Misfits Mid-Life Crisis Adventures in Tofo Mozambique & Nels (SA) and Maputo (The NEXT Chapter).

Week 73, Saturday 7^th November until Friday 13^h November 2015.

Portuguese word of the week: “Chionela”, Flip flop or a dogs name.

 I didn’t sample these, maybe next time.

Saturday. Lead 2 dives, the first to “Giants”, the drop was off I knew from the location and the depth, but my trusty compass lead me in the right direction. Once at the reef found we were actually half way along still a nice drift dive. The second was to the Mighty “Clownfish”, I dropped to tie the anchor line and again the drop was slightly off I couldn’t see the spot but my wrist compass come in handy a second time. I nearly made it back to the line was less than 10 metres away, my natural nav is getting better. The dive shop was taken over by children in scary outfits for Halloween (I know it was last week), the children of Tofo celebrated trick or treat today. Went and took Suunto the puppy for a road trip to the petrol station and to play at Liquid for a while he loves the pool so was in there straight away. On the way home met a couple of friends I hadn’t seen for a while chatted and promised to catch up soon.

Sunday. Woke up at 6am with no electric or water, later found out that it’s a “planned powercut” nothing due back on until 5pm. Very quiet day at the shop, Mikes computer had charge so he let me watch a couple of things (a Seth Macfarline fest). The power came back at 4.30pm. Early evening there was a beach volleyball comp, Liquid played but didn’t win, I went for support and to take pics. I didn’t hang around far too many people for my liking. I sloped off looking for milk. Things change here quickly at one point I was driving to SA Monday on my own, then Jasmin was coming along shotgun.

 Team Liquid in action, they were frakking good, because I didn’t play.

Monday. Today’s Ocean Safari had a Whaleshark. Back at the dive shop I kitted up for a dive to “Mikes Cupboard”. When I dropped there were 7 devil rays passing me, luckily Nadia saw them otherwise I don’t think anyone would have believed me. Something truly wonderful happed during the dive we had 2 very chilled Squid, I’ve never had Squid on scuba before. They were so chilled we got very close to them they didn’t dart of as expected. I could have spent the whole dive with them. Up at 4am as off to SA, im not driving now, I was looking forward to that trip another time maybe.

 How beautiful is this place,, can never get bored of this view.

Tuesday. I was told at 3.40am that I was taking the driving seat. Jasmin, Chionela the dog (who was going to the vets in Maputo) and I left at 4am. We made two 10min stops arriving in Maputo with 5 mins to spare; due to it being a public holiday everywhere was closing early. We then got stuck in terrible traffic taking Chionela to a friend of Jasmin (Teo) who was looking after her for a couple of days. During the drive to the border we saw a couple of accidents. One will stay with me forever, a chappa (small packed bus) had knocked over a small girl. She was maybe 4 years old, there was blood around her, on on her face. I saw her face she was dead. I will never forget that face. We didn’t stop due to the number of people there. In hindsight I feel we should have stopped but then what could I have done? After dropping Jasmin at friends I arrived at Mamma Mia B&B around 7pm.

 Road trip.

Wednesday, up early as had a dentist appointment, I got lost even with a map. The dentist and wife are divers and are coming to MoZ in December I gave them all of Liquid’s contact info. The appointment cast 523R (about £29) for examination, x-ray and good banter. The Dr said that an existing filling is near a nerve which was causing the recent pain. After I made my way to the Mall (I hate calling it that, but that’s what it is) and saw three films, no “Bond” in SA yet that will have to be for next month.

 I eat so much popcorn, but still could have had more.

Thursday, was the shopping day, Jasmin and I went here and there buying things as we went. I sent come cards for December at Postnet. Have started the “Shit painting of the week”.

 My Nels home “Mamma Mia B&B”, notice the cat in the background we had a long chat.

Friday the 13th, oops. What an adventure, left Nels at 4.30 am picked Jasmin up getting to the border just after 7am. We were on the open road in Mozziebeak at 8am. By 8.30 we had broken down, a warning light had come on and after contacting Teo we were advised to “STOP”. A man called Hennie stopped who towed us a few kms and left us under a bridge so we were in the shade (he said he would be back if we needed him). After an hour of chatting and laughing, what else could we do, Teo arrived. The engine had cooled so we were able to add lots of water this is when we found a leak. He works in Maputo but actually lived a few kms from where we were, what are the chances. He took us to the garage in Maputo where Jasmin was reunited with Chionela, he also took us to lunch and found a B&B nearby. The car should be fixed Saturday afternoon which means will be on the road home Sunday.

 We are not the Stig.

In other news this week. Dived with a group of very nice Jehovis Witnesses, when they said they were part of that church for a split second thought they were joking. Got blue bottled on Ocean Safari on the top lip again. Dropped a dive weight on my foot, it’s a little swollen. Bought bangers and mash from petrol station in SA.

 Nel’s is a strange place.

The Mid Life Crisis Conts……

This week I have been watching: “Defiance (Season 2, eps4), “Doctor Who: Inversion of the Zygons”, (Season 9/35, eps 8), “Blackadder II”, (Blackadder Season 2, eps 1 to 6), “Blackadder the Third”, (Blackadder Season 3, eps 1 to 3), “Ted 2”, (2015), “Family Guy”, (Season 1, eps 1 to 2), “Bridge of Spies”, (2015), “Knock Knock”, (2015), “Goosebumps”, (2015), “Hostage” (2005), “Scrapheap Challenge”, (Season 11, ep 7).

This week I have mainly been listening to: ”LBC Podcast: Nick Abbot (Whole Show)”, (05 & 08/11/15), “LBC Podcast: Nick Abbot (Mid-Week)”, (11/11/15), “Morrissey”, “Ash”, Shed Seven”, “Smith”, “Keen”, “Kate Bush”, “Lana Del ray”, “80s and 90s music on SA Radio station Jaconda”.

Reading: “Along Came a Spider”, by James Patterson, ” The Bees”, by Laline Paull, “Knit One, Kill Two”, by Maggie Sefton, “Morrissey List of the Lost”, by Morrissey and “A Game of Thrones, A Song of Ice and Fire” book 2 “ A Clash of Kings” by George R.R. Martin.