Dear Family and Friends,
This blog was created as a way of communicating to you in Australia about what life is like living in Lumwana, Africa. It is also a diary for myself and my children for the years to come.
This blog will now be by invitation only. I apologise for the inconvenience this will cause to my family and friends.
And so, if you wish to continue to read this blog, please let me know and I will send you an invite.
If you are reading this blog to find out more about Lumwana, please see the website:
www.lumwanatetekelagroup.com
Thank you to all my readers.
Tricia
Sunday 25 November 2012
Tuesday 20 November 2012
Weeks 33 &34 - 18.11.12
You will not believe what has happened now!!!!
Week 33
5.11.12 My dear Aunty Marg passed away. She had been
battling Oesophageal cancer and lost the battle. We will miss her dearly. She really was a wonderful Aunt.
This was not a good start to the week and unfortunately it
did not get better.
On Tuesday we had a Melbourne Cup Brunch and the ladies got
all dressed up for the occasion. I actually won best dressed. I had made myself
some pants out of a chitenge (like a sarong) and Carol wrapped my head up for
me with another. Laura wore the dress I made for her out of some material I
bought here. I have borrowed one of the girls’ sewing machines and it has been
nice doing some sewing.
Wednesday, the LTG had a meeting to discuss the recent
Oktoberfest. Then I spent the afternoon
making cakes (for Abbey’s birthday cake). We had an unexpected arrival that
night of a new family. No one new anything and so I went over and introduced
myself. The poor things did not have any food in the house. I made some phone calls and not before long they had dinner and provisions for breakfast and lunch the next
day. That is the great thing about a small community, generally everyone pitches in when needed.
For the past 2 nights, Laura had been having tummy pains and
so I took her up to the clinic. We had already been to the clinic in the
morning to get me some medicine for an upper respiratory infection and now we
were back to get medicine for her. Unfortunately, she got worse and so on
Friday we were back at the clinic and she was admitted. Laura was put on an IV
drip as she was losing too much fluid as she was now vomiting. Phil came home
early, so I could pack a bag and head back to the clinic. Phil then brought Tom
home and took him to the kids Disco that was on that night at the Kindy.
On Saturday morning after several days of low pressure we
lost water. Even the clinic had no water. After several phone calls a plea was
put out to get water to the clinic. 4 hours later we finally had a bucket and a
water container filled with water. In the mean time I went down to a friend’s
place in the township and filled up a 20L tank so we could flush the toilet and
wash hands. Apparently a pipe had burst and
it was in the process of being fixed.
I left the clinic for a few hours on Saturday morning to
make Abbey’s cake. I think it turned out really well. I was not aware that
Laura was not improving. We were hoping that the IV drip would improve her dramatically
and we could bring her home. That was not the case.
By Saturday afternoon, Laura was not getting better and
things were looking worse. She was on antibiotics, anti-cramp medicine plus IV
fluids with electrolytes. She was screaming and hitting herself with the pain.
It was horrible to watch. It was like watching her go through child birth. The
most horrible thing I have had to watch and could do nothing about. Late that
afternoon, things got even worse. There was now blood in her poo. It was then the
Doctors decided to send her to South Africa. She had been tested for Malaria,
Typhoid and now they were thinking an E-Coli infection. Again I went home and
packed our bags for the trip. Unfortunately, the plane could only take one
parent.
Week 34
At 7am on Sunday we were placed in an ambulance (a very old one, not like we have in Australia) and drove 200km over rough roads to Ndola. Thankfully it only took 4 hours, as the driver
used the siren to get us there quicker than the usual 5-6 hours it normally
takes. We then went in an air ambulance to Johannesburg. This only took 2
hours. When we landed in South Africa we were escorted to another ambulance
whilst the pilot and doctor took care of our passports and luggage. It was then
off to Sunninghill Hospital. Once there, poor Laura had to go through the trial
of getting another IV line as her old one had stopped working. It took 5 people
to stuff it up completely and one nurse even wanted to connect the old drip
without cleaning it first. I was so angry. We finally got up to the ward about
6pm that night. It had been a long day. Thankfully we were in isolation as
no-one new what Laura had, so we had a nice quiet room to ourselves. A doctor
came in and put in a drip ASAP and they started the drugs for an E- coli
infection.
Things were starting to settle at last and over the next
couple of days continued to improve. Laura was finally able to sleep most of
the night pain free. I could even see the cheeky side coming out and her eyes
were starting to look alive again. She was finally diagnosed with Dysentery! We
will not know the exact type, as she was on antibiotics a culture was not able
to grow. It was from water and the Doctor assured me it is not from puddles or pool water, but from
drinking water or food that has been washed in it. We now boil the water and use bottle as well, even for cleaning teeth as recommended by the Paediatrician.
On Wednesday Laura was discharged and we headed off to a
Hotel. On Thursday, we did some shopping and Friday we returned home. It was an
effort to get back to Solwezi as the Medical Company would not book flights for
a specific airline. They wanted to send us through the DRC, Congo, and then
they wanted us to go to Ndola by plane and then the 6-7 hour drive by bus!!!! I
refused this for obvious reasons. Phil finally found the flights on the
internet and I insisted they book them. They finally came through at 7am Friday
as we were being picked up for the airport. We arrived back in Solwezi at 430pm
on Friday. Laura had a lovely surprise as well. The guys at Phil’s work had
built a swing and they managed to get it put in just before Laura got home. She
was so tired and grumpy, but she still managed a swing. It had been a long
couple of weeks. That night at 630pm the power went off for a couple of hours.
Welcome back to Lumwana!
The weekend was quiet as Laura and I both needed some relaxation time. Saturday night was a party and there was a massive storm which meant we
lost power again. I did not stay long as the kids were so tired. Phil was
entertaining some blokes from work. Thankfully, the rain stopped so he could
cook on the braai. Sunday we all chilled out together.
I must say Happy Birthday to my Mum, I was not able to
contact her yesterday. My phone has died and I wasn’t able to get through.
Sorry Mum. I was thinking of you and love you lots. Hope you got the cards and
we will talk soon.
The rains are here now, it has been raining the last 2
afternoons and the thunder is so loud it hurts the ears. The lightening is
incredible. You can see and hear the storm building for about an hour or so and
then when it hits, it pours. Everything
is so green and the bush has just come alive with so many creatures and
flowers. The bugs here are massive and very spectacular. The flowers are
beautiful and I will have to photograph more as different ones are erupting
everywhere. It is still warm and the humidity is building. It is impossible to
have straight hair here. Lol.
This place is not a healthy place for my children. We
have been very unlucky, especially with Laura. The fact that she has been on
antibiotics most of the time here, undoubtedly lowered her immune system and so her body was not able to cope with the water born bug. There were about 6 other people on site with gastroenteritis,
when Laura came down with dysentery. I am glad to be back with Phil and Tom, but I am not
glad to be back on site. I am so concerned for my daughter's health and I am seriously considering leaving now with them.
The shop is struggling to get fresh fruit and vegetables of edible quality. A lot of the shelves are
empty and the meat is not as readily available. Even the
UHT milk exploded in my cupboard the other day and that is meant to be long
life! I only bought it last week. The joys of living in the middle of remote Africa and needing everything brought in.
Chicken pox is also going around. One of the maids from
Manyama brought it in and now Miss Jo, Tom’s old teacher has is it. Some of the
kids have a rash, fever and vomiting and it is thought to be Scarlet fever, but
who knows. The wet is bringing the germs out. We just need to keep kids healthy
for 4 more weeks and then we go on our first holiday. Really can’t wait for
that.
Tom’s teacher Miss Jo is no longer working at the school. She had been working voluntarily
for quite awhile and so they have another 2
volunteers, Bex and Kennis. I am so appreciative of Miss Jo for staying and working unpaid for as long as she did and now to Bex and Kennis.I think it is wonderful that
they are willing to do this to keep the Kindy running for the next 3 weeks.
I have also been inquiring about getting our belongings. Unfortunately, our things cannot be sent without a Permanent work permit (I wish I had have known that when we packed), so we still wait or we will come home.......Things are getting very hard to deal with here. Not at all like we had planned or wanted from this experience.
I better go before I fill this entire blog with my whinging.
Lol. x
Sunday 4 November 2012
Week 30, 31 & 32 - Photo's
Footprints in mud.
Weeks 30, 31 & 32 - 4.11.12
Week 30
I finally have my Zambian driver’s licence. What an
experience!
On Monday, there was to be a lecture on the Zambian Highway
Code rules at 10:00 am, by 11:00 am no-one had turned up. There were 4 of us
waiting and so we went exploring. We found out that all we needed was a Conversion,
and so needed a specific form and to get this we had to go back at 14:00 pm. So
we went back then and after 1 ½ hours walked away with the specific form. But
this was not the end of it. On Wednesday, I was picked up and taken to the Mine
where I had to have a driving test, to assess if I knew how to drive. Phil was
there along with 3 others and so off we went. I drove about 2 km and was deemed
fit enough to drive. So after 2 ½ hours we were all done and had paid all
our fee’s, had 16 pieces of paper and still did not have our licence! But at least
we had passed!
I went for a bike ride this week and my gosh did my bottom
regret it! Lol! Wow. I borrowed one of the girl’s bike and trailer and took
Laura for a ride. She kept wondering why I was going so slow and I had to
explain to her that it was hard work riding up hill, unlike her who was sitting
in the back enjoying the lift. It was quite enjoyable though and we will do it
again.
Tom had his first Parent / Teacher night at school. Phil was
able to go and Tom was given a great review. He has improved so much since
going. I think he will love ‘big’ kid school next year.
On Thursday I helped out up at the school. I had not done so
in a while and it was great. It is lovely to see how Tom interacts and plays
with the other kids. The rainy season also started today. A bit early as we
were told the 24th, but it was great to get the rain and quite a bit
of thunder too. Laura will not be scared of thunder when we leave here, she
will be so use to it by then.
There was an LTG meeting on Friday morning to finalise
details for the Wine and Cheese night tomorrow night and more rain!
On Saturday, I had to be at the Golf Club early in order to
help set up and luckily we decided on an early time as it took several hours to
set up all the tables and photos. But what a great night, the LTG raised 32
million!!! That just beat anyone's expectations. It is amazing to be involved
with something like that. To see people donate such money to a good cause is
overwhelming and I am so proud of the effort we all put into the night. The LTG
now has enough money to help out another 3 schools with Community Gardens and
to sponsor at least 3 more kids for next year, and that is just with one event!
Week 31
We had some new arrivals this week, a family of four from
Perth and a family of 3 from Perth. I was meant to be cooking for one of them,
but got stuck in Solwezi.
On Tuesday, a bus took about 15 of us in to finalise our
licence’s. We left the mine at 8:00 am and arrived back that night at 19:30 pm!!
No I am not joking! We arrived at the RTSA about 9:30 am and then the queuing began.
We had to line up in one room to get our photo (the Manager decided that I had
to go to Immigration to get another form as the 16 I had was not enough,
Immigration told me it was not needed, the Manager then told me I had to get
Phil’s permit copied, luckily I had it on me and then I was able to get the
photo done). Then we had to line up in another room to pay for the photo. My
form did not print properly and so I had to line up again to get a re-print.
This took us up to lunchtime and the RTSA closed for an hour. We went for pizza
and then got back into lines that we had previously left before lunch. We then
had to go back and see the same man that took our photo, to sign the form to
say that it was in fact us. Then it was time to line up again to give over all our
paper work and get 1 piece of paper back. This was to be our paper licence and
that only lasts 1 month before we have to go back and get it signed again for
another month. This goes on and on, until the plastic card turns up in goodness
knows how long. We were then able to leave and by the time I got home I had
been gone 11 ½ hours! Thank goodness for Carol. I thought I would be about 4
hours. OMG what a day! Carol was great and had fed the kids and bathed them. I don't know what I would do without her.
On Wednesday, it was Independence Day and I had a baking
frenzy. I made 3 lots of biscuits and 2 cakes. I was in charge of doing the
cake for Halloween and so had to perfect my mix. I made some colourful choc
chip biscuits for Halloween. I knew lots of people would be handing out lollies
and so I thought I would do biscuits. The other cakes turned out perfectly and
now I am well and truly on my way to making cakes for other people. Now I just
had to decorate them!
I tried to make dumplings on Thursday and they looked good.
However, they all stuck together and looked awful by the time I went to cook them.
They tasted ok though. I have made them since and have perfected the dumpling.
It is such a shame that the kids don’t like them as they are a simple meal, but
Phil and I do.
We had our end of month morning tea on Saturday and then I
spent the rest of the day decorating the Halloween cakes. I think they turned
out well, you can judge for yourself when you check out the photos. We then
went to the pool for an afternoon soak.
I had a hard time keeping the kids out of their costumes on Sunday
until it was actually time to get dressed up. Tom wore his Spiderman outfit (purchased in South Africa) and
Laura wore her Fairy dress (found in Solwezi). The other kids looked great as well. The party was
a waste of time, as all the kids wanted to do was Trick or Treat, and once the
cake was cut and dished up everyone had basically disappeared. Everyone loved
the cake and hopefully, I will get some more requests. Michelle and I took the
kids Trick or Treating while the guys stayed home and dished out the junk food.
Poor Phil had just arrived home in time as he was called into work URGENTLY.
One of the local workers had threatened to kill one of his drillers and
security was called in. The said worker was fired and all calmed down. Then
later one of his workers, a friend of the one before , turned up for work drunk
and so was sent off site and fired also (there is a strict No Alcohol policy). Poor Phil had a bad day. Not to
mention Monday as he then had to go over all the forms and paperwork about Sunday’s
goings on.
Week 32
Tom had a bad night Sunday night and so I took him up to the
clinic first thing in the morning. He had really bad tummy pains and a fever.
Thankfully, he did not have Malaria and we were sent home none the wiser.
During the day things settled and he is now fine. I however have come down with
a terrible head cold this week and have been a bit out of it. Thus the reason
the blog is late a week. I am looking like
Rudolph the red nose reindeer. My nose won’t stop running and my head feels
like it is about to explode. I think Laura is now coming down with it. Yeah!!
We had about 100 mls of rain on Thursday and we discovered
the front verandah leaks! Hopefully we can get it fixed soon and so in the
meantime, we have towels everywhere as it constantly looks like rain. The kids
had a wonderful time splashing in the puddles. I have realised that the red
dirt does not wash out like the dirt back home, and so they can only splash in
their painting clothes.
We also had another family arrive. They have 3 boys and Tom
is thrilled. The eldest is 5 and then twins, 2 ½. Thankfully they only live 2
houses down and so I am sure Tom will be playing with Andrew quite a bit.
On Saturday was the Oktoberfest. It was held late due to
problems getting beer. Unfortunately, I was unable to go as not feeling well,
but Phil did and had a nice time.
I think today has been quiet as so many people are feeling
slightly hung over. Oh and Laura does have a cold now as well. I am feeling slightly better, but still not 100%. Hopefully will pick up soon as I have a cake to make this week for little Abbey's 1st Birthday
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