Tuesday 20th July 2010 On Monday lunchtime I got my first view of the waves breaking on the Altlantic shore near Accra - we had lunch in a little beacj restaurant just yards from the sea. On Monday evening we strolled around the Newtown area where we are staying to look for somewhere to eat. By now it was dark but the streets were just as lively as during the daytime. We eventually settled on a small fast food servery next to a TV shop. We sat at a plastic garden table whilst next door a group of locals watched TVs at the TV shop. I say TVs in the plural because there were 3 different sets on, all showing different programs - one of them was still covered in clingfilm Our first two nights were ... read more

First of all, apologies dear readers for the extremely brief contents of the previous posting. I also apologise for the fact that it was, like this one, posted from the UK. This disappointed some of my readers (not mentioning any names). So, this will be the last one before I go, but I thought a bit of background might be helpful. Last summer my daughter Dorothy spent 3 months volunteering at the Osu Childrens' Home in Accra. You can read her blog on here (just search for 'Dorothy' and 'Ghana'). She loved Ghana so much that she wanted to go back again this summer. Since I had enjoyed my first volunteering experience last summer, she suggested we went to Ghana together this summer. She hopes to go back into the orphanage and I will look for ... read more

O, To be in Nepal Now that t'Monsoon's there, And whoever wakes in Nepal Sees, some morning, unaware, That the Himalayan peaks round the local hills Are hidden by low-lying mists, While the cockroach sings on the bedroom floor In Nepal—now! Some reflections after getting home! This was my first visit to Nepal and I spent a bare three and a half weeks there - this blog is really directed at those who have never been to Nepal and if some of what I say is obvious, or inaccurate, to "old hands" then I apologise profusely Weather I theory I was in Nepal during the monsoon season. That season should normally be characterised by low-lying mists in the morning, hot days and wet evenings as the rain pours down. In my first week in Nepal there ... read more

Friday 7th August I had originally thought I would probably travel back to Kathmandu on the Sunday but with the school holidays giving me an extra day I booked a bus ticket for Saturday and allowed myself the Friday for a final full day in Pokhara. I wanted to go into the main town centre again to browse atround the Old Bazar area and also post a couple of English books to those kids I met in Kastikot last Saturday. At breakfast Bindhu told me that Lakeside was on strike! There would be no buses, shops, taxis etc until 6:00pm. Outside Lakeside however things were still working so I just walked as far as the picket line and then caught a bus into towm. I found the post office and sent off my parcel then had ... read more

A selection of other photos. I'll publish this page now but I will add more photos to it over the next week... read more