Dan, I just spent a very very happy afternoon going through your blog and pictures. thank you so much for looking out for the guys out there. they don't have a lot and a little help goes a hell of a long way. You'll be missed by them for sure.
Lx

OMG that bat - I'm freaking at just the thought….. I was going mental over the 6 small (now deceased) mice I had in the house the last few weeks, and hanratty it the compost bin but that - shiver……. and snakes - yuk.

As always, sounds awesome what you're ding with the kids.

Look forward to the next adventure (more flower photos please)

Nieve

Hope all is

Hey Dan,
Having blog withdrawals!! Have missed hearing about your escapades lately! How's things? Busy, busy obviously! Things must be florishing in the garden and you can't keep up with the produce; you've been washed away with the deluges you've spoken of; or you've moved on already and I'm the last to know!!
Thinking of you.

Hi dan, we have really been enjoying reading about your adventures except for the scary bits. We love the photos too and it is comforting to see your surrounds and know you are safe. Danielle has been printing off your blogs so we can read them at night with a cuppa. We had a red bellied black snake about the same time as your frightening black mumba. We found it in the irrigation valve box after al had put his hand in there! Al says to let you know prices were down on the pregnant hefers but bought 38 more hefers that sale and another 16 yesterday. About 40 will be sent to tinti as soon as the rains freshen up the lucern paddocks. Al was pleased with 12.5 tonne lucern seed harvested! Had lots of lovely plums and nectarines and the peaches are starting to ripen so we give your dehydrator a workout. Been getting stuck into olives and tasting really good. Lots of lamb for you when you get home. Considering opening a hostel as had nat up here this week too and lots of visitors. We offer gluten free options for our visitors too! We are missing you and keep safe. Happy adventures love g & a

Hi Guys,

Great to hear from you, sorry its taken so long to post back, How did the dryer work? Sounds like a good harvest pity about the hefers but that won't stop Al I'd say...The story about the black snake sounds like a worry. I hear there has been some rain lately have you guys been affected by that at all? Glad your enjoying the read, there has been some excitement lately so I should be able to put a good one together for you next up.... cya soon

Hi there

Awesome pictures - must admit prefer flowers and plants to critters but that's because I'm a soft girl. Sounds what you're doing is awesome - just think what a difference you're making to the lives of the people there - onya.

Have you been up to the tea plantations yet? Karen M gave me some almond tea and now I'm totally hooked on the stuff.

I've just started studying this week - doing Mondays at Urrbrae and Wednesdays at Victor Harbor - fab little campus. Bit strange but meant I can still do the hospital group on a Tuesday as if I did both days at Urrbrae I couldn't.

Off to water the garden and harvest last of the cucumbers - pumpkins and sweetcorn aren't that long off (yum).

Speak soon

Nieve

Hey again Nieve,

Sorry, been awhile since I have replied to anyone. Long way from the tea plantations here and I only have limited chances to travel, will have to check out that campus. may only be back to catchup with everyone for a few months before leaving again, so might check Victor out then. Good to hear its working out. Yes harvesting veg here now too, will tell ya'll all about it in the next blog...

Hey Dani. havent read your blogs you know im not good with computers but thought id get on here to see some pics and you can tell me all about it when you finally get back. Vic and I are going away to second valley for a week camping. Going to take the wagon. wait till you see it it's worth a millon bucks with the work ive done on it - new alternator, new tyers, new wheel it looks and drives like new again. Hoping to catch something on the rod you bought me, cross ya fingers its a squid magnet! Looking forward for when you get back so we can finally plan our trip away with each other fishin and crabing. Stay alive and safe. Thinking of ya you lucky bastered Simo and Vic

Written by Vicky Waters
Narrated by Simon Richards

Hey! Cheers guys,

Glad to here your working on the wagon again Simo, bit jeolous of all your fishing stories it seems like everytime I talk to lil you guys are off fishing! Hope the rod serves you well. We will definately get that trip happening when I get back hopefully it isn't too cold...

Hi there Lanky!

Thanks for trying Skype, pity it didnt work so well, although it was great to see your ugly mug and hear your dulcet tones, prob better than turning your blog into a personal chat room - people WILL talk! They already are!!

Danielle gave me the 3rd degree the other day about my xxx on my messages to you - told her it meant nothing (well close to nothing) as it is just what I do. She got a present from me for her Nepal/Tibet trek -plus hugs - so she cant really complain, can she?

Love you both, love that you both love each other :)

Tried to emial you via work email, but maybe TAFE got their act together and have removed you, as it was undeliverable. Recipient unfound - know you aren't QUITE lost in A-fric-an jungle........

Went to lunch Thur with Brandon to the Bakery - sorry!! We missed you. I told him about your latest blog entry. The snake had him kinda freaked out, just quietly.

Hey, we both want to know what vegies you are planting in the school garden? and are they tomato seedlings in the background of your machete pic? If so, they grow like wildfire there in Africa, not like mine here at home.

Also, your workmate with the measles, if he had been around the family with the little girl, maybe that was the cause of the tradegy, as it can be a terrible disease. Thats why we get our babies immunised here, due to the risks. There have been 2 cases here in Adelaide this last week, and the Health Dept has put warnings out, so even here in Aus they get alarmed. Media calling it an EPIDEMIC which is rather an exageration, there being only 2 cases......

Anyways, log onto Skype again, just to get my messaged beers! Else they will go flat and get warm, which is a tragic waste, I say!!!

Keep blogging, keep up the good work, keep checking your sleeping bag for intruders, but mostly - keep smiling and keep safe, ya hear?
Karen
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (just to piss Dgirl off, as Im that kinda b@#*#) xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Bring on the hugs and kisses the security guys here aren't to keen. Whos talking? Tell em to get a life, go trek through Africa or something. Its a pain if they have disconnected my email, still sending with it as far as I know will try you in a tick. I'll be back soon enough and It would have helped keep in touch with Peter and Roger about coming back. Hows this year panning out? Is everyone in good health? You TAFE mob are all pretty quite there if you are reading this.... You can tell Brandon I love him and to harden up. A Fri can jungle! I will use that for my next title, nice. Hope your arms healing. I'll finish with a XOX and a bit of tongue just to keep things interesting.

Hi

Sorry the connection timed out on SKYPE, was good to chat. All's well and I've got into the intensive at Burnley that I wanted, I thought TAFE / SATAC was bad to enrol online, not half as bad as uni melb….. One of the hop is almost ready to harvest (very early!) - whose the custodian of yours?

Good to hear, you'll have to fill me in on your community garden project sometime, avoiding answering the hops question.

Hi Dan Hope all is going well loved all the pics,etc cant believe how green it is there,Whats the food like have you tried something Way out LOL,Whats the drink of choice over there,What do they smoke,I am sure you will get some great Ideas for your art work aswell. Byes for now Everyone here says Hi Take care

Hey Lil, plenty of stories for the guys when I get back, we are trying to get a translation to english for one of the insects they eat here, will let you know when I eat it. Keep saying I will start on the drawing again tomorrow....

Tinga Tinga? well, there is a whole series of animated cartoon folk stories shown on ABC for Kids (ABC2 or 3 - cant keep up these days!). Plus I saw it mentioned in the newspaper or a magazine or something. Keep your eyes out - remember it is named after the artist who lived in D Sal, so out in the jungle they may not know it by that name, or about the painting style at all!! Maybe you should give a go yourself?

And, thanks, had a lovely time with Dani - will catch up again soon. :) we got talking about the Solomons. Mmmm another blog to come maybe?
Back to work on Friday, sooo not looking forward to that. 6 weeks off and I could happily go another 6.....

Hello again, Maybe find tinka tinka at the lake markets by the ferry on the way out I think that is how I will get back to kigoma when I leave. Yeah will definately put forward for the Solomans, changing my perspective abit here, still getting the same old emails coming through from back in Aus, induction this, mandatory that.... I tell you m'dear, Its just not horticulture.. off to the school garden tomorrow pics to come check in soon

Hi there, O'Lanky One - have been anxious to see how you are getting on, but unable to access your blog cos Nick locked us out of the computer..... But, have managed to "pick the lock" and reading the latest now, I am glad to see you are looking well (if not clean and tidy!) - at least you shaved....

Good to see Nicks backpack coming in useful. And hope you included an entomology kit with your gear? some of those bugs look amazing. - would LOVE to see them up close.
Although the grasshoppers are obviously having a fancy dress bad-taste costume party. Green suit and purple shoes? Now, I ask you??

Dannielle and I are catching up for lunch tomorrow (Sat) so I am sure I will here more of your adventure stories then. Any more luck with Skype, or emailling??

Keep the stories coming. But can I suggest you try to learn some phrases which may be more transferrable to Oz - like "Pint of beer and a pie with sauce thanks"

Enjoy! Take care, will have a beer for you on Australia Day, Karen x

PS the photo of the lock replacement on the metal door in Dar es Salaam kinda freaked me out a bit - definately think you are far safer in the jungle with the oversized bugs, myself...

Hi Kaz, safe as here although I'll upload the induction briefing oneday and then you'll really worry... anyway yep thank Nick for the daypack very handy. Hey where the heck did you hear about Tinka Tinka art? No one knows it and I have only seen one big one in the airport.. Hope your catchup with Dani went well skype email urrgh here and there. see ya'll soon more bugs to come you would love it all the big animals have been hunted so there are so many insects, lizards and small birds. P.S Solomons Job got reposted today!

Dan,
Loving the photos of what seems like a world away!!Thought a giant mzungu was a killer python, 'till I read your blog!!! Still feeling like you stand out like a sore thumb, being so tall and blonde?
Procrastinating at the moment, supposed to be working on my job application, which is due in tomorrow, but finding the 'selection criteria' thingo a bit difficult and tedious. Reading your blog is far more interesting and a bit of a distraction!!
Keep them coming!
Hellen.

It is a different world over here for sure, can't say I'm itching to get back into the rat race just yet, hope you got your application sorted they are a pain in the ass, (Im putting that in to see if it gets censored, when I wrote b***** it did) Bye for now and don't work too hard ya hear