Hi Seram,

I agree these people have had hard lives and it looks set to continue that way,,, and now the Fishing has dried up its very likely going to get harder...

These people are survivors they have no choice,, some of them have gone through things we can't even begin to imagine...

I'm no millionaire but I've done OK, like I said before,,, I've had it good I've had it hard,,, don't get me wrong I have no problem helping my wife's family short or long term,,, they have shown me so much genuine love,,, something that cant be bought.

It's not that they don't want my help and they certainly never asked for it but it would be nice just to give them there pride back and help them fend for themselves...

A very quick but true story, in the early days of meeting my wife and naive to there situation, I remember her Father coming home without a catch and the rice bin empty,,, he had gone out climbed a tree and got coconuts,,,, the wife's Mum had scratched up enough money to buy a tin of condensed milk and a kilo of rice,,, she mixed the coconut milk with the condensed milk added it to the grated coconut and that was our evening meal... I thought sod this so I headed down to the BBQ chicken stall up the road but they weren't open because it was raining,,, I can tell you the next day the rice bin was full and the food shelf full...

Maybe I've just had it to good in life but that was the eye opener for me...

But what really does it for me is the look in the eyes of these people when I leave to come back to France after my monthly visit says it all,,, the tears of her Father don't lye, he doesn't speak English but hes learned to say while hugging me before I leave "I love you Mike" while the tears are falling,, if that wouldn't bring a lump to a guys throat I really and truly don't know what would.

So your comment about getting pleasure from giving I can relate to so well...

If I or we as a family do manage to find a solution I surely will post it in the hope that it might serve to help others in the same situation....

In the mean time the best of luck to all, and once again thanks Seram,,,

Mike001