A pleasant climate.

Letter from Judy to Nanny & Grandad 29 Jan 1975 –

You wouldn’t recognise the children – they are already beautifully tanned and healthy looking – the result of being out in the sun and wind all day. The climate is perfect at this time of year – there is always a lovely cool breeze at this altitude (about 6000ft) and they only wear sandals and the minimum of clothing. The temperature now (9:30pm) is 70 degrees in our sitting room and this is the hottest time of year.

Stills from our Ciné film taken in our garden. Left: Helen & Juliet. Top right: Fiona, Helen and Juliet. Bottom right: Fiona.

Letter from Graham to friends 2 Feb 1975 –

It hasn’t rained yet and is not likely to for another two or three weeks. Our wettest month will be August I believe.

Letter from Judy to Elaine 5 Feb 1975 –

We have to be careful not to get sunburnt. We have a big fireplace in our sitting room to burn logs when it gets cooler. It’s coldest about August.

Letter from Graham to Grandma & Grandad 8 Feb 1975 –

Friends have warned us to get a stock of wood in before next month because we will need to light a fire in the evenings. And we are about 100 miles from the equator ! Yesterday some branches were cut from the trees in our garden because they were close to the overhead electricity supply wires. The children made a lovely den with them and when the leaves drop off I expect I will have the wood needed for the fire.

Letter from Graham to Simon & Pat 16 Feb 1975 –

We have been enjoying the best weather of the year since we arrived. Best for comfort, not for growing things because it’s too dry.

Letter from Judy to Nanny & Grandad 18 Feb 1975 –

It is very cold this morning (at least by our standards) and we are all dressed up in trousers & jerseys – it is quite incredible to think we are almost on the equator. It is 63 degrees in our sitting room but the strong winds make it seem cooler.

Letter from Juliet to Grandma & Grandad 2 Mar 1975 –

It must be quite nice in England now with all the Spring flowers out although it’s probably raining. You are waiting for sun and we are waiting for rain.

Letter from Judy to Jenny & Andy 6 Mar 1975 –

It seems strange to remember what March is like in England. So far we haven’t even begun to get tired of sun every day and a temperature of about 70 degrees. It is nearly the end of the dry season; the last rain was mid-November and the grass is very brown and parched but we have a lot of trees and shrubs in our garden which have remained green. In our luxurious school compound (running water and electricity all day) it is easy to forget that this is the hardest time of the year for local people.