A VERY MERRY BELATED CHRISTMAS TO ONE AND ALL FROM BOLIVIA,
AND
WISHING THAT THE NEW YEAR BRINGS YOU
PEACE, JOY AND MUCH HAPPINESS
ALL OUR LOVE,
SARAH & MATT
Monday 29 December 2008
Tuesday 23 December 2008
Christmas with monkeys!
So, here it is, the Christmas edition.
I apologise to those of you following this, as Sarah has drafted me in to throw the latest instalment together, and as many of you already know, I'm not always the most patient of people, the internet is so poor here that I'm ready to put my head through the screen after almost half an hour of waiting to get to this one page!!!
So please forgive if this offering is not quite as eloquent as what Sarah normally offers up.
We have almost been a month in the park now and we are both still really enjoying it.
As followers will know, Sarah is working with the spider monkeys and has spent the last week (or two) as acting 'Alpha male' in the absence of a suitable man to do the role. The monkeys have been getting more problematic up there so a man has been drafted in from tomorrow. Although Sarha will still be the boss.
I had a fantastic month with Roy and actually starting receiving some affection from him - something he gives out very sparingly. However the call of duty beckoned and from yesterday I have been working on the park accounts - it's like 1998 all over again! They have 7 lever arch files FULL of unrecorded receipts that I have to go from and input. Why someone couldn't have started it before now baffles me, but it needs to be completed by the end of the year, so my nose is to the grindstone.
We do still have big plans for Christmas festivities though and as we speak Sarah and a few others are out buying materials for a Cottage pie, Roast chicken, a number of salads and some deserts, one of which I beleive includes Apple crumble! Yum.
We are having a large meal tomorrow (Bolivians traditionally celebrate on Christmas Eve) and are doing our secret santa then. Then on the day itself we will be working and are trying to organise some sort of pool party for the afternoon/evening, although considering it has started raining at around 4 or 5 every afternoon for the last few days, I'm not sure how much of a success it will be! But then we did chose to be here in the rainy season.
We do miss you all loads, especially at this time of year and hope that you have a fantastic time over the Christmas break. We send you lots of love and goodwishes.
Have a wonderful Christmas period,
Lots of love,
Matt, Sarah, Roy and the Monkeys
x x x x x x
I apologise to those of you following this, as Sarah has drafted me in to throw the latest instalment together, and as many of you already know, I'm not always the most patient of people, the internet is so poor here that I'm ready to put my head through the screen after almost half an hour of waiting to get to this one page!!!
So please forgive if this offering is not quite as eloquent as what Sarah normally offers up.
We have almost been a month in the park now and we are both still really enjoying it.
As followers will know, Sarah is working with the spider monkeys and has spent the last week (or two) as acting 'Alpha male' in the absence of a suitable man to do the role. The monkeys have been getting more problematic up there so a man has been drafted in from tomorrow. Although Sarha will still be the boss.
I had a fantastic month with Roy and actually starting receiving some affection from him - something he gives out very sparingly. However the call of duty beckoned and from yesterday I have been working on the park accounts - it's like 1998 all over again! They have 7 lever arch files FULL of unrecorded receipts that I have to go from and input. Why someone couldn't have started it before now baffles me, but it needs to be completed by the end of the year, so my nose is to the grindstone.
We do still have big plans for Christmas festivities though and as we speak Sarah and a few others are out buying materials for a Cottage pie, Roast chicken, a number of salads and some deserts, one of which I beleive includes Apple crumble! Yum.
We are having a large meal tomorrow (Bolivians traditionally celebrate on Christmas Eve) and are doing our secret santa then. Then on the day itself we will be working and are trying to organise some sort of pool party for the afternoon/evening, although considering it has started raining at around 4 or 5 every afternoon for the last few days, I'm not sure how much of a success it will be! But then we did chose to be here in the rainy season.
We do miss you all loads, especially at this time of year and hope that you have a fantastic time over the Christmas break. We send you lots of love and goodwishes.
Have a wonderful Christmas period,
Lots of love,
Matt, Sarah, Roy and the Monkeys
x x x x x x
Wednesday 17 December 2008
Work & Home Pics
This is the view from the spider monkey park where I work.
This is the ´Master´bedroom. Nicest room out of all three Volunteers accomodations!
Monday 15 December 2008
Inti Warra Yassi Animal Refuge
Alfito the gorgeous spider monkey
So after a month of fun, the hard work has begun and we have now been at the animal refuge for 2 and a half weeks. Apologies for the lack of contact but since we are working from 7:30am until often 20:30 in Matts case (19:00 usually for me, until tomorrow when I am supposed to become Volunteer Accommodation Manager - eek, and then will have to work most evenings), we have been poretty tired and the internet connection here is pretty bad.
Matt has been working with a puma called Roy who he ´walks´ (mainly runs) for about 3 hours every morning and 3 hours every afternoon. He has also taken on the position of Volunteer Coordinator so the little time we had left to enjoy together of an evening has come to an end! Basically Matt assigns every new volunteer with an animal to work with and sorts out all the issues that current volunteers have with their animals.
Roy The Puma
I am working with a group of 32 spider monkeys, most of which are totally barmy. They all sleep in a cage at night so there is a lot of cleaning and feeding and 8 of them are on runner systems as they are prone to running off and turning up in random villages where they run the risk of being recaptured and sold into captivity. The others are free to roam around the park as they wish all day. They really are gorgeous animals, and getting a hug with all arms, legs and tails from a spider monkey is an expoerience that really everyuone should be entitled to in life - boy do they know how to hug! I promise more park news will follow sooner rather than later.
Much love to all and big monkey hugs xxxxx
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