The Therapy Worked

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.