21.10.07 The Last Post from Africa....

.... for the moment at least. This is my last full day in Africa. Tomorrow will be spent largely hanging around airports so it doesn't really count.

I am very very excited to be coming home, to see family and friends and have lots of catch ups and reunions, and figuring out what comes next; I am also very very sad to be leaving Africa and Livingstone, my friends here, and the amazing experiences I've had. Overall it has been such an eventful time, with highs and lows along the way.

Thanks for the v kind offers to pick me up. Plans have been made to collect me and wrap me in blankets to stop me from freezing. Seriously, anything below 30degrees I find quite cool at the moment! If you are not sure if I have it, can you please email me your phone numbers. I will get a UK mobile as soon as I can.

The computers here are not so good as to put photos on so I'll do a bit of a retro from home, and gather my thoughts.

Keep in touch and think of me tomorrow evening as the 2 friends who are coincidentally on the same flight are taking one arm each and frog marching me onto the plane.

And for those who want the chat about the romance - you'll have to ask me in person!

11.10.07 Full Circle

Hi. Sorry for the lack of blog. I was in Mozambique for a month and the internet connection was so intermittent that it was not possible to do more than a couple of basic emails.

I'm now back in Livingstone, and will stay here before saying goodbye to a town, country, continent, people and a particular man I've fallen in love with. I suspect some if not all of these goodbyes are only temporary. I hope so. I'll be home in less than 2 weeks! Eek!!!!!

After the tour was over I went back to Mozambique to stay with my wonderful friends, Jaco and Maria. I had a great opportunity to chill go back to see the orphans at Temane. I've put a couple of pics in here, but I'll do more from home. The main difference that I noticed from May is that the kids look relaxed and happy. The smiles came easily! The tents have held up so far, but it is coming into rainy season and it is doubtful they will survive intact. Jaco is waiting on various local procedures to be sorted before starting construction, and a borehole needs to be drilled in order to have a water supply for construction, as well as for the orphanage when it is up and running properly. The funds that have been so kindly donated are being transferred to the South African non-profit organisation that Jaco has set up, of which I am a member of the board. Its too hard for me to be a director from the UK. The money (about US$2,400 ish I think) will be put towards the cost of the borehole and construction materials for the first building - approx US $7,000 and $17,000 respectively, so thank you again to the very kind donors. I am going to start active fund-raising when I get back to see if we can't help a bit more. There are currently 23 children living there. Jaco has a list of 76 more homeless children in that area alone.

These are some of the children with Isabel, who cooks for them, and Eric, a local teacher, who looks after the children.

I got back to Livingstone on Monday afternoon. I have been amazed at how many people I met that remember me from my time here earlier in the year - in the internet place where I am now, the Vegetarian cafe (no, I haven't told them!), and some of the curio sellers who know I'm going home and are keen for business. Fortunately the chap I saw in August who looked very sick is now looking much better. I am relieved. The people here are very open and friendly (occasionally too much so, but no marriage proposals so far!) and apart from being fresh meat for the local mozzies again, it feels so great to be back here. And I like the fact that I'm finishing where I started. Its nice and circular.

I am beginning to slip into a reflectiv mood, probably because I'm nearing the end of this trip, and because I am not busy at the moment, although my socialising/coffee stops are filling my days nicely. No doubt I'll put some self-conscious ramblings on here at some point. Ach - you've put up with it so far, so I'll see what I can get away with.

Anyway, that's about all from Livingstone so far. If there's anything more to report in the next 2 weeks I'll let you know; otherwise the next entry may be from Edinburgh. Oh that sounds so weird!!!

I can't wait to catch up with everyone in person. The number of people that have had babies or are pregnant is ridiculous - what have you been up to? No, no, I realise that..... Anyway, I warn you, I am a social lightweight and will get very tipsy on one glass of wine. Cheap - me???

Signing off for now.