Waking up on my first morning in the Mantis St Helena Hotel, I had a brief, but present, claustrophobic feeling. Oh no, had island fever set in?! I could not leave the island, even if I wanted to, until the next flight came. OK, I could have hitched a ride as a crew member, possibly, on one of the boats anchored in the bay, but that would also take at least two weeks to get anywhere. It was a nagging feeling, always there, and one that I had to surpress, that I was really, very remote. Very far away from anything. I had no mobile phone connection, and wifi only in the hotel, and that was sporadic at best.
Jacob’s Ladder was visible from my hotel window. My memories came flooding back. In 1982, since we had to stay on the island for more than a couple of weeks to wait for the RMS St Helena to return with sails and much needed engine parts for Scally, my father enrolled us in school. The secondary school was located at the top of Jacob’s ladder.
Me and the oldest of my brothers, both secondary school age, would come ashore every morning, in our sailing clothes, which were mainly shorts, T-shirts and slip slops or bare feet, and climb the ladder, along with all the other secondary school Saints. 699 steps to the top. Coming back down was often sliding down the handrail.
I walked to the first step, located a few metres from my hotel, near the museum and the prison, and stood at the bottom step looking up. It’s steep, very steep. I tried to picture the two of us climbing them every day. I confess, I did not have the courage to climb them again. My knees and hip cause me too much discomfort, and after all, I had climbed them, albeit many many years ago.
I visited the school at the top, by taxi. I would not have remembered it at all, but standing there looking at it, it came flooding back. I was on the top floor, the stranger amongst the Saints. I remembered the exercise books we had been given, and the Maths class, which seemed awfully easy. I remembered not sounding like them; my accent was very different. I remembered their curiosity. I remember being accepted.
I stood, for a good while, remembering.
Dates: I was in January in early January 2026.
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