Hi well this is the third attempt at an update so fingers crossed. Yesterday it seemed like there was a mouse on a wheel powering the computer and everything was very very slow- I guess that's Africa time.

Well after a whistle stop tour of the UK for two weeks I have now been back in Namibia for over a week. It was great to see so many of you in the UK and to drink and eat lots, gossip loads, dance a bit (or was it a lot, Nic, Bubs and Helen?) and to generally have a fab time. Equally it is fantastic to be back in Namibia. The sun is shining as usual- something that was in short supply in the UK and it is toasty warm so fortunately the tan is returning.

No dramas on the flights out, I slept nearly all the way as usual and then had a very pleasant flight from Jo'burg to Windhoek in Business class- I could definitely get used to that, but I guess I'd have to go back to work to fund such luxuries? Most of last week I've been traveling around Namibia taking in the sites of Etosha and Sossusvlei and everything in between. Now i've got the passion for camping I decided to do some more- this time with proper toilets and hot showers. Etosha proved equally as good as I remembered with the wonderful waterholes especially at Okuakejo and Halali. The wildlife was abundant, lots of elephants, black rhino- with babies, loads of giraffe, kudu, springbok, oryx, zebra, jackal and the odd lion and spotted hyena thrown in for good measure.

The trip south to sossusvlei was equally good to see the dunes again and to climb a few- completely exhausting. The camp site at Agama River was very simple but brilliantly done, especially with gin and tonics on the terrace watching the sunset- it's tough I know.

This week has seen a few bizarre coincidences. I met a family who have lived in Maids Moreton for the last 18 years, and whose children go to the same school as I used to. They live within about 200 metres from mum and dad. (Mum when you read this Andy Cooper (RS teacher) still teaches at the Latin- how old??). Then I met another couple who live just up the road from them. Nic this ones for you a girl who lives in Poole and had worked in Barclays House to get money to go away. And finally for those at work bizarrely i met someone called Paul Lee who knows a Paul Lees but not the Paul Lees. Spooky small world.

Well tomorrow I leave to join the project again and to very basic living once more. I'm enjoying a couple of days of chilling in Windhoek which is very pleasant except for the injections I had yesterday. Nothing serious but I went to a local hospital as I've got a problem with my elbow- being slightly naive I thought they would inject into my elbow but oh no, two injections later into my bottom I was well impressed! (Nic it brought back memories of your South American experience and I won't laugh about that again, promise).

I've just met up with some people who I know that have just finished the project and have had a fabulous last four weeks so i'm hoping the next 6-7 weeks will be equally so. Look after yourselves and hopefully the sun is shining for you.