Just reading all the messages I have missed, things are gradually
expanding, great! I kept Pip sickly green all week as the weather
was excellent - several staff commented on my influence! - sadly a
bit windy on Wednesday for JH to venture out for a round the island
trip but I've done that before although my friend had not. She was
totally hooked - although whether on the climber she met (!) or on
Lundy itself I'm not too sure about.

Can't say a lot really, still on cloud 9, gazing at my pics every
night, Pip, your disc should be with you today. As usual I spent
the entire return Oldy trip with bins trained on the island whilst
everyone else was looking forward to Devon - WHY??????? I feel like
my insides are wrenched out everytime I leave. I watch the boat go
each time during the week with enormous glee, somehow not
registering that it will be me on the Saturday leaving others
behind.............watching with glee...........

Oh, dear, SO many DT's. Balmoral (400+) Sunday plus 2 Oldy trips,
both very full. Apart from that the island was good with quite a
few climbers out of sight each day and no 'hooray henries', no kids
of course. A large crowd of 40 somethings arrived on Saturday
making a lot of braying noises (sorry folks but I go to Lundy for
quiet) and generally behaving as though they were in Burnham Market
(v posh local-to-me village full of London-secondhomers!) trying to
outdo each other. Glad to be going away from them anyhow. Yes, I
know the island needs all the income but I do feel they are losing
the plot a bit, trying to appeal to so many large groups, weddings,
smartening the place up for them and forgetting us 'old-timers' who
remember it as it was (early 90's for me). I know it was harder to
get around and I do appreciate a lot of the work that has been done,
especially through Kevin's management) but I'm afraid that before we
know it the day trips will become every day in summer and then where
will that leave us????

I would just say though that I feel Derek runs a very tight
efficient and well motivated team but ultimately maybe they too will
feel like they are just there to serve the tourists......... sorry,
my thoughts are a bit down when sunk in post-Lundy depression!!!!
Only 4 months, 12 days to go til Pip and Steph & I set foot out of
that chopper.....................wheeeeeeeeeeeeeee. I'm also booked
with 10 members of my family in late May for a BIG 0 celebration
(just a small group!!!!!!) and I can feel a brief winter visit
becoming an annual 'must'.

As Pip says, anyone else care to join us Feb 2nd?

PS I did speak to Derek last week (apart from begging him yet again
to employ me as his secretary!) about our posters about this site
and feel sure that if we (Pip?) sent him a SMALL laminated one he
would put it up on the Tavern board at least for a while.

PPS Looking forward to the next visitor's report.............

Helen