Maria's 30! Almost as significantly I made it through without any damage. The extremes men go to to avoid pain - give up your job, and travel to Africa to take her mind off the ageing process. Way to go Floudy...

It was 4 days ago and we arranged for the other volunteers and charity staff to come round to where we are staying in the regional town of Ho for a candle light meal (electricity saving means regular power outs). No mean feet as the invites were all placed on the bush telegraph. We are staying with Aunty and her identical twin sister Patricia. One of the customs is to pour beer on birthday girls and boys - Maria got soaked as Aunty went crazy with a bottle over her!

We have found that there are 10 Danish volunteers out here and a lone pom working in various areas such as teaching, nursing, testing stool samples etc. They got here about 2 weeks before us so we have been learning a lot from them as 2 weeks here makes a world of difference.

Since we have been here we have had loads of stuff going on so I don't know where to start. Visits to villages and meeting with chiefs - I had the drunken pleasure of being challenged to down a pint of palm wine - lethal liqour, more fun in hindsight than whilst gurgling and dribbling it!

Our project is on course, and as the veteran Peace Corps volunteer from the US told us when I asked for her advice 'patience is the key my child'. So we are waiting to go out to Tsyome where we will build the centre on which we are standing in the pic above.

We have a chilled out existence in the meantime, reading, sun bathing and fighting a war of attrition with the internet connection. All the while trying to wave and say hello to each friendly face from the hundreds shouting 'Hey white man!' that we see every day.

Hi from Mim too.

ta ra for now
F & M

Hi all,

We are a day before we head out to Ghana so getting excited. Have said many of our goodbyes and looking forward to getting stuck in with the project and sunbathing.

Thank you to everyone for their support in us heading off - we have been touched by how generous people have been and how much you really do want to get rid of us!

We plan to start working on the IT project & footy team from 20 Sep so have a week to acclimatise before work begins. We need some time to relax as it has been crazy getting to this stage. All good stuff though so not complaining - yet.

We plan to sort photos and update soon when we find somewhere to access. In the meantime, you should have our personal emails to get in touch to say hi and deffo if you have any gossip your end.

We will miss everyone from home and look forward to seeing you soon,
Maria & Dave