Oh! We're Going To Tanzania!

Hello Mr 200th Post!

And what fantastic news I have to type today! Not often (if ever) do I have a grin on my face after spending a large amount of money, but this afternoon I just booked my flight to go to Tanzania this summer! It's going to be AH-MAZING.

So what's the story? Why am I going to the other side of Africa instead of earning money in an office that brings me ever closer to death by boredom? (I'm still doing that anyway for the other half of the summer, but that's besides the point, I could be earning an extra month's worth of work). The story begins with Richard, Mr. EWB President, who decided to continue working with a contact he had been working with over the summer in Tanzania to help with a cathedral. It was noted that the cathedral roof would be very good for collecting rainwater during the wet season. Richard managed to help construct a rainwater harvesting system for the cathedral. Community was pleased, church users were pleased. But after he returned Richard was told that there was an oppportunity to build more, in the Tabora region for Tanzania. All we needed to do was raise the funds to get construction going. And thus the project was born.

Then came along ten students, all very keen on EWB, who got involved with the project, and we've been trying to raise funds ever since. We've managed to get raise the £10,000 needed for the project construction to happen (no mean feat in this economic climate), and now we are trying to raise money to cover our costs to get out there. But we're getting closer all the time, and we've just booked our flights so we are most definitely going!

Tom has started a new blog to update the progress which you are most welcome to visit at http://tanzaniarwh.blogspot.com/. The rainwater harvesting systems aim to provide water to about 1200 people who live in 3 rural villages in Tabora. We will be split into teams and provide some labour to help in construction. A couple of weeks ago we attempted to make our own rainwater tanks out of cement, which you have have a look at on my facebook, or on the Tanzania RWH facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=50031459230

In the coming months we will be pushing to raise the remainder money, so if you see me looking like I need some cash don't hesitate and donate what you can! Hopefully we can get a online donation thing going in the near future so I won't have to harrass people! :P

I'm all snuggly

I'm all ready for winter.

I've been doing a lot of shopping ever since work finished, and have been spending (a lot of) my well-earned money buying warm things for the unpredictable British weather and the incoming winter. This has included new boots (yay), new jumpers, and a pair of decent and long sought after legwarmers which I found in the funnest sock shop in Covent Garden (well... as fun as sock shops go).

I hate hate hate having to either pay the odds on the high street or wait for end of season sales, and most of my money seemed to be going to the same shops either way. The more I went out shopping the more freaked out I was at the high street clones that walk in and out of them. Today I went shopping with Mona to find things other than what your average high street junkie is buying.

I love love love Covent Garden. I've been there many times before, but never took the time to actually consider what they had to offer. It's very much for those who have a style which is slightly alternative, or if you just want a break from the monotony of the high street. Me and Mona had great fun hunting down vintage style dresses. We even tried our luck at designer vintage, The Loft (on Monmouth Street I believe) sells second hand designerwear, if you're lucky you'll grab a bargain, but me and Mona aren't into brands so much to be able to recognise them :P

The store we stayed in for AGES was Pop Boutique. It's a small shop, but somehow a lot of things ended up being considered in our hands, it didn't help that everything looked good with the jeans and boots I was wearing today -____-; We also took ages in the sock shop, Tabio. They had such a variety that it became very apparent the possibilities were endless. Their current 4 tights/leggings for the price of 3 didn't help much either.

At the end of the day we swept up in Urban Outfitters, which (much to my chagrin, and my wallet's) had summer things on sale.

When Mona drags me to Camden Market next week I'm leaving my debit card at home.

[edit] p.s. Even though Covent Garden isn't the cheapest place to buy everything, after looking at all the things I got, not one item I bought today exeeded £22 =) [/edit]