Simples today ...

... tooth out yesterday, sore at mo but no pain so that's good! Last tooth extraction was in 1974 ... aaaaaaaaaaages ago ... wisdom teeth out under general in hospital. This one done under local - loadsa needles (aaarrggggggghhhhh!) - not good for my phobia but was best option so plenty of deep breathing and gripping of chair arm while needles went in and it was all over and done with in less than half an hour. A few weeks after my wisdom teeth came out I discovered I was pregnant with youngest son. At least I won't have that following this one - *LOL*!!

Dad's new hearing aids are ready so he's having them fitted on Tuesday. Hopefully we'll be able to stop shouting at him to make ourselves heard but ... I'm not holding breath! We're also having a meeting with the Estate Manager as they're starting the catering facility at the flats and we need to find out more about it. Seems he'll be charged for it whether he uses it or not :0{ Pity they hadn't got it up and running before he moved in 'cos it's gonna be difficult to get him using it now - he's such a creature of habit! If it was there when he moved in it would have become part of his new routine at the time - now he'll have to change. Don't think it right if the residents are charged for something they don't use!

Little disappointed as I should have been doing a craft workshop at the Glitterpot tomorrow, with friend Cally but, it's been cancelled *sob*. Not enough take up to make it viable. Reckon it's because the kids are still on their Easter break so Mums have to be home instead of out playing *lol*. We're going to go 'shopping' instead. There's a new Range store opening in Worthing and they are supposed to have good craft sections so ... we're off to go have a looksee - at the whole store, of course *grin*.

Not quite finished with holiday stuff! A slideshow of photos of some of the nature and wildlife we encountered at Fundu ...

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And it's homeward bound ...

... phew!

6th March - A marathon of a holiday but a totally wonderful experience! Brilliant company, loads of laughs and beautiful people ... in the main. We did mix with people I wouldn't give you tuppence for if I were to meet them in 'normal' life. Those who thought they were above everybody else and really needed to learn some manners but then there were some really nice, decent people and completely down to earth. Normal people who didn't allow their wealth to affect them.

When we left Beho Beho, Jackie and I were paid a compliment I will never forget. I was told that we were a breath of fresh air. That we came without expectations and had shown our enjoyment and appreciation of everything that we'd seen and done. That we'd treated the staff as equals and, as such, had got the best out of them and that we would be welcome back, at any time, with open arms! Just got to save a lot then - *lol* That's the problem with high-end holidays ... they ain't cheap (unless you know somebody who knows a man ...  mind you, still not cheap ... just cheaper *hehe*)

Anyways ... early up.  Due to leave Fundu at around 8:30am. Breakfast with Matt and Anie and a few monkeys who came to wave us off. Just as well nobody else breakfasting. Monkey playing in roof - decided to deposit ... onto a table below him! How we laughed but sure some guests would have complained - as if management had control over the wildlife *LOL*

Gathered in reception to a farewell committee. William (barman), Liz (restaurant manager), Casey, Rusty (fishing skipper), Martie and, of course, Matt and Anie ... On way to jetty bar I noticed a couple of the new Masai hovering. Matt and Anie had arranged for them to be there. I noticed them, Jackie didn't, so just as well I took photos - *LOL*.

Normally departing guests are escorted by Matt, or a senior member of staff, to end of jetty to board little boat that takes them to Mkoani. Martie suggested, as tide high enough, boat should come to us and it was called to come to jetty bar steps.  Boarded and off we set ... with everybody waving us off. Have to say, a few tears were shed that morning!

Morning flight from Pemba, expected to arrive in Dar, via Zanzibar, around mid-day.  Arrived Pemba airport only to be charged $50 excess baggage.  Explained hadn't paid it coming but was easier handing it over.  Arrived in Zanzibar and greeted with a $50 refund - ???  Explain that one!  Government dignitaries following us around on our travels?  This time flight held back to allow the Vice-President to fly out....  No further delays and less than half hour later we landed at Dar Domestic and transferred to Dar International by a very, very nice man who took us right through the very small airport so we wouldn't get lost ... or was that to earn the tip he was given -*lol!!* 

Flight to Dubai not until 5:20pm - time to eat and shop a little (a very little - not many shops -*lol*!) after we'd waited for check-in to open!  Think somebody was moving country by the loaded trolleys.  Family of 4, about 13 trolleys of luggage - cases, boxes and anything else you could name.  Male left female and the 2 children to deal with it while he spent all his time on phone ... typical!  Jackie joked, hoped they weren't near us on plane .... how about seat in front *LOL*?  Have to say though, our worries were unfounded and we hardly knew they were there ... which is more can be said of Jackie who decided that she'd try reading my airline mag, over my shoulder, instead of getting hers out!

Excellent flights throughout (good one Emirates!) and no real delays.  Landed at Gatwick on time but into the cold.  Bit of a shock arriving back to -4c when we'd been basking in 40c and especially as we were still wearing our flipflops. Quick change and wrap up required before we left airport - bbbbrrrrrrrrrr *lol*

Wonderful holiday and so grateful to be given the opportunity of having it ... bring on the next one! Oh, that'll be June then - *hehe*!

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Fundu Lagoon - Days 12 & 13 ...

4th March - luxury, luxury and more luxury!

Our penultimate day and definitely a day of chillaxing and pampering. Making the most of our new room, breakfast by room service - how spoilt were we? Message sent to say we'd got to be at spa for 1pm. No other clues given. An hour lounging on beach while housekeeping housekept then plunge pool 'til time for spa.  Low tide was getting later and not as low so there were fewer Mama's going out to cockle pick and they were getting a lot later going.  When we first saw them they were already out picking before we had breakfast.  Now it was getting on for lunch time before they started to go!  Not many days left before they wouldn't be going at all.

1pm - heaven had arrived - facial, manicure and pedicure! 2 hours of sheer pamper followed by late lunch and back to plunge pool to read until tide high enough to go for a dip! We had a visitor attempt to enter at the spa. Tap-tap-tap coming from window and there it was. A mangrove kingfisher, perched on back of chair, tapping to come in. So pretty but it wasn't invited *LOL*

Today was rounded off with our final BBQ :0{

5th March - and a day to make the most of!

Our last day - and a lovely one. Unfortunately didn't go quite as we'd hoped and, for me, a bit of an anti-climax, but was still really enjoyable if not quite what was initially expected - *lol*

Morning started well. Jackie went for morning dive off Misali with Filbert (Philbert? not sure of spelling). Note how few our boat trips had been this week - Monday, then nothing, except this one for Jackie! I had breakfast alone in room, planning on really chilling and spending morning in plunge pool once housekeeping had been - except, they were late and Jackie was back before had chance to plunge! In meantime I chilled on beach trying to get close up photos of Mama's on way to cockle pick. Got some lovely close, face fronting shots then ..... went and deleted 'em by mistake *doh*! Wouldn't get the same opportunity again!  Local lads were off  'somewhere' and were full of curiosity - *bless*.

Lunch at pool bar with Matt and Anie (who were both suffering a tummy bug and had been for a few days).

Plan had been for sundowners in room, local Mama doing henna tattoos, Liz dressing to show us her Masai finery followed by a private dinner for us, Matt, Anie and Liz but ... lunchtime it changed. Henna lady and Liz dressing up to come earlier so that we could do the sundowner cruise in Mama Cass, the resort dhow. Still a private dinner but on the beach instead. Trouble was, nobody told henna lady ... or Liz so - Mama Cass left without us :0(

Still, dinner was excellent (although no Liz and Matt and Anie still not well). Lobster (or rather, langoustine), giant prawns, fish kebabs ... all superb!

We finished the evening with farewell drinks and a nightcap at the bar. Jackie threw me out when everyone else had disappeared ... so she could spend 'quality time' with William (purely platonic, of course) *giggle* She wasn't keen on walking along beach, on own, in dark but ... I could *hehe*!

Had to prepare for early start next day ... homeward bound!

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Fundu Lagoon - Day 11 (2nd post today) ...

... first, real life! We've had a beautiful weekend weatherwise but seems the forecast isn't as good for a while :0(  I managed to get a tiny bit of crafting done and some more craft stuff sorted out but still loads to do. The tales from our holiday are coming to an end. The holiday was almost over - :0( Most activity was in the first 2 weeks and the 3rd, and last, week was so much less eventful and really relaxing.

3rd March - and a tale in pictures ... nearly!

Masai security guards leaving,  early morning ... around 7:30am.  We were going to do the last dolphin safari available before we went home but it didn't happen. 

Local fishermen netting fish and a couple of Mama's looking on.

Anie came to find us at breakfast and told us we needed to pack as we were moving rooms.  Then we had to make ourselves scarce until lunch or she found us (that'd be the jetty bar then!) to tell us our new room was ready ...  She came to find us to take us our new room.  A walk along the beach, she stopped, said "enjoy ladies" and walked away.  This was the first sight of our new 'room'!

OK, so it was back to a double bed but reckoned we could live with that.  It was so large it really didn't matter and Jackie had been missing me - rflmao!

Yep, that's a plunge pool and we're right on beach ...

How the other half live ... guess where we spent the afternoon!

High tide ... no beach to walk along ... it's under water.

New Masai security team arriving

Sea now comes to us if we wait long enough!  Half a dozen paces and into the sea for a dip as sun sets.

Absolute, sheer luxury! Then we learn that this was the room that had been allocated to us for the duration of our holiday except ... bookings changed just before we arrived so we had to forego it *sob*  Still, to finish our holiday this way was wonderful.

Ellis' (owner) last night but we managed to avoid dinner with her.  Alex had left for the office in Zanzibar a few days earlier and Marcus was around but not obvious.  Dinner eaten, we decided to have nightcap back at room.  Sitting in upper lounge area listening to the sounds of nature when a bushbaby suddenly ran through the roof above our heads.  Made us jump and Jackie screamed!  Wasn't expecting it and it was all over in a couple of seconds but it set us off into hysterical laughter ... again ... as did the fight with the bedding just to get a sheet.  We'd got it down to a fine art in our old room.  Now we had double the size to fight with - and double thickness of thick, furry, fleecy blanket!

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Fundu Lagoon - Day 10 ...

2nd March ... another nothing day - except for a treat!

Very hot again and slept badly because of burnt legs (not that I'd slept well since leaving home but this night was bad!). Nothing planned so off to jetty bar for breeze, reading, watching the world go by and refreshments on tap - *lol* Odd shower of rain but nothing to speak of. Mama's still cockle picking ...

The afternoon saw the highest tide. Full moon, spring tide, amazing! Had to be seen to be believed. It took away the beach, the jetty steps and nearly the jetty - *hehe* Could nearly sit on jetty and dangle feet in water. Difficult to believe that it could be walked under most of the time.  We took a dip in the sea to watch the sunset, off of what little beach was left, before sundowners in the bar *lol*

Dinner was to be taken with the owners. We'd managed to escape that one until now but couldn't get out of it this time! While we were waiting for them to arrive we were told to go to reception. No clue why, then all was revealed. The group of Masai security guys were leaving the resort in the morning and Matt, knowing how taken Jackie was with all things Masai, had asked them if they would come and give the guests a demonstration of their singing and dancing and allow photos to be taken. WOW! What a treat!  More so because these guys were working a regular job and were not part of the tourist trade. Have to say the Man U shorts somehow spoil the mental image - *lol*

Dinner ended up being very late and not because of the Masai - more because of host's bad manners!  Too late for me and I couldn't eat it -  not impressed *LOL!*

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Fundu Lagoon - Day 9

1st March - and ... not blooming likely! This was real funny but could be one that you had to be there for!

Another day on Misali Island for snorkelling. This time just me, Jackie, another couple of guests and Simba - the snorkel 'guide'. Sea choppy and female of the couple decided not to go. Think she made the right choice as it turned out *lol*!

Onto little boat and off we go. Pretty tough rough going.  Heading into wind ... and waves. Waves start coming over side. Simba offered waterproofs. "That's OK" say me and Jackie. "We're Brits and used to getting wet". Oh my word - or famous last ones!  So much water Simba passes waterproof to cover basket cameras and books in. I'm up front, getting worst of it - full in face! Decided to cover self (OK, so horse bolted, stable door and all that) as well as basket. Put arms in sleeves - waterproof back to front. Jackie hunkered down behind me .... 

We laughed so much the guys must have wondered what they'd got with them. We were laughing 'cos we were getting so wet and for being so stupid! We couldn't ask for waterproofs after being so blasé ... could we? Trip to Misali - 3 times longer than normal. We got soaked! I mean - really, really wet!

Arrived Misali, jumped off boat and ... "Guess what I'm NOT doing!" It was too rough for me to even paddle let alone swim and snorkel. I claimed a sunbed - in the shade 'cos it was still sunny and hot - and Jackie went snorkelling with Simba! Beautiful morning. Beach dress hanging out to dry.  Quite a bit going on. Divers coming in for lunch. Yachts anchoring offshore. Local fishermen in their dhows. Little, and not so little, crabs to watch the antics of. Lunch served, Simba went diving around our little boat and after lunch off they went, snorkelling again.

As things were being packed away Simba was still diving around our little boat, then he moved it. He'd 'broken the anchor' - oops! Broken anchor? That explained why he'd been playing around near a bouy. He'd been tying the boat off. Anchor rope had broken and he couldn't reach the anchor because of the conditions. Tide coming in, sea getting closer to us than the boat! I'm watching and thinking that there was no way we were going to get back into that boat if  water gets any closer. Too deep!  Eventually Simba decides it's time to go.

Guess who was volunteered to go first (note - I had no choice!) while Jackie stands back with camera at the ready. 4 attempts later I'd nearly made it onto the side and into boat but crest of waves took boat out from under my butt! Next, Simba grabs me, thunder thighs, and virtually throws me into boat! Poor man ... think he knew he'd done it! Next thing there's hysterical Jackie lying virtually at my feet! She'd managed, somehow, to launch herself over the side but I reckon it's because she was crying with laughter *lol*!

Journey back better than going. Wind behind us! What a day, but so enjoyable except ... although I'd stayed in the shade all day I'd managed to get my shins burnt - and burnt they surely were! We then had to confess, once back, that anchor lost but ... Simba knew where 'twas and would collect the next day. Had to happen on our watch *LOL*!

Sundowners taken at jetty bar this evening, with the owners and management but dinner was had with another couple we'd become friendly with.

All in all a memorable day *LOL*

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