Weeks 61 & 62 - 31.5.13. Last blog from Lumwana

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 1^st 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 23^rd June free for a birthday lunch at the Inn.

xxxx