The Next Episode

Stardate: 16-03-2011.
Time: 02:00
Mission: Returning to Liberia after being away for just over two years.
Current location: My living room, Hornstull, Stockholm, Sweden.
Reason for writing: Mostly because I can't sleep. (There's no point sleeping now so I may as well "pull an all-nighter")
Packing status: Almost ready. May have oversize baggage issues due to ever-enlarging list of things my wife has asked me to bring down.

I should point out that the reason for the abrupt end to my blog (below) was due to the fact that my contract came to an end and I moved back to Sweden. Most of those who read the blog (all five of you) know me and will know that anyway so writing it may seem a bit pointless. However, I am never one to shy away from attention to detail.

But now it's time to fire up the old blog again. It's time to move on and do something different. It's time for a change of scenery. It's time to go from one extreme to the other. It's time, my friends, for Liberia!

Of all the countries in all the world I never thought I'd end up, Liberia must be pretty high on the list (closely followed by Sweden). Of all the countries in all the world I never thought I'd end up twice, Liberia must be pretty high on the....oh, you get the picture. Life takes you on a mysterious journey sometimes. Sometimes that journey starts at Bromma Airport Stockholm at 6:30am and stops at Brussels and Accra before finally depositing you in the steamy heat of Monrovia.

For those of you I have not been in touch with here's brief summary of what's going on (and more importantly why): My wife Teresa got a job offer from the organisation Landmine Action (also known as Action on Armed Violence). She is starting up a pilot project for them in Liberia and I decided to take my chances and head on down there myself in the hope that my previous contacts and experience may also lead me to a job. Our plan is to be away at least until the end of 2011.

Much more than this I will not say at this time, mainly because I don't have much more to add and am also feeling nauseous after running up and down the stairs and stacking boxes in the loft. It also feels like I haven't slept properly for weeks, maybe even months. And I'm not about to start now.

My taxi will arrive to take me to the airport in just a few hours. I will write more when I arrive.

A