Day 53 Friday 27th June - Saying Goodbye the Mozambican way!
Our last day on site began with a chilly start and a slightly subdued atmosphere as we made the trek through the sand dunes on empty stomachs for the very last time. By the time we reached site the sun had come up and we were delighted to find a new addition to the breakfast menu of fried eggs and chips (along with bread rolls and the obligatory tomato and onion salad)…Neomie opted to have her eggs ‘well done’ but something went wrong in the translation and they came back hard boiled, though much appreciated nevertheless! Becky briefed the group on the day’s tasks and had everyone in suspense about Chris’s big surprise at 3pm….
Most of the group continued working on the roof trusses in the morning, with a select few being finally allowed to have a go at plastering the internal classroom walls. Our intrepid leader Chris was particularly keen to have a go and bravely took it upon himself to assess the impact of splattering plaster all over his head and in his eyes, so that he could show the July group how not to do it! We were all a bit distracted this morning and it was hard to get going again after the compulsory biscuit break at 10am – we were conscious of the fact that this was our last chance to play with the kids and so we broke off early for lunch and got in a last rendition of hokey cokey before the matapa arrived. After our now traditional post-lunch snooze, we continued working in the blazing hot sun until 3pm when everyone downed tools, took their last few photos, and got stuck into the ‘surprise’ delivery of palm wine. Once we’d got over the rather unconventional smell, our first taste of this local delight proved very popular and we were soon keeping pace with the local builders who were clearly enjoying the chance to let their hair down – Jucinto was even seen cracking a smile! We eventually dragged ourselves away and set off on our last walk home – the commute to and from work just won’t seem the same without all those palm trees! Back at Mango Beach we made a start on the weekend with a drink or two and thoughts of how much diving and last minute souvenir shopping we could cram in over the next two days.
Quote of the day: ‘MANSY!’ (The only ‘English’ word now universally understood by all the local builders)
Saturday 28th June – everyone needs a happy ending….
Saturday brought final opportunities for the group to enjoy the activities available in Mozambique, some of the group dived, Brian and Steve spent the afternoon fishing (unfortunately they didn’t catch our dinner), several of the group relaxed with a massage (a big hit to relax those strained muscles). Many hit Tofo market for the last opportunities to barter, swapping clothes and shoes for gifts. The group reconvened in Cassa de Comer for our last meal and headed to Dino’s bar for our last drink, and just one more and go on I’ll have another if you’re asking….. Our Quest leaders finally had the opportunity to let there hair down as well and pass on their words of wisdom and thoughts on the world. These opportunities were well taken and well received.
After a brisk stumble back up the beach a few brave team members sat up for sunrise the rest preferring to slip gently into an alcohol induced slumber.
Sunday 29th June – ‘Don’t Ever, Ever…’
‘…let Chris get so drunk that he has memory loss the next day!’
After Saturday night’s drunken shenanigans, the group rose bleary eyed on this, the final day. Some of them struggled with David and Chris not even managing to make it out of Mango Beach (lightweights!). Some of the luckier folks in the group (Neomie, Mitesh, Trina and Debbie), nursed hangovers with some full body Hawanan massage from the wonderful Hayley, a recommended pastime for future reference! Christina was the only one of the group who decided to go scuba diving, and what a finish to the trip - as well as all the usual fish, Christina topped off her trip with a turtle, 20 sharks (including white and black tip reef sharks, leopard shark and nurse shark) and 16 devil rays. Not my pastime of choice when nursing a ‘delicate’ stomach, but Becky, Kerry and Diane took the opportunity to see a bit more of the local area on horseback. Becky enjoyed some fantastic galloping along the beach but Kerry managed to break her horse and so stole Diane’s, leaving Diane to trek home on foot….The remainder of the group recovered in the beloved Waterworks café and the day’s fun was interspersed with discussions about who did what the previous night. It was much fun embarrassing our leaders with stories of their antics, which included some beach wrestling, shots, ‘wedgies’, and general drunkenness. During a final dinner of ‘smooth’ soup with fish and rice, the group presented Charlie with a token of appreciation; trousers from the local market and Caramilk chocolate (Mmmmm), and cleared Chris’ bar bill, leaving him credit on his tab to keep up his drinking tradition (springboks all round!)
Our last day on site began with a chilly start and a slightly subdued atmosphere as we made the trek through the sand dunes on empty stomachs for the very last time. By the time we reached site the sun had come up and we were delighted to find a new addition to the breakfast menu of fried eggs and chips (along with bread rolls and the obligatory tomato and onion salad)…Neomie opted to have her eggs ‘well done’ but something went wrong in the translation and they came back hard boiled, though much appreciated nevertheless! Becky briefed the group on the day’s tasks and had everyone in suspense about Chris’s big surprise at 3pm….Most of the group continued working on the roof trusses in the morning, with a select few being finally allowed to have a go at plastering the internal classroom walls. Our intrepid leader Chris was particularly keen to have a go and bravely took it upon himself to assess the impact of splattering plaster all over his head and in his eyes, so that he could show the July group how not to do it! We were all a bit distracted this morning and it was hard to get going again after the compulsory biscuit break at 10am – we were conscious of the fact that this was our last chance to play with the kids and so we broke off early for lunch and got in a last rendition of hokey cokey before the matapa arrived. After our now traditional post-lunch snooze, we continued working in the blazing hot sun until 3pm when everyone downed tools, took their last few photos, and got stuck into the ‘surprise’ delivery of palm wine. Once we’d got over the rather unconventional smell, our first taste of this local delight proved very popular and we were soon keeping pace with the local builders who were clearly enjoying the chance to let their hair down – Jucinto was even seen cracking a smile! We eventually dragged ourselves away and set off on our last walk home – the commute to and from work just won’t seem the same without all those palm trees! Back at Mango Beach we made a start on the weekend with a drink or two and thoughts of how much diving and last minute souvenir shopping we could cram in over the next two days.
Quote of the day: ‘MANSY!’ (The only ‘English’ word now universally understood by all the local builders)
Saturday 28th June – everyone needs a happy ending….
Saturday brought final opportunities for the group to enjoy the activities available in Mozambique, some of the group dived, Brian and Steve spent the afternoon fishing (unfortunately they didn’t catch our dinner), several of the group relaxed with a massage (a big hit to relax those strained muscles). Many hit Tofo market for the last opportunities to barter, swapping clothes and shoes for gifts. The group reconvened in Cassa de Comer for our last meal and headed to Dino’s bar for our last drink, and just one more and go on I’ll have another if you’re asking….. Our Quest leaders finally had the opportunity to let there hair down as well and pass on their words of wisdom and thoughts on the world. These opportunities were well taken and well received.
After a brisk stumble back up the beach a few brave team members sat up for sunrise the rest preferring to slip gently into an alcohol induced slumber.
Sunday 29th June – ‘Don’t Ever, Ever…’
‘…let Chris get so drunk that he has memory loss the next day!’
After Saturday night’s drunken shenanigans, the group rose bleary eyed on this, the final day. Some of them struggled with David and Chris not even managing to make it out of Mango Beach (lightweights!). Some of the luckier folks in the group (Neomie, Mitesh, Trina and Debbie), nursed hangovers with some full body Hawanan massage from the wonderful Hayley, a recommended pastime for future reference! Christina was the only one of the group who decided to go scuba diving, and what a finish to the trip - as well as all the usual fish, Christina topped off her trip with a turtle, 20 sharks (including white and black tip reef sharks, leopard shark and nurse shark) and 16 devil rays. Not my pastime of choice when nursing a ‘delicate’ stomach, but Becky, Kerry and Diane took the opportunity to see a bit more of the local area on horseback. Becky enjoyed some fantastic galloping along the beach but Kerry managed to break her horse and so stole Diane’s, leaving Diane to trek home on foot….The remainder of the group recovered in the beloved Waterworks café and the day’s fun was interspersed with discussions about who did what the previous night. It was much fun embarrassing our leaders with stories of their antics, which included some beach wrestling, shots, ‘wedgies’, and general drunkenness. During a final dinner of ‘smooth’ soup with fish and rice, the group presented Charlie with a token of appreciation; trousers from the local market and Caramilk chocolate (Mmmmm), and cleared Chris’ bar bill, leaving him credit on his tab to keep up his drinking tradition (springboks all round!)
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1 comment:
We have enjoyed reading the blog and are looking forward to the next update.
The pictures really show the progress that you are making. You must feel confident that you will get the project finished before you leave.
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