I can't believe I've been here over a year. I'll soon be on count down to home but I've lots to pack in before that.
I've been living quite quietly for the last few weeks. 2 friends from the north came to visit for a few days and we had a few meals with other VSOs and I had another trip to Lilongwe. The most exciting thing was getting caught speeding. The police were using a camcorder, the same as mine, and some other machine that allocated random numbers to passing cars. I was pulled over and told that I was doing some excessive miles per hour. I probably was speeding but not doing the mileage they claimed so I felt that complete denial was the best policy. Unfortunately it didn't work and they told me I was being charged then they told me I had been charged. I missed the getting charged bit and I was told that I had to go to court the next day. After asking a few people what I should do I decided to ignore the whole thing. Apparently I missed out the bit I should have done, that is bribe the police officer. They have not come looking for me yet and hopefully they won't.
I'm still busy in the college. It closes in 2 weeks for the holidays. I'll be off for a month then I'll be doing 3 months in the mental hospital, my favorite place. It is almost mid winter here with temperatures in the low 20s during the day but cooler in the evenings and cold overnight. I need to use blankets on my bed and sometimes have to wear a light fleece in the morning. Its a bit like a good summer at home. The garden continues to produce lots of fruit and veg. Most of it goes to local people. I'm trying to find a mate for my remaining cockerel which is harder than it sounds. Harry looks like a pack horse with her extended abdomen. Her head looks too small for her body. I think she will deliver soon, its over 8 weeks since I caught her at it in the garden with Debbie's cat so anytime now.
We are going to try to book our trip to Zanzibar tomorrow. I'm really looking forward to all the seafood, the spice trail, seeing round Stonetown and swimming in the ocean. Its only 2 weeks until we go and before that I have my trip to Mumbo Island where I want to do a lot of snorkelling, swimming and chilling out. After that its the boy's trip and back to Zambia. I'll need another holiday after that!
Everyone at home will be getting ready for their holidays, I hope everyone has a great time. Its great hearing from people at home all the comment, letters and cards are really appreciated and help to keep me sane, well almost. Keep well and keep the comments coming.
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8 comments:
Hi Carol, Hope that speeding episode does not come up on your police check when you come back! Very brave ignoring the cops...look what happened to me when I broke the host country law! Just had another fab week at work it just gets better and better. Saw you name on a list of employees with over 30 years NHS service....how sad is that. I was not on it as I had several years abroad then in the private sector, this will be reflected in my pension. So here we are another Friday and I came home to mayhem. Archie has decided to tear up his bed and pee on the other dogs beds so they can all sleep on the floor tonight except young Archie who will be in his cage. This is John's charity work day where he donates his afternoon to the golf course and the dogs are home alone for too long in Archie's mind.........lucky for him I went to TESCO first for the coke to go in my vodka, so he got off light. My little nephew Ben graduates on Monday so we are all out to celebrate that evening, he has opted to do a Masters which is good as he has done very well at Uni. This is the boy I worried about while I was in Saudi as he was in an incubator... I had him with every defect under the sun and even had the cheek to call the SCBU and question their treatment of the wee lamb all 10lbs of him. I am also catching up with John's accounts a whole year untouched why did I do that needless to say it was his fault. I cannot believe it is a year since you went to do your good works although you have certainly packed plenty sight seeing into your time. I am sure the Scottish Exec will be well impressed and you tell such a good tale. The cat will have produced a lovely batch of kittens you can sell them off or use them to bribe the traffic cops. I must go I hear fighting from the pack. it is the Country fair in 2 weeks so we will enter Archie in the terrier racing, that will sort the wee scone out. Hope you enjoy your time with the boys, what an experience for them. Karen and I were discussing New York this week so we are dead keen for Nov 09, Anne will have caught up by now so we can start planning soon. Take care and don't work too hard. Love Rhona
xx
HI Carol,
Oh my goodness, what are you like! How can you get caught speeding in a car that sounds like it hardly goes anyway....were you on the downhill? Your holiday sounds magic, I could sure do with a bit of pampering just now too! Work is busy as always. Brianna is in Tenerife as we speak with 11 of her friends. I insisted that they all came to our house the night before they left for a "chat" much to Babz embarrassment! But hey that's my job.... I'll be happier once she's home again. Callum is about to go to Holland to represent the East Of Scotland for Basketball in the Fife Olympiad thing. It's a great opportunity but I'm fretting that he'll get injured before the British Nationals for his fencing but we'll deal with that if and when. He's a giant now at 6ft 2 and still growing and unfortunately still eating loads! Niamh is still fencing as well and recently won two Scottish titles. She says she's trying to get good enough to beat her big brother. Mike's had one interview that he's waiting to hear about and another one for a fixed term contract in July. It's not long until we all go to Paris for a short break. I can't wait but I'm not sure how I'm going to lose 4 stone in 3 weeks, probably left it a wee bit late......again! We're growing loads of veggies again and the strawberries are the best they've ever been. This year we're growing more potatoes and I've been gifted loads of extra plants like tomatoes and cabbages and celeriac. I've no idea what celeriac looks or tastes like but I'll soon know. We all loved your last card and I thought Cals was going to die of laughing. He's says you're a legend ( think that's a big compliment!) I promise to send you a longer letter soon. I have two almost three blankets made by the Brownies to send to you. Some of the Brownies have an unusual idea of what 10cms by 10cms is so they are definitely unique! ANyway must dash I've got to make a dance costume for Niamh's choreography comp tomorrow....oh the excitement never ends....and I'd not have it any other way. Take care, Lesley & gangxxx
HI Carol, me again, Niamh was reading my blog and says I've not put anything in about her learning to play the bagpipes.....she's nearly got Highland Cathedral sorted so will be able to pipe you back home in a year! That's her happy now!
See you!
Lesley
Hi Carol,still enjoying reading all your news. Thought I must tell you that my brother gets married on the 27th and goes to Zanzibar for his honeymoon. I'll tell him to look out for you - I don't think you'll be difficult to spot!! Love Naomi
Hi Carol, Hope this works, I'm useless at getting my messages up on the board. I can never remember my password and I've just gone through the whole palaver of trying to reset it. If I hit the button at the end and lose this whole message AGAIN I think I'll give up!!! Letters and cards might take months to get to you but at least they're easier to write. Have Harry's babies come yet? We have a brand new fully qualified vet in the house, with no job, maybe I should send her out to you to do a wee "homer" on Harry? Sounds as though Rhona's Archie and his bo***cks might also soon part company, could be another wee earner for Dr Hannah. It's her graduation on Monday and, like Lesley, I'm not sure how to lose 2 or 3 stones by then ooooops! Still I have until February to work on this, that's when Rosie gets married, I might even buy a hat (though I doubt it). Hope you are well and at liberty to read this message, if not then a Red Cross parcel will be on it's way to the chokey.Take care, Fiona xx
What a lot of news I get from this, just as well as I have not seen Lesley or Fiona for ages. That is Archie's manhood sorted with Dr Hannah his teeth will be next if he chews one more thing. Niamh you are such a talented child, now playing bagpipes. We have a wedding possibly next year as well might ask you to do the honours and pipe the bride in. Work has been mad and tomorrow I am off to Dunblane for a riveting day about the new vaccine. More soon. LOL Rhonaxx Big changes at work Hazel has a new job in NEF I feel we are constantly interviewing. Take care Carol LOL Rhona
xxxx
Hi Aunty Carol =)
Hope you are fine and keeping well ,not spoke in a while so i thought i would leave a wee comment.
Sounds Lovely Over there i hope your enjoying it i cant believe its been over a year :O time goes by quickly .
back home everything is going well.Me Mum and Dad went to australia For a Month we had an amazing time .I have just broke up at school and going in to my 3rd year of high school (standard grades ).
Im earning lots of pocket money working for mum and dad
When you come home we will have to go out to lunch together.Hope your not missing all your shoes too much hahah
See Youu soon !
Lots Of Love and Kisses x
Rhiannon
x x x x x x
HI Carol,
Thought I'd write a wee bit while I was cooking tea and eating the strawberries from the garden! Mike has managed to get a two month/3day a week contract starting on the 14th July. Pleas God that's us turning a corner as I'm not sure how long I can keep saying "oh something will turn up"! How come I'm skint AND fat doesn't seem fair! I can feel a research proposal coming on....I'm finishing my Masters starting in Sept so who knows! Brianna is back from Tenerife, safe and in one piece, only now she thinks she's going to spend the summer lazing about only working two days and leaving my kitchen like Beirut....eh naw I don't think so! Much to her horror I leave a list!!!! Callum is also back from Holland had a great time, met some nice French girls apparently...and so it begins. He's fencing at the Nationals this weekend and I hope he does ok so that we can start his preparations for the worlds (in Belfast, not Sicily like this year humph!)Niamh is at Drama Camp this week and seems to be enjoying it. She comes home shattered which is always good. ANyway I can smell my tea burning, nothing new there though so I must go. Got your letter, have replied and will get the Brownie Blankets to JB for Jane to bring. Take care, Lesley & Co xxx
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