Welcome to the world and a water village in Kudat

Susan and Fiona at the Tip of Borneo

Only hours old!

This post is going to be rather late or early if you didn't notice I didn't write one last week. I sadly said farewell to Susan and John today and the three weeks that they have been in Sabah seems to have flown and has been really good fun. I feel that they're "family" now, as they would say in Ireland, and I'm sure we will meet again soon. They are on their final leg of their 3 month trip visiting KL, Malacca and then finally Singapore for the 9th April departure. We had a lovely week combining business and pleasure up in Kudat and there was a very exciting event up at Simpang Mengayau on Sunday - Howard and Lorinna (our hosts) welcomed their daughter into the world. Lorinna was working until late on Saturday night in the Tip Top restaurant and then by lunchtime on Sunday the baby had arrived. As far as I know, she has no name yet but I have seen her and touched her beautiful soft head.

A wonderful birthday cake made for me by 7 year old Michael

  


Whilst Susan and John explored the beaches and cafes and drank beer, I did actually go to work and I had a very interesting visit to a school situated at the edge of a water village in Kudat. I asked about inviting the parents in the village to the school for a story workshop and before we knew it there were two teachers, Mike and I heading off down the walkways. Of course Mike and I did feel very self-conscious as we were probably the first orang putihs to do so but at least we did have a purpose and had the two local teachers beside us. The walkways were full of rotten planks but as we carefully watched where we stepped everyone else  purposefully strode ahead. It was like every village with little shops and restaurants; some very poor houses and others beautifully cared for. The mounds of rubbish around in the sea was quite horrific but I suspect they have continued to just throw their waste into the sea as generations have done before and no one has provided or thought of an solution with the ever growing use of plastic.

Wonderful flowers in amongst the rubbish

Today another exciting event is happening. Andrew is flying in from KL and is going to be staying for 2 weeks which also coincides with Hazel and Pascal's arrival next Saturday. So I must get on and at least tidy up and get the sheets off the line. Happy Easter to all of you who celebrate it and I have managed to find two cream eggs for tomorrow so all is well!

"Would you like to come and tell a story?"