Greetings to all my followers across the world. Thank you for joining me on our trips.

Came back from an evening out last night and as usual you  watch where you walk in the dark in case of unwanted visitors (snakes ). This brought back memories of one night in Malawi.
We had been out to a function and on coming home flashed the car headlights to wake up the night watchman we had. There had been a spate of burglaries, so the company had given us one. He, as usual for us, was a little old man wrapped up in a blanket fast asleep. Some watchman!! He was nearly on his last legs!
Later on that night we were woken up with a shrieking and shouting. Rushed down to see what all the commotion was about.
Our watchman had seen a mamba, one of the deadliest snakes out there, go down a drain near to him.
We were concerned that the snake could get up to the children's bedroom and bathroom, which is where the drain pipes led. Being an old building, and large pipes in old crumbling bricks, we were rather concerned for the children, so we had to get rid of the snake.
Klaus is hopping around barefoot, shouting out to be careful. He can't stand snakes, so it's up to me!.
First we tried boiling water, nothing happened, then disinfectant, still nothing, so had to be brutal. Strong bleach, well this was one angry snake that reared up out of the drain. The watchman starts howling like a banshee, Klaus jumps around so I grabbed hold of a log from the wood pile and beat the living daylights out of the thing. Sorry I usually do not kill anything, but like all mothers I protect my children from anything. The watchman, after staring at me with shock horror, and being shouted at, to get him moving, removed the dead snake which had to be burned, in case it's mate, if it had one, came looking for it. Then we returned to a normal nights sleep.
A few days later I was out and about and wondered why some locals seemed nervous when around me. I was told ' No make mama angry, she kill snake , whip, whop, you be careful she not cross with you' you loose head! took some time to live this down.
Since then we have caught a baby viper here in the garden in Cyprus which was set free in a field away from the house.But that is another story.

Driving along by the river we watch a local fisherman in his canoe.

Can remember crossing rivers with my parents in Uganda in one of these.We had to watch out for hippo's in case they came up under the canoe and tipped you out, not to mention the odd croc or two. Luckily it was not that often as most places had a bridge of sorts, or if not too wide, a couple of planks of wood to cross on. If we were in the car you had to make sure your tyres were lined up properly for that, or the planks could easily shift, or, over the side you went. I have  had to drive this way a couple of times later on in life, not quite my favourite kind of bridge.They now use this sort of things as driving challenges on T.V. shows.
When coming up to a dry river bed you always stop and listen, if you hear a rushing sound, rather like wind in the trees, do not cross. Have seen a few vehicles suddenly swept away as flood water has suddenly come down from the mountains, bringing uprooted trees and anything it can find in it's path.

                                                 
Hope this guy manages to squeeze out of his canoe.

Off out for a days fishing. The local lake fish is absolutely delicious. Nothing like it.

A lot of the pretty lake fish are now exported for aquariums.


That's it for this week, hope to see you next time.

This weeks picture.

"Bathtime"

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The Art side of this blog.

I  have continued to curse the legs a little more, shame, no trip back to Africa. Oh well, will just have to get on with it.
I have also started on the tail, and filling in on some surrounding areas around the dog. This is needed so as you an see the contrast for light and dark. Two darks don't always go together. Doing this can sometimes  clarify the area  you are working on. Hope this all makes  sense.

Catch up next week, dog should nearly be finished then (hopefully!)  Although we have visitors for the next couple of weeks, I will still try to keep up.