Its only 3 weeks left! After 2 years the time seems to go very quickly. With only a little while left this month has been about getting out to see places that I hadn’t been to yet, planning my travel home (especially the visas), starting to pack up and finish things off. For two and a half months I have been joined in Lanuza by Niels Batke, a short term volunteer from Accenture Germany. Both having good reasons for doing some sightseeing we jumped on our motorbikes, packed out toothbrushes and went for a weekends sightseeing round Surigao del Sur (our province). It was all going well until part way back on Sunday morning when Niels motorbike pulled up with smoke and a strange noise. We went on-tow back to the nearest town and found a ... read more

Happy New Year! I hope you all had a good festive season whatever you were doing. First up this month is news about the collection for Ibuan School. You raised a grand total of £615!!!! That’s more than I ever guessed at, Many Thanks. To spend it all I am taking the head teacher shopping on the 31st of this month. We have to go about 10 hours by bus to Davao where the suppliers are. A full blog about that trip and the handover ceremony at the school will be along in February. So the main topic this month is my Christmas holiday with Maria in Borneo. We headed over to Sabah which is one of the Malaysian territories in Borneo. It used to be British North Borneo before becoming part of the Malaysian federation ... read more

Hello everyone! Not so many words this month but loads of pictures. First up is more about the books for Ibuan school scheme followed by some illegal fishing then the surf contest, cock fighting and finally a coup attempt. A big thank you to everyone who has already sent in donations for books and other teaching supplies at Ibuan primary school. The totaliser (who remembers Blue Peter appeals?) has already been extended past the 20,000 peso mark (250 pounds). A re-arranged schedule means that I will be back there on the 5th of December for photographing the Christmas greetings, a management inspection upset the original plans. A few people have really got into the spirit of things and decided not to send any cards at all this year which is great. For anyone who has a ... read more

Hello everyone, My main activity since the last blog was to attend a workshop along with other VSO volunteers; our subject for the week was “Conflict management and strengthening relations with local partner organisations and communities”. Of course as well as the learning a conference is always an opportunity for some travel and good fun! Highlights of the trip include the Tinago falls just outside Illigan, a touch of horse riding, a day canyoning and the chance to visit the big city and indulge in western style food - cheese, wine, bread and lettuce. All while spending the week in the fantastic company of the other VSO volunteers working here in the Philippines. Back in Lanuza the waves are slow in coming this year so I have had plenty of time to put up a website ... read more

Hello from a nice hot July. The big event this month was a wedding where I had to dress up and do the best man thing. Kai who has been working here in Lanuza with the German development service decided to get hitched up to a local lady - Jonnabelle. They are both in the marine biology line of work and met while doing a coral reef survey. The wedding was mercifully short on the service side (Ross and Heather take note!) so we got down to the food and party in record time. Most surreal moment had to be the judge (it was a civil service) checking a text message on his phone half way through the “I do” bit - Only in the Philippines! The other strange thing was the way everyone ate, listened ... read more