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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Fundu Lagoon - Days 7 & 8 ...

... and on with the tales!  (We're still in the throes of some beautiful spring weather.  Makes such a difference to how you feel.)

27th February ... massage, snakes and RAIN!

Lovely stiff breeze when we woke and we heard thunder in the distance but it was dry and still hot. I got noticed taking a photo of Matt.  It should have been of Matt and Anie but Anie has stopped at the jetty bar.  They'd been seeing guests off ...

The local Mama's were out making the most of the very low tide and cockle picking. 

Yep, and I did say rain!  The expected happened and it certainly does rain when they have it! Torrential downpour ... all morning. The thatched roof did it's job but where there was no roof the rain came in.

We were told, at breakfast, that an Indian Head massage had been booked for us later that morning. We were also asked to kitty sit! Such a tiny little thing. Ended up taking him to our massage appointment and he was given the run of the terrace where we were to have the massage but not before the snakes had vacated! Yep, snakes! On Pemba they're not dangerous, or big, but they're still snakes! Little Chris was sitting, staring intently at a pot of beautiful tropical flowers then we saw it ... a long, thin, black snake that was staring just as intently at little Chris. Panic! 4 full grown women ... me, Jackie, Iluh and Kadek ... and not one of us up to 'rescuing' little kitty! Girl threw towel at snake ... Jackie grabbed Chris. Iluh and Kadek - disappeared - inside the spa (we were still on terrace). I'd seen more snakes - ooops! In fact, a string of them! Several plant pots spread along the edge of the terrace. Seemed each pot had a snake and linked together. There were even snakes in the trellis at the side of the terrace! I grabbed camera but they moved too quickly and I didn't get a shot. Think the rain - which had stopped - had bought them out and the sun was starting to make them head for the shade again.

Snakes 'dealt' with, Kadek and Iluh emerged from their haven and we had our massages. Oh, heaven! Ended with really, really oily hair but we were so relaxed we didn't care. Lunch at the pool bar was followed by a swim in the pool ... for me and Chris! Infinity pool, wonderful views, cool fruit drinks while in pool. Could life get any better?

I didn't make cocktail night - couldn't manage climb to top of resort again. One climb to pool bar area a day was quite enough for me :0{

28th February ... Bao, cockles and more rain!

Really lazy day. Nothing booked or planned so jetty bar, watching world go by and reading. More thunder and heavy rain but it was so refreshing. Local Mama's out cockle picking again. They can only do this on exceptionally low spring tides and exceptionally low they were! Matt and Alex went to meet the other 2 owners of Fundu - Alex' twin, Marcus and Ellis - who were arriving for a few days stay. So strange seeing the guys walking up the jetty with umbrellas ... woosies *lol*!

Jackie had a lesson in how to play  Bao from Hoffman ...

Tide was very high (although would go still higher over next few days).  We took a dip from the end of the jetty - wearing snorkels! Jackie ventured away from jetty - I stayed on steps but still saw plenty! Matt and Anie came to join us for a while.  After the rain in the morning it turned out beautiful. The sea was like glass. Amazing sight!

  Beautiful end to the day which was finished with another Swahili night.

Jackie went to hobnob - I went to  bed - *LOL!*

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Lovely day ...

... out yesterday.

When youngest son knew that Grandad wanted to go to Drusillas with the littlies he suggested we went one day this week, subject to weather. He was having some time off and they'd intended going anyway. The day was duly agreed and the weather played ball. Beautiful day, the best this year. Sunny, warm - a proper spring day! It was also the 2nd anniversary of Mum's passing and it seemed right to go and do something that she would've enjoyed. Not sure Dad was aware of the date and we didn't remind him but, he did enjoy himself ... we think *lol*. It's difficult to tell with him as he doesn't show, or articulate, much emotion. If I hear from the carers that he was exceptionally chatty then I shall know for sure he did *lol*!

The oldest and youngest members of my family - Dad & Zac.

Dad and the littlie girlies - Emma & Amy

Dad and my youngest, Wayne - with my daughter-in-law Claire, in background with Zac

Just a small selection of some of the animals we saw ...

Gibbons - Mum, Dad & youngster

Otters

... and this activity seems to be following me this year.  Not lions this time but ...

Yellow Mongoose!

On my way home through Ovingdean, having dropped Dad back at his flat, I had to stop and take a photo to prove that Spring had arrived.  Daffodils growing wild ... by the side of the road ..  with a tree just starting to break leaf bud.

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Oooo! ...

... don't feel much like blogging today. Least, not holiday stuff.  Hard to believe, a month ago today we were on a plane to Dubai and homeward bound. This morning's post was prepped yesterday and put on 'scheduled' so it posted without me - lol! It's a busy-ish couple of days, what with dentist, shopping, general house stuff and a trip to Dad.

Got to have tooth extracted next week. Now there's something to look forward to! I really knew that would be the outcome and dentist offered to refer me to the Dental Hospital at East Grinstead (about 45 minutes away) or the local hospital, so that I could have it out under total knockout drops because of my needle phobia! She kindly told me I'd got 2 other wobblers, although I'm not yet aware of them, except I can move them now I know - *duh!* I've chosen to pshyc myself up for the jab, although having it done at hospital I would have had one of the other wobbly ones out at the same time and it probably wouldn't cost me anything but ... I'll be brave! Appointment is made for next week and I've already paid so got to have it done now.

One bit of good news. Impaired Glucose Tolerance blood test. Result came back normal so I'm not diabetic ... yet!

Going to chill this evening. I suddenly feel very tired ....

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Fundu Lagoon - Days 5 & 6 ...

25th February ... daily life, monkeys and BBQ ...

Late getting started this particular morning. Nothing planned so no problem .... WRONG! Late to breakfast but still before 10am. Found out certain young lady not too pleased 'cos we were holding up dining room cleaning. Just happened to be the last guests to be at breakfast - oh dear, in trouble again it seems! Seems everybody else (not that there were many guests) had been up and at 'em at some silly o'clock. Guess they'd all gone diving or snorkelling then .... Still, we finished brekkie, used t'internet to send message to friend Lynne, in Spain as she was on her own for the week (oops! a week late on that one but hey, we'd lost track of time *hehe*) and found ourselves in the jetty bar ... again! Jackie had got burnt on Misali - not enough sunblock on back of legs when snorkelling - so had to stay out of sun. 'Twere a lovely day as there was quite a strong, refreshing wind. Told it was the first onshore wind of the season, which meant that rain was on it's way. No idea when it was to arrive but locals (that included Matt) reckoned within a few days - bring - it - on! (I know, usually we don't want to see rain but it would have been a welcome relief to the heat right then - lol!)

Beautiful sunset, as ever, but this one we were viewing from the jetty bar. Taking photos of sunset, barman Hoffman suddenly calls 'mank, mank, beach!'  Not having a clue, off we trot to see loads of monkeys scattered over the beach. It looked as though they were eating and then we realised ... they were hunting and eating the little ghost crabs!  Next thing Hoffman's calling again ... 'sunset, sunset' ... and this was how it continued ' mank, sunset, mank, sunset' with us rushing from one side of jetty, and bar, to the other - just because he didn't want us to miss either - bless!

Finished the day with a BBQ on the beach. The food was already cooked so not quite a BBQ as we know it but delish none-the-less ... crayfish, prawns (giant, giant ones to our little tiddlers), fish kebabs to name just a few!

Notice the stars in this shot.  The result of non light polluted skies ... beautiful!

26th February ... fish, Chris and hob-nobbing!

But first ... this was a sight we saw while breakfasting and it wasn't the first we saw - or the last.  Piles of 'something' moving along the beach!  Further investigation told us that they were local villagers carrying materials along the beach to make a new shelter for the local fishermen.

A day out at sea ... fishing!  Well, I went along for the ride - *lol*  I used to fish and would have fished but - we took Lizzie, the restaurant manager, with us.  She'd worked at the resort for 10 years, had never been on a boat, apart from to and fro the resort and the local port and had certainly never fished so ... when first one was on the line she took centre stage.  With a lot of  hard work and help she landed a big 'un *lol*  A great trevally.  Never heard of one before but Google has told me a bit about them. 

Very, very hot day! None of the wind that was around yesterday!  At 700m the water temperature was 29.8c.  Water depth went off the scale and it was 30.6c.  Who'd have thought that the deeper the water the hotter it would be - *phew*!  Fish didn't much want to know ... too hot for them as well.  Water like a mill pond.  Lunch and wine on board for all, most welcome, along with the gallons of water consumed.

Another fish bit ... Jackie's turn!  Trouble was, by time she was ready it had surrendered and jumped into boat by itself  *LOL*.  Well, not quite but it was close enough to be dragged in.  Yellow fin tuna.  Not large but beautifully formed  *lol* ....  Tried for more fish for a while but nothing happening.  Made our way back, past Misali Island, enjoying the view and the breeze.

We decided to freshen up with a dip in the sea before changing and making our way to main bar, cocktails and sushimi - made with the tuna caught that afternoon (excellent!) - and to be introduced to Chris and Alex!    Chris - Matt and Anie's kitten - and Alex, part owner of the resort

Dinner 'party' this evening ... Matt, Anie, Rusty (today's skipper), Martie (his wife), us and Alex.  Very enjoyable!

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