tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47727932246929488302024-03-13T22:32:50.735+03:00Will there be lego in Africa?The BiblicalBoyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13468821119724326211noreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4772793224692948830.post-53673185610502350992012-06-19T00:34:00.001+03:002012-06-19T00:34:27.194+03:00On coming home to very wet weather<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I am finally managing to write a blog after a very long time due to Aaron's stirling effort at organising, driving and writing nightly on the road trip! Then true to form I was felled by a most virulent African bug 3 days before flying home. I managed to get a new one even for me and probably contracted a strange respiratory syncitial virus which gave me bronchiolitis (I had thought that only babies got this) and then came the usual pneumonia. I can honestly say I have not felt that ill since having cancer all those years ago...... I nearly didn't fly home but managed thanks to a visit from Dr Howlett and 40mg of Dutch Temazepam kindly donated by Christine and Renee which made the journey all a bit of a distant blur!!<br />
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Jason wonderfully picked us up at the airport and he and his lovely wife Sarah had kindly stocked our fridge so I could immediately climb into bed where I stayed for the next 4 days. Josh then got the bug and had an impressive temperature of 39.8!! So I hid from all and the first week back in the UK passed in a pyrexic haze. The main horror was a stumble round Asda when we needed more supplies which was very shocking after the limited food supplies in Tanzania.<br />
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Why do we need 20 brands of cornflakes, baked beans, hundreds of biscuits and cakes and so many aisles stuffed full of foods you didn't even know you wanted! I remember standing in the newly built part of our house looking at the huge kitchen/ living room to be which was probably the same floor size as the whole house where we had been living in Moshi for 6 months thinking so why exactly did we think we needed so much space?? I have also been looking about wondering how we will finish everything and secretly admitting to myself that I have loved having a break from house responsibilities and material goods.<br />
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I excelled myself on the third night home as I was still feeling rubbish and thought a hot bath would be lovely as we were starved of baths in Tanzania. I was in the process of putting the boys to bed and started running a steaming bath with luscious essential oils in our newly built and decorated posh bathroom. Then I sat down with the boys at the computer to help them, then put them to bed and went back to the computer and suddenly the computer crashed and all the electricity went out. My immediate thought was "how strange, we are no longer in Moshi" where the electrics went out all the time. Then I suddenly remembered I had left the bath tap on full!!! And earlier that day I had been admonishing Zac for leaving hot tap on....<br />
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I ran in to find water overflowing out of the bath and pouring onto the new floor, water water everywhere. I screamed, swore and turned the bath off and ran downstairs to find water pouring through the new ceiling onto the banks of coats downstairs and running onto the floor. I ran outside and called for Aaron who was talking to Phil about laying tiles outside for the terrace and he came in and calmly dealt with things pulling out the new ceiling lights so water trapped in the ceiling could pour through. I asked Aaron what I could do to help and he told me to go away so I went upstairs and got in my now very overrun bath - seemed a shame to waste it and contemplated my idiocy - how I tried to ruin the only part of our house that was actually finished! Zac came in to talk to me and I asked him to go and see Daddy as he was so cross with me. Luckily the ceiling has survived although the clever light sensor hasn't and time will tell whether the lights work or not and amazingly the electric underfloor heating still works too.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We have missed escalators in Tanzania...</td></tr>
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So once we had mostly recovered and were not too infectious we went up to London to visit the grandparents and it was glorious as children were still in schools (apart from ours) so no queues. Noo-Noo had bought tickets for the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe in Kensington Gardens so we rushed down and across London on Saturday to find when we handed the tickets in at the gate that we actually had tickets for the Sunday so came back the next day! My chilled African ways came to the fore although Noo-Noo was most upset. We did lots of great London things and took the boys to the Natural History Museum to see the dinosaurs, to Buckingham Palace for the changing of the guard, to the Wizard of Oz which was fantastically staged and caught up with friends and family.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">They are changing the guard at Buckingham Palace<br />Christopher Robin went down with Alice<br /></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-tP_tyHkqug2wqcriDzPHPIqqBgZ7PWok8syNF5sstwtr3iWuvOUzBfcx39tegEfuxMxPm6OGSsRKv2uPNPnkUroqqGbl6jMdVZ5PNzWMRFE4OClSdf_jO664GE_v1JXhtYBnJPMRSlU/s1600/P1130492.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-tP_tyHkqug2wqcriDzPHPIqqBgZ7PWok8syNF5sstwtr3iWuvOUzBfcx39tegEfuxMxPm6OGSsRKv2uPNPnkUroqqGbl6jMdVZ5PNzWMRFE4OClSdf_jO664GE_v1JXhtYBnJPMRSlU/s400/P1130492.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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Noo-Noo and Eddas new house is in a brilliant position opposite Highgate woods which is fabulous for exploring and has an excellent playground. The weather was freezing for the first few days and then baking hot.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Noo-Noo and Hannah wearing the aprons made by Tanzanian ladies<br /></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyLAhoesF1oQwVz7G5StKwMCYSkWMnmv9sTn-uKj9_SSfBX9oundIbbFiBF0v5mSEXGzQAb0jTFZiMs7tiY1z_Y5nSmj5y_KKUs2WnbXofgd1wWOHRTAYydwTi7QBs45sy9TPmyuPsooc/s1600/P1130522.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyLAhoesF1oQwVz7G5StKwMCYSkWMnmv9sTn-uKj9_SSfBX9oundIbbFiBF0v5mSEXGzQAb0jTFZiMs7tiY1z_Y5nSmj5y_KKUs2WnbXofgd1wWOHRTAYydwTi7QBs45sy9TPmyuPsooc/s400/P1130522.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
The boys then settled straight back into school and were embraced by all with their friends and teachers so happy to see them. Aaron spoke to Wickhambreux School's excellent headmistress Mrs Campling who is extremely positive about the Alkebulan Ambulance Appeal and the idea of twinning Wickhambreux school with the school in the Mufindi Highlands.<br />
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I have had a lovely time meeting up with friends and family, going out to lunch interspersed with sorting the house out (although not as fast or efficiently as Aaron would like). However I am proud to say that 5 years after moving into our house I have sorted the boxes out above the garages! The boys had a wonderful Jubilee Celebration on Friday afternoon and it was wonderful for once to be a relaxed Mummy and for the first time ever I baked for the school. Josh and I made red, white and blue fairly flat fairy cakes and I bought fabric pens for Aaron and the boys to use to decorate T-shirts for the party which I could go to as I was not at work!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG2kAJD5Y21aoAHTbqsRs7bAdjtjrrBfRxwmsuC-n18VVRs1VzhbcQOkDVUsEk1VIQHwXdjy6uXA_aup3GH3_flbUXRRj6Di5wq0mFsp90TNVNeyG2L0EnOay52KT5ex4PlVF5cew6s3I/s1600/P1130560.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG2kAJD5Y21aoAHTbqsRs7bAdjtjrrBfRxwmsuC-n18VVRs1VzhbcQOkDVUsEk1VIQHwXdjy6uXA_aup3GH3_flbUXRRj6Di5wq0mFsp90TNVNeyG2L0EnOay52KT5ex4PlVF5cew6s3I/s400/P1130560.jpg" width="300" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMtTi1EkpANQ55aWaHWPur7V1WYyQ3IHusXjMirlHp0BpEQkFddVgdcdHg_LgaiyBr2r2YzxRzwYsLSRNTQkgoA6pwFG7Ml0mjg7Zhk9Hx93Y3vnm8dbfGvavhKb2yy8g-THY_9d085tQ/s1600/P1130561.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMtTi1EkpANQ55aWaHWPur7V1WYyQ3IHusXjMirlHp0BpEQkFddVgdcdHg_LgaiyBr2r2YzxRzwYsLSRNTQkgoA6pwFG7Ml0mjg7Zhk9Hx93Y3vnm8dbfGvavhKb2yy8g-THY_9d085tQ/s320/P1130561.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ_dadPw9zd26V0hCNp01jotjw_g9egAfQBRUUaUPd7EvuqU-uGpF-I7FCaCGeXw4TJigshVmKfftKDGRP07B_a62CqrOl-E0dR33QLw97KdWc5hzk7X6_7_YCltSFZLVoOv4rIumSeW8/s1600/P1130635.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ_dadPw9zd26V0hCNp01jotjw_g9egAfQBRUUaUPd7EvuqU-uGpF-I7FCaCGeXw4TJigshVmKfftKDGRP07B_a62CqrOl-E0dR33QLw97KdWc5hzk7X6_7_YCltSFZLVoOv4rIumSeW8/s400/P1130635.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Josh single handedly winning the tug of war...<br /></td></tr>
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I was going back to work on Monday and so as a last blast I flew down to Cornwall for the weekend as my friend Lisa has a 40th birthday party on Saturday and I really could NOT face the drive. Aaron and the boys kindly drove me to the airport and we left at 6.20am much to Zac's disgust. Last year we were in Cornwall for May half-term and spent half our time in the sun on the beach. This year it is blowing a gale, lashing with rain and I am sat in 4 layers in Biz's house. The great British weather has washed out the Jubilee and May half-term so I am glad we had so much sun in Africa.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv5W44gRhNCp3Su7vPkq1YICmC98RzhQif7S5jfzz6GPsZolDhYjbA7CtwDVtTc1YqavrSUJPY5L0l58YTSf4lMDWVUrxmeMV-GsX-TagvHyI9RNLxYyRpYOPqDN9DtEPxfpxGHmRYoXk/s1600/P1130645.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv5W44gRhNCp3Su7vPkq1YICmC98RzhQif7S5jfzz6GPsZolDhYjbA7CtwDVtTc1YqavrSUJPY5L0l58YTSf4lMDWVUrxmeMV-GsX-TagvHyI9RNLxYyRpYOPqDN9DtEPxfpxGHmRYoXk/s400/P1130645.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wind-swept and almost blown away on Trevellas beach with Biz</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anyone for a dip in the sea?</td></tr>
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So I have been contemplating our adventures past and future. I am honestly going to manage my time more productively and not get sucked back into endless work. I want to come home and see my wonderful boys (husband included!) and enjoy our life together. Our exciting aim is for the Alkebulan Ambulance Project to go from strength to strength and we have our first donation - thanks Helen Spencer - for the ambulance. So watch the ambulance blog and we will keep you all posted.<br />
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EXCITING NEWS<br />
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We have now put a deposit down on the ambulance so active fund-raising will soon begin<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinYQG5GgGtkXJFH42wOCJQeylCwNQ766HX2mfWVPFIrqFsAfIfOoCCDJVoE7RjvLGB7YYFLTMvzpocuZRaMnI1ORkqYQKjNqiegWv0syWCbDvxd_GLiPHhAyHTY4oiwRwlpMUroZUfUtQ/s1600/101_0733-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinYQG5GgGtkXJFH42wOCJQeylCwNQ766HX2mfWVPFIrqFsAfIfOoCCDJVoE7RjvLGB7YYFLTMvzpocuZRaMnI1ORkqYQKjNqiegWv0syWCbDvxd_GLiPHhAyHTY4oiwRwlpMUroZUfUtQ/s640/101_0733-1.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">This is our ambulance!!!!<br /></td></tr>
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So thank you to all who have kept up with our travels and kept in touch, it meant so much that we have so many good friends both old and new. We are most blessed and I am determined to remember this always.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQIqS6n3QWxBjhltxI-Pwq4D-Y2MBSsva6MpLkgi7VbECadcPxrFYGpsyPdCKJ6O_-625-9GpsUtj91_n_As8eiEBYax4DEIptS95ucw2ZV5spBBSxrqc2XcXLAU5tSBQhjSYcaHF-GTA/s1600/P1130694.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQIqS6n3QWxBjhltxI-Pwq4D-Y2MBSsva6MpLkgi7VbECadcPxrFYGpsyPdCKJ6O_-625-9GpsUtj91_n_As8eiEBYax4DEIptS95ucw2ZV5spBBSxrqc2XcXLAU5tSBQhjSYcaHF-GTA/s640/P1130694.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All these adventures are a bit tiring...</td></tr>
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</div>The BiblicalBoyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13468821119724326211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4772793224692948830.post-46215935195340212212012-05-24T20:51:00.000+03:002012-05-24T20:51:01.119+03:00On a Plea for HELP<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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As you may know we are now home...it is interesting and at the same time disorientating to be experiencing the the vast array of 'STUFF' we surround ourselves with. We definitely intend to de-clutter our lives and in doing so we hope to collect as much 'stuff' as possible, we can either sell or collect together for our chosen cause. </div>
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To that end we have started our own charity project with the intention of raising £25,000 for the purchase and supply (direct) of a 4x4 ambulance. The charity is called the <a href="http://alkebulanambulanceproject.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Alkebulan Ambulance Project</a><span style="color: black;"> </span>and this link will take you to a website that describes what it is and what we are hoping to achieve. It would be great if as many of you as possible sign up to the project pages so you can be informed whenever we post an update or create an event. </div>
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The whole scheme links back to the pages on this blog when we traveled up to the Mufindi Highland's and met the remarkable Geoff Fox whose amazing project to create the Children's Village, Community Centre and Hospital is one of the most worthy enterprises we have ever seen.</div>
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In advance can we thank you all for reading and we hope you'll come on board, it promises to be a real journey that will change the lives of thousands of African men, women and children living in a remote part of the world.</div>
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A&Z 2012</div>
</div>The BiblicalBoyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13468821119724326211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4772793224692948830.post-64499131085927663982012-05-17T11:14:00.000+03:002012-06-07T16:46:18.264+03:00On the long goodbye<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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As with all good things there comes a point in your lives when things change. For us it is that time when this part of the African adventure has to cease to be. Tonight we sat around the dining table and had our meal with a degree of contemplative quiet. Now quiet in this family is a relative term, so as you can imagine it simply meant that Joshua wasn't shouting just talking loudly.</div>
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Zanner had said she was going to be sad to leave to which Zach concurred. It made me think, and I told everyone that this wasn't the end of anything, we were simply going on the next adventure. That every ending is simply the beginning of the next. I just don't see that we are finished here or that we are heading for a period of quiet reflection that lasts until the boys are off doing their own thing.</div>
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We have all been very comfortable here, that is to say the place fits our spirit, we have easily adapted to the lack of creature comforts even if the lack of electricity or decent internet can be somewhat vexing it is nothing in the grand scheme of things.</div>
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The boys have, we hope, gained something from all of this as it was always our wish that they would somehow find an alternative view to the commercial and egocentric attitudes we are surrounded by in the UK. But above all I hope that they have continued to stoke the fires of adventure and daring do that burns within both Zanner and I. In six months they have physically grown, as can be seen below, but they have also grown closer. Their ability to share endless hours of play and discussion has been wonderful to see, and at times their unrequited love for one another is a shield against the upset they sometimes feel. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr_nxslwKUAL-QadI5ShBepAEhYHQwU3kMnuHQ-tbBom_mmxGXNyyuCftDRQvvU49irNCpHIv5hzomWNLFprqtPUn7Y33nyM7wlRF49luKRz9TYleoyoD-gYttTDKvlfPkvotmBjXU9nU/s1600/P1100070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr_nxslwKUAL-QadI5ShBepAEhYHQwU3kMnuHQ-tbBom_mmxGXNyyuCftDRQvvU49irNCpHIv5hzomWNLFprqtPUn7Y33nyM7wlRF49luKRz9TYleoyoD-gYttTDKvlfPkvotmBjXU9nU/s320/P1100070.JPG" width="256" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA6QhWnZzCGZbtKcwJ_0J9yxS8L4NOjj9wDJ5PYu1f6taec1apuo2Jq8XTAZOxJ12E8hyphenhyphenOQFeXU64wbsbCMfzghSXWgkjNwbmT1Ans1bTRxZw0PCmqSbaiqJHKMEVGzZ0X32OTl8kc92g/s1600/IMG_0256.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA6QhWnZzCGZbtKcwJ_0J9yxS8L4NOjj9wDJ5PYu1f6taec1apuo2Jq8XTAZOxJ12E8hyphenhyphenOQFeXU64wbsbCMfzghSXWgkjNwbmT1Ans1bTRxZw0PCmqSbaiqJHKMEVGzZ0X32OTl8kc92g/s320/IMG_0256.JPG" width="284" /></a></div>
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To mark the end of this particular journey we threw a small get together at the compound to celebrate what has been a wonderful six months. Zanner was very much under the weather, unfortunately one of many ills to have befallen her over the period. But she soldiered on and we produced a good old shin dig. As many couldn't be here as could come, this was HASH day after all, but some of our friends had already left the country to return home after their tour of duty. The kids all had a great time racing around the gardens with numerous bits of grub and sticks with which to beat up on one another.</div>
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All in all it went well and we have made connections that will no doubt continue to challenge us to keep traveling around the world. NEXT STOP....watch this space.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A few new close friends</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtkVsYn_pW8K6oZ3WCR51L4fhhO2ApMDzbOLmCi5Bpzyl9iLeei5J6hlIsFPoQ-poPBlJ5FDCn5ycV6Kv83TDFjbMSe1RLKHsOXg4Su_BmGEI-abY1PhhJj3hJTdDUHhu1bO87SQrOn6E/s1600/DSC_0370.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtkVsYn_pW8K6oZ3WCR51L4fhhO2ApMDzbOLmCi5Bpzyl9iLeei5J6hlIsFPoQ-poPBlJ5FDCn5ycV6Kv83TDFjbMSe1RLKHsOXg4Su_BmGEI-abY1PhhJj3hJTdDUHhu1bO87SQrOn6E/s640/DSC_0370.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">King of his tribe, Zach is a natural leader.</td></tr>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">"The purpose of this blog was not to bore any family or friends who found time to read it, in fact for those of you that have we hope you have enjoyed the journey with us, and of course a profound thank you for taking the time. But, the real purpose was to create something we could turn into a document to give to the boys, a kind of diary for the 21st Century. With that in mind we know that they will not read it today or tomorrow, but maybe in time it will be one of a collection of 'blogs' that chart our many adventures. In it we hope that you both read and understand how much we love you and that these adventures are the building blocks of what we hope will be lives full of excitement and daring do."</span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"></span></i><b> A&Z</b> (13/05/2012)</div>
</div>The BiblicalBoyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13468821119724326211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4772793224692948830.post-83604998107794187682012-05-13T23:27:00.002+03:002012-06-08T20:12:08.612+03:00On Cops and Carnage<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I thought I should give a separate entry to two of the most
ubiquitous issues the road user faces when traveling through Tanzania, namely
the police and Tanzanian traffic.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This guy didn't need to see our extinguisher just our $!</td></tr>
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I won't bore you too much on the first as we have detailed
many of our experiences throughout the journey in previous blogs. Our
encounters have ranged from the perfunctory to the bureaucratic, but
unfortunately no matter what the approach there is always an undertow of
corruption. </div>
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To hold office as a police officer here is not it would
seem something one enters for community reasons. Now I am not saying this is
the case in the UK, but those officers I know that have forged a career in the
British police force all seem to have a sense of upholding a higher purpose.
Anyway it would seem it is not the case here in Tanzania, if it were those that
I have experienced and those that others have described wouldn't be so easily
swayed to accept a personal contribution rather than receive the state
appointed fine. </div>
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You could argue that this is compounded by the white mans
readiness to seek a cheaper way out, but believe me, having been through the
whole process of going to the police station to pay the requisite fine, you are
deemed to be working against the accepted culture and are treated as a fool. We
have experienced the most bizarre performances where the officer has struggled
to find the appropriate way of seeking a payment without just coming to the
crux and asking outright for money to allow us to proceed. </div>
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There also seems to be a link between physical girth and
the successful appropriation of funds between officers. Now the average
Tanzanian will judge success, ergo wealth, by weight. Many of those you see who
run businesses here have not held back on the carbs, but then again you can't
blame them as running a business here is no easy undertaking. The police
however are not self employed (although there seems to be an element of self
employment), but then again they are not particularly underplayed in the great
scheme of things. Therefore, one cannot argue that the personal fund system is
a result of poor pay, so why? It seems that there is a hierarchical system in
place in which being a police officer puts you someway up the bribe ladder. I
am told that the income has to be shared with the senior officers which simply
compounds the problem. </div>
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Unfortunately, the police are a reflection of what happens
further up the food ladder. Only four days ago a group of senior ministers and
their associated under minsters were sacked for corrupt behavior. </div>
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This piece is not a complaint it is simply an observation,
in fact I would go further. The prime minister Kweite has at least taken the
bold step of removing those found to be corrupt...maybe a lesson our own
government could one day get a handle on?</div>
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The traffic for which the noble officer has to manage is
something altogether different. Now vehicles here are simply a receptacle for
inserting as many items per cubic centimeter as it is humanly possible to cram.
Don't get me wrong I have seen similar in other places around the world, but I
have never seen the carnage that results from this practice as much as here. </div>
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The vehicles here all need three key documents, insurance
(which costs so little you know it to be worthless), registration (not that
this has to match the car) and of course a fire extinguisher certificate???
This confused me a little, I know it is common practice across the EU, but then
again the other strictures on car ownership are far more detailed. So the fire
extinguisher seems to serve very little purpose, I can say to because so long
as you have paid the fire department for the small round certificate to place
in you windscreen no check is carried out on the actual device. Some of the
extinguishers I have seen would serve very little purpose in a fire situation
beyond smashing a window to allow the fire to spread. </div>
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Most of the vehicles you see would not gain a valid MOT,
other than those driven by the more rotund residence. Tyres are generally good
for turning into sudo-Masai footage to be sold at the local tourist traps. Most
windscreens look like a pattern for crazy paving and emissions are pretty much
equivalent of any coal fired power station. Lights can only be used on full
beam on a night time and then only if you have at least one that doesn't work
at all. The complete lack of roadworthiness applies to any and all
vehicles...including emergency services. </div>
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<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
Picki picki's are treated much like any other vehicle in
the sense that it seems to be believed hat they are designed to carry up to
three passengers plus rider and any amount of equipment can be tied to the
frame. I have seen 12 crates used for coke bottles, lengths of wood that defy
gravity and a goat!</div>
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<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
Now the beyond the myriad of Picki picki's (motorbikes),
taxi's, and cars you have the three most feared vehicles, namely the ubiquitous
Dala Dala, this usually takes the form of a 16 seat minivan made by Toyota, the
Chinese/Indian coach and the land train or articulated lorry. </div>
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The Dala Dala is the most common way for people to travel
within regions, although you may spot them doing much longer journeys. They
have 16 seats, but again this is a rather arbitrary figure, as with a little
ingenuity you can get at least thirty paying guests onboard. Now I know the
Japanese are sticklers for testing their vehicles and I am sure that the
suspension tests may have taken into account 16 larger than the typical
Japanese demographic before being signed off. However, is it really possible
they contemplated 25 passengers, three to four drivers/drivers mates, two touts
hanging off the side door trying to drum up custom, two double mattresses over
slung on the roof, 6 twenty five ltr water carriers hanging off the back, not
to mention the four tyres in different levels of repair/tread wear all running
on a kerosene/diesel mix? I don't know but I kinda think not! I have to say
some of the most horrendous wrecks I have seen involve these Dala Dala's
notably because you can only imagine the amount of injured the crash will have
involved.</div>
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The next contestant for scary driver is the coach driver.
Treated much in the same way the Dala Dala in terms of use of space, this
vehicle is labeled 80kmph. Now stupidly I thought this meant maximum speed, not
as is the case MINIMUM! These things are just the worst for tailgating and
maneuvering as though the driver is on acid. But on saying that I have to admit
not seeing one in the two thousand plus km we covered at the side of the road
in a mangled mess. I don't put this down to The skill of the drivers, I believe
that where they do crash the sheer impact simply obliterates any evidence of
them ever existing. </div>
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That leaves the big trucks, these are an amalgam of both of
the above. Poor condition vehicles psychopathic drivers, completely packed to
the rafters these things are like road kill here. We saw some awful accidents
along the way involving these trucks and I lost count of the amount ofttimes I
had to swerve to the left to avoid being hit at 100kmph plus as the truck
straddled the white line. I think they clearly to too literally the part of
their license that tells them to tear down the dotted line. <br />
<br />
<br />
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<br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> WARNING! - </span></span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">WARNING! - </span></span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">WARNING! - </span></span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">WARNING! </span></span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></b><br />
<br />
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The following photos were taken during our road trip, many happening on just one day. Some of them are pretty horrific in terms of the structural mess that is left after impact. There is little left to the imagination in terms of the possibility of survivors so please do not view the following if you are of a nervous disposition.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEROj9DzMHXizUQhKgblxqqFUMoEQlWBlNSgrxwcvwVWeRUQFLSRLYauD9xGh6UROy50peG8cd7KxmUXclXOOnGE6BIcn3lnCkPw-9NomjPQ1ftI-dSISG-vA3R8tklNE1Ytxr0d_L6l8/s1600/P1130152.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEROj9DzMHXizUQhKgblxqqFUMoEQlWBlNSgrxwcvwVWeRUQFLSRLYauD9xGh6UROy50peG8cd7KxmUXclXOOnGE6BIcn3lnCkPw-9NomjPQ1ftI-dSISG-vA3R8tklNE1Ytxr0d_L6l8/s640/P1130152.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This involved a petrol tanker and two haulage trucks, there was nothing left of the cab of the vehicle on the right, all the occupants died on the scene. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">As above</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This articulated lorry simple overturned coming down the hill having come around a right hander. The load was clearly unsecured inside and will have created a pendulum effect at the speed he came around the corner.</span></div>
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</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisSsp0_0SrjNY4pPFuKO91KKbzuPk0n9WayyE3Qbggfjoc6aSrLTHqOld5kx4Yryrf6BcbmKOL8zccOsqwJlXGGwLCl7gbMIpW-0NEtic-P0tLXEDv-PAnhr8tn-2BBKy7oUV2FXGg50k/s1600/P1130230.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="616" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisSsp0_0SrjNY4pPFuKO91KKbzuPk0n9WayyE3Qbggfjoc6aSrLTHqOld5kx4Yryrf6BcbmKOL8zccOsqwJlXGGwLCl7gbMIpW-0NEtic-P0tLXEDv-PAnhr8tn-2BBKy7oUV2FXGg50k/s640/P1130230.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This guy was the luckiest, he came around a corner as such speed and was only stopped from going down a huge drop by the railing he completely out.</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJvm6V4-FhLmCV-7ZFgz_-89P6ua5lPcw9BYkIpcZKkFF0bKjMd3er3LWa7d_ZbC_oiKEMS0HVK1D1U4q090I4ILx7xec7SFUTcesBItxE76QdHhHK7tndmYaolI075NZGfKlKP_z3Y08/s1600/P1130433.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJvm6V4-FhLmCV-7ZFgz_-89P6ua5lPcw9BYkIpcZKkFF0bKjMd3er3LWa7d_ZbC_oiKEMS0HVK1D1U4q090I4ILx7xec7SFUTcesBItxE76QdHhHK7tndmYaolI075NZGfKlKP_z3Y08/s640/P1130433.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">As far as crashes go this was tame, a huge truck cab had simply swerved off the road, no doubt avoiding an oncoming truck.</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgodEF_pKuDhAwRUTZ1Fb-XyU7FaLiAEjjH14tou8lQaByt1k8HHyYBiRJ6LILTaBx2k99x4zMvNBc1-6nklOBRuDdVhUlRPflTB1CZYpEuc_eYAzz_7-sGK0fPWSiw4P6QlFlEplev4cI/s1600/P1130435.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgodEF_pKuDhAwRUTZ1Fb-XyU7FaLiAEjjH14tou8lQaByt1k8HHyYBiRJ6LILTaBx2k99x4zMvNBc1-6nklOBRuDdVhUlRPflTB1CZYpEuc_eYAzz_7-sGK0fPWSiw4P6QlFlEplev4cI/s640/P1130435.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">In contrast to the two photos above this guy was not nearly so lucky. You have to imagine the speed at impact the driver must have been going to create such a mangled mess.</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga-PcjjR98-BjdwGf1gkvJRQAN23EdzjmSNf2xMeSONpKcA81K7WXZjZLmOxC-qcxRhY7DTGd3Mw-Ce9bUVxlK7FZVJiskmPsU5_WW4ad5mYy-F0HLR8Gac8mwB2sbx9gx2K_WQYAmq_8/s1600/P1130437.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga-PcjjR98-BjdwGf1gkvJRQAN23EdzjmSNf2xMeSONpKcA81K7WXZjZLmOxC-qcxRhY7DTGd3Mw-Ce9bUVxlK7FZVJiskmPsU5_WW4ad5mYy-F0HLR8Gac8mwB2sbx9gx2K_WQYAmq_8/s640/P1130437.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This again was a low speed corner taken too fast with no doubt an unsecured internal load.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcUWZQWfHxz_5Jk656PYRczB0BZUWkck0EylCi-R3REoUBbA9IimOkGK3Ra_1_V9XbavzmKNrkum1kdn-TrIr6LbnwPT-NwYsDsznsfX7CGYPg9ncEr906SXYeyPEMcnUPpegCvuaQtBE/s1600/P1130440.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcUWZQWfHxz_5Jk656PYRczB0BZUWkck0EylCi-R3REoUBbA9IimOkGK3Ra_1_V9XbavzmKNrkum1kdn-TrIr6LbnwPT-NwYsDsznsfX7CGYPg9ncEr906SXYeyPEMcnUPpegCvuaQtBE/s640/P1130440.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Given the right hand driver nature of the cab he would have been worse for wear.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWmFG2wPzwF-JK3Y2WlOiJiCefLCesPpYcZ_Wleas1Sc2P8yyPf1M_GSUO8rHt_zeKURQ9cSzhOQ9V8_ZEvs3SUi30Nw5pWSoXTplPwpO62JP8oT8ijlddwTaqeSAAVKgMb2iqXwdw10k/s1600/P1130425.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="511" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWmFG2wPzwF-JK3Y2WlOiJiCefLCesPpYcZ_Wleas1Sc2P8yyPf1M_GSUO8rHt_zeKURQ9cSzhOQ9V8_ZEvs3SUi30Nw5pWSoXTplPwpO62JP8oT8ijlddwTaqeSAAVKgMb2iqXwdw10k/s640/P1130425.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Believe it or not this guy was driving uphill, a steep uphill, no wind, clear road, but damp. The speed he must have hit that bend you can see in the background is astonishing as he took out a huge section of the banking behind him.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
For all that it has to be said giving the state of the
roads things do keep moving and there are massive road building projects
underway...none of which hinders the road road user as it seems this place is
the complete antithesis to the UK when it comes to road works. That is to say,
where there is a road works machine there will actually be someone using it,
where there is a sign that says men at work, there really will be men at work
and where a lane is closed the work will have already occurred to allow the
traffic to move freely on an alternate route! <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
On a side note to this, and I acknowledge the complete disdain for which the police are held here, I have to say that when it comes to RTA's they really do draw the short straw.<br />
<br />
In my search for a bit more information I attended the road traffic station and talked to three officers about the protocols for RTA's. It would seem that there is no ambulance service or for that matter a skilled fire service to attend RTA's along with the police. In fact it is the police who must act for all the services we would see in the UK. Therefore, the task of removing bodies is left to the police using a surgical rubber glove and a hacksaw!<br />
<br />
They then either take the body to the mortuary in their car/truck or the hospital if their are injured. The appalling, almost ridicules part to all this is that a lot of the time an injured driver will first be whisked off to the police station for a statement and production of documents. I was told by a KCMC physio that he saw a double compound fracture being taken to the station rather than the hospital because the driver did not have a fire extinguisher tax disc?<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpRbvJ0AkYX9Vjmi-XunEyYfDwWJL-NikzOxo6nz0wBctzyTJx9oXZBWi9k2jdkTgt277sfM1U42IEDvnBoQqfu3La-NE5i35IrVaGL1ymarLW9s5-tGl59H6Hxcqh3khc4R7AYlKh-pI/s1600/IMG_0258.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpRbvJ0AkYX9Vjmi-XunEyYfDwWJL-NikzOxo6nz0wBctzyTJx9oXZBWi9k2jdkTgt277sfM1U42IEDvnBoQqfu3La-NE5i35IrVaGL1ymarLW9s5-tGl59H6Hxcqh3khc4R7AYlKh-pI/s640/IMG_0258.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This is all that is left of a twin cab truck...the engine was mostly in the cabin.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi60e49_KgurW8OjfhSf6xeP79WWkxWda7y3yh_LzRlMYf1ZU9eWim4xpoW_sP33Vt1X5ENubv8VI43ZgwvSogZCe4Mx_A4znCIU7KHTTQ-viTKt3EKGtmoiSWmsxRYvML8H1jFrfc6P6g/s1600/IMG_0257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="481" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi60e49_KgurW8OjfhSf6xeP79WWkxWda7y3yh_LzRlMYf1ZU9eWim4xpoW_sP33Vt1X5ENubv8VI43ZgwvSogZCe4Mx_A4znCIU7KHTTQ-viTKt3EKGtmoiSWmsxRYvML8H1jFrfc6P6g/s640/IMG_0257.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This is a Dala Dala that has will no longer carry passengers, or the driver! </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
</div>The BiblicalBoyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13468821119724326211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4772793224692948830.post-20707248433284259132012-05-13T22:58:00.000+03:002012-05-13T22:58:24.059+03:00On the road: What Josh, Zac and Zanz thought!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We went to the
Usambara mountains at the place you can get the “best breakfast in Tanzania<span id="goog_1097212177"></span><span id="goog_1097212178"></span>”
which was taka taka (rubbish in Swahili!) We went for a 1km walk to the Irente
viewpoint that was not taka taka as it was a great view which Mummy took lots
of pictures of which made us very bored!
The next day we went to Tan-Swiss lodge that was very cheap cheap that
made Daddy very happy. It had
double beds and a big TV in our room which made Josh and I very happy and a
very big playground with swings, see-saw and a roundabout. The next day we went to Mikumi National
Park which was next door and the first thing we saw was trees! We drove all over the park and we
accidentally went down a path where we were surrounded with tsetse flies and
sprayed insect repellant in the car which suffocated us all. We went down a giant track that got us
stuck in the mud for a while but luckily my Dad was in the army so he could
drive us out. We went to the hippo
pool and saw a big, big croc that was eating a catfish. Later Daddy got out of the car and the
croc turned round and snapped at him as he is so attractive (not!). </div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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My favourite bit of
the road trip was going to Kisolanze Farm because I liked the dogs and watching
the cows. By Zac HT<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
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We went to a lovely
coffee shop in Iringa where we had yummy chocolate brownies. We then drove along a very bumpy road
to Ruaha National park where we slept in tiny green bandas with no electricity
and a paraffin lamp for light.
There were giraffes walking along and eating from the high trees when we
arrived. The next morning we saw
10 lions coming out of the Boys toilet on the airstrip. We drove right next to one and it was
trying to eat Mummy (it wasn’t) and then Mummy screamed (I did not!). We stayed at a place called Ruaha River Lodge
which had a bar and there were Fox badges. At Kisolonze farm lodge we saw baby cows called calves
trying to get to their Mummys and they had to swim through chemicals that could
burn your eyes. These chemicals
were to stop them getting sick.
The next day we went to a place high up in the hills and it was called
Mufindi Highland Lodge. They had
sheepdogs and one loves children so Zac and I played with it and there were
ticks on the dogs. We went on a
horse and saw the fish which were trout.
Then we fed the fish.<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
My favourite bit of
the road trip was playing with the dog.
By Josh HT<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I am amazed to tell
you that we had a FANTASTIC road trip and the boys were brilliant in the car in
spite of having no in car entertainment.
A friend kindly lent us some travel games and we whiled away many hours
playing travel bingo, although trying to find a large animal sculpture proved
challenging! We travelled right
into southern Tanzania and it was a brilliant way to see the country. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The Usumbara mountains are so beautiful
and everywhere was green and luscious and even the steep slopes were covered
with crops as the rainy season is the main source of food for many months. Mikumi and Ruaha National Parks were
amazing and although we did not have a pop up roof it was brilliant to be on
safari as a family. Aaron took us
down challenging tracks where we almost got stuck in the mud but then we would
drive out into the most amazing plain in the midst of zebras, giraffes, impalas
all staring at us in surprise and we were all surrounded by indigo smudged
mountains and green, tall grass swaying gently in the wind. We hardly saw another vehicle in either
national park and I was grateful to my adventurous stubborn husband taking us
to places I would not have dared go alone! It was truly amazing and I even managed to persuade Aaron to
have one night of luxury on safari where we stayed in Ruaha River Lodge and sat
in armchairs listening to hippos roaring in the water. Later I watched the reflection of the
full moon on the rippling water and thought how lucky we are to be here. <o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Other highlights have
to be being so close to the lions coming out of the Gents toilet! The lions paced passed, looking at us
with big amber eyes, slightly perturbed at being disturbed and stalked back
into the bush to keep their eye on possible lunch in the form of impalas up on the hill. To my surprise I loved
going to new places each day and meeting new and fascinating people and hearing
their stories. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
Mufindi Highland Lodge
was set 40km up a hill along a windy dirt track surrounded by deep green tea
plantations, which used to belong to Brook Bond. The vista was marvellous – green hills and lakes as far as
you could see – and all developed by the Fox family from land given to them
from the local villages. We could
see why the land was left undisturbed after independence as I am sure the
Government officials probably didn’t know it existed! The Fox’s have set up a NGO which has an amazing childrens’
village to care for the large number of orphans usually orphaned due to HIV
which is very high in the area due to the large number of transient workers.</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpht9zwXeoL0r_gY7iP1GML3_pdNeyzSVM522oit_SHQwtXjoVmNIAxIfDHS-kSyP9jAnFZXRgPOb8NgxSSL0-9azj-Jb7m54EdN7bIJBKijy-rRBm8xoQXdKBfYpOoXW4r-iui_JniLw/s1600/DSC_0277.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpht9zwXeoL0r_gY7iP1GML3_pdNeyzSVM522oit_SHQwtXjoVmNIAxIfDHS-kSyP9jAnFZXRgPOb8NgxSSL0-9azj-Jb7m54EdN7bIJBKijy-rRBm8xoQXdKBfYpOoXW4r-iui_JniLw/s400/DSC_0277.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Could be Scotland, dog from Kenya!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRUgUJ-FXzmV2ezKudTUls4tE8gSHj4edhaWnXDBplmS2Yu2uHbVfvlf9x9SNqlz-FrQWwKQe9FEvjZvYlsNepnvLyl0Se-5jK_VTzyxxLBu5M-z7w-sHnPfoV-dLk-xvPdOtiQYq1tcM/s1600/P1130363.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRUgUJ-FXzmV2ezKudTUls4tE8gSHj4edhaWnXDBplmS2Yu2uHbVfvlf9x9SNqlz-FrQWwKQe9FEvjZvYlsNepnvLyl0Se-5jK_VTzyxxLBu5M-z7w-sHnPfoV-dLk-xvPdOtiQYq1tcM/s400/P1130363.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Cows got the hump with all the photos</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRQzoU9GHz_HzE7OiLK_GnMQT7bMY0PBGIbrmXMWgPJR6O_V19MsM05DkOALFJZ34T8BMM7hgezwr3DeMXUC5peaJqllVNuqAf-bBpFiGicagtAWteywhNFpR-DPwpivckfwDK9224wGw/s1600/P1130371.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRQzoU9GHz_HzE7OiLK_GnMQT7bMY0PBGIbrmXMWgPJR6O_V19MsM05DkOALFJZ34T8BMM7hgezwr3DeMXUC5peaJqllVNuqAf-bBpFiGicagtAWteywhNFpR-DPwpivckfwDK9224wGw/s400/P1130371.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Spock as a cow</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
My favourite bit of
the road trip was that Aaron organised it all and wrote the blog! By Zanz HT<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
</div>The BiblicalBoyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13468821119724326211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4772793224692948830.post-13272878294121433042012-05-13T22:57:00.003+03:002012-05-13T22:57:58.474+03:00On the road: day 9<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_yh2CV5wlBQtHl0IPDvdDnxQurdxvPNkkWtH3vgA4pr4aOsYa1Gy0KjaRb97AnrJHeQZxmC_m3nXFpxFh6XNgRqOtMKUkZIoW93GNMKxmkipw9GT84EiTCFmF-cTJZHq5itmB5uJfVrs/s1600/P1130426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_yh2CV5wlBQtHl0IPDvdDnxQurdxvPNkkWtH3vgA4pr4aOsYa1Gy0KjaRb97AnrJHeQZxmC_m3nXFpxFh6XNgRqOtMKUkZIoW93GNMKxmkipw9GT84EiTCFmF-cTJZHq5itmB5uJfVrs/s320/P1130426.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This driver just popped in.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Today's blog is short in length but long in distance
travelled. We covered 667.6km door to door, from Tan Swiss Lodge in Mikumi to
the doctors compound at KCMC. There was nothing particularly notable about the
day other than how well the boys coped with being in the car for 9 hours
especially given the high temperatures.</div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
The corruption cops were out in force and I have to admit
we completely ignored three of the with speed guns who were pointing at us to
pull in. We were traveling at a speed that I thought highly likely to show
106kmph and I really had gotten to the end of my patience with their blatant
extortion.</div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
However, we did eventually get pulled over at a
particularly slow spot and we joked with the rotund bobby who was desperate to
find something he could use to induce a fine. He eventually pointed to a crack
in the windscreen and we embarked upon a comedy moment where we talked our way
out of the situation whilst he tried to negotiate some kind of kickback. It all
passed with good humor and a typically Africa handshake of mutual friendship. </div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
That was pretty much it for the journey, of course we
managed to play spot the carnage along the way and there will be a separate
montage of some of the kinds of things that we saw as we thought you should get
a flavour for how shocking some of the accidents are.</div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
The boys were happy to be back and they promised to do a
road trip reflections entry. So 2707km covered for our final road trip in
Tanzania. I don't believe it is the final African adventure, already we have
spoken about were and how, so maybe further blogs will be required. This part
of the adventure has been great fun and quite an education, it has been
wonderful to see the boys grow closer together as they have shared time without
the distraction of others. Although a back seat with soundproofing is a highly
recommended optional extra that should be made available in all overland
vehicles. </div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
Leather seats are not comfortable and diesel engines are
really noisy, any car without an air-con option saves lots of fuel but requires
numerous t shirts to maintain comfort. 4x4 should be muddy and be capable of
having a bucket of water thrown inside them to clean out the foot wells, anyone
without this option should rethink their need for a 4x4. On the road bingo is a
great game for the kids as is the need to have your own personal iPod for when
things get too loud from the back seats.</div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPtlWRjgnM6Iry1I8crPX7GKyQzcnSKHIBIICy-MsAIryg-dlGhHMdzfAbhpYqLXk0ZkcXg7w-VzYSTGWpP-Jel-G9K6EkkS1M7E3EmtNyUZqM2ZpNwVc8rRXFtXlCU_UM7As-VzQkdRc/s1600/P1130432.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPtlWRjgnM6Iry1I8crPX7GKyQzcnSKHIBIICy-MsAIryg-dlGhHMdzfAbhpYqLXk0ZkcXg7w-VzYSTGWpP-Jel-G9K6EkkS1M7E3EmtNyUZqM2ZpNwVc8rRXFtXlCU_UM7As-VzQkdRc/s640/P1130432.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zac and Josh Tan Swiss swan song</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6j-dIG__AiC6ZR0fwmkAVLkeczd419SgATBUp3A7ilX6B3jygJN4fkrXXSDe7ePfLu9r954bq918qt938qnqjmDGL1xQNnt0SwbLIgw3ZQdG6VUHltWXjNwBBi6XxSbwjRFikz0bP8TQ/s1600/P1130443.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6j-dIG__AiC6ZR0fwmkAVLkeczd419SgATBUp3A7ilX6B3jygJN4fkrXXSDe7ePfLu9r954bq918qt938qnqjmDGL1xQNnt0SwbLIgw3ZQdG6VUHltWXjNwBBi6XxSbwjRFikz0bP8TQ/s640/P1130443.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Almost home as Kili floats on the clouds and into view.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Finally, Toyota may not make beautiful 4x4's like the
quintessential Land Rover, but in terms of reliability and strength I would
highly recommend a Land Cruiser for any of you who want to do an overland trek
that involves real world off road adventure. </div>
</div>The BiblicalBoyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13468821119724326211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4772793224692948830.post-54845016427127071152012-05-13T22:54:00.002+03:002012-05-13T22:54:31.601+03:00On the road: day 8<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiebWvTXUimmFBbznmSjFplvmmE3vQ68vbEfAZBxtlnusR2kGf7xmZu2Xc0pNgjpXxswGbkZpxnGSo9YWgz5W9H-Sk18hKDr90kv6FDHvPpOHQY_R6kXMuFXiTrSkRB0IpTTE_6sBvqmco/s1600/DSC_0293.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiebWvTXUimmFBbznmSjFplvmmE3vQ68vbEfAZBxtlnusR2kGf7xmZu2Xc0pNgjpXxswGbkZpxnGSo9YWgz5W9H-Sk18hKDr90kv6FDHvPpOHQY_R6kXMuFXiTrSkRB0IpTTE_6sBvqmco/s320/DSC_0293.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The project leader</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Today was to be a long day as we had decided to take a
chunk out of the distance back to Moshi, but we firstly had to honor a promise
to look around the charitable development the Fox's had carried out in the
area. Zanner had also offered to look at any of the children that may need
medical care.</div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
The children's village that has been built is truly
amazing, with six schools to educate a large range of children the project
boasts its own community hall and will soon have an adult computer lab. You
have to take into account this has all been built high in the mountains and the
level of commitment is like nothing we have seen before. To power the place
there are numerous generators but one of the sons is in the process of building
a hydro electric system to bring a more consistent power supply.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZk8BnG1mOGIIH4jg1mRbq4uUkjSjWmYrL3lr9DAMv-_jRGsgt-HYOnufcJzP7MHAMb-_vt4h_GcTlG1s3e761AJ5U-ZGOjVeqA7foYbVLzs7nli2NpbYIUvLiCzL4zRLB2sB40LyIfGE/s1600/DSC_0286.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZk8BnG1mOGIIH4jg1mRbq4uUkjSjWmYrL3lr9DAMv-_jRGsgt-HYOnufcJzP7MHAMb-_vt4h_GcTlG1s3e761AJ5U-ZGOjVeqA7foYbVLzs7nli2NpbYIUvLiCzL4zRLB2sB40LyIfGE/s400/DSC_0286.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mmmm. ok I'll take this one. Do you wrap them?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
The children were fantastic and looked very happy, more
importantly they looked loved by the house parents whose role is to give these
orphans the kind of support that we all aspire to give our own children. There
are many HIV issues in the area but this doesn't daunt the Fox's, in fact I
would say that they rather see this as a minor challenge in the grand scheme of
things. </div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
We didn't get a chance to see the hospital and outreach
clinic that they have built but we are going to get more info about these I
time to come. The one thing that they are really struggling with is being able
to bring care to the villages and bring in the sick to the hospital. We
discussed at length how we could look into raising funds to buy a vehicle that
could be converted in to an ambulance in the UK, maybe an ex army land-rover or
the like as it would have to be able to manage the inhospitable terrain. If
anyone has any ideas we will be happy to hear from you.</div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG-RTvg613yMjUDYomKL-EMMTirMLj3Qixtz4gwBNDMBd4mwqr2sUPXMVEW2xb1XF3YZGnpmH6N4RwaYaxeXyL5p5Az09PxwzP9jXaNeAQ15PWmB9CwnQ7D59nNUz6rWSwnDBbGI9ecqE/s1600/DSC_0301.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG-RTvg613yMjUDYomKL-EMMTirMLj3Qixtz4gwBNDMBd4mwqr2sUPXMVEW2xb1XF3YZGnpmH6N4RwaYaxeXyL5p5Az09PxwzP9jXaNeAQ15PWmB9CwnQ7D59nNUz6rWSwnDBbGI9ecqE/s640/DSC_0301.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With twins...I remember when Zac and Josh used to be this good.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpNabf36lk35wswKQLnovH4oXQJ27JIlXvSqqLLdmpkPpawtBt3iuDINF-9SZIb64F75cQlbtEV4aDipOz-rj1HnYbSMRUAejV676WxgKWDRj8aIuPXNW_b-xvog7nlXO_JBYgmYxCU2Q/s1600/DSC_0306.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpNabf36lk35wswKQLnovH4oXQJ27JIlXvSqqLLdmpkPpawtBt3iuDINF-9SZIb64F75cQlbtEV4aDipOz-rj1HnYbSMRUAejV676WxgKWDRj8aIuPXNW_b-xvog7nlXO_JBYgmYxCU2Q/s640/DSC_0306.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh no I've only got four fingers...Daddy, your being stupid again</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwAC_7yiZxPac3bnc5rXBSk5-_8Lc7egKVjENh46qpiLeCJozUE8AlPN1KzDqdeQ4Zt9Z_z0A5enmK06UQ4K4_uPai6RbdLO8mMx-g4nT05k0XtxHGiOAOxFZOZnZ-ASd0fbx3nS-QeDQ/s1600/DSC_0319.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwAC_7yiZxPac3bnc5rXBSk5-_8Lc7egKVjENh46qpiLeCJozUE8AlPN1KzDqdeQ4Zt9Z_z0A5enmK06UQ4K4_uPai6RbdLO8mMx-g4nT05k0XtxHGiOAOxFZOZnZ-ASd0fbx3nS-QeDQ/s320/DSC_0319.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And over there is where you can shove your advice</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZfYlQvYd7gONR9qjL5d40VKyk882219CfA1Yqm_PfXMcRwbPGpPC5P7kNc2otaUtovSYAQATXJ-XErrcVfc3RyjiTVR0WSTM205qPs42Cf6l7HuhsnAVRZwe2i-VlKudaRVRPYTenI4U/s1600/DSC_0284.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZfYlQvYd7gONR9qjL5d40VKyk882219CfA1Yqm_PfXMcRwbPGpPC5P7kNc2otaUtovSYAQATXJ-XErrcVfc3RyjiTVR0WSTM205qPs42Cf6l7HuhsnAVRZwe2i-VlKudaRVRPYTenI4U/s320/DSC_0284.jpg" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Who needs a bird?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
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After lunch we set out with the intention of making it as
far a Mikumi, 320km. The reality was that this would involve driving on the
suicide roads in the dark and, although we didn't talk about it Zanner and I
recognized this was far from ideal given what we had seen the during the
journey down this far south. </div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj40QCYfmsQzVMCUooP7n0BvCUcQuFFeuFYqdkgJkBb0KC1Cx-QyAG2XdbJ-qPT2WoGu5OGiKy5jPBH-hXMkOd8rh4zdKnyugH7z1iEMu282KqDWrzY7jIPLqdV9FvsHYsIZtr8ZmRElUA/s1600/DSC_0327.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj40QCYfmsQzVMCUooP7n0BvCUcQuFFeuFYqdkgJkBb0KC1Cx-QyAG2XdbJ-qPT2WoGu5OGiKy5jPBH-hXMkOd8rh4zdKnyugH7z1iEMu282KqDWrzY7jIPLqdV9FvsHYsIZtr8ZmRElUA/s400/DSC_0327.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Every man will build a castle no matter how out of place</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqYqR50MeEHoxGCll279GdBqsNBVhFvaLv85yScDX96ymm1HaH_yXGKW9-rC6v6FTJp1z3lB0Pi-bKn1HMJeMMOSfZlQGjFzwxwFt7YzCdsAT17UPHsxRFxMzEJRk28d2w6tBCnfAVKq8/s1600/DSC_0334.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqYqR50MeEHoxGCll279GdBqsNBVhFvaLv85yScDX96ymm1HaH_yXGKW9-rC6v6FTJp1z3lB0Pi-bKn1HMJeMMOSfZlQGjFzwxwFt7YzCdsAT17UPHsxRFxMzEJRk28d2w6tBCnfAVKq8/s640/DSC_0334.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">House guest at Geoff Fox's new house</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
The boys were great the whole journey, playing road bingo
with Zanner no end of times, although the decibel level inside the car did
little to aid the concentration. We had only covered 200km by the time it had
gotten dark and the next 100km were fraught with huge artics and road trains
hurtling along the mountain roads. Of course we came upon fresh carnage with
one lorry managing to overturn on an uphill corner which defied gravity which
only goes to show how fast he must have been traveling. </div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuukV3SiQ2Ts4pSh9mYjYc9z3c_7N8lODquBhs761faUy0SRxRrTh1nCKXGNvzcuVd1EvQysLR46bxNIykfjkM1NrQN8yyovzRUAU5eF8hFLSJ7vWZ1WfuKnbSZgnyJ-hXleurvcAT_tU/s1600/DSC_0340.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuukV3SiQ2Ts4pSh9mYjYc9z3c_7N8lODquBhs761faUy0SRxRrTh1nCKXGNvzcuVd1EvQysLR46bxNIykfjkM1NrQN8yyovzRUAU5eF8hFLSJ7vWZ1WfuKnbSZgnyJ-hXleurvcAT_tU/s400/DSC_0340.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tea...tea pickers...taken by tea drinker</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtlcnuqhYkPqJAJcvwgBgrsHgyJE9VZ-RpgYHc9CKkDNm6YFQfDaf8oWpWZP2lPRWO-0w1lxYX9gNOXIf-bElTksiraWVoL5AuWNFVtjgYyL2p2hDwJK2EyINDCBFG5WhG58IGGZIjfCQ/s1600/P1130387.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtlcnuqhYkPqJAJcvwgBgrsHgyJE9VZ-RpgYHc9CKkDNm6YFQfDaf8oWpWZP2lPRWO-0w1lxYX9gNOXIf-bElTksiraWVoL5AuWNFVtjgYyL2p2hDwJK2EyINDCBFG5WhG58IGGZIjfCQ/s320/P1130387.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ring a ring a...nah I'm bored of that.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY-m8WCrH3m6thVD5ilyHig8OYlgD_PnkO6XO1KUr_29zA9szr8Pk3I6lonFL0eN9F9-bvX9wzBGIs9epxVI4_-r2tJudWe2b_io7k29P_31znEzOzdPH2bS0-9y0xeoxebj8xLB5T1sE/s1600/P1130397.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY-m8WCrH3m6thVD5ilyHig8OYlgD_PnkO6XO1KUr_29zA9szr8Pk3I6lonFL0eN9F9-bvX9wzBGIs9epxVI4_-r2tJudWe2b_io7k29P_31znEzOzdPH2bS0-9y0xeoxebj8xLB5T1sE/s320/P1130397.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;">The world awaits me</span></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSfdKKYVIrcSjRTbLPRlelE_3-w0obxndspN5SzU0iG5Gk5k_9B8ECAmW-qKOBmujv2lkA_GVtDE7fWef6mBxyRojZam1h-QLC85soCm0OIdlbpfZLKIZ4Z5A3-O_NRezitvFf-uJvqic/s1600/P1130406.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSfdKKYVIrcSjRTbLPRlelE_3-w0obxndspN5SzU0iG5Gk5k_9B8ECAmW-qKOBmujv2lkA_GVtDE7fWef6mBxyRojZam1h-QLC85soCm0OIdlbpfZLKIZ4Z5A3-O_NRezitvFf-uJvqic/s320/P1130406.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes we can</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We eventually arrived at Swiss Tan Lodge and were given the
same bungalow much to the joy of
the boys who remembered immediately that it had a TV. Back to top and tailing,
but without any hassle so, i am sat writing hoping they will sleep well so that
they can deal with tomorrows epic journey home, approx 600kms. Only time will
tell! </div>
</div>The BiblicalBoyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13468821119724326211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4772793224692948830.post-4961757666861343422012-05-13T22:30:00.002+03:002012-05-23T23:33:24.908+03:00On the road: day 6 & 7<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The sun hadn't risen on our Banda before Zanner's alarm
roused us from a pleasant slumber reminding anyone still cocooned that she had
promised herself a game drive to see leopards. I think the men in the family
were still far to sleepy to protest and somehow we found ourselves on autopilot
getting in to the car and taking off to meet the rising sun.</div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
It was not long before we saw the usual suspects walking
towards the river to get their refreshments whilst hopefully avoiding been
eaten. However, these same animals looked at us in abject horror, no doubt
noting that this was not a reasonable time for a Hudson-Tyreman to be out of
bed. Josh protested by hiding under a blanket whilst Zac feigned interest with
a cursory nod in the direction of '<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">yet
another impala!' </i></div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
We eventually arrived at our destination, a large
mountainous outcrop resplendent in its post wet season vegetation. This was, we
were told, is the place to see leopards, how many there are in this area they
did not know. Now this was quite some outcrop, in fact that doesn't really
describe the sheer scale of this thing in the slightest, it takes an hour to
drive around and stands 500mtrs at least. In the UK we call these mountains,
but every thing has a comparative scale here and given the vastness of the park
I suppose where the map says 'hill' it has to use the sheer enormity of the
park as a scale. As for leopards, well we saw lots of interesting rocks, a lot
of trees and bushes, even some rock hyrax, but alas no leopard. But then again
there could have been 100 pairs of eyes watching us and we wouldn't have seen
them, camouflage and an ability to be still is a major facet of this beast.
Conversely two shouty boys in a large white 4x4 may have telegraphed our
presence allowing any potential sighting an opportunity to melt in to the fauna
strewn outcrop. </div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
After a quick turnaround back at the river lodge we headed
out of the park back to Iringa for a spot of lunch and to stock up on car parts
(inner tube, wiper blades, fluids). There remained a short hop to the next stop
over at Kisolonze Farm Lodge, all round 250km for the day. Iringa and the trip
to the farm was uneventful as we managed to avoid most of the bone shaker road
as we learnt of another route out that took us along what is called the never ending
road, named because it is one hell of a long straight road (42km) much of which
is visible at certain points along the way.</div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
By the time we arrived at the farm everyone was pleased to
leave the car and Zanner decided she would go for a walk with the boys...Zac
ended up staying back very soon after the start as he and Josh decided to beat
up on one another with sticks. He and I ended up at the bar where we took our
soda's and met some of the other visitors. Zanner had gone with Josh to see
some of the farm animals, namely the sheep who were reared there. It was not
long before a confused mother and son arrived where we were situated where upon
she informed us, and the manager, that she couldn't find the sheep so asked one
of the farm workers...not knowing the Kiswahili word for sheep did the very
British thing of sounding out the sound they make. Baah baah! He therefore did
the logical thing and sent her off to the bar. Well we found it very amusing. </div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRRYxyjndZkKZvPmwmRnd8Oy-7zn1Y52gaLD5V0xPPJIyvuKRGdh_nZNZj085eaPmRcn9PjvU7i2nzIVuEzE_ephNjMpsSBlS9hd6C7Glne3RkRH0W1zIB3VAMd9BKuim67Hg2bJfEFr8/s1600/DSC_0202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRRYxyjndZkKZvPmwmRnd8Oy-7zn1Y52gaLD5V0xPPJIyvuKRGdh_nZNZj085eaPmRcn9PjvU7i2nzIVuEzE_ephNjMpsSBlS9hd6C7Glne3RkRH0W1zIB3VAMd9BKuim67Hg2bJfEFr8/s640/DSC_0202.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Hiding in here is a leopard. Can you spot him....no neither could we</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhipygieRMZnwqAC-vTdiYNqtONTCCiEjaKDkHZFtLs8i8FvkWIfXflNpqhUabVTKOpUMj4h_KaqUD7Hdj-lWP7dP6HqHhqwXNMkYQRBK1Sp6yMIO1Z_llm6ONE6sOdRAJ8KWkj6swJK_Y/s1600/DSC_0203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhipygieRMZnwqAC-vTdiYNqtONTCCiEjaKDkHZFtLs8i8FvkWIfXflNpqhUabVTKOpUMj4h_KaqUD7Hdj-lWP7dP6HqHhqwXNMkYQRBK1Sp6yMIO1Z_llm6ONE6sOdRAJ8KWkj6swJK_Y/s640/DSC_0203.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Looks like a candle tree...Ah now I get the name!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgddpVtXmyOhCtBiL4qQJ2_ZxpIA5p7gZJbXEqhAwSzjtlgCAJDkMmGFGf7o2yV6POOKyBKW-vxRAM53Y_87CZnhwE7JxSgUf9_L4QSLwuWlV1BizTq-xyENsP3Gv1jd1AOo4JpFNb9itE/s1600/DSC_0206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgddpVtXmyOhCtBiL4qQJ2_ZxpIA5p7gZJbXEqhAwSzjtlgCAJDkMmGFGf7o2yV6POOKyBKW-vxRAM53Y_87CZnhwE7JxSgUf9_L4QSLwuWlV1BizTq-xyENsP3Gv1jd1AOo4JpFNb9itE/s640/DSC_0206.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Early mornings just suck all your energy</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYRMfgi4KEX0WVAYRnduco9hSMI9Z3R0Xch1IFgkU-guYu8OkiLOag5oHOf5UIqtxD0651klfge-J3GBSpY4jX82vJhENwUGwZ_uoTZeviTmobRiVNUvYS9kzyh-Pqp4kO5nt1c7L_GmE/s1600/DSC_0211.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYRMfgi4KEX0WVAYRnduco9hSMI9Z3R0Xch1IFgkU-guYu8OkiLOag5oHOf5UIqtxD0651klfge-J3GBSpY4jX82vJhENwUGwZ_uoTZeviTmobRiVNUvYS9kzyh-Pqp4kO5nt1c7L_GmE/s640/DSC_0211.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A room with a view...there is a theme here</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7TjYYYPJaMiF40D3KnwMyTQwemb-ngqhKn3IAtNNmSuzzhUOLbqARxf9M3XbdEgiwRUkcLtngDyZ4mdzsVtK3kBCse_kGxe3BE60ugNB_H9y7Y6gK8V6Nsbs9xv1qTUl1vWAavw-UmuE/s1600/DSC_0220.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7TjYYYPJaMiF40D3KnwMyTQwemb-ngqhKn3IAtNNmSuzzhUOLbqARxf9M3XbdEgiwRUkcLtngDyZ4mdzsVtK3kBCse_kGxe3BE60ugNB_H9y7Y6gK8V6Nsbs9xv1qTUl1vWAavw-UmuE/s640/DSC_0220.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Even this water buffalo skull has more hair than daddy</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTdt_qvpRL8lYW2SIDpGAb3NpiUtHuP0-78DpgxIu54xnMvHbGZ4CVnHFrdYMwdglfxHPxg3zPSRx4d8Xj99QAqgIekVBu6CP8TzfEF1N1cmoXBNdfNiOOsylgWCBaMyurg6Xp6MebWB8/s1600/DSC_0223.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTdt_qvpRL8lYW2SIDpGAb3NpiUtHuP0-78DpgxIu54xnMvHbGZ4CVnHFrdYMwdglfxHPxg3zPSRx4d8Xj99QAqgIekVBu6CP8TzfEF1N1cmoXBNdfNiOOsylgWCBaMyurg6Xp6MebWB8/s640/DSC_0223.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">There is a horn joke here somewhere!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixmP1C5NNzyIv6ulGkxgFMHLczxpjuhywxfGBLj2sHjgNb80HV-aNLXOow3mUuok0BlFBpvIH7W8nsjPMBl-5w1qv2isCSMdKMDUOb_ICv2ulPxfDLtpUXean2zILdDqXzpaIUB4ErYCY/s1600/DSC_0245.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixmP1C5NNzyIv6ulGkxgFMHLczxpjuhywxfGBLj2sHjgNb80HV-aNLXOow3mUuok0BlFBpvIH7W8nsjPMBl-5w1qv2isCSMdKMDUOb_ICv2ulPxfDLtpUXean2zILdDqXzpaIUB4ErYCY/s640/DSC_0245.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Why does Josh look permanently to be up to something?</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDZjK9WSbHmvMnsAcItlneynrlhLu_TNdfqdkl0jBEbDZElr7OfNV9ukns_q7ZtJo7p5zBXG9wkyLE4Qe2XTQFl-rGHAG1jwK5Ex5XuaZ4I1kSNZ8gGrtQ-5_fxsF-4ligIpS-aorBM0E/s1600/DSC_0247.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDZjK9WSbHmvMnsAcItlneynrlhLu_TNdfqdkl0jBEbDZElr7OfNV9ukns_q7ZtJo7p5zBXG9wkyLE4Qe2XTQFl-rGHAG1jwK5Ex5XuaZ4I1kSNZ8gGrtQ-5_fxsF-4ligIpS-aorBM0E/s640/DSC_0247.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Trying to throw mummy from the bridge</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz1cEg78wghi712QGNTgQlF_MXn81wFrlEfEEEUnqD9FhsDd-7EUdzGHjJFgFRtVGlWEkjf2fDathIpZRcHGVBcTnqpODSZOb0Ngsxv2ojwDFfFIY91HM7SuQ5ann5VgT8FlCEH7M-z-c/s1600/DSC_0253.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz1cEg78wghi712QGNTgQlF_MXn81wFrlEfEEEUnqD9FhsDd-7EUdzGHjJFgFRtVGlWEkjf2fDathIpZRcHGVBcTnqpODSZOb0Ngsxv2ojwDFfFIY91HM7SuQ5ann5VgT8FlCEH7M-z-c/s640/DSC_0253.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">HIPPO</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg70gdkdzLuYsCbifBDw-YhbH36wd-1hR-9P2yfoTfpKYyhwisqSJV74vU60plCKWhyrRc3M-fHmA2V91Q6DQpUpABbF9PDOcr338TXr43JX4U7XJq_ivFDvaCfBuqsjVgXOQny1GHxS-s/s1600/P1130355.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="481" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg70gdkdzLuYsCbifBDw-YhbH36wd-1hR-9P2yfoTfpKYyhwisqSJV74vU60plCKWhyrRc3M-fHmA2V91Q6DQpUpABbF9PDOcr338TXr43JX4U7XJq_ivFDvaCfBuqsjVgXOQny1GHxS-s/s640/P1130355.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Amateur old man with up and coming David Bailey</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOKzgZCob7RzUHPxf0dqyAIL8oKkWJOeir4YAFrEnBHy80PAciyhzssiYjk-COcU4puppLf1pJFLXLVic7_RHC3Encg1Iz41VSZ4NWmrpr0kbLBC7FtysrJ8nOliTaQXHqCF09wYyOZqE/s1600/DSC_0266.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOKzgZCob7RzUHPxf0dqyAIL8oKkWJOeir4YAFrEnBHy80PAciyhzssiYjk-COcU4puppLf1pJFLXLVic7_RHC3Encg1Iz41VSZ4NWmrpr0kbLBC7FtysrJ8nOliTaQXHqCF09wYyOZqE/s640/DSC_0266.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">All this shutter speed and light balance can be tiring. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
The accommodation here is an add on to the very productive
farm and serves up camping site facilities alongside wonderful lodges all sat
within a stunning woodland setting. Over dinner we met a Dutch couple who had
built an overland truck having sold their business and have travelled
extensively throughout Africa for 7 months, with another 3 to go. But our world
shrank when we met the white East African owners daughter who was born in
Tanzania, schooled in Kenya and read literature at Leeds University, living
just round the corner from our house during the period we lived there; A small and crazy world.<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Day 7</span></span></i></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></span></span><!--StartFragment--></i></span></span></span></b></span></span><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Morning started much like any on a working farm, Zac and I
went to help with dipping the 350 head of cattle! This was followed by the best
breakfast in Tanzania so far, I know this might be becoming a bit of a bug bare
but guide books need to get a grip. Kisolonze has been in the hands of the
G???? family for four generations and the original farm house is chocolate box
perfect, with gardens to match. We were given a tour of the area which included
an amazing vegetable plot and sheep pen. All in all a highly recommended place
to stay and one which we committed to return to following our furthest southern
stop over at Mufindi Highland Lodge. </span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Following breakfast we were given a different type of tour,
the Dutch couple offered to show us round their overlander truck...we now have
new aspirations for travel as this really was a sight to behold. Not much can
match human ingenuity when it comes to transport and what this chap had done in
creating and customising his Mann Truck was remarkable. With a quad bike in the
rear section, a fantastically fully kitted kitchen and bathroom that would
grace any high quality apartment, they really were traveling first class on the
road. This thing was a behemoth with wheels as big as Josh and a cabin from the
starship enterprise we could only imagine what it must cost to fill the 700ltr
fuel tank. As I said they were trekking around Africa for a year, but have
plans to visit both Scandinavia and Alaska, in this truck I think round the
world would be possible so long as you could afford the fuel. </span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Daydreaming we packed up and headed to our next destination
100km down the road but 1850mtrs high to Mufindi Highland Lodge. Nestled in the
tea plantations once owned by Brook Bond this lodge is part of a group of
Lodges owned by the Fox family, amongst which is Rhuha River Lodge. High and
cold, the lodge benefits from amazing woodland views with rivers and
plantations all around. The couple who own this and many others like it around
Tanzania are a dear old English team who have worked tirelessly to provided
infrastructure to the area. Not only do they employ many of the locals they
have built schools, hospitals and an orphanage. They have created a trout farm,
a sustainable tree planting project as well as now building an airstrip through
which their sons air support project can operate. </span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Zanner and the boys went off for a horse ride not long
after we arrived and had lunch. I went off armed with a fishing rod and oar to
paddle around one of the large lakes which supposedly was full of black bass. I
am not a fisherman, have no pretensions to be one, but I thought why not give
it a go. The answer is simple, it is a bloody stupid waste of time, especially
here where the fish actively taunt you by swimming around the boat whilst
ignoring the lure you have been assured they will love. Suffice to say it was
not long before I was running through the woods instead as this was by far much
more fun. </span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The boys came back whilst Zanz went off for a longer ride,
so we took the opportunity to have tea and eat all the chocolate cake. We have
already turned our minds to the fact we shall be returning home in five days
and it has started to dawn on us that this is more of a beginning than an end
and that maybe there will be more of these kind of adventures to come. I think
I shall apologize now to any and all who we put through the blog reading in the
future. </span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The evening passed with a fireside chat with our hosts as
we are the only guest. It is quite enthralling to hear about the changes that
have occurred in East Africa, but unfortunately very few have been for the
better. Our observation that there is quite a bit of low level corruption is
amplified ten fold, we are told, at all levels of government. It is sad to hear
but at the same time the Fox's say that although they maintain a life in the UK
they believe Africa is their true home and for all that seems to be wrong so
much is right. Geoffrey Fox regaled us in stories of the lack of building
control, health and safety and all the other bureaucratic issues that are
involved in building a home that have allowed them to build some amazing
structures here that simply work and have done so for many many years. At the
same time his wife, Victoria, tells of the time she needed to have a bridge
built and how she and the then Minister in charge of such things helped bribe a
local official so she could acquire one from under the nose of the President
who was also looking to have a bridge for his home village. </span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We finished the night with our two tired but happy boys
listening to music besides a roaring fire in our lodge whilst our Masai guard
sat out on the veranda under the Southern Cross set in a wonderful moonlit
night.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->
</i></span></span></b></div>
</div>The BiblicalBoyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13468821119724326211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4772793224692948830.post-45794306776387840592012-05-13T22:20:00.002+03:002012-05-13T22:20:12.243+03:00On the road: day 5<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Today's plan was simple, get up super early and head out on
a day break game drive. Part one involved getting the boys out of bed, now
given their propensity for waking us up at ridicules o clock most of the time
you would think this was easy...not. Zach in truth managed to get himself
together enough to be mildly polite about the time of day, Josh however was
resolutely stuck to his pit and refused to move. I will spare you the details
but a moany boy was eventually poured into his clothes with teeth brushed and
hair curled. This was the fastest I have ever seen the tribe get ready and into
the car, wonders will never cease on this trip.</div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
The sun was just starting to rise and we were off...for
about 100 yards when I thought the car was being a bit sluggish, maybe
disengage the 4 wheel drive? Job done back in the car, still a bit sluggish, in
fact more so...mmmm that will be the flat tyre that I hadn't noticed. Luckily
we were very near the park HQ who had a large garage facility. I changed the
tyre with Zac's help and handed over our tyre to a guy for puncture repair.
During this time Zanz was informed that there was a lion nearby so for the next
20 mins all we heard, in between confused questions about how the whole tyre,
inner tube, wheel worked, was her saying she didn't want to miss the lion and
couldn't we just set off without the spare so we could see it? This wasn't going
to happen so we amused ourselves by feeding velvet monkeys who at the same time
tried to climb in the car. Zach and Josh decided that the monkeys were an
invading army and started to stock pile rocks and sticks. Armistice was soon
declared and we had our tyre sorted within the hour.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQd-vgG7fg0xmoYkQlQT445E7mzUQC3On24fjgcJ53DHvdsBKX64UkTb1_oF32SvHlgF_YHKhSv3QbNcdHN3XCnE2U3fhO76xs9jyqseCnqV8U9vF-NJAj0bJz729Lt8GWFIinjZ017Ug/s1600/P1130237.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQd-vgG7fg0xmoYkQlQT445E7mzUQC3On24fjgcJ53DHvdsBKX64UkTb1_oF32SvHlgF_YHKhSv3QbNcdHN3XCnE2U3fhO76xs9jyqseCnqV8U9vF-NJAj0bJz729Lt8GWFIinjZ017Ug/s400/P1130237.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This is becoming a bit tyresome!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2mx9hyIWLfOpSe3q_gpcD7BPgm5b4foAbd1ll3_NkSEdU5VNAbnEGzICylyXcoVnUoEjt9lg_7UxUgdS1WDX61W75f9NPDEi2EgepHNJhqmaI-2gIcvq9NG3F7bVFoXM1qSyA6GnVsGo/s1600/P1130248.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2mx9hyIWLfOpSe3q_gpcD7BPgm5b4foAbd1ll3_NkSEdU5VNAbnEGzICylyXcoVnUoEjt9lg_7UxUgdS1WDX61W75f9NPDEi2EgepHNJhqmaI-2gIcvq9NG3F7bVFoXM1qSyA6GnVsGo/s320/P1130248.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Like daddy but with more hair.<br /><br /></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifyZ1EakTRHAVGv8nk4WGjmLiqevONo3nqG2qQ-Br6rid64E4yhx1yz6nMSjMOeDyWYwVWB4mAwW2pa8yviGnbNWEORtr0wozCSvAmuyde6PJDSOHXcuefUwp-n2wHFMkMfW1Kk746egc/s1600/P1130249.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifyZ1EakTRHAVGv8nk4WGjmLiqevONo3nqG2qQ-Br6rid64E4yhx1yz6nMSjMOeDyWYwVWB4mAwW2pa8yviGnbNWEORtr0wozCSvAmuyde6PJDSOHXcuefUwp-n2wHFMkMfW1Kk746egc/s320/P1130249.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Same again really.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
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Zannah was not overly joyous about the time taken but going
without a spare would have led to unfathomable misery had we had another
puncture. Within 200 meters of leaving the camp we came across a large pride of
lions visiting the small runway toilet, probably only used by David
Attenborough and the occasional oligarch who flew in to the area. We followed
the pride of three male and seven females and at one point they passed within
touching distance of the car...awesome. <br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEzfo-Hnuk5_ydkMTn4bL5ybWzlxKO5g2VjcVJE_tAT_xo9elVuoufWfwfIeDWxQCU9nchP6vYLHzRGYXVbf_P5jMjyrzpiwNnSomsLPG-cypwv03cl-4pX9pVkFPxPOML7cm3i_PMPoQ/s1600/DSC_0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEzfo-Hnuk5_ydkMTn4bL5ybWzlxKO5g2VjcVJE_tAT_xo9elVuoufWfwfIeDWxQCU9nchP6vYLHzRGYXVbf_P5jMjyrzpiwNnSomsLPG-cypwv03cl-4pX9pVkFPxPOML7cm3i_PMPoQ/s640/DSC_0001.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Ok everyone been to the loo before we go a huntin?</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzYvNCRxrMbr2jAlStIcVb1i83StOEliuyOdgwqtTzVaOdYYRp1ORljovFu4si4Mqx7nbS4a0y2x3zGAm3aJ41wgi_iXuqu0zUReGVdaz3Gki5F97tApi5ZMBkmqq_71yV4ZV91iCS1BQ/s1600/DSC_0006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="449" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzYvNCRxrMbr2jAlStIcVb1i83StOEliuyOdgwqtTzVaOdYYRp1ORljovFu4si4Mqx7nbS4a0y2x3zGAm3aJ41wgi_iXuqu0zUReGVdaz3Gki5F97tApi5ZMBkmqq_71yV4ZV91iCS1BQ/s640/DSC_0006.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Erm I wouldn't use the gents for a while........sorry</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe4qEI0xsZxef01Ik-zsoAftUPKanquSkno4R9JWy_mP9aXDeJnJuUGp7OeTq0C3aFEpDrV8ggKW7pJ0mV-566hewtXYKgXLOYaMrIu9UH5iIJdLgGniTTKUcYnLjLfi4PRNh8412gPMQ/s1600/DSC_0008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="447" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe4qEI0xsZxef01Ik-zsoAftUPKanquSkno4R9JWy_mP9aXDeJnJuUGp7OeTq0C3aFEpDrV8ggKW7pJ0mV-566hewtXYKgXLOYaMrIu9UH5iIJdLgGniTTKUcYnLjLfi4PRNh8412gPMQ/s640/DSC_0008.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Oh god I hope they haven't used up all the loo roll?</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
We are now sat at breakfast looking out over Ruahah River
so I will add to this later.</div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
It is now later, we spent the afternoon at Zanner's much
sought after treat accommodation, Rhuha River Lodge. This is one of the Foxes
group of lodges in the south of Tanzania, a rather more upmarket type of lodge
for the fly ins who use the airstrip mentioned before. What they made of our
rag bag outfit heaven knows, but it would seem at this time in the season our
dollars are as good as anyone's. Which reminds me of a peculiarity of Tanzanian
money exchange, you get a lesser rate for a 1996 $100 dollar bill than a 2003,
why? No one could explain, by that I mean they did try but it made little to no
sense at all!</div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
Today we managed over 100km round the park, but given it is
22,000kmSq it was small beer. Back in the lodge we could sit on the huge
veranda dinning area resplendent with leather easy chairs and sofas looking out
on the river. At times you could here the hippo mooing, yawning, crying, I'm
not sure of the term but they are noisy creatures either-way. The boys had
already engaged in tormenting the staff so it was safe to assume that our food
would be spat in and served cold. Later we headed out for a dusk game drive
along the river route and came across loads of interesting groups the most
amusing being a herd of giraffe who look down on you with complete befuddlement
then try to walk, trot, run without ever really making up their minds which
they prefer. We followed a wonderful herd of elephants crossing the river with
numerous young, another amazing experience for which Josh thanked us by going
on and on about a star wars character in his book. </div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvcLggOAJmFHID74fcYky1LFan7W7hvpTGrl2VsWIhXmLW1_5bqu8Wjy-cTpxdc-Nd-soM-4osvuBGPl60fshMXa0562CZxm9fI8zpfwrxXM3OUJsuhhmRVBg806xLUsIzYKUfcCcAZLU/s1600/DSC_0019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvcLggOAJmFHID74fcYky1LFan7W7hvpTGrl2VsWIhXmLW1_5bqu8Wjy-cTpxdc-Nd-soM-4osvuBGPl60fshMXa0562CZxm9fI8zpfwrxXM3OUJsuhhmRVBg806xLUsIzYKUfcCcAZLU/s640/DSC_0019.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Bright eyes.....awe what a preddy puddy tat</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivhwuUT4qPkZUrItG2BJtuuYFgKeYqyY4D_XCKNimBhGiWbMJVgQCGVk4MM40jw4a_a2T2SO0ZJNi3C-38D4ROV3DOGA3U_VtnFazG21knRoggbUFs6TyH9vUYdT5XNhIzQUfvP95Z5BU/s1600/DSC_0044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="507" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivhwuUT4qPkZUrItG2BJtuuYFgKeYqyY4D_XCKNimBhGiWbMJVgQCGVk4MM40jw4a_a2T2SO0ZJNi3C-38D4ROV3DOGA3U_VtnFazG21knRoggbUFs6TyH9vUYdT5XNhIzQUfvP95Z5BU/s640/DSC_0044.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Just like any tabby at home...only bigger, with more teeth, oh yes and a desire to kill</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFJkQdFlJ5H7qttXQtVFq_yQw09yBEnDMSHTjvCdTqswXerMnEDgbR7PcSVESntmqhbO63Oi1PMO2EV0QBLiE_vpg8Egefu3PHYn40uUMUZ-yv15RYYLGjHKMjVONimbW429i-yUiKHzw/s1600/DSC_0046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFJkQdFlJ5H7qttXQtVFq_yQw09yBEnDMSHTjvCdTqswXerMnEDgbR7PcSVESntmqhbO63Oi1PMO2EV0QBLiE_vpg8Egefu3PHYn40uUMUZ-yv15RYYLGjHKMjVONimbW429i-yUiKHzw/s640/DSC_0046.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Oi darlin...like my main? </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMwN8P1Ag9tHzonc_aAq6CJmk9nA0spkPBWmHdWkw3bGtlZXXD6xzKNlFVCQXEBdim_tBHUDxOcL9ln-8HHbiGfuygr4ql1Ohqg2YEbOhmzqGKXFuqMSzIULCXDcUedA5u7f5N1DjJdXU/s1600/DSC_0054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMwN8P1Ag9tHzonc_aAq6CJmk9nA0spkPBWmHdWkw3bGtlZXXD6xzKNlFVCQXEBdim_tBHUDxOcL9ln-8HHbiGfuygr4ql1Ohqg2YEbOhmzqGKXFuqMSzIULCXDcUedA5u7f5N1DjJdXU/s640/DSC_0054.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Elegant and regal, makes our royals look cheap</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7TBV3Za1-xxJrcfh_8NI8Nk2O0jNkNIwvFTB7IWAS-uAP5jdSXWKnVZpzEbXbMZotpDMA1kovKlSBYplpY4yJcj58znrfHTToPHZGeO3mzKPlef_jUk7AWOWOPkLRNp2pvKkzIIw1oD0/s1600/DSC_0055.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7TBV3Za1-xxJrcfh_8NI8Nk2O0jNkNIwvFTB7IWAS-uAP5jdSXWKnVZpzEbXbMZotpDMA1kovKlSBYplpY4yJcj58znrfHTToPHZGeO3mzKPlef_jUk7AWOWOPkLRNp2pvKkzIIw1oD0/s640/DSC_0055.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Big rock...they'll be leopards in them there ill's</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXWN52fo0w0tIzqMY1FZAh-N7hP6RRhCaPXoFMwhuEsOgT1Oca65i2RatPhLyaa-br8VmvVR4ksW2lMIqQ5l6sr5PCm-bcincrWjz91LIePyAnfb39CrmfVuE_aC6YE_2VZDy3gQqpBgI/s1600/DSC_0058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXWN52fo0w0tIzqMY1FZAh-N7hP6RRhCaPXoFMwhuEsOgT1Oca65i2RatPhLyaa-br8VmvVR4ksW2lMIqQ5l6sr5PCm-bcincrWjz91LIePyAnfb39CrmfVuE_aC6YE_2VZDy3gQqpBgI/s640/DSC_0058.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Off for a lay down after such a long walk to the loo</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKJLxUWtnTed-yr6TmMAJRudM6f-NolayuhdjuZ3s_aHZHOO0QeneQWWyuh5HQE2Pb9JF-d1tN8oTCefJmxaoOtpIv6IkFOnkF2cJ3I2L1R9qxVR_-BY4dXx0Z9q7Bmz4nYPGMR4TDruM/s1600/DSC_0064.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKJLxUWtnTed-yr6TmMAJRudM6f-NolayuhdjuZ3s_aHZHOO0QeneQWWyuh5HQE2Pb9JF-d1tN8oTCefJmxaoOtpIv6IkFOnkF2cJ3I2L1R9qxVR_-BY4dXx0Z9q7Bmz4nYPGMR4TDruM/s640/DSC_0064.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Bao-bab tree hiding behind Zac and Josh</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoUq7jlDCwjpU4Prm8SGkZGASarN2KOrSGk7ktFSyirSQ1Vzq0jd9DJwQRVzDDLTpIfj6RaPx8r6b15KWl4enN_Mv_idQ4Zh6g1vSGyEnlguUTeWdMYmPJ0cj2IrnHODjre6qtm6wLInc/s1600/DSC_0072.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="596" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoUq7jlDCwjpU4Prm8SGkZGASarN2KOrSGk7ktFSyirSQ1Vzq0jd9DJwQRVzDDLTpIfj6RaPx8r6b15KWl4enN_Mv_idQ4Zh6g1vSGyEnlguUTeWdMYmPJ0cj2IrnHODjre6qtm6wLInc/s640/DSC_0072.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Foxy...well balck backed Jackel anyway</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj49GQ7W1XE3vJOzWWTyeSujxF8yhN2R6PEIpwuIGbEHw3zUbSzx7BWNodzUAgNPia2zrB7jLw__7d8UIIs1J9hx1AD2h8MyA2nHvdgw2qpOM5h0oZoBDBeYb0Eu1MnDcgG_rmETil9wrQ/s1600/DSC_0081.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj49GQ7W1XE3vJOzWWTyeSujxF8yhN2R6PEIpwuIGbEHw3zUbSzx7BWNodzUAgNPia2zrB7jLw__7d8UIIs1J9hx1AD2h8MyA2nHvdgw2qpOM5h0oZoBDBeYb0Eu1MnDcgG_rmETil9wrQ/s640/DSC_0081.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">And the river runs dry!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR8VN2ALLMTYC6Zf6A7or2ndsXVaX2H75XllTghMANseFCFVQgR5cW3fQw4b1SBjDiHlyoZJJ_MF8xSN5I5RIbBPihoKI5ItMso2qis-FmCu9VPWg6heeqSpari6m0dTxFn54ov2cJKBw/s1600/DSC_0083.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR8VN2ALLMTYC6Zf6A7or2ndsXVaX2H75XllTghMANseFCFVQgR5cW3fQw4b1SBjDiHlyoZJJ_MF8xSN5I5RIbBPihoKI5ItMso2qis-FmCu9VPWg6heeqSpari6m0dTxFn54ov2cJKBw/s320/DSC_0083.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BEAST</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgPNgdDjSMmHIDr8AW7E3-1aBQCQeOS0N57SdihUwezPNUBxz0Xaa1cEVqLYIZ5YFYWaur3FKORqGZHHHrQ8qxiGLsmvXB2eIjf1rif_ArM7xZsWslrY_XePCJxdqWbYgmgxQRMyH2i8c/s1600/DSC_0088.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="473" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgPNgdDjSMmHIDr8AW7E3-1aBQCQeOS0N57SdihUwezPNUBxz0Xaa1cEVqLYIZ5YFYWaur3FKORqGZHHHrQ8qxiGLsmvXB2eIjf1rif_ArM7xZsWslrY_XePCJxdqWbYgmgxQRMyH2i8c/s640/DSC_0088.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Grieving takes many forms, a sad end to one of the Kings of Africa</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmpOyd0cA5ROjB7RjS_F_uvTXmNGSG4dtINgR0SrB0ZxRCGYDW-ZRn-7bEhVFX44wrUtEduj0RTrdGXnAz3ZI1jgsTISS5gMOF1YyM9pr7FOxYeFs8-bLnSYDMQFNGVOSlWRNsyZ9B1g4/s1600/DSC_0090.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmpOyd0cA5ROjB7RjS_F_uvTXmNGSG4dtINgR0SrB0ZxRCGYDW-ZRn-7bEhVFX44wrUtEduj0RTrdGXnAz3ZI1jgsTISS5gMOF1YyM9pr7FOxYeFs8-bLnSYDMQFNGVOSlWRNsyZ9B1g4/s640/DSC_0090.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This was the end of a sorry tale</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtrdW61b8nruQqxtBVsY6dl85OdrEAjQH1iVVBp9WfKaszGGKsJZq07XT6kqUwCA8lUtLX_RY793hA5oBWkAk0UwMS2RhUnhLZAj2c2d6M1Qh13P37WLm197mRhbCiIKmUMPdxIcVkuvY/s1600/DSC_0091.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="517" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtrdW61b8nruQqxtBVsY6dl85OdrEAjQH1iVVBp9WfKaszGGKsJZq07XT6kqUwCA8lUtLX_RY793hA5oBWkAk0UwMS2RhUnhLZAj2c2d6M1Qh13P37WLm197mRhbCiIKmUMPdxIcVkuvY/s640/DSC_0091.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Well Mavis I told you not to rely upon the Sat Nav!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYOyHWxcsVoj1ShgejpAkAIa8PDiI3lOUDR2cHh13xuBihdCR3c4R5AvhfJHdwZtZdw9unWzb8OMBzfzCqLQBrm5wDuiSteI8aJS_Mf4iUK4VmjcSYWOkRMc9NE_jeSSh3klNgn58JOHg/s1600/DSC_0094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYOyHWxcsVoj1ShgejpAkAIa8PDiI3lOUDR2cHh13xuBihdCR3c4R5AvhfJHdwZtZdw9unWzb8OMBzfzCqLQBrm5wDuiSteI8aJS_Mf4iUK4VmjcSYWOkRMc9NE_jeSSh3klNgn58JOHg/s640/DSC_0094.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A-HA the mighty predator springs upon its prey</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihE0ZEqFjJhFK4qcjGEQhtPE-afLloe-P8sFSpjTJOgsmulITk2DsxfDRh74T567uieW3WEDgK5PAAHf6yVMRVLgeeRxAJuMLwkNZ6s4yU9cvP88BMUARNuYoBc6U3D1ew0a9EfKNuAsY/s1600/DSC_0096.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="526" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihE0ZEqFjJhFK4qcjGEQhtPE-afLloe-P8sFSpjTJOgsmulITk2DsxfDRh74T567uieW3WEDgK5PAAHf6yVMRVLgeeRxAJuMLwkNZ6s4yU9cvP88BMUARNuYoBc6U3D1ew0a9EfKNuAsY/s640/DSC_0096.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">And takes it off to it lair to consume...maybe with a few nuts</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicH2rdsgh19540lZG6wbVe0R6Zv2oqN-G4PokkFvgaao_C0vx9wSs4VLJkbFHbL6jlUTBX4Vtb-GCuzTZO1-fQBTvMqzn06qdZu9pyOxW0BvbpF8UCSAY4siF_Rk6UZj5HTJIucY3sDtE/s1600/DSC_0105.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicH2rdsgh19540lZG6wbVe0R6Zv2oqN-G4PokkFvgaao_C0vx9wSs4VLJkbFHbL6jlUTBX4Vtb-GCuzTZO1-fQBTvMqzn06qdZu9pyOxW0BvbpF8UCSAY4siF_Rk6UZj5HTJIucY3sDtE/s640/DSC_0105.jpg" width="591" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Wow that things got some ears</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin8pLM21KfoVF89jDqUKJ9I1EmsTlTmboehRybABPbdFMsyBQnOgmSUJhfR8xRpJ2WCRiWJs86OCFEJykPQPEZ0hLfBz_4hfAMZNjKz502DnX5rdR-oH1veCK43j3iQzB1fje5H0WG5-4/s1600/DSC_0114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin8pLM21KfoVF89jDqUKJ9I1EmsTlTmboehRybABPbdFMsyBQnOgmSUJhfR8xRpJ2WCRiWJs86OCFEJykPQPEZ0hLfBz_4hfAMZNjKz502DnX5rdR-oH1veCK43j3iQzB1fje5H0WG5-4/s640/DSC_0114.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Ah there birds nests!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZVEBSE8gWucPrX8SzQpPldPPUKYHP0A5dAn0Fab1qqHj139Sx6dEYFhcTPviMNIi3E9GJuvFkooDDKrztsCt8i_qsmgmIru-HL_eZV01SIxBsPxmFyLFiutBD_a0Dp9UMy2ovVLPgGf0/s1600/DSC_0126.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="449" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZVEBSE8gWucPrX8SzQpPldPPUKYHP0A5dAn0Fab1qqHj139Sx6dEYFhcTPviMNIi3E9GJuvFkooDDKrztsCt8i_qsmgmIru-HL_eZV01SIxBsPxmFyLFiutBD_a0Dp9UMy2ovVLPgGf0/s640/DSC_0126.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Bath time</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyBGrQyPy0KktXIRIrErBz6RfosSiiDPgroxDoCTh9DGT2U_IcKwLE_43hiHiiFEVZiWKWd8Sa5Fw3xrPdoBg3LOSpLaj87O7mOtVSRUJ3LLruLJOeLb9gheie-4ZvkA7SEpQfTN6QKoU/s1600/DSC_0134.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyBGrQyPy0KktXIRIrErBz6RfosSiiDPgroxDoCTh9DGT2U_IcKwLE_43hiHiiFEVZiWKWd8Sa5Fw3xrPdoBg3LOSpLaj87O7mOtVSRUJ3LLruLJOeLb9gheie-4ZvkA7SEpQfTN6QKoU/s640/DSC_0134.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">All out, thats enough of that</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj15n9noN-wUmae9luoorBbW4Rn8Hccjiiygz8eXvf60EldgRd7rqrFb81Qy2HDChUF7cxGCyKLh3likBEKO_px5zMgVA4Yilzyj83IoxOkcKS8zDh1E_XQDi4-dE_N8HoQHx5n5-_nVtc/s1600/DSC_0139.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj15n9noN-wUmae9luoorBbW4Rn8Hccjiiygz8eXvf60EldgRd7rqrFb81Qy2HDChUF7cxGCyKLh3likBEKO_px5zMgVA4Yilzyj83IoxOkcKS8zDh1E_XQDi4-dE_N8HoQHx5n5-_nVtc/s640/DSC_0139.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Right lets throw dust</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyKTKHQ9p_CYzrLLwVoFLQtQfRRqKD9-r0Ffajln5LnMwN59gOTZm-HEjexiVSE6H4ytU__c1FnjBqwIsXfu-_jpqDL-25M8D8u9Qj86Kd97GL9UWjbipmDwvD_8-srKtGke18jTWGxWA/s1600/DSC_0150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyKTKHQ9p_CYzrLLwVoFLQtQfRRqKD9-r0Ffajln5LnMwN59gOTZm-HEjexiVSE6H4ytU__c1FnjBqwIsXfu-_jpqDL-25M8D8u9Qj86Kd97GL9UWjbipmDwvD_8-srKtGke18jTWGxWA/s640/DSC_0150.jpg" width="635" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Geerrrroff my land</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQVv7dV1G-GH6IwUEBG-cQkMunJxIn-NfHPIa0FecZDU_7lOHIb38Fl3s-ycTj1QS_YzeSFpCJaSp7WCVzt8bhg63fD2q0fYDad1n-Szs19x8Lc4PeuQLO-BO2FBFyJuVjlFZKxWyK3yQ/s1600/DSC_0159.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQVv7dV1G-GH6IwUEBG-cQkMunJxIn-NfHPIa0FecZDU_7lOHIb38Fl3s-ycTj1QS_YzeSFpCJaSp7WCVzt8bhg63fD2q0fYDad1n-Szs19x8Lc4PeuQLO-BO2FBFyJuVjlFZKxWyK3yQ/s640/DSC_0159.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">What's going on here then?</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrUIHh6DnLg_y7hxOKN6lmbTGeoDrCPPgRLo6ezOiKhmrziz7LHb_BFBws-gdJrYgsX1uhPYZcs0w7OLaH3HnHegeMshJsBFG1qP2hgAztD1bwAJ6Jg1wjm9mn8AkKAqIU3I4ZXhrX7sg/s1600/DSC_0161.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrUIHh6DnLg_y7hxOKN6lmbTGeoDrCPPgRLo6ezOiKhmrziz7LHb_BFBws-gdJrYgsX1uhPYZcs0w7OLaH3HnHegeMshJsBFG1qP2hgAztD1bwAJ6Jg1wjm9mn8AkKAqIU3I4ZXhrX7sg/s640/DSC_0161.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Typical you try to get a nice photo of the clouds and then......</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPVL4RVfqF9C0h23LAjwzUywiU0EAM2FWwOeccOXChe6msvNICBHIDKDCyREBdQIEj-mU-7i2S5-XgOAPWJrQRAdDfCJAjm_ZtyHEBVi2MRshT6qCUICewX7Kmx76AjT0E_71W2uxl_rg/s1600/P1130250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="481" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPVL4RVfqF9C0h23LAjwzUywiU0EAM2FWwOeccOXChe6msvNICBHIDKDCyREBdQIEj-mU-7i2S5-XgOAPWJrQRAdDfCJAjm_ZtyHEBVi2MRshT6qCUICewX7Kmx76AjT0E_71W2uxl_rg/s640/P1130250.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">That's better, non of those nosy giraffes.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjfwNduZr7J_I_eXGFRY6YPAB1MaZKrN73SSGIEMDeRTBNpP9V4CkpK9MGRvxaLgTFylUvQbz1DCQZtFgqM2HwSjefeMfk4LLNtq_N0uSreRZHO0V15DPEqJ3UyHZS4XNmAMxm9IyOayM/s1600/P1130287.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="481" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjfwNduZr7J_I_eXGFRY6YPAB1MaZKrN73SSGIEMDeRTBNpP9V4CkpK9MGRvxaLgTFylUvQbz1DCQZtFgqM2HwSjefeMfk4LLNtq_N0uSreRZHO0V15DPEqJ3UyHZS4XNmAMxm9IyOayM/s640/P1130287.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Josh adopts his safari position</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;">Zac has really taken to photography and produced some really cool shots,
however this has also given the boys one more thing to argue about. Darkness
fell at around 6:30 as we headed back to our base. An enjoyable supper and two
tired boys made for an early night as Zanner has promised another early start
to catch the possibility of leopards in a nearby hill...</span>
</div>
</div>The BiblicalBoyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13468821119724326211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4772793224692948830.post-82061074413414147352012-05-13T21:39:00.002+03:002012-05-13T21:40:58.534+03:00On the road: day 4<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
Much like yesterday we were in no great hurry to move, we
knew we had a short hop to get to Iringa before ploughing on to Ruahah National
Park, the largest national park in Tanzania. Although the journey encompassed
some 350km we had it broken down so that by 190km we knew we should be able to
have a decent break with something bordering on edible as far as food goes due
to Iringa being a fairly decent size town. </div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
The initial journey was pretty uneventful with no Police
bothering to trouble you as it was Saturday and it would seem this is a day of
rest or, as I now know it, bribelessday.
We reached Iringa in good time (3:5hrs) so were ready to chow down by
12:30, however, Zanner was adamant we stop at the local information office to
seek onward advice as we hoped to stay in or near the park. The office belongs
to the local tour company and wanted to charge $10 for making a call to the
place we had already been recommended by friends back in Moshi. Suffice to say
we got the call made but sidestepped the ridicules fee. Fortunately the same
place has its own exceedingly good cafe, coffee and pies, oh yes they make
chicken and mushroom pies better than Greggs here! Refreshed we headed to the
local craft building which was run as a charity for deaf people who are cast
out in Tanzania due to the perception that they cannot earn money for their
families. This charity gives them work and therefore an income from which to
gain a foothold in the human race! They also serve good coffee and chocolate
brownies. As I am now 16 months without touching a drop of alcohol ,coffee does
seem to have become a disconcerting habit, but with Zac and Josh bickering in
the back of the car and Zannah falling asleep in the front you need something
to keep the reflexes sharp on these roads. Again we came across more carnage,
with one truck even taking out the whole of the crash barrier along a bridge
with some 40ft drop either side...scary.</div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
After the Iringa stop Zanner sent us the wrong way before
we turned around and headed in the general direct necessary to get us where we
needed to go. It's a bit like having a sat nav, it will always get you there
but sometimes you need accept the fact it hasn't a bloody clue what it's doing.</div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
The journey to Rhuha is pretty brutal as it involves around
100km of unmade road, made much worse by the recent rains. It is a real bone
rattler and filling loosener which really tests your nerves and worse still
makes Joshua's decibel level go beyond critical. Suffice to say he very quickly
lost his much loved Nintendo time not helped by Zach constantly winding him up
about each minute that was taken away from him. </div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUr92d6HSrOoYvxncczhCMSh-wSruiRInepnTYqeq8eaNgYLK2thsNKPwroLQmz4PeAn1y0dprF3yi2T541okQu_zG-cDI2dbdWWXg4Y1cWLTlBwPbJ0MSxi25rtb75pKuMhTW4WLEOEM/s1600/DSC_0816.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUr92d6HSrOoYvxncczhCMSh-wSruiRInepnTYqeq8eaNgYLK2thsNKPwroLQmz4PeAn1y0dprF3yi2T541okQu_zG-cDI2dbdWWXg4Y1cWLTlBwPbJ0MSxi25rtb75pKuMhTW4WLEOEM/s640/DSC_0816.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Worth the journey any time</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-E6JGSOl3vZi36mADCNge-alqUhQX_z-KS4Wr-9xbrc77DPCe2If-u7p2BYD2WHfE9w5TORS1Ll9mdLl-KkXoaMitQ3pVFj1h67-FI7SGHtBBosBcD1hnAo2WL-SnADkBhLKY308mgvM/s1600/DSC_0817.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-E6JGSOl3vZi36mADCNge-alqUhQX_z-KS4Wr-9xbrc77DPCe2If-u7p2BYD2WHfE9w5TORS1Ll9mdLl-KkXoaMitQ3pVFj1h67-FI7SGHtBBosBcD1hnAo2WL-SnADkBhLKY308mgvM/s640/DSC_0817.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Crocs have real back bone for their work</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The next pictures don't need captions, there are just nice...Zanz is getting good at this photo thing!<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg13Ag-9GFNhaxNhkEQTO4D7ylyTjlLLbvvsOvRtkYOMj2DKiEA6UjDbSzQ14TDnqeV2OREvqXEkrIotfIXIv8RB7x8yZ5xoDlnnlJBhVHAmRg0QrrpGsNDmrVWGtQHMvm3_uqL0gKczZQ/s1600/DSC_0819.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg13Ag-9GFNhaxNhkEQTO4D7ylyTjlLLbvvsOvRtkYOMj2DKiEA6UjDbSzQ14TDnqeV2OREvqXEkrIotfIXIv8RB7x8yZ5xoDlnnlJBhVHAmRg0QrrpGsNDmrVWGtQHMvm3_uqL0gKczZQ/s640/DSC_0819.jpg" width="428" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjipPLkQgAtrJjp2EeBarfyFKDaO7Vv7R2Clm6Xj0Z9lAjTHTmfxs70lTL4E2VF4sPlpy3U7qBeKg7iGzRHlgq2DGK9TtSy1CQKPCjbGGYxgcpYMSGZzLNxsvPdk_2qiVotswdGrKmxChI/s1600/DSC_0829.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjipPLkQgAtrJjp2EeBarfyFKDaO7Vv7R2Clm6Xj0Z9lAjTHTmfxs70lTL4E2VF4sPlpy3U7qBeKg7iGzRHlgq2DGK9TtSy1CQKPCjbGGYxgcpYMSGZzLNxsvPdk_2qiVotswdGrKmxChI/s640/DSC_0829.jpg" width="423" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWLcw_ErbCrGLKe88d-BRqkVI_fQVCYOrXVkJmPSVSABFxlRCbqQIFXKHqwLlaGb9N-0HbuAXQcqNNl1AQFlll9y6Z4fwEeUjI_bE5rq_rvWngnoHpAc7Cv9fOXY6EXvSDXy7OYBw7Mw8/s1600/DSC_0832.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWLcw_ErbCrGLKe88d-BRqkVI_fQVCYOrXVkJmPSVSABFxlRCbqQIFXKHqwLlaGb9N-0HbuAXQcqNNl1AQFlll9y6Z4fwEeUjI_bE5rq_rvWngnoHpAc7Cv9fOXY6EXvSDXy7OYBw7Mw8/s640/DSC_0832.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI2WirDk2rpJS3yJjIDFW0tbaQ4BuHOfPx5B1FnZpm06S9fgtNiwkI-HFFD1k1cppP6QkWmjs-Y7sUJ7qNFYBE0Fz8D44D5SAgf1d4IIAUsEVO4MbqxKPlOCa9AEqyb1n7LdGZ3pTQkFk/s1600/DSC_0837.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI2WirDk2rpJS3yJjIDFW0tbaQ4BuHOfPx5B1FnZpm06S9fgtNiwkI-HFFD1k1cppP6QkWmjs-Y7sUJ7qNFYBE0Fz8D44D5SAgf1d4IIAUsEVO4MbqxKPlOCa9AEqyb1n7LdGZ3pTQkFk/s640/DSC_0837.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6bUXnE-ZucHsKFiUxCeAzKSfcBjKe9cqUnOsV87Ah4kzSf4BoTFhH1sjXnMu6MeDPIN4P60ncQUcv7_y4jiLwRL_1tqVaegvwizOlh_yzYk6t9fIg7JZIYEpavmMQSDAV8CsKrfxBbUo/s1600/P1130235.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="481" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6bUXnE-ZucHsKFiUxCeAzKSfcBjKe9cqUnOsV87Ah4kzSf4BoTFhH1sjXnMu6MeDPIN4P60ncQUcv7_y4jiLwRL_1tqVaegvwizOlh_yzYk6t9fIg7JZIYEpavmMQSDAV8CsKrfxBbUo/s640/P1130235.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Kudu du du du duo</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We arrived at the park with enough time to trek 20km with
good light before we needed to find our bandas for the night. Amazingly we
spotted Kudu, Rock Hyrax, Elephant, Zebra, Gazelle and the Saddle-Billed Stork
(East Africa's largest) all within half an hour, pretty cool we thought. As the
night drew in we found our accommodation, amazing little steel bandas with
toilet block and small eating area. Just as we were getting bags out of the car
we spotted two Giraffe happily munching at the trees next to one of the
bandas. Already encamped we're two
couples from South Africa, I say SA but three of them were from the UK but had
lived there for 20 years. They were over-landing for four months and heading up
to Ethiopia. They will have covered over 20,000k by the time they return to
Joburg making our road trip look like a day out. However, by now the hobbits
were getting restless so we drove up to the only place we could grab food, the
staff canteen. And there we sat, eating chicken and rice with 15 local workers
all happily ensconced in the FA Cup final...life is very funny at times.</div>
<span id="goog_677480823"></span><span id="goog_677480824"></span></div>The BiblicalBoyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13468821119724326211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4772793224692948830.post-45159232572606603192012-05-13T09:37:00.000+03:002012-05-13T15:20:56.411+03:00On the road: day 3<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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</div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today was our rest day, by that I mean we were not going to
be traveling on the road point to point. So instead we did 150km off road
around Mikumi National Park! There was a question mark around wether we would
set off early to catch the sunrise and the game, this question continued to be
debated well into a leisurely breakfast...much better than the best breakfast
in Tanzania served at Irente Farm. </span></div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLwLBD_WuMQ1JD7iKy4L39FbPk_XPE_4P68sfZ3BL0_QmMbuj6D1VWh6rVkWncC_7i_FTLIJj8KJoXFQZkP550XV8rNgofxhTTpq4P9-XkE5YBMdsh-lBAU0KKoqPHSiA1xTFA3We5JFU/s1600/DSC_0503.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLwLBD_WuMQ1JD7iKy4L39FbPk_XPE_4P68sfZ3BL0_QmMbuj6D1VWh6rVkWncC_7i_FTLIJj8KJoXFQZkP550XV8rNgofxhTTpq4P9-XkE5YBMdsh-lBAU0KKoqPHSiA1xTFA3We5JFU/s320/DSC_0503.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mum your arm pits really smell!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We were soon on the road fueled by our triple espresso's
and restful sleep. The wildlife came to meet us on the road as a gang of
baboons strutted around the middle of the highway with underslung babies, a
fashion many Hamstead mums will no doubt find attractive in time. Suffice to
say these dog like primates showed a clear disregard for the trucks and 4x4's
who utilize this road. Along they way to the main gate of Mikumi we saw
Giraffe, Zebra and assorted gazelle. </span></div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikyrw3zkLj9LQlnp2vm2zx9wofOZIJj9FnKMsnL5HYWbZL4ESEV8CV7JwRUEYTVasimw51LMgIHTx7STgF20jYStqi5_olMNQan9TefpIlm-TJqf5r4b0Ipl4eMz4GB21u6KD0oy73JIk/s1600/DSC_0511.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikyrw3zkLj9LQlnp2vm2zx9wofOZIJj9FnKMsnL5HYWbZL4ESEV8CV7JwRUEYTVasimw51LMgIHTx7STgF20jYStqi5_olMNQan9TefpIlm-TJqf5r4b0Ipl4eMz4GB21u6KD0oy73JIk/s320/DSC_0511.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at those ugly humans</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
Once in the park we had to decide if we were to take a
guide, but as this is our road trip and as everyone onboard has an adventurous
disposition we went with the simple map and hope. We worked our way into the
park where we soon came upon the Hippo lake, complete with a family of Hippo's,
or heard to be precise. Josh decided they were like water pigs, and no amount
of telling him they were herbivores more related to cows could dissuade him
from this view. A little patience brought about our first sighting of an
African crocodile, resplendent with freshly caught cat fish type thing. This
elicited much excitement
especially as there was a huge school outing emptying numerous buses of
very small African children. In a very health and safety fashion Zanner worried
for these children due to the proximity of the croc, the boy's however took the
paparazzi view and thought it would make a great picture if the croc grabbed
one of the pupils. </span><br />
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOrHgM6OpZvFZmfFChAyOgO8cR7Z9-GOCdx4rSHtvQkgOElhar9_jqdhFBYsmO2iZuY8zv4eryrOmk1NwzIVCn4O9BIZS7COmqkXQL707uzFELERxnU0fv9v4b7NS8Mcr7IRe_QK63H4A/s1600/DSC_0562.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="534" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOrHgM6OpZvFZmfFChAyOgO8cR7Z9-GOCdx4rSHtvQkgOElhar9_jqdhFBYsmO2iZuY8zv4eryrOmk1NwzIVCn4O9BIZS7COmqkXQL707uzFELERxnU0fv9v4b7NS8Mcr7IRe_QK63H4A/s640/DSC_0562.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cat fish...always with the cat fish, mmmm yummy children now that would be looooooovely</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We trekked off to seek out new adventure and it wasn't long
before we found ourselves in the middle of the flood plains. Now we are in the
middle of the rainy season and these tracks had clearly not been used for some
time...well they have now as our once clean land cruiser made easy going of the
muddy trail. But the real problem came from the swarms of tsetse flies, many
getting into the car and doing there damnedest to bite everyone inside. Much to
Zac's amusement and consternation they took some forceful killing, these things
are armor plated. We made our way round this section and headed off for lunch
at one of the lodges, the first was closed but the second provided fine fare
and a welcome rest from the flies. </span></div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Back in the cruiser we headed further round the park and
again found ourselves on unused trails, but this was a real joy as we came upon
massed herds of every type of beast. Better still as no vehicles had been
through this section for some time the grasses had grown to cover much of the
trail and this brought the animals a lot closer than they would normally have
been. The only disappointment was our failure to spot the lions who patrol this
area, but with the grasses so high we could have been yards away from them and
not known about it. There were a few hairy moments where we struggled with the
mud in deep ravine sections but the cruiser was peerless in its ability to find
traction. The boys emotions transversed between...."oh no we are going to
be stuck here all night", to "cool that was really fun, should we do
it again, I bet no one else will get through there". </span></div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the way out we thought we spotted a lion stalking a
wildebeest, so we headed down a track that looked pretty much like many of the
others we had struggled down. In no time at all we were accosted by a ranger
who told us we were off the track and had to pay a fine! Now is it me or have I
become a magnet for those seeking to add to some kind of early Christmas fund?
We schlepped up to the office to argue our case, I didn't resort to the bribe
function on my auto response iTax device as Apple have said that the software
upgrade is only applicable to Fat PoliceMan ver.2:1. As it turns out my time
spent at bar school paid off as my defence was accepted and we were very
courteously sent on our way. By the way the lion...it was a piece of wood!</span></div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Back out of the park on the way home we came across more
wildlife either side of the road, culminating in a revisit to the baboon pack
from earlier in the day. Just like the previous day, death awaits the road user
or abuser who challenges mortality with a low sense of self preservation. Much
to Josh's horror, strewn in the road was a dying baboon, the pack trying
forlornly to bring the animal back from the brink. We struggled with the idea
of putting it out of its misery but with the boys in tow and with Josh already
in tears it was a step to far for this adventure. We selfishly abandoned it to
which ever oncoming truck chose to ignore the baboons and we felt pretty
miserable for doing so. </span></div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Life and therefore nature is a funny thing, we spent the
day watching it, amazed and awed by the animals and the surroundings. We
scoured the park in the vain hope that we would see a top level predator
hunting down its lunch, psyched by the idea of crocodiles and their natural
killing instincts. But the truth was we were shocked and sickened by another
human beings lack of care and their complete disregard for the life of an
animal that was simply playing in a place it thought was home. It's a dangerous
place to play but I suppose primates don't have a Mr Tufty roadshow?</span></div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Back at the lodge we had supper and met some interesting
mission workers who discussed the state of the country, from schooling to
healthcare, of course this was all achieved with the occasional reference to
corruption or as I am starting to understand it CIA, not the American model but
Corruption Is Africa. After the previous evenings shenanigans with the boys sharing a double
bed we 'topped and tailed them'; having explained what this meant at least 20
times. Prior to falling asleep Joshes final words were, "what's the point
in sleeping like this if you still take up all the bed?" goodnight.</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNUcBKDt0oD4uPg5sd9l2lWRr38M0MRKmlWs2CQyZpjwAUnQbaAHncThHG48xovJTWKBTpybJyYScTzIsBXSvxWKkvuQKMVz71g_n2N9NDxWNcBoXvi5RsjrvZXe0KfYMB_-R12WyM9nc/s1600/DSC_0518.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="557" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNUcBKDt0oD4uPg5sd9l2lWRr38M0MRKmlWs2CQyZpjwAUnQbaAHncThHG48xovJTWKBTpybJyYScTzIsBXSvxWKkvuQKMVz71g_n2N9NDxWNcBoXvi5RsjrvZXe0KfYMB_-R12WyM9nc/s640/DSC_0518.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Ah runaway ugly humans</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJkpZCLQj052o1960xFyxLya1xFtMAUZbaTCfaOsRQSuDf9a3jTXUbypnI6yPwKAI91uikjc3pbVtuAy28U_Eud6nQujGrCVGh356DIob9n1yfXXJ3bZoBYxJmEtKrJKyhpAFT8daIRj0/s1600/DSC_0526.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="463" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJkpZCLQj052o1960xFyxLya1xFtMAUZbaTCfaOsRQSuDf9a3jTXUbypnI6yPwKAI91uikjc3pbVtuAy28U_Eud6nQujGrCVGh356DIob9n1yfXXJ3bZoBYxJmEtKrJKyhpAFT8daIRj0/s640/DSC_0526.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Who's the odd one out?</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiCoqlfapEPjp6iAUtDle6PmoJdROB277xU87XSqcRVUO5chsV3jJPnK2pg0d0tg97_VW_5Usb4Bl9z9VRS2zG4yoIOQUdOzwVwIt3A9wRhzhYhkcMo1fDfFzrd_YnKxUyd1RBGNwkdOg/s1600/DSC_0542.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="457" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiCoqlfapEPjp6iAUtDle6PmoJdROB277xU87XSqcRVUO5chsV3jJPnK2pg0d0tg97_VW_5Usb4Bl9z9VRS2zG4yoIOQUdOzwVwIt3A9wRhzhYhkcMo1fDfFzrd_YnKxUyd1RBGNwkdOg/s640/DSC_0542.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Captain prepare to dive...dive, dive, dive.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr9R2kyGLoUXPweGzCse-X4PzRweY8Pni7ZzSKEjW1ru-t7I8F7BNETGChzYvB-o86n4rSvTlQ18ptY1WntfCC9gXwpJM0aRN3jSkeEuUxZcIRS8Pu5YaCFh4zKcjXZvMEF2x4hdnCY_c/s1600/DSC_0547.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr9R2kyGLoUXPweGzCse-X4PzRweY8Pni7ZzSKEjW1ru-t7I8F7BNETGChzYvB-o86n4rSvTlQ18ptY1WntfCC9gXwpJM0aRN3jSkeEuUxZcIRS8Pu5YaCFh4zKcjXZvMEF2x4hdnCY_c/s640/DSC_0547.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Tanzanian synchronized swimming team ready for London 2012</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmCgXZ5DDpI5DE4e12XSEiObxRYF7zw8-jm8dW6ZfWv2Oo3dtBfvNReGWnYKrZLoiT3uGGAJ6E6Ai4usJ2mTkVTVUBQVgduD8inxKE26FhYKAiWS7DbdiCXFL1trUke9LMrkOmCNRlmlU/s1600/DSC_0557.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmCgXZ5DDpI5DE4e12XSEiObxRYF7zw8-jm8dW6ZfWv2Oo3dtBfvNReGWnYKrZLoiT3uGGAJ6E6Ai4usJ2mTkVTVUBQVgduD8inxKE26FhYKAiWS7DbdiCXFL1trUke9LMrkOmCNRlmlU/s640/DSC_0557.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Does my bum look big in this...No dear it looks fine</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4bnZKd84p_wWYfREsWtNMixkkjxx1sgnmvC4fFPKc0DzAwm8zu79N8BgeZ0g7jrkABO3ej1-hjwQtZHH64dgKK3x09avJpb7FjBDnBEx9Z3W9F_VBRXmoy5wwZF-tjKevnMXfWxnT28g/s1600/DSC_0586.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4bnZKd84p_wWYfREsWtNMixkkjxx1sgnmvC4fFPKc0DzAwm8zu79N8BgeZ0g7jrkABO3ej1-hjwQtZHH64dgKK3x09avJpb7FjBDnBEx9Z3W9F_VBRXmoy5wwZF-tjKevnMXfWxnT28g/s640/DSC_0586.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daddy ponders the meaning of life....but it's me...still me...gotta be me!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1oqs_pviP5d-6rTcwcmXfzEnOluLqgVhOl-0wgnQI4a_RGjhmBksARpHMkRdvqFFO9sI9e-WzIMaCxW9lCnBgfQWdZIaJGCgb8K_Rdv_NSoj5qC2zB2nKTWhiMUH0G2Nv9FApeSzxiog/s1600/DSC_0607.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1oqs_pviP5d-6rTcwcmXfzEnOluLqgVhOl-0wgnQI4a_RGjhmBksARpHMkRdvqFFO9sI9e-WzIMaCxW9lCnBgfQWdZIaJGCgb8K_Rdv_NSoj5qC2zB2nKTWhiMUH0G2Nv9FApeSzxiog/s640/DSC_0607.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Last family trip through here ate well me thinks</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheZkuPcevNkvgQAaQLHYu8E-SNdimAHqUPHSj4EOn7OzBIYvu4jpV1b3ZbR99fJOwRlqn4Woy_N8rwW0fhebVv1v1bmJ1EQq-I5vOxQzq4GdeqGpDf-1aMQyWFyBqFlAui4jkEbinIQ2E/s1600/DSC_0616.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheZkuPcevNkvgQAaQLHYu8E-SNdimAHqUPHSj4EOn7OzBIYvu4jpV1b3ZbR99fJOwRlqn4Woy_N8rwW0fhebVv1v1bmJ1EQq-I5vOxQzq4GdeqGpDf-1aMQyWFyBqFlAui4jkEbinIQ2E/s640/DSC_0616.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Lesser spotted englisheses in their natural habitat</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmEObBdKfADcIlq_HHmwKAzHnTKEfHb2zMlXGo33pnJM28DFc_WXmlG8q4Dq6B0IfX_s4Sg_gynN58fJzJb_9psm9KutyIf3eCNwKD3kn8X4DKd1wJdiCgexPfFV4aHT2pUsFRyy8WGKw/s1600/DSC_0505.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmEObBdKfADcIlq_HHmwKAzHnTKEfHb2zMlXGo33pnJM28DFc_WXmlG8q4Dq6B0IfX_s4Sg_gynN58fJzJb_9psm9KutyIf3eCNwKD3kn8X4DKd1wJdiCgexPfFV4aHT2pUsFRyy8WGKw/s320/DSC_0505.jpg" width="276" /></a></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfClkywfH7Tykn2LtmzggsX5cSzcwVNxQep9YFeMZ9kbC3h2_Zm5wtSGQgQzBMq1IjLqzKTbdsYXBEfitB4Ncxc7_hE2PQGrq3ZaUpuItzydJyMQxsxsyKkEiCZbTaoIF34KEH5T5ffuo/s1600/DSC_0651.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfClkywfH7Tykn2LtmzggsX5cSzcwVNxQep9YFeMZ9kbC3h2_Zm5wtSGQgQzBMq1IjLqzKTbdsYXBEfitB4Ncxc7_hE2PQGrq3ZaUpuItzydJyMQxsxsyKkEiCZbTaoIF34KEH5T5ffuo/s320/DSC_0651.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Spot the difference right & left pics</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKHp8UoJHrGrdA6NXHI3ReHXSs_6vdF0H3tO17PMJiKJms2bJ5bsDvPvh6lXiT8-mqr9EFMjPNOltWm8o95WUyLaLnS-YDPk_LEU7cZbwudBrz93O7TCbKDikJrJsq5tTNhyQ1Nu3IydY/s1600/DSC_0618.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKHp8UoJHrGrdA6NXHI3ReHXSs_6vdF0H3tO17PMJiKJms2bJ5bsDvPvh6lXiT8-mqr9EFMjPNOltWm8o95WUyLaLnS-YDPk_LEU7cZbwudBrz93O7TCbKDikJrJsq5tTNhyQ1Nu3IydY/s320/DSC_0618.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Do you wanna see my bracelet?</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNJGK5YCM3fQdDwy23wn7ACZMpnaP1u6DjCH0j6z9dIyTDg1ldxkSJ6QpXCcFlyTTbLF20Y9IAk15cuqh97aZjfs7BqvXUI0q6oFFqf-6S1i0QD-k1yuhr1VFzP3DChftuIX_4tqoVxDw/s1600/DSC_0620.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNJGK5YCM3fQdDwy23wn7ACZMpnaP1u6DjCH0j6z9dIyTDg1ldxkSJ6QpXCcFlyTTbLF20Y9IAk15cuqh97aZjfs7BqvXUI0q6oFFqf-6S1i0QD-k1yuhr1VFzP3DChftuIX_4tqoVxDw/s320/DSC_0620.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Zac had all the girls in Tan Swiss screaming</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0_jhqEWh_cRt7i4T_RSYCqXSXrFsk_X78mYimhfbvRiRbLwKYH8HJnRRjpLK_5LWByZ3ovJxTCI4_1_drolaiMp6k5qEjfTGi9SoDIBSCbVMOJK24Ka1nhx1ihA6KivgNdpOZiEadZGw/s1600/DSC_0644.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0_jhqEWh_cRt7i4T_RSYCqXSXrFsk_X78mYimhfbvRiRbLwKYH8HJnRRjpLK_5LWByZ3ovJxTCI4_1_drolaiMp6k5qEjfTGi9SoDIBSCbVMOJK24Ka1nhx1ihA6KivgNdpOZiEadZGw/s640/DSC_0644.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">On the lookout for </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWq-YQyWIDYsFtBfLBFot7x8GI8FYX41Hxbu1gfI41ykwXIfTsgqZk0pFu72h6xdKEjW-jeoKVAc5WJYR3MteAfUCZGpP5YxtlsGAerXVsYQrBzxG0i4ZPtm0RvKKo4UeQPsrYd8jnrIo/s1600/DSC_0660.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWq-YQyWIDYsFtBfLBFot7x8GI8FYX41Hxbu1gfI41ykwXIfTsgqZk0pFu72h6xdKEjW-jeoKVAc5WJYR3MteAfUCZGpP5YxtlsGAerXVsYQrBzxG0i4ZPtm0RvKKo4UeQPsrYd8jnrIo/s640/DSC_0660.jpg" width="636" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Daddy that eagle has fingers</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcO5PqrQki0IqV_WKUcNNpqAGteJhpEDWEA6MsUHC2VjaGIkZtNTsWI8_hJpzWtdc6i3yoHU8a6oP0Zf6Dy_TKhgYJCMP8gU_Wt58WcALOR0VGovwPOBwwHO3_7l_ie0VVV60i8L-ZEwc/s1600/P1130227.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcO5PqrQki0IqV_WKUcNNpqAGteJhpEDWEA6MsUHC2VjaGIkZtNTsWI8_hJpzWtdc6i3yoHU8a6oP0Zf6Dy_TKhgYJCMP8gU_Wt58WcALOR0VGovwPOBwwHO3_7l_ie0VVV60i8L-ZEwc/s640/P1130227.jpg" width="620" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Do you have anything for head mantis?</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb2RcOGwAE2Q0X4Q5qmVQCXqRUxRkDzoWBR19pj0qqE4l5HqNRLL-iov_KF2g63aCXiILUBQTjfFCmBoRdCJW_YJrvlk7SeVo0IN99VZlY-CEAYtvVcXjsi-kjdqhN6SYOKcNPI4Wr-L4/s1600/DSC_0758.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb2RcOGwAE2Q0X4Q5qmVQCXqRUxRkDzoWBR19pj0qqE4l5HqNRLL-iov_KF2g63aCXiILUBQTjfFCmBoRdCJW_YJrvlk7SeVo0IN99VZlY-CEAYtvVcXjsi-kjdqhN6SYOKcNPI4Wr-L4/s640/DSC_0758.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Well thats it, if your going to be so necky I'm off!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJiPVQruDUqG5cc7BqERJsSEr4ME0oGgV9lTw9rxKa6-tzYe1HnEB4uVT3oKuYt8hjkEab7033r0TVDO0hDQcWyixi3-tz6zKrr51VFceRyBh0feCE8shUKGkrmgSYLJQZD0nJT7jENxY/s1600/DSC_0768.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJiPVQruDUqG5cc7BqERJsSEr4ME0oGgV9lTw9rxKa6-tzYe1HnEB4uVT3oKuYt8hjkEab7033r0TVDO0hDQcWyixi3-tz6zKrr51VFceRyBh0feCE8shUKGkrmgSYLJQZD0nJT7jENxY/s640/DSC_0768.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Typical vista...it cannot get borning</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Zu-XaF9TlPilz03xj-P0LbcB80K-sJkpq220j0v3uyDbiK3il3h1QdGz03YbL-SXFtHmG6AwCkGs19X9SdYlGbMROwH40mFKITiFtX1OWPZWfB3YUVdHZLaUYTo2O0FbwRoqiY33ww4/s1600/DSC_0777.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Zu-XaF9TlPilz03xj-P0LbcB80K-sJkpq220j0v3uyDbiK3il3h1QdGz03YbL-SXFtHmG6AwCkGs19X9SdYlGbMROwH40mFKITiFtX1OWPZWfB3YUVdHZLaUYTo2O0FbwRoqiY33ww4/s640/DSC_0777.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Grants Gazelle, nice horns</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjJXytHs99umW6frVAzYjbF47Lz5KrvV1i47dFuw2ak-2a_UmBULEo3Qg9I5T2ZQ_jbSNY_uYgIfOqx0MQ-7BRW19_w6594PFLu_BebXt35vQQmLFOlVxwk2CzaAllO2xXk0xVHWGm2uU/s1600/DSC_0787.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjJXytHs99umW6frVAzYjbF47Lz5KrvV1i47dFuw2ak-2a_UmBULEo3Qg9I5T2ZQ_jbSNY_uYgIfOqx0MQ-7BRW19_w6594PFLu_BebXt35vQQmLFOlVxwk2CzaAllO2xXk0xVHWGm2uU/s640/DSC_0787.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Impala, but mine are bigger</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjezZPT58QyAZndM7JmLtZOSy55_E9Jw1S5gmKQ4M-eMvbXiwIUygwh6U8f9wh2W-kDZBfVD6NdFKmz6Y6n1YRUY4ftQy_oMscC-gCplTuFGl3VZOTVD3DjOUl0lx06c6_gTTNEyxXlVi8/s1600/DSC_0782.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjezZPT58QyAZndM7JmLtZOSy55_E9Jw1S5gmKQ4M-eMvbXiwIUygwh6U8f9wh2W-kDZBfVD6NdFKmz6Y6n1YRUY4ftQy_oMscC-gCplTuFGl3VZOTVD3DjOUl0lx06c6_gTTNEyxXlVi8/s640/DSC_0782.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Great mummy...it's just more gazelle </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSHhDEY9vm7ujtzL3c9676BHphoxGrFb2PR8PpjbMwPVePCW-DGTh9LazE8sJ5ZSNa2U5o82WqJdfxFKenoDcVoz_mDblxd1QPkfiF5OOKeR9unAR-lKH9ucgCnka_fOlqJ1GHwG5zhdA/s1600/DSC_0808.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSHhDEY9vm7ujtzL3c9676BHphoxGrFb2PR8PpjbMwPVePCW-DGTh9LazE8sJ5ZSNa2U5o82WqJdfxFKenoDcVoz_mDblxd1QPkfiF5OOKeR9unAR-lKH9ucgCnka_fOlqJ1GHwG5zhdA/s640/DSC_0808.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">What a real 4x4 should look like...dirty</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih_wHYm3RyTo6gS4O7zxGnua6XE6q3CDvxQhUvXr0UfyKBCbnIgR2V4I9-fOmKdt1bGMX4VrFWEeTM4VfhbRDP705MhKLjIlT2HX_rc-33vGPMkmmCArq54t066bM-yPNQujb9q9APbZo/s1600/P1130189.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih_wHYm3RyTo6gS4O7zxGnua6XE6q3CDvxQhUvXr0UfyKBCbnIgR2V4I9-fOmKdt1bGMX4VrFWEeTM4VfhbRDP705MhKLjIlT2HX_rc-33vGPMkmmCArq54t066bM-yPNQujb9q9APbZo/s640/P1130189.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Mummy what's that over there? Oh darling its only stupid human's, now eat your grass</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7YbgatWbTzFcuMe4gcO7kXUwjD4QDa0dnnbgj5vggzOUtay5XuqI89oDR7paWxb9Si7IQDuJlRznbbLP0TqlpN47dEyxg9oazrLgiU7U7FtvuRUSdhMerbSCQF2rrQT7-L_UFIpSkpJE/s1600/P1130209.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7YbgatWbTzFcuMe4gcO7kXUwjD4QDa0dnnbgj5vggzOUtay5XuqI89oDR7paWxb9Si7IQDuJlRznbbLP0TqlpN47dEyxg9oazrLgiU7U7FtvuRUSdhMerbSCQF2rrQT7-L_UFIpSkpJE/s640/P1130209.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Black and white African tiger</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieBxG0tQpUL2Qu2Y9L4lSJ_zpH4JmOAt2Uja4BYtAs_H7umqEUv-mx8K3aG8U0fGPNuUapGyk36LL7WP9gG7ttoCWzMOh2_TZqbEER1CzmEAuw_MNXodavNeY_sOMsBReLfRESLAIlaoo/s1600/P1130197.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieBxG0tQpUL2Qu2Y9L4lSJ_zpH4JmOAt2Uja4BYtAs_H7umqEUv-mx8K3aG8U0fGPNuUapGyk36LL7WP9gG7ttoCWzMOh2_TZqbEER1CzmEAuw_MNXodavNeY_sOMsBReLfRESLAIlaoo/s400/P1130197.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Hehaw...that bloke is stupid!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw-se1tYq1o1nfr69yIGSoerz1IoLYoXIBoemFCuriETzqU8dBKBD5ClhovaPW7QUAtrSqIK6D9SI78xD9mHhKkUxw62VMZ7Cfq9q_72IRqGW2Su2az4p77yc1eyS_78hulPCWUYuuJcs/s1600/P1130221.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw-se1tYq1o1nfr69yIGSoerz1IoLYoXIBoemFCuriETzqU8dBKBD5ClhovaPW7QUAtrSqIK6D9SI78xD9mHhKkUxw62VMZ7Cfq9q_72IRqGW2Su2az4p77yc1eyS_78hulPCWUYuuJcs/s320/P1130221.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">African face jewelry</span></td></tr>
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<br /></div>The BiblicalBoyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13468821119724326211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4772793224692948830.post-12580266246276249952012-05-13T09:03:00.002+03:002012-05-13T16:25:34.318+03:00On the road: Day 2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The following morning we were meant to be met by what the guidebook described as ‘possibly the best breakfast in Tanzania’. Mmmmmm, if you like weak coffee, bread, jam and cheese of various consistencies, well then it might at a pinch tick that box…now I don’t want to come across as fussy so I wont! To take a quote from the film ‘Blood Diamonds’, DIA (Dis is Africa) and so it is, breakfast was a bit of a let down but DIA.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">It had rained most of the night so 4 wheel drive was engaged so we could get out of the mountains without too much ado. This was going to be one of the longest car days as we hoped to cover all 500km down to Mikumi National Park and Swiss Tan Lodge…I stopped looking in the guide book or asking what it was recommended for.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">We seemed to chase the rain clouds as it poured, reminding Zanner that England beckoned and were it not for the unbelievable views we could have been on any A road in the UK. Well that was until a rather rotund police officer (here rotund is a sign of wealth not bad diet and lack of exercise) pointed his speed gun at us. Now speed here is a rather curious thing, as it doesn’t really happen other than on the road, where everybody is in a rush. I suppose they are desperately wanting to get somewhere so that once they are there they can slothfully meander through the rest of the day!</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Anyway the point is we travel at around 100km an hour on the road, which is fine until a sign jumps out and says 50kmph wherein a police man is usually ten yards up the road with his speed gun. Now I can’t vouch for accuracy but I think of the three times I have been stopped thus far whilst here the gun seems permanently fixed on 106kmph, call me cynical but those kind of coincidences are Wildean, to say the least. Ah yes the story, so our jolly police man, lets call him Ollie soon had his mate Stan accompanying him on his act, ‘We are sorry’, ‘You were breaking law’, ‘please to pay 30,000Tsh’, ‘Need give you receipti’. Now I have learnt how this works it all took very little time, ‘Thanks guys, I don’t want a receipti, let me give you 10,000Tsh and we can just get on with the day?’ Yesses all round and no doubt a few more beers in the Laurel and Hardy fund.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">I have to admit though speed is an ever-present killer here, in part due to the appalling standard of driving, but compounded by the poorly maintained vehicles. The issue was brought into stark reality after a couple of hundred kilometers when we came upon an horrific crash. Two articulated trucks look to have hit each other head on and it was clear from the carnage that there were no survivors.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEFQAwvTk42P8qy7M4AECbB8gqrj6kIG030DEcVX6ez-SimQR4qCrLqKDOmzMgSOwYxpXUXUr1Y36hF6fXlqUJ11cMQ34go69rxYpvKVi6q3uHdzWcipqQiFcBm0G_Vp93wnHhOTI5jGk/s1600/P1130155.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEFQAwvTk42P8qy7M4AECbB8gqrj6kIG030DEcVX6ez-SimQR4qCrLqKDOmzMgSOwYxpXUXUr1Y36hF6fXlqUJ11cMQ34go69rxYpvKVi6q3uHdzWcipqQiFcBm0G_Vp93wnHhOTI5jGk/s400/P1130155.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New Acropol waiting competition </td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US">Our next stop was to grab a rest break at Morogoro in the foothills of the Uluguru Mountains. This town sits upon the old town of Simbamwenni (The Lion King) described by Stanley on his travels to meet Livingston. Alas nothing of the town exists which is a shame. Suffice to say it is a ‘colourful and thriving city’, but a pain to get round. We eventually found what Zan told me was an excellent place for coffee (guide book) So we made our way to the New Acropol Hotel, which initially looked deserted in the same way the beautiful old French colony building in Laos look. In fact they had more staff than you could shake a stick at and all looked willing to take our order in double quick time. Well soda’s for the boys and of course some of this wonderful coffee, I was told by the waitress they did cappuccino so why not. Well why not is simple really…you have to wait 40mins for it! By which time your kids are fractious and you’ve notice you have a puncture in your rear tyre.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">No coffee later, off to the tyre fitter we go. I say no coffee but in truth when I was paying it was brought out and I was told they had forgotten. The reality was having had a sip it was not coffee anyway. I read the guide whilst I was sat waiting, it said…’their Arabica from Utengule, near Mbeya, is excellent’…no its bloody NOT.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAJbfPl4cfBwMF6m99EUSTOBIz4SUD9J6I9fbUjpzUdexqOzZijMdRpm6ZhFHjkKPCCjpwcR8XNw6VjjNcBQfvGAdR1H4MbTH9AOIEezWxbmWK0XKnJ-LQI_ebX_1_RSHCF8bkP6nOgAM/s1600/P1130157.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAJbfPl4cfBwMF6m99EUSTOBIz4SUD9J6I9fbUjpzUdexqOzZijMdRpm6ZhFHjkKPCCjpwcR8XNw6VjjNcBQfvGAdR1H4MbTH9AOIEezWxbmWK0XKnJ-LQI_ebX_1_RSHCF8bkP6nOgAM/s320/P1130157.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Service with a smile<br />
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We found a tyre fitters, by that I mean shed behind a petrol station, and the heavens opened. This did not put off our Barcelona supporting fitter from smiling throughout the whole process of removing the tyre, fixing the puncture and removing the nail all for the equivalent of £4:50, “you can’t get better than a Kwik Fit fitter”…yes you CAN. 84 Km later we arrived at Tan Swiss Lodge,
our little oasis for the next two nights.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tan Swiss is a swinging place.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I don't have a caption as this picture is too bizarre!</td></tr>
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</div>The BiblicalBoyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13468821119724326211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4772793224692948830.post-26195343469282699592012-05-13T03:12:00.000+03:002012-05-13T23:32:10.487+03:00On the road: Day 1<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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So we are in the final
throws of our African adventure, Tanzania, and what a better way to sign off
than a road trip. The planning committee was formed and Zach, Josh and I sat on
the periphery taking little notice of the noise that emanated from the head
shed. Suffice to say numerous plans later and a visit out to Simon Mtuy’s
climbing base we decided to play it by ear taking in as much or as little as
time/weather/children/illness/car/bribes/roads/traffic/accommodation…you get
the picture…allowed.</div>
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<o:p></o:p><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLZjihXV1UXHJwcmOvH9uP5YbT5kgUMgt_ZWIYB_EU6zmU4kp4YmI2E8H4PzduOoBRZuNO11U66MWelEqqvd62I2jFpUbZbOOCvnFBd36kzUG8HgqjNje1nYj8a9xKpOq1jVVdMbkQPFw/s1600/DSC_0464.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLZjihXV1UXHJwcmOvH9uP5YbT5kgUMgt_ZWIYB_EU6zmU4kp4YmI2E8H4PzduOoBRZuNO11U66MWelEqqvd62I2jFpUbZbOOCvnFBd36kzUG8HgqjNje1nYj8a9xKpOq1jVVdMbkQPFw/s400/DSC_0464.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zac I'm not sure these boots go with this mud?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Following an impromptu
party to celebrate Zach’s 8<sup>th</sup> birthday we were going to set off on
the Monday morning…first thing Zan said! So in keeping with all best laid plans
we set off on Wednesday 2<sup>nd</sup> at 11am; having spent the morning
changing both front tyres as the ones that were on were definitely taka taka.
First stop was to be 300km SE, high up into the Usambara Mountains (1400m), 6km
outside of Lushoto home to the Sambaa people. We were to stay over at Lutheran
run Irente Farm, famous for its biodiversity work in the region and, according
to the guide book (pah!) a wide range of home made organic products. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photographer uses tree to good effect?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The journey was pretty
uneventful, we were stopped and ‘taxed’ by the fire service because we needed
to have a fire extinguisher licence but managed to avoid any of the numerous
police checks along the way. Driving up into the mountains was pretty
terrifying stuff for the crew, as the sheer drop all the way along the route
was both breath taking and stomach churning. The farm itself is a testament to
what can be achieved here with so much back breaking labour going into
developing an area of real outstanding natural beauty. There is also the
bizarre experience of walking a Km down the track to visit the Irente View
Point, which looks out over the mountains and the plains of the Masai Steppe.
Bizarre because it seems to be owned by Irente View cliff Lodge, an
ostentatious complex of conference rooms, suits and rather large restaurant;
and were you not staying at the farm you are charged 3-4000 Tsh…to stand
outside in their driveway!<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicJaO5Fi_oErKEiJu_R90pB7UKlzbShLcQ-mATpnTOkGcjDs2-jHO_3gzN8lp_nTfssTpqflvgFXpIyPCg1eKjYe4ySc5RsBjHSQueri8P3hHQ81TxwEcnWhzzX-xfBU0lOKGVQZGVvMw/s1600/DSC_0469.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicJaO5Fi_oErKEiJu_R90pB7UKlzbShLcQ-mATpnTOkGcjDs2-jHO_3gzN8lp_nTfssTpqflvgFXpIyPCg1eKjYe4ySc5RsBjHSQueri8P3hHQ81TxwEcnWhzzX-xfBU0lOKGVQZGVvMw/s320/DSC_0469.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ahhhh our hero!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Josh: On our walk back to
the farm we saw a huge, long ant trail right across the road. The ants were probably soldier ants and
they built it very fast as our car had driven over only 30 mins before. Zac and I looked out the window and
they were running all over the place and then we looked out of the window again
and they built it back very quickly.
There were some tunnels that were covered with soil and you could not
see the ants and they had big holes for their nests.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Following the hike
back we tucked into food and then sat in the dark due to the usual power cut;
Bed soon followed. <o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyXnu9ltK50l7GzLyFiNXNZ5bU6RPKcNdX2T4e5w4cwloiZlfGOuVyDmc2eJmiHa-EgAV7LvPlh01apNv1ybX6YzOW7azd4bypKn1HmRaFAiTW7SdprKW_vShnU7c0zjjXXEspV9irXXQ/s1600/DSC_0495.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyXnu9ltK50l7GzLyFiNXNZ5bU6RPKcNdX2T4e5w4cwloiZlfGOuVyDmc2eJmiHa-EgAV7LvPlh01apNv1ybX6YzOW7azd4bypKn1HmRaFAiTW7SdprKW_vShnU7c0zjjXXEspV9irXXQ/s400/DSC_0495.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No thats too much driving we're on strike</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2FYuPJUTe0S_KIqpaPYlCfdnQdbbwmJApRAo6Zfg2mZq6FRm-HUGqL2SbjNcj5ZTMJew614i5G0ejRQtm3H8ofIoNIxoS32xd40-VAxTM0wOljaIhxClyVsrDQ0Ewpp1ryqc094u3GOE/s1600/DSC_0487.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2FYuPJUTe0S_KIqpaPYlCfdnQdbbwmJApRAo6Zfg2mZq6FRm-HUGqL2SbjNcj5ZTMJew614i5G0ejRQtm3H8ofIoNIxoS32xd40-VAxTM0wOljaIhxClyVsrDQ0Ewpp1ryqc094u3GOE/s640/DSC_0487.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Organic lunch...mmmmmm</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8rO3B6TNlaLHwFVLxGnBI8zovMQu09HJoYc9oYuRGQusTzPyoqy8KbsVJx71YOstd8FDV1UwaCn-zHFYrUj-a7hlxfXIl48ZH3j4lDlmI9NUyMrQFttXubAQB8Q91_oNFMmVhxpU5Qnw/s1600/DSC_0532.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8rO3B6TNlaLHwFVLxGnBI8zovMQu09HJoYc9oYuRGQusTzPyoqy8KbsVJx71YOstd8FDV1UwaCn-zHFYrUj-a7hlxfXIl48ZH3j4lDlmI9NUyMrQFttXubAQB8Q91_oNFMmVhxpU5Qnw/s640/DSC_0532.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ant highway</td></tr>
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</div>The BiblicalBoyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13468821119724326211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4772793224692948830.post-3978936330495118812012-05-12T23:36:00.000+03:002012-05-12T23:36:47.039+03:00On an organic weekend in the sky<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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After weeks of wrangling the girls organised their
respective diaries so we could at last visit Simon Mtuy and his family up at
their shamba in Marangu. We've spoken of Simon before and I had recently been
invited to write an article about him for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ultra
Running World. </i>Suffice to say Simon is one of Tanzania's premier athletes
and endurance record holders. He is married to a lovely American girl called
Tara who works at KCMC in research as well as managing two small boys, Kari and
Aiden...both of whom make Zac and Josh look saintly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgStUSR2Z-NIppqEGiDMV03S2dFopGcAR4a_alR5_XMTJICJtlivuKaiIp8kRBhWMJE_CZcmxrnvzpDLZ5IrCkgwbCR14TpHxJcEqs7jPM7jaXmorRp_dnqJ1Hj2sk7AlhQ_Cssva8XjRI/s1600/DSC_0401.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgStUSR2Z-NIppqEGiDMV03S2dFopGcAR4a_alR5_XMTJICJtlivuKaiIp8kRBhWMJE_CZcmxrnvzpDLZ5IrCkgwbCR14TpHxJcEqs7jPM7jaXmorRp_dnqJ1Hj2sk7AlhQ_Cssva8XjRI/s320/DSC_0401.jpg" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Host and Hostess</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Their shamba is a family run business providing most of the
stock food products for Simon's expedition and trekking businesses. He has also
started to develop a coffee plantation as well as a replanting scheme for trees
and shrubs. The farm is situated around an hours drive from Moshi and is in the
Marangu-Aris area no more than 1km from the main gate into the park. This is
where Simon grew up and given the altitude (1900mtrs) it's no wonder the guy
runs like a gazelle. </span></div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">We left with Toby (the Swede) and his family following
Simon et al on the manic drive that is leaving Moshi town, we were soon off
roading through small villages as we climbed ever higher to reach the farm.
Once there we met Simon's parents whom I then found out was old news to Zanz as
she had already been giving his mother medical advice at KCMC. Ever the keeper
of confidences I was the last to know. The boys got stuck in strait away with
feeding the pigs and chasing the chickens. </span></div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">The purpose of the weekend was for Simon, Toby and myself
to mountain bike 60km the 60km back to Moshi, but both Simon and Toby were sick
and Zanner spent most of the rest of the day trying to convince Simon to take
pharmaceutical remedies, which run contrary to his beliefs. However he was
going downhill as the honey and hibiscus seemed to have no affect on his
symptoms. I think any of you who have experienced child rearing will note that
their coughs and colds are bubonic when they hit an adult. Zanner continued to
push her drug taking and eventually I think in a state of weakness Simon
relented...but quickly got better.</span></div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNgmTudSk_LstLJGM1l4h_KFrJ1eNuLjm-UXxt2tFoqutR0wIuc8hNcXO6jIRF8AnNudEyTb0dJl3Jjn1IUyafKO0OXNGRWHAGNA4TuciDEou_XUqOZ9-lS3ZEU5dObEzwJ_jrq8KQA04/s1600/DSC_0419.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNgmTudSk_LstLJGM1l4h_KFrJ1eNuLjm-UXxt2tFoqutR0wIuc8hNcXO6jIRF8AnNudEyTb0dJl3Jjn1IUyafKO0OXNGRWHAGNA4TuciDEou_XUqOZ9-lS3ZEU5dObEzwJ_jrq8KQA04/s320/DSC_0419.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">brrrrrr a bit cold</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">We took tea and went to bed with the idea of trekking the
following day after an early breakfast. Now I'm not sure if the idea of an
early anything when planned is not someone of an anathema to our way of doing
things. But the following morning led to midday before we got on our way. Zac
as usual wanted to be out front, and given the rains in the area it was damp
and slippy!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No prizes for guessing
who has a big scab on his knee now? </span></div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtMXcDFT4cT8a-KVC_SreH9RipM40LLniK7JInx3_L-wA8gXcdf0zJD_xahV-6rxsBkespQmcY6NXXWegVnC4h_f_PClkBS3ux5BtgKYl2WRSBab5hMbrOJlzsBb7ew9jk3MI4NOyu9l0/s1600/DSC_0430.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtMXcDFT4cT8a-KVC_SreH9RipM40LLniK7JInx3_L-wA8gXcdf0zJD_xahV-6rxsBkespQmcY6NXXWegVnC4h_f_PClkBS3ux5BtgKYl2WRSBab5hMbrOJlzsBb7ew9jk3MI4NOyu9l0/s400/DSC_0430.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yep definitely COLD!!!!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Eventually we came to an amazing waterfall and plunge pool
area, Josh was immediately chomping on the bit to be in. Simon walked over to
the edge of the fall and described it as a 'bit cold'. In no time I had
stupidly jumped in simply to get it over with thinking the others would
follow...no...just my hardy boys, who then decided the needed me to jump in
with them at least five times. A bit cold does not describe sufficiently the
feeling you get in your teeth as fillings freeze and your lips become a type of
blue not yet envisaged by Dulux. I realized it was stupidly cold when the
Swedes, who take to the ice waters, thought it was a bit too chilly to get in!</span></div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2a1jURPLI4Y4upioEDhJAiEneA1YR-m1zMsCapeW9-bdHlAhu8XNfbUv7fF96Jvr_fS2SrnpvEDyY7c3eXkIRCsoA06KYYz_EHfRnT0CL1Uu6v9zvkT7CssgJiHx1ligHRaoP-RQRG2g/s1600/P1130085.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2a1jURPLI4Y4upioEDhJAiEneA1YR-m1zMsCapeW9-bdHlAhu8XNfbUv7fF96Jvr_fS2SrnpvEDyY7c3eXkIRCsoA06KYYz_EHfRnT0CL1Uu6v9zvkT7CssgJiHx1ligHRaoP-RQRG2g/s320/P1130085.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's always one</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">We dried off and trekked on, taking in the amazingly
variegated fauna surrounding the foothills of Kilimanjaro and Mwenzi. Upon our
return we toured the area that Simon is developing as part of his expedition
company. This will eventually become a truly remarkable place to acclimatize
for the people wishing to climb the mountain at the same time assuring future
generations of Mtuy clan security within their homeland. </span></div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">We trekked the following day, taking in more of the
beautiful scenery, crossing rivers and basking in the spray of the waterfalls.
All in all a real hidden gem that I think few people get to experience made all
the more enjoyable by the sunny disposition of the locals you come across.</span></div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">As it was Sunday and therefore Zac's birthday we had
birthday lunch whilst texting round many of our Moshi friends to invite them to
an impromptu party when we got home. We headed back soon after lunch and got
stuck into to preparing for Zac's party. </span></div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxs1h4GpD3uTjMVeqkSGcDB8lWvFr2s7JEHNxqn_3auBWdWTj9Mxx2NLFaLnbNRp0gU79bnTNb8EhkT6fILM9w_wakUu7t7p1mmbmsQzxSNvasrnTd2wo5sA7J24fz1FdyWOSlG-E0cxE/s1600/DSC_0399.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxs1h4GpD3uTjMVeqkSGcDB8lWvFr2s7JEHNxqn_3auBWdWTj9Mxx2NLFaLnbNRp0gU79bnTNb8EhkT6fILM9w_wakUu7t7p1mmbmsQzxSNvasrnTd2wo5sA7J24fz1FdyWOSlG-E0cxE/s320/DSC_0399.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Altitude training camp in progress</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">It was a great night no matter how tired all the weekenders
had been, unfortunately it was also Queens day in Holland and therefore many of
our Dutch friends couldn't come, but it didn't stop 20 odd people coming round
to sing happy birthday round a quickly baked cake. This was carried out
individually in every language represented, English, German, Hebrew, KiSwahili,
Swedish, Finnish and American, the last of which no-one understood! Zac said he
thought his party was pretty cool as he got a Pirates of the Caribbean book and
compass...which Josh managed to break within 5 minuets. </span></div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">The party ran till late as the adults managed to consume
much alcohol on Zacs behalf and we tucked Zanner up in bed before me and the
boys cleaned up! </span></div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc6vTHfTHnwsRgvrruniWFDAjHtlUR_2TxCKRHIY6OY9ZnowL9T419VVxYlGv17c9iqrQyOWTDUOTX8bCiL_Z63OSGxDJ2CDz3551Td5z5WCrmJouOJWYUDJHtlzpdDebQMrCbxB1ldmo/s1600/DSC_0415.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc6vTHfTHnwsRgvrruniWFDAjHtlUR_2TxCKRHIY6OY9ZnowL9T419VVxYlGv17c9iqrQyOWTDUOTX8bCiL_Z63OSGxDJ2CDz3551Td5z5WCrmJouOJWYUDJHtlzpdDebQMrCbxB1ldmo/s320/DSC_0415.jpg" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Josh getting to know the pigs</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVlXUI05eYDKzgrEriyYLnOQ7QVNQGYcz0-y5OSWr9yHbuZmKwx4fdTErehI2tWHmE0R6Hfjk_kDv61YiELmnFX5pB6vT-9c73Isfec4XfkSYr0TK_cGzxaj0T7lZ2LZJ7XBMq0wLdVyo/s1600/DSC_0435.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVlXUI05eYDKzgrEriyYLnOQ7QVNQGYcz0-y5OSWr9yHbuZmKwx4fdTErehI2tWHmE0R6Hfjk_kDv61YiELmnFX5pB6vT-9c73Isfec4XfkSYr0TK_cGzxaj0T7lZ2LZJ7XBMq0wLdVyo/s320/DSC_0435.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trek on</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfCycU-j8IR2PZFcn6CWRNo_geor2i1bzi2pk2XE8zlmiQx319OE2zhRru499sw0_sCfHyvUatuea4ohtWlemjYPOf9AZ0p0pEfoPVnwChbEdoX8L7FDg0L441igfsU2N9TGuTXLP2zoc/s1600/DSC_0446.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfCycU-j8IR2PZFcn6CWRNo_geor2i1bzi2pk2XE8zlmiQx319OE2zhRru499sw0_sCfHyvUatuea4ohtWlemjYPOf9AZ0p0pEfoPVnwChbEdoX8L7FDg0L441igfsU2N9TGuTXLP2zoc/s320/DSC_0446.jpg" width="285" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Doctor and Patient</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVSjmj1jBPDlRgrg8dy1glKEHTcoTsDSORsx7WgX351mM229dXAlt-kC9L_ZTfb6R2b6rREwGUgcMkafs4ZT0bKpZGF9KkS3X30sej8cz9fsjDTrpXX7a2I0x0tRBJdy-XAfVHVHR1dcI/s1600/DSC_0451.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVSjmj1jBPDlRgrg8dy1glKEHTcoTsDSORsx7WgX351mM229dXAlt-kC9L_ZTfb6R2b6rREwGUgcMkafs4ZT0bKpZGF9KkS3X30sej8cz9fsjDTrpXX7a2I0x0tRBJdy-XAfVHVHR1dcI/s320/DSC_0451.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A room with a view</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8R5dLlRCcbvS9l5S3KbXFS64HucdKT8OE_s3oWevUpJJ1O8Y0pIzJsibfwbvRYzOjmcDlu_fmYPuFh1WP_EyCniAJx-6yXRuMNpEyG7hBL-GUTJqaUd1SClT_azH7x3fXwvl96-6hqzM/s1600/P1130033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8R5dLlRCcbvS9l5S3KbXFS64HucdKT8OE_s3oWevUpJJ1O8Y0pIzJsibfwbvRYzOjmcDlu_fmYPuFh1WP_EyCniAJx-6yXRuMNpEyG7hBL-GUTJqaUd1SClT_azH7x3fXwvl96-6hqzM/s320/P1130033.jpg" width="253" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You see that Simon gets his height from his mother!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4BFTZtN-KiJDr9K0PvZtIQqXhzzn9M2ZeZwx1yFErd-kABLxoFj7gwwFMsjqEeOxSe3-nIpGebg4GccIuoBwxtvmWwwRHaGQO4mujB7c_2nr2g0nbiF3QUlmGAVWzpXlkTRrarFbEuuM/s1600/DSC_0460.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4BFTZtN-KiJDr9K0PvZtIQqXhzzn9M2ZeZwx1yFErd-kABLxoFj7gwwFMsjqEeOxSe3-nIpGebg4GccIuoBwxtvmWwwRHaGQO4mujB7c_2nr2g0nbiF3QUlmGAVWzpXlkTRrarFbEuuM/s400/DSC_0460.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">20min chocolate cake</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj648PP7sNWACzlHpne7fa5tsk3kulQMCItDyu1QtWWn0lbBdjJzP67odU01v1qtAVUWk6wYykaAvjH2rGO2R4C6LGfQb2KJ_j9Iz-taWyApwJuA4haXhmPpL6lJn3MyIjQd3C6uLaRA-k/s1600/DSC_0462.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj648PP7sNWACzlHpne7fa5tsk3kulQMCItDyu1QtWWn0lbBdjJzP67odU01v1qtAVUWk6wYykaAvjH2rGO2R4C6LGfQb2KJ_j9Iz-taWyApwJuA4haXhmPpL6lJn3MyIjQd3C6uLaRA-k/s400/DSC_0462.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Its my party and I want a film</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq8JMtREd_lNWcxJdoGgdYxfge8QigMZppdfkJx0_05GCuVjL1dD9MOwlbDD_k0TeEs1vkUIO1hbteTo1Gs6IKZ7dAb6cUps-MgLCcnnT_3ZgIcdrNrfOLAA5ROvvr_VGB9_Nl4OnwnOw/s1600/P1130059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq8JMtREd_lNWcxJdoGgdYxfge8QigMZppdfkJx0_05GCuVjL1dD9MOwlbDD_k0TeEs1vkUIO1hbteTo1Gs6IKZ7dAb6cUps-MgLCcnnT_3ZgIcdrNrfOLAA5ROvvr_VGB9_Nl4OnwnOw/s400/P1130059.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There were four on the tree and the little one said...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqxqP166_EtQtvTF39yLrp3e8JD13Gg5Y1DoPG0GXvUwb4MTD9OdH2HXUMWhlOfGvq4_OBJIT2qxRP78CbYyLWnOUW5QL1jJrLFDdFTPf7BHu7yZKIiEkbuuYhpb9LI70a21lLsFFNGOQ/s1600/P1130064.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqxqP166_EtQtvTF39yLrp3e8JD13Gg5Y1DoPG0GXvUwb4MTD9OdH2HXUMWhlOfGvq4_OBJIT2qxRP78CbYyLWnOUW5QL1jJrLFDdFTPf7BHu7yZKIiEkbuuYhpb9LI70a21lLsFFNGOQ/s400/P1130064.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The only way to get Simon to look up at me.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwRQBv6-Ie0SqlhBPsIBOC0wVWUUxuklx_dOS3y2B1RSLTsnbthV5UIMEk4_dCqqSztZJga4hDoeCssIkaxDorKw-PpTFgxUh2G0K3HQ1X3mSZGA84HlRMCkWEXowK4-hXOvOCjnUCBnk/s1600/P1130105.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwRQBv6-Ie0SqlhBPsIBOC0wVWUUxuklx_dOS3y2B1RSLTsnbthV5UIMEk4_dCqqSztZJga4hDoeCssIkaxDorKw-PpTFgxUh2G0K3HQ1X3mSZGA84HlRMCkWEXowK4-hXOvOCjnUCBnk/s400/P1130105.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Attention...Calvin Klein wet look underwear</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxwFocSnyMUHJOxlTNN71dCLRmKD-0mLA9s2p4ZHdGHIjeNgKZl4mazHnllK_6td1byybW5mSb_6v0Px2vGnip7MDXKstcP_06pZl7lv9HwaxrQmTrTI8ZAe7xMLNfzwMqys6hMeLVCjI/s1600/P1130106.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="481" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxwFocSnyMUHJOxlTNN71dCLRmKD-0mLA9s2p4ZHdGHIjeNgKZl4mazHnllK_6td1byybW5mSb_6v0Px2vGnip7MDXKstcP_06pZl7lv9HwaxrQmTrTI8ZAe7xMLNfzwMqys6hMeLVCjI/s640/P1130106.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Geronimo!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV0jVElZpNAwdcNexUOh3auXQvLgMtix1D4a99v5jrT4jE6PYAAVl8ljyLh2VoMHDtBl_QjvANIvjYUutzB4GkJoC0qKvlutcAFWyQdPkyWKB-RaQaV4_ABGam_08qh2d9rsYt5oKdRDk/s1600/P1130121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV0jVElZpNAwdcNexUOh3auXQvLgMtix1D4a99v5jrT4jE6PYAAVl8ljyLh2VoMHDtBl_QjvANIvjYUutzB4GkJoC0qKvlutcAFWyQdPkyWKB-RaQaV4_ABGam_08qh2d9rsYt5oKdRDk/s400/P1130121.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Are we there yet?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhogGmcQwYVz6fvKYychYCuP3CVhBxMwS0_2-inqtE2_MXGeI5sW3yTM2_Zb7grgAoBuwnMlu7AcEXZjU_0cxWnl2bLHoR6sKS7cvVEt0oSiyOZyj59k5Zt5MrAYomkqT1uFBzpGcq5zNI/s1600/P1130127.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhogGmcQwYVz6fvKYychYCuP3CVhBxMwS0_2-inqtE2_MXGeI5sW3yTM2_Zb7grgAoBuwnMlu7AcEXZjU_0cxWnl2bLHoR6sKS7cvVEt0oSiyOZyj59k5Zt5MrAYomkqT1uFBzpGcq5zNI/s400/P1130127.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anybody seen Alex?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-0txhz_bOm1nzCBZACIBM9nVr147SUz6ODO8-IPkR96_eIEwolcNvEtr3qvEuJfOgN7ko-byHhIwF3MZ3IV8paydUZQKMC47nqR0p8ZiQTseE6_9ONV5ixeDTfsD2J-CS-fglNgQufEQ/s1600/P1130129.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-0txhz_bOm1nzCBZACIBM9nVr147SUz6ODO8-IPkR96_eIEwolcNvEtr3qvEuJfOgN7ko-byHhIwF3MZ3IV8paydUZQKMC47nqR0p8ZiQTseE6_9ONV5ixeDTfsD2J-CS-fglNgQufEQ/s400/P1130129.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ok we surrender! No more boys please.</td></tr>
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<br /></div>The BiblicalBoyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13468821119724326211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4772793224692948830.post-30479372744709293842012-05-11T17:22:00.002+03:002012-05-11T23:58:13.736+03:00On Quintessential English Horse shows in Nairobi and dreams of rosettes (12 - 15 April)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">So I was very excited
about competing in the second horse show in my life. I had achieved the giddy heights of my first rosette, longed
for since the age of 4 but achieved at the age of 43, at my last show in Cornillo
Riding School the previous summer.
My second show was going to be a whole different affair – the Easter
show in Nairobi attended by all the horsey hoi polloi of East Africa. I was going with Terri, the riding
instructor from the ISM, who was taking ISM students to compete in the
show. I was competing and
chaperoning and we were to set off with the kids and the horses on Wednesday at
6am. Well that was the plan anyway
but you know what they say never work with kids or animals….. Actually that’s unfair as the children
and the animals were all ready but I hadn’t counted on Terri’s organisational
skills. To be fair we were taking
the school truck which had had the childrens’ seats removed and as the floor
was weak they had fixed it and were supposed to return fixed truck to Terri on
Tuesday afternoon for her to practice loading and unloading the horses and to
get everything ready for our early start the next day. I was entered into the dressage test
and had spent the whole of the Easter/ Passover weekend trying to practice my
test but being thwarted by the rain and mud. In fact on Friday I was reduced to prancing around the ring
in my boots, much to Aaron’s amusement, as the ground was too slippy for the
horses.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">I received a text from
Terri on Tuesday night explaining the truck situation and she said she would
text me when we were close to leaving.
So at 7.30am when we dropped the children at school I went to
investigate and discovered that the truck had been returned at 7.40pm covered
in grease and they still had to wash the floor down. So Aaron and I went to get breakfast and returned at 11am to
discover that Goldie had kicked King in the neck who had fallen to the ground
and then fallen over when he tried to get up….. And on it went…
Aaron came to pick the kids up at 1pm and yes we were still there ….. I
supervised the children cutting out foam to put around the horses’ halters to
prevent them knocking their heads on the ceiling of the truck. Well I tried to stop the children
cutting their hands off/ my hands off with the panga! </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Fancy dress foam covered horses </span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Camilla came to get a coffee with me and we were still
there. I was beginning to get
concerned as the journey to Nairobi was about 8 – 10 hours so what time were we
going to arrive?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">We began to load the
horses at about 3pm and they were not too impressed at getting onto the rickety
metal plank laid up against a hill and the back of the truck as we had no
proper loading ramp. So although
some horses were very quick others took over an hour to load. So there we were at 5.30pm with the
horses all loaded … I then asked the question but what time does the border to
Kenya close? 6pm so we were not
going to make that. </span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-family: Times; font-size: small;"></span></span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCJX0bUCLQQoM8lgg4SCv1GxD_QxhubPq6bD8MClxvocYtHqGVmFDMbKWqXtUP3sIm4m6s3QWxReFwMHcWERY-4FZ8RQwiUic_A9prVaKzQDY3lxm9ey0jKY9yPuYlEje29Mc_hgNc1Tc/s1600/P1120789.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCJX0bUCLQQoM8lgg4SCv1GxD_QxhubPq6bD8MClxvocYtHqGVmFDMbKWqXtUP3sIm4m6s3QWxReFwMHcWERY-4FZ8RQwiUic_A9prVaKzQDY3lxm9ey0jKY9yPuYlEje29Mc_hgNc1Tc/s400/P1120789.jpg" width="400" /></span></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">All ready to go but too late to leave!</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Terri was all
for driving to Arusha but could not get through to any of her contacts there
with horse facilities and I pointed out that we couldn’t pitch up unannounced
with 6 horses, 2 adults, 2 children and 2 grooms in the dark! So the horses were unloaded and we all
went home exhausted and I was wondering what the point of going up the next
morning as I would miss my dressage test and the practice clear round
jumping. That night I went to
Mafalda’s house for film night and a harrowing film called black and white
about albinos’ being killed and mutilated for body parts which some healers had
said had magical and lucky powers(cheery!)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">So as I went to bed I
decided not to go to the horse show but when Terri rang the next morning at 6
30am I started my usual thought process of “but what if I am missing out and I
would love it?” I asked Aaron what
he thought and he said in typical fashion that I would be stupid to go. Zac then chipped in and said <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">“ You must go Mummy,
go and fulfill your destiny “ <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Well what would you
do? Aaron just laughed and said <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">“ I can’t believe you
are taking the advice of a 7 old “<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">So I jumped in the car
and when we were 20 mins down the road Terri asked the kids to check their
passports and documents and it was then that I discovered that I had Zac’s
passport!!! So back we went to get
the right one… and 10 hours later
we were unloading the horses in the rain in Nairobi’s Jaimuri Park having of
course missed all the classes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">We spent the night at
a disgusting hostel, which reminded me of my backpacking days, standing under a
trickle of hot water trying to wash and then climbing into creaky bunk
beds. And my final thoughts that night
was “ I am too old for this and I hope we don’t all get bitten alive by bed
bugs. “ I woke after a
surprisingly good nights sleep and we rushed to the show ground with no
breakfast to find we were late for the team jumping class.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
</div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-family: Times; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-family: Times; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-family: Times; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-family: Times; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-family: Times; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-family: Times; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-family: Times; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><div style="border-top-color: rgb(229, 229, 229); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; font-family: arial; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 32px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: justify;">
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
</div>
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1T3mFf3VSlo8qOVYmudbjN-ixo4tVSx_R24MrgXEpJq8HYxODRZSmptwx1vipR6bMol2CP52SgD2TGG0K_w4VMDHbWm4LwZxyotRwoUoU67tuDKRfAaB7SeMP7teR8DKAwSyhznZpYX8/s1600/P1120799.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1T3mFf3VSlo8qOVYmudbjN-ixo4tVSx_R24MrgXEpJq8HYxODRZSmptwx1vipR6bMol2CP52SgD2TGG0K_w4VMDHbWm4LwZxyotRwoUoU67tuDKRfAaB7SeMP7teR8DKAwSyhznZpYX8/s640/P1120799.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">See<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> I am wasted as a Dermatologist, I look much happier on a horse!</span></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">We all climbed into the
truck rooting around to find our smart clothing: white jodphurs, white shirt,
stock , tie pin, black jacket and black riding boots (all borrowed from
Terri) Then jumped on our horses
and much to my horror Goldie decided to rear in excitement and luckily I
managed to stay on. We walked over
to the big jumping arena and had to get ready to go into the ring in teams of 3
to do timed jumping over different sized fences to get points. I made the mistake of asking a posh
looking blonde woman who was marshalling at the gate where the start line was
and she looked at me and said “ If you don’t know what you are doing you
shouldn’t be on your horse “
I think our team got the lowest score but I felt great to just be
competing at the Easter show in Nairobi.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-family: Times; font-size: small;"></span></span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS08gG3fqBBvIMKvoIAaAqE62OuzYrqW8wp7KWw0Mrtg6PGtT_cxweGOR5DhKSZiZkUkLd-JRdFCpy7XRYww2nLNPezS8Y3eFufS0v170rFocSjgCGiWzvdoZdDwhtJm2vpAkJl4d6Cyk/s1600/P1120798.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS08gG3fqBBvIMKvoIAaAqE62OuzYrqW8wp7KWw0Mrtg6PGtT_cxweGOR5DhKSZiZkUkLd-JRdFCpy7XRYww2nLNPezS8Y3eFufS0v170rFocSjgCGiWzvdoZdDwhtJm2vpAkJl4d6Cyk/s640/P1120798.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></span></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">A very professional Sara who did get rosettes</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Once I had a chance to
grab a coffee and some breakfast from the surprisingly good café tent I had the
chance to sit and look around me.
I could hardly believe that I was in Africa as I was surrounded by
terrrribly posh more English than English home-counties families. Or when I came to think about it the
English of the 1950’s Karen Blixen era “ I had a farm in Africa……… “ And most of them really did own huge
horse farms where they bred the beautiful animals brought to the show. The women sashayed past slim and
elegant in their jodhpurs, jackets and beautiful hair chatting in immaculate
Queen’s English to each other in between shouting at their Tabithas and Henrys
to “ sit up, heels down and drive him on over the jump "</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-family: Times; font-size: small;"></span></span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM7lad_8aJ3_k7xTM4qs6uZBBaw3TWfQW7aT1fJild3NBb7aETB352J2OmJoGZZpyVYQIba97zpQn-yFuS8ktkzx5w2O_p-sPzsCYlfAFtfnt6_1ChOF1-GBbfXDYF95bqj0aIQp0n6No/s1600/P1120805.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM7lad_8aJ3_k7xTM4qs6uZBBaw3TWfQW7aT1fJild3NBb7aETB352J2OmJoGZZpyVYQIba97zpQn-yFuS8ktkzx5w2O_p-sPzsCYlfAFtfnt6_1ChOF1-GBbfXDYF95bqj0aIQp0n6No/s640/P1120805.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></span></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">In the showing class</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">The horses were just
beautiful and of international standard and had been brought from all over East
Africa to compete. There was an
amazing woman of I think in her late 60s or 70s with a long plait looping down
her back who jumped enormous fences on lively steeds. I had a fabulous day and realised how much fun it was not
only being at a horse show but being involved rather than sitting watching
wistfully. We had great fun and it
was non-stop getting kids on and off ponies and into classes. I competed in the 0.7m jumping on
Goldie, who hates doubles and refused twice but I got her over on the last
attempt and the commentator said “ a good effort “ which equates to “pretty
crap but well done for turning up” as I left the ring. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-family: Times; font-size: small;"></span></span></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgarfxcQIMMOTz-8-F5u5z4RO9G3eaUXgapjEur8dB7gcu1v9OmcsI4BDX7lQ7FHimONgx7PUurBn2NaxW-GZf9S9YuwQe3SFyH3Bf5u25GHOs2kQdWD9o7on6rG4dd70G0c_ozbcBr5dA/s1600/P1120801.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgarfxcQIMMOTz-8-F5u5z4RO9G3eaUXgapjEur8dB7gcu1v9OmcsI4BDX7lQ7FHimONgx7PUurBn2NaxW-GZf9S9YuwQe3SFyH3Bf5u25GHOs2kQdWD9o7on6rG4dd70G0c_ozbcBr5dA/s640/P1120801.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="480" /></span></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Doesn't Goldie look magnificent</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"></span></span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">The day ended with the
Kenyan Horse Society AGM who kindly provided white wine and canapés. This started off in a tedious fashion
as AGMs usually do with minutes and accounts … and then moved on to trying to
elect a vice-president. Now by
this time I had had 3 large glasses of white wine and never a shrinking violet
I tried to help by handing out the voting slips. There was then an endless discussion about whether the
society should accept e-mail and text votes and the older contingent said this
couldn’t happen as it was against the constitution so I piped in “well change
the constitution”. There was then
disagreement about the number of voting slips going round so I put my oar in as
usual by suggesting that each member had a unique anonymous number which could
be used in voting by paper, text or e-mail. Initially they all looked stunned at this obvious
suggestion and thought it a great idea and then I was invited to come onto the
committee!!! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-family: Times; font-size: small;"></span></span></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgATiAzdefK3r7nYUlD6HMYznZNMlR8wpW6MUpDSEIb13FtMKP_gIOrq7OT2UIxZtBjQEghf1gKXDAVR5Y9ccd3szzCSXZO51J2H877GxkN1bPVYaojPWhttaNCIqi009UHB9Q31lK2CAQ/s1600/P1120822.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgATiAzdefK3r7nYUlD6HMYznZNMlR8wpW6MUpDSEIb13FtMKP_gIOrq7OT2UIxZtBjQEghf1gKXDAVR5Y9ccd3szzCSXZO51J2H877GxkN1bPVYaojPWhttaNCIqi009UHB9Q31lK2CAQ/s640/P1120822.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="480" /></span></span></a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Nikoli (Terri's son) with his rosette </span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">I was then adopted by
a group of lovely Kenyan mums who made me want to move to Kenya, particularly
when they said that a dermatologist would be much in demand. The lifestyle is tempting and the kids
were all having a marvellous time with their glorious ponies – my idea of
heaven as a child! I have been
invited to come back to help run pony club camp in the summer which sounds
great fun.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">After a dinner of
Kentucky Fried Chicken (yes I cannot believe I ate it but in fact it tasted
great after all that wine) and delicious multi-flavoured, apparently very low
in calories frozen yoghurt, we went to bed in a much nicer hostel. Over breakfast the next morning we
discovered that the kids were in every class at every time in every ring on
every pony throughout the day. I
tried to be organised and wrote a day plan but only had time to get to 3.15pm
before we had to go. By running about
and shouting at the kids we did pretty well until 3.15pm when it went to pot a
bit and the terribly British mums got very shirty when the wrong child turned
up to the cross-country course on the wrong pony at the wrong time but I could
see their point!!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">We ended up looking
for yet another hostel that night, almost running out of petrol, and I jumped
into a taxi the next morning to catch the Impala shuttle back to Moshi as the
others were staying to compete for
another day but I had to get back to work. After all that activity it was very relaxing and I slept
almost all the way home where I was confronted with Zac who demanded to know
why I was the only one in our team not to get any rosettes!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
</span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: transparent;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4772793224692948830" name="136e2caffce90a67_group_thread_8"></a></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl3wss7Fg7x90H7t7WNskmGXubosueksG911aEiAHOijzN3lCvWu9UFvV2X7c1JbAzm36NoGHcFpqCAq7n2h2xALTgHTdVKLbIiYzaOVQDLirhfpUFdFJ-dQZrdTtjU5GwxoXvigKiLwM/s1600/P1120830.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="449" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl3wss7Fg7x90H7t7WNskmGXubosueksG911aEiAHOijzN3lCvWu9UFvV2X7c1JbAzm36NoGHcFpqCAq7n2h2xALTgHTdVKLbIiYzaOVQDLirhfpUFdFJ-dQZrdTtjU5GwxoXvigKiLwM/s640/P1120830.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Isaac jumping Penelope</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3-LRhvLTMJIszRSl_ZVXSquBRCD-JUoUJn1Niz7dBbrWHZSIArADsO3WPkxR68ogtRNS0XNEPStqLkTdwCk1roHMBv4YWv4lZykQogP2iqoAqpFnWfdS8XkpMe2p0ciRca7HZ2sAMSuo/s1600/P1120842.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3-LRhvLTMJIszRSl_ZVXSquBRCD-JUoUJn1Niz7dBbrWHZSIArADsO3WPkxR68ogtRNS0XNEPStqLkTdwCk1roHMBv4YWv4lZykQogP2iqoAqpFnWfdS8XkpMe2p0ciRca7HZ2sAMSuo/s640/P1120842.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Terri jumping Goldie</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>The BiblicalBoyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13468821119724326211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4772793224692948830.post-44325830043683810172012-04-21T12:30:00.002+03:002012-05-11T17:16:45.344+03:00On Passover, rotten eggs and failed pavlova<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Unusually Passover this year fell both on
Shabbat and Good Friday – like the original Good Friday when Jesus was
denounced at the Seder meal.
Passover is an important festival in our family and for the past few
years we have gone to my lovely cousin Jessica’s house where she hosts a Seder
meal for up to 36 people! When I
was growing up we went to Jessica’s parents house where my Uncle Denis and Aunt
Yvonne held the celebrations. So
this year was hard for all the family as it was the first Passover without
Denis and for us it was difficult as we were so far away from friends and
family. Camilla and Jeremy were in
Israel so we were on our own for the first time that I could remember for
Passover.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">So being me I had a plan. The boys were going stir crazy since
our return back to Moshi from Fish Eagle Point so I had invited some friends
over for them to play with. My
plan therefore was to combine childcare with Pesach baking…. Of course all the best laid plans go
amiss. There was no electricity
which was a nightmare as not only could I do no Pesach cooking or baking but
Aaron decided to go out “shopping” which involved going to the coffee shop for
a long time. When the children
became fractious I couldn’t put a film on as there was no electricity so I resorted
to lots of drawing games!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The electricity finally came on at
4pm. Aaron excelled himself by
baking Matzah. I excelled myself
by exploding the egg in the cooker.
Of the 18 eggs we had bought lots had gone bad so I kept boiling and
boiling more and more eggs to eat in salt water and we finally shared 2! My pavlova wouldn’t whisk as the eggs
were bad so I turned my chocolate pavlova into a cake which looked great when I
brought it out of the oven but like my Mother’s famous cheese soufflés of the
past I watched it sink in horror. Aaron
then managed to drop our dinner on the floor but we scooped it up and ate it
anyway…. I found an all hebrew and
an all English hagaddah on the internet but not one with both so kept trying to
flit between the two.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">So it was an interesting Seder night but we
managed it. It did bring it home
to me how much family means to me and to our boys and we said “next year in
North London”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Passover by Josh and Zac HT</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Everything went wrong and it felt like
there was something in the house making things go wrong. Daddy made nice matza which is a type
of Jewish food that you are only allowed to eat on Passover. He made Mummy one shaped like a heart.</span></div>
</div>The BiblicalBoyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13468821119724326211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4772793224692948830.post-44097734220137891572012-04-17T12:37:00.000+03:002012-05-27T23:32:53.793+03:00On the Point and the month of mud<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Zanz has been on at me to write something for the blog, I think she has adopted a Murdoch persona and this is the beginning of her global media domination via the Internet. Anyway, as you have read we have been away for a break...holiday within a holiday some may think! I won't go on about how beautifully picturesque it was or, how the stunning sunrises were the precursor to warm heady days...But.
Most of the my days were spent chasing the boys and finding different bits if equipment Zanner and Zac dropped in to the sea whilst out kayaking. The journey both ways took around six hours with large tracks of off road driving which were fun. Fish Eagle Point comes highly recommended, set within a mangrove cove it has a relaxed atmosphere that captures many of the most stunning elements of places we have been to around the world, from the Bandas in Bali to the far away and hidden fish island off the Thai coast. Everything about the place has been well thought out by the Zimbabwean owners who are continually developing the site to capture more and more of the beauty of the setting. In progress as we left was the honeymoon Banda with a small private beach and sunken pool within the confines of the structure.
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By the time we returned to Moshi we had entered the 'month of mud'. Basically it rains here with such intensity it would peel your skin if you stood out in the downpour. The plus side is that it generally only occurs when you are tucked up in bed, so in essence the weather is very civilised but boy does it leave the place muddy come the morning. The 4x4 rules here and some roads you would think are impassable. However, the fortitude of the Tanzanian piki piki (small 125 motorbike) puts to shame the cosseted WASP school run 'I need a 4x4 because my arse is too big' mum and her dog by their ability to keep traction and get through roads many of our school run mums (and dads) wouldn't attempt as it would dirty their shiny rims!
It is lots of fun driving and sliding around at the moment and I have started to look for more challenging roads on which to test our 20 year old land cruiser. The boys are enjoying the mud as exemplified by yesterday's trip to watch some of the Rally of Tanzania. We managed to place ourselves on a decent corner which was ankle deep in gooey mud. The boys spent most of the time sliding through the mud made worse by an afternoon deluge. They finished looking more like locals with their deep brown masks of mud applied like sun lotion to any exposed skin surface.
We finished the day with a HASH set in Tanzania's largest sugar plantation(TPC) it was run by the Arusha Hash House Harriers. Completely different to the uber competitive Moshi courses this one was very frustrating as every time I hit the lead we had to stop at a checkpoint for everyone to catch up. Suffice to say it was a bit Taka Taka but we enjoyed fantastic food at the end in the day in the TPC restaurant. TPC retains most of it colonial heritage with tennis courts, swimming pool, club house and of course the obligatory 18 holes over which to spoil a good walk.
Well that's me done, oh yes I turned 42 so I am officially middle aged and now can look forward to more morning aches and pains, memory loss, hair loss, fatigue, memory loss, arthritis, rheumatism and memor
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</div>The BiblicalBoyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13468821119724326211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4772793224692948830.post-39261204521767647142012-04-10T14:48:00.001+03:002012-05-27T23:28:00.481+03:00On happiness, harmony and holidays<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
On the boat trip by Josh HT<br />
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At Fish Eagle Point we went out on a boat trip with our friends Luke and Josh. The boat was big and made of wood and had a big white sail but also a motor. The men on the boat helped us fish and showed us around the good snorkeling points. At a sand bank where we caught lots of fish and we used a hand-line and we put bits of squid onto the hooks and they called it calamari. We caught a parrot fish and a orange fish that had a very spikey fin and I was the first one to catch it. My Dad caught a very long grey and blue fish (Daddy says it is called a trumpet fish). We put the fish into a bucket but we threw the parrot fish back into the water because it was a mummy parrot fish. The mummy parrot fish would have died very quickly and it needs to protect its babies. We caught a yellow fat fish with blue stripes on it. We should have thrown all the fish back but the naughty men on the boat didn’t because they wanted to eat the fish. Then the owner of Fish Eagle Point called Steve told them off. One had his head down whilst Steve was talking to the other so the other one poked his head up and he was going to run away. Then Steve caught him and told him off again!<br />
There is a swimming pool and it has lots of chlorine in it so you can stay in it for a short time or your eyes will be stingy. <br />
For breakfast there was yoghurt and I ate 5 pots of yoghurt and then I threw up in the toilets and then I played in the pool with my friends called Josh and Luke.<br />
On the beach there were big red army crabs and they had ginormous claws and they had orange big round eyes on big fat stalks. We picked up hermit crabs that were very small and they hide in shells so we had to scare them so they went in their shells and then we could pick them up and put them in our t-shirts and scare Mummy with them coming out showing Mummy their claws. Then Mummy screamed!!<br />
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On Stranger Tides by Zac HT<br />
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When we got to Fish Eagle Point we were very tired and then after lunch we went for a walk around the rock pools. It was very beautiful and we played on the house built at the end of the jetty. When we were walking along the beach we saw gigantic red fiery crabs scuttling along the sand. A few days later we went out snorkeling and I saw the biggest fish which was called a lion fish. It had long sticky out white and black fins that looked like they had been burnt in a fire and it looked like a big zebra fish but with seaweed fins. <br />
Then I went out kayaking with my daddy and my daddy tipped over the boat so I fell out. Luckily I had my goggles on and then he made an anchor attaching the kiyak to a rope attached to the bottom of the sea. Then I went swimming under the water and saw a lot of colourful fish and another trumpet fish who was swimming on top of a big rock. My favourite fish that I saw was the lion fish and I saw 2 whilst I was swimming. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another cappacino please.....</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Have you seen my eggs?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4_Ifb2fQrEGqd0owTt7ZVjFzqay58gZL_Xx6h61XMKZMQjrP4w-lgHe9PoYUwRFZB84A5DBdSjltYb2YaypKGSuvG6W5UB1Yf9oTRtH_hAO3UfhtkF9d-4FfHwQCf-qgsHUYX1krWIbg/s1600/P1120717.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4_Ifb2fQrEGqd0owTt7ZVjFzqay58gZL_Xx6h61XMKZMQjrP4w-lgHe9PoYUwRFZB84A5DBdSjltYb2YaypKGSuvG6W5UB1Yf9oTRtH_hAO3UfhtkF9d-4FfHwQCf-qgsHUYX1krWIbg/s640/P1120717.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The fisherman at Pangani<br /></td></tr>
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After 5 nights at Fish Eagle Point we drove to another beach called Pangani where we had to take a ferry across the river to get to Beach Crab Hotel. At Beach Crab we found a pirate look out point where Josh and I played in and used the alcoholic bottle lids as treasure. Our favourite was the elephant tusker tops. My Mummy went riding along the beach with a Spanish man called Carlos. He was very funny and we went riding in the sea with the horses called Swallow and Mephisto. The sea came up to the horses tummies and then I jumped off without my goggles on so I got some water in my eyes. I really enjoyed it because now I know how to ride a horse in the sea and the horses really enjoyed it too.</div>The BiblicalBoyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13468821119724326211noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4772793224692948830.post-17693203224837834202012-04-08T12:35:00.000+03:002012-04-10T15:00:00.244+03:00On the stretching and contracting of time<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">I remember arriving in Tanzania in November and that smell of Africa assaulting my nostrils and seeping through my being.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It had been so long since I had last been to this continent, 1995 I think but it didn’t seem that long ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first 6 weeks we were here went so very slowly and they were hard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is always difficult adjusting to a new place but our house was decrepit and depressing and I found it hard to find my place at work due to the African communication, or lack of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had no transport and it seemed no way out of our contracted world of the hospital compound, the RDTC and ISM – all within walking distance with brief forays out to town for shopping at the market and the occasional decent coffee at the Union Coffee shop.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">I just have to take a break in this dialogue to tell you that Josh has somehow managed to fall fully clothed in trousers and freshly laundered T-shirt into the foot bath leading into the swimming pool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To make matters worse he came back whinging that he had also wet himself and I just don’t understand how a clean and tidy Josh turned into a soaking wet and smelly Josh in the space of less than 5 minutes in a footbath less than 0.5m squared!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is now wandering around naked partly clothed in a towel and hitting me in a very grumpy fashion. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is because I keep commenting on his nakedness and I have managed to take a photo of him in his towel on the bridge back to our gorgeous cottage at Fish Eagle Point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am feeling slightly guilty as my child knows me so well and told me in no uncertain terms that he didn’t want a photo as he didn’t want me to put it on the blog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was trying to extract a pinky promise from me (I am not entirely sure what this means but it is something to do with your little finger) but I managed to distract him as he thought I had lost his toy car over the bridge so forgot about his promise so I am hopeful about posting said non-compromising picture on the blog!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">So where was I?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think I was telling you how slowly and somewhat painfully the first couple of months here in Tanzania went.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Painfully as it had been my dream and my rose tinted future for over a year so to admit to myself that I wasn’t really enjoying myself was an impossibility!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But as with anything new it does take 3 months to settle in and find your feet no matter how you don’t believe it when you hear people say these words.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After 3 months we had moved into the dermatology houses in the Doctors’ compound as our toilet in B22 decided to seep sewage and KCMC in their usual efficient manner didn’t fix anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This and the fact that 2 out of 3 of the Dermatology houses were empty meant that Professor Grossman relented and allowed us to move in with strict instructions not to let the children dig up the garden!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is amazing how different I felt in a more aesthetic living space.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Dermatology houses are only 15 years old and are beautifully maintained and whilst smaller than our old house are worlds apart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have breakfast and dinner on our gorgeous veranda and from the garden is the most magnificent view of Kilimanjaro.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Such that communing with the mountain is a breakfast ritual with me now, and the kids look back to check the weather on the mountain on their way to school each day….</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsMJv9eS3ShGQotTnhFrC4dKr14tQZQdbkiu8FdsWippjYGPo6Shje5DGWSsfblrmYdf_bAwQ16OhGSubGUOOWv_TwRXVYFDesmvHZGIwg4WgLOhw_GW80S4f5t4q46EamGe8wetMeadI/s1600/P1120010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsMJv9eS3ShGQotTnhFrC4dKr14tQZQdbkiu8FdsWippjYGPo6Shje5DGWSsfblrmYdf_bAwQ16OhGSubGUOOWv_TwRXVYFDesmvHZGIwg4WgLOhw_GW80S4f5t4q46EamGe8wetMeadI/s640/P1120010.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">So what I am trying to say in my long winded fashion is that after the initial<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>months dragging by in a slow and painful fashion now they are flying by and I am terrified of the thought of returning to the UK in 6 weeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Six weeks!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where has the time gone????<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How am I going to manage without this full and active community of people and this amazing social life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mondays is horse-riding/ jumping lesson, Tues morning is netball at 7.30am and I have discovered a demon talent for goal shooting and obviously missed my vocation in life,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tuesday evening is Flamenco class with Mafalda who last taught Flamenco when she was living and working in Iceland, Wednesday is full body workout at the Moshi gym complete with water bottles filled with sand instead of weights – an amazing workout in an old squash court with a mirror, where the sweat actually drips into your eyes, Wednesday evening is film club, like a book club but better as you watch a film and eat lots of chocolate chip cookies, Thursday morning is netball again and often riding again and Friday is tennis lesson, Saturday is swimming and Sunday Pilates… I will need to go home for a rest as everyday I cycle to and from work and the ISM school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>We have met an amazingly interesting and kind close-knit community of people since being in Tanzania and everyone does far more activities together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was thinking about this and not only is it that the Mazungus stick together and arrange things together but also how no-one spends their free time in Tanzania on house improvements!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the UK the weekend is often taken up with boring jobs such as gardening, clearing the gutters, going to Homebase or worse still Ikea, clearing out the loft, painting things not to mention washing, ironing, sorting, boring paperwork, stuff on the computer….. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Josh has just reminded me how much he liked pulling up weeds in the garden at home but only when we played the Viking weed game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For those of you who are not familiar with this method of getting your children to weed Josh will tell you the basics:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">“We find their home and destroy it so they will all leave forever”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">I don’t think this violent wanton destruction will work for those of you with lovely colouring in girls……. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Anyway where was I this time?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh yes marvelling at how much we have done in our 5 months in Tanzania partly as we spend little time at home, I have only been shopping once at the Memorial second hand market which was fantastic actually.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was Martina’s birthday so us girls got a free pass to spend all morning there while Tobias and Aaron looked after the boys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You did have to rummage a lot but hey I have been starved of shopping and I came up with some amazing finds although one of my lovely green flowery tops turned out to be a dress for a girl aged 8!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can never find trousers to fit me in England but here at the market I pulled on trousers to try under my summer dress and Martina was my very effective mirror telling me whether my bum looked big!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I came back with 4 gorgeous dresses, 4 pairs of trousers which actually fit me which is an impossibility in England and 1 of these was my demon find a pair of Seven jeans which is apparently a very expensive posh make in which my bum apparently looks very svelte! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><!--EndFragment--> </div>The BiblicalBoyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13468821119724326211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4772793224692948830.post-86896362483080522502012-03-27T13:29:00.005+03:002012-04-08T13:03:55.811+03:00On economics and education<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I think we are all feeling the need for a break and I am glad to say that tomorrow we are driving to the coast to Fish Eagle Point, which I hope is a beautiful beach lodge, for Aaron's birthday and some much needed R&R!<br />
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We have been ill again with weird Tanzanian bugs and i had horrible pus on my tonsils so am on antibiotics. I am also feeling a bit jaded at work so am including my latest BMJ posting for you to read.<br />
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I promise I will post some cheerier fare whilst we are away...<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">On education and economics</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">There are many differences between health care and medical education in Tanzania and in the UK, but the concept I find hardest to understand is “attendance or sitting allowance”. This allowance is paid to all staff that attends courses for their health care education and it seems that staff will not attend educational events unless they are paid their attendance allowance. The allowance can be a significant sum and the educational facility providing the training event is expected to cover the cost.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Apparently this practice originated many years ago when the WHO began running educational events and courses about HIV/AIDS and now seems to be ingrained. I am used to a society where we seek and pay for medical education and now with the reduction of study budgets it is common practice to self-fund attendance at courses and meetings.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span">Now I understand that western salaries are much greater than salaries paid in Tanzania but mixing economics with education seems to be detrimental to the will to learn. Perhaps a different form of attendance bonus allowance based on an 80% attendance in the workplace</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span"> per year would be more successful, although I am not sure how it would be policed or funded.</span></span></span><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">The Tanzanian government is struggling to meet the doctors and nurses strike agreed 100% pay increases and this is due in part to the fact that within a population of 45 million there are only an estimated 800,000 tax payers. There was another mini-strike of 2 days recently and we are awaiting a re-shuffling of the cabinet. I don’t think there will be many willing volunteers stepping forward for the job of Health Minister!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Currently we have 4 Spanish surgeons who come each year to the RDTC, at their expense, for a 10 day period, to operate on our patients and train the dermatology residents in surgery and dermatopathology. Last Monday was amazing as there were over 100 Albino and Xeroderma Pigmentosa patients in the department being screened for surgery. All the patient expenses are paid for by a Spanish organization, as well as attendance allowance for the local staff, and some patients had traveled for 2 days across Tanzania thinking they had skin cancer to be told they had tinea capitis (a fungal infection of the scalp)! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUbbzD08CeD31xebYjBJKHciZ5hnU5_HxHy9Uyz-8NkYbF7bT88e55jHQ7m4bLUGVqpJbZhFtkSWnnrlCzpH-K_S3qtuk0jffoHM3-0wlAptqJlWiLxAWPDpZoa1kAGyu9dOi0wKkoaoY/s1600/P1120478.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUbbzD08CeD31xebYjBJKHciZ5hnU5_HxHy9Uyz-8NkYbF7bT88e55jHQ7m4bLUGVqpJbZhFtkSWnnrlCzpH-K_S3qtuk0jffoHM3-0wlAptqJlWiLxAWPDpZoa1kAGyu9dOi0wKkoaoY/s400/P1120478.jpg" width="300" /></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Xeroderma pigmentosa is a dreadful autosomal recessive disease where there is a defect in the gene responsible for repairing DNA following photodamage. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">Photo-damage begins in early childhood and is characterised by cutaneous and ocular changes such as freckles, photophobia, corneal keratitis and ulceration. In Africa if strict photo-protection is not adhered to then malignant tumours such as squamous cell carcinomas, basal cell carcinomas, keratoacanthomas and malignant melanomas develop in children as young as 3 and 4; death from metastatic disease occurs from the teenage years. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peter and Mafalda trying to sort out paying out the expenses to the patients<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrpPQvxoSpkeXeyvemfF-YweyhJZyasRev9lzlgVeyipLzNAEj0wjAbHA3_i9FOfx_ym3cuQmeHhPbM52Efq-i5i2MLL0jMd8OC7h4D4gB5RcwdPnkyV20CcCOkG6LzLUPlnyoh9WbdC0/s1600/P1120492.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">It is very difficult to arrange for children to be operated on under general anaesthetic due to no dedicated paediatric theatre space. It is the first place I have worked where adults are prioritized over children but perhaps this is due to economics as well. As in many places there seems to be a two tiered system with those who can pay being fast-tracked to theatre and those who can’t waiting weeks and sometimes months. We have watched a 4 year old girl’s scalp tumours multiply five fold whilst she has been an inpatient for 6 weeks. I have found this the hardest part of my job watching but not being able to get her to theatre as inevitably there is an adult emergency and she is bumped off the list. This week however she has been operated on thank goodness. Dermatology are currently building their own wards and theatres so if dedicated anaesthetic time can be arranged, and this is a big if, we will be at last be able to operate on our patients.</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><br />
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</div></div>The BiblicalBoyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13468821119724326211noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4772793224692948830.post-27378372404364374652012-03-09T14:47:00.001+03:002012-05-27T23:21:56.639+03:00On the facts of life and running the Kilimanjaro Marathon (25-26 Feb 2012)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Tobias not gloating at all as he beats Aaron across the finishing line!!!!</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt;">It has been another action packed weekend - at this rate we will all need to go home for a rest! However saying that it is great to have the time to do so much outdoor activites and to feel properly fit again. Well I do but unfortunately Aaron has come down with man flu - or a viral infection he picked up by hugging Martina (and yes she is blonde and attractive even with flu!) who was poorly when she flew back from Sweden.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt;">So Thursday saw me get back into tennis as I haven't played since before my knee operation. I played against Terri Emmanuel (who runs the stables at the ISM school where we ride) as she was playing in a tennis tournament that weekend. I was very rusty but had a tennis lesson booked for Friday afternoon after the boys had a lesson with Ron who is an ex-professional coach from the USA. In the morning I went out for a wonderful ride with Terri across the coffee fields and on the tracks behind the school and it was brilliant to be cantering along the tracks in the sunshine. I was in clinic by 10.45 am and am pleased to report that the intensive 2 week period of exams for our ADDV students is finally over. There does seem to be a huge emphasis on exams in Tanzania and it has a huge impact on clinic time. I do think that there should be more emphasis on teaching and learning and less on exams. After the exam meeting reading the complicated computer analysis of the grades I was glad to get onto the tennis court. Ron is a superb teacher and a few pointers on hand position and wrist flick have made a huge difference to my ability to hit the ball hard and in the right direction! The boys enjoyed it too although Josh kept wanting to show Ron his "best throw" - wrong game Josh!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt;">Another fabulous Friday night dinner but i had to leave Aaron languishing in bed feeling poorly and then I had to get 2 grumpy boys up early as I was off to Arusha National Park with Vicky and Catherine a Duke (medical school in the USA) research student working on projects in Tanzania. We took a packed lunch and left at 8am and did not get home until 6pm. I have to say that much as I love my children it was exhausting, not due to the driving or the heat or the bumpy roads but because I had 10 hours of relentless questions from both Zac and Josh!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt;">The road between Moshi and Arusha is pretty hairy due to the fact that buses/ dala dalas (mini buses extremely overcrowded), cars etc... tend to overtake at moments where visibility is nil usually up a hill or round a bend causing much knuckle biting. You can imagine that Zac and Josh fighting in the back of the landrover, sometimes with sticks was not conducive to concentrating on the road!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt;">Arusha national park is a small but very pretty park about 90 minutes from Moshi. The park was very very dry and dusty but the views were beautiful, particularly from the top of the caldura (volcanic crater) and over the string of alkaline lakes. </span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt;">We saw giraffes and zebras and warthogs and lots and lots of baboons and monkeys much to Zac and Josh's delight. The forest in the park is well known for its colobus monkeys which are furry black and white ones with bushy tails and mime artist faces. I wandered into the forest watching them hurl themselves elegantly, almost flying with arms outstretched high up in the canopy of trees. </span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt;">Meanwhile Zac and Josh went into the little museum filled with very old stuffed birds. Zac came out and loudly asked me "why does that man have one blue eye and one brown eye?" and then Josh went into full whine mode saying "can we buy a stuffed bird?" and when I said no he said " but we only need a small one"... In true Josh fashion he went on and on and on and on and on and didn't seem to think that my not wanting to cart a dead bird around Africa and then back to England was reasonable. I tried to distract him by getting him to look at the flying colobus monkeys but as only Josh could he told me he wouldn't because I wouldn't buy him a dead bird! Clearly I am a most unreasonable and unkind mother!!!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ooh there is a yummy louse..<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt;">We saw amazing icing sugar pink flamingos who all had their heads buried in the water until Zac and Josh came charging along shouting. They then kindly popped their heads up to see what the racket was much to the pleasure of a </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;">photographer with an enormous zoom lens. The boys then proceeded to get their croc shoes covered in a mixture of mud and flamingo poo which they delighted in sinking into on the lake shore. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What was that terrible noise ? say the flamingoes</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt;">I asked them to wipe their shoes off on the grass but no Josh knew better so went down to the lake shore to rinse off his shoes. So Zac followed and let go of one shoe which began to float off. I then shouted "NO - Zac get your shoe" bringing the flamingo heads up to rapid attention - and fortunately for him he managed to lean out and hook his shoe with a stick!! Never a dull moment with my boys... </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just before Zac let go of his shoe!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I am sure there is a lion out there somewhere......</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt;">Luckily they fell asleep for a while which gave us all a respite and then Zac woke up to do great game spotting. We saw a big bird which i think was an eagle, a dik-dick (antelope with very short legs) and more baboons. Vicky had been to the park a couple of times before and was an excellent driver and guide. She has 3 grown-up boys herself so is used to noisy boys but I think Zac and Josh have worked their natural contraception magic on Catherine. So you are probably wondering about the facts of life conversation...<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Catherine and I by the water. Where are the children? Catherine is thinking "thank goodness the children are not right here!"<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt;">On the way out of the park we went to a deserted looking safari lodge for a drink. We are not sure how they survive as there seemed many staff, no guests and only 2 drinks on offer: the ubiquitous coca cola or Safari beer. We were so dusty and dirty that it was great to have a wash and a cold drink. I think I was telling Vicky and Catherine how we came to be in Tanzania; the choice I gave Aaron of either having another baby or coming to Africa when Josh suddenly said "How do you get pregnant?" None of us could cope with that particular conversation so somehow I deflected it and then Zac said "You don't want to know it's disgusting"!!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt;">The full marathon was due to start at 6am, the half at 6.30am and the fun run at 7.15am so we all got up very early at 5.30am! Actually we had to practically drag the boys out of bed as after 2 late nights they were pretty tired. To add to the mix there had been torrential rain in the night and it was still raining in the morning so Aaron took the car to the school to catch the ISM bus to the start point. We were going to go in the car with Mafalda but she decided she wanted to stay in bed at the last minute but luckily drove us there in her pyjamas. So there we were all in the muddy stadium by 6.15am but this is Africa so first the inflatable start line fell down and then lord knows what happened but everything started very late. Aaron set off about 7am and then we had to walk 1km to our start line and set off at 8am – so we were glad we got up so early!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt;">The fun run was great though and Zac and Josh even ran quite a bit with Noga and Amy until Zac ran along a kerb by the roundabout and fell over and hit his knee… There was an incredible atmosphere as it was the 10th Kilimanjaro marathon and everywhere you looked there was a sea of orange T-shirts worn by the ISM brigade. The Kenyans sprinted through Moshi like gazelles, lapping the half marathon participants! I don’t know how they keep the speed up. The weather cleared up and it was a blessing that it was overcast and cool. Aaron came in at 2 hours 7 minutes I think and was just beaten by Tobias who has been gloating a lot….</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Aaron and Mebrato at the finishing line. Mebs ran in 1hr 45mins and Aaron in 2 hrs 7 mins but he was ill and had a dodgy knee...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Team ISM - can't lose this lot in all this bright orange!<br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taking off over the bumps in true para olympic style<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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A very pleased Tobias !</div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt;">We then had a great brunch at Camilla and Jeremy’s house followed by tea and swimming at Katie Burton’s house before collapsing into bed after another quiet weekend!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>The BiblicalBoyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13468821119724326211noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4772793224692948830.post-28703442366609938972012-02-23T16:22:00.002+03:002012-02-23T16:26:19.005+03:00On challenging patients and weekend exploits<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">As we enter our 4<sup>th</sup> month in Tanzania I seem to be becoming busier and busier. So I think I am going to go for the little and often approach as otherwise these blogs are going to become few and far between.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">These blogs will be less about my medical experiences as I am now writing a blog for the BMJ and the first one can be found at </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="color: #0016c3; font-size: 13pt; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2012/02/21/susannah-baron-will-there-be-lego-in-africa/">http://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2012/02/21/susannah-baron-will-there-be-lego-in-africa/</a></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ITU in the corridor whilst cleaning went on</td></tr>
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Since the strike and Kelvin taking over the ward we have had a huge number of challenging adult and paediatric patients. We had a man admitted with toxic epidermal necrolysis, which is when all your skin peels off due to a drug reaction, and this is a dermatological emergency (yes we do have emergencies in dermatology!) We do not have up to date treatments here so treated him with IV hydrocortisone and he was nursed on ITU. Fortunately the inflammatory process switched off and he has made a good recovery as mortality is usually up to 50%. We have had up to 18 inpatients and many of these have had other difficult blistering conditions and I think Kelvin, the ward resident is jinxed as the ward is the busiest it has ever been! The ADDV students are in the midst of exams so Kelvin and the medical students have been very active. I was in charge of the ward whilst other senior consultant staff were at an albino outreach clinic in Tanga. Surprisingly I actually really enjoyed the diagnostic and clinical challenges of managing all these complex, sick patients. We forget how fortunate we are in the west where investigations such as biopsies and blood tests are available and are free as many patients cannot afford the limited investigations and medication available here in Tanzania. You can read more about the ward on my next BMJ blog.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">So what have we been up to? We spent a fantastic weekend back at Marungu Hotel camping with a group of friends. Sadly it was Sebastian and Julianne’s last weekend and also joining us was Tobias, a Danish physio and his 2 children Alex and Edvin and Camilla and Jeremy, both homeopaths, and their children Ike, Amy and Noga. The weather was glorious and we splashed about in the hotel pool on the Saturday and then did the beautiful waterfall walk on the Sunday. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyVzicnNPRijZTjyxiQC3cv7cOAm0JLShag8GOWZUuOdp-o2DhbXbwWC9EJcW3GpflGr3kWQENLoNsBj-US80pLkJB0N9YUrepuJu5xF1jnLgi8mhQa_ZkddlUmbskel_1fhc4t-6nxQ4/s1600/P1110798.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyVzicnNPRijZTjyxiQC3cv7cOAm0JLShag8GOWZUuOdp-o2DhbXbwWC9EJcW3GpflGr3kWQENLoNsBj-US80pLkJB0N9YUrepuJu5xF1jnLgi8mhQa_ZkddlUmbskel_1fhc4t-6nxQ4/s640/P1110798.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="480" /></a></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Nguduru falls at Marangu</div><div><br />
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</tbody></table></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBZkJDoc2azGkSV-6Sv30beI6a4_j5y2T9j7IVLQZso1ScqEQM8hfvBZ_HNN8NiX7Hn0vnjqTyfot6kuxRLymzR_SJDjkbF9jSF4tTweoBMG98cj6hCZpijD7g0owjwkFnKTgpiHfh-HU/s1600/P1110793.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBZkJDoc2azGkSV-6Sv30beI6a4_j5y2T9j7IVLQZso1ScqEQM8hfvBZ_HNN8NiX7Hn0vnjqTyfot6kuxRLymzR_SJDjkbF9jSF4tTweoBMG98cj6hCZpijD7g0owjwkFnKTgpiHfh-HU/s400/P1110793.jpg" width="300" /></a></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimI2q-Q28B6KAaT7LFs8S0Gx94ajwyEYoR6OAZ3acER4eBX1muFiVHInzHIiE4ktuDrNjPpxVD6xvGQhiinuAyO3Virnh7DWSmI-2V7UcwrpuZkcQx2V4FQ0upwteUEhA10yBVFKWXx6I/s1600/P1110801.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimI2q-Q28B6KAaT7LFs8S0Gx94ajwyEYoR6OAZ3acER4eBX1muFiVHInzHIiE4ktuDrNjPpxVD6xvGQhiinuAyO3Virnh7DWSmI-2V7UcwrpuZkcQx2V4FQ0upwteUEhA10yBVFKWXx6I/s640/P1110801.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">This time however the sun was shining and the Ndura falls were spectacular and we all dived in and swam (well not Aaron as he is such a wuss in cold water!) and Zac and I swam right under the waterfall.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8aEcoGP3tik4l8-Gp6EbHWze_e820M7w9MaIdRm4Q1XLSiLFMV7AGtDZXAUG-VRFdCI4WiSqQEhoRUoZyDCWlln1gB6cDLP3tKy3d5mdiuECq-BGVie3PDfY_pVi5VLJTEB78NxVsm8E/s1600/P1110804.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8aEcoGP3tik4l8-Gp6EbHWze_e820M7w9MaIdRm4Q1XLSiLFMV7AGtDZXAUG-VRFdCI4WiSqQEhoRUoZyDCWlln1gB6cDLP3tKy3d5mdiuECq-BGVie3PDfY_pVi5VLJTEB78NxVsm8E/s640/P1110804.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwHxOhCyWSsoCq_I-JOdn4NV1yXCR5DypzdODgp9OdevTgzVoinke2oqUjTEFB_OKlwHt3Lr-Ru08oCQEjkKBsjPnu57PzhsC8bOIUkgsA-anPjhUGx6nPa68yzQ-38ustPnCgaPLdx6E/s1600/P1110756.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwHxOhCyWSsoCq_I-JOdn4NV1yXCR5DypzdODgp9OdevTgzVoinke2oqUjTEFB_OKlwHt3Lr-Ru08oCQEjkKBsjPnu57PzhsC8bOIUkgsA-anPjhUGx6nPa68yzQ-38ustPnCgaPLdx6E/s400/P1110756.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Amy and Noga wrapping up at dinner whilst camping</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi431QtVObQZ_08QMMd8YkU5krVgpjYLYW3-YvZcjpzX36OZDnwBnXdMeVMDqgmeXxnv3UHuATLiwDJdWFzfTwD-ayb8tqY5jja1_dzDgPYfOMILVYrguYDfjhyphenhyphen7RP4bDXAYBVRYma9FNw/s1600/P1110523.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi431QtVObQZ_08QMMd8YkU5krVgpjYLYW3-YvZcjpzX36OZDnwBnXdMeVMDqgmeXxnv3UHuATLiwDJdWFzfTwD-ayb8tqY5jja1_dzDgPYfOMILVYrguYDfjhyphenhyphen7RP4bDXAYBVRYma9FNw/s400/P1110523.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Juliane and Sebastian</div><div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">The boys have started a weekly horse-riding lesson which they love and on Friday they will start tennis lessons as last week it was rained off. Yes we are getting some rain now, which is a blessed relief as it has been SO hot.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Last weekend we drove out to the hot springs which are literally an oasis in the middle of nowhere reminding me of passages from the bible! You drive and drive and turn off the road and down dusty, forking tracks which wind through villages where we had to keep stopping to ask directions. Eventually a 4WD truck beeped us and we followed him in a cloud of dust until we arrived at a tree fringed beautiful pool full of green, glassy water. </span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">where are we going????</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vicky Yates, my work colleague and Aaron getting his feet nibbled!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb1AnsdcYWzyLM0-ssNYc8XvyhG9HoVmZjh9pYaAkUrw1N6uOFiJlHG5SwA5U-l48bbl34h45jvYkiWGxbov5Jg_I8I9-FLVXl_hoBrVYCGOTjeub9sZ_IZQ2RL_gI5KYJc9B5Go1eUYo/s1600/P1110969.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb1AnsdcYWzyLM0-ssNYc8XvyhG9HoVmZjh9pYaAkUrw1N6uOFiJlHG5SwA5U-l48bbl34h45jvYkiWGxbov5Jg_I8I9-FLVXl_hoBrVYCGOTjeub9sZ_IZQ2RL_gI5KYJc9B5Go1eUYo/s400/P1110969.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">going, going...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span lang="EN-US"></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-5GI9NGlUZyIbuzHyYF9Z5HSN8lWN1zV1snp-rbalKw2yvB7acHPIjRNYnJnjjj_TG_PjGA4OSxoMzM_fnozsc9fLcFhYV_Xezw-6wNz5b9PDTdlSfIbfE8nzx3M4HZvxy_jcvrdVzwc/s1600/P1110973.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-5GI9NGlUZyIbuzHyYF9Z5HSN8lWN1zV1snp-rbalKw2yvB7acHPIjRNYnJnjjj_TG_PjGA4OSxoMzM_fnozsc9fLcFhYV_Xezw-6wNz5b9PDTdlSfIbfE8nzx3M4HZvxy_jcvrdVzwc/s400/P1110973.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">gone....</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span lang="EN-US"></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4wVNSaB1quf3xR-WN0aD3rODs8ZL4IJ-SgWwuPHww-K7xPw06AyUvlYLBJH0ZK27TqOPIjN3-SQEzOTytq1TnnwIKXlgiT_3PWffZSD5lcdND-72Tndey2dDP-LSi_fQizvFtWyVVlOM/s1600/P1110976.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4wVNSaB1quf3xR-WN0aD3rODs8ZL4IJ-SgWwuPHww-K7xPw06AyUvlYLBJH0ZK27TqOPIjN3-SQEzOTytq1TnnwIKXlgiT_3PWffZSD5lcdND-72Tndey2dDP-LSi_fQizvFtWyVVlOM/s400/P1110976.jpg" width="300" /></a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglR47vO3Ij4emMl8WfGZBqOKEsIdQuDn-pyVnS9Q9B8dPBJ0KTM3sepj7MmITs1D5cMBWViaby7RjIaIvEDysztX53BsabtdB4eVMqsSBTVVmRBp8ZcvNgWl-oRB4ek8mXhTF0Qdp4Xa0/s1600/P1110965.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>In the water are </span>tiny fish that nibble the hard skin off your feet, a sensation the boys and Aaron loved but I hated! There was a rope swing which we swung on to jump into the water and I managed to stop the boys from climbing an enormous tree to jump in even higher!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">We returned dirty, tired and happy and slept very well. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4AhxG5Y40Yzk9F7las-ZAPzBh7xop2xuQxdpH2hyAqV38M9kq4ikDkAM0soXQLj8ZBOu9LrcBaRNH1NbZ_DFmrJ0EJm0jLiX3ik8Jv9_hzF5OAn2yfpGXUPv8eBkX5M0SAcxPR-Srcac/s1600/P1120005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4AhxG5Y40Yzk9F7las-ZAPzBh7xop2xuQxdpH2hyAqV38M9kq4ikDkAM0soXQLj8ZBOu9LrcBaRNH1NbZ_DFmrJ0EJm0jLiX3ik8Jv9_hzF5OAn2yfpGXUPv8eBkX5M0SAcxPR-Srcac/s640/P1120005.jpg" width="640" /></a><span lang="EN-US">On Sunday was the hash and this time it was held in the hilly region of Machame. The walk was </span>stunning and we tramped up and down into gorges and over rivers and through banana and avocado fields. I think we are all getting fitter and the boys seem to be used to 2-3 hour walks now. I hope this will continue when we get back home!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCNKYIN9Bkr-FXE_Q08SACN2QIPC-LfVwhyYzigM5gmbVZeDA-UOe8gofM1s0RJn20fEI9uWDJ4O1RgdWbOGChSVHudy86Rd8ziPa3V3sK7k3NodHy9PKysweauSH9q5V-hkDQu5I28Es/s1600/P1110993.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCNKYIN9Bkr-FXE_Q08SACN2QIPC-LfVwhyYzigM5gmbVZeDA-UOe8gofM1s0RJn20fEI9uWDJ4O1RgdWbOGChSVHudy86Rd8ziPa3V3sK7k3NodHy9PKysweauSH9q5V-hkDQu5I28Es/s400/P1110993.jpg" width="300" /></a><span lang="EN-US"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4AhxG5Y40Yzk9F7las-ZAPzBh7xop2xuQxdpH2hyAqV38M9kq4ikDkAM0soXQLj8ZBOu9LrcBaRNH1NbZ_DFmrJ0EJm0jLiX3ik8Jv9_hzF5OAn2yfpGXUPv8eBkX5M0SAcxPR-Srcac/s1600/P1120005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">This weekend we are off to Arusha national park on Saturday and Sunday is the Kilimanjaro marathon. Aaron is running the half-marathon due to his knee and the boys and I will be running, or more likely walking, the 5km fun run along with the whole of Moshi I think!<o:p></o:p></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtp1hgyKPQGzIxo7Is7IJt7Zv3U-KsJjyYJJFv-lFbuGW7ayoUuci0McWVSseLyRZZ6dnC_-ERNyFQAjYxFRldxRU2Z4ITKdc5Cc0UjVl5V-o3tvzHCnLpPPsoa3_nnQ8f7Fl6O9gNeb4/s1600/P1110988.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtp1hgyKPQGzIxo7Is7IJt7Zv3U-KsJjyYJJFv-lFbuGW7ayoUuci0McWVSseLyRZZ6dnC_-ERNyFQAjYxFRldxRU2Z4ITKdc5Cc0UjVl5V-o3tvzHCnLpPPsoa3_nnQ8f7Fl6O9gNeb4/s320/P1110988.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Simon Matui the current record holder for running up and down Kilimanjaro unassisted in 8 hours!!!! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkt4q7cWr-6pz9YWGDbxf8I1Jwl6_8qzwoUac6SQG0qxKsHI1En1bSRl1ViQQ7HGo9cV4E_r2pzHWqmQDaZcCFK-u-rmplaVkkfgQnoINYcmLbMOwY8mSUFmSnjyJQH9lGrYN0xN5vMNE/s1600/P1110708.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="556" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkt4q7cWr-6pz9YWGDbxf8I1Jwl6_8qzwoUac6SQG0qxKsHI1En1bSRl1ViQQ7HGo9cV4E_r2pzHWqmQDaZcCFK-u-rmplaVkkfgQnoINYcmLbMOwY8mSUFmSnjyJQH9lGrYN0xN5vMNE/s640/P1110708.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">making chocolate brownies for Friday night dinner!</td></tr>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And now some other animals that i couldn't upload to the last blog. And yes I do like elephants!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNANun_FrROZCCj6whuGCnkwYJzLF_2JRAifhUe4ZfcmnAZ-olMVBeX7ltro9n5GxvVGC9LLOWhxha_Vj4DmVWVJFRNWsFDlhxSD1VTt8eXeHpnRMgsle0ULV9hVYvLeuPrSIL9HS7Gs4/s1600/P1110769.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVv9YHHCfPbdoXkHSs9N-wPVfi-zh4r39SNfBPcmmwd4f30PmAO43yIsQcjB7bu50m8JOIiOhpCD1RUaK_iHuQ356vxfG_l4Vlo-qqtWzEx35FFj6ZMoHL_gPZ2Q56GPq0LRzPsO5UXhs/s1600/DSC_0135.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVv9YHHCfPbdoXkHSs9N-wPVfi-zh4r39SNfBPcmmwd4f30PmAO43yIsQcjB7bu50m8JOIiOhpCD1RUaK_iHuQ356vxfG_l4Vlo-qqtWzEx35FFj6ZMoHL_gPZ2Q56GPq0LRzPsO5UXhs/s640/DSC_0135.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ikRnQ1g-I1hVpQ0jEshCD0iOUWu6Z-wRazMVyqx8pRMS_drmrtJk4nrGnIlDE3pUoeaQn4GQgvzCTlmZN6yQTZxxiwIlX2WkyKrcK1XrnDP7kflzxrX8lXu_SNvVHBpjYCTuLB2L-V4/s1600/DSC_0165.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ikRnQ1g-I1hVpQ0jEshCD0iOUWu6Z-wRazMVyqx8pRMS_drmrtJk4nrGnIlDE3pUoeaQn4GQgvzCTlmZN6yQTZxxiwIlX2WkyKrcK1XrnDP7kflzxrX8lXu_SNvVHBpjYCTuLB2L-V4/s640/DSC_0165.jpg" width="430" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizif0muc3W9VMZYksNpdYtZM24CPMLpcfepzW_mUxC1cw3_ydTqKZV9lgQHbrr-WHMcezzJ-NXYkDMrApHcV204JMJlkU9KW7IxX4aD-0VEoRkjJ56NxXypmbm5bAT9y-l6q7fPl9XAf4/s1600/DSC_0237.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizif0muc3W9VMZYksNpdYtZM24CPMLpcfepzW_mUxC1cw3_ydTqKZV9lgQHbrr-WHMcezzJ-NXYkDMrApHcV204JMJlkU9KW7IxX4aD-0VEoRkjJ56NxXypmbm5bAT9y-l6q7fPl9XAf4/s640/DSC_0237.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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</div></div>The BiblicalBoyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13468821119724326211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4772793224692948830.post-51428748651794441302012-02-17T16:16:00.001+03:002012-02-17T16:42:37.878+03:00On safaris, amazing animals and lego in Africa<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">We have exciting news we now have lego in Africa! The boys were sent lego star wars storm troopers and rebel men in star ships by their grandmother Chris, much to their delight! They say a big thank you for this fantastic present.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWfjdS0TF-BYg05659mU646cNeV-UfnSIDBfF8dZJlnHR49zaVlNhzEqvuZEnj5wbO-UUb9JjzRb_Md4TNw2XyoXoCGOyBY_fBtEHdpJvmaikbafoEEg12hbXi6Kp1guetr5T2jfF749g/s1600/DSC_0235_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWfjdS0TF-BYg05659mU646cNeV-UfnSIDBfF8dZJlnHR49zaVlNhzEqvuZEnj5wbO-UUb9JjzRb_Md4TNw2XyoXoCGOyBY_fBtEHdpJvmaikbafoEEg12hbXi6Kp1guetr5T2jfF749g/s400/DSC_0235_2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Fantatstic: the Star Fleet made it to Tanzania!</td></tr>
</tbody></table></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">So very much after the event the boys want to tell you about their amazing safari adventure on 4-7 January 2011</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVw0oML6ExA1AvYjYkN_LRjrH0l7Txa_LElujdLc-4w_ZPxXvRdgtZ9uIaLYHX3VG05gXsWyIg2Qvd-7zaKClnQZ1XPnLUsH7gdSQjvJmGAcXIs-WX7-UybAcZgXL8O6eHrczcdePsR70/s1600/DSC_0153_2.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVw0oML6ExA1AvYjYkN_LRjrH0l7Txa_LElujdLc-4w_ZPxXvRdgtZ9uIaLYHX3VG05gXsWyIg2Qvd-7zaKClnQZ1XPnLUsH7gdSQjvJmGAcXIs-WX7-UybAcZgXL8O6eHrczcdePsR70/s400/DSC_0153_2.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a><br />
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</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><u><span lang="EN-US">Zac<o:p></o:p></span></u></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">On the safari we saw amazing animals. On the first day we went to Tarangire national park and we saw hundreds and hundreds of BIG BIG elephants. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkmtvjwcgRM7-u4Pz1HftXMHa3gziGzS1YeD60ZWJOHjqjB6azlSQoCHopjFCmfAVQwH3dsxKjqlIYwTy2ZhZq3T2PJtLG_dD3mWoqt-a32hwSmj6Mfyb_nc6b4NRGoUsu__KYDMnSDlk/s1600/DSC_0218.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkmtvjwcgRM7-u4Pz1HftXMHa3gziGzS1YeD60ZWJOHjqjB6azlSQoCHopjFCmfAVQwH3dsxKjqlIYwTy2ZhZq3T2PJtLG_dD3mWoqt-a32hwSmj6Mfyb_nc6b4NRGoUsu__KYDMnSDlk/s400/DSC_0218.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Tarangire national park</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US">They were grey with very thick skin and their tails were like the end of broomsticks. We also saw tiny, very cute baby elephants, which were bigger than a man. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO59yhy7Bj282oc44XsNnC4UmfZQBfPVNLgKVvWc-AIlz-0S26i-xhx2j4KzxEd3cttNt2oTSJFAgBu3363Zp9oy62Z47dxb1NfIEnDqj7AXdOshJFvPEnjBj1JgcNjFaMgNLz8bsmqdc/s1600/DSC_0143.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO59yhy7Bj282oc44XsNnC4UmfZQBfPVNLgKVvWc-AIlz-0S26i-xhx2j4KzxEd3cttNt2oTSJFAgBu3363Zp9oy62Z47dxb1NfIEnDqj7AXdOshJFvPEnjBj1JgcNjFaMgNLz8bsmqdc/s400/DSC_0143.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Natural sunscreen - grass<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4E_VZCXQrmd2ErO1Z-upV3cZLduqTFWGzzb9vJXSnPQgWDK3hIzXWqUhZk5LoYqHYQmgiHckurtVHNe2KSUFIkfTvZrXW17jcAp3gyZhEsutgQIygpxsqWnhI9BxYV_sgNlB6wWy_ogc/s1600/DSC_0280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4E_VZCXQrmd2ErO1Z-upV3cZLduqTFWGzzb9vJXSnPQgWDK3hIzXWqUhZk5LoYqHYQmgiHckurtVHNe2KSUFIkfTvZrXW17jcAp3gyZhEsutgQIygpxsqWnhI9BxYV_sgNlB6wWy_ogc/s400/DSC_0280.jpg" width="400" /></a><span lang="EN-US">The exciting thing was when we were right in front of an elephant he began to flap his ears and paw his </span>foot. Our guide Tuma told us that it meant that the elephant was very cross and about to charge and so we were scared and drove off.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjptv-AyDkGcE7NAqRjRSNkittRIfRyhM7W1e5qKxyNBKrZjYFg_8AuRxdbiNLM5TIKokl6Qh0iZ1PTui9Ji42ZNXUsFb7ymgTskrps0VLmE1_loMPSO9AZXlLeRE0wZCRQr_fDEHjMPc8/s1600/DSC_0360.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjptv-AyDkGcE7NAqRjRSNkittRIfRyhM7W1e5qKxyNBKrZjYFg_8AuRxdbiNLM5TIKokl6Qh0iZ1PTui9Ji42ZNXUsFb7ymgTskrps0VLmE1_loMPSO9AZXlLeRE0wZCRQr_fDEHjMPc8/s640/DSC_0360.jpg" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">do you fancy a dust bath?</td></tr>
</tbody></table><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwLH6uW3aMY7v5GqnTM5axZreo_vIXOtuIcIXvMg9_sRfH-IW9zaOm37Kwe5rtiFJjocYrpC8yHT7h3894ug1WHaJoBY-9S4l05S9iVzChnwpfxU7eMTwdRrJFrPsVuk1-K5z2TEBm57E/s1600/DSC_0362.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwLH6uW3aMY7v5GqnTM5axZreo_vIXOtuIcIXvMg9_sRfH-IW9zaOm37Kwe5rtiFJjocYrpC8yHT7h3894ug1WHaJoBY-9S4l05S9iVzChnwpfxU7eMTwdRrJFrPsVuk1-K5z2TEBm57E/s400/DSC_0362.jpg" width="268" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">The next day we went to Serengeti and saw spotted leopards in a big, tall baobab tree. Very early the next morning we saw two amazing yellow and spotted brown cheetahs stalking out an imapala. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjitkaq7L9RjiX9HZvpzn-1QNnNBiKiyL1PQ4cgkbBg6YPQIju-8u_IrPWFLz4aQ9EqJtZ6kM8IObww5-pX6QenQXUesNpO1CJubPbCDAQiByyC2nKztrVfiPFUD0JGtV0KOEr45RDt5jE/s1600/DSC_0108_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjitkaq7L9RjiX9HZvpzn-1QNnNBiKiyL1PQ4cgkbBg6YPQIju-8u_IrPWFLz4aQ9EqJtZ6kM8IObww5-pX6QenQXUesNpO1CJubPbCDAQiByyC2nKztrVfiPFUD0JGtV0KOEr45RDt5jE/s400/DSC_0108_2.jpg" width="326" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">cheetah</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US">After that we saw some gigantic snoring lions who was sleeping in a trench underneath the car.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">The next day we went to Ngorogoro crater and we drove down very early in the morning. However it was worth it as we saw a gigantic black rhino, more lions and thousands and thousands of wildebeest.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">My favourite part of the safari trip was seeing the enormous lioness sitting on top of the rock in the Serengeti.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-oEBhGmlvDmP-Nz7aq4_aNDoiL4AGBxbMdbrv_H0PGI1h9A1a-MJ-rvPlYUBc8dOEXtU0Rm7pfF5S60lqxuU7o9XvIm4LINW6Q-O-7HZW0yIhFqF4N-jvNAETo-UyZSoVmnAIvGJ2ejA/s1600/DSC_0689.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-oEBhGmlvDmP-Nz7aq4_aNDoiL4AGBxbMdbrv_H0PGI1h9A1a-MJ-rvPlYUBc8dOEXtU0Rm7pfF5S60lqxuU7o9XvIm4LINW6Q-O-7HZW0yIhFqF4N-jvNAETo-UyZSoVmnAIvGJ2ejA/s400/DSC_0689.jpg" width="362" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zac's lioness looking out for breakfast..</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizAfp2f4jIRXgiq8lKvRG_NjNbUKmp1munELvXLy6ojYn6SGM4kG9HQfaDOJZR-G8EITh0H9J2JITxPTlNnyhn6_GqA6RMUR0fAklGwO4fQHFIKXgaRZJNT98zot-iJZvWr21tc5Me-EI/s1600/DSC_0034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizAfp2f4jIRXgiq8lKvRG_NjNbUKmp1munELvXLy6ojYn6SGM4kG9HQfaDOJZR-G8EITh0H9J2JITxPTlNnyhn6_GqA6RMUR0fAklGwO4fQHFIKXgaRZJNT98zot-iJZvWr21tc5Me-EI/s400/DSC_0034.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Our trusty safari jeep</td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><u><span lang="EN-US">Adventure on safari by Josh HT<o:p></o:p></span></u></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">On the way to Ngorogoro crater we saw baboons. When we were having lunch we saw lots of monkeys who tried to steal our food. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijC8TINabwRaFkpGv6LVBQUkWmNukSW-yht0Onf0xR1Oi_zi7pvOpZ0msgchMf7LNRr6YTmz1voVvDe0fawSgj2xXPqba1dADelBQcmzTTjZ5kLKa0Ws43zeOFIy9E46KxReX0sXmSO08/s1600/DSC_0028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijC8TINabwRaFkpGv6LVBQUkWmNukSW-yht0Onf0xR1Oi_zi7pvOpZ0msgchMf7LNRr6YTmz1voVvDe0fawSgj2xXPqba1dADelBQcmzTTjZ5kLKa0Ws43zeOFIy9E46KxReX0sXmSO08/s400/DSC_0028.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Josh loved these monkeys</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US">In Nogorogoro crater we saw all the BIG 5. The Big 5 are cheetahs, leopards, lions, rhino, elephants and buffalos. At the lake we saw hippos and an ostrich. On the path there was a baby giraffe running after his Mummy. The wildebeest and the zebras grazed together so that the zebras could look out for any predators that might eat them. The wildebeest showed the zebras where the food was. Mummy says that this is a symbiotic relationship but I don’t really understand what that means!</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeQ690IIJfwYXs5tby2quViQDmy-XRsoZPuQ6J2KJVcu_hlce5GurAtjIWgSOIR9wtEBN3WKAemwxMd2C0bzO8k03N5rwxWQBEExv8bkRt9ADhIPwL1oYgZFfOq70GrL4q17UWW_8KY-4/s1600/DSC_0202_2.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="513" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeQ690IIJfwYXs5tby2quViQDmy-XRsoZPuQ6J2KJVcu_hlce5GurAtjIWgSOIR9wtEBN3WKAemwxMd2C0bzO8k03N5rwxWQBEExv8bkRt9ADhIPwL1oYgZFfOq70GrL4q17UWW_8KY-4/s400/DSC_0202_2.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">We had a very good time camping and in the car on the way back the chef fell asleep and he was dreaming about making food with our guide Tuma. I liked camping and sleeping in the tent with Mummy and Daddy. On the way back I got a necklace that was an elephant’s head and Zac got a necklace that looked like a tooth.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Hh0zpoMWCUPMHmFPSQKMEmchi6zG86av0jWO_l6EM5oPSVWJuUACvbqx27Dg9b15_CG7N6_qyOnYiajK6J55tBA0ebRiYzQKUApQcioDzWhNGO-rxpW_J1YZ6WkytVA52fN06i_Noh4/s1600/DSC_0254.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Hh0zpoMWCUPMHmFPSQKMEmchi6zG86av0jWO_l6EM5oPSVWJuUACvbqx27Dg9b15_CG7N6_qyOnYiajK6J55tBA0ebRiYzQKUApQcioDzWhNGO-rxpW_J1YZ6WkytVA52fN06i_Noh4/s640/DSC_0254.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Popping out the pop up roof</div><div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsu0CQ2XJp6KdpKSerxEYdC22He07nSg2uJ1xhr_7XPGX5LDzmFVnZrSKiK2Jp24AM-A-YOYXABoo0obJQFz9T3JXZmBqucugUgQ3sg-6UNao-rteH2o_O4bJqZ1ujR5HPPXO61lv7THc/s1600/DSC_0766.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsu0CQ2XJp6KdpKSerxEYdC22He07nSg2uJ1xhr_7XPGX5LDzmFVnZrSKiK2Jp24AM-A-YOYXABoo0obJQFz9T3JXZmBqucugUgQ3sg-6UNao-rteH2o_O4bJqZ1ujR5HPPXO61lv7THc/s640/DSC_0766.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">It's all too much this early in the morning!</div><div><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><u><span lang="EN-US">Zanz<o:p></o:p></span></u></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">We were picked up at 5.30am on the Wednesday morning so you can imagine how difficult it was to get Josh out of bed! He immediately assumed his back seat sleeping position which he perfected over the next few days. We had a fabulous guide called Tuma and he had a great black book which had information and pictures of all the animals and birds in Africa. Zac loved spotting and looking up all the animals that we saw and then telling us about them.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGU_MuZNIPTwQlEFyI6XfS1JpaGtIUrWfwut7aMbfEqGaF0lmeE2bLBmeNw7tBTqeeW6j6S3zQoZbTv4jLNKnLoO3B3frDFaCBxh3Pr9HaUmcB3jVthyphenhyphensnIrUcwEUYGTvCaUjaf-6vMaM/s1600/DSC_0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGU_MuZNIPTwQlEFyI6XfS1JpaGtIUrWfwut7aMbfEqGaF0lmeE2bLBmeNw7tBTqeeW6j6S3zQoZbTv4jLNKnLoO3B3frDFaCBxh3Pr9HaUmcB3jVthyphenhyphensnIrUcwEUYGTvCaUjaf-6vMaM/s400/DSC_0001.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Leaving Moshi at sunrise. I was the only one awake in the jeep!</div></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikCkkuixGbAD0gRDBXwQxAhmhmK3j-wKjQhwq1ObJSnK3AaAWN6a4_5IlgyfT5H5QTc2S2XkQeB_lXPfmHv4CMgTXKL0JXPRgjjKIim9AgpWSh3PI6d4jbT20YE3xP327gyfXnWl6Dlwk/s1600/DSC_0008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikCkkuixGbAD0gRDBXwQxAhmhmK3j-wKjQhwq1ObJSnK3AaAWN6a4_5IlgyfT5H5QTc2S2XkQeB_lXPfmHv4CMgTXKL0JXPRgjjKIim9AgpWSh3PI6d4jbT20YE3xP327gyfXnWl6Dlwk/s400/DSC_0008.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="268" /></a></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">A poor monitor lizard run over by a bus thundering by</div><div><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuRnLFOn3bHjhcjvohwYBwJhzyGB3jjPxpAFdbS6Jvv_1WCu5NnmbmST52wiMDUEBqBOOlqxaN8T4F-WK6H8-yv0gSr1f4JQS5ZTHQUSmAc1VRT7B7P4bEAfOq74POhi_-qdlhR8lhAMg/s1600/DSC_0429.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuRnLFOn3bHjhcjvohwYBwJhzyGB3jjPxpAFdbS6Jvv_1WCu5NnmbmST52wiMDUEBqBOOlqxaN8T4F-WK6H8-yv0gSr1f4JQS5ZTHQUSmAc1VRT7B7P4bEAfOq74POhi_-qdlhR8lhAMg/s400/DSC_0429.jpg" width="400" /></a><span lang="EN-US"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Safari was exhausting but great fun – we spent hours bumping over the dusty dirt tracks in an ancient landrover with over 300,000km on the clock and this was just the number that the speedometer stopped at! We kept passing pristine, gleaming landc</span>ruisers that had broken down by the side of the road, whilst our trusty ancient beast kept on going.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">My favourite park was Tarangire. I am not sure if this is because it was the first park we visited or because I so loved being extremely close to elephants, such prehistoric creatures. They are amazing animals with thick, lined hides, tiny eyes and that dexterous, sensitive trunk. The first night we spent in a lodge with a swimming pool, which the boys loved, and then we drove through the Nngorogoro conservation area where we saw the incredible migration. As far as the eye could see were thousands and thousands of wildebeest, rhino and antelopes grazing quietly in the lush grass.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLHZ1QMgFSfGZwJmWmAJcZ31NFfd4OdXBRmfvPITpLEl6Sdv0tboA5a3-Hf991iNEekvbFQZA1wDFPchuJq7r2VqzI9Mu8DCMYu1AyLoFA3yefCn0trnY6nQP00zPcyxVZrGiw9X7yb4Y/s1600/DSC_0224.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLHZ1QMgFSfGZwJmWmAJcZ31NFfd4OdXBRmfvPITpLEl6Sdv0tboA5a3-Hf991iNEekvbFQZA1wDFPchuJq7r2VqzI9Mu8DCMYu1AyLoFA3yefCn0trnY6nQP00zPcyxVZrGiw9X7yb4Y/s400/DSC_0224.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="250" /></a></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">bachelor impala</div><div><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">It was such a difference entering the Serengeti where the land went on and on and on and when you reached the horizon it went further and further and further. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYv7SuCHptV_DoiEUAbX0lxQo3FCg-CeJzxZRlR5Gce8Z8pVqYElRgNksjhy_u3z66yTsfTpx1mLReuGp_9Tgy84XtZg6baFZR-DPcbOQNLyCvnWW_4XNCyvf0qVMoHMzMniJyWhe4U0U/s1600/DSC_0248.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYv7SuCHptV_DoiEUAbX0lxQo3FCg-CeJzxZRlR5Gce8Z8pVqYElRgNksjhy_u3z66yTsfTpx1mLReuGp_9Tgy84XtZg6baFZR-DPcbOQNLyCvnWW_4XNCyvf0qVMoHMzMniJyWhe4U0U/s400/DSC_0248.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">a huge baobab tree with a hole rubbed by the elephants as they chew the bark</div><div><br />
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<span lang="EN-US">No wonder as the Serengeti covers an area 15000km<sup>2</sup> – the name is derived from the Masaii word serengit meaning “endless plain”. The Masaii migrated into the area in the 17<sup>th</sup> century but now it is a national park they live in Masaii villages outside.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"> The Serengeti was green and had quite high grass due to the recent rain which made animal spotting quite hard. We camped that night and unfortunately the campsite was packed and a far cry from my last safari 20 odd years ago with Lizzy and Jo when we camped out in the middle of parks on our own with no-one else to be found for miles! How times have changed… Still social Zac made friends with a large group who were sitting around a big campfire. In true Zac fashion he sat down, made himself at home and then started questioning 2 girls who had just climbed Mount Kili. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdEivvn6Q63r9LH4gn4eVEXJdwDcKNcZWtf3gcRDbNWt2q9Q8AEQd_L2HyLF8vZ5pRVzDZCLBGPfPZhqtg8mvZx7JosH6Gyn3wXV0LsRgBlpLImOKV3R5QR7GBtw-508FEFr-bTIb3CRM/s1600/DSC_0681.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="385" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdEivvn6Q63r9LH4gn4eVEXJdwDcKNcZWtf3gcRDbNWt2q9Q8AEQd_L2HyLF8vZ5pRVzDZCLBGPfPZhqtg8mvZx7JosH6Gyn3wXV0LsRgBlpLImOKV3R5QR7GBtw-508FEFr-bTIb3CRM/s640/DSC_0681.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">I was so impressed by the 3 course meals that our amazing cook produced every night. He didn’t seem to understand that the kids ate approx half an adult portion and was constantly making mountains of food. The next morning we set out on a game drive at 6am and yes Josh went straight to sleep on the back seat waking up periodically to munch biscuits. It was amazing seeing the sunrise over the Serengeti and we and one other truck traveled together on our own leaving the masses behind. The early start was so worth it as the safari driver in front spotted a cheetah in the grass. We were so close to him and then as we were watching another head popped up a few metres away. They are such stunningly beautiful creatures and as Tuma our guide says they walk like models on the catwalk swinging their hips elegantly. I had never noticed before how giraffes walk – they are very unusual as they move the 2 legs on the left together and then the 2 on the right when they walk which is very unusual in an animal. </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdBECl5JuJ3NKanapunuG8VuIEtiVtGIjF4UEPZfkR6Gw22TUqCOzYDEMJdrgGKZsCu838ed8xFW2ZJw42jvJIH-PSOGNMWwDVenfKBcwZsMapBhJxgFds9Tw3kWXiZUzs51fglbeWK10/s1600/DSC_0435.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdBECl5JuJ3NKanapunuG8VuIEtiVtGIjF4UEPZfkR6Gw22TUqCOzYDEMJdrgGKZsCu838ed8xFW2ZJw42jvJIH-PSOGNMWwDVenfKBcwZsMapBhJxgFds9Tw3kWXiZUzs51fglbeWK10/s400/DSC_0435.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="636" /></a>When you look closer you can see that they have to walk like this due to their necks and how their front half is much higher than their bottoms.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Masaii warrior<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
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</div><span lang="EN-US">On the way to Simba campsite we visited a Masaii village which was fascinating. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">playing ring a ring a roses..</div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span lang="EN-US"> The Masaii children spend their days walking long distances with their flocks of goats and cattle. They live in round huts enclosed with walls but have no electricity and no running water but wash in nearby lakes and rivers. They are a nomadic people and often walk miles with all their animals to another grazing land. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I am a Masai warrior too</div><div><br />
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<span lang="EN-US">Their diet is based on the cow and they drink milk, eat meat and drink the cows' blood but eat little else. I think they also eat roots as otherwise they would have little vitamins and minerals in their diet. The Masaii use the money they obtain from visits to their village to improve facilities and they have built a kindergarden where we saw all the children which was fantastic. </span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"> Our visit ended with a huge football match outside which was hilarious.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzRdkI8FRx-l4799C2GuZfS6dcFJBsB8eTr-xhzf-bsEF02-rUKccNsLsYl08BHWLKRgNpGf8pheN9sUiPQefVyShI0vPwg_oZCFiVLAYyYakmfSqzIwrHocBrkR0EZu24bJl0Zbi2ND0/s1600/DSC_0978.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzRdkI8FRx-l4799C2GuZfS6dcFJBsB8eTr-xhzf-bsEF02-rUKccNsLsYl08BHWLKRgNpGf8pheN9sUiPQefVyShI0vPwg_oZCFiVLAYyYakmfSqzIwrHocBrkR0EZu24bJl0Zbi2ND0/s320/DSC_0978.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">who's going to get that ball?</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4zOAOc3MDmiyvdeHlfTu0qZ9n-eGjvDBELkfNzp_Uu-g_mMD6UjlwVhhXlfiBfGCDPI3koUempKSc9tLmbHBUfqG_ENnFrDEwAQ4O_zHZf1qCc5NV30XDjZDpGn5pSnIqVEWh3Hmx17g/s1600/DSC_0858.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4zOAOc3MDmiyvdeHlfTu0qZ9n-eGjvDBELkfNzp_Uu-g_mMD6UjlwVhhXlfiBfGCDPI3koUempKSc9tLmbHBUfqG_ENnFrDEwAQ4O_zHZf1qCc5NV30XDjZDpGn5pSnIqVEWh3Hmx17g/s320/DSC_0858.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ72CkOL5tTaKa6GhyphenhyphenZcubhXokE2r_POdBD76o3rrkYBgPPMpF3KaPuqD6yqyqOilp_NeyQqDP7w4IO5btLNjwxuyuBAmYJInihDUYErP4xAh2dSWHE_5hjIOx403MIl7l6rDxZoIdgVQ/s1600/DSC_0795.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ72CkOL5tTaKa6GhyphenhyphenZcubhXokE2r_POdBD76o3rrkYBgPPMpF3KaPuqD6yqyqOilp_NeyQqDP7w4IO5btLNjwxuyuBAmYJInihDUYErP4xAh2dSWHE_5hjIOx403MIl7l6rDxZoIdgVQ/s640/DSC_0795.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif4k-y0H5gHi0OxWuAyQbioWVyTmh4bgzuUr78u1SBsypEo4hK1lDpAKmd-Itf86Ozkhse14VbtahH6IKh0iIrwjGFi-KHurPIBwxalxNLXlmSueS7MC8sofPyn0Moa6ZrJIVQnksd-1U/s1600/DSC_0850.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif4k-y0H5gHi0OxWuAyQbioWVyTmh4bgzuUr78u1SBsypEo4hK1lDpAKmd-Itf86Ozkhse14VbtahH6IKh0iIrwjGFi-KHurPIBwxalxNLXlmSueS7MC8sofPyn0Moa6ZrJIVQnksd-1U/s640/DSC_0850.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOnJcG86e_rlSlxe8WyUnF0SmFxLoQgLJ2IN0cxHHVywlCniPc43OpV5kcuOlQS3qKbcaRNWts6UhOh96afzlV9kMYqFLhsBWvC2SJCO8L9P8vJdzo3DZxGxeyp-yxpf52LyrVgnYNJZs/s1600/DSC_0839.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOnJcG86e_rlSlxe8WyUnF0SmFxLoQgLJ2IN0cxHHVywlCniPc43OpV5kcuOlQS3qKbcaRNWts6UhOh96afzlV9kMYqFLhsBWvC2SJCO8L9P8vJdzo3DZxGxeyp-yxpf52LyrVgnYNJZs/s640/DSC_0839.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Camping on the rim of the Nngorogoro crater was amazing and waking up to see sunrise over the crater was incredible. Another early start and we were one of the first vehicles into the crater which was brilliant as by late morning it was packed! The crater is the worlds largest intact volcanic caldera – the floor of the crater is 260km<sup>2 </sup> and the floor is 600m below the rim. The crater supports a huge concentration of animals in it’s lush enviromens. We were very lucky to watch a cheetah stalking an impala and it was fascinating watching how patiently he waited and watched. Unfortunately he wasn't hungry enough to go for the chase and so went back to sleep much to our disappointment. We saw all the animals in the crater - black rhino, wildebeest, buffalo, beautiful zebra, flamingos along the lake and lots and lots more lions.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><br />
</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVCMJ-_mLr3jToNe-GQ2JDF3Y6uaEh9L_jJxMmyJTIxySKLT3m9JrgTWfRi3X4aMiG1JOvwS7upDCNzOLA3VY42E65KZdFHtnmisStYtMfehs7Wdqh5ALI8Okb-TaQAHeEdW0jPWOgqrY/s1600/DSC_0079_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVCMJ-_mLr3jToNe-GQ2JDF3Y6uaEh9L_jJxMmyJTIxySKLT3m9JrgTWfRi3X4aMiG1JOvwS7upDCNzOLA3VY42E65KZdFHtnmisStYtMfehs7Wdqh5ALI8Okb-TaQAHeEdW0jPWOgqrY/s640/DSC_0079_2.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyQCTmZ40A7mM8tH_p1IQwojPqQEpprbRvwwscqcquAzaP6uNs8uotNSeRwk5rCgNGnOJsdch9-FBmWedOyZOHtPqwyMhdQA66h8K1XK92Jtm06JA_WswHJBbs_kKu4OCmFXKfNO3MFjU/s1600/DSC_0034_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyQCTmZ40A7mM8tH_p1IQwojPqQEpprbRvwwscqcquAzaP6uNs8uotNSeRwk5rCgNGnOJsdch9-FBmWedOyZOHtPqwyMhdQA66h8K1XK92Jtm06JA_WswHJBbs_kKu4OCmFXKfNO3MFjU/s400/DSC_0034_2.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">very early at the Nogorogoro crater</div><div><br />
</div></td></tr>
</tbody></table></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US">Back to a hot lunch at the campsite and then off on the long drive back home via the Arusha National Heritage centre where Zac was very happy to show us all his favourite exhibits. This is a very strange place which seems to be a glorified shop pretending to be a museum. There is even a handy DHL centre in the grounds where you can arrange to ship all your large objects home!</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><br />
</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US">By the time we got home we were filthy and very, very tired but very happy as we had had the most wonderful safari. We have stayed in touch with Tuma our brilliant guide and met up for lunch with him and his 6 year old daughter Grace a few weekends ago. The boys, especially Zac had a wonderful time and they both drew fantastic pictures in their diary books of all the animals they had seen. Zac actually tried to draw the animals as we were driving and became very cross if we drove off in the middle of his picture!</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US">And for the old folks here are some east african birds:</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvLQXxS9ChpDSxKZhu-MsvqIZoSCbpuJ9YqiBA6BhKx94q2HY76KA2afVRXi_u_nJKDKPGTLJ1ECOafBm-cj0hKPdKZJv-YrNcZr_3qJ-ZFrl8ggVMw1ruoU5jc1EFGvMtbY8Fp9We3Gk/s1600/DSC_0053.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvLQXxS9ChpDSxKZhu-MsvqIZoSCbpuJ9YqiBA6BhKx94q2HY76KA2afVRXi_u_nJKDKPGTLJ1ECOafBm-cj0hKPdKZJv-YrNcZr_3qJ-ZFrl8ggVMw1ruoU5jc1EFGvMtbY8Fp9We3Gk/s400/DSC_0053.jpg" width="507" /></a></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Red billed horn bill</div><div><br />
</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpddieuMi50z4FEkn8Z0Noi_xQsOz7fk3Ewekkf2efmQJ8AFzkBczeZS6ikbcxnKINVe4ZuYd54SuwMCNM3Rao_gFHTjJd3ZpYBuYwLjbllBRzanxuOc6ACXZ6zeaXlZO0SoEtGqY2mno/s1600/DSC_0214.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="635" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpddieuMi50z4FEkn8Z0Noi_xQsOz7fk3Ewekkf2efmQJ8AFzkBczeZS6ikbcxnKINVe4ZuYd54SuwMCNM3Rao_gFHTjJd3ZpYBuYwLjbllBRzanxuOc6ACXZ6zeaXlZO0SoEtGqY2mno/s400/DSC_0214.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">superb starling</div><div><br />
</div></td></tr>
</tbody></table></span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEYZsTTpwWmGuPResFRwrRDUMPR4Icv0nkyMqk7oqHIdVXYektgk1CdHKOmRidyKgyXFIx8PnUD7HA4UkG-RoqEC6nx6ONWU0vSctwqan-mS3YPb4LPnk9buNB4Upq1caOOZsTV4WspqQ/s1600/DSC_0138_2.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEYZsTTpwWmGuPResFRwrRDUMPR4Icv0nkyMqk7oqHIdVXYektgk1CdHKOmRidyKgyXFIx8PnUD7HA4UkG-RoqEC6nx6ONWU0vSctwqan-mS3YPb4LPnk9buNB4Upq1caOOZsTV4WspqQ/s400/DSC_0138_2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">crown crested crane - Ugandas national bird</div><div><br />
</div></td></tr>
</tbody></table></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US">And more exciting animals.....</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US"></span></div><span lang="EN-US"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiauyAZE9vAcOED9gEHrrA1Tfqx6EDgTqLaLu2XlXopPYeQ2IM1htKowoxveTlT1hFLI1PFTNn_HYwZ4MXGvkDG8UlFolXiFVJrCMUws0ey48ScvHabW9Hr49hMbp_v2QG40ABDxpcYkT0/s1600/DSC_0741.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="610" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiauyAZE9vAcOED9gEHrrA1Tfqx6EDgTqLaLu2XlXopPYeQ2IM1htKowoxveTlT1hFLI1PFTNn_HYwZ4MXGvkDG8UlFolXiFVJrCMUws0ey48ScvHabW9Hr49hMbp_v2QG40ABDxpcYkT0/s640/DSC_0741.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">blue balled monkey!</div><div><br />
</div></td></tr>
</tbody></table></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiquBI3xTVtdAsKfYPtc7a6gWer2wh5mYmXyDotGAOSGpQULztTAk_Gvjg5zM5Q7R3OhHcDgu3VYpqe_t3c-o_rhyzfLuwZ1RmFFQ-9UDo0rDBQcIWvDydMaiiu1TrVJBnt3mliy6nle20/s1600/DSC_0179.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiquBI3xTVtdAsKfYPtc7a6gWer2wh5mYmXyDotGAOSGpQULztTAk_Gvjg5zM5Q7R3OhHcDgu3VYpqe_t3c-o_rhyzfLuwZ1RmFFQ-9UDo0rDBQcIWvDydMaiiu1TrVJBnt3mliy6nle20/s640/DSC_0179.jpg" width="640" /></a></span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYggL1-v7IHgBiG2DFplREpuJhuDTFMTfHWsd0nClC-dh9K58IsTzxgRD3sdx78rBSFd-rxGc2ihxeZjSjTTUdGkNGGsGkBNYfjgrNdHXcW3BX6PTLKAzTQnn917dRkrAw2a_Vq4OyK8w/s1600/DSC_0414.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="590" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYggL1-v7IHgBiG2DFplREpuJhuDTFMTfHWsd0nClC-dh9K58IsTzxgRD3sdx78rBSFd-rxGc2ihxeZjSjTTUdGkNGGsGkBNYfjgrNdHXcW3BX6PTLKAzTQnn917dRkrAw2a_Vq4OyK8w/s640/DSC_0414.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">mud too makes an excellent sunscreen<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXPE5mqT4th_CrGJAMraUzvsoh8P9gyOgYd12RJhMPrKZTKzwP0URoizmsbpGFFGeRI0rlWjAs_L8STwV2cFvyxBHNH_tTpomq4wTcU9ZSmKgKtS24aZ0eyFMW1jZIb2IMSqQbRQl9Vn4/s1600/DSC_0163.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXPE5mqT4th_CrGJAMraUzvsoh8P9gyOgYd12RJhMPrKZTKzwP0URoizmsbpGFFGeRI0rlWjAs_L8STwV2cFvyxBHNH_tTpomq4wTcU9ZSmKgKtS24aZ0eyFMW1jZIb2IMSqQbRQl9Vn4/s640/DSC_0163.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNH2elQpHJQqq_o-To6SQbhdxM8bJw4Kctcqvy3SFa041IvF24ATuqMJsSlGBFjUUE9MdKhPGrQ3ZtYPaO11ncwqevIF9ah-S3GAPAWL1R73oSI7234o-caTp_9GFs5Z2oqb2G4RcRq8w/s1600/DSC_0758.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNH2elQpHJQqq_o-To6SQbhdxM8bJw4Kctcqvy3SFa041IvF24ATuqMJsSlGBFjUUE9MdKhPGrQ3ZtYPaO11ncwqevIF9ah-S3GAPAWL1R73oSI7234o-caTp_9GFs5Z2oqb2G4RcRq8w/s640/DSC_0758.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK_pMtGHEsZGVq1cE-Duuh0rS5S8oy9KTjdEtOLhS8xq_fqlhif_78f7FIN-TGLPwdOWgGhLHJkuv8HTgEML5v4QgpvoAyebX3fUeVOKS1xkBTNxwma8R0ArvoFLCCBE1yO-iZ-tnb13c/s1600/P1110177.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK_pMtGHEsZGVq1cE-Duuh0rS5S8oy9KTjdEtOLhS8xq_fqlhif_78f7FIN-TGLPwdOWgGhLHJkuv8HTgEML5v4QgpvoAyebX3fUeVOKS1xkBTNxwma8R0ArvoFLCCBE1yO-iZ-tnb13c/s400/P1110177.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></div>The BiblicalBoyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13468821119724326211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4772793224692948830.post-23700678280779249682012-02-02T18:52:00.001+03:002012-02-08T13:03:58.275+03:00On strikes, stomach complaints and mountain hikes<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;">Again I am sorry for the lack of blogs lately. Life seems to have been very hectic at work and at home. There is a nationwide strike of all Tanzanian doctors and as from yesterday the nurses are also on strike. The strike as far as I can gather is about pay. It seems that the new interns have not been paid for their first 3 months work and the government are also wishing to reduce the payment for on-call, which as you can imagine is most unpopular. When I talked to one of our Tanzanian residents today it seems that the doctors want a 150% pay rise! With the advent of modern technology the strike is orchestrated by mobile phones and the doctors are informed of whether they should attend work or not by text message. We find it quite confusing in the RDTC as all the residents turn up for their 8am teaching lecture and then many seem to disappear before clinic or the ward round! (<a href="http://dailynews.co.tz/index.php/columnists/1396-striking-doctors-may-tarnish-tanzanian-health-reputation" target="_blank">Doctors Strike news</a>)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;">It is very difficult for patients at this time. We have a 23 year old lady on the surgical wards who has now been waiting for over a month for an operation to remove a large malignant tumour from her foot but now with the strike we have no idea when this will occur. KCMC hospital is in a much better state than those hospitals in Dar es Salaam as we have many non-Tanzanian volunteer and permanent staff and in the Dermatology centre many of the residents are from all over East Africa. However in Dar es Salaam it seems that people are dying as the hospitals have no medical or nursing staff which is terrible. The strike has been ongoing for a week and no-one has any idea what will happen or when. It is very difficult for those nurses that are working as they do not have input from the medical teams.<o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;">Patients have to pay for their inpatient stay (2500 per day which is just over £1) and this includes food. We have one inpatient with pemphigus foliaceous – a blistering condition of the skin- who is much better but as he comes from a very poor village he stopped using his topical treatment when we discussed discharge as he did not want to go home. Patients have to pay for all their investigations – x-rays, blood tests, scans etc. What seems most unfair is that if the lab/ radiology department loses their films or results then the patient has to pay again for the investigation to be repeated. <o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;">Another development this week is the government and university announcement that all Medical students that had not paid this years course fee were to be thrown out of the university. So I was not surprised that none of the 20 4<sup>th</sup> year medical students were in the department yesterday as they were desperately trying to get their fees together. We have the end of 4 week attachment exam for the students on Friday at 7.30am so as a department we have decided that all can take the exam whether they have paid their fees or not as otherwise they might have to repeat their whole attachment at a later date.<o:p></o:p></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT5UctgPTka9cuwrymDVNS5iEChB3Mosip4YWMIQAlSDKEWbbbrk3bZGkSSICCg2_CfA8L_LxskPz5NfrfguEExOEDPGkyG1jYxsY4IoDJb9dQG6xQRC_pDEtihDvGEbpUYifJ6bonWfg/s1600/P1110440.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT5UctgPTka9cuwrymDVNS5iEChB3Mosip4YWMIQAlSDKEWbbbrk3bZGkSSICCg2_CfA8L_LxskPz5NfrfguEExOEDPGkyG1jYxsY4IoDJb9dQG6xQRC_pDEtihDvGEbpUYifJ6bonWfg/s200/P1110440.jpg" width="183" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm soooo not a submarine!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">Last week unfortunately Zac developed terrible constipation. It is over 40 degrees here and he runs about so much at school and does not drink enough water. As he was so constipated he then developed an anal fissure (a small very painful tear in the bottom) which meant that he refused to poo as it was so painful and so his constipation became worse and worse. We eventually had to give him an enema and I think I will leave it to your imagination how that went!<o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;">Friday was the primary swimming gala at school and so I took the morning off to see my boys swim. Zac was fortunately better and so I took my place on the bench to proudly watch my boys. Miss Lindsey Josh’s teacher came up to me with Josh in his swimming clothes and a towel to tell me that Josh had vomited as soon as he had reached school that morning! I suggested that he should not swim then and she gave me a withering look and said “ he is only wearing his swimming gear as he vomited over all of his clothes” ! I quickly took him home and came back to watch Zac whose swimming has really come on. He swam races in front crawl, breast stroke and back stroke and did a medley with all 3 strokes and then a relay race. Then at 12.30pm it was home time. Oh how I long for the later starts and the later home time that we have in the UK.<o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSnAALUdK2oVZSd_iZ7YRS4WEW1dFF4XMGR9VmJfReDsdhJuaOCM42FfeEOPvSddm5_gcXtGJc2-IAXXJaJV_p7mfV6m_n7rpuPwxNQrajkIKT34tdIcLX5d6sQ-u5oFovgL5pU4xGejE/s1600/P1110449.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSnAALUdK2oVZSd_iZ7YRS4WEW1dFF4XMGR9VmJfReDsdhJuaOCM42FfeEOPvSddm5_gcXtGJc2-IAXXJaJV_p7mfV6m_n7rpuPwxNQrajkIKT34tdIcLX5d6sQ-u5oFovgL5pU4xGejE/s320/P1110449.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Front crawl, breaststroke, back stroke, fly....ain't no stoppin the boy </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMVR2e_Y2UzlTfq3ZhTlIcZwa1yHk7tqfsTysfBj8l1KUHeWWxjX-2j2TJMiJHOrrvsgyTihAsma3fPpGwQWrNowgOMtdLVCdO-uhjRRf4XUQtTRxjK1hhsYEjMMm9cXdTwbAXgkIxHIk/s1600/P1110451.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMVR2e_Y2UzlTfq3ZhTlIcZwa1yHk7tqfsTysfBj8l1KUHeWWxjX-2j2TJMiJHOrrvsgyTihAsma3fPpGwQWrNowgOMtdLVCdO-uhjRRf4XUQtTRxjK1hhsYEjMMm9cXdTwbAXgkIxHIk/s320/P1110451.jpg" width="243" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So I won right, new world record, games record, Usain Bolt of the water???</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">Michael, the lovely Dutch dermatologist and his wife has left so we had a great leaving dinner for him at our house. He has kindly let us use his car so we were planning on going on the Kilimanjaro mountain club trip to the Pare mountains that weekend. On Friday night Josh still had a temperature but luckily no more vomiting and Zac did an enormous poo and seemed fine. Aaron and Sebastian went off and did a big shop and hired tents/ sleeping bags etc for the trip. I was prepared to stay at home with Josh as the camp site we were going to was at the top of the mountains and had no water at all and I did not think it would be a great place to be with a vomiting child!<o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheqclzaw6Ygo-PLF4XDiBIDncCk-LFFzW3wIy-QOOGwfz7kAe9Yg-grJnRWe-WShQYtK2W_Ced1_y5ttj5UJ2YnUwEEfzE98OQLlJuHQg6H-Z2UHA8Ak6c5FdhLWBsxfLxakvMO9aKtJM/s1600/P1110468.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheqclzaw6Ygo-PLF4XDiBIDncCk-LFFzW3wIy-QOOGwfz7kAe9Yg-grJnRWe-WShQYtK2W_Ced1_y5ttj5UJ2YnUwEEfzE98OQLlJuHQg6H-Z2UHA8Ak6c5FdhLWBsxfLxakvMO9aKtJM/s320/P1110468.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The trip suddenly started to feel somewhat deflated!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBDTkwjsudcIm_PJvNIVOUxRZ3-3OEE8TwwIuciPXutvCplCpIID9hlgn_KWCaNJY7m1goAsPi-eAWqGErFc0tYXmD45zylnkzcrFe5VdfMk2Q3TFrAVEMYU3nffVnbuFbaXs36ug9fyU/s1600/P1110469.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBDTkwjsudcIm_PJvNIVOUxRZ3-3OEE8TwwIuciPXutvCplCpIID9hlgn_KWCaNJY7m1goAsPi-eAWqGErFc0tYXmD45zylnkzcrFe5VdfMk2Q3TFrAVEMYU3nffVnbuFbaXs36ug9fyU/s320/P1110469.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Praying to the tyre god...nice arse though?<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We had a quick lunch and then set off on what was meant to be an hours gentle walk with the children.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">But of course this was a true African walk and it turned out that the guides did not know where we were going so we hiked through forest and when I say through forest I mean through the forest as there did not seem to be a path and we climbed over and under branches and pushed our way through sharp bushes.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Josh was not enjoying himself nor were the younger children so Camilla took them all back to camp.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Josh had been doing his hunched over look saying he felt tired and poorly but as soon as Camilla said they were turning back he stood up straight and skipped down!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The walk progressed but it was like one of those horror films when people keep being picked off at the back as we lost more and more people…..</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Some people turned back because the going was too difficult/ they had to leave/ Edward had an itchy rash suddenly develop probably from a plant until Zac was the last child left!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Vicky and Susan suddenly appeared having found a much easier and straightforward way up the mountain and we all made it to the top.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Three and a half hours later we returned to camp after our “easy” walk to find that the wind was blowing a gale and the tents looked quite dodgy!</span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">Fortunately Josh bounced up absolutely fine on Saturday morning so we all set off in convey for the mountains. I was travelling with Camilla and her children and about an hour out of Moshi we saw Michael’s car stop as they had had a puncture. Aaron and Sebastian efficiently changed the tyre and off we went again. It was quite a journey and took about 4 hours as we climbed high into the mountains up very steep tracks to reach a secondary school perched right at the top with a fabulous view of Kilimanjaro peeking between the clouds. <o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJFzXUuOaT3QMAn0gSah6YMPOU8Uo1JfOHLswnrsLk6-6beuQrGfSvy9U1FWdzi-8z3aSJxre-09MFrsOW3jJ_Et9sLr1E3x0GWbh1vMK9JM44i95rHsCyERygkQwmUevvUpYVCXilsqI/s1600/P1110473.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="475" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJFzXUuOaT3QMAn0gSah6YMPOU8Uo1JfOHLswnrsLk6-6beuQrGfSvy9U1FWdzi-8z3aSJxre-09MFrsOW3jJ_Et9sLr1E3x0GWbh1vMK9JM44i95rHsCyERygkQwmUevvUpYVCXilsqI/s640/P1110473.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paris Dakar via Tanzania AHT on a charge to the finish</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">Luckily we had discovered an unlocked classroom, which we made our cooking base. We fed the kids who then had great fun building a fire and dancing round it with sticks whilst we cooked our feast of pasta, salad and amazing barbequed fillet steak. By this time some of the tents had broken/ blown down and the rest were moved to the shelter of the classroom wall. Aaron, Zac, Josh and I slept in the classroom, which was very comfortable, and in the morning we discovered that others had been wet through/ had collapsed tents overnight.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy, Sleepy, Sneezy, Bashful, Doc...Grumpy and Dopey were changing the tyre!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK5i2XbflJqPV8dbzVgSydlv5uzN7Xy2-LX_JkLlPx9XmthtZo60T1zWCSnurntap3KdAVi5Im9MxhS8tYWE89que-d1K_jWeN-A7CW4zKS8AmyvFSqAP24j5cJpR6tzzB3kuCrEbrnDY/s1600/P1110489.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK5i2XbflJqPV8dbzVgSydlv5uzN7Xy2-LX_JkLlPx9XmthtZo60T1zWCSnurntap3KdAVi5Im9MxhS8tYWE89que-d1K_jWeN-A7CW4zKS8AmyvFSqAP24j5cJpR6tzzB3kuCrEbrnDY/s320/P1110489.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Is that some LEGO???????</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">After pancakes for breakfast, courtesy of Aaron, we set off for a 2 hour gentle walk again with the kids. Yes you guessed it it was another African walk and although not through the bush after 2 hours I wanted to turn back. Josh had stayed at camp with Aaron but I had Nogga and Zac who were getting quite hot and bothered. It seemed impossible to get a straight answer as to how far we were going and whether we were taking the same route or a different route back. The guide kept saying “5 more minutes” and Zac asked “is that an African 5 minutes or a Mazungu 5 minutes?” which made everyone laugh. Of course it was an African 5 minutes and 20 minutes later we split into 2 groups. Our group headed back and the other group continued on to a resevoir and then back which was supposed to take an extra hour. Of course when we finally got back to camp after another three and a half hour hike the other group were already back telling us that the resevoir had in fact been 5 minutes away and then they walked back a different much easier route! Zac has now announced that he refuses to do any more hashes or long walks ever again.</div></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">We drove back after lunch and had a great swim at the ISM pool before collapsing after a hot shower into bed…..</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Child Psychologist? Is there a Child Psychologist in the house? </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh34rlLN9a2CJi3GgHThDAieRP3WMzdIqHN03SokQsu9o_E99qCwhdHCTKGTybx4QJ1QnwBKwnJY1VhcIkcgzZfWrwh9ZfnL-qlsQjcc5G5zqFFzRV-930FjZAgh-a9FZxzTuJOFmUEYVQ/s1600/P1110458.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh34rlLN9a2CJi3GgHThDAieRP3WMzdIqHN03SokQsu9o_E99qCwhdHCTKGTybx4QJ1QnwBKwnJY1VhcIkcgzZfWrwh9ZfnL-qlsQjcc5G5zqFFzRV-930FjZAgh-a9FZxzTuJOFmUEYVQ/s640/P1110458.jpg" width="520" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zac took inspiration for Troll King from this self portrait. </td></tr>
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We have added a couple of pics of the children's pictures of the play from a previous post in which Zac played the Troll King.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div>The BiblicalBoyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13468821119724326211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4772793224692948830.post-26607759913434471892012-01-19T17:27:00.002+03:002012-01-19T17:40:37.957+03:00On international conferences, presentations and african dancing under the stars<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">hand washing at KCMC - just think about it next time you load your machine!</td></tr>
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</div>I am sorry it has taken so long to post again but the last 2 weeks have been extremely busy at work (yes I have been working hard - the blog just seems to have been full of our amazing Christmas holiday exploits!)<br />
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I was back at work on Monday 9th January and preparations were well underway for the 17th International CME meeting at the RDTC on 11th-14th of January. I was relieved to see that we finally had a programme which looked full and very interesting. Michael, Vicky and I spent much of Monday and Tuesday going through the 3 ADDV students research presentations on the re-emergence of leprosy between 2005-2010 in a district of Uganda, the skin changes seen amongst Albino pupils at a primary school in Kenya and health care seeking behaviour among adult patients infected with tungiasis in the Mbulu district of Tanzania. The students worked very hard and their presentations became much clearer. I was pleased to see that the residents forum which we had suggested before Christmas was in the programme on Friday afternoon and Alice, Julia, Esther and Emmanuel presented to us. Unfortunately it was felt that Emmanuel's presentation did not have good histological back-up so this one was removed and in it's place Nohrasco was presenting a fascinating case of an apparently eradicated disease dracunculosis (guinea worm). It was great for the residents and ADDV students as all the international experts began arriving on Monday and were very kind and gave intensive teaching sessions to all on the days prior to the meeting. It was wonderful to see Claire Fuller, my previous colleague and now Medical Director of the International Foundation of Dermatology (IFD) who had travelled out with Professor Rod Hay Chairman of the IFD. Claire kindly came bearing a large heavy bag packed by Stacey our wonderful nanny in England which had gourmet goodies including cheese - cheddar and red leicester, nutella, marmite and 2 large bars of dairy milk chocolate. In case you are wondering how the cheese made it out here Claire, who is practised in the art of cheese transportation to Africa, told Stacey to freeze it first and then it is wrapped up in tin foil for the journey during which it gently defrosts. Still I was glad to get it all into the fridge...<br />
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Claire also came bearing large volumes of specialist dressings for the baby with Epidermolyis bullosa and dermasilk suits. I only hope we can contact the Mother and try to persuade her to bring her baby back to clinic where we can at least give Mum the dressings and suits even if she doesn't want to bring the baby back to the dermatology clinic again. I find it heartbreaking how hard it is to help sometimes and I wish I spoke Swahili as being able to speak directly to Mum might make a difference.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzdtOKaL8DzQmMr1a3LiTg3Tu1qozH9R8nKDxkqRiHwR7NsCObPE9RpxEvwLZe72UwOb3M3MJ-KKwMh6zCXB7lmGDFXG8uEKhaG_-jKk4eklq7hF9L36ujOngwzYHtp_gciRHILIPzqlk/s1600/P1110226.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzdtOKaL8DzQmMr1a3LiTg3Tu1qozH9R8nKDxkqRiHwR7NsCObPE9RpxEvwLZe72UwOb3M3MJ-KKwMh6zCXB7lmGDFXG8uEKhaG_-jKk4eklq7hF9L36ujOngwzYHtp_gciRHILIPzqlk/s320/P1110226.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Professor Masenga introducing the CME conference</td></tr>
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The CME conference began in earnest on Wednesday morning in the main KCMC lecture theatre which became my second home for the next 7 days. It was great to see old friends and to make new ones and I was so impressed at how much the international community embraces and supports the RDTC. We were reminded at how much the International Dermatology community and the RDTC in Moshi had achieved since it was officially opened in 1992. At that time there were fewer than 150 Dermatologists/ health care workers trained in Dermatology in SubSaharan Africa (excluding S Africa). To date 217 medical officers from 16 African countries have graduated from the RDTC and many of them were there at the CME meeting.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">The 500 club that helped to finance the RDTC</td></tr>
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There was a truly African welcoming session with representatives from the KCMC and the Tanzanian representative from Stiefel spoke in front of a beautifully decorated blackboard with a fantastic picture of the RDTC drawn on it. The next session was on leprosy during which I was proud to say that Kenneth our ADDV student gave an excellent presentation and handled the questions with applomb. Leprosy is meant to be an eradicated disease in many areas but since being at the RDTC I have seen about 6 cases, some of whom are the infectious multi-bacillary sort. It was very important to discuss the fact that leprosy is a re-emerging problem and a lively discussion was had by all on how to approach it. Many health workers fail to recognise the disease and a school boy who we diagnosed had been seen for the year previously at another hospital. This case raised many issues about the stigma of leprosy and also the ethical problem of contact tracing in a school in this situation. The day progressed with talks on psoraisis, acne and our colleague Dr Vicky Yates gave an excellent presentation on Tuberculosis of the skin. <br />
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That evening we were all treated to a wonderful dinner under the stars in the truly magnificent garden of Professor John Masenga which when decorated looked like the set of a Bollywood movie. The food, drink and company was fantastic but we were up bright and early the next morning. The first session was introduced by Professor Ryan and was a insight into the subject of nutrition and the skin. Mr Brad Snyder gave a passionate and fascinating insight into a project entitled Gardens for Health (www.gardensforhealth.org) that they have set up in Rwanda. In Rwanda there is much malnutrition so in conjunction with giving the food aid plumpinut, based on peanut and enriched with vitamins and minerals, parents and children are taught how to cultivate a garden at home. There is a demonstration garden at the health centre where the families are taught and given the vegetables and foods that are needed for a balanced diet whilst their garden is growing. They are given the seeds and the expertise (a home garden package) to make their own gardens so that at the end of the 3 month food supplementation period given to the malnourished child the gardens are ready for harvest. Brilliant - Brad an enigmatic, slim, vivacious man also talked passionately about empowering women and children and also about the involvement of men into the project. Following this talk Prof Ryan's sister talked about an equally brilliant garden project in India: www.earthtrustnilgiris.org.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigK775yu09mY6Josxsbex1gKx-TVUew6PudmLMh918F6MOWEJKEF38JrUZp4T2deg5Y02KgZUJgHo_piCHt8ssDvJGW1FubsWVFPXe2GpoZOBOKyZSxJQ2qN1Bx4xH6pGk_btocNZ8RPs/s1600/P1110235.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigK775yu09mY6Josxsbex1gKx-TVUew6PudmLMh918F6MOWEJKEF38JrUZp4T2deg5Y02KgZUJgHo_piCHt8ssDvJGW1FubsWVFPXe2GpoZOBOKyZSxJQ2qN1Bx4xH6pGk_btocNZ8RPs/s320/P1110235.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Brad's gardens for health talk</td></tr>
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Other highlights of the day were our 2 other ADDV students presenting their research excellently making us very proud as some of the students find presenting in English an understandably daunting process. The day ended with the now legendary RDTC quiz which I have to say was very difficult!!! Then another dinner at El Rancho - famed for it's delicious Indian food ( I didn't think I would eat so much Indian food in Africa)<br />
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Friday's highlight has to be our 4 residents' polished presentations: Dr Alice presented our case of junctional Epidermolysis bullosa, Dr Julia presented our case of Tuberous sclerosis, Dr Esther presented a very sad case of Proteus syndrome and Dr Nohrasco presented the case of dracunculosis complete with brilliant pictures of the 40cm worm being extracted from the patient's leg.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjitnQlk-tmWMKh8y8n3GFNfLB7Isg1kFEjTalgoORIzb6AGHiayC3CmGgoDLLjy4wmWJp66pl1J2WeqiVTFk_fb5NEEmox8RdV33KdB-uFU7GoCjITHbvLu2pyfcNAm-vBUW4nMiSYn2k/s1600/P1110252.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjitnQlk-tmWMKh8y8n3GFNfLB7Isg1kFEjTalgoORIzb6AGHiayC3CmGgoDLLjy4wmWJp66pl1J2WeqiVTFk_fb5NEEmox8RdV33KdB-uFU7GoCjITHbvLu2pyfcNAm-vBUW4nMiSYn2k/s400/P1110252.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Nohrasco, Esther, Alice and Julia holding their prizes (left to right)</td></tr>
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Everyone enjoyed the session and the residents all won prizes together with a previous resident, Dr S Kiprono's fascinating research presentation on the difference in skin flora found in the albino population. Sebastian and I found this particularly interesting as the post-operative infection rate in albinos is 100% and is still 30-40% with prophylactic antibiotics. Friday night was spent dancing at Mumbai Masala - yes you have guessed it another Indian restaurant. It is always reassuring to see how much Dermatologists love dancing wherever they are in the world... . Brad was a brilliant dancer and impressed both us and the local African dancers!<br />
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I have to say that I was flagging by Saturday morning as the lecture theatre was very hot and did not even have a fan. There was a reunion of previous ADDV students who presented many of their more difficult cases. Later in the morning some of the IFD committee members visited Mafalda who was busy preparing the latest batch of suncream created from mostly locally sourced materials. This Spanish project is brilliant - 2 suncreams are created locally in a small building with local materials. The titanium dioxide and zinc oxide I think had to be brought into Tanzania and we were all worried about Mafalda being stopped at customs bearing large volumes of white powder..... The first batch of suncream has been distributed to the Albino population who have then been asked about their experiences with the cream and a questionnaire completed. Mafalda was about to distribute the second suncream so that the Albino population could trial this one to. Then the suncream that was most favoured was going to be manufactured locally in large volumes providing employment for Albinos indoors away from the harmful sunshine as most work outside as subsitence farmers. Mafalda was very pleased as she had recently returned from Spain where she had worked hard to raise more funds to build a larger building in the RDTC compound grounds to manufacture the suncream and also a workshop to sew protective clothes for the community.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdlLQaRGWjBQEKjaL3G_pxbEObfsDJAWaPQdtd2KDjL7IjOxn6gCyjcHZ3tOzKitzDhqre8TYaR2kobzfwi3cIaMDcH0OffpirFYDIUilyD40hq5NxJNX6WrpaHBpU1fJBgjKvrOsZOXA/s1600/P1110260.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdlLQaRGWjBQEKjaL3G_pxbEObfsDJAWaPQdtd2KDjL7IjOxn6gCyjcHZ3tOzKitzDhqre8TYaR2kobzfwi3cIaMDcH0OffpirFYDIUilyD40hq5NxJNX6WrpaHBpU1fJBgjKvrOsZOXA/s400/P1110260.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="258" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Professor Rod Hay with Mafalda with suncream number 2</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSwe3m3xYNutOs30iCAZEes_WXHrkUsDOwIGEC120XSbsGnbzyt8iynMF5BiGozkp1gGI2P9qybq74z-v5YflPYaf0Bs58zxnrS-DmgEUo0W3Ssh9zX6zOx9Bgf83S6qgOV-sj-T9pxu8/s1600/P1110264.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSwe3m3xYNutOs30iCAZEes_WXHrkUsDOwIGEC120XSbsGnbzyt8iynMF5BiGozkp1gGI2P9qybq74z-v5YflPYaf0Bs58zxnrS-DmgEUo0W3Ssh9zX6zOx9Bgf83S6qgOV-sj-T9pxu8/s400/P1110264.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="308" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Just as good as Clinique!!</td></tr>
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No rest for the wicked - whilst my family went to the hot springs and spent a happy Sunday afternoon jumping off a high tree branch into the water I went to the opening session of the 7th Georg Rajka international meeting on atopic dermatitis (AD). As this meeting followed directly on from the CME it meant that many participants were able to attend both event. I felt very fortunate as I am very interested in atopic dermatitis and it was great to hear fascinating talks on the prevalence of AD around the world. Alan Irvine gave a brilliant lecture on fillagrin defects and Claire gave a very entertaining and informative talk on podoconiosis and coped admirably with a lack of electricity and hence slides for half of her talk! The meeting was from 15-18th January and gathered together a field of international experts. However sitting from 9am - 6.30pm in an increasingly stifling lecture theatre was problematic and I have to confess to dozing off in 2 particularly complex immunology lectures that seemed way over my head but did have very pretty green and purple pictures....<br />
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It was so lovely to meet more friends and the team from Nottingham's UK Dermatology Clinical Trials Network Jo Chalmers, Kim Thomas and Helen Nankervis gave excellent lectures and more importantly brought out more goodies for us. Yes more chocolate and a very kind present of a kitchen scales so that we can bake our own bread, cakes and cookies... Other highlights of the conference were a fascinating talk from Professor Grossman on AD and traditional healers - with so little dermatological expertise in Africa most people with skin disease go to a traditional healer (1 traditional healer per 100 of the population versus 1 dermatologist to 1 million of the population). I also learnt about the brilliant psychoneuroimmunology work being doen by Prof Gieler in Germany and there was a whole session on psychosomatic aspects and patient education. I was pleased to see that I did much better in the RDTC quiz this time so I must be learning......<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT9ygiBjO0TXToOr_8y3YtREEfnTxJxrqa1UGoak9-a58QSLTAH8Vebv6lQhaDNi-JPXkiwFkJlSU0G3e0xx8Y42Da0kInIHqd-eNMZlnIYga7MU_cxCLhRaitWm6rWMdl8WlBEFCodO0/s1600/P1110292.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT9ygiBjO0TXToOr_8y3YtREEfnTxJxrqa1UGoak9-a58QSLTAH8Vebv6lQhaDNi-JPXkiwFkJlSU0G3e0xx8Y42Da0kInIHqd-eNMZlnIYga7MU_cxCLhRaitWm6rWMdl8WlBEFCodO0/s400/P1110292.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Carsten Flohr showing the African Dancers some moves!</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div>The BiblicalBoyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13468821119724326211noreply@blogger.com0