Rob had a useful, enjoyable and thoroughly exhausting time back in the UK last week.

The trip started with me nearly missing my plane from Cotonou, but more on that another time. The main reason for the visit was to meet with tutors at Birmingham University:

My good friend, Mike Webb met me at the airport and kindly offered to be my chauffeur for the whole stay (as he drives funeral hearses for a living, I was in good hands!!!) One of the first visits was to my parents, who had no idea I was even in the country (well, maybe an inkling).

As well as some really constructive meetings about how my research should progress, it was also a chance (briefly) to meet up with old friends. A curry in Ampthill was the order of the day. Here I am with the Wood family (see August ’07 blog posts for more).

It was also great to catch up with the in-laws and with my friends from college days, Bill and Liz. Finally, Thomas, a French bloke who was in Benin for a few months last year and is now at Cranfield University, was able to come to the curry. Here we all are:

(From left to right: Brian, me, Liz, Mike, Billy (with Eleanor), Thomas and Jean)

Other news…

*Rob’s off on another workshop in about 10 minutes time (so apologies for any typos I’ve missed!) This time in northern Togo.

*The Harmattan is stronger than ever, which made the change in climate all the more bearable!

*We all went to a fab place called ‘Bab’s Dock’ on Saturday – on the lagoon near Cotonou. More soon!