I should have arrived home today, seeing my wife and kids for the first time in 8 weeks. Knowing that, and knowing that I’m here for another 4 weeks makes the heart strings issue more difficult than I thought. Anyway, I shall make sure these last few weeks are impactful.

Update… on Friday I went for lunch at the kapana market in Katatura, formerly an apartheid area NW of Windhoek that the Afrikaans placed non-whites 😡

Kapana is a traditional dish made up of fried strips of beef and eaten with freshly prepared salsa, delicious. These poor guys stand over the braai all day in the already hot temperatures.

On Saturday I moved accommodation, from Pumula guest house, which was very welcoming and I was very well looked after. The landlady was tearful at my departure. I was getting a little stir crazy, living in just one room for 8 weeks. 🤯

I have moved to a 3 bedroom house, with a lounge, kitchen and 2 bathrooms. I shall be here alone mostly, with the occasional visitor from Cardiff University with the Phoenix project.

Then this happened tosay:

An excellent team performance that should have produced more goals.

On the subject of football, I’m proud of our son Luke who had a good game in a good win yesterday (he’s in the yellow and blue)

I spent the morning afloat. A 3 hour boat trip around Walvis Bay. Here is Blomie my new friend.

We sailed out to a seal colony where there were thousands of females and pups, and we saw some Heaviside’s dolphins, a species unique to this coastline.

We visited oyster beds and were treated to oysters and champagne.

Then it was a 3.5 hour drive back to Windhoek, but the animals kept coming. On the road I had to slow for cattle, baboon troops, Guinea foul, and at one junction I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. I thought it was a moving branch crossing the road at first, then saw it was a giant African millipede, known locally as shongololos.

I knew I was on the last part of the trip once the termite mounds started appearing on the roadside, dozens of them, mostly 6 – 8 feet tall, some much taller. There are 2 in this picture.

Back to work tomorrow.

The morning began with brunch at a pop-up market.Beef strips, onions and cheesy chips N$45 = £2.37
Two crèpes N$10 = 52p
Mug of coffee N$10 = 52p
Value and taste = priceless!Then a nice wander around town, and onto the jetty.

Lazy afternoon reading and video calling home ❤

Then a sunset before a fabulous meal at the Ocean Cellar.

If you carried straight on over the horizon from this last shot your next stop would be Brazil!

So, last night I went to the monthly open market. Great atmosphere and great stalls. You know me, if there is food available that I have never tried, I have to try it. So, last night it was these 2 items:A chicken foot and a portion of mopani worms. The chicken foot was pointless, but the worms were delicious.This morning I drove to Swakopmund. I’ve been a tourist since arriving, having visited Snake World and then I went riding a quad bike in the desert dunes.

I cannot believe another week has passed and that I have completed 7 work weeks. Final confirmation of my additional 4 weeks came through this week, so I’m here until 4th May.

I delivered more workshops this week. I am blown away by the feedback forms, so positive. I’m even getting messages from friends that the workshops are being talked about everywhere (in a good way!).

A lovely dinner out last night with Namibian Phoenix friends at The Olive. A lovely restaurant with a fabulous view, and a jigsaw tree!

S

So, this evening I am going to the monthly Windhoek City Market, quite an event, apparently. I’m especially looking forward to it as I’m not driving.

Tomorrow, I am setting off for Swakopmund. 3 days of relaxation at a cooler place next to the Atlantic. I shall report back, dear reader.

So, what happened over the weekend?

Well, England won 5-0

Wales won 1-0

Namibia lost, but qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations finals in Egypt in June.

Me? Oh, sorry! Apart from watching sport I finally got to have that zebra steak.

…and out-of-the-blue, the VC and PVC have asked me to stay on for an additional 4 weeks. Wow! I’m hoping work will agree, having had the full support of my wonderful wife.

Cheers.

…have been very tiring.

So, I was up in Ongwediva delivering a workshop. It was supposed to be capped at 40 delegates, and I was worried I might not get to meet that many, but I ended up working with 62 very eager, very knowledgeable and very grateful people.

The Engineering campus at Ongwediva is a fabulous place, both to look at and to work in.

My flight back, whilst not being piloted by a novice was somewhat puzzling; the 50 minute flight took just 30 minutes! Some nice views of the sun going down, which these images don’t do justice to.

Yesterday was Namibia’s 29th birthday, celebrating independence since 21st March, 1990. Happy birthday, young lady, you’re doing well.

Finally, for now, I appeared in the national newspaper, “The Namibian” today.

Have arrived safely in the north of the country after a flight where I am left to believe that the pilot is fairly new. Honestly, the approach into Ondangwa airport was hilarious. The number of times he slowed and then sped up to try to keep to the right decent path, I lost count. The best bit was the sudden acceleration to clear the perimeter fence ahead of the runway.

It was an Embraer ERJ135. No, me neither!

The lunchbox during the flight that was presented was very cute.

Phew, it’s hotter up here than in Windhoek, by about 7°C. I suppose I am back closer to the equator.

The drive from Ondangwa airport to Ongwediva was interesting. Dozens upon dozens of goats roadside, with a fair few donkeys and a lot of cattle. We had to stop to let a very impressive bull move from our path.

Why am I here? I’ll be delivering 2 workshops tomorrow to 4 campuses in the north, almost the Angolan border.

I’m booked into a wonderful guesthouse, Mango guesthouse in Ongwediva.

Beer and food now before a restful night’s sleep. I want to be at my best for my delegates, no short changing anyone.

…at Zoo cafe in Zoo Park on Independence Avenue; oryx kebab.

I decided to avoid the cocktails though 😮 Any Southern Comfort fans? #just asking 🤣