An amazing April!

It's almost the end of April ... did I blink? It seems to have flown by, with barely a chance to catch up with myself and share all the lovely things I have been doing. It's been a month of last chances to enjoy everything East Africa has to offer: visitors from near and far; a fabulous safari in the Masai Mara; a return to a favourite spot on the Kenyan coast; a great birthday night out and a school trip to Zanzibar!

If my feet ever have the chance to touch the ground, then I'll share a few stories. For now, here are a few photos from the trip to Kenya ...

My first sighting of a cheetah in the wild

Although I loved viewing the abundance of wildlife, I was reminded that safari in Uganda is very special and tranquil. So many cars crowding around a pride of lions ...

Alpha male!

Gorgeous elephants!

I love Watamu, rain or shine!

Driftwood 

Shopping for a last pair of beaded flip-flops

I think it's time for Ali to have an adventure!

It's a sunny morning in Kampala and I have finally come to the end of an incredibly long half term. Tomorrow I'm off on safari, returning to the lovely Katara Lodge for a spot of R & R and a little animal spotting, should the mood take me. This time we're taking it easy, hiring a car and a driver, I am on holiday after all. You never know - I may actually have some adventures to talk about when I get back ...

September 11th

September 11th 2001.

I was on holiday in Turkey and had spent the day on an excursion to Gallipoli. We saw the graves of the men who had died in this First World War campaign and had even explored the trenches in which they fought. The conditions were brutal and unforgiving. I remember snippets of conversation, 'nothing so tragic should ever happen again', 'the loss of young lives' and so forth.

When I returned to the hostel I noticed the big screen in the communal room. I paid it little attention, and headed to my room to put down my bags and relax for a while. It was only when I returned to the lounge that I noticed the television was still showing the same images. It wasn't part of an action film, as I had first thought, but live footage of the first plane hitting the Twin Towers. It must have been about 5pm in Turkey, while it was early morning in New York. As the evening went on, everybody stayed in the room, transfixed by this act of pure devastation.

This act of destruction and terrorism was of a whole new level. Destroying lives and changing the world as we knew it in one single blow.

I don't personally know anybody who was affected by 9/11, but I have been moved reading some of these memoirs. Let's have some hope for the future.

Tourist Tat!

Today's blog is inspired by this article in The Guardian today.

There are few certainties in life, but here is one. Where ever you may roam, from Paris to deepest, darkest Peru, there is sure to be a souvenir shop by the exit. South America probably has the monopoly on cheesy, shining Jesus paintings, sculptures and key-rings, whilst Africa has no end of masks, drums and wood carvings.

Over the years, I have inflicted a fair few little treasures on my nearest and dearest. Sometimes, I have to confess, it is fun to buy a present purely to watch the receiver's look of confusion, laughter or fake appreciation.

My favourite tacky present of all?

An 'up the revolution, Che Guevara Communist' baseball cap from Cuba for my Gran!

What is YOUR favourite tacky souvenir?

Summer days, drifting away ...

Sadly and unbelievably the summer holidays are drawing to an end for me and on Saturday morning I will be heading back to Uganda. It's funny how when you are in one place for a while, it seems hard to believe that other places exist at all. Uganda is all a little fuzzy in my head at the moment, but I am sure I will be hit with the sensory overload as soon as I step off the plane on Saturday night.

Today I headed off for a final day trip with the oldies (since they are abandoning me tomorrow and buggering off to Prague for a long weekend tomorrow!) We stopped by the Lowry Centre in the morning, then went to Lyme Park for a pic-nic. Sadly there was no sign of Mr Darcy, but I heard he got older and greyer and speaks with a stutter these days! I have to say our pic-nic was the envy of many and that only my mother would think of bringing a tablecloth and matching plates. However, trumps go to me for thinking of the wine and delicious lemon meringue pie made by yours truly!

I think you're supposed to share the tablecloth with everybody Mummy dearest x

Cheers!

Yes - that's it!

Searching for Mr Darcy!

Lytham st sunset

The Lowry

People Watching

You learn something new every day and one of our lessons was that cocoa cola is more expensive than wine, so we quickly nipped that costly habit in the bud and stuck to the wine and cervezas!

With its grand open squares and long, balmy summer evenings, Madrid is the perfect spot for a glass of vino and the spectator sport of People Watching.The entertainment never seems to run dry - whether it's the super cute little girl playing with bubbles, THAT perfect couple who live the perfect life in the perfect apartment above the perfect plaza or the Spain's Next Top Male Model moonlighting as La Policia!

I could share all the photos and stories we invented, but then where would be the fun in that? Maybe we were the subject of other peoples' People Watching ... now that's a scary thought!

Madrid

I had no real expectations from Madrid, only to catch up with a great friend I don't see often enough and of course a few glasses of sangria. I wasn't disappointed! Perfect days were spent relaxing in Parque de Retiro (for relaxing read eyeing up hot runners, laying out on the lawns to read our books and gossiping over afternoon cervezas in the cafe by the lake), wandering through the beautiful streets and a little retail therapy.

We ticked the boxes for the major sites: El Palacio Real, El Prado Museum and Plaza Mayor. We got ridiculously lost on the first day, turning a twenty minute walk into a two hour mission, proving that despite appearances we are both still very blonde! I loved all the fairy-tale like buildings, the intricate detail that was everywhere you looked and the city's sheer grandeur! 

El Prado

Lovely fairy tale buildings

The Post Office is simply stunning


We basked in the sun, took long siestas, dined late at night in the beautiful square and danced into the wee small hours of the morning ... but we don't need to put up photos of EVERYTHING!! 

In the land of dreaming spires

Here are a few photos from this weekend in Oxford, celebrating Alex's birthday!

Even the graffiti is charming and and polite in Oxford!

Now I look at the photo, I can see where I went wrong on the punting - the pole is meant to be vertical  not horizontal. Luckily we had some punting experts. And the sport of duck catching was also invented!

Lots of lovely long walks in the sunshine by the rivers and canal.

A morning jog along Port Meadow to Inspector Morse's old watering hole.

Look - we ate healthy fruit salad ALL weekend. Not a drop of bubbly or wine passed our lips and I don't know who has been starting rumours about strawberries and clotted cream, cakes, jam and clotted cream, cheese selections or Thai food!

Great commentary overheard by Christ Church College:

" .... and there are four Houses in Hogwarts - Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, Gryffindor and Slytherin." Always good to see people interested in a bit of English history and culture, isn't it!

Half holiday!

It's been wind down week in school. A week of cleaning out cupboards, tying up loose ends and sneaking off for long lunches with friends and colleagues. Who knew that whilst we're beavering away in school, being lucky if we have time to shovel in a quick sandwich, that the Kampala coffee shops are buzzing with the office workers, NGO workers and all the ladies who lunch?

I've decided that I'm on half holiday. I treated myself to manicures and pedicures and a facial. After all, these are treats that I can't afford once I go home. The salon, incidentally, was full of teachers doing exactly the same thing!

So now I am rested and ready to go home for the summer. I'm only taking home the bare minimum, so I can shop till I drop! I'm looking forward to catching up with friends and family and having a little peace and quiet, away from the barking dogs and the loud parties that keep me awake at night. Hopefully I can squeeze just a little Ugandan sunshine in my suitcase though!

Sunshine daydreams

My mind is still a little foggy with the remains of malaria and the medication ... so I wonder if thinking of sunshine and holidays will clear it out.

Here are a couple of things I'm looking forward to:

• Next week, I am heading out on the school trip of a lifetime ... to Zanzibar! I am very excited and know that I am very lucky to have this opportunity. Year 6 trips usually involve a wet week in Wales, but this itinerary includes snorkelling, a trip to a rain forest and swimming with dolphins!
• I have just spoken to my lovely friend in London and we have booked a hotel for our mini-break in Madrid. I can't wait to experience a little European culture again - be it the galleries or simply enjoying a mid-day sangria and a siesta!

I'm feeling better already ...

Well it won't be so tranquil once Year 6 arrive!

Can't wait to sit and take in the world over a glass of vino!

Older not wiser!

Last night I celebrated the start of my 33rd year. I thought about writing one of those reflective pieces about where I'm going in life and so forth, but then again, it's 6pm and my head is still feeling a little fuzzy!

I was touched that so many friends came out to celebrate with me, especially at such a busy time of year when everyone is rushing around before the holidays. Some friends were so committed to making sure I had a good birthday that they even stayed out dancing with me until the wee small hours of the morning! This morning I started to suspect that maybe it wasn't such a good idea on a school night ... when will I ever learn?

The good news is that I am finally on holiday. This time I'm staying put and trying to save my cash for the summer holidays in the UK. I'm looking forward to lazy days by the pool and reading a few books.
 Just to keep me out of trouble, here's my holiday 'To do' list:

• A bike ride to the Equator - more about that later
• Make a photo book of my safari photos
• Take photos of my local neighbourhood - today I realised I have been living here for over two years and have hardly any photos of the day to day stuff
• Maybe, just maybe, paint my flat
• Pool time for reading and tanning (I am so pale it is hard to believe I live in Uganda, but my classroom does have a roof!)
• Try out some new recipes
• Teach my maid how to make a few simple dishes
• Morning swims, runs and maybe a spot of yoga

So now I've made my list public, I have to do at least half of it and I am not allowed to spend all day watching DVDs!

Lions and Tigers and Bears ha ha

Actually not lions and tigers and bears - rather cheetahs, elephants and penguins ha ha!

 Spier winery has a cheetah sanctuary where you can get up close and personal with the big cats. They're pretty docile most of the time ... although putting our lives in the hands of the spaced out gap year volunteer was probably the most worrying aspect. She had serious issues actually remembering what we should do when we went into the enclosure! These cheetahs were the runts of litters and never would have survived in the wild ... and they probably never will after being so mollycoddled!

Dad broke the habits of a lifetime and made a canine friend. Who would ever have thought that it would be a big slobbery Doberman? He still had issues with the sausage dog though!

Mum went ostrich mad over all the products. She wanted to spend 800 quid on an ostrich handbag, but in quite possibly THE quote of the holiday, she declared:
"It's not really worth buying one at my age as I wouldn't get the value for money. If I was your age I would definitely buy one!"
Errr right - do you have any plans of popping your clogs in the next while mother? Funnily enough, if I only had a short while to live I would max out every single credit card! Not so keen on the ostrich handbags though ...

Feeding the elephants at Knysna Elephant Park was much less tiring on the bum muscles than a 4 hour game drive over bumpy ground, but also not quite as magical. Still cute though!

It was so hot on the beach in Simonstown that I'm surprised these penguins hadn't turned pink and black! They waddled up to us without a care in the world - and best of all we sneaked onto the beach for free!

It's all go here ...

As usual it's all go in K-Town and I'm having a rare lazy evening in at home, vegetating infront of Glee (it's going to finish soon and I am in need of a new obsession - any suggestions?).
On Sunday I'm joining a team for the triathlon. I've guaranteed  myself no repeats of the near drowning panic attack incident last time and have only signed up for the bike ride. I'm a little concerned as I haven't even covered the full distance yet, but my team mates assure me that they are not feeling competetive ... I hope that really is the case as I am no Lance Armstrong at the moment! Anyway, a few of us are heading out to Entebbe the night before and I am considering the whole thing a social occasion with a 30 km bike ride thrown in for the hell of it.
I am barely going to have time to recover from this before I head off on the Outdoor Education trip. This time we are heading for the beautiful bilharzia-free (it's a selling point here) waters of Lake Nabugabu for two nights. The kids assure me that they are now all experts at the art of putting up tents and I intend to test them out and put mine up for me too!
This half term has to be one of the longest on record - so naturally my thoughts have turned to holidays. At the moment I am battling with my conscience as to whether I should stay in the posh lodge in Kidepo National Park or in the cheap and cheerful bandas. I'm told that staying in Opoka is a 'once in a lifetime experience' but after having 'once in a lifetime experiences' for the past four years my bank balance is suffering from serious malnutrition. The other big news is that my parents have just booked flights out to South Africa for Christmas and I'm doing a very good impression of a travel agent - infact I think I could have an alternative career in the making there! We have booked some awesome places just by the beaches in Cape Town and looking to stay in the winelands for New Years - hic!
So I as my head nearly falls on the keyboard from total exhaustion I will repeat the mantra 'holidays are coming, holidays are coming' ...