form around the buildings at the ditch, which was started the day before. I worked with Rob again for this task (another work experience student) and though it was insanely windy, we managed not to get knocked out! Erin joined us a little later after helping Ian with another vegetation clearing job. The three of us worked well as a team and soon there were a number of large piles accumulating. We worked up to lunch, taking a heavily loaded trailer to West Beach.I had some surprising news waiting for me when I got to the Farm House. After my request to finish my volunteering on the island sooner rather than later, the night before, I was some what surprised to find I could leave later that day with the three-hour visit! The weather wasn't looking too good for the next couple of days, so it made sense to go that day and there was also enough room on the boat for an extra passenger with a couple of large bags! I completed my exit interview with Alex and then went of to eat some food.
After lunch I needed to pack all of my things, making sure not to leave anything behind. This wasn't too difficult, most of my things hadn't been unpacked as I (rather embarrassingly) had only been back on the island for six days! This was completed in time to help prepare for what would be my last, three-hour trip supervision. Again, the group who came over were all extremely nice. I've been very lucky, as all the visitors I've had the pleasure to look after have all been great.
My last task on the island was too drive the tractor up to Driftwood to collect my bags and take them to the boat. Luckily it wasn't raining, so my bags didn't get soaked, as they would have if the boat had been going earlier that day. It was all a bit of a crazy rush, but I was sure I had everything and the last thing to do was help the visitors onto the boat and get myself and belongings on the boat as well. The staff had been busy though, as I left I was handed a farewell card and a certificate to document my time on the island. The card was signed by everyone and I've put pictures of both the card and the certificate on this post so you can all see! SO kind of them to do that!
I've really enjoyed my time on the island and have met a good bunch of people, so it was a real shame I had to go. It was a fabulous experience to have and I will always remember my time on the most southerly point of Wales, Flat Holm Island. Even the gulls weren't that bad! So, here I am signing off for the last time. I hope the blog has been interesting and educational for anyone interested in pursuing a career in this kind of work. I'm sad to go, but the friends made here and the experience learnt on the island will stay with me forever!So, for the last time - this is Verity Ann Brown Signing Off. Over and Out.
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