The Unusual Suspects It seems it was over before it even began. The bags have been packed, the meters read, the crockery half-inched and the great Assosa exodus is complete. Even Marta, the final straggler bade farewell two weeks ago leaving just four Ferengi survivors in this part of Beneshangul-Gumuz. So who were they, these intrepid Eleven, flung together as friends through circumstance for a brief but bright gathering on the extremes of Ethiopia's western borders? ### TRANSMISSION BEGINS ### Mr Alan Skills - Evil Computer Genius W [View Full Entry]

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10 things that make me happy OK, so you may have noticed I have been totally rubbish at producing any blog entries recently, whilst Al has been busy producing epics. So I’ve been trying to motivate myself, I’ve tried at least 3 times, but now realise, I need to start simple, so I’m going back to basics (Not in order of priority!) 1. Your emails and calls, the comments on our blog You probably don’t realise how much these things mean to us, it’s so good to hear from you, hear what you’re up to and all the news, it’s lovely [View Full Entry]

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...and it was the worst of times. We have been back in Assosa for a few weeks now and life has returned to a sort of normality. There are far fewer VSOs here now, only 4 have been allowed back and Lesley has been on a sight-seeing trip around the north of Ethiopia for that last 2 or 3 weeks anyway. We have struck up a friendship with three 'new' Ferengis working on a water project funded by the Finish government - Harriet, Judith and Antero. We also had a really nice evening catching up with Paul and Courtney, two Americans [View Full Entry]

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Ice Cold in Addis Alright, its a bit of an exaggeration. More like slightly chilly and inclement. But then again 'Slightly Chilly & Inclement in Addis' is not the title that's going to move you to the edge of your seat in anticipation of an Indiana Jones-esq blog entry now, is it :) So true to recent Hollywood form I'm going to string this one out for at least 2-3 hours - there are a massive 39 pictures to pad out with some meaningful text. Best you get off the edge of your seat, kick back, put your feet up and [View Full Entry]

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Home, James, and don't spare the ozone layer We are back at last. And it has been exhausting. Thanks very much for all the emails about Dave and the good wishes for Holly, Oscar and Pam. All three volunteers that were airlifted to Nairobi are out of immediate danger and have been operated on and treated. Holly's family flew over from the UK and she may be repatriated as she was due to leave Ethiopia in a matter of weeks. Dave was given a wonderful and fitting send off on Wednesday. The coffin was brought to VSO and a short ceremony [View Full Entry]

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Will you join me for a beer? It was the night of the first day in country and us 40 or so new volunteers had spent the day sampling the sights, sounds and atmosphere of the new and exciting African metropolis of Addis Ababa. We had visited Shola market, tried the outrageously strong coffee at a buna bet cafe, visited our new HQ for two years - the VSO programme office - and met Patricia, the Director for our 'Welcome to Africa'. Come early evening we trooped off in search of "typical" Ethiopian food and ended up in the haunt of [View Full Entry]

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We left for a short break in Addis about 3 weeks ago and while we were away the security situation in Assosa worsened so the rest of the VSOs in Assosa were recalled to Addis too. For the last 2 and a half weeks we have been a little unhappy family of "fugees" at the Yonas hotel in Addis. Every few days we have an update meeting and every few days we have to wait for news whether we will be allowed back. I cannot discuss the situation in detail because of VSO blogging rules but with the rainy season closing [View Full Entry]

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"They cut the power! Whadaya mean they cut the power?" Oh dear this one has been brewing for a while so it's likely to be a long one. Sorry. So it has been one month since we returned from the field trip and life has settled back into a routine of sorts. Usually one that involves activities with power and activities without power, depending on whether we can turn the bedside lamp on when we wake up or not. Guessing which days we will have and will not have power has become a little game, as has side bets on what [View Full Entry]

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OK I better be quick. Total power outage and running on laptop batteries. Your guess is as good as mine as to how long I have :) Will try and let the photos do the talking for this entry - there are a few! Plus 2 videos if batteries allow. Another Six O'Clocker Falling out of bed at some ridiculously early time we stuffed our bags and headed downstairs to the motel hotel compound where the two 4x4's were parked. The driver of the rental vehicle was clearly on the ball - he had the bonnet open and was shaking an [View Full Entry]

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OK, so my blog numbering has got way out of hand but I'll try and rescue it from now on, honest :) We are in the middle of power rationing and IT is pretty hard to do without any power. As is blogging. So I am hoping to get this update done before tomorrow's all-day power cut. In fact there is a 10Mb video I will try and attach but if it goes wrong at 56k I may not have the energy left to try uploading it again. Fingers crossed... At last and much to Sara's amusement I am finally getting [View Full Entry]

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