Who's who

Clockwise from back left: Paddy, Melifa, Nepear, Harry (dog), Patience, Robert, Tiger (dog), me, Ginny (dog)

Nepear B. Nkhwali
Nepear runs the joint. Trained in a bewildering array of agricultural techniques, Nepear knows his parsnips from his pears. Not just a big brain, Nepear is a one man tractor, equipped with popeye-like biceps and pectorals to rival Hasselhoff. In short, he's stronger than me, and twice as nice. Nepear lives in a small house in my garden with his young family: his wife Melifa, and his two boys, Robert (6) and Patience (3). Since his parents died when he was a teenager, Nepear has been helping to pay for his younger brothers' and sisters' schooling. Nepear is the world's biggest Mighty Wanderers fan, and when he's not ploughing up the garden or feeding the pigs, he likes to walk around wearing his woolly Mighty Wanderers beanie. After I leave Malawi, Nepear is hoping to return to his previous career as an agricultural extension worker, or if that doesn't work, start his own pig farm...

Patrick 'Paddy' Yona
Paddy is a footballing gun-for-hire, willing to lend his left boot to any team for the right price. Employed as a guard at my house, Paddy is also finding the time to finish his schooling and to keep his dream of playing international football alive by playing regularly for Silver Strikers reserve. When he's not playing football, Paddy dreams about playing football. He will eat almost anything and I've had to tell him to stop catching and eating songbirds from the garden. Despite being young and single, Paddy doesn't like beer or girls for fear of them ruining his footballing career. He regularly sends money back to his village, to make sure his mum and sister have everything they need.

The Dawg Pack
Comprising Harry, Ginny and Tiger, the Dawg Pack spends its days terrorising neighbours, chasing chickens, and covering me in muddy paw prints at every opportunity. Rescued from the streets of Lilongwe, the Dawg Pack has found a happy home. It will eat your dinner if you don't.

Strawberry the Pig

Unavailable for the photo' shoot due to logistical issues (she weighs 70kg and doesn't like being told what to do), Strawberry the Pig is the true founder of Strawberry Farm. Strawberry likes nothing more than digging herself a hole and sitting in it. Her favourite foods include: sweet potato leaves; pumpkin leaves; bean leaves. All leaves. She knows her name, and will grunt back at you if you call her. With two litters under her belt already, Strawberry is paying her way and is a much loved and permanent member of Strawberry Farm.

Me
Most things happen to me more or less by accident, and, true to form, that's how I wound up in Malawi. After completing a degree in English Literature at the University of East Anglia, I joined the UK Civil Service because someone told me it would be a good idea. Eventually finding myself in the Department of International Development, an opportunity came up to work in Malawi for two years, which I thought sounded like fun. Since getting here I've relentlessly pursued my childhood ambition of owning a pig, partaken in just about every sporting activity going, and met some great people, particularly those that I have the pleasure of living and working with at Strawberry Farm!