Week 61
These last 2 weeks has been like a mad dash to the end of a
long race. I feel as though I have run a marathon and now I can see the finish
line and I am excited to get there, but I am as tired as anything.
Monday was spent varnishing all of our wooden products.
Sanding down bits and pieces and giving everything a good coat. This will help
to seal the wood and kill any bugs which might be lurking that we are unaware
of. Hopefully, it will make them all easier to clear quarantine in Australia as
well.
It was also my Dad's 70th birthday today and I celebrated by having Caterpillar for dinner! I bought some caterpillar when I was in Manyama last and Carol told me how to cook it. So I soaked them for 5 minutes, drained them and then fried them with onion and oil. It was then time to eat, so down the hatch. They were very salty as they were dried to begin with and you could feel the head go 'pop' in your mouth. I can't say they will be on my dinner menu again, but at least I tried them. The kids of course would not go near them, but Kennis and Phil tried one each. I have included some photos for you.
On Tuesday I had another really mad day. I had playgroup in
the morning with Laura and then headed over to Carin’s house for a farewell
cuppa and chat. It was then back to the house for more varnishing of the wood.
I had just finished coating a mask when I knocked the container with my heel. I
tipped the 5 L tin over and it went all over the floor. I was varnishing the
wood in the verandah, as I did not want them to get coated in dust outside. So
it was a scream and a curse at myself, whilst trying to think of how to scoop
it all up. I managed to scoop as much as I could with cardboard and then used
some turps to clean the floor. Unfortunately, I only had a small amount of
turps and so had to run up to Manyama to get more. This of course happened just
as I was about to pick Tom up from school. Always the way! Thankfully, we found
some paraffin in Manyama and headed home to clean up the rest of the mess
before continuing to finish the varnish.
Tuesday was also the day my friend’s husband was suspended
for doing what his boss told him to do. I will not go into details here, but it
just makes you so mad how some people are treated here. They had no idea if
they would be able to stay or if they had to leave and so were in a major panic
as to what to do. My other friend Michelle finally was given the go ahead to move
up to the rental estate from the township and moved into Vannida’s old place.
Brenda and I went to see the Musalwila people on Wednesday.
Brenda had not been before and I wanted to go and say good bye and take them
some things I had bought them in Australia. I gave them some tennis balls, a Frisbee
and a catching mit game. I also purchased another mask which will be hung on
the front door back home. I love these people. They have such big hearts and I
will miss Davison, his wife Gloria and twins Faith and Precious, who are now
just walking. The saddest part about leaving is leaving the people of this
beautiful country. I really have been lucky to meet some wonderful and
remarkable people that live so poorly, yet seem so rich.
On Thursday, I went to visit "Big" Laura. She is pregnant and is
leaving to go back to Australia to have the baby. She has been a big figure
with the LTG and I hope they will be able to continue with their dwindling
numbers as they do such good work for the local children, with regards to
education. Laura showed us some of her in utero baby photos and my Laura was
thrilled to see them. That afternoon Ella came over to play with Tom. Those 2
are really are going to miss each other. That night I cut Tom's hair so we could pack the clippers, Phil decided he needed a hair cut too and so let Tom cut his hair. As you can see from the photo he concentrated very hard on this task. I did have to neaten it up at the end and Phil nearly lost an ear, but Tom was proud of himself for doing it.
Friday was a day off for the kids. The Principal was under
the impression it was a public holiday and so the kids had the day off. The
public holiday was in fact on the Saturday, for African Freedom Day. So I had a
household of kids. I could not say ‘no’, as soon we will be gone and Tom and
Laura will not be able to play with these kids again. They had an absolute
ball.
We had Rashmi from ‘Jewell of Africa’ here on the Saturday.
So I went up for a browse. She really does have some beautiful stones, some of
them precious, some not. You can buy an emerald and next to it a smoky quartz,
but the majority of stones are all from are all Zambia. One of the girls was
modelling a beautiful necklace and I would have loved to have bought it, but it
cost $11,000.00 USD (which is just a smidge out of my price range)! That
afternoon was spent starting to organise the house and throwing stuff out. I
had accumulated quite a bit of craft stuff and pictures Tom had done at school.
There is only so much you can keep.
Lumwana had a craft market on the Sunday. Compared to last
year it was a very poor turnout. But the mine has seen a lot of change lately
and with so many people leaving, and with so many not knowing if they will
leave, there just weren’t a lot of people buying. The kids had their faces
painted and I entered a couple of raffles and actually ended up winning a doll,
plus we bought a couple of more wooden items and decided that was now enough!
It was a lovely morning and a nice way to end our time here. That afternoon
Phil and I headed out to Maheba to take some things out to Clements house. It
was great to see the family again and see them all looking so well. His eldest
2 were not at home, but the other 6 were. Joyce informed me that they now call
baby Hope, Tricia. It is such a wonderful honour to have this baby named after
me. I had no idea what to say, but I am glad we have been able to help this
family in a small way. Phil then headed to Kitwe to collect our remaining masks
we had ordered and to pick up a solar unit for Clement and his family. We
wanted to give them something useful and thought power would be the best thing
we could do for them.
Week 62 – Our last week.
Phil came back today and I met him with Clement at Maheba.
We had not told Clement we were buying him a solar unit. He and his wife, Joyce
were so thrilled when they saw it. Phil will have to go back another day and
help him install it.
Brenda had also arranged a quick good bye lunch for Yolandi
and me. Yolandi still had no idea what was happening with her husband’s job on
site, but were told to get ready to leave at a minutes notice. The poor thing
was frantic with worry. At least we have had time to prepare to leave, but only
having a week’s notice would drive anyone crazy with worry and stress. So in
between cooking cakes for my farewell lunch and Clement’s family, running to Maheba and then back to my lunch, it was a busy day.
On Tuesday I decided to photograph and itemise everything
that we would be taking back to Australia. We still have not heard a word about
the removalist and are getting worried. Thus, if we have to leave before
everything is packed, I have a list and a photo of everything that should
arrive in Australia, and if something is missing, I will be angry BIG time! I
so cannot wait to leave this place. The problems just keep on coming and coming. There is no
end to the problems we have had lately with trying to get home. I will gladly
settle back into life in Forbes and can’t wait for things to just be normal and
boring, if that makes sense without being horrible.
Laura and I also had playgroup and I had to go as I was
running the session. The numbers have dropped and so it was only 8 kids there
all up. Before we had about 20 enrolled! ATS, the accommodation people on site,
also came by to do a count to make sure everything in the house is still the
same as when we first moved in. That
afternoon the kids wanted to do some face painting. Whilst packing up I came
across a set that Michelle had given us for Xmas. I painted the kid’s faces and
then they painted mine. It was actually quite relaxing, but I did look an
absolute mess by the end of it. They had fun, so that’s what matters is it not?
On Wednesday, I took a break from packing and had my nails
done. Yolandi was still waiting for her flight details to come through and so I
begged her to do my nails for me. I have not had them done here, but thought I
would spoil myself for our trip home. She did a great job and they look and
feel great. I then finalised all the kitchen items and sorted all the kids’
clothes into taking back and giving away. One of Phil’s work colleagues has
twin 2 year old girls and so I packed up Laura’s clothes and toys for her as
well as all our remaining craft and painting items. She seemed happy enough
with our donation. Tom’s clothes will go to Clement.
Thursday was a mad dash to Solwezi, to pick up a part coming
from Kitwe so that Phil can complete Clement’s solar unit. The part however,
was not put on the bus and so was not there. Of course not! This is after all was our last chance to get this part and get Clement up and running before we go.
Now Phil will have to go in on Saturday and see if it has arrived. Fingers
crossed. That afternoon, the kids wanted to do some face painting again. Yes, I
did have mine done and then we wandered across the road to Yolandi’s house and
Tom did all of the kids and then the kids did Michelle’s face as well. They all
had a great time and looked absolutely gorgeous by the end of it. Lol….
Yesterday I had quite a few odd jobs to run. I picked up a
dress that I had made from a seamstress down in the township (and I couldn’t
wait to try it on) then I had to go to LPDC to get permission to take some
items off site. I then went to the bank to close our account and then back to
the house to pick up Laura and head out. Phil was donating some tools and we
were also giving away some large water containers, plastic containers and some
remaining items from the pantry to a work fellow who lives up past Manyama. So
Laura and I headed up there to deliver the goods. Dennis lives in a lovely
little village, it was off the road and so neat and tidy, obviously cared for
with love. I met his wife Grace and she gave us a woven bowl to say thank you,
again such wonderful people. Dennis now
has a full time job at the mine, Phil helped push for this, and so he and his
family should now be able to build the house that they long for.
Then it was back home and pick Tom up from school. It was
quite sad saying goodbye to Miss Paula. Tom has had a wonderful introduction to
school here with the teacher’s he has had. I have really seen him grow up here
into a boy from a toddler. I admit I had some tears as I said good bye to them.
I then opened up my house to a few of the girls who came in and shopped from my
cupboards. There was no way I was going to leave my fridge and pantry stocked
up full of items. Rosemary in particular took quite a lot with her and I handed
over the remaining cake making pieces that I had. Her and her son do a lot of
cooking and so now they can do more!
It was then afternoon drinks up at Alison’s house. I did not
want to go as I knew who would be there, but I also knew it would be the last
time that the kids played with their friends like this. Thankfully, my dear
friend Brenda was there and another couple of girls who I get along really well
with were there, so it was an ok couple of hours. Ella gave Tom a T-shirt she
bought for him in Mauritius, which was so lovely and Brenda had arranged for
her tailor to make an outfit for Tom, Laura and myself. They are gorgeous. So
we all came home and showered and tried on our outfits. Tom’s outfit fits
really well. Laura’s is a bit big, but at least she can grow into it. As for my
2 outfits, they fit, but would feel more comfortable when I lose some weight, which
is a great incentive as I really want to wear them.
The guy who bought our car then came over to have some
papers signed and some people came to collect some items they had bought. It
was then dinner and bed for the kids. Phil was then hassled by HR, as the
removalists are charging a ridiculous amount of money for our move and the
company wanted to know what on earth we are taking back with us. We think they
are doing another relocation whilst here and have mixed up the 2! I only hope
our stuff ends up in Australia and not Cananda. There will be no end to the
problems until we leave this place. I stayed up to write my blog and so was
tired I too had to go to sleep. I have not been sleeping at all well lately. Go
figure! So I just needed to crash.
It is now 5am on the 1st June and I am sitting in
the quiet with a blanket wrapped around me getting my final blog from Lumwana finished.
I will write some more when I get home, but I wanted to finish this off here. I only hope that the removalist turns up today to pack up our items. Knowing our luck........
What a year or 14 months it has been! I had no idea it was
ever going to turn out like this.
Would I do it again? No. It has been a wonderful experience,
but we could have come on a holiday and seen just as much. For Phil, yes it
probably has been as he has been working and doing different things. But as far
as living on site for the kids and I, no it has not been. Mine site living is
very restrictive and because you are so close to everybody and some people you
would not normally associate with, can be very hard work. The kids have had a
great time playing outside, but they do that in Australia anyway. I cannot wait
to get them into activities such as sport and dance that I feel will really
help them to develop.
Do I regret coming? No, as I have met some truly wonderful
people and I am so glad to have had the chance to do that. I have also
developed a new skill in cake decorating that I wish to continue in Australia.
Will we come back? To live, I will say no and I think Phil
now agrees as well. It is just too hard with young kids. To holiday, you bet we
will. We can’t wait in a sense to bring Tom and Laura back in 5 years to show
then Zambia. They will have such little memories of their time here and so we
hope to bring them back to show them where they lived and what we did.
Am I looking forward to leaving? YES……It seems strange to
finally be going, but I am happy to be leaving, especially now with so much
uncertainty hanging over this place. We came away thinking we would be gone for
2 – 5 years, but I now see how unrealistic that was, especially for a place
like this. If we had gone to Canada or South America, somewhere more developed,
yes I do believe we could have stayed away longer, But not in a third world
country in the middle of nowhere. I believe kids need more than just playing outside. I want to give them every available opportunity that is just not available here in Lumwana. Laura needs stimulation with children her own age and that will not happen here.
So the rest of the day will be spent packing and finalising
everything. Phil will go to Solwezi and collect the part to finish the solar
unit allowing Clement and his family to have power. The kids and I will
hopefully have the house done by the time Dadda get’s back. Tonight we are
having some people over, getting Indian takeaway and having a fire. Brenda and
I bought some Shake Shake (a story for my next blog) and we will toast to
Lumwana with that. Tomorrow we will catch the bus outta here! Yes I will cry, I
can feel my throat catching now, it is a mixture of sadness and relief. Plus I
am just so goddam tired, lol. Laura is now up, it is 6:15am and so the day
begins.
Thanks to everyone for reading and to all my friends in
Forbes, I will see you soon and keep Sunday the 23rd June free for a
birthday lunch at the Inn.
xxxx
