Hi all,

Sorry havent been able to reply but have read your messages last weekend. Internet service poor and not long enough for me to write before crashing.

Well, I have finished my work and am now in Accra before flying home tonight.

Have had the most amazing time on so many different levels. The whole thing has been an educational and emotional rollercoaster.

We have been hosted in the village by Alex (the local Assemblyman) and his family. Ned and I have shared his living room(also with mice that kept us awake), while Alex, his wife and 6 children share the rooms next door, and David and Wendy were in an outbuilding a few yards away. Liz perhaps got the short straw by staying at the chiefs house.

Everyone, including the goats, chickens, dogs and lizards are up at day break (5.30ish) when we swept the yard before breakfast and work. We have been building pit latrines (and have one at Alex's) which resemble Isle of Wight toilets, except 30feet deep with no bowl or seat. Water is at a premium and we drink from 500ml bags, but wash in water from the well. There are only 4 wells in the village (only one with a pump) for over 1000 people. As we had a break during the afternoon heat we usually worked until 5.30-6.00 and usually stopped at the 'spot' for a beer (usually hot) and a chat with the stream of villagers who would come to see us. This meant that showers (bucket of water behind a wall) were usually taken in darkness (after 6.30) and as there was regularly no lighting in the house for days at a time, it was morning before you could see how much dirt you had missed.

The villagers were fantastically friendly and we had tired arms with waving and shaking, on the way to and from work. The kids all new our names and would call and wave whenever they saw us. Quite often we would have visits fom individuals or groups in the evenings as we sat outside (playing scrabble or cards by torchlight)

Alex was a wonderful host and involved us in the most amazing things, ....

local council meeting at a nearby village (where the chief insisted I took his chair) A day with the District Commissioner discussing western ideas that could be adopted to help 'economically disadvantaged' villages (''Ghanaians arent poor'') Being invited to assist in resolving village and domestic disputes (Assemblymans responsibility) being guests at a 6 school drum and dance competition (our school won) and helping to teach and guide teachers at the villace school.

We organised a football match one evening against the school and added Alex, Wisdom our guide, one of Alexs workers and 4 scool kids that I picked (only 12, but really good) We went a goal down but eventually won 6-2. We of course wore skins, except Wendy who wore white - to match. There was much rejoicing and photo taking before we retired with a throng of villagers and kids to the 'spot' for a post match analyses.

Neeless to say leaving the village yesterday was very emotional for us all.

There is soooo much more to bore you with but I will save it until I see you all soon.

Thanks for all your kind messages and support, I couldnt have done it without you.

Tom xx