And a lifeline in a country so vast and sparsely populated except around the coastal areas.

? For your sister.

@FrayedBear She came back, got married to an anaesthetist and became an oncologist. They both were consultants prior to retirement a few years ago. When they retired they went out twice as volunteer medics to Tristan da Cuenca where they have no permanent doctors. There is no airstrip on the island and the only access is by sea from South Africa....passage takes between a week and ten days depending on conditions at sea! You can imagine how well received they were as they could do surgery on the island instead of the islanders having to be shipped to S.A.! They are home in Scotland at the moment but will return at some time I am sure.

@Marionville A long way to go for 243 people? But that is down 30+ from the year before so pehaps there is a need. Interesting that Yristan da Cunha has only just passed its 200 anniversary of existance - it is younger than Australia in terms of white settlement. Australia is now 230.

@FrayedBear Yes, they are a strange hardy breed by all accounts. I remember in 1961 when they were evacuated to the UK due to volcanic activity, they mostly all returned afterwards. My in - laws love adventure and are the types to relish tough conditions. He has always been involved with the Territorial Army and when he was a medical student, whilst she was zipping around Australia with the Flying Doctors, he was a medic on one of the Antarctic Surveys.....down there for months. He also did several stints more recently out in Afghanistan running a field hospital ! He got a medal from the Queen last year.

Why? Please message me if the answer is embarrassing. ?