Monday 8 February 2016

Sunday 7th February 2016 by Ellie and Jacquelyn

After settling down at Mabuya Lodge, we all sat down to enjoy our dinner meal after a long journey. Spaghetti Bolognese was served although there was no salt and pepper in sight so Ellie resorted in fried bugs to add some flavour. But jokes aside Ellie had all the flies from the light above falling into her dinner!! At one point I think she actually said ‘im a celebrity get me out of here’. Needless to say she gulped it all up (don’t worry Tanya she’s still alive hahaha)

There was then the series of more unfortunate events in one of the girls rooms (one small room, 9 girls and a whole lot of lizards!) You could only imagine the sheer screeching coming from Megan as she leapt into Liv’s bed for the night!

The alarms were set for 5am and even Mollie managed to get up! We then set off for our 6 hour journey to Butterfly Space. During the coach journey, we had a quick comfort break where Jacquelyn met her new friend ‘Gift’! He told us about their community and we had a look at their artwork, earrings and post cards (so if you get a postcard from somebody, it’s from Gift!)
Surprisingly the journey didn’t seem as long as it was! We then reached our destination.

Wow.
No words can truly describe the breath-taking view of Butterfly Space. We were all left speechless for sure. Sammy even shed a tear on arrival at how beautiful this place is. There’s jam jars marking the pathways, fairy lights across the table and a truly stunning view of Nkhata Bay from the decking at the bar.

We all managed to get some food although Sally I’m sure you’ll be worried about Sasha not liking any food and no she hasn’t enjoyed anything! Not to panic, she’s working her way through her suitcase of Frazzles fine.

It’s 6pm and we’ve all just gone for a swim in the lake. Not quite ‘Snake Malawi’ but plenty of fish in the sea as Jacquelyn discovered! Again, don’t worry Tanya, Ellie hasn’t been eaten by a crocodile.

It’s approaching 9pm and we’ve just enjoyed dinner, it’s nearly time to settle down in our rooms, or tents in Mollie, Becca’s, Dave’s and Ryan’s case! Let’s hope it doesn’t rain tonight or I think I’ll be waking up to a soaking wet Mollie in my room! By the way Heidi, Mollie’s told me to ask you to liaise with Becca’s mum about a spa day of some sort?!

Everyone is absolutely fine! In fact I think it’s going to be a struggle convincing the team to fly back to the UK. We’re all blown away by the beauty of Malawi and (a bug has just crawled across the laptop at this precise moment) we couldn’t be any more excited to start our adventure teaching classes with over 75 children!

Night night from Els and Jacq xxxxxxxx

PS from Helen - team leader and blog poster: very sorry folks, but internet here is really intermittent as it is reliant on both the electricity and the signal to be working at the same time! I'll do my best, but apologies if blogs are not regularly posted. I'll also have to be very limited with photos as signal not good when it happens. On the plus side I guess all this just goes to show that we really are away from the mainstream of life, making a big difference, and loving it!









26 comments:

Unknown said...

Lovely to hear your update. Hope you all enjoy your first day in class! xx

Unknown said...

Hi Amber

I took a cheeky peek of the blog today while at work and it made my day! Needless to say I'm not working very hard now as I'm distracted by the pics (along with anyone else who passes by).
Hope the first lessons today went well, look forward to hearing from you all again soon. Take care babe, love and miss you lots. Mum, Dad, Courtney & Roxie.
P.S James girlfriend had the baby yesterday! No name yet but a healthy 8lb boy.

Mum and Dad Beardmore said...

Dear Oli, It certainly looks a lovely place. We may have all grown web feet by the time you get back to England... It has done nothing but rained and rained. The place you are staying at looks amazing and I bet you can't wait to go and meet the Children and get on with the work you set out to do... We hope it all goes well and the lessons are a success. You have all worked hard for this so go and have fun! Make sure you teach them a bit of latin and Ballroom... lol xxxxx Love you lots and missing you greatly xxxxx stay sprayed, netted and pop those pills xxxxx love you ... x Mum and Dad xxx And all the Beardmore Bunch xxxxxx

Unknown said...

Hey Amber, it's so lovely to be reading your blogs again. I hope you're enjoying yourself as well as the weather,it's awful here in b'town (nothing to be jealous of!) I'd be lying if I were to say I didn't miss you because i definatly do!;) I hope you're enjoying your notes from me and I can't wait to see you soon, I love you lots!xxxxxx

Unknown said...

Glad to hear your having a good time, Mollie I hope you didn't wake up in the middle of the lake like you thought you would haha! Missing you loads already Ellie but I know your having an amazing time I will keep writing on here but see you when your back and I hope you've realised bex who the better sister is which is obviously me lol see you all soon love Keely xxx

Unknown said...

Hi sasha sounds like an amazing place you are staying at. I knew u would struggle with food being the fussy mare you are but atleast your supplies are serving you well xx bet u cant wait to start teaching them children. Its soo quiet here with no-one coming in an out i might have to start arguing with myself lolx muss you loads and enjoy evey moment and make sure that cameras getting lots if use love you lots mum xxxxx

Unknown said...

Was meant to tell you sasha that Denise had her baby yesterday anither boy and it was also barrys birthday bless xx

Unknown said...
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Unknown said...

Hey.
Glad you are all there safe and hope you had a great first day. Can't wait to hear all about it.
Ellie why I am not surprised that you ate your food bugs n all?? Hope you are settling in well, drinking lots, taking your vitamins and using your insect repellant ;-) missing you lots but hope you make the most of this opportunity.

Love ya xx
Mum, dad and Lilly xx

P.s please stay away from the crocodile ;-))

Sara said...

Hi Abby , I hope your first full day has gone well & the children were pleased to see you all . The views look breath taking , what a Beautiful place to be having this wonderful experience in .hope your looking after your self & taking lots of pics .The weather here is absolutely awful !!!!
I'm so enjoying reading your daily blogs , it's quite literally the high light of my day .
Love you lots Big Girl , Mum Xxx

Sara said...

Hi Abby , I hope your first full day has gone well & the children were pleased to see you all . The views look breath taking , what a Beautiful place to be having this wonderful experience in .hope your looking after your self & taking lots of pics .The weather here is absolutely awful !!!!
I'm so enjoying reading your daily blogs , it's quite literally the high light of my day .
Love you lots Big Girl , Mum Xxx

Unknown said...

Hi Penny , glad you all arrived safely and hope you are settled in . Have a great first day teaching .photos look fab ,look forward to seeing more. Love you Mum &Rob.xx

Unknown said...

Chloe it looks a wonderful place to be. Hope your not finding the food to bad or the creatures. Enjoy. Love mum, dad, Dan and shauna. Xxz

Unknown said...

Hi Liv its dad checked out the place your staying on the internet and it looks fabulous i hope your not taking in too much scenery and are working instead because its not a holiday ok LOL Love you DAD xxx

Unknown said...

Hi Abby and Amber,

Glad to hear you're both there safe, looks lovely and warm out there. Rained all day here. Keep up the good work. See you both soon. Enjoy it. Love Lauren xxx

Michelle said...

Pleased to hear you are all well, looks an amazing place. Look forward to hearing all about your day at the school.

Take care all
Jemma's Nan & Grandad xx

mandy said...

Hi megan.
I glad to hear you have made alot friends with the animal kingdom. Nice to see you have the pleasure of amazing views. Hope your first day has gone well and you have enjoyed it. As your working in 30 degree heat,we are sat in the middle of storm imogen, part of the tree came down at the back of nan's house so she a nervous wreck now. It was good to see you in a couple of photo's. Love you lots mum,dad,danielle and Asia.

PS.doggy blow off the laders today whilst windows cleaning with uncle steve xxxx

Unknown said...

Sammy,
I have seen the pictures and they look awesome...Wish I was there.
Lots of love and wishes for the days ahead
From Nomes xxx

mandy said...

Hi megan.
I glad to hear you have made alot friends with the animal kingdom. Nice to see you have the pleasure of amazing views. Hope your first day has gone well and you have enjoyed it. As your working in 30 degree heat,we are sat in the middle of storm imogen, part of the tree came down at the back of nan's house so she a nervous wreck now. It was good to see you in a couple of photo's. Love you lots mum,dad,danielle and Asia.

PS.doggy blow off the laders today whilst windows cleaning with uncle steve xxxx

heidi nye said...

Mollie, another great read of the blog today,
Yes I will sort the spa day for us for when you get home.
After packing your room up to be decorated I think you should be on Britains biggest hoarders ��
Only joking moles
Rebecca said she misses you loads and she not let me throw any think away
Lots of love mum dad and Rebecca xxx
Ps....
Hi Beca and bex x

Nehpets said...

JACQUELYN - Glad all is well and your obviously enjoying yourself. Last nights storm took out the power here at 34 - 'Brown Out' as your cousins know them.

Came across some words of wisdom . . .

“As you grow older, you’ll find the only things you regret are the things you didn’t do” by Zachary Scott (not your brother) and your Father

Really glad you will have these wonderful memories to look back on

Unknown said...

Hi Abby
Great to read what you have been up to, hope the bugs are not to scary 😬 lol.
Thinking about you loads Baylin and Hayden send lots of hugs and love to their cousin.
Love you loads

Unknown said...

DavidLem, just read the blog - how you coping with the crawling things bubba?!?! Lizards in the bedroom I could cope with, though.
Just a word of caution, when swimming in Lake Malawi make sure it is not near reed beds die to something called Schistosomiasis (Bilhatsia) - sorry, nurse mode automatically kicks in. Just be aware everyone xx
Hope your first day with the kids has been great for you and them. So proud of you sweet pea. Wellbridge staff say 'hello'.
Only exciting thing to report from here is that apparently Kat cleaned your Dads house while he was away!!!! I must get over there and check her temperature!
Love you tons son,
Mom xx

Unknown said...

hey Amber,Lewis,Abby and maddie!!
the squad is missing you all loads!(Erin,Rach,Court and me Jam!) we hope you're having a great time and we cant wait to hear all about it. Love you all loads.

Tamara Bangura said...

Jack jack:( I'm currently sat doing revision whilst you're out in Malawi having an amazing time with everyone! So glad to see everyone having a good time and doing something so exhilarating! I haven't been to nandos once yet because it just wouldn't be the same, missing you so so much and I can not wait for you to get back, lots of love!

p.s Don't tell miss Cummings, but I haven't been to school since last week, oooops haha!