It has been another fraught couple of weeks, this time sorting out the final arrangements for the container to be picked up from Whitchurch.

It is all getting very 'last minute' and complicated because GTS has no account with DelMass the shippers and we will end up paying cash into the bank on Monday before we can be given a reference that will ensure the container gets from the Rail terminal in Liverpool to ThamesPort and then gets loaded onto the "Kariba" bound for Banjul.

If all goes according to plan, the container arrives in The Gambia on the 1st of November, my mothers 75th birthday. Peter and her have provided so much support in this venture, that they are almost as excited about it as I am.

Eve Fuller, a support member and very generous contributor to the 'Fund an Inch' appeal, I am very sad to say suffered a stroke on Sunday 1st October, she is currently making reasonable progress in hospital. We wish her a very speedy and hopefully full recovery, coincidentally the 1st November is also her birthday, so I hope by then she will be feeling better.

My plans to visit The Gambia in October took a blow when I discovered that all flights on the 20th were fully booked. Fortunately I was able to shift work arrangements and booked a flight for FRIDAY 13th.

Gambia Experience - £359 'Flight Only' for just one week.

£16 more than the price I was quoted, when I called to enquire on the evening of the 4th October, 12 hours made that difference.. Unfortunately they have no competition at this time of the year, so they can really charge anything they like. In reality it is only expensive compared with the flights at £129, that I was getting during the season last year.

I tried Ollnen but as it was last minute, Oliver and I failed to make contact. Insurance I had various quotes from £48 pounds to £30, I tool the lowest offer for a policy with Cornhill through Doug at 'Flight Path'

5 Top For information on sending a container to the Gambia contact us by phone or email