Hi Martin – sorry – I’ve been very slack too. Will be in touch soon!

Bill – why thanks! See, that cheered me up immensely. I’m glad you like the blog, although sometimes I think that I’m a bit too negative. I can’t help it though – frustrating situations always make me want to laugh afterwards because they’re sometimes so ridiculous.

Nicki – indeed, someone did do it for me. He helped me a great deal.

Elizabeth – thanks!

Ah. And I’ve just finished reading all of your prior posts, I think, via Blogger. Your new look is much more attractive, and I hope easier for you. Great fun for me to read of your experiences, but more important educational. You break up the immensity of your work with the bits of humor (humour, I know) and humanity that make it a story a person can follow without falling into hopelessness or depression. VSO really ought to publish stories in this way. Not glossied, but the truth of adapting first-world concepts of charity and good works to the reality of places where they are needed. So thank you for the truth, and for the laughs along the way! Oh, and for the fabulous images, too.

Just caught up with your last few posts. Very entertaining, well written as ever and…I love the double and single entendres.

Like others your description of feeling lost and alone in an airport in 1994 brought back memories. I can’t wait to go somewhere exotic again – but not easy with a strict annual leave quota – and in my case it would mean going back to NE India.

It would be good to catch up properly, will try to send you an email before long

I think you are doing brilliantly

Martin