Brian did very well this morning. He and a friend found me a huge apartment with 4 rooms, kitchen and filthy bathroom but (1) it is far, far too big and (2) it was furnished with 2 large wardrobes but nothing else. No bed/mattress/table/chairs/cooker/fridge all of which I would have to buy. They told me we could buy it all cheap at the market tomorrow but it is does sound like a sensible investment even though, as the owner suggested, my whole family could stay t...

Once again the picture is meaningless but at least it's different. The good news is that the power cut didn't materialise and, more importantly, omelette returned for breakfast. Less good was the visit to the apartment: Big disappointment this morning. The apartment was huge: lounge twice the size of ours, slightly smaller dining room, kitchen twice the size of ours with large fridge-freezer, cooker etc, huge bathroom with shower, toilet and huge bath, plus gard...

Some interesting (?) facts about being in Tanna: The electricity in this part of town is being cut off from 5.30 to9 p.m. each evening from tonight until next Friday for repair work. So I'm writing this at 5.05 and hope to get it posted before shut down. 'Anarako David' does not mean 'David is an anorak' it means 'My name is David'. I hope. c*** fighting is legal in Tanna. I do not intend to go. Taxi drivers in Tanna do not have change for 5000Ar note worth...

Picture is not of Madagascar but is of mountains which is far more relevant. If only I could upload my pictures you would see just how hilly Tanna really is. You would be pretty much confined to the hotel mI'm afraid Maura. Did make a bit of progress today however. I did find the Ministre de Jeunesses, Sport et Culture to give it its full title and eventually found a member of the 'Cabinet' who welcomed me on behalf of the minister who is currently on the east co...

It worked!