Yesterday I came home with salt on my skin, my bags weighed down with pineapples, thunder rolling through the clouds above, and the feeling of being very blessed to be here. Although yesterday was also the first time I had some pangs of missing London, friends and family. It was bound to happen, prompted by many little things that made me think of home! Not least, saying goodbye to my friend Ellie, retuning to the UK to have her baby, whilst I cover her maternity leave. I am so grateful to have had this handover period and have really enjoyed working with her again. To say that it really wont feel the same without her is an understatement. Not least because come the new year my task of actually managing the project begins! Tomorrow will be my last day in the office before Christmas and things have really wound down, to the extent that I am the last here! Luckily I have had a crash course in how to turn the generator on and off (a very necessary skill).

I'm feeling more settled now that I have moved into an actual, lovely house, very spacious and airy with brand new everything. I'm very happy there, despite the volume of the local community radio and preacher via distorted tanoy which both start up and seem to start competing with each other at about 4:30am. I figure I'll get used to it but so far I generally have a headache by 6am (but ahhhhhh, with the power being off this morning, all was quiet - hallelujah!)

I've even joined the gym at the resort up the road which means I also get to use their pool. I'm usually already baking by the time I arrive, feeling the searing heat as I pass multiple litters of puppies on the short walk from the office (this place is teeming with life!), then I welcome being blasted by the full force of icey air-con as I enter the reception. Then I swim round and round the bean-shaped pool, which I have all to myself, with the sound of the waves just a few meters away - it is utterly serene.

But enough of pools and beaches for now.... instead I wish one and all a very merry Christmas. Can't wait for Ellie B and Alice to arrive and for us to head up to the Upper West for New Year! Its great to be back in Ghana but my heart is in the northern regions! Happy 2015!!! I think it'll be a good one. x x x