Weeks 18 & 19 - 5.8.12

I have had a couple of very busy and horrendous weeks. Things have been happening that make me wish I was back in the comfort of my home in Forbes rather than in the middle of a 3rd world country called Zambia.

Let’s go back to the beginning of Week 18.

It started with a meeting at my house for the Tetekela group on Monday. All was going well and then a siren went off that had all of the ATS (Housekeepers and Gardeners) staff run. We finally worked out it was a drill for them, but it had us wondering what on earth was going on. Then when Tom got home from school, he was running after Laura and fell and hit his head on the cement floor. He was hysterical and complaining of pain in his eyes. Great I thought. We still did not have our passports back from Immigration (for our next permit to stay in the country), and I was thinking we would have to be air lifted to South Africa for a brain haemorrhage. So off to the clinic with Tom, who was by now wanting to sleep when he wasn’t screaming and Laura in tow. Two hours later we finally left with the all clear from the Doctor, but now 2 grisly kids due to the wait. Boy did I need a drink that night!

The next day I had Security turn up to take a statement. Did I tell you we had a con man come around trying to get money out of us Aussies? Well, he came to me and so I had to give a description and a statement. I was then late to a meeting at Tom’s school and we then had a power blackout from 3 -4pm. Thankfully it came on when it did as I was just starting to get the Braai ready for cooking. The hot water finally came back on about 6:30pm, just in time to have a relaxing shower. You see, when we have no power, we have no water. We live at the top of a slight incline and so get water last out of everyone on site as it gets pumped uphill. The joys!

But it gets better.

I then had to go to Solwezi on Wednesday to get a few bits and pieces. I ended up going alone as Robyn had to pull out due to a sick child. Oh boy. When you arrive at Shoprite you are greeted by quite a few street sellers and local boys wanting to help you. They help with the trolley and packing of goods and then help you to the car, for a small fee or some food. Well, that day I had 2 boys help me and all went well. Until, I went to Mercury Couriers to pick up some items. One of the other boys followed me demanding money for looking after my car. I informed him that I had help from others that day and he got somewhat aggressive demanding that I pay him for my car not being scratched. You see if you don’t pay up or use their service, your car may mysteriously get scratched. Shoprite has tried to stop this, but unfortunately some of the kids can be a pain. I got in the car and left very annoyed for being followed and somewhat shaken from this experience.
Thursday saw the arrival of our new neighbour's. I had volunteered to cook a dessert for them and so spent the day in the kitchen cooking not only for them, but a cake for Clement (it was his birthday the next day), a cake and biscuits for us. The new family is absolutely lovely. They have a 3 year old little girl and Laura is thrilled. They are fast becoming good friends.

Friday saw Clement turn 42! So I gave him his cake to take home and share with his family. It was to be the first time that they would eat cake! It is amazing that we eat and over indulge in it all the time and give it no thought.  I then had to get myself organised as Phil had invited two work mates over for dinner. It was one of his bosses from Perth, and a colleague from Washington, USA. They were very interesting men. I could have talked to them all night, but Tom decided to scream and cry due to a nightmare and so I had to go in with him. We realised the next morning that our candles got stolen again that night. Goodness knows why we keep getting our candles stolen.

The weekend was fairly uneventful, thank goodness. Although due to the Olympics being on, I spent too much time with the kids as they are not interested in sitting with Dad and watching it for hours at a time like he is!

Week 19.

On Monday, Laura and I went over to our new neighbours for a play date. It was lovely to see her playing calmly with a couple of girls rather than the full on boy play with Tom.

Tuesday had me busy on the computer. The President of our Tetekela group has resigned and she was helping me to do the Craft Market that is coming up. So I have had to step up and get it all organised. It has been a bit difficult as I have had to make a lot of calls and sometimes the language barrier is difficult over the phone. I had quite a time with the names, with are so beautiful, but hard to figure out how to spell. I felt so stupid at times.

On Wednesday, I got so mad. I was sitting outside under the Larpa enjoying a few quiet moments to myself, which I had not done for a long time, when the kids came out to get me. Five local kids had asked Tom and Laura to open the door and let them into the house, when Tom said no, they then wanted Tom to open the door and for them both to go with them. Thank goodness Tom and Laura said no and came out to get me. This is not the first time they have been asked to go with someone. I was so proud of them for saying no. We have had the stranger talk, even when it is kids asking, not just adults.

That night I had a farewell dinner for a friend. Robyn has been wonderful to me and quite an inspiration as well. She has organised a literacy and school sponsorship program and the Tetekela group will keep this going. She will be dearly missed.

Thursday saw me start to look at flights. Now that we have our passports back and a new appointment (we had to cancel the last one due to our passports not being back in time) for Laura I could start to get organised. However, after sorting everything out, I found out her appointment had been changed and so needed to look into it all again. I managed to book everything on Sunday and today found out that my credit card was blocked and so only half had been paid for. So after several phone calls and unanswered e-mails, I managed to sort that out! Now we are ready to go. So on Sunday, Laura and I fly to Lusaka, spend the night and then onto Jo’burg on Monday. She will see the Specialist that afternoon and then have her tonsils out on Wednesday the 15th, see the Specialist again on the 20th to then fly back on the Tuesday. Hopefully we can get some shopping in prior to operation and some R&R after.

Tom had a friend over on Thursday after school. He has befriended Fabian a new boy in his class. He is a lovely little boy and it was nice to see Tom playing with a friend again. He has been missing the companionship of Lachie from next door.

On Friday we had afternoon drinks and boy did I need it, although I only had a soft drink. I did not think I would stop if I was to start on the wine. Lol.

We all went into Solwezi on Saturday and also took one of Phil’s driller with us. Ross has just arrived in Zambia and had not been to Solwezi before. What an experience. Could it get any worse? We had a lovely morning and lunch at Chabanga Lodge. It was then onto Shoprite. The local boys were very aggressive and it was not nice. As a result I will not be going back again. It just may not be safe without an escort, and we can’t take that risk. It is a shame as I enjoyed getting out and shopping. But the local boys would either damage the car or cause me problems and we don’t need the hassle.  The problem is escalating at Shoprite and something will need to be done. It is only there, as everywhere else the locals are wonderful to us.

We bought some kerosene lamps at Shoprite and so needed kerosene. The power blackouts have been a regular occurrence these last weeks and we thought it would be safer to use lamps than candles. Manyama thankfully is quieter than Solwezi, however, with the population increasing constantly it may end up the same very soon. A lot of people are coming closer to the mine in search of work.

On Sunday we went and said goodbye to Robyn and picked up the kids table we bought off them. It was then a lazy day tidying up the house, doing the washing and cooking. Ha Ha.

It was a Public Holiday here on Monday for Farmers Day. Phil went to work so that he can have a day off next week when I am gone with Laura. Both kids have a cold and Tom now has a cough. So I am loving my walks in the morning. However, 8 km’s just doesn’t seem long enough some days.  So you’ll have to excuse me for not writing last week. But as you can see things have been a bit…..hard. I miss you all. Even though the weather here is getting warmer, 30 degrees today, I do sometimes wish I was back home in front of the fire with Sebastian.

I will not write again until after Laura and I get back from South Africa. Wish us luck. xx