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An Island Parish - The Falklands


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Old 30-03-2015, 08:07
justanne
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Anyone else watching this?

Fascinating insight into the daily lives of the 2,000+ people who live there.
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Old 30-03-2015, 08:43
MR. Macavity
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Yeah, it was an interesting introduction - a unique place and wondrous landscape, should be a fascinating series.
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Old 02-04-2015, 03:28
Jimmy Connors
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I enjoyed it. Pure escapism for me as I am never likely to visit the place in person.

I never knew the Falkland Islands were roughly the same size as Northern Ireland.

I hope to see and hear more of Clara who used to travel about the islands on horseback before there were very many roads. I think she said she used to be a teacher. She sounds interesting.

...................

I posted the same on the other thread .... but that thread has an obscure title, so has dropped like a stone.
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Old 02-04-2015, 13:10
Grouty
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Forgot there was a new series starting, so just watched last weeks on the iplayer, always enjoy watching it
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Old 02-04-2015, 14:50
Diamond Head
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Interesting to see it mentioned that some people "scrape a living".
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Old 11-04-2015, 11:54
MR. Macavity
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Some fantastic scenery again in the last episode, especially of South Georgia. The church at Grytviken must surely be one of the most isolated places of worship anywhere on the globe. Not my typical Friday night viewing but fascinating nonetheless!
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Old 11-04-2015, 15:51
Bulletguy1
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I've been watching this ever since the first one they did on Barra.

I've discovered much more about the Falklands since watching this, mainly through reading up on the internet. Prior to the war the majority of the islanders lived in relative poverty with a few wealthy known as the 'sheepocracy' (), but most felt abandoned by Britain and they had good reason to feel that way too.

Had the Argentinian Generals and 'top brass' been a little bit more patient, the Falklands would literally have been handed to them on a plate. Thatcher was already in the process with the FO to 'do a deal' with Argentina behind the backs of the Falklanders, but the power and popularity of the Generals was slipping so they made a desperate attempt to gain back popularity by making the rash decision to invade the Falklands.

Thatcher rallies the troops and off they go to gain back sovereignty of an island 8000 miles away! It cost the lives of 649 Argentine troops, 255 British, and three islanders.

Post Falklands war, the islanders lives were turned around overnight. Money poured in. The newly built military base costs £76 million a year to keep a permanently manned garrison of troops.

Students from the Falklands attending Universities here in UK are exempt from tuition costs and given travel allowance costs.

In 2013 a referendum held by the islanders on it's political status saw a vote of 99.8% in favour of remaining under British rule. Easy to see why too!
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Old 11-04-2015, 16:42
justanne
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I'm enjoying it, but with such a small population, how on earth do they all make a living????

I love the small community feel between the people, a bit like Britain, pre WWII.

The scenery is spectacular, and it would be a haven for anyone who eschews urban living. But ye gods, it's isolated, and in the winter.... so, so, so cold.
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Old 03-11-2015, 19:30
Grouty
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Return to The Falklands next Friday for a new series, BBC2, 8:30pm.
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Old 04-11-2015, 04:46
Jimmy Connors
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Return to The Falklands next Friday for a new series, BBC2, 8:30pm.
Thanks for this .... I'll make sure I record it.
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Old 04-11-2015, 08:26
MR. Macavity
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Return to The Falklands next Friday for a new series, BBC2, 8:30pm.
Thanks for the reminder - fascinating series
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Old 05-11-2015, 21:42
nethwen
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I love this programme.
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Old 25-11-2015, 03:44
Jimmy Connors
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This is such a gentle half hour. The Falklands look so genteel and peaceful. I'd love to visit someday, although I know I never will.

The baker was the spit of the darts player Phil Taylor. He upped and moved there from Sheffield I think he said. Can any UK citizen up sticks and move to the Falklands? I am guessing not.

I have answered my own question:

Q: How easy is it to move to the Falkland Islands, and are immigrants welcome, whether with a profession or as a pensioner? If so, what are the professions that the islands need, and what are the costs of living there, including home purchase?
Greg, Ipswich


A: The Falkland Islands are part of the UK, but there is no automatic right for British visitors to settle here and overseas citizens may not purchase land without showing they are going to be able to support themselves and then getting a licence.

Having said that, last year's census showed only a third of residents were born here.

There are contracts for professionals sometimes advertised, usually for two or three years, and some contract workers settle here. There are also people from Saint Helena and Chile, who have become assimilated. Like with Marmite, you love it or hate it here.

Bear in mind that this place needs the full range of jobs for a modern country, including an airline with all local pilots, but has a population of only 3,000.

Regarding cost of living, some things are much more expensive, some much cheaper. Good wine is £3 a bottle, good fish £4 a kilo - but imports from the UK have to come 8,000 miles and that shows.

You can get a lot of house for your money, but most people build their own for about £100,000. There are very few re-sales but £110,000 is about the going rate, when one occurs.

There's no VAT and the top tax rate has just gone up to 26%.
Mark Brunet, general manager, Falkland Islands Development Corporation. [Moved from East Sussex, UK, to the Falklands in February, on a three-year contract]

Last edited by Jimmy Connors : 25-11-2015 at 03:49. Reason: Added some.
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Old 21-03-2016, 20:12
Grouty
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New series starts tonight, BBC2, 8:30pm, this time Shetland
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Old 21-03-2016, 21:11
lundavra
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New series starts tonight, BBC2, 8:30pm, this time Shetland
The whole series seems to be on Unst.
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Old 21-03-2016, 22:33
Grouty
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The whole series seems to be on Unst.
Yeah, i recorded it as i watched Corrie, so will watch in bed later, i love these Island Parish programmes.
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Old 23-03-2016, 15:44
Glawster2002
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The whole series seems to be on Unst.
I'll be watching it as I was stationed at RAF Saxa Vord in the 1980s.

Whilst that was 30 years ago it is fair to say Unst has become far more commercialised now.
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Old 23-03-2016, 15:47
lundavra
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I'll be watching it as I was stationed at RAF Saxa Vord in the 1980s.

Whilst that was 30 years ago it is fair to say Unst has become far more commercialised now.
Have you looked at the Saxa Vord history site? Sure they would be glad to get any stories or pictures.
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Old 24-12-2016, 13:34
Grouty
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New series starts on the 2nd January @ 8:30pm, from Anguilla in the Caribbean.
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Old 24-12-2016, 13:46
Baz_James
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New series starts on the 2nd January @ 8:30pm, from Anguilla in the Caribbean.
Kicking Only Connect to Friday for no fathomable reason!
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