Back home!

Sorry i have been out of touch. I have been to Namibia and Swaziland, and now England. I will try and upload pictures at some point. Had good times
...jumping off dunes...
...being stopped for speeding in the Kalahari desert...
...bribing (me officer? surely not) a policeman...
...saying goodbye to people...
...saying hello to england (cold!)...

I am now back in Harrogate, but am planning to go back out to Africa next year.

I would like to say a big thankyou to all those who have supported me over the last nine months. It has been a fantastic experience and I have met lots of lovely people, done things, seen things and experienced things that I would never have seen had I not gone out there.

One final word. I am going back out next year, and I need sponsors! All the fund raising is being channelled through St John's in Harrogate, to maximise the tax advantages. I will be running some fund raising events too, so if you fancy trying pap'n'chicken, watch this space

David

Last day in swazi

I have been fixing an old tractor, replacing oil pump and starter. Had to tow it with the bucky (pickup to you english folk) to jump start it as there was air in the fuel line. Am well ready for a shower! Drove across fields to visit an irrigation project yesterday, and it rained last night - it was good to hear the sound of rain on the roof again.

Will post pictures as soon as my dad gets them off facebook

Am in Swaziland this week

No pictures as yet. Have been squashed in the back of a pick up with a wheel barrow, 10 spades, 10 forks, 10 watering cans, lots of food, tools, and some spare parts and its super hot

Been and gone

Been out of touch lately as mum and dad have been over, and it was very good to see them Dad worked with me on some of the cars (plus a cement mixer and an urn!) Mum went out into the community and worked with local people at Syathcthcka. Dad mended a window and bricked up a doorway, and mama helped in the garden, visited, and helped out at an Aids education session.

We also had fun, and visited Kruger National Park, dad did the Big Swing (well done dad), we went quad biking, mama went horse riding, we all had a massage, climbed a mountain, looked through God's window, and ate ostrich, and pap'n'chicken

It's a drag, but a quick one

We went to watch drag racing near the Mozambique border. Top cars and bikes, and you could get really close

Not long now...

until mum and dad come over. They fly out next Wednesday 4th and have come over as volunteers for 3 weeks. I think my dad will be working with me, so it will be like old times with him passing me tools, and telling me what to do while I do the work.

I am really looking forward to seening them again.

some pictures of my time in Cape Town

Baboons are BIG!

On my way back to White River now, after a brill week in Cape Town. Table mountain was really good, and yesterday we went to the tip of the Cape - as far south as you could get, where the Altlantic meets the Indian Oceans.

We went to a baboon sanctuary, and when we parked up, and opened the door a baboon jumped in and sat down! They are pretty big close up. I shieldied Sharon and tried to hit it with a water bottle, while it snarled at me. Teeth or what! It then jumped in the front seat, and I did manage to swipe it one and it jumped out and ran away. You don't get that in Harrogate.

A bit later on I bought two small pizzas in the cafe, put one down for the briefest of moments and it got taken by a baboon. I chased it round the cafe, and it eventually dropped the box, but there were only about 3 pieces left.

We also visited a penguin park, and I watched a man try and take an up close picture of a penguin from about an inch away, and was surprised when it viciously pecked the camera and broke the lens! Who was the more stupid?

We went out last night, and didn't get back in till after 2:00, and was up at 8 for a trip to a theme park. The last ride I went on was the log flume, so flew back to Johannesburg with wet clothes. Am on the bus now for the 4 hour journey back to White River.

I might be going to Swaziland next week. Watch this space.

Funny mountains here

Cape Town is good

I have been enjoying my time in Cape Town, spending time at the beach, eating ice cream and driving a BMW 5 series with a straight 6 engine. Very nice. It makes a nice change from working!

TodayI went up to the top of Table Mountain. Brill views, but very windy.

This picture was taken one day last week.

It's a game of two halves Brian

This week has been a bit different. On Wednesday I went to watch Serbia v Australia at the Mbombela Stadium. I got there over 2 and a half hours early. Very impressive stadium, and Australia won 2:1. I texted my dad from the stadium to tell him where I was sat - opposite the tunnel and to the right in the corner 5 rows from the top. He watched part of the match, but couldn't spot me in the crowd, even though I waved.

Mum and Dad went to Gardeners World live at the National Exhibition Centre, and were pictured in the crowd on Toby Buckland's twitter site. To be fair, the crowd was a lot smaller and quieter.

On Thursday I flew to Cape Town for a week, staying with some relatives of people at White River. Arrived safe and sound. House very nice, and now going out for some dinner.

When I get back I might be going to Swaziland for a couple of weeks, and in early August mum and dad are flying out for a visit. That will be good! They have volunteered too, so I will have dad on hand to pass me tools, and dig drains.

...and welding makes me tired

Those of you who know me know that this is a characteristic pose. Fast asleep. With a dog. And people taking the mickey behind me as I am oblivious to what is going on.

But here's a thing those of you who know me will be suprised at. I am going to a world cup football match! So there! Australia v Serbia on 23rd June. I will let you know what I think.

A-welding we will go

I have had a welding week this week, making and mending things

My new (new to me at any rate) car

Chocolate upholstery



Cool or what

It's worth getting up early for this

Learning or leaning?

I did the headgasket on this golf, and it took me ages to get the distributor timing right. I remembered going to stock car racing with my dad and watching mechanics hunt for the timing by turning the distributor by hand until the engine fired. It works!

...and saw some local wildlife, and top views

You don't see many of these in Harrogate...




or these!

We bought food at the local markets

Goats head soup anybody?

The journey was very long... and eventful

One of these wagons broke down going up the hill and they were mending the gearbox by the side of the road


This bus was burnt out the day before we drove this way


There were long queues at the boarder. Some of these wagons had been here for weeks!

Some pictures from my trip to Zimbabwe, Zambia and Mozambique

We spent some time helping build a school room

Back safe at White River

Just got back from our 2 week journey. 4,717k (2,948 miles) round trip. Had a brill time, and now unpacking the car in the rain.

Last leg

We are leaving the project in Mozambique tomorrow (Saturday) morning, and should be back at White River by some time on Sunday. I have driven 2,000 miles already, so will let you know the full distance when we are back.

I am in (a) Gondola

... but not in Italy, but a town in Mozambique. I have driven 3,200k (2,000 miles) so far, and I expect to be here about a week.

In 2003 Hands at Work began working in the central Mozambican community of Gondola, 120 km west of the coastal city Beira. Gondola is an extremely rural setting, but located on a major trucking route called the Beira corridor, leading from Beira inland to Zimbabwe, making it a flash point for HIV transmission.

See http://www.handsatwork.org/mozambique/ for more info

Documents!

It's been a very long day today. Been up since 6:00, and driven 1,000k on roads with potholes the size of a car, burnt out wagons, other potholes that can rip a wheel off, cows and abandoned vehicles. There are 14 of us in 3 vehicles, and when we got to the Mozambique border, they wouldn't let us through, as they said the documentation was not adequate. We were delayed 2 hours, but they did eventually let us through, and we are now in Mozambique where we are going to stay a week. The previous group were delayed 31 hours, so it could have been worse.

Off on my travels again

Today we drove from Zambia back to the Zimbabwe border, on the way to Mozambique. I am towing a trailer, and got a puncture, but apart from that all is going well.

Busy boy

I have been right busy today. Up at 04:30 and drove to Kitwe, which is the second biggest city in Zambia. You could look at http://www.handsatwork.org/newsroom/category/Zambia for the work that is going on there. I have been helping build a new school and then set to work on a Mazda pickup with 500,000 on the clock. It's a bit different from my dad's MX5!

Safe in Zambia

I have arrived safe on the farm in Zambia after a 3 day 1,941k (1,214 mile) drive. We stopped off for the second night in Zimbabwe, and had a 13 and a half hour drive to arrive at the farm. I even managed to phone my mum form Zimbabwe and wish her a happy birthday. At that point we had a mobile signal but no electricity!

I am pleased to say that all of us are safe and well but tired.

Africa is a big place...

It has been a long day travelling across Zimbabwe. We have stopped for the night about 100km from the Zambian border. No problems, although the place we are staying in has no power. An early night I guess!

We are on our way

All going well so far. We drove up through the hills, and I texted mum and dad when we were at the Zimbabwe boarder crossing. We travel through Zimbabwe in to Zambia. Will let you know more when I can, but will be out of touch for a few days at least.

I'm on the move!

I am preparing for a trip to other Hands at Work projects in Zambia and Mozambique. The plan is to leave this coming weekend, and drive a team up there. Our route details are sketchy at the moment, but the Zambia projects are at least 800 - 1,000 miles from White River, and it will be a 3 day journey. We expect to be away about a fortnight. As soon as I know more, I will let you know

Say a prayer for a safe journey please

Zambia was the location of Hands at Work’s first expansion outside of South Africa. In 2001, Hands at Work entered the northern Copperbelt region of Luanshya and spread soon after to the Central region of Kabwe. Subsequently, the work has expanded to many communities surrounding Kabwe and Luanshya and plans are underway to move into the eastern region of Chipata and west into Mongu. Zambia is a geographically strategic location, from which expansion is happening into very poor communities in DRC, Malawi, and Zimbabwe

In 2003 Hands at Work began working in the central Mozambican community of Gondola, 120 km west of the coastal city Beira. Gondola is an extremely rural setting, but located on a major trucking route called the Beira corridor, leading from Beira inland to Zimbabwe, making it a flash point for HIV transmission. Subsequent work has challenged churches in communities all along the strategic corridor and into Zimbabwe. Work has also expanded north along another trucking route, the Tete corridor, into Malawi. Future expansion is planned into Nampula province in northeastern Mozambique

Joburg here I come!

I am off to Johannesburg until Monday. We are going to stay on a farm. There are only 2 of the volunteers left that I met when I came out, as some were only doing a short term volunteer, and others have moved on to other projects. I am spending a lot of my time mending cars, vans and 4x4's, and may move on to other projects to do similar work there. It is partly dependent on having the money to buy spare parts. It's no good me going out with my spanners and having no bits to work with. If any of you out there have gift aid money, or other charity monies talk to my mum and dad. Sponsor a shock absorber. You know it makes sense.

It's not all fun and games

Here is a picture of the drains I am laying, and the toys I get to play with, and the youngster I am teaching to drive

Tired? Moi?

I'm a tired man today. Got up at 04:15 and have driven 700k to collect and return people for a conference at White River base. A lot of the 700k was off road, so not like the M62. But the good side was seeing the sun rise over the Kruger National Park... and the sun setting when I was driving back