A morning meeting’s taking place about the beach clean up tomorrow.I’ll be on weighing duty while Agy will take some of the litter collectors further up the beach.It’s a brilliant idea and a good way to raise awareness of the need to stop pollution as everyone will be involved from beach boys to hotel guests.
We’ve been invited by Archie to inspect his maize field.He’s waiting for us and rather than stop to pick him up, Agy carries on driving.I ask him what he’s doing, apparently he’s so used to going to the Creek that the car is on automatic pilot.Poor Archie.I’m also really mad with myself because I forgot my camera so can’t show you the maize.We arrive at a very peaceful spot and sit under the shade of a cashew tree. We’re walking up and down the maize field and notice that most plants only produce one ear of corn.Everything produced in Kenya is organic so they go in for quality rather than quantity.Arriving back at the tree, the ladies have prepared a surprise feast for us.We have chicken, rice and potatoes, most unexpected.That was delicious but now they are presenting us with half a dozen heads of corn which have been barbecued.When we leave we’re full to bursting.It’s really kind of them to give us so much.
8th July
It’s beach clean up day!We’re all ready for our briefing and Chris, Turtle Bay’s Community Liaison Officer, is organising us into groups.
The local schools are arriving.They had to send a lorry to collect the students from Sonneti, they’re all piled inside and there’s standing room only.It’s great to see so many involved from the local community.Agy is transported further up the beach to supervise clean-up groups whilst I join Magic and Sally along the seashore.Everyone gets stuck in, picking up litter, flip flops and bottles.You wouldn’t believe what they find, the most bizarre thing I saw a doll’s torso, weird.
My duty is to walk to a plot further up the beach and wait for everyone so their bags can be weighed.Think this is where I’m supposed to be.They’re arriving now and there’s quite a bit of competition between the schools to see who picked up the most.Naturally Agy is convinced that his team was the best – of course you were Agy, yeah yeah.There’s time for a team photo and refreshments before heading back to base.We now have our breath back, it was lovely on the beach this morning, sunny and breezy and no rain.We’re pleased the weather’s picked up as we’re meeting Agy’s colleague Bart and his family, they’re just arriving for a holiday from Brussels.By coincidence another colleague, Rick and his family, will be coming tomorrow.But if the technical department are over here, who’s looking after the planes?I know, bring them to Kenya.
my mates from brussels airlines
9th July
Feeling a little bit fragile this morning.We met up with a great crowd from South Africa last night and did a little too much boogying.It was definitely worth the headache now. Rik and his family are due to arrive in Malindi soon but we’ve heard that their flight has been delayed by a couple of hours, that gives us time to enjoy our traditional Sunday curry lunch. Their flight has just landed so they’re here, minus a suitcase but they’re definitely here.They’ve been on a brilliant safari with Steenbok and the lucky things even managed to see a cheetah kill a gazelle, I’m so very jealous.How come everyone sees cheetahs except for us?We’re going safariing with Bart and the family on Saturday and if we don’t see one then I’m going to sulk, at least until I see the next pretty bird - Agy agrees, hmmmm. We’re showing Bart, Rik and the gang the local cultural highlight, i.e. Ocean Sports -and here we are, Technical Department on tour, planes fixed here at Malindi, think about it.
10th July
Not a lot to happening today, I’m working on a report, Agy’s gone up to Mwamba and the rest of the crew are relaxing.We’re taking a post-lunch stroll up the beach for some fresh air.The tide’s up so we get our feet wet on the way.We’re chasing ghost crabs into the sea, it’s fun and a good work out.
11th July
More of the same.Agy’s in Malindi getting supplies for the boardwalk and I’m typing.
12th July
Guess who’s the birthday boy – our Agy.I can’t tell you his age but let’s say that we’re going to need a pretty big cake to cope with all the candles. We start the day with a walking tour of the rock pools.The local lads are there to guide us and give us a fascinating tour.
birthday boy and the beachboys
red starfish
puffer fish
ink from a sea cucumber
We stop off for a coffee at Ocean Sports and are now heading back to Turtle Bay for lunch.A surprise is in store for Agy, the boys are treating him to the traditional Jambo Happy Birthday song and a birthday cake followed by special kisses from the little ones. The birthday is rounded off with a sundowner trip on the dhow to Mida Creek.We have a wonderful time, drinking dawas, meandering around the creek whilst Agy doesn’t catch any fish.It must be their day off.
I feel a Lou Reid song coming on “it’s a perfect day …”.
