The hype of the Royal wedding was all over the Uk [some of the most kitch sourveniors imaginable have been made] even at the races which was a great day but not in a finanacial sense.Met Bob in London great to see him and we had a couple of days doing the tower etc only problem was he was not hthat mobile after having a fight with ground after falling off a skate board.
Went to jersy and caught up with Michael and Ema Kenny-Herbert who I had not seen for 25 years or so fabulous place ids Jersey and the we were looked after brilliantly and was a very good time had by all.
Bob Grewich
Street Grenwich
All the rest Jersey a Hidden paradise
Also went to the old under ground hospital built by the Germans during the war along with all the beach fortification s it was certainly a hard time for the islanders as they were not liberated till 1945 when it was all over as the invasion of Europe basicaly went round them even though it is only 12 miles of the french coast.remarkable peace of English history .Great place green chilled out pace of life about 1950 very steady indeed but with all mod cons .Food magificent all fresh out of the sea and the fields.People great all friendly and relaxed.
This is my last view Romania tHe mountains and the Truck
A full write up will be soon
The Old salt Mines at Turda that were going in Roman times have now been turned into a health clinic for children and people with chest problems .Breathing the salt air works so activities are in the mine a ferris wheel bowling mini golf boats in the lake to row
Grand Mother and grand child
Outside my door at Dracula Castle hotel
You will just have lie on your side forgot to rotate the gorge at Turda
Mountains in the Back ground in atypical village just after this the cows were pulling a plough and as we came round a corner Old mate is washing his carpet in the middle of the road. as it is flat and he can get good grip with the mop and scrubbing brush
THe Bear cave
Second night View from Hotel
Ride any one
Looking out from bear Cave
Snow on the road bit out of order
In the Snow
Right in the Snow
Still in the Snow
Outside Hotel Window next Morning
Wood work is incredible
On Way to more snow
Here It is
Merry Cemetery
Plenty of these around causing a bit of trafic hazard on the roads
It was a Fantastic journey and one we were lucky to survive with the mad drivers who are obsest with playing Chicken and ensuring it is always 4 lanes on a two lane road with all the pot holes and the man who digs them out for fixing into large swiming pools .The only problem is the fixing crew is a year or so behind.
Selling her wares has been for a few years by the look
A church at Last outside hotel room window
Main street Varna
Leaving Istanbul for some where unknown lost Bus ticket so that was a great start ripped by Taxi Driver same all over the World parasites of the tourist as he knows where u are u dont
Any how was stilled chilled and eventualy got on Bus and headed off on the milk run to Varna in Bulgaria .Not one english speaker on the bus so sign language and limited arabic and my one Russian word Niet and off we went.
Raining all the way as we climbed into the mountains eveloped in heavy fog dont know how the bus driver culd see i could not .Quiet a different feeling listening to Slims lights on the hill through the Ipod going over a turkish mountain pass into Bulgaria.
The border was a slow and tedius affair taking nearly 2 hrs to get through with f3 stiops 2 passport looks sniffer dogs and a stamp on the page and I was in contentinetal Europe??
As we decended into the Bulgarian Country side through the fog and mist with odd delapitdated house and pot holes to be proud of in the road .The stark yet beautiful landscape of forest and the odd cleared area finaly broke out into our first real village of broken rooves washing hanging in the fog on make shift lines amongst the trees in the house yard ,walls broken and covered with plastic sheet, windows boarded up moss and lichen growing on the walls that stood ,gutters broken and then the odd new tin roof ,smoke slowly rising held to a meander due to the mist from the chimneys ,The clasic soviet square cement apartments you see in the old cold war spy films an odd satilite dish hanging from the balconies and the glow of a naked light bulb in a kitchen window.People pushing carts of ??? along the road and then a flower vedor providing the only colour and hope that was obvious.
The bus continued on its way through the country side and as we got further in the towns slowly had more areas of hope.
You wonder why Europe does not get its own house in order before worrying about every one elses when it has its own ridiculously poor. But like every where i have been where people are poor they are to a degree happy and above all friendly. Expecting so little from life just to be alive to them is a blessing and the odd hot meal a real treat. They have no expectation of material wealth or the problems aassociated with keeping it .Life is just so simple stay warm find some food .
Varna is on the Black Sea and a modern town that has beneifited from the tourist trade with a lot of Europeans visiting in summer for the beaches ,casinos,girls and cheap shopping.
As we drove up the coast the amount of unfinished appartment blocks and villas was incredible .Just stopped due to no money after the GBC .
Fresh produce was every where on the foot paths mostly grown in Hot houses, fodd was really good and cheap and of wonderful tastes and smells.
Be aware when travelling here though to get to another country is quite hard and needs some patience particularly if you need to be some where by a date .Dont expecy it to happen with a bus or train that seem to run when they feel like it not for those who want to use it but hey the locals know all this .All are very helpful but lack the full explanation you have to work that out yourself.
The inspiration to write a few Lines over the past moth has been near impossible the rise of the Black Dog and its need to be put down the non payment of wages for all and sundry some of which have now been paid not all in full to all.
The security situation becoming so bad the project has been evacuated .Maanga Jim getting his growth cut out of his nose and will now not go blind the high light I guess of the last month . Along we Princess and I finally geeting the locals gardens p and running and some wanker of an Arab cranks the Militia up around us and then the would be leaders /warlords respond with soldiers and guns every where big ones too. The local town is locked down .The politics and hatred amongst the local politicians is perhaps more intense than the danger perceived from the Militia .
During the last weeks of my tenure ,the black dog that I thought had been muzzled and put down several years ago began to whine and finally growl .For those of u who have been unlucky to have him in your life you know what he is capable of for those of u who have not.
It is like a foggy cold black darkness that envelopes your very soul making decisions irrational .If they are made at all . No sleep yet all you crave is lie down and forget the world is there .If you have responsibilities to others the danger of irrational decision making is just too real .Making your self a danger to them and perhaps to your self. If you do not recognize this you can just plunge into the darkest space available and be of no use to any one at all .It was beneficial that I did to all around me.
The very blood in your veins seems to flow a thick with black destructive thoughts and actions of don’t care and remorse that slowly creeps through your soul to wonder at what the very essence of your existense is about. The motor bike jumps get higher the risks and challengers you take of pushing the boundaries of peoples reactions becomes a sport .[Not the best when they have a big gun and small uneducated inactive brain]
I had already told Peter I would be leaving at the end of March if wages and incentives were not met by then so it was going to happen any way.
During the course of the month I found I could not function to 100 percent of what was required to make informed and proper decisions.
A turning point was there were some containers coming from Port Sudan early next week [they are still coming] the numbers were the same as the ones I had been expecting a year and the money for local expenses was still” Inshalla” just like all year and so resigned mid month taking effect around the 27th as by then I had hoped to have Maanga Jims nose fixed in Nairobi and him on his way back to Maanga and my visa expired also.
The evening I told the boys I was leaving was something I had never experienced in my life and in some ways a total revelation of emotion and humility I had never ever experienced.
In our little world of Aus we say oh thats a pity,better have a drink and keep in touch all of which is crap.
I told the guys and it was just total dead silence .Like a life had been taken I had no idea what I had done to them.
We had they explained over time built such a close bond between us that I had totally underestimated the effect this decision would have on them. To be held in such esteme as to be like a father to them was beyond belief to me and made me feel so bad in one way but also confirmed my decision that I could no longer rationally make decisions for there better well being.
The visits later to my room and the tears shed were incredible even by me just extraordinary emotion some thing I have never experienced before .Just pure raw emotion .
A totally different reaction was forthcoming from the Governor all he cared about was he would loose votes as the project may stop . He was a breath away from taking my passport but as things need to be a bit modern these days and after all his family live in Melbourne he did not . Don’t worry he will just get more guns to make sure he gets the votes or get whacked him self two prominent persons [warlords] have now come out in open hostility to him so time will be interesting in Unity State.
And as it turned out my decision was right as two days after I took Jim to Nairobi the decision to evacuate was made although aware of the situation it had esculated in the way to the air strip with Bentiu put under lock down .
There had been a major fire fight within 100ks and also the Militia had moved to the border at Higlig about 70ks away.
Any how all is gwar helped get them all out from the project from Nairobi with last out on Monday and me off to Turkey where I am sitting on a roof top sipping a red , looking over the Bosphorus sea and wondering now how I am to get to Transylvania in search of Dracula ? Bus I think.
So my Sudan adventure in its present form is over but you never know what can happen you can never say never .The learning curve is huge and inviting.
These are some of the raw emotion I have received from people whom I can call friends for ever. Thanks to them for their kind words
Thank you very much Mr Tim for everything you did to me . Training me to operate , skills on chaining ,raking the list is endless . You are a father to me and my other workmates . God bless you .
I believe God lead you well in Kenya.Before you were born God had good plans for
you to make you prosper all the times .Every bad thing I believe its devil.God
is going to reward you shortly for all the great might works you did He already
put it in his records so, when blessings comes do not be amazed .I speak and
declare good healthy all the days of your life,double portion of anointing
,double portion of increase in abundance ,healing of broken heart, peace of mind
and joy be upon you.We all love you so much Be blessed. Isiah 43vs 5 says fear
not for the Lord is with you. Cheers>>>>>>>>>>>>>Beatrice
Honestly speaking I ve faild to cope up with the situation since you departd frm Maanga and I dont knw if Im gonna meet a good manager like u in my life again.Smetimes I could come with my problms and u could listen to thm like I was yuor own son thank you so mch fr yuor good heart may you remember me wherever u go and I promise you I wil remember u too.
So I just hope my little bit of teaching helps them in life .
So sitting in a nice place out of the wind every now and then I can here the call to bike rack hour as millions of bums through out the towel head world are raised to the heavens what a site it must make from up there .
Mind u I will admit the construction of the Blue Moque here is extraordinary with all the lights on and is s piece or architectural incredulance.
Roof Saint Sophia mosoque/church/Museum
Just boats and flowers all along the water front
Will it fit under 155,00 boats a year go under up to the Black Sea
More Shore Line
Sultans Hunting Lodge
Golden Horn river
Soccer Club oppulence the Club owns the island it is there social club
My dancing partner I can now say I have danced with a Belly Dancer on the Bosphrous
Saint Sophia has been a Mosque and a church it is now a museum
The Blue Mosque
So I am now in Varna in Bulgaria and sipping on a quite one or two and using the fastest wireless I have ever used fantastic.
Instanbul was great the sands of Sudan went down the shower drain but it is not good I could not finish?
Have met some great people over the last day or two have a wonderful invite to visit Kazakhistan and will do so.
Couple of Jobs out there but no rush pouring beer in a Pub some where has its appeal.
