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

Week 90, Saturday 5^th March until Friday 11^th March 2016.

Portuguese word of the week: “Continua”, means to be continued….

Saturday woke up at 4am by 4.45am I was in a cab that had no lights on driving in the dark. The driver started to call me his friend while rubbing my arm and then my leg. I moved his hand and then pretended to be on my phone for the rest of the trip. As soon as we were at the chappa station I was out of the car before it stopped. The bus filled up and left at 7am. We made a brief stop at 7.20am in which I had a quick wee. It’s a good thing I did as we didn’t make a stop at any of the normal places along route we went straight through. I was in my door at 4pm feeling dirty, hungry and very dehydrated but glad to be home.

 My room in Maputo.

Sunday, the power died at 5am and didn’t return until 6.30pm it was a long powerless day. This was the longest power outage so far experienced here. Due to the pain of yesterday’s trip I stayed home, had an enjoyable siesta in the afternoon. In the garden on top of a tower are a couple of water tanks which are almost at the height of coconuts up a tree. I climbed the tower and enjoyed the view as the day was finally cooling down. Once the power returned I went on-line. I hadn’t used the computer all day as I wanted to save the battery for as long as possible. When I went on-line I had a message to contact my best friend urgently. I had trouble getting through to her in the UK, when I did I learned the sad news about the death of her mother. I feel terrible that I hadn’t gone on line earlier, we skyped for a number of hours just chatting.

 have asked that Frog watch continues while i’m away.

Monday, woke up to a message from MOZ asking if I would come home. I didn’t need to think about my answer for a second. By chance I was about to change my flights from the coming weekend to the end of May early June. I was not now changing anything I am coming home at the end of the week. Satu and Jari and Nadia have been very understanding and realise that I have to return to the UK. I will be coming back to Tofo in August after my sister’s wedding that’s still the plan at the present moment. MOZ and I skyped for over 4 hours in the evening.

 Storm clouds brewing.

Tuesday, a quiet day at the dive shop, a day of doing little jobs housekeeping. Because I will be leaving soon I decided to get a paint brush and touch up signs I painted in oct/nov 2014. Another extremely hot day here, had a number of dips in the pool to cool down.

  Doing a little touch up work around town.

Wednesday, went on my first dive in a month went to “Giants Castle” it was so nice to be back in the water. The main highlight was a couple of very large Groupers who were chilled at depth. I really have missed not being in the water and look forward to more in August when I return. Skyped with MOZ and guess what the credit ran out, I had to go to the market to top up. I was going to walk it but then saw Nadia’s quad bike, I was allowed to use it which meant I was there and back in half the time. In the evening I went to Mozambeats for a drink a burger and movie with friends. I really must do this more often in August.

 Emmm so tasty.

Thursday, I’ve started to pack, I am leaving most of my things and just taking a few things home. I gave a lot of clothes and other things to Raphael who works in the garden he appreciated everything giving to him. Mani at the dive shop has made me a Manta pendant out of coconut shell. This will help make London bearable from next week. I am sad about leaving Tofo, but I have a responsibility to look after my friend who has looked after me so much over the years.

 Final dive with Mike, ace captain Pedro for now.

Friday, went on a dive to “Table Top”, doing the pre dive safety check we had Devil Rays swimming under us. Most people were diving on Nitrox so they can stay down longer, Mike and I were on normal air which meant we were a few meters above everyone to prolong our dive. Loads more Devil Rays spotted, so lovely to see a group of them as normally you only see them in ones and twos. Kalle has done a couple of new Star Wars tattoos on my shoulder, once completed we met everyone else at the hotel for food and drink and live music. Waddled home stopping at a little bar for a few more drinks I made it home and slept up early in the morning to leave Tofo.

  Lovely coconut shell Manta pendant.

The Mid Life Crisis Conts……

This week I have been watching: “In The Heart Of The Sea”, (2015), “Doctor Who: Celestial Toymaker, episode 1”, (BBC TV 1966, Season 3 story 6). 

This week I have mainly been listening to: ”LBC Podcast: Nick Abbot (Whole Show)”,(05/03/2016) “LBC Podcast: Nick Abbot (Mid-Week)”, (09/03/2016)”, “LBC Mystery Hour”, (04 & 11 & 18/02/2016) “Morrissey”, “Smiths”, “Pulp”,

Reading: “The Hitchhickers Guide To the Galaxy: So Long And Thanks For All The Fish”, by Douglas Adams, “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.