Sunday 22nd February

This week has had a number of highlights, of which today (Sunday) is one - we are having a very tranquil afternoon by Lake Duluti not far from Nkauranga where we slept (very uncomfortably!) last night.
Having not used a Dalla Dalla before, I have had so many memorable experiences in the last few days - I love them! Let me talk you through how the whole things works: you see a battered white minibus in the distance which you flag down, you then notice that it is full and will never fit 8 more people on...you'd be wrong! It screeches to a halt and you are manhandled on and the door slammed shut to stop you from spilling out. If you're lucky you get to sit on some stranger's lap, if not, you perch on the engine block or stand with your cheek against the the roof. Dalla Dalla drivers don't know the meaning of brakes - we reached 130km on the main road weaving in and out of traffic! You know you have reached your stop when the man who's attempted to whisper sweetnothings in your ear snaps his fingers for the 25p fare. The brakes are jammed on and you disentangle yourself from the old woman sat on you, and breath in freedom! Love it!
On Tuesday we were invited to a wedding send-offf of one of the females teachers at school. It is a ceremony where the bride's family 'hand over' their daughter to the groom's. Wedding contractors camouflaged the hall in white roses, put on the most collosal spread (I earnt a new level of respect from Mr Kiembe - a teacher who translated for us - by finishing my meal despite his gloomy predictions!), and hired the most fantastic 'rough and ready' band who played almost continually for six hour. Highlights: whole roasted goat with fur entact on the head wheeled down the aisle, the bridesmaids and close friends dancing the conga round the wedding car, and dancing in a procession down the aisle to give the bride her gifts. The ceremony was as big if not bigger than some British weddings, but the actual wedding was on Saturday five hours away at Tanga, and apparently even larger. Astonishing!
My class has finished writing a letter to our friend Adrian's school in Lymington, and I got the photos developed for them today (Tuesday). Unfortunately, and VERY frustratingly, I missed the post by just 10 mins. I will have to e-mail the letter, as I am going away for a week, and will post it when I get back.
Going away, yes, we're off to Zanzibar! Our 10 hour bus journey tomorrow (Weds) means we leave our house at 4.30 am, and won't arrive in Stone Town until about 7pm. I must say, a week of relaxing on a beach with a good book and no little oiks rattling the grate and demanding stickers and money (a really unpleasant turn of attitudes in some of the older kids) will be most welcome! I would like to think I've earned a bit of a holiday. We will be back into full school routine on the following Thursday.
There is so much more to say, but I am having to be selective because of the sheer volume of stories and anecdotes.
You probably won't hear from me for over a week, as I imagine it will be quite difficult to find an internet cafe (for a reasonable price) on Zanzi.
By for now! Lxxx