Weekending, 16th October 2010

We have had a very quite week with the usual lack of power. On Sunday we decided to go for a walk and asked Lynn if she would like to accompany us. We wanted to check out a new pizza restaurant we have been told about so were looking to head off in that direction. We walked via the beach and then crossed Kotu Bridge and headed along the path to Palma Rima. Paul decided to show Lynn where Dunes Hotel was so we headed back to the beach again. We had been discussing all the rubbish that is on the beach at Fajara and that it wouldn’t take much to clean it up. So we were very surprised when we saw groups of children and adults actually doing just that at Palma Rima what a difference it made. We spoke to one of the adults who were working for Peace Corps and she told us they were trying to get the children involved with global warming issues and had decided to have a clean up day. We headed off the beach and towards Palma Rima junction and crossed the road passing the Commin Bar to start looking for the pizza shop. It didn’t take us long to locate it however there were signs saying closed on Sunday’s. I decided to buy some bread from the Turkish bakery opposite whilst Lynn treated us all to a Danish pastry which we sat and ate outside it was delicious. We set off for home passing Jackie’s house and hoping to show Lynn the mud houses near to Kotu Power station, unfortunately the path had been blocked off with some corrugated fencing so we had to back track putting distance onto our walk. By now we were all very hot and tired and in need of a sit down we returned home via the fields and road which was the quickest route. Whilst everyone crashed out and slept I had dinner to prepare so by 8 o’clock I was so tired that I went off to bed.

Then on Monday I invited Marielle and Max over for a fish curry dinner, I fed the children earlier so we were able to have a chat and a drink before putting the children to bed and sitting down to eat. Luckily the evening was spent with power so no looking for lighters to light the candles.

A BIG HAPPY 21st BIRTHDAY TO RYAN!

A BIG HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO LEWIS!

Weekending, 9th October 2010

Bijilo Monkey Park

On Sunday we took Lynn off to Bijilo Monkey Park which is where we visited last October near to Senegambia. As we were walking down the road towards the park Abigail suddenly shouted monkey’s and as we looked in the trees there were loads off them just sat with their babies walking along the telegraph wires it looked as if they were heading for the park. We paid our entrance fee and then started walking it was nice to be shaded from the sun overhead. We reached the end of the track and headed back along the beach I was unaware that we were actually taking a different route back to last time which ran along the edge of the sand dunes. We eventually arrived at the seated area and a little further along we saw an abundance of Green Vervet Monkeys lazing around in nearby trees or grooming each other, unfortunately we didn’t see the Red Colobus Monkeys this time.

It's A Hard Life

On Monday we received a phone call from school saying Abigail was unwell again. I picked her and Bradley up as on seeing her I decided to take her off to Africmed. She was very unwilling to go as she just wanted to sleep and was scared about any needles. When we arrived at Africmed it was very busy people were sat outside on benches waiting their turn. Luckily there was a hospital bed up against one of the walls so I laid Abigail down whilst we waited to be seen. At one stage one of the male nurses showed some concern by checking her temperature it was showing 39.9 very hot. After another wait we were seen by another nurse who took details of her symptoms and did another temperature check. We then waited again to have some blood and urine tests done before actually seeing the doctor. Two and a half hours later we were called to see the doctor, although no malarial parasites had shown up in her blood he was confident that she had malaria so prescribed her a course of coartime as well as some amoxicillin for a chest infection. Once home Abigail went straight off to bed and slept for the rest of the day. On the evening I went off with Lynn to do my yoga class whilst there Paul experienced some funny yet concerning noises from Abigail she was feverish and delirious which resulted in her making animal noises. She spent the rest off the week off school on Tuesday I took the day off work, on Wednesday Paul looked after her and on Thursday I took her to school with me. She seemed okay however at about 11 o’clock she started to feel tired so I laid her down in the library to rest. On the afternoon Abigail was in a fighting mood with Bradley mainly because she was so tired an early night was called for. By Friday she was back to normal and able to take a dip in the pool at safari garden. She does look very skinny after her illness as she had no appetite to eat anything all week.

Marielle's Welcome Back Party

On Saturday evening Max held a welcome party for Marielle who arrived back last night for a weeks holiday. It was nice to see her again and catch up with her life back in the Netherlands. She produced some little presents for us all, hello kitty purse and watch for Abigail, colouring book and felt tips for Bradley, a football lolly for Paul, clogs fridge magnet and waffle biscuits which were yummy and reluctantly I had to share them with the family for me. Max as usual gave us all a supper party with plenty of good food and drink. He had also invited a group of Cubans who put on some salsa music so they were up dancing it was great to watch them move. Jane is good at salsa dancing so her and max were also up having a boogie. Abigail started to get tired around 8 o’clock so she laid down on Max’s bed and fell asleep. Bradley was well up for a party and showing no signs of flagging so by 10.30pm we decided to make a move for home. We later found out the party went on until 5am Max having crashed out on the bed whilst others carried on partying.

Weekending, 2nd October 2010

On Monday Bradley woke up ill yet again he had had a restless night with high temperature and cough. Paul was still off work so he took Bradley off to Africmed, after a long wait he was diagnosed with a chest infection and was put on a nebuliser to help with his breathing. He arrived home with the usual amoxicillin to clear up his chest infection.

On Tuesday and Wednesday Paul attended college for a meeting and the registering of the new students he is due back lecturing next week. He also found out that he has been getting underpaid since starting the college so he is due quite a bit of back pay. As for myself I am now back into the swing of school and enjoying teaching. Year one are still proving to be a problem for us so much that we now have Mr Ndoy the PE teacher sitting in the class with us. He is a very imposing character if you can imagine a six foot plus Senegalese man who doesn’t put up with any nonsense. However I still feel that we need another assistant to help with the less able children who are constantly calling out for assistance so you are getting pulled backwards and forwards. I am going home with a headache most days from their constant chattering.

On Thursday Abigail had her first day off school she was complaining of a stomach ache and sore throat, however she still went off to school on Friday feeling much better.

On Friday we had a surprise visit from Alpha so Paul decided to take him to some other company’s to try to get them involved with their cultural centre in Kanuma. As we were eating lunch Lynn arrived home so we introduced her to Alpha and then she joined us. Alpha showed us his latest batik work and Lynn decided to buy a couple off him as she is very much into art. Once Alpha had left for home we quickly changed and went to Safari Garden as Paul has been asked by one of the Ugandan VSO recruits also called Paul to teach him how to swim. By the end of the day Paul was actually able to swim the length of the pool although his technique needed improving we were really pleased with how well he had done.

On Saturday we walked to Kariba shopping centre and then spent the rest of the day in the compound. Paul helped me with some lesson plans so we sat outside in the shade. The weather this week has been so hot with high humidity levels this has resulted in three showers a day for me and the kids and the fact that the electricity is off is only adding to our misery as we are unable to put on a fan. It has also resulted in a couple of toadstools sprouting up out of the wood near the sink over night.