2010 with the penguins

Now living in the Falkland Islands, Jo experienced a Christmas and New Year very different from the ones she's been used to back home.

Boxing Day was not the first day of the sales, but the start of Stanley Sports, which was three days of horse racing, sports and games, alongside plenty of social activity.

As this is now the Falklands summer, Jo and her family are celebrating with sunny beach barbecues instead of wrapping up against ice cold wind and rain '“ including her son Miles's second birthday on December 28.

It's a long way from Down Road where she was learning leader for expressive arts, but Jo recently moved to the Falklands with her husband and son as she has a two-year contract to teach art at the secondary school there.

She decided to move for "a change of scenery, and a bit of a challenge".

There has been much to surprise her about life in the Falklands such as the level of trust between neighbours who never lock their doors, and that many people kept horses in their back gardens in preparation for Stanley Sports.

Jo said: "The lengths that people will go to in order to help out has also been surprising

"Strangers were offering us items on loan and through the generosity of strangers, who have now become friends, we were able to get toys and clothes for our ever-growing son, household and kitchen equipment to see us through.

"The pace of life here is far slower, not because of a lack of technology, but people here seem to understand the importance of face to face communication. Lunch break here is 12-1.30pm and everything stops.

"Having this time means I can do much of the school work I would normally take home, in school. I can go to the gym, or go home and have lunch with my husband and son.

"My daily commute is a 15-minute walk through town and even at rush hour I'll see maybe half a dozen people, but all will stop and say hello.

"The wildlife is amazing, my son stands at the door most evenings after dinner, wellies in hand, shouting "Penguins" so most evenings are spent outdoors, walking at Gypsy Cove among the Magellanic penguins, or at Surf Bay where you frequently see seals on the beach and dolphins swimming in the water.

"We've seen sea lions, vultures, night herons, cormorants, petrels, all manner of wonderful creatures, the likes of which we've only ever seen on David Attenborough shows, and all right at our feet and a short drive from home."

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