Misfits Mid-Life Crisis Adventures in Tofo Mozambique (The NEXT Chapter).

Week 75, Saturday 21^st November until Friday 27^th November 2015.

Portuguese word of the week: “Pescadores”, as in Fishermen who should know better.

  It was a froggy and toad weekend in the pool.

Saturday: A very quiet day helped Satu do a stock take on things like masks, snorkels and weights. This evening most of the Liquid family got together for a braai. I am not good with social events; I made my excuses shortly after everyone arrived. This sort of thing would have left me in tears for hours but now it’s just a few minutes. Deep down I regret not going but I also know that it’s the best thing as I just end up at the periphery of the group and end up talking to a pot plant or a dog. More importantly I discovered that there are two chicks on the nest.

Sunday, today was a Liquid housekeeping day, were moving all of the dive gear to a new room, but first there are preparations that need to be made. This meant that people have been cleaning and cutting wood, climbing ladders and generally sorting things out. Once the new gear room is fully operational it will make the setting up of a dive a little easier and possibly quicker. Had a Brancos pizza with new guy Patrick who I discovered is a Doctor Who fan I think you can guess what we talked about. Got home and found that both the chicks were out of the nest, I saw them walking around and wing flapping. Mum came over and fed them, shortly after she flew away both of the chicks took flight one at a time.

 Vic and Bob being watch by Sue there mum.

Monday, my day off. I really didn’t do much I slept, painted and watched an unhealthily amount of Sci-Fi TV. An annoying power cut lasted for over an hour in the early evening. The power kept coming on and off almost every second, lights would flash on and off, my fan would spring to life then die. I decided to get under my net and read my Kindle and listen to music.

 A two tone dive shop.

Tuesday. Another morning of power cuts, once the morning dive had gone a few of us started to continue the redecoration of Liquid. This meant knocking down a concrete partition and starting to paint the place white. I was mainly on painting duty by the end of the day we had half the room completed. Patrick my fellow Doctor Who fan and I stayed after work we had a DW ”lock-in” and watched an episode with Finnish subtitles. It turns out that Finland is the same amount of episodes behind as I am. Over the next few weeks I am looking forward to catching up. Patrick and I have formed our own little DW group (all welcome). I looked after Chinela the dog for a few hours this evening. Skype with home lovely chatting with SAZ and mum and the kids.

 It was in English luckily.

Wednesday. Walked to Liquid with Patrick along the beach, I spent a lot of the day in the sea. I lead 2 ocean safari’s. As a result I snorkelled with 3 (possibly 4) Whalesharks, 2 (possibly 3) Leatherback Turtles, 2 Devil Rays and saw a number of Dolphins from the boat. The Jelly Fish bloom has started all around there are football sized Jellies just minding their own business. I love to get close and just watch them there very relaxing. On a down side I was bluebottled on my forehead and top lip and arms again.

 This bluebottle on the sand didn’t get me.  There pretty when you get to look at them.

Thursday, Walked along the beach again with Patrick, sadly we came across a group of local fishermen that had caught a juvenile Ray (it was still big) the poor thing had been butchered. I asked if I could take pics to try to ID the species. There is not a lot of edible meat on a Ray, and the fishermen know that they shouldn’t be catching them. I got to go on a double tank south to “Manta” and “Chamber of Secrets”. It was a little rough going out as the wind was picking up, however it was on the surface interval between the dives and the way home that the sea was big and the wind and spray battered us. A number of highlights on “Manta” these included schooling Big Eyed Trevally on our safety stop, a large puffer who had large chucks (bite marks) out the back end of its body, it was still alive but the poor chap must have been on pain. A large Turtle and a Ray both having a snooze on the sea floor (not together). The rest of the day was spent making cardboard guitars for Nadia to take to an 80s party tomorrow.

 Walking to work, I cant stop smiling when I see this site.

Friday. A day of painting the dive centre, I also continuing to make cardboard guitars and a large Pac-Man for the 80s party. Went on a safari and we were lucky with another Whaleshark there such peaceful beautiful creature. Once of the customers then complained of feeling ill (not seasickness), so we had to return to land quickly. I used my first aid training to help the woman, checking her pulse and keeping her talking while the captain got us back to the beach faster than normal. All was ok, but I have asked her to get checked out by a doctor at some point soon. A number of 80s tunes were played loudly at the dive shop this afternoon in honour of the party tonight. The residents of Tofo love a party, but they love a fancy dress one even more. The Pigeon chicks appear to have left I haven’t seen them for a couple of days now. I really enjoyed watching them develop I hope the nest gets used again.

 I made these for the 80s party, there basic but fun.

In other news this week, continued to learn Portuguese, have tried to start using little words here and there, such as order my roll from the “Bread Shack”. Discovered I have a hot water, boiler but it doesn’t appear to work. Had a very nice group of Argentinians singing loudly on the boat, such a happy group of people. I have some holiday pay due to me from my time with Croydon Council, I didn’t even know I was entitled to any holiday; the money will go a long way in Tofo. Listening to Erasure brought back some memories which also made me slightly sad.

The Mid Life Crisis Conts……

This week I have been watching: “Defiance (Season 2, eps 9 to 13) & (Season 3, eps 1 to 13), “Doctor Who: The Zygon Inversion”, (Season 9/35, eps 8).

This week I have mainly been listening to: ”LBC Podcast: Nick Abbot (Whole Show)”, (21 & 22 & 26/11/15), “LBC Podcast: Nick Abbot (Mid-Week)”, (25/11/15), “Morrissey”, “Ash, “The Kooks”, “Natalie Imbruglia”. “Erasure”, “Queen”.

Reading: ” 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.