Not that there is much of a Klondyke atmosphere among the Falklands' 3,000-strong population. The oil companies have stressed the uncertainty over their exploration, ensuring that – as Emma Edwards puts it – "nobody has been running around popping champagne corks". British in a way that often smacks of the 1950s, the islanders don't really seem to "do" wild excitement. Instead, some have expressed misgivings about the social and environmental impact that sudden oil money could have on their unspoilt way of life. Signs of oil-related materialism are already creeping into the town. Developers are trying to sell refurbished three-bed cottages on the waterfront in Stanley for the unheard of price of £320,000. Rising prices have meant that first-time buyers have had trouble finding somewhere they can afford – a new phenomenon.