It seems ages since I last travelled - in fact I haven't been out of the UK since the fantastic Australia/Christmas Island jaunt last November/December. Of course there was the 21st anniversary expedition voyage around the Scottish Islands in June which kept me entertained but, apart from that, I've been keeping my head down. So you can imagine I'm getting quite excited about the next trip which starts on Sunday and will find me with 12 clients on Ascension Island this time next week waiting for the Royal Mail Ship which arrives on the Wednesday to take us down to St Helena. We'll have a week there while the ship returns on its "shuttle run" to Ascension Island and then hop on board again for the 5 night voyage to Cape Town. We've got a wee programme there for a few days and then, after the clients leave, I'll be going to Durban to discover a new part of South Africa (for me) in the company of my friends from Rockjumper Bird Tours.
Now, doesn't that photo get your feet itching? This, of course, is taken in Cape Town, a fantastic place which I never tire of visiting. Although I've been there several times I've never yet got up Table Mountain, so it's fingers crossed for this year. The next St Helena trip I'm leading will be in January and, for that, we're doing a few days in Namibia up towards the Skeleton Coast instead of South Africa which will be interesting.
Meanwhile, on the home front - and going from the sublime to the deeply unpleasant - there are sceptic tank problems! Scotloo (wonderful name!) are coming today to sort it out but it means no loo, no washing up (bliss until I have to get going on it), no shower this morning. My neighbours left their front door open last night so that I could use their facilities which I thought was really rather nice of them! I'm so lucky with my friends and neighbours around here and feel so sad for people who don't have that kind of community support. It's something you take for granted when you have it and can't imagine things being different.
So that's you up to date with Libby's Log. I may well not write another until I get to St Helena - watch this space!
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