My round! Great reading your tales. Now well ensconced to the pin stripes and Masanga seems like a dream. I can't deny that I have savoured the running (without heatstroke), swimming in the sea and the odd pint of beer.
Deffinetly feel easier with the surgery here having had a bit of Masanga O&G.
From this side of my 'tour', it seems like a very worthwhile project. Thanks for your efforts. I'll shout you a beer when your home.
Adam
What heroes you both are!!! Love hearing your stories and am awed by your ability to cope with the rain, humidity, deprivations and lack of resources and still keep a couple of smiling faces.
Dear Jo and David Happy Birthday Jo, over a month late!! Thoroughly enjoyed reading your blog. It all sounds an amazing experience and I am sure very invaluable for future life. We have been a bit envious!! Have really enjoyed reading all your blogs - the medicine and the nursing details and about the rest of your life and the cat!
Tom and Amanda back now and back in Bristol! Yes, we have a new Prince George. That was lovely news a week ago. Chris Froome also won the tour de France. Tom and Amanda saw some of it in France. Vicky and Steffen doing well with their three. Frieda now nearly 5 months - they have just gone on holiday to Suffolk. I am going up to see them for a short visit in 2 weeks time. Alice is trying to put our caravan into our field. We are giving her the field. We are looking forward to seeing Justin, Ros and the boys soon and hope that Cairo will calm down before they go back. Hope all goes well and that Annie's visit will go well - it certainly will be interesting for her!Lots of Love Annie
nice one dave and jo yo Dave and Jo - glad u having a good time out there. looking fwd to seeing some deep jungle and tribesman photos. you still look distinctively western, although those green trousers look pretty rude boy - although not native enough. Cheers, Ed
Good job chaps Hi both
Lovely to hear the blog, and strange, for us, to be reading it from home, as we've just got back! Can't believe where the time went, especially in the last few months. Had an amazing time, and finished with 3 weeks in France in Maisy following the Tour... very cool. Sounds like you're going great guns. Well done, and can't wait to swap stories. Off to spend next weekend in the Gower with Justin, Rosi and the boys, plus Pete, Lou, Jim McLeod - should be great and we'll raise a beer to you guys. Lots of love, Tom
Greetings Keep up the good work. I would have thought Dr D Potter with an ultrasound probe more scary than a witch gun but there you go...I've spent this weekend walking parts of the Tour du Mt Blanc we did 10 years ago. Slightly unnerving to see what was beneath that thigh-deep snow... Keep blogging!
Castletownshend, Ireland Great blog. Greeting from the crew on Snow Goose. Hope you are both well. We\'re on our sailing trip week 3. will send blog details by email. Great work the two of you! Lots of love from Angus, Laura and Eloise xxx
Impressive stuff.. Hi Guys
Sounds very impressive. Great stuff. Got a bit lost in the medical jargon, but still thoroughly enjoying the updates. Afraid we're not going to make it up to you guys. Heading back from here (SA) to catch up with the Tour de France for a few weeks before getting back to Brizzle life. But look forward to catching up and sharing travelling stories when you're back! Love / many hugs, Tom (and Amanda)
Well done Great to hear of your work and that you have both been able to engage in teaching so that when you move on you will leave better prepared local staff. Jo, what a stroke of luck that the Danish physio had done some great preparatory work so that you could concentrate on teaching and making things even better. David, I do not envy you the steamy heat, the night work and the constant lack of diagnostic tools and medicines .... yet even small interventions can make great differences in outcome and again great that you have keen medical assistants wanting to learn. So this side we must keep the pressure up on Government to ring fence Foreign aid and keep at at 0.7% GNP like Holland and the Scandinavians.
Also crying reading the twins story!! Hi to you both - firstly we are loving reading your blogs. Each time one comes al & I sit & read it together, they are truly amazing & inspirational. I thought it was only me that would have cried when reading about the twins, being such a softy anyway & with the maternal hormones raging with only 6 weeks to go, so I was pleased to see that I am not alone!!! Things here are hectic and I really don\'t know where the last 34 weeks have gone, we seem to have so much to do before the baby arrives, but I\'m sure it will get done. We decided to get Zachary into a proper big boy bed before the baby comes, which has gone better than I imagined but he\'s woken at least once a night for the last week so feels like the sleepless nights has already begun!
We are so enjoying your blogs - a vicarious enjoyment. Jo's propensity to influence all and sundry so you both stay safe (you should make an ad for Coca Cola!); David, your obvious enjoyment in tackling every new situation that occurs - and winning! And here in NZ we sit out the winter (Doug managing a new week old hip) and me so envious of your adventuring. Keep the blogs coming (when the generator is going) and thank you.
PS Of course the generator men need coats and boots! Good decision! :)
Crying reading twins story x Well done Jo for half marathon! Dr Dave what an insight keep the stories coming all so fascinating x Jo I saw your Mum she seemed very well. Lots of love to you both Dawn x
hello from sunny Devon. Hello,
you guys sound like you are working so hard, well done to you, im sure its going to be one of the most rewarding experiences ever.
News from Plymouth, well life pretty much goes on as normal, some sun and mostly rain, but hey, im sure you would love some rain.
Im off work for the B/H and the queens birthday...Ive been at Davids out walking along the coast, it has been beautiful and there was some crazy coastal ultra marathon going on.
I finished the Manchester marathon in 4.23 hours, and man I was knackered and in much pain from the 20 mile stage, cursing and wondering why I put my old body through it. Jan and I raised £1039.81 for combat stress so were very chuffed with ourselves.
So have you entered the Sierre Leone marathon? not sure when you will get time to train, what with the long hours you are working. Jo not sure if you know Jo Meeks, the little physio from Drake, but she did the marathon D'Sable, across the Sahara, a week long race that equals upto 6 marathons... well she was 2nd lady and overall 22nd out of just over a thousand runners, how awesome is that... She has a free place to a Amazon marathon next year due to her success.
All at Raleigh is pretty much the same, we are getting Mark Smith back in July, not sure if Davey is going yet. Chief and the PMO are going shortly and a few other staff so its all going to change.
Its lovely to hear all of your news, Ive just spent the last hour looking at your fab photos, and catching up on your news, I especially laughed at David's comment about a particular meal being your worst nightmare, fish with bones and onions.....ha ha say no more.
take care of each other and I look forward the next instalment
luv Cherry xx
Wow-wee! xxx Well done guys - you are already doing a fantastic job! Sounds like an incredible experience, rewarding but utterly frustrating. I bet you feel like you are bottom to middle of a big hill. THings are rolling but you have such a long way you want to go with things. Well done you and I bet by the time you leave you will be leaving it in a much much better situation. It all helps and I am sure all your patients and the locals will be so grateful of your hard work and dedication. What a great couple you are!
All ok here in sunny Cyprus. The Red Arrows have been out training for the last 2.5 months which has been amazing. 3 practice displays a day. They have just been awarded their Public Display Award and wearing their red suits now. Before now I hardly knew them - a vague memory of them displaying over the farm when I was little (Grandpa was well connected!) and now i am an official groupie! Helen and I have even been up for a ride with them which was the most incredible experience.
ANyway, no where near as important as your news - I am incredibly proud to be associated with you guys. What amazing work you are doing.
Honor is chatting away and sends her love. Daddy home soon for his month off. I plan on visiting him in Libya in June or Sept too which I am looking forward to and will help me understand what his job involves. Just for 4 days but it will be worth so much more.
Take care and I\\\'m loving the updates
So much love
Han xxxx
Well done for getting there,and getting stuck into the problems of an African Hospital We have enjoyed your blogs, and wish you all the best at Masanga. All well here, we had a good trip to China, and saw T & A in HK. With love from us both
Hi guys, just wanted to say a huge well done to you both, sounds really tough. I can't imagine how frustrating it must be not being able to treat people fully. Thinking of you both lots and sending you a massive hug. Lots and lots of love Ems xxxx
Fascinating Account Hi David and Jo. It is always a pleasure to read the notes of your adventure - it sounds as though you are experiencing a mixture of hard work, frustration and satisfaction. Your administration roles must be very different from those that Lionel and Penny Jarvis are enjoying in Doha!
It must be Summer in the UK as we are currently at tea time on the third day of the first Test match at Lords v New Zealand although having spent 2 days at the ground in freezing conditions you would not know it! A close low scoring game in process with England currently just on top. Players and spectators could do with the sunshine and heat that you have and you could probably do with a small part of the vast sums of money being expended in the bars around the ground!
Keep the accounts coming and just think about the temperatures that you can look forward to in St M next January.
Best wishes,
Andrew and Amanda Oakes
Fresh Chickens!! A great story/ blog .. well done.. am enjoying your travels so much.. Hope you don't pick up too many deperate bugs eating street food and swimming!! Hope you enjoy the chickens too when they are cooked. I'm feeding Rocket on one each week as he just hasn't eaten properly these 6 weeks..its quite a worry.. but he goes for more xrays tomorrow and perhaps its only a stomach ulcer but may easily be worse.. he's miserable and I am worried! However, Harry has booked me to go to Brasilia in July and then we fly up to Manaus and to an Eco Lodge in the Amazon area with the two girls and then fly onto Fortaleza on the NE coast where we meet Filippa for a few days in the sun. So we shall be chased by the mossies too!! Keep writing! Looking forward to hearing from Anne this next week. Lol, Sue
Love the fots Hi D&J,
Loving the blog - it looks so amazing! I particularly like the photo of Dave towering over a group of African boys - a bit sinister but that's art for you.
Hope the work goes well and the fun continues - loads of love M&V
Stay away from African dogs! While we all understand that Dave wants to sleep with pigs (who of us hasn't wondered about it?) I would strongly recommend you avoid all African dogs. La rage is pretty common (had to look up the gender - thought it was Masc.)
Fabulous phots.
Can the author be identified at the start of each blog??
(I'm sitting in a Medical Forum "listening" to Lord Darzi and one of his chums - not as riveting as I'd hoped altho someone has just used the word axiomatic, which always cheers me up).
News from me- had a posh spine operation at the very end of Feb (Xtreme Lateral Intervertebral Fusion, XLIF) so I've got a load of metal work in and one dodgy disc out but, to be honest still feels pretty lousy. Loads of core stability work for me. Once its all working again I'm now encouraged to consider taking up archery - why haven't I thought of that before??
Take care and keep it coming guys. My money is on Jo not getting malaria, Dave is a cert! RR
Found you at last Hi you two we miss you but you seem to be having a super time we are fine Graham has started Archery classes, I am not sure why !! but no doubt all will become clear soon. Maybe he is planning a trip to Africa when we win the Lottery!! Wet and windy here I think there is a Buzzard nesting in the huge tree on the fa\zr hil I have the telescope all set up to spy on her. Hope to hear from you soon have sent off letters to your Mum Jo Lots and lots of love the old ones downstairs. XXXX
Wow! Brilliant update guys - the trip sounds absolutely incredible so far - well done both of you. Nico is drooling over the kite surfing bits! Loving your photos - well done you guys, really well done. Such good efforts on the blogging front. Right now need to head to bed as have had a bug since the marathon and right sinus feels like it might explode! But tomorrow I am going to have a really good read of your latest entry and write you a nice long message!
Nico leaving this Friday - its been a wonderful month with him at home. We had a weeks skiing with Tim turner an the fam and a long weekend up on theNorth coast speed boating and water skiing. Honor doing brilliantly and loving her daddy being home. Going to be even more painful this time when he leaves I think. They have really bonded this time and its all about daddy. She is brilliant at her animal sounds now, does a very high pitch 'buck, buck' for a chicken, waves her arm over her head with a 'woooo!' for an elephant and lots more. And has just started asking 'whats that' (or noises to that effect) which has started many a conversation and plenty of explanations! I went up in a Griffin Search and Rescue Heli today. We are doing some work on assessing and giving out prehab programs to the pilots and rear crew so of course I had to go up and have a look and feel for myself of all the equipment and tasks required! I was dropped into the sea and had a go at 'rescuing' one of the other crew. Was also winched down onto a passing cargo ship, trotted up to see the captain and then winched off again. Really great experience!
Anyway you two, looking forward to a really good read tomorrow night and will message to discuss more and tell you how proud and impressed I am with you both!!!!
Loads and loads of love
Han xxxxx
Two newlyweds driving to Sierra Leone in an old Toyota Land cruiser called Rhubarb! Plan to work there for five months before carrying on down to South Africa via a route not yet planned. One long honeymoon! ... full info
Dr Adams
non-member comment
My round!
Great reading your tales. Now well ensconced to the pin stripes and Masanga seems like a dream. I can't deny that I have savoured the running (without heatstroke), swimming in the sea and the odd pint of beer. Deffinetly feel easier with the surgery here having had a bit of Masanga O&G. From this side of my 'tour', it seems like a very worthwhile project. Thanks for your efforts. I'll shout you a beer when your home. Adam