Saw a live snake for the first time within a metre of my front door. It was a small snake but it was still a snake. I watched it with curiosity as opposed to freezing or yelling as I would have done in the past. So my therapy sessions and snake handling have had some effect. There were other people there and they asked what kind of snake it was but all snakes to me are the same kind and it begins with F. So much for trying not to swear in Malawi. I've done quite a bit of swearing this week. The car I bought and paid a lot of money for turned out to be 11 years old and not 7 years old as the seller informed me, the mileage is lower now than it was on documents 3 years ago so jings, crivens and help ma bob did not quite fit the bill. I think I need more therapy! I'm actually trying to stop the sale but its difficult when the seller is now in a different continent. Anyway I'll enjoy it in the meantime.
I've got my furniture and I'm ready for visitors if anyone wants to come and stay. The accommodation is basic but adequate. The garden is coming on really quickly. All my herbs are coming up and the rest of the seedlings are doing nicely. My chicken house has been built and is waiting for occupants. I've had a garage built. If the car goes back I might keep goats in it. If I get a recipe for gin I might even be self sufficient soon.
I'm going on safari this weekend, a day and night safari. It should be good fun. I hope to get some of it on video. Next weekend I leave for my weeks holiday. I'll be going to the lake and finishing at the music festival the following weekend. I'll get my chickens when I come back. I had 2 lovely parcels this week, more Earl Gray tea and tissues from Jane and a lovely windchime, candles and tissues from Dianne. My boxes from home have still not arrived. I'm only just surviving without my shoe supply. I was informed that they could take up to 6 months by the post office in Zomba. I've been really lucky getting visitors from the UK to bring me stuff over that JB has sent to them. I got Molton Brown toiletries and things for the garden and house brought over and I'm seeing someone next week who is bringing some more things. So I am actually managing very comfortably with my little luxuries from home.
Harry, kitten number 2, is thriving. Its difficult getting cat food so he has mince everyday. He eats more meat than me. He is really enjoying the furniture and uses it all as part of his personal assault course. His favourite piece of equipment is my mosquito net. He loves climbing on it but I'm scared he'll rip it. He thinks its even better fun having me chase him or catch him when he comes into the bedroom.
I'm still illegal, no visa or work permit and VSO still have my passport. I hope I don't have to come home in a hurry. I'm at the mental hospital for the next month then at St Luke's. Teaching in the general hospital may be dull after the mental hospital. Unfortunately when the students are doing their psychiatry other students are doing their community placement so I can't do both.
I got a private language tutor but he didn't pitch up this week. Maybe the stress of teaching me is too much! I even did my homework so I wouldn't appear to be a complete idiot. I'll see if he is brave enough to come back next week. I did warn him that languages were not my forte but I don't think he realised how bad I was. He is a language teacher at the private secondary school so if anyone can help he should be able to.
I may not have access to the internet until I return from my holiday. Keep the comments coming. I've sent some mail home to everyone who has written to me, well to everyone whose letters have arrived.
Friday, 21 September 2007
Saturday, 8 September 2007
Illegal Again
Sorry for not being in touch. Internet access has been poor. I spend ages trying to post blogs but I've failed miserably in the last couple of weeks. Its just the way things work, or don't work, in Malawi. I sent a CD with the photos to JB and he posted them for me. The Internet is so slow here it would have taken me a month to upload them.
I spent a whole day with a journalist from the Scotsman. It was a good fun day. There has been a 3 day feature in the paper this week and I got a 1 sentence quote! there was also a photographer with her. I've never been so photographed but I told him he could only used the photos if he made me look 5 foot 9 inches and 9 stone. Clearly he failed and didn't use the pictures.
The conference on the lake was really good. It was brilliant to hear what other volunteers are doing and it was very motivating. Apart from that the sundowners went down a treat and the lake and swimming pool were very inviting. The transport didn't turn up on the last day so we had to spend and extra morning by the pool while we waited for another bus. So life remains tough.
I think the college think they have won the lottery getting a Psyche nurse. They haven't let me out of the mental hospital. Its amazing how quickly I've got back into mental health and I'm really enjoying it. The students are appreciative of the support and input that they were not getting before. We only have students there for the next 6 weeks then I'll have to go to St Luke's to the medical and surgical wards. I'm thinking of writing a procedure manual for the students so if any of you have anything like that and can send it to JB electronically he can send it out to me and I can go swimming in stead.
I'm still without furniture and a car. The person I'm getting them from has delayed her departure so I still have 2 borrowed chairs, a bed from the college and a mattress from Debbie, that doesn't fit the bed, and 2 cardboard boxes turned upside down that are now giving way under the strain of my clutter. I should get the car and furniture at the end of next week but I'll wait and see. I've been let down so many times I'll just take it as it comes. I've had a fence built round my house and that went to plan. The guys turned up a 5 every morning and the noise woke me up, well you can't have it all ways.
For the second time I'm an Illegal in Malawi. VSO have not got our work permits or visas. We wrote to them when we were illegal last time and they got us another 30 day visa but that has now expired. One of the girls is going home for a couple of weeks and is worried about getting back into the country. So if I'm deported you'll know why, a bit different from a colleague of mine. I've booked up for the Malawi T in the Park, a 3 day concert on the lake. There will be artists from all over the world and it should be great fun. I'm going to take the week off and do a bit travelling in Malawi. Apart from that we plan to go to Mozambique for Christmas and spend some time on the beach but I'm sure I'll do a bit more travelling before then.
Keep the comments coming. I love hearing from everyone and once I get my furniture I'll be ready for visitors.
I spent a whole day with a journalist from the Scotsman. It was a good fun day. There has been a 3 day feature in the paper this week and I got a 1 sentence quote! there was also a photographer with her. I've never been so photographed but I told him he could only used the photos if he made me look 5 foot 9 inches and 9 stone. Clearly he failed and didn't use the pictures.
The conference on the lake was really good. It was brilliant to hear what other volunteers are doing and it was very motivating. Apart from that the sundowners went down a treat and the lake and swimming pool were very inviting. The transport didn't turn up on the last day so we had to spend and extra morning by the pool while we waited for another bus. So life remains tough.
I think the college think they have won the lottery getting a Psyche nurse. They haven't let me out of the mental hospital. Its amazing how quickly I've got back into mental health and I'm really enjoying it. The students are appreciative of the support and input that they were not getting before. We only have students there for the next 6 weeks then I'll have to go to St Luke's to the medical and surgical wards. I'm thinking of writing a procedure manual for the students so if any of you have anything like that and can send it to JB electronically he can send it out to me and I can go swimming in stead.
I'm still without furniture and a car. The person I'm getting them from has delayed her departure so I still have 2 borrowed chairs, a bed from the college and a mattress from Debbie, that doesn't fit the bed, and 2 cardboard boxes turned upside down that are now giving way under the strain of my clutter. I should get the car and furniture at the end of next week but I'll wait and see. I've been let down so many times I'll just take it as it comes. I've had a fence built round my house and that went to plan. The guys turned up a 5 every morning and the noise woke me up, well you can't have it all ways.
For the second time I'm an Illegal in Malawi. VSO have not got our work permits or visas. We wrote to them when we were illegal last time and they got us another 30 day visa but that has now expired. One of the girls is going home for a couple of weeks and is worried about getting back into the country. So if I'm deported you'll know why, a bit different from a colleague of mine. I've booked up for the Malawi T in the Park, a 3 day concert on the lake. There will be artists from all over the world and it should be great fun. I'm going to take the week off and do a bit travelling in Malawi. Apart from that we plan to go to Mozambique for Christmas and spend some time on the beach but I'm sure I'll do a bit more travelling before then.
Keep the comments coming. I love hearing from everyone and once I get my furniture I'll be ready for visitors.
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