Our original accommodation was to be at the project site but the rooms were needed for storage so we were moved to a house in Kalegedera about 20 minutes drive away.
It is situated in a small settlement in the jungle and our alarm clock is the sound of monkeys screeching and exotic birds calling to each other!
It is quite spacious and has a lovely garden in which we have been painting the tables, chairs and boards for the project.
Inside we have a large space in which we eat and meet.
We have a lovely cook who, with his wife, serves up two delicious meals a day. More about the food from Mrs Speed tomorrow!
Our day starts just after 6.30am when the three students on duty get up to make breakfast. Eggs and toast made in our tiny kitchen.
Everyone else appears gradually and we exchange notes on exactly how much sleep we got. It is very hot at night and although we have ceiling fans it is still very difficult to sleep. One night we had a power cut and so the fans stopped.....
After washing up (there is no hot water in the house) we get ready to leave for the project site.
Our shoes are waiting....
We are usually at work just after 8am and we get back home by 12.30.
On our return the first half an hour is spent frantically removing the layers of mud and mosquito repellent.
After lunch there is sometimes a bit of free time so....
....some of us read...
...or play a game of cards...
....check out our photos....
..drink hot chocolate...
and one of our favourite activities is reading all of the lovely comments that you have been leaving on the blog...
Thank you very much! We really appreciate it.
Then comes EQT. Have you guessed yet?
Here is one last clue.
By 2pm in the afternoon we are exhausted and so Mrs S and I decided to Enforce Quiet Time.
We met with some resistance at first, with one student who shall remain nameless (but who appears in the next photograph) fashioning a dummy body in his bed complete with shoes Alcatraz style to persuade us he was asleep.
By day 2 he succumbed.
In fact everyone now looks forward to EQT and almost everyone has to be woken up at the end :-)
After EQT we are usually back at the project site either teaching English or playing games with the children.
The evenings are short as we have to go to bed early but we usually manage to squeeze in a couple of programmes on advanced physics.....
.....actually it's the Big Bang Theory and Sarah and Owen are converts! (Mrs Speed really thought it was about physics).
Everyone is asleep now so I had better sign off. Here is a picture for Mollie of a sweet cat who lives next to the project site.
Love to my mum and Henry, William and Mollie and to all of you Good Night! X
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Fantastic blog today, really gives us a clear idea of how you're living and spending your time. I laughed out loud reading some of the report (and at one photograph in particular.) You all look incredibly well, but can understand how exhausted you must be. Relieved Mark will be put out of his misery this evening now the meaning of EQT is finally out there!
ReplyDeleteI suspect most of you will have mixed feelings about leaving but we're all looking forward to seeing you back here. (It actually didn't rain today but it's back again this evening). Thanks for another great blog and pictures. x
What a fantastic blog site, we have been shown this by the lovely Mr and Mrs Valenzia!! Well done for all of your hard work and a big hello to Bobby. Cant wait to see more photos on your return. Lots of love Sarah and Annabelle xx
ReplyDeleteGlad to see Sam enjoying a good read! Has anyone dug an escape tunnel yet during EQT, or have you all done too much hard labour in the morning? The house looks lovely. Keep blogging... The Machins
ReplyDeleteThank you for the insight. It really is interesting to hear, day by day, what you have been doing so thank you all for taking the time to update us. I can't help but observe that you all look to be remarkably content with old fashioned activities like reading & cards and not a mobile phone in sight.
ReplyDeleteCan barely wait to see the finished project.
Ruth
Hi Bobbie - I have been following you and your friends over
ReplyDeletethe past few days and I am impressed - Well done.
See you soon at the wedding and the arrival of the twins,
Lots of Love - Grandpa and Ma xx
I have been checking the blog every night and have loved reading about what you're all up to and enjoying the great photos. You are doing an amazing job out there and apparently having a fantastic time too. What an incredible experience. I am really quite envious, but have work to be done at home juggling the decoration of the kitchen with looking after a hyper-active 2 year old.
ReplyDeleteMore photos of the oldies please: Mrs Clarke and Mrs Speed seem to be rather camera-shy!
Love to you all from The Cumpsties xxx
Hello all you hardworkers
ReplyDeleteJust before I nodded off last night I thought to myself, we haven't seen any pictures of the place they are staying in or the food they are eating - so my wishes have been answered by this blog - thankyou! Delighted to see Bobbie slaving away cooking breakfast AND washing up. Doubly delighted that Enforced Quiet Time has been enforced, Chloe, we will definitely continue when you get home - ha ha.
I am in my super deluxe (not) hotel near Heathrow Airport before heading off tomorrow morning for another long day at the Olympics - it's all getting very exciting back home AND it finally stopped raining today!
Much love to all of you and keep up the good work. Chloe, am missing you - hopefully see you on Sunday.
Mum xxx
I can sleep peacefully at last. Bobby I think it would be a good idea to introduce EQT at home (for your mum at least.) Great to see where you are staying. You all seem to be getting on really well together. Bad luck about the power cut, you won't have to worry about the heat over here - and it's just started to rain again. Mum goes in for her operation tomorrow hopefully she will be fixed by the time you get home. Fantastic blog and pictures Mrs Clarke. A huge thank you to you Mrs Speed and Mr Knight for making all of this happen and for taking such good care of everyone.
ReplyDeleteGreat to hear all about your daily routine- the house looks really nice.Thanks for keeping us all so well informed as to what you are up to.We are so impressed and cant wait to see the finished project. The cat is so cute! Keep up the fantastic effort!
ReplyDeleteNice to see where you are living - its still more luxurious than our building site Sophie! although we we finally have a sink!....not sure how EQT would go down with your brothers but I like the concept ...please please please bring some good weather back with you - we are looking forward to seeing you all again and hearing your stories - its great to sort of live it with you through the blog, but definately wish we were there!
ReplyDeleteLots of love Mum and Dad xxxxx
Great to see where you stay and all the new routines you are following, lets keep them up on your return! Look forward to each blog and all the photos, knowing you are all safe and having an amazing time..love to you all mum xxx
ReplyDeleteThanks for the latest blog, very good to see where you are staying. I agree with Ruth about the old fashioned entertainment, the thought of life without mobiles scares my own kids rotten. Looking forward to hearing about the food tomorrow, as a reluctant spices food eater myself I'm keen to hear how you are all coping.
ReplyDeleteOn a final note, James that is a hot chocolate mug to be proud of.
Best wishes to you all. Mr Pool
Aw I love the cat mum, I keep finding b on your bed. I think he's trying to work where you've gone,. We all miss you here!!
ReplyDeleteLots of love Molly xxxxx
Harry and all the team, below is an email I received from Mimi (Harry's Grandmother) last night...
ReplyDelete"We will miss these daily blogs when they come home. I am very impressed by how articulate they are and what excellent photos they take, and how they put it all together. They are a bright bunch and are really embracing the experience. I wonder if it will give Harry a taste for travel?"
Love to all xxx
I am almost there with you all... lovely to see where you are living and I especially liked the picture of all the shoes!
ReplyDeletelots of love
Mum xxx