Hysterectomy on the coffee table

Not me the cat. Poor Harry went under the knife when the VSO vet visited. Gordon works with the dairy farmers in Malawi and was working close to Malosa. We struck a deal, Harry's hysterectomy for dinner, bed and breakfast, can't be bad. Without consent Harry was anaesthetised, tied to the coffee table and had her uterus, tubes and ovaries removed and put in the domestic waste. The coffee table was placed on the dining table and thankfully it was too high for me to assist in the operation. Debbie acted as scrub nurse and I shone the light on the proceedings. Harry was quite dopey after it but back to her normal self within 24 hours. I also stole her babies and distributed them to cat lovers. I was really gutted when the last one had to go, I kept it for an extra week but knew I had to do the last dirty deed and give it away.

The poultry farming is going well. I now have 10 chicks from the first 2 clutches of eggs and one of the hens is sitting on another clutch. In a couple of months there will be a lot of chicken on the menu. I'm assured, by the boy who helps with the chickens, that this clutch will hatch but I'm not so sure. I gave away the cockerel because he was standing on the chicks and killing them. I'm told because he was there they eggs will hatch. I'm not sure of the biology of this but time will tell. My knowledge of animal reproductive health has failed me on several occasions here and may continue to do so. I still think its dodgy having fertilised eggs when there is no cockerel!

I've just has another great holiday with Jane and Mary Jess. We stayed in Malawi and it was a great opportunity for me to visit some of the places that I had hoped to see. We spent some time at the Lake where we chilled out, swam and snorkeled. We went on to Luwawa Forrest and visited the rose quartz mine, walked in the Forrest and relaxed. After that we came to Malosa for a few days. We visited Lake Chilwa and were taken out on the lake by someone from the wildlife and environmental society of Malawi. I did not describe the trip properly to Jane and Mary Jess. They thought that we were going to a marina and getting on a motorised boat. I missed telling them the bit about bad roads, dangerous bridges, walking through the fields and eventually wading out to a wooden boat. We were punted through the reeds to the lake, the boat was leaking and the bailing equipment was poor. I don't mind my feet getting wet but its when bits of dead fish and fish scales are sticking to my ankles I object. I could have kept on the wellies that the fisherman lent me but I was more concerned about the number of foot infections I could contract than of the bits of dead fish. However it all added to the ambience and the Malawi experience. We spent a night at Zomba Forrest Lodge where the famous chef who cooked for the Queen Mother works. Its reputedly the best food in Malawi and I wouldn't argue with that. We went on to Satemwa tea estate where we stayed in the old colonial house. Some of the rooms were bigger than my house. Again we were well catered for. We were invited to the owners house for drinks and I had to get someone to drive the car back, after 1 gin I knew I couldn't drive. I had another gin and then speaking was almost beyond my capability. We spent a morning in Blantyre and then went on to Liwonde national park and stayed in Mvvu Lodge where we were totally spoilt. We saw a great variety of birds and animals. We had hippos and crocodiles in the river below our patios. The first night we were kept awake by elephants putting down branches and eating the bushes round our chalets and the second night one walked within 3 meters of us having an alfresco dinner. The holiday passed very quickly, as they always do, but we did a lot and really enjoyed it.

I had malaria again before the holiday. I was really washed out after it. I'm not looking forward to the wet season when the likelihood of malaria is greatly increased. I've decided to come home for a holiday at Christmas and I look forward to catching up with a lot of people. I am really wishing for snow, wind and sub zero temperatures, real Christmas trees and open fires. When I return I'll only have a few months of my placement left.

Thanks for all the comments, letters and cards. I hope everyone at home is OK. Keep in touch.