happy new year

This year has hit the ground running already with some wonderful positive input from our 'group of friends' on ways to help the school.  Having successfully rebuilt the school room last year (out of bricks and mortar with a tin roof which is hopefully cyclone proof this time)  we are now trying to save enough cash to make some wooden benches and desks.  The new school room has a cement floor, and while the children used to sit in the sand, they cannot sit on the cement for long periods - so benches are needed asap.

With some input already received from dear Geli and her friend in Germany, which I will match, we are already well on the way to wood for benches.

As soon as I can get up there, I will be able to post new pictures of the building and the school.  At the moment it is rainy season, so we will probably wait a bit but I am anxious to get there - its been too long!

In the meantime here are some more pictures from mozambique - sights seen along the  main coastal road to San Sabastiao.

rain soaked streets and a fast food joint

buying piri-piri from a roadside vendor

yellow mtel (cellphone) colours appearing everywhere

cellphones are huge in mozambique and have made such a difference for rural dwellers

one stop shop 

more roadside vendors

a truck full of bags of charcoal heading for markets in town

charcoal production is a village industry that consumes acres of indigenous forest

rainfall turns roadworks on the main coastal highway

into slippery mush

first view of the sea

we drove in rain for two days. the sunny skies of aqua blue made famous by Bob Dylan greeted us at the end of our journey

until next time then

ciao ciao

xx