smoking

Last week we had an interesting day out at a tobacco farm. The estate covers 40 hectares and although there is a strong anti-smoking lobby in the west, tobacco sales continue to increase. Most of the labour force are employed part-time so that they can tend their own crops on their small holdings. We watched the leaves being harvested and then saw them in various stages of being dried out. Our eldest was delighted to spot some sheep on the farm and they are also growing macadamia nuts which are ideally suited to the Malawi climate, although difficult to buy in Malawi as most are exported! On the walk back from the drying sheds our eldest and I got separated from the rest of the family and our waterproofs and got properly soaked as the rain began in earnest. We travelled back with the heater on in the car – that’s a first!

blooming

We got wet and cold on Saturday and it was great! We have had quite a lot of rain and things are definitely cooler, friends assure us that this a more normal temperature for January compared to the heat we have been having. We have all slept really well and are less grumpy, the garden is blooming and looks beautiful. I feel full of energy – until it heats up again!

Our weekend began with a Burn’s night dinner, this was a black tie event so the doc dusted down his kilt, borrowed some football socks and we danced the night away. It was a good start to the weekend although a late night and I think some may have been regretting the tequila shots especially as we were up early on Sat to visit a tobacco farm – photos to follow.

Church on Sunday was good and I think that we have come to the end of church hopping and will settle at the “City Pentecostal Church” which is lively, with a good Sunday school and sound teaching. It’s a big church in a small building so it is going to take time to get to know people and after a 1 ½ - 2 hour service the kids are ready to head home so not much chance for chit chat!

Anyway, busy week ahead on the entertaining front – a mammoth bake for baby group and a small dinner party on Fri, just hope the power cuts are not at crucial times!

water, water

We were supervising the kids in the shower and planning a relaxing evening writing a (very overdue) newsletter when we realised that there was a water running noise that was not the shower! Water was flooding through the ceiling in the study! The doc’s diagnosis was a problem with the valve into the hot water geyser which has been proved correct. Meanwhile our youngest had pooed in the shower!

 

However there is so much to be thankful for: a kind landlord who sent the plumber round immediately; tiled floors; nothing damaged and spare water in the reserve tank. We’re quite used to the water being turned off and we do seem to have a lot of buckets for day-to-day life!

tiresome heat

The heat is making everyone tired, none of us is sleeping very well and we’re all a bit cranky. Although, the Malawians find the heat just as tiring; a doctor friend was telling me about a nurse who nodded off while talking to another doctor, one of the G4 accountants was asleep at her desk this morning and one of our guards was asleep at 9pm last night! The doc dealt with the latter in his usual non-confrontational style by telling the other guard to go and wake him up!

more safari

Just because it’s a great picture taken my sister in law who has come to the end of her holiday in Malawi. I think she’s had a good time although being burgled at home, dropping her camera and breaking her toe ensure that it was an eventful trip!

on Domwe

As promised more about Domwe: it’s an uninhabited island in the middle of Lake Malawi. As we approached by boat (we could have kyacked out but were put off by the rough water) we couldn’t see any signs of human habitation; our accommodation was in tents on wooden platforms all carefully hidden in the undergrowth. The dining area was another platform and there was a kitchen and some toilets and an outdoor shower tucked away amongst the trees. There was one other family and another couple as well as two members of staff who carried our bags, washed up and generally helped us out. The beach was beautiful and we spent two happy days on the sand in the lake and watching the fish (through our snorkels).

 

too hot

It is too hot. This is the only way to keep cool, although we are hoping for more rain. All the locals say we have not had enough rain yet and the crops will not do well unless we get more. The kids are coping well with the heat, although bedtime today was difficult but they slept quite late this morning because I think the heat just tires them out. The only thing to do is to get into the car (with the a/c on) and head for the pool or jump in what our eldest calls the “paddle in pool”. Another of my sister in law’s photos.