Packing up

Now I have finished work it is all systems go!! I am busy packing the house. I had forgotten just how much stuff we have. Box after box is stacking up of books. I have hardly even done one room!! One week to go until the let the house so I have carpets to clean more packing to do and a million other things.

While this is going on I have loads of goodbyes to say and a world cup to try and watch.

How does your garden grow?

As it traditional in England we spent some of our bank holiday sorting out the garden. When we first bought out house the back garden had borders full of different plants and shrubs. We were told it was so there was always something in flower. It was nice but did not leave us enough grassy space and looked like too much work!!!

Over the last two years with help from parents we have been digging up all these plants. We have finally come to the end. We planted grass seed and we now have a great lawn which we are very proud of. Just in time to rent it out. Any takers?

We had loads of garden waste to dispose of. We had some trips to the tip lots of shredding and fitting as much as we could in the brown bin. Still it was taking ages to get rid of the waste so we decided to burn it. Great entertainment!!

Relaxing in Italy

A couple of weeks ago we went to Italy for 10 days with Joe's parents for a little holiday. We had a great time relaxing, reading, eating and enjoying great wine.

Driving around the hair pin bends was a little scary but I was still recovering from my op I got out the driving and became chief navigator.

We visited the local towns and went walking around the hills of the valley. We even made it to the highest point 988m high. One day when the weather was not so great we went to the Grotte di Toirano. These are caves that are millions of years old and had bear claw marks and bear bones as well as a fantastic set of stalagmites and stalactites.

It was very relaxing and nice to spend some time together before we depart.

Flights are booked!!

Well our flights to Cameroon are booked. We fly on 15th July at 7am getting to Cameroon later that afternoon.

They were a little more expensive that we hoped but there we have it.

Now just a few small matters of:
Visas
Insurance
Getting enough cash together
And renting the house out.

Well I will just follow the hitchhikers guide to the galaxy and don't Panic!!

Not so secret nuclear bunker

The other week while Joe and I were in Suffolk we decided to have a day out. We went to the secret nuclear bunker. The bunker is in Essex quite close to the M25.

It is a three story structure all under a big hill, the entrance is disguised as an old farm house. Designed for up to 600 military and civilian personnel, possibly even the Prime Minister, their collective task being to organise the survival of the population in the awful aftermath of a nuclear war.

The bunker was only fully decommissioned in 1994 and supposedly can be reactivated if required. There was loads to see and unfortunately we had to pay to take photos inside. I particularly liked the sick bay with the cardboard fold-away coffins and the toilet roll asking you to 'use both sides'

Out with the old and in with the new

Yesterday I spent the day in Hospital having a new pacemaker fitted. This will be number 7 and there is a picture of number 6 which they let me bring home to add to my collection.

The change over went very well took a little over an hour under local anaesthetic and with no sedation. I am now feeling a bit sore but fine. Have a few weeks before I go back to work as have to let the wound settle.

Spring has sprung

I realise I am turning in to my Mum when I get all excited about Spring!! But it is very exciting when the colour starts popping up in the garden, the weather gets warmer and the evenings lighter. So today I got very excited about the whole thing and while I was hanging the washing out to dry (because its that sunny) I got my camera out and took a few shots.

In to Africa

Well it is official, well just about!! We are off to Cameroon in July. We have both sorted out career breaks from 1st July so will leave some time then, date not yet decided.

We will be living in a small town called Buea which thankfully is in the English speaking province!!

I will be working in HIV and AIDS education and training, so I am currently undertaking an online HIV and AIDS course to learn more. Joe will be working in the community IT training centre which they already have up and running. More information about the project can be found at http://www.hint.interconnection.org

We have plenty to sort out before we go vaccinations, visa, flights, out house etc. We will be working entirely voluntary and will live on donations from friends and family. If you would like to sponsor us even £1 a month will give us enough to live if everyone gives, just drop me a line at let me know.

Holiday in Lapland

Last week myself, Joe and six others went on holiday to Lapland to the "official ski resort of Santa" although we did not see him!!

We had a great time with no fractured limbs. I took my new camera and got some photos I am pretty chuffed with. For example the northen lights. There is a debate among us which is the better photo.




I go quite good at skiing and Joe got to practice his snowboarding.






We also went snow shoeing and I went on a Reindeer sleigh ride while Joe ate lots of Reindeer.



We were very brave this time and went right to the top of the gondola and skied all the way down again.

Welcome to my blog

How exciting, I have a blog all of my own, none of that having to share with my Husband business any more.

Well the real reason I have started this blog is that Joe and I are planning to go to Africa to do some volunteering work next year and I thought this would be a good way to share my experiances and photos.

So not alot will happen for now as we are still in the early planning stages but I will keep you informed of any developments.