Returning to Aride Island after 33 years - Jo Lillicrap

Recently, we had a visit from Jo Lilicrap, one of our volunteers in 1991, on Aride Island Nature Reserve.
This is what she wrote:

"I loved being on the island from my first day there, despite the relative hardships of life on Aride. I didn’t leave the island much during my time there, so we relied on the boatmen to buy our supplies every week, and we could also pick and eat fruits and vegetables grown on the island. We were also fortunate that Ogilvey fished regularly and cooked us gorgeous Creole fish and other #Seychelles dishes. If the boat was going to #Praslin, we would get up early to pick fruit and vegetables to sell—I specifically remember picking chillis, a job I didn’t particularly enjoy. Another job I disliked was hand washing bed sheets with well water, something I was expecting to relive when I visited in April this year, and which I happily avoided!
This time round, it also felt like luxury to have a flushing toilet, shower, fridge, and ceiling fan. Something we had in 1991 that is not available today was an ‘oven’ which could be placed over the stove flame—we regularly cooked cakes and homemade pizza; talking to the staff on Aride, I think it’s something they would appreciate having! Other differences were the introduction of tortoises and magpie robins, a fuller canopy on the plateau and a few more buildings.
Despite the differences, so much felt familiar when we arrived on Aride. The beauty of the beach still amazed, the heat and humidity still made everyday tasks tiring, the mosquitoes still left their mark, and the noise of the waves and birds still lulled us to sleep.

I left the island feeling very relaxed and knowing that Aride is such a special place that must be protected for future generations. I hope I will be able to return soon to witness the ongoing work there."