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Published: August 8th 2007
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The pig
Some shameless mucking about with Photoshop - just in case you thought it was a real self portrait. Hello all,
I celebrated my one year abroad anniversary at the end of March. It feels like a long time and at the same time has gone very quickly. To mark the occasion I made a pig of myself by eating a whole bar of Green and Blacks Maya Gold (possibly the best chocolate in the world). In 14 months time I will be packing my bags and heading back home, that seems to be coming even faster than the first year went.
For the grim food award this month I came across Young’s Squid Flakes and felt that I just had to try them, the company being named after me and all that. I can report that they are every bit as bad as as some of you might be imagining. Squid flakes are now firmly on my list of never to be eaten again foods along with the Balut and Durian mentioned in an earlier blog. The taste still lingers even after brushing my teeth.
The EU funded project that I have been working on for the past year ended on exactly the same day as my one year abroad anniversary (spooky). That was a good
Squid flakes
I know you would all like me to bring some back for you to try but sorry - they are very sensibly banned from being imported. enough excuse for a party with plenty of Tanduay, the local rum. We have achieved a lot in the year - renovated the municipal nursery, 140hs reforestation, community theatre events and most significantly produced a grand plan for all forestry related activities and policies for the next 5 years in the municipality. The Forest Land Use Plan has been approved by the Municipal Development Council and the Sanguniang Bayan (county council equivalent) so it is now official local policy and will soon become local law. Our presentation to the Sanguniang Bayan was interrupted by a decent earthquake that sent everyone under the desks and into the door frames just in case. I took it as a rumble of approval!
There are elections coming up in mid May covering local council, mayors, congress and half of the senate. This means that everything (except campaigning) has come to a complete halt. Its fascinating to see a different political system in action close up. Given the choice I would have the British system every time. Much more about elections to come later, for now I am just trying to appear as totally non biased as possible.
Mum and Dad will be
Ceremonial signing
The current Mayor of Lanuza signing up to a commitment for co-management of our forest area between the local administration and the national government. coming over to visit very soon so the next blog will be a joint entry. First we will visit Palawan (a spectacular island on the west side of the Philippines) before coming here to Lanuza to relax for a week. It should be a good trip - kind of taking a holiday from a holiday.
The Easter Bunny came to Lanuza and delivered a nice run of swell so we have been feasting on surfing and sunshine! This may well be the last surfing until October so we have been consuming as many waves as possible. No Easter eggs though, not even a Cadburys cream egg. I also got the chance to take a long paddle through the mangroves to the town of Cantilan. Its 40 minutes by motorbike or 5 hours by dugout. I ache just a little bit today after that!
I hope you are all well and having fun?
Cheers
Matt
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Jemma
non-member comment
hi
Hi Matt it all sounds very intresting stuff out there. Say hi to the family for me and hope you have a good time with them. I say finbar before I left home in march very quikley though i think for 2 hours. promise to write to you soon lots of love Jemma xx