Living the Kelpers Dream through History and poetry is all about the working lives of the Falkland islanders through the past sixty plus years. Kelpers as they are called are the descendants of the first settlers nearly two hundred years ago. The Falkland islands offers some of the best wild life places that are still unaffected by man where nature is still very much in charge. This book walks you through the lives of the Islanders and is a way of inviting you to come and see this for your selves . More than forty thousand visitors come here every year to see their way of life and especially the Penguins. The beautiful pristine white sand beaches and the abundance of varied wildlife that are so tame you can see them in the wild just feet from where you are standing. The Islanders are a tough breed of people that have adapted to this isolated way of life and have learned to survive in a way that is envied by the visitors of the modern world. They have a very unique way of life which is why they have become so successful in everything that they have done. This book through the brief history and poetry captures the everyday lives of the people of the Falkland islands and captures a unique time line of what the developed world was like before modernisation. It takes you on a trip down memory lane of the Joys, the sadness and desires of the Islanders and their determination to remain British. The following extract of one of the poems really say it all. Natures Paradise I stand alone upon windswept shores The fresh grass fields that smell so sweet. Peaceful tranquillity a true paradise The soft Tea Berries beneath my feet. The wild life calls of the nesting birds Adds to the way our nature works. The winding rivers that flow to shores Carrying nutrients from sandstone rocks. Oh the Tussock grass the Diddle-Dee The wild white grass and peat moss swamps. Blue coloured mountains on distant horizons That look like picture postcard stamps. The unspoilt beauty the clear blue skies Rugged stone runs that fall from hills. The brightest stars that shine at night A ramblers paradise with lots of thrills. You gaze upon this wilderness For as many miles as one can see. Just the wild life in natures care No sign of Human activity. The nesting birds their calling chicks The fish that spawn the placid streams. A place where natures still in charge Somewhere to live to fill your dreams. There are few places upon this earth Where Man has not already been. But this place where I am standing now Is truly still a Kelpers dream.
About the Author: A fifth generation Falkland Islander born in the capital Stanley on 16th September 1953 the eldest in a family of five children. Apart from the first six years living as a child in the town, life pretty much evolved around the farming industry. From school Pretty much going straight to work as a farm labourer on a farm called Rincon Grande. This Farm is located to the North East of East Falklands at the entrance to the Salvador Waters. There, learning the art of day to day farming eventually achieving the position of Forman. In 1973 again moving to another farm at Teal Inlet to take up the post as cowman gardener and general hand. A year later in 1974 at twenty one contract shearing was beginning to sweep the Islands . Looking for a new challenge joined a contract gang sheep shearing and quickly became an expert shearer clipping over 350 sheep a day. After several years at shearing sheep returned to the life as a farmer at North Arm in the south of East Falklands. While at North Arm met and married Mandy Minnell on the 23rd October 1982 after the Argentine conflict. Together we moved to Great Island group to begin a ground-breaking pioneering venture in share farming for three years. In 1984 we purchased a 16,500 acre sheep farm at Green Field, San Carlos in the North of East Falklands. Then expanded this by purchasing a neighbour's farm of another 15,500 acres which was conveniently located on the eastern boundary, increasing the farm to 32,000 acres farming around 9,000 sheep there until eventually selling three quarters of the land mass in recent years. Currently together we now own a smaller 8,000 acre section with just 2,000 sheep. Moving from the farm back to the town in 2001 where I worked a similar job to that in camp as a handyman to the Stanley house School hostel looking after the grounds and gardens. You could say coming full circle. Now currently working with South Atlantic Trading ltd as a warehouse manager sorting and distributing general cargo that is sent by the United kingdom based section of the company in containers. Interests are mainly in music and key board having started to play at the age of just five years old and writing songs and poetry and for many years have been writing about the events of the past sixty years of life on the Falkland Islands. The poems relate directly to the Falklands way of life as a way to record a poetic History.