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