Here we are, then. The two of us, as if in a hut, taking out those things we have brought with us, laying them out before us on the floor, which experience affords. What will be needed on our journey? What may be left behind?

It is strange, this journey. Because although it lies ahead of us, we begin with those things that lie behind. I have never been a reluctant time-traveller, and nor, I think, have you. Anyone working with children, is future-directed. The rate of change that is life to a seven year old, or a fourteen year old, is incredible; they rocket into the future. Being with a classroom of kids is like swimming with a shoal of fast-paced fish.

But we are aging, now. We have much accumulated experience. And yet, your future direction is incredible, you remain one of the most future-orientated people I know. So, it surprises me that we start this journey before we take a step. I want out, moving on, as quickly as possible. I carry nothing. I feel we can decide as we take steps. But of course, this is a fool's approach, and all too many times I have conducted a journey ill-prepared. When I crossed the island of Flores alone when I was barely into my twenties, and even a few weeks ago, swimming 10km along the coast of Madeira; in both situations, I barely scrape by, and should misfortune have occurred in greater quantity, there would have been little record of my attempt or experience. Not only physically, but psychically, I have gone out on journeys where I have little preparation.

Well hello!! Here we are, finally, meeting in the virtual world of letters. I am looking forward to seeing what might occur in our dialogue through letters.

I am not sure how well I shall behave here. I am used to intersecting email monologues with commentaries, branching discussions through to finer and finer details. This has a structural fault. Two in fact. At least two that I have become aware of when I engaged my brother. We would have incredible depth and detailed discussions, but... First, we'd lose the whole view, the big picture, as we went into detail regarding a particular point. This would lead to the conversational elements, branches, being removed from their context, and they'd become useless and dead branches.

Second, there would be interesting patterns where different branches would link up, but there was no way to trace or track them. It was like looking at similar patterns at different levels of discussion. Conversations revealed a fractal nature. A serious wow, but beyond the capacity of the structure to reveal itself elegantly.

So, here we are, with a rather ham-fisted dialogue. My blurting few paragraphs, then yours, and so on, like taking turns in a board game. No accurate interruption. I suppose this allows for continuity of thought, but there is a missed opportunity.

Unless we write something that is less like a dialogue, less like a to-ing and fro-ing of information between two people, but where we are constructing something together, covering different faces of the same thing, shining light mutually, thus revealing something which is not only of interest to us, but to any other reader who may be interested. Let us suggest that if we collected these letters together, they could be transferred to a book relatively easily. If this is the case, then we need to be aware of it from the start. For example, in this context, this would be like an introduction, a preface, a period of preparation.

This is a copy of an email sent to Victoria Sinclair (Project Manager Generate Project and director ArcSpace Manchester):

Hi Vicky

I am writing to you ref Ref ArcSpace Manchester, the email you sent to PRADSA, and the information below which I read on your website:
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I’ve been struck by the high quality of collaboration demonstrated in the regular UK-Nigeria meetings, so thought I’d say a few words about this in this week’s blog.

I’m talking not just about the obvious collaboration of these weekly online meetings between the UK and Nigerian teams - but also the more subtle and equally important collaboration between Pam and her network.

Dadamac's relationship with Marcus Simmons of Ecoshelter illustrates this point perfectly. In brief, Pam introduced Marcus to John Dada, which in turn saw Marcus visit Fantsuam last year. Once there, among other achievements, he successfully built an ecodome.

Much of what Dadamac does (and has been doing) is scattered around the Internet.  It will   gradually connect up with the website: rather like activities in scattered annexes gradually moving into a new main building.

Identity and Community

Developing a website is a bit like decorating a room, or buying an outfit for a special occasion. It raises  questions about identity, about how we see  ourselves, what we want other people to recognise about us, and how we want to relate to those people.. Somethings just “are” Dadamac and some things just “aren't” - but what are those things and how do we get a website to reflect them?

A recent exchange illustrated this point:
Question: What about search engines? How well will they find the site?
Answer: But this site isn't for search engines – it's for people!

Good point. Dadamac has grown the way it has through people knowing people. It is  built on trust and relationships, collaboration, shared vision – all that kind of thing. Now, more  people are wanting to know what we are doing and how they can get involved. The website is an easy way for them to start finding out more about us, how things fit together, and  ways they might join in.