Six weeks on and still no funding for the students. Unfortunately every week we are told it will be next week so it is difficult to make travel plans. We only find out at the end of the week that we will not be required the next week. We have been informed that the college will open on 2nd March but we have had so many promises I really don't know what will happen. I'll just have to put it all down to training for retirement. I have never had so much time off work, I could get used to it.
I returned from the lake after the building I was in was hit by lightening. I thought I might be dreaming when I saw a fork of lightening, accompanied by the most amazing cracking noise, in my bedroom. The next morning I found out that lightening had blown a hole in the back wall, windows had smashed and all the electrics were blown. The noise of some of the storms this week has been frightening. I lie in bed listening to the crashing thunder, which makes the house shake, and the sound of the rain. Even when there is no thunder the rain is so loud it awakens you and stops you from sleeping. Some of it is exciting but sometimes its scary.
I had another visit to Lake Chilwa to see the flamingos, which were hiding, last week. It had been so wet we had to wade through the mud, sometimes up to our knees, for 20 minutes to get to the lake. I was unsure if the smell was animal shit or human shit but I was assured it was both. My feet are nearly raw with scrubbing them. As always the tranquility of the lake made the exercise worthwhile.
Although we have not had any students and we are unsure of future funding we have been interviewing for this year's intake of students which is always entertaining, so I'm not really idle all of the time. I have also been negotiating with VSO to get a finishing date. It looks like I have another 12 weeks here so countdown is about to begin.
The Internet project that I have been involved in and funded has grown from strength to strength. Last year it became clear that to get the most effective Internet access we would have to work with other organisations and find a wealthy funder. We have now achieved both and hope to have a satellite system within the next few months. We will share it with the hospital, the secondary school, the ecumenical college and the diocese offices. Not bad from small beginnings and a project leader that it pretty retarded when it comes to computers and the Internet(that's me).
The garden is looking great just now with all the rain and sun. Unfortunately some of my smaller plants have been washed away. The mango season is over but the papayas are nearly ripe. I have plenty of eggs despite the chickens having another dose of the pox. Harry is happy and spends most nights hunting and sleeps during the day.
So another 84 sleeps until my release, counting down and looking forward to coming home.
Friday, 20 February 2009
Sunday, 1 February 2009
Bad Case of Bed Bugs
Three weeks on and still no work and no sign of the college opening. I wish I had known how long it would be when I returned from home or before I returned then I would have delayed coming back. We only know from week to week therefore its difficult to travel very far. So unless they can be more specific about when the college is likely to reopen we have to stay in Malawi. That's not such a bad deal with the Lake, so here I am chilling out at the lakeside wishing I was working, well not really wishing I was working. Unfortunately I was bitten by bed bugs at my first stop. I think I managed to leave them there but I have tracks of bites on places that only get exposed in bed. It could have been worse.
My case eventually turned up 4 days late. The haggis were intact. The party line from the butcher was not to eat them but 3 brave souls, including myself, took part in a clinical trial to see how sick we could become with unrefrigerated haggis. Not one symptom between us so the Burn's supper went ahead, haggis, stovies, cranachan, tablet, cheese and oatcakes. We had a brilliant night. There were Scots, English, Irish, Americans, Canadians and Dutch at the party. Everyone took part in reading Burns and in Scottish country dancing in the garden. I think it was the best party we have had here. Roll on St Patrick's day.
The battery in the car finally gave up life in a busy market town where I had stopped to buy vegetables. I had difficulty making my self understood but some enterprising kid went to get help, probably his big brother. A few minutes later a clapped out car came speeding up and 3 guys got out like Miami Vice wielding a shiny spanner, that they had probably stolen for the exercise. Before I knew it three pairs of hands were about to remove parts of the engine, a tropical storm began to drench us and local vendors were taking the opportunity to shove garlic, onions and every other conceivable vegetable in my face hoping that I would buy them. At least I could see the funny side and had been in Malawi long enough to know what was happening. I shut the bonnet, not caring about the hands in the engine which were removed before there was any damage done to the engine or fingers. A couple of phone calls and half an hour later a friend arrived and jump started the car. We bought a new battery the next day.
The rainy season continues. Watching the storms across the lake at night is like watching a laser light show. There can be several storms in different places at one time. When the storms get closer the whole lake appears to light up, and the wind whips up the water, its quite spectacular. However they don't do much for a good night's sleep they awaken you and keep you awake. Good job I don't need to get up for work.
I plan to stay at the lake for this coming week and return to Malosa at the weekend. Hopefully the college will open. We should be really busy with exams and marking. If there is no funding I think we will still be busy because the week commencing the 17th we are interviewing for the next intake. We have to set the entrance exam and the interview questions. I've never been off work for so long. I suppose I could look at it as training for retirement. I could get used to it.
I hope everyone is well. Keep in touch.
My case eventually turned up 4 days late. The haggis were intact. The party line from the butcher was not to eat them but 3 brave souls, including myself, took part in a clinical trial to see how sick we could become with unrefrigerated haggis. Not one symptom between us so the Burn's supper went ahead, haggis, stovies, cranachan, tablet, cheese and oatcakes. We had a brilliant night. There were Scots, English, Irish, Americans, Canadians and Dutch at the party. Everyone took part in reading Burns and in Scottish country dancing in the garden. I think it was the best party we have had here. Roll on St Patrick's day.
The battery in the car finally gave up life in a busy market town where I had stopped to buy vegetables. I had difficulty making my self understood but some enterprising kid went to get help, probably his big brother. A few minutes later a clapped out car came speeding up and 3 guys got out like Miami Vice wielding a shiny spanner, that they had probably stolen for the exercise. Before I knew it three pairs of hands were about to remove parts of the engine, a tropical storm began to drench us and local vendors were taking the opportunity to shove garlic, onions and every other conceivable vegetable in my face hoping that I would buy them. At least I could see the funny side and had been in Malawi long enough to know what was happening. I shut the bonnet, not caring about the hands in the engine which were removed before there was any damage done to the engine or fingers. A couple of phone calls and half an hour later a friend arrived and jump started the car. We bought a new battery the next day.
The rainy season continues. Watching the storms across the lake at night is like watching a laser light show. There can be several storms in different places at one time. When the storms get closer the whole lake appears to light up, and the wind whips up the water, its quite spectacular. However they don't do much for a good night's sleep they awaken you and keep you awake. Good job I don't need to get up for work.
I plan to stay at the lake for this coming week and return to Malosa at the weekend. Hopefully the college will open. We should be really busy with exams and marking. If there is no funding I think we will still be busy because the week commencing the 17th we are interviewing for the next intake. We have to set the entrance exam and the interview questions. I've never been off work for so long. I suppose I could look at it as training for retirement. I could get used to it.
I hope everyone is well. Keep in touch.
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