The Venturers Return for the Raleigh 10K Finale

Christmas has engulfed Field base in celebration of the Venturers and PMs return this morning. With tinsel everywhere and the Christmas tunes blaring out, we were so excited to welcome them all back from their final phase.

It's a bitter sweet time though, as although we're all so excited to see everyone and catch up with their news, it's all tinged with the sad reality that the Raleigh 10K expedition is coming to a close. But not before we celebrate and party in style!

It's final skit night tonight where each group will entertain, amuse and most likely sing a theatrical account of their phase. Then tomorrow we're up at dawn for the Fun Run before a day of wash-up and reviews topped off with the big leaving party complete with Golden Ganesh Awards.

I'll be inviting some Guest Blogs from the PMs over the next few days to summarise their final phase and describe their achievements.

Thanks also to everyone who's sponsored the Fun Run, over £700 has been raised so far! All the money will go towards Raleigh projects in India like the ones the 10K expedition have been working on.  If you'd like to sponsor someone please visit http://www.justgiving.com/Raleigh-India-Fun-Run

Merry Christmas One and all!

Polly C x

Good clean fun with the Little Doctors

Continuing Field base's health and hygiene awareness project with the local secondary in Jayapura, myself, Anna, Dr Josse and Polly B went along to the school on Thursday to test the whole school on the seven steps on handwashing.

Armed with bars of soap as reward for every pupil who successfully displayed their handwashing knowledge we arrived at the school to the usual intrigue and excitement from the school kids.

After a quick refresher course with our 'Mini Medics', they were split into three teams to test the rest of the school.

The seven steps of handwashing:




Wet hands

Apply soap and lather

Step one: palm to palm
Step two: between fingers

Step three: base of thumbs

Step four: fingernails

Step five: back of hands

Step six: centre palm



Step seven: wrists

It was slight pandamoniom as the pupils descended on us keen to show off their hygenie skills and claim their bar of soap.



Even though it was all good clean fun we hope the serious message has also been got across. Simply by handwashing with soap – especially before preparing food and after using the toilet – is among the most effective and inexpensive ways to prevent diahrroeal diseases which cause thousands of avoidable deaths in India every year.

All text by Polly Carpenter and photos by Polly Baldwin http://www.dynamicpictures.co.uk/ (unless stated otherwise).

Group Round Up - The Final Countdown

Myself, Polly B and Anna head out on The Loop tomorrow where we'll be swinging by Tango 6 to collect Del who's been out there with them this last week and then heading up to Charlie One for the opening ceremony of their houses.

Before we depart, here's a round up of all that's happening on the project sites:

Charlie One
The houses are nearly all complete as the group have been hard at work plastering, flooring and putting in windows. They've also been flexing their creative side designing a mural to leave a lasting legacy in the village.

Charlie Two
All twelve eco-santitation units have been built and their delightfully green coloured toilet pans fitted. It's just the painting and the finishing touches they've got left to do now.

Echo Three
Still slogging it out hard and loving it in the trench the group have also continued erecting more fencing. The group will be taking a well earned break today and go to visit the local Golden temple for a bit of culture.

Tango Five
Tango Five have been absoultely loving it out there in the wilderness. Yesterday they enjoyed an amazing trek through tea plantations and today is the biggy, the 26km trek. We wish them luck!

Tango Six

Tango Six have too been loving it, with blue skies above them and barely any leeches in sight they're having an amazing time. Yesterday they had a 50km cycle route which they loved and today they've got a gentle 14km walk with the reward to me, Polly B and Anna waiting to greet them at the end of it!

All text by Polly Carpenter and photos by Polly Baldwin http://www.dynamicpictures.co.uk/ (unless stated otherwise).

Messages from Tango 5

There's no Loop visits this phase to Tango 5 down in the south of Kerala but we do know from Comms that they're having an amazing time. They've seen elephants, survived survival day and loving the walking!

They also radio'd in some messges to loved ones back home ...

From: Kavita
Hey mum, dad, deep. Trekking is hard but also a lot of fun. i am learning lots and having a good time. lots of love, Kavita xx

From: Laura (PM)
Happy Birthday for 9th Greg!! I hope you have an awesome day, see you in two weeks!! Lots of love Laura xxx

From: Ryan
Hello Charlie, mum & dad + everyone lese, having a brilliant time trekking I have lots of stories to tell, I am really looking forward t seeing everyone soon. Love Ryan x

From: David
Hi to mum, dad & Danielle,
Trekking and picking up and I am having a blast. Things finally drying out as it rained for the 1st 6 days!! Take care, David

From: Tessa
Mum, send my ticket Sunday, trekking is good!!

From: Amy
Dear everybody, thanks for letters and phone calls. i'm working hard and loving it! Amy xx

It's just not (only) cricket at Echo Three

Myself and Polly B had the pleasure of having a long weekend with Echo Three. We arrived Saturday afternoon just in time for the end of their digging shift which runs daily from 6.30am to 1pm. After the Raleigh rations staple of noodle lunch prepared by the 'housewives' on camp duty (the two team members who stay behind at camp to look after the site and prepare tea break and lunch), a spot of cricket was played with the local children from Basava Pura.

That evening we were treated to Kat's delicious cheesy pasta followed by Elisabeth's Banoffe Pie, most de-lish. Round the campfire we were serenaded by Owen, Robbie and Dr Phil, who each took it in turns to strum the guitar and sing us some good and some questionable songs!

The next morning we were roused with their delighted yells of 'DIGGING' which motivates them out of bed! Into the trench we put in a good day's work. The ground they're working on is full of rocks so it can be slow progress at times but spirits are kept high with plenty of banter and trench games.

Time for tea! 'Housewife'  Katie is a welcome sight

Shift over and Sunday afternoon was a blaze of sunshine, normally office bound myself and Polly B took the opourtunity top up our tans. Some of the group popped into local Basava Pura for some chai while Robbie and Owen entertained the local kids by making up 'crimping' songs to much humourous affect!

Sunday night was Hannah L's last evening as PM with Echo Three as we were bringing her back to Field base for her to job share with Hannah W in Mointoring and Evaluation for the expedition. As Sunday was also 'Sinterklaas' for the Dutch Venturers, the group gave out their secret santa pressies.

A misty Monday was welcomed with more yells of 'DIGGING'.

The group changed trench digging location for Monday's shift to where the soil was easier and less rocky and really got stuck in.


The commute to work ...

 



Anniek adding a touch of glamour to the trench



Then all too soon The Loop was there to deliver Hannah W to take up the reigns of PM for the final part of the phase and whisk me, Polly B and Hannah L away. We'd had a lovely weekend with Echo Three, they really seem to have the perfect set up there - a good enthuasuim for digging and entertaining ways to while away the well deserved lazy afternoons. We bid a fond farewell to Echo Three with big waves and drove off to the yells of 'DIGGING' in the air ...

 

All text by Polly Carpenter and photos by Polly Baldwin http://www.dynamicpictures.co.uk/ (unless stated otherwise).