Well I made it! Navigated a bit of a `come fly with me moment` at the aiport with me, mum and dad vs the check in person for the flight to Uganda - it started when I was told I couldn`t take two pieces of hand luggage on board even with double luggage allowence and one being quite small. I politely enquired what the fee would be to check a third bag, thinking I would be willing to pay for it as worth it for the time away,  but was told `200 pounds flat rate`. Feeling slightly cresfallen at this news, and with the advice that if I could squash everthing into three bags I should be ok, we all traipsed off to try and squash my carefully packed belongings into one less bag. Cue the three of us scrabbling around on the floor trying to zip everything back up with airport staff hovering around us. So, back to the check in. This time another person saw us and is happy with the state of my bags. Result! However, my joy was soon to be over. She then asked to weigh my handlugguage and, with a sinking feeling, the three of us hoisted it onto the scale thinking a forklift truck would be handy right now. ``Hmmmm, a bit overweight`` she said. I am thinking, `well it has just been Christmas`, but it seems that she is in fact referring to the bag. ``There will be a charge for this`` she said. With bated breath I asked how much. ``200 pounds flat rate`` was the reply. As airport rage was looming it must have been the thought of dealing with the chaos for one more moment that the airline relented and let me get away with it. Horay! Now, better make the most of the 300 bottles of sunscreen I have with me. I should add I was very glad indeed that mum and dad were there for moral support!

At last I arrived in Uganda and then boarded a very small plane for DRC. It was a bit like being in a car especially when the driver adjusted his seat forward, asked me if I had enough leg room and popped on his seatbelt before pulling out onto the runway. Also, in Uganda there is an unusal species of bird called Marabous which are a bit like storks, they seem to have no fear at all and I saw quite a few taking a solitary stroll around the airport area.

This is clearly not a photo from the airport but just what this particular bird looks like! Uganda has a huge variety of bird life, much like Roath Park lake.
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The view from the plane was totally stunning with the highlights being passing over some enourmous lakes and this was my view coming into the country:

Anway, thanks for reading this, best wishes for now, Lizzie.