h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

.. was the best compliment I've ever been paid. Yes, we're off back to The Gambia tomorrow and, as check-in is at 8am, we're setting off in about half an hour.

Thanks to various donations, not least from Wilma, we're taking out a whole suitcase of clothes to give to Fatima's family, as well as a radio and a few other bits and bobs for the boys on the beach. Websailor very kindly sent me some money to buy something for the family with, so hopefully we've got enough to make their lives a bit easier (I didn't get time to pay it in, webbie, so be prepared for me doing that in mid-February ). I also got a last-minute email through from our bird guide, and we'll be meeting up with him shortly after arrival.

I won't be going anywhere near a computer during my time away, partly because of power cuts and partly because I'm not going halfway around the world just to send emails

So I'll see you all in a fortnight

Hope you have a wonderful experience Rich

Best of luck and enjoy yourself and all that good stuff, intrepid sir. The Post is doing just fine being uploaded in your absence.

Well, I guess you'll only find this on your return, so I hope you'll have had a great time.

Heres hoping you have a great time

Have a relaxing timesafe journey and come back to us refreshed and full of ideas

Oh crap. I never got around to posting my parcel. I thought you were going on Sunday.

Have a good time anyway.

Rich,

Since you won't see this till you get back, I hope you had a good holiday and did some good along the way.

I can quite understand no emails just so long as you bring some photos back. I will look forward to that!



Websailor

Hope you have a great time, Skanky!

Ditto to Websailor's posting.

Shanky, may it be wonderful. You deserve it.

TRiG.

I'm a bit late here then...

*Reaches for Dr Dan Streetmentioner's 1001 Tense Formations*

section I need is at the back, will have to guess

I am on-hopinged you are on-haded plenty of fun Rich.

vp

Gaargh, he gets told "you haggle like a woman"...when i went to Africa my best compliment was "You dance like a village woman"!....er...yeah.

Have fun Skanky & may your balls bring pleasure to many!

zdt

It was terrific!

We got into a fairly well-established routine, which varied depending on the day's activities. We'd be up about 9.30, wander down for a big plate of omelette followed by a couple of croissants or a bit of toast for breakfast. On the way back to the room, a spot of table tennis by the pool, the half an hour spotting birds in the garden from our balcony. We'd spend some time in the afternoon brewing attaya with the boys on the beach, eating fruit with the ladies or having a shady coffee with our bird guide. In the evening, a couple of Manhattans by the pool, followed by a decent meal and a few beers, a couple of games of pool with the local lads or some mad drumming sessions in Domino's bar on the beach.

Of course, we didn't do all that every day; we spent quite a bit of time out birding - the birdlife out there could make anyone a rabid twitcher - and long walks along the beach fitted our mood quite frequently. We also went upcountry for three days, and spent an afternoon with Fatima's family.

I think I'll combine some of my experiences and thoughts into Post articles in the next few days, maybe for a short series. I've also got my bird lists to write up, hundreds of photos to sort through, and about three hours of video footage (mostly shaky long-distance shots of birds, I think) to sort through.

Anyway, I'm home I'm just not sure if I'm happy to be or not as yet!

Welcome back Friend! You've been sadly missed.

Welcome back Rich

Did you miss us?

I'm soo glad you've had a good time. I'm looking forward to reading about it

Hi, Rich, Nigel and i were only just talking about you yesterday. Glad you are back safe and sound. Seems like you will be busy with your holiday memorabilia for a while. I shall look forward to photos on your site whenever.

Nice to have you back, it felt like there was something missing from here the last two weeks. you've missed some good weather though keep wrapped up well, this will be a bit of a shock

Websailor

Welcome back, you globetrotter.

I did have a slight urge to check my email at one point, Venus, and Tendaba was the sort of trip that you get back from and want to tell the world about. I only sent one postcard, and made only one phone call - to my Mum for her birthday. So I didn't really think of home very much at all. It's nice to be home, but I'm still getting used to the idea

The weather is definitely a shock, Webbie - we landed at Gatwick at 2am, and only a quick mental tot-up of my credit and debit card limits stopped me from getting back on a plane again. I took a number of photographs at Fatima's house, so that you and Wilma in particular will be able to see where your donations have gone. We got a big bag of rice and a few weeks worth of essential groceries with your help and got some treats for the kids. We also paid the rent on her fruit stall, so Fatima was delighted and asked me to pass on her sincerest thanks to you