Back to the Lake

Life has been surprisingly normal, or maybe I'm just getting used to running mud in place of water, which sometimes has the added bonus of worms in it. Just what you want in a shower. The mud acts as a really good exfoliant, I'm sure some people would pay a lot for mud showers. I could set them up as a side line when I get home. No more floods in the house or aborted kittens and no eggs from the cockerels but I can't bring myself to cook them, yet.

The college has been busy with more exams, the marking is nearly complete and we are about to finish for Easter. We have booked a house on the lake for the holiday. I have just found out that the Diocese has a house that we can use so we are giving it a try. I've been assured there are no hippos or crocodiles there. Just a house on the beach complete with house staff.

I've planned a trip to Mzuzu in the north to visit the health faculty in the university and the hospital. It will be interesting to see how different they are from St Luke's. The weekend before that we have a meeting at Mount Mulangi, which was postponed from earlier this month, then after that I have another meeting at the lake. We are still trying to book our trip to Zanzibar but flight are expensive just now and we have been advised to wait until the price comes down. We are considering going one way overland either by bus or train to see a bit more of the country but it will depend on how long the trip will take.

The college has had to delay the starting date for the new student intake by 6 months. This is to have the entry date in line with the government hospitals. That means we will be operating at half capacity for 6 months but at least it gives time for professional visits and developing the IT in the college. We still don't have phone lines. The phone company want the college to provide security for the lines which they can't do. We are just about to get a satellite link for internet access with the Scottish Executive grant so we should be online in the foreseeable future.

I hope everyone at home is well. Keep in touch, Carol

Fundamental Problem With Chickens

For weeks I've been cursing the cockerels that live behind my fence, they waken me every morning competing to see who is the loudest. My neighbour thought it was my hens making the noise, which I strenuously denied, and then realised that might be the reason why there were no eggs. When I checked out where the noise was coming from I realised it was my hens, or what I thought were hens! I don't think I will be getting many eggs but I should get a few good meals out of them. Local people are still trying to tell me I have some hens.

The rainy season is nearly over but not quite. 4 inches of rain fell the night before last, it was an amaizing storm. We have ventured to the lake for the last 2 weekends now that the roads are a bit better and we are planning another trip at easter. We are also looking into a trip to Zanzibar in July.

Work has been very busy with interviews for potential students and exams for existing students. I have had hours of entertainment marking papers. I probably wrote as much rubbish in my papers when I was a student. We have more exams coming up and I have been given the task of setting and marking the psychiatry papers.

My ballcock continues to give me problems with more flooding and water damage in the house. I'm almost sure the cat is pregnant again, I hope it works out this time. There has been no more signs of rodents in the house but the monitor lizard is still around at times eyeing up the chickens.

I can't believe that's 9 months I've been here only another 15 to go.