Well things have moved along since I last wrote on here.

Ammar has been here for almost two years now but as yet has not succeeded in finding permanent employment. However he has begun an ESOL course. That means English for Speakers of Other Languages. He is doing very well and has been moved to a higher level and may go to an even higher one soon.

We went to London twice to register with the Moroccan Embassy. First we went to the wrong place. Then when we found it we discovered that we needed two pieces of documentation so that's why we had to go there twice.

Soon we will have to renew the visa. Before this I have to renew my passport, which ran out in August. I need to get some photos done first.

We haven't been to Morocco this year but we did go last year. We went to Marrakech as usual and then to the Marana Riad. This time we hired a 4x4 and the driver took us to Zagora the following day and then to Tafraoute to see Ammar's sister Fatima and the family there. It was great being in the 4x4, which was a Toyota I think.

When we got to Merzouga the driver took us round the back of the dunes, which is something I've wanted to do for ages.

Can't remember how long we stayed in Merzouga, but we were there for the Eid (the Sheep Day) and for the Date Festival at Erfoud.

After we hired the 4x4 again and decided to go to the more famous Tafraoute - a new place for us. It took quite a while to get there. There was a relative of Rkia living there, one of her nephews, who had been in Merzouga during Eid. We didn't stay with him but had a meal cooked by his wife. We stayed for one night in a small hotel.

Tafraoute was an interesting place. They make shoes there and we got a pair each. I also got a nice green throw, which is on the sofa now.

Not far from the town are some rocks that have been painted blue. We spent quite a time finding them. And then we spent more time getting back to the road.

Rkia's nephew Said, told us about another gorge (a bit like the Todra Gorge), south of Tafraoute. I have forgotten the name but the drive there was fantastic, through the Atlas mountains. The gorge was lovely and not at all touristy.

I wanted to go to Tiznit to see the jewellery there but we didn't have much time there as we were heading for the family in Ait Meloul. and I also wanted to go to the cats and dogs beach. So it was a bit of a rush. I got some authentic old beads in Tiznit but they were quite expensive. I have since made a necklace with them.