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When Call Sign
recently met Jeff Rowell (Y30), he didn’t particularly look
as though he had itchy feet, but as he gradually recalled his
numerous travels around the world it became obvious that he and his
partner, Theresa, do not stay at their Essex home for too
long a period before they start yearning to explore yet another
exotic corner of our planet! Jeff told Call Sign that with Theresa approaching a rather special birthday – staying gallant, he wouldn’t say exactly how special - he wanted to give her a present she would remember. Somewhere special for a special date - and he certainly managed that! No day trip to Southend or UK weekend break for them... Malaysia and the Rain Forest of the Far East was his intended destination, as Jeff showed Call Sign his travel diary... After a 16-hour flight they landed at Kuching airport, Sarawak - one of two Malaysian states on the island of Borneo. As he stepped off the plane, Jeff said it was like walking into a steam room, such was the heat and humidity. Early next morning, their adventure began with a drive to the Semmenggoh Nature Reserve in the middle of the rain forest. Rangers led them to viewing platforms where they hoped to see semi-wild Orangutans. As they walked along, the trees were moving "like one of those monsters creeping through the trees in King Kong," Jeff suggested! "Suddenly our guides shouted at us to move quickly and to our amazement, a huge Orangutan named Ritchie moved slowly and majestically out of the forest and into the clearing. Just amazing...!" Then they travelled on to Batang Ai, an island surrounded by mist from the forest fires in Indonesia. They set out in longboats through the Batang Ai National Park where a tribal chief danced for them while they drank rice wine prepared by the local villagers – who all live together in one building, living off the rainforest and the river that surrounds them. The happy couple then took a boat trip to Gaya Island where thousands of tropical fish with a myriad of radiant colours nibbled harmlessly at Jeff and Theresa as they swam in the warm clear waters. The next day they flew to Lahad Datu, before travelling along a bumpy logging road to reach the Borneo Rainforest Lodge. "The noise of the forest creatures was deafening, the humidity |
DaCman’s Itchy Feet! |
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 oppressive and we were permanently soaked with sweat, but the sight of those exotic animals and fauna made it all worthwhile," said Jeff, "Theresa was almost expecting to see a dinosaur pop its head above the trees at any moment!" Over the next few days they explored the forest, watching the Orangutan and other wondrous creatures in their natural habitat. Jeff also recalled one particular highlight where an Orangutan, high up in a tree, seemed to be watching them swimming in a lake whilst a waterfall came cascading down! David Attenborough at his best – but this was real! Their travels later took them on to the Gomantong Caves, which Theresa described as disgustingly fascinating as the overpowering smell of bat and bird droppings filled the air! "We saw ladders that reached high up into the roof of the Caves |
where collectors would risk
their lives to harvest the ingredients that make birds nest soup.
Very interesting, but it could put you off the soup," said Theresa! Next stop was Selingan Island – known as Turtle Island - with tropical trees and sand resembling a scene from Robinson Crusoe. A BBC2 program recently showed the Island’s amazing turtle colonies. "It was there, sitting on the beach together, that Jeff cracked open a bottle of champagne that he’d brought all the way from the UK especially to celebrate my birthday," said Theresa grinning proudly. Several more days of exploration, swimming, snorkelling and observing the local wildlife, before eventually flying back to London and of course the way he pays for his trips – with Dial-a-Cab! And it must be getting busier because within a few days of our meeting, the intrepid pair of travellers were off again... this time a little nearer to home... India! İCall Sign Magazine MMX |
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Times may be tough in Coventry but... Nothing stops LTI staff charity support |
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With redundancies and
the removing of TX4 bodywork fitting to the Chinese factory, you
would have thought that LTI’s factory in Coventry would have been
concerned only with themselves. But no! Their longstanding tradition
of helping charities has still continued with staff digging deep
into their pockets to benefit two local ones. Throughout 2009, staff at LTI’s Holyhead Road factory have taken part in a range of fundraising activities to raise £645 for the NSPCC and Myton Hospice. The money will be used to support abused young people at the NSPCC Boole House project and to help staff at Myton Hospice continue the care provision for |
 patients and their families. Peter Shillcock, MD at LTI Vehicles, told Call Sign: "This is a tremendous effort by our workforce and a huge thank you must go out to each and every one of them. Times may be hard, but staff have parted with their money to help those less fortunate then themselves." Photo from left to right: Tina Hayes (NSPCC), Margaret Hitchens and Emma Weaver (LTI), Claire McDowell (Myton Hospice)... |
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