How to become a Global Stringer

Global Stringer Profiles

Southampton City Centre Webcam

Portsmouth's Spinnaker Tower Webcam

Sport Index

In north-eastern Brazil the heat is unbearable as is the lack of rain. The drought is causing the death of livestock and if rain doesn't come soon it will be a massive problem. We were involved in drilling 13 wells last year, for poor and thirsty communities, and hope to drill 8 more this year. It's a drop in the ocean, faced with the size of the problem which affects 12 million, but it is a drop! We hope to visit the UK in the summer, and will be based at my mother's house in Basingstoke, so will look forward to renewing contact with all our friends in the Solent area, and to see lots of lovely English rain!

Cheers,
John

Christmas is not as big in Brazil as in the UK. Christmas Eve is when celebrations happen. We have a church service in the evening with gifts around the tree for poor children. We also distribute hampers to the hungry. Then we go home and follow the Brazilian tradition of the late night "ceia" (supper) and then follow the British tradition the following day with Christmas dinner. That way we get the best of both worlds! New Year in Brazil is much bigger than Christmas. New Year's Eve is again in church for us, with a late night service till just into the New Year. Everyone then hugs each other, cars go sounding their horns round town, and fireworks add to the sound effects. Families then have open houses, and people call in to eat and drink all night. Usually we have about an average of 50 people at our place, but many come and go. I never make it to dawn, but many do.

A Happy Christmas and Great 2005 to everyone!

Cheers,
John & Liz

Hi Friends in the Southampton area! Liz and I have been in northeastern Brazil with our family for 32 years. We were married in Southampton in 1969. We have 4 children and 4 grandchildren. My wife's connection (née Dyer) go back deep into the New Forest although she was born here in Brazil. We work with EAB - a Christian organization working with the poor - drilling wells, running job creation projects, setting up herds of sheep and goats for the poor, propagating the Moringa Oleifera "miracle" tree, working with special needs children, running a dental and medical clinic, running reinforcement schools etc. We're sort of jack of all trades but masters of none. Our annual meeting of those connected to EAB in the UK is held in Southampton every September.

We'd like to say hello to Mum and my sister Jean, and son Philip in Basingstoke. All the Dyers at Hardley, Hythe and Southampton, and family and friends at West Wellow, Verwood, Alderholt, Lymington and all over the New Forest, as well as all in Southampton.

Cheers,
John & Liz