The computers and peripherals had been reconditioned by the team back at NS Optimum in Leamington Spa and shipped out to Dominica by Geest a couple of weeks before Scott Fisher (Network Manager of Bromsgrove School), his wonderful wife Lisa, and myself (Mark Allan of NS Optimum) flew out to Dominica for installation.

Note – click the links below to open pictures in a new window

Saturday 5th April 2008

After a long journey from Gatwick via Antigua (including some comedy ‘Englishness from myself), we arrived at Melville Hall Airport in Dominica to be met by the friendly face of Jem Winston from Rosalie Forest Eco-Lodge. Jem drove us back to Rosalie Forest where we stayed for the weekend. Due to the time difference of 5 hours between Dominica and the UK, we all felt a little tired so had an early night to try and get into the swing of things.

Sunday 6th April 2008

Just a day of chilling out today. We had a walk around the forest before we went to see the ‘Emerald Pool’ which is a fantastic waterfall dropping into (amazingly enough) a deep emerald coloured pool. On the way back from there, we saw this lovely view. After this is was back to Rosalie Forest for a superb evening meal and a few bottles of Kubuli.

 Monday 7th April 2008

Our first installation at St Martins Secondary School in Roseau today. Jem dropped us and our luggage off at Tina Alexander’s house where we will be staying for the rest of the week. Then we went to meet Tim and the rest of the team at the Ministry for Education and Youth Affairs to load up the bus with kit to be installed at the school. We were soon back into the same routine as last year and got the 16 PC’s installed and networked quite easily. After dropping the kit back at the ministry, Scott, Lisa, Tim, Lugay, and I went for a drink or two and caught up on what had gone on in the year since we had last been to Dominica.

Tuesday 8th April 2008

After a good nights rest, we headed off to do our second installation of the week. This was at Pierre Charles School in Grand Bay. Grand Bay is in the southern part of the island, unknown territory for us. After a slightly eventful drive down (anyone ever see a spirit level fly out of the side window of a bus?), we arrived and unloaded as usual. The lads were soon busy putting the cabling in for the PC’s while Scott and I checked out the 20 PC’s to make sure they had survived their 4000 mile trek. Here’s a before and after shot of the computer lab at the school.

Once we were done, it was back in the bus (with spirit level secured) and home to Tina’s for another lovely meal and some rest. In fact, that’s what I’m going to go and do right now. Another day of installation beckons with 30 PC’s this time.

TTFN