missing you

Someone asked me this week what I would miss most, apart from family and friends. I think that it maybe coffee and cake. It's also the cultural activity of going out for coffee.

We had a wonderful meal with friends recently and the conversation was easy and there was lots of laughter because we all knew each other well. That intimacy takes a few years and I will miss that easy chat. And being the same, I can talk to mums at the park because we're the same I can chat to the bloke at the garage because I know what to say, but will that be different? How will the local people view us? I don't want to be seen as a rich westerner who is only going for a few years and can leave when the going gets tough, but that's what I am.

prayer

We are now counting down in days not weeks. At our last Sunday in church friends prayed for us, including a prayer for those we would meet and a reminder that God has gone before us. It reminded me of when as students we would pray for the new first years, before they arrived. I always liked the idea that maybe someone had prayed for me, before I matriculated too. In fact quite a lot of this move is like going to university, except that we will probably be the only new people and late nights will be due to children not parties!

hot

Like most wee people our two children did not enjoy the recent spell of hot weather. They struggled to sleep and toddlers just don't get that you need to slow down when it is hot! This is not very reassuring for moving to Africa. People keep telling me that the children will adapt but I do worry. However the good news is that it's really quite chilly in Blantyre at the moment - about 13 degrees! I am sure that the locals are not appreciating the cold spell but it will be good for us to not struggle with the heat as well as cultural change. It means that we will be able to play outside without worry of heat/sunburn.

We may have to do a bit of shopping before we go as we have sent all our warm clothes in the container, keeping only one jumper each.

friends and boxes

Life is a rather peculiar mix of spending as much time with friends, seeing friends for the last time and packing up the house. The decorators start this week so that the house will be looking its best ready for renting. If you know anyone who would like to rent a delightful 3 bed cottage next door to the village pub please let us know! We would all prefer to be with our friends but there is still an awful lot to do at the house.

a spoonful of sugar

Today is the day that we start our anti-malarial drugs. We all have to take one a week for the next three years. The children have to take 1/4 of a tablet, this is based on their weight so it may increase. Apparently the best way to get kids to take them is in a spoonful of jam, so just like Mary Poppins said "a spoonful of sugar ...".

under pressure

Those of you who knew me as a student will remember that I do not work well under pressure. I was the student who had to have my work in the week before it was due (and before everyone else). The pressure is on here, the shipping co. arrive on Tues to pack us up and the container comes on Wed. The hardest thing is making sure that as much as possible goes in the container so that we don't have too much left to put in the luggage.

Anyway back to the packing and sorting.

chaos

Just a short blog today as there is so much to do! We ship in just one week. The shipping company pack all our stuff so this process should be quite smooth, however customs in Malawi require a complete list of everything that we are taking. This involves sorting out everything and counting it. The pile of things that we are taking has been reduced because the effort of listing it has made us quite ruthless!