Back in the Saddle

 Ivy

Oh my goodness late again! It used to be when I was in Ranau, Sunday would be a quiet day to catch up with skyping family and writing my blog and nowadays Sunday seems to be a day of travelling. Last Sunday I travelled to Kuching to another induction and I was taking a much more active role this time and had to deliver 4 sessions which seemed to go fine. They were all great people, again of all ages, talents and job experience, and as a group they got on except one member who has departed already!The majority of us flew back to Sabah on Friday morning all carrying our black British Council computer bags on to the plane. When we landed and started to disembark one of the mentors couldn't find his bag but there was another bag left that was similar. To cut a long story short and many black computer bags later, he eventually traced his bag to the transit lounge to Hong Kong where someone was oblivious to the fact . Thank goodness it was all resolved and the new mentor didn't start his job minus a computer. Why are computer bags black I wonder- there must be a reason!?

Local Rungus houses

   Sadly I left my new house again on Sunday as Rachel and Felix returned from their holiday but it won't be that long until I move in permanently. The landlord decided to put in a shower while I was in Kuching and it is an interesting job lot of four assorted tiles - none of which match or co-ordinate but it does work as a shower. On Saturday evening I went to my lovely local beach and after a swim I ate barbeque clams from the mangroves and negotiated a non tourist price to go riding the next morning. Most of you will not know about my horsey past but in my youth I used to ride a lot and even did competitive eventing. However it has been a long time since I was in the saddle but the idea of a gallop along the beach was too much for me. So I arrived early and got on my beautiful horse called Ivy and off I went with Fadzli, the young man in charge of the stable. It was amazing and we galloped until the end of the beach which was about 8 kms. (This beach is very long - I have still to determine the length)  I felt like I was in an advert splashing along the edge of the sea and my 60 ringitts spent was well worth it as I out riding for over 2 hours. Happily I can say that I still felt very relaxed in the saddle and hadn't lost the skills although I'm feeling my muscles have lost their tone today!! Alice I thought of you and I am going to continue to try and ride most weekends. Unfortunately I couldn't take my camera riding so no photos.

A classroom in a school visited

A kampong by the sea where Mark may live

 At the moment I am in Pitas, which is a small town in an isolated peninsular towards the North of Borneo. I have never been here before so it is a first for Mark, a new mentor, his partner and me. It is a rather forgotten peninsular and is much poorer and less developed than other areas although palm oil plantations are appearing. We went for a drive yesterday trying to find a beach but didn't manage that but came across lots of jungle and several houses still built in the traditional way and many water villages. Anyway today we are off to visit the schools so that will be interesting as always.