I once wanted to become an atheist, but I gave up - they have no holidays.

I have, more or less, finished the grant rounds for my small businesses now and I plan to clear up the outstanding administrative tasks whilst sitting in a beach-side bar in Zanzibar over the next few days. I will try and post a picture of the Indian ocean and a nice white beach just so all those who read this from their office can appreciate their is something else you can be doing...

In the meantime here is a picture of some rhinos that I saw:

...and a hippo

We surrender!

I have been force-fed a large slice of humble pie by my German friend. Well done Germany you deserved the victory even though the referee was clearly on your side.

Ich bin ein Berliner

Here's a picture of a happy German. Take a good look because it may be the last happy one you see for some time.....

Just one more thing

......you've got to love Colombo and I have to admit to being party to painting a live rat as well as the remand centre yesterday.

Now, before you call the African equivalent of the *RSPCA you may recall that the body count was already standing at two humans and a lizard (I forgot to mention the lizard in yesterdays post) that the children took great delight in dismembering when it had the misfortune to venture into their small concrete enclosed exercise yard.

The rat in question was living in one of the beds and whilst myself and some friends were working on sprucing the place up a little we disturbed it from its cosy home. My personal view on rats is that they are disease bearing vermin and I wouldn't want it living in my bed so I think it got away very lightly with just being painted blue instead of being brutally exterminated which is exactly what would have happened if we had let the children have their way with it.

I feel my conscience is mildly salved in admitting my complicit guilt in this animal cruelty but I would also like it noted that the body count at the remand centre remained at two humans and a lizard and the rat will live to fight another day even if he is feeling a little blue!

*Royal Society of Protection of Cruelty to Animals

Crime and Punishment

Today I finished renovating the children's prison that I promised to dedicate some money to. The conditions are, as you would expect in most countries outside Europe, dreadful. I had the place fumigated before I started the painting work and replaced the roof tiles that harbour rats and other unpleasant creatures and I plan to get mosquito nets for all the 'guests' languishing at the Tanzanian governments pleasure.

The children got very excited yesterday because two robbers were shot directly outside the facility and they had a birds eye view of the action when they stood on their bunk-beds and looked out of the windows. Hundreds of curious Tanzanian people gathered to witness the aftermath of the blood bath. There were a lot of shots fired and I am sure both robbers were killed. Hopefully it will be a lesson to all the budding criminals in the prison that crime does not always pay but, somehow I doubt it...... Also I got some great video footage of the action which is a bonus!

Apart from a couple of shootings and my continued visitations to try and make the child prisoners lives a little brighter there is not too much to report. I have my final meeting with all of my budding entrepreneurs on Monday and the end of my work on the ground here is now in sight and I am getting excited by the prospect of a little break in Dar Es Salaam and Zanzibar late next week which will involve a little sightseeing, some swimming and a lot of cold beverages. I have also met a great English couple who are going to be working in Zanzibar as dive instructors so hopefully I will get some free diving instruction too!

Have a good weekend.

The word 'politics' is derived from the word 'poly', meaning 'many', and the word 'ticks', meaning 'blood sucking parasites'. Larry Hardiman

Today's post is dedicated to a military man who's career was ended all too abruptly this week and to Rolling Stone magazine who have won at least one more subscriber for this cracking article....


http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/17390/119236

...and this has to be the best comment regarding the world cup result I have seen so far:

"This World Cup is working out like WW2 - France have forfeited, the USA turned up late, and England are left to fight the Germans!"

My favourite animal is a steak.

Yesterday I changed out of my Volunteers hat, donned my Tourist hat, and took the first week-day off since I arrived in Africa. I don't feel too guilty about my lack off commitment to the African people because I have probably worked harder out here (and I have had to pay for the privilege!) than I ever did when I was actually getting paid to work in any of my previous professional incarnations ....also I got many of the obligatory tourist photos under my belt whilst in Ngorangoro on Safari.

 Ngorangoro is the largest intact volcanic crater in the world and is described by many as the 8th Wonder. It is about 100sq miles in area and about 12 miles in diameter and is located just West of the Rift Valley. Ngorangoro boasts a plethora of flora and fauna and I was extremely lucky to see a broad selection of what is on offer for the typical tourist on Safari. Below is a selection of some of the wildlife I was fortunate enough to get close to.

 I haven't uploaded the rhino or the cheetah yet but, I did see them, honestly...