What the dedicated staff of The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Elephant Orphanage does with baby elephants was covered in yesterday's post.

When the babies reach a bit more than two years, and when there are at least three of them at about this age, the process of releasing into the wild begins. Skills are taught daily during walks in the park, so not everything will be... more

After four hours of driving, Sam was a bit surprised that we headed for the car again soon after checking into our room at the Kilaguni Lodge.

When the answer to, "Where are we going?" came back, "We're not going anywhere ... just for a game drive," he looked confused, but for a kid who loves animals the way Sam does a game drive is the perfect thing follow to a long car session.

Within a very short time we'd spotted our first animal, a lone impala ... what a sight! All of a sudden, those of us in the car new to the safari experience knew we were in a... more

I'm cross-posting this on both the International Adoption Blog and the Older Parent Adoption Blog. Sorry for the repetition if you read both.

Here's the list of things Sam's decided he wants to do in Africa: golf, play football, carry suitcases, buy toys and books.

Where any of this comes from is beyond me. A child's perspective is so removed from the adult way of looking at the world that it's as if different planets are inhabited by each species.

My world today if full of packing, details, laundry, lists and 'don't forget the__' anxieties. My vision... more

So, Sam and school. I have been bleating recently about a trip to town, seeing our former foster son, and warming up to voicing the thoughts than played dodge-ball in my head while I visited the playground.

It's really hot this time of year, so sweat was a factor as I stood holding Cj, with Sam by my side and T goofing around, but that didn't matter a drop. It was a glorious moment! Having these three kids within hugging range all at the same time is a dream come true for... more

So, yesterday I had one of those island days in the not-at-all-relaxing-on-a-beach-sort-of-day way. I've already kvetched on about the silliness of Customs Officials, but the real trauma of my yesterday ran deeper than just dealing with rules and regs and officious people in uniforms.

This weekend is T's birthday. Those who follow my bleatings here and on the Older Parent blog will know a bit about T. He was our foster... more

Cj is a year old now, and in Seychelles that means it's time for her Yellow Fever jab. A drive over to the other side of the island took care of that yesterday, and other than a howl and a couple of big, fat tears, (hers, not mine, as I've finally hardened up enough to watch my kids getting hurt for their own good), it went well. She's now protected against a very nasty illness until she's ten.

Yellow Fever is not something kids get inoculated against under most circumstances in temperate climates, but... more

We had a bit of rain last night.

Yes, only a bit.

As Mark and I were sitting on the veranda watching the sunset, talking over the events of the day while dinner simmered and the kids climbed over both of us, a rather heavy rain began to fall ... but only on one end of the veranda. The other end, all of five meters away, had no rain at all.

The microclimates we have here used to amaze me, but now only amuse and reinforce my affection for life on a tropical island. Not only can I see rain coming ... a smearing of gray shifting over the open sea heading... more

Over on my older parent blog today I've posted about beach time in Seychelles and some innocuous happenings while wallowing. As a balance, and for those who may think all things are rosy, peachy and sunny all the time here, I'm dredging up an old post. This one quakes me to my bones ... now, if you'll excuse me for just a moment, I need to hug my son.

Okay. I'm back. This was a personal blog entry for December 04, 2005:

From the ... more

My son is a Super Hero. Well, today he's a Super Hero. Last week he was a velociraptor , so this saving-the-world stint could also be short-lived. At least this persona comes with a bit of a hint ... one of his sister's cloth diapers tied around his neck flaps convincingly behind him when he flies through the living room. It may be stained and dingy, but it's apparently endowed with some amazing powers. The only clue to his previous dino-identity was a double limp-wristed pose intended to convey the image of 'tiny hands with big fingernails', a classic velociraptor trait.

Everyone... more

A trip over the island to the post office always has a tiny thrill attached, as the prospect of something perhaps waiting behind the little PO Box door excites us all. Whether a package of homemade jams from my mother or one of my mail-ordered bras, a collection slip always means something special has arrived.

Yesterday's prize was really special, but not anything we'll get to keep for long.

"Little Sap and Monsieur Rodin" is a wonderful book written by a mother who's daughter shares orphanage roots with my kids ... they were all cared for at AOA near Phnom... more