We are Home!

We finally arrived back in Mansfield last week, and since then we have been trying to acclimatise to the cold and damp weather, deal with the jet lag (which still persists) and start some Christmas shopping!

Charlotte met us at Heathrow and we went to see Caroline and Andy at Harrogate last weekend. It was lovely to see them again (and they are both coming to Mansfield this weekend too).

It is too early to look back properly at Belize, but our initial reaction to England is how clean and rich it looks!

We have very affectionate memories of Belize and of the people we met there, and I have tried to put together a slideshow to try and illustrate our chief memories. To view these please follow the link: http://picasaweb.google.com/orysinbelize/BelizeAlbum#5415887108423371506

We are arranging a Belize party after Christmas for all our supportersand will post a new blog with the details.

A very happy Christmas to all our readers!!

What a Night!

Surreal is a term overused nowadays but I honestly think we can say we had a surreal evening tonight!

I saw in the news that they were showing some Brazilian films at the Mexican Cultural Institute tonight, so ,as we are really starved of films here, we went along at 7.

The Mexican Cultural Attache welcomed us and the next couple who turned up were English and and we chatted. Liz asked what they were doing in Belize and he said 'I'm the British High Commissioner and this is my wife'. They were very normal and pleasant.

The Brazilian and Mexican Ambassadors then came with the Costa Rican ambassador, but the funniest thing was when a second cultural attache came along with his Brazilian wife, who kissed all the diplomats and then proceeded to kiss Liz and I, presumably assuming that we were diplomats too!!

There was no-one else there.

How we have laughed since we have returned home!

They told us that all the ambassadors play ping pong on Monday nights!

The film was called ' My name is not Johnny' and was excellent .

We are going again on Thursday and will report again then.

San Ignacio Part III

Having enjoyed San Ignacio so much the previous week, we could not resist returning for a second weekend there!

Hope that you like the 2 butterfly pictures! They are everywhere but hard to capture on film.

By special request, more market pictures too.

San Ignacio Part II

Apart from the excitement of the Mayan site which was truly impressive, we passed over the Mopal River several times on our journey through some attractive countryside on the three hour journey to Caracol from San Ignacio. The roads were atrocious but we met some interesting and attractive wildlife on the journey.

We had to travel very slowly and hence we saw two tarantulas on the road and the guide in the car ahead stopped and picked one up. Apparently, brave guides do this frequently!

Whilst we were at Caracol we saw several butterflies on the flowers in the garden area.

San Ignacio Part I

San Ignacio has been the highlight of our stay in Belize. We had an excellent hotel in a town with book shops, a cinema, numeous good restaurants and best of all it felt very safe and we could walk around in the dark. On Saturday we visited the French bakery, the market and met our guide David who took us in his limousine(!) to see the wonders of Caracol the largest Mayan site in Belize. The journey was over rough terrain taking three hours to get there. Part of the way with armed guards as escorts because we were near the Guatemalan border.

We climbed to the top of Caana which is 43m in height (tricky coming down) and had a fabulous view from the top. The site covers 88 sq kilometres but only 10% has been excavated and we explored the area for several hours. It was a most memorable day helped by our guide.

Visit to Chetumal in Mexico!

Our visit to chetumal really illustrated how poor a country Belize is in comparison with Mexi

We took a 4 hour bus ride from Belize city over a single track road (in each direction) to get to the border; we then saw a flyover and a highway with 3 lanes in each direction.

We went to a shopping mall with a department store (called Liverpool!) an 8 screen cinema, a very large supermarket, and many classy shops; all these are non existent in Belize city.

We went to the cinema to see ' the taking of Pelham123' which we really enjoyed, we looked at an an excellent Mayan Museum (see picture), we did some shopping, it was a good weekend.

The weather back in Belize is getting cooler; the maximum is now 85 rather than 90 and it is surprising the difference that makes! It really does feel cooler! When we were over at Caye Caulker last weekend it rained and the light was so different as a result that I took the picture attached.

Work in Belize.

We have oncentrated on telling you about our activities at the weekend, and we now feel we should tell you about the work we are doing in the week.

As you know, I am working in the Women's Department and I have been trying to suggest improvements to the following laws: trying to make it compulsory for employers to display posters to counter sexual harassment and to have a written policy opposing it.

The sexual offences legislation is 50 years out of date, so I have prepared a report suggesting a brand new Act,comparing the current law with alternatives. I am now sounding out various interested parties to gain their views.

Similarly, I am discussing with them alterations to the divorce laws, as these are equally antiquated.

Belize wishes to bring its laws up to date by making them "gender neutral". This means making no difference between male and female. I have now compiled a list of Acts where these amendments are needed.

This is Liz here. I have been updating the Policy and Procedure at Haven House. I have designed a Resident's handbook which is user friendly for the women who arrive scared. Also I have done so much reading and research on Women's Refuges, I have written up a booklet on 'How to start a Refuge'. I have been enjoying working with the people there and I am being taught Belizean cooking at the same time. This week it was Creole bread; so you will be having some when we get home. I am attaching a photo of the boys who have been at the home with their mother.

Hope you like the picture of the supreme court building in Belize City.

Our other major responsibility it that we are on cat duty while Michael and Sally are away avoiding hurricane season! They like Bernard as you will see!

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