What links Samoa to Scotland: the South Seas & South Edinburgh?
Also, how has Samoa seen the first of the New Year for the first time in 119 years? How did it lose the 30th of December 2011 forever?
What happens to babies born overnight-what's their date of birth?
The main rationale is enhancing trade links with their principle partners of Asia and Australasia rather than North America - which was the reason for bringing themselves into the time zone with the US at the end of the 19th Century in the first place.
Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi told Radio New Zealand that this drastic move would lead to significant improvements in trade and tourism. "No longer shall we have people ringing us up from New Zealand and Australia thinking it is Monday when we are closing our eyes and praying at churches."
Fittingly a Hogmanay walk across to Swanston Village on the south side of Edinburgh under the shadow of the Pentlands brought us to the cottage where author Robert Louis Stevenson spend many summers from 1867 despite being raised in Heriot Row close to the SPACE Clinics centre in Edinburgh's West End.
He is the strongest link between the two great countries of Scotland & Samoa.
Despite ill-health that dogged him whilst living in Scotland & England, he wrote his three most famous works here: 'Treasure Island', 'Kidnapped' & 'The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde'.
Stevenson chartered the yacht Casco in 1888, and set sail from San Franscisco for Hawaii & Pacific Islands. In 1890 Stevenson purchased a tract of 400 acres in Upolu in Samoa, and established himself upon his estate in the village of Vailima. He had the name Tusitala or 'teller of tales' bestowed upon him by the Samoans, and his influence was considerable, as he was consulted for advice and he became involved in local politics and publicising the conditions established by the officers dispatched by the colonial leaders.
He died of a cerebral haemorrhage aged 44. The local Samoans surrounded his body with a watch-guard during the night and carried it upon their shoulders to nearby Mount Vaea where he was buried overlooking the sea.
Our final postscript to link these countries together is rugby, the sport popular in both. In June 2012 the two will play against one another for the first time in an official test match in Samoa, although SPACE Directors Gregor Townsend & Stephen Mutch were both present for the last tour there in 1993: Gregor as a player, and Stephen as a wide-eyed spectator! Expect more tales in the coming months on this blog as the tour to the South Seas draws nearer.
Something else to watch out for in 2012!
Happy New Year to you all from SPACE : staff, patients & readers.
Also, how has Samoa seen the first of the New Year for the first time in 119 years? How did it lose the 30th of December 2011 forever?
What happens to babies born overnight-what's their date of birth?
Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi told Radio New Zealand that this drastic move would lead to significant improvements in trade and tourism. "No longer shall we have people ringing us up from New Zealand and Australia thinking it is Monday when we are closing our eyes and praying at churches."
Fittingly a Hogmanay walk across to Swanston Village on the south side of Edinburgh under the shadow of the Pentlands brought us to the cottage where author Robert Louis Stevenson spend many summers from 1867 despite being raised in Heriot Row close to the SPACE Clinics centre in Edinburgh's West End.
Despite ill-health that dogged him whilst living in Scotland & England, he wrote his three most famous works here: 'Treasure Island', 'Kidnapped' & 'The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde'.
Stevenson chartered the yacht Casco in 1888, and set sail from San Franscisco for Hawaii & Pacific Islands. In 1890 Stevenson purchased a tract of 400 acres in Upolu in Samoa, and established himself upon his estate in the village of Vailima. He had the name Tusitala or 'teller of tales' bestowed upon him by the Samoans, and his influence was considerable, as he was consulted for advice and he became involved in local politics and publicising the conditions established by the officers dispatched by the colonial leaders.
He died of a cerebral haemorrhage aged 44. The local Samoans surrounded his body with a watch-guard during the night and carried it upon their shoulders to nearby Mount Vaea where he was buried overlooking the sea.Our final postscript to link these countries together is rugby, the sport popular in both. In June 2012 the two will play against one another for the first time in an official test match in Samoa, although SPACE Directors Gregor Townsend & Stephen Mutch were both present for the last tour there in 1993: Gregor as a player, and Stephen as a wide-eyed spectator! Expect more tales in the coming months on this blog as the tour to the South Seas draws nearer.
Something else to watch out for in 2012!
Happy New Year to you all from SPACE : staff, patients & readers.
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