Nairobi - Sun 26th July 09

We (Matt, Rick and I) went to do the Nairobi tourist trail today which included an elephant orphanage - lots of cute baby elephants and a baby rhino.

Then the giraffe sanctuary where we fed the giraffes - on to Karen (I had a farm in Africa, Meryl Streep Oscar etc.) Blixen's house and gardens - had lunch there which was lovely.

In the evening we had the first meeting of our truck party - 20 of us in all. There's half English, quarter Aussie, quarter Kiwi - I'd say 60% women - mostly mid twenties, early thirties and three oldies thrown in. Having said that one of the 'oldies' has just climbed Kilimanjaro so full respect to him! All seem like a nice bunch - hope so - 6 1/2 weeks is a LONG time!

6 of us took off after the meeting and went to Kenya's most famous restaurant - Carnivore - it's not just a tourist place, it's where the locals come for their birthdays and celebrations - it's basically an eat all you like meat fest - they just keep coming at you with huge skewers of meat - we had chicken, pork, turkey, beef, lamb and ostrich - yum. oh - and sausage. Reckon the truck might get a bit wiffy tomorrow!

Need to get up at 6 tomorrow for an 8 hour drive to Tanzania - eek!

Nairobi - Sat 25th July 09

Hung out in Nairobi for the day with a couple of new mates - Karen, who is going on a tour of Kenya (teacher, 34, leaving tomorrow) and Rick (student, 21, coming on our 6 1/2 week trip).

After breakfast we went to the Nairobi museum - lots of good neolithic man samples and stuffed animals! And lots of cute african kids in school uniforms running around.

After that we walked through the city and happened upon the annual street dancing competition which was amazing!! We stayed for a couple of hours watchoing the crowds grooving and the performances on stage and have to say I LOVE the music - must remember to download some...

Nairobi was different to how I expected - I think the English style weather made it feel more familiar - it didn't rain but was a comfy 20 degrees - the same as blighty over the last couple of weeks. The architecture is nothing to speak of and everyone speaks English so it didn't feel exotic at all - more like Birkenhead!

The one thing you do notice is the same as anywhere in the undeveloped world - the beggars with babies - really made me sad after having spent 2 weeks with Colly, Nicky and Mike's amazing kids.

Looking forward to getting into the countryside and seeing what Africa is really all about.

London to Nairobi - 24th July 09

Yay Yay Yay - we're on our way and we've been upgraded - we had to buy premium economy anyway due to availability but were upgraded to business class with the comfy bed seats, champagne cocktails and as much as you could eat and drink all the way. We were sensible though :o)

Arrived in Nairobi and guess what - it was raining - remarkably similar weather to London!!

Thursday - 23rd July 09

We were woken up by Gigi – we had hangovers but she was delightful as ever! Mum came for breakfast before work, then we watched Space Chimps before Nicky, Mimi and Mama arrived to say goodbye – got the train – and now we’re in the (very crappy) Heathrow holiday inn (don’t ever stay here) waiting eagerly for our flight to Nairobi at 10am tomorrow – YAY!!!!!!!

Wirral - Wed 22nd July 09

Hung out at Colly’s with her and the kids and Reefy (Sharif). Went to the park, went on the swings and then to a pub for some food. Soraya enjoyed her pasta although I thing she dropped most of it over her – see the pic!

In the evening we went to Mum and Dad’s – they threw us a going away party and had the regular boxing day crowd (Jan, Al, Pauline, Lisa, Colin, Eileen Mc, Mama...)plus Trisha Blyth and Des and Ann Mannix who I haven’t seen for 20 years. We had a great time – and we had a ‘bon voyage’ cake cutting ceremony. Mum made such an effort and everyone made us feels really special - a good night was had by all.

Stasia got a bit upset because she thought Uncle Richard and Godfather Steve were laughing at her (they weren’t!) but we cheered her up with a supermodel photo shoot – she was excellent – what a stunner! She would have carried on all night but her dad Reefy picked her up and took her away!!

Wirral - Tue 21st July 09

Woken up by the kids at 7.30 jumping on us! Hung out with Colly, Mimi, Oma , Mama (Sharif’s Mum) and the kids. Went to the World Museum in Liverpool and were there for 4 and a half hours – was superb and the kids enjoyed pretending to be popstars. Then saw nicky's new house in the evening - lots of potential there. The kids went to bed early and watched a movie - they call it the 'groovy movie club'!

Wirral - Mon 20th July 09

Left Oakham with our (very heavy) rucksacks. Got the train the Liverpool and Ian Botham sat opposite us for a part of it – have you seen him lately? He looks like that chap off the Catherine Tate show (how very dare he!)

Got to the ‘pool and were picked up by Colly and her kids Stasia and Soraya. Little Gigi, the youngest, was at home with Oma (Paul’s Mum).

The kids realised we won’t be back this year for Christmas, as we’ve always spent Christmas with them they decided to decorate our room at Colly’s house as a winter wonderland – with Father Christmas, Snowmen and streamers – was fab!!!!

Uncle Pete's wedding: 18th July 2009

Returned from Thorpeness and went to Uncle Pete's wedding reception - then on to a chinese!

Off to the Wirral tomorrow to say goodbye to Paul's family - can't wait to see the neices!

Then we fly to Nairobi on Friday - very excited, we've just finished packing our backpacks!

Thorpeness - Day 6: 17th July 09

Chris and Laura left early and the rest of us went to Orford castle - excellent tour and great views from the top!

Thorpeness - Day 5: 16th July 09

Lots more walking and feeding swans - Then the house dressing up box came out and Laura looked mega comical as a crocodile - apparently the suit chaffed a bit in the wrong places though - ouch!

Anabelle looks well funny feeding the swans again - and how cute is Brandon!