Today is our last day in Sugod before making the 18 hour trip back to Manilla. The last 4 weeks have been much the same as the first with work being secondary to everything else. The food has been fantastic throughout and the brandy has got gradually worse, with gin or rum occasionally taking it's place!

There have been some new volunteers arrive; Leighton is Canadian and on his third visit and staying for 8 months, Oli is from Monaco and here for 1 month, Alex and Maria are from Australia. Maria is originally from the Philippines and her name, Maria Domingo Gulay, translates into English as Maria Sunday Vegtables! At least her parents have got a sense of humour!

Particular high points of the last few weeks have been Halloween, the Pachiao Vs Margarito fight, bonfire night and Bonbon beach.

Halloween was the best night that I've had since being away. We went over to Romblon island and were invited to Carlos' birthday party at his house. We all went along but left at around 11 because we wanted to check out the halloween party in the plaza. Me, Nathan, Maria and a couple that we had met that day turned up and were the only westerners at a 400 strong party and we were treated like celebrities. We were given a table as we arrived and were instantly mobbed my kids wanting to ask us questions and have there picture taken. When we went onto the dance floor everybody wanted to hi-5 us and shake our hands. We bought a beer when we fort got there but didn't buy another all night as they were being given to us by every group we walked past. I even ended up getting up on stage and dancing with a group of locals! The party finished at 3 but, true to form, me and Nathan didn't leave until 5 as we were sat drinking with the organisers until we couldn't drink any more!

The Pachiao fight was on pay-per-view, so we all chipped in for it and set up a big tv in the front yard. The fight was on at 11 in the morning so when I woke at 10:30 and stumbled outside with my coffee I was greeted by the whole village and had a seat saved for me at the front. Leighton quickly topped my coffee up with gin and we watched Pachiao win. After the fight I started a water fight with one of the kids which quickly escalated into ALL the kids and most of the volunteers before all going to play in the waterfalls - a good way to sober up after a morning session!

On bonfire night we went down to the beach in the day and gathered all the wood and fallen palms and built a fire then in the evening we went down there with some beers and music (and all the kids!) and had a party.

On Friday night we had our farewell party. We hired a DJ and a kareoke machine and cooked fried chicken, spaghetti bolognase and bonofee pie for everyone. The night was really good, most of the village turned up and I spent s lot of the night sat with Boboy and his friends, buying them brandy and playing drinking games.

On Sunday we went to Romblon again and Carlos had arranged for us to take a private yatch to a secluded beach where we could go snorkelling and kayaking. The trip included a barbeque and drinks and totalled out at £7 per head! It was a really good way to go out.

Everyone went home on Monday morning but me and Nath stayed and went diving just off the island. We were ridiculously hungover and went down to 28 metres so we were knackered afterwards. We stayed at Carlos' hotel and said our goodbyes to everyone we had met on the island before heading back to Sugod.

Last night was our last night with our philipino family so we had a few drinks with Eddie and his friends after dinner and said goodbye to Fatima and Cecile. The girls had both made us gifts; Fatima made us a personalised bookmark each and Cecile hand-made us a card. It was an emotional goodbye!

In many ways it was more dificult leaving Sugod than it was leaving England (sorry Mum). We had become part of ghe community here, all the kids know our names and we are recognised now wherever we go. I feel like I will definitely come back here in the next few years, whether for volunteering again or just s holiday.

On Saturday me and Nathan are parting ways - he's staying in the Philippines to do some travelling with Adam, Jenny and Mexican Maria and I'm off to Thailand and Malaysia to do some lone travelling and hopefully meet up with Tom and Faye in the last week of there holiday.