Which Blogging software or Guestbook?

For some reason researching this topic has a million answers and this is the point I need advice on choosing the right ones.

I’m running an expedition website that raises money for education in INDIA, PAK and CHINA. It’s infrequently updated about once every week/two weeks whilst on the road. Design is finished and I want to install Blogging software on my web server that makes updating much easier than messing with Html. I also want to install a Guestbook, but again, WHICH ONE? So ….

Blogging Software: Firstly, CMS software is too much for what I need (I’m not running a community here!).

Summary: Software that allows me to update my website easily, tightly control spam, very easily integrated into my existing design; I hate the standardization of Wordpress/Movable Type websites (but that’s just my humble opinion!) Must finally have a great support community.

Considering: Wordpress. B2 Evolution, Text pattern and maybe Pivot. Seems Wordpress is the best option; but can it be integrated easily into the website? Would the whole website need to included? Textpattern?

Website: r4e.org

Guestbook: I pity the poor sod who spends hours looking for a good one. Even if you know what you want there isn’t an industry standard. It mainly comes down to trial and error until you find what you want.

Summary: A Guestbook that’s easily integrated, self hosted on my webspace, simple layout (Advanced Guestbook looks too much like a Forum!) Again it must control this plague of spam assaulting the world, as I can’t always get to the book to clear it out.

One of the most important points is can visitor entries from a database driven Guestbook be copied into another Guestbook program if I have to uninstall one. Is a flatfile Guestbook the better choice in that case… and so...

Considering: Chipmunk or Bella Guestbooks, Advanced Guestbook or Simple Guestbook. Have installed the last two. I can’t say I want to go ‘live’ with either! However Advanced (or Lazarus Guestbook) seems to have the tightest spam controls.

Could anybody advise on which blogging software and guestbook meets the above requirements. Take a look at the above website and let me know on the integration issue. Will be happy to share the conclusion to this? Others must be wading through the same nightmare of choices!!

Thanks,
Stephen McCutcheon