To 14th June
Sunday 12th June
Up at 7.00AM, felt better for a long night sleep. Did some washing (doing it all by hand) - using OMO washing powder! Not seen that brand name for a long time! Need to get a mop, some floors needs a wash. I’ve also got an ant problem. Tiny ants invade the kitchen worktop if I leave anything there. I suppose I should get a fridge.
Opened the gates (security grill) at the rear ‘veranda’ for the first time, and gave it a clean. There are about 20 keys for different locks and doors, but I’m getting used to what fits where.
It’s warm outside in the sun, especially if walking about, but in the house it’s cool. In the summer though, I’m told most people live outside, the houses get really hot, especially in the evening. I’ve seen lots of butterflies - perhaps about a dozen varieties so far. Lots of colour variations; most are of a similar size to those in the UK, although saw a large one this morning hanging out my money on the washing line (left it in the pocket of a washed shirt!). The bees I’ve seen are blue/black and white. Not seen that many different kinds of bird yet, mostly Sparrows, Doves, large Jays. Saw something the size of a blue tit with very similar markings but in an almost translucent blue. I need to get a book to tell me what all these things are. There are elephants in the vicinity. Klavs was saying that the person he rents his house from is now in a farm just 15Km from town and was recently visited by a lone bull elephant. Need to get that car and visit some of the sights outside of town. There is a dam somewhere close – The Shasha dam. You can fish there I’m told.
Talking of fish, there was some fresh fish in the supermarket yesterday; I’d only seen frozen before now.
Arranged a chat session with June at 1.00. She is back from Barcelona to a garden full of weeds. She is likely to come over mid July. I’ll take a holiday and we can get up to see Victoria Falls (about 500Km away). I’m told its best to see from the Zimbabwe side, but I’ve also been told not to bother going into Zimbabwe. As a British passport holder I’d be charged a £50 entry fee and apparently it’s a hassle. It’s a hassle for most people trying to get into/out of Zimbabwe. I was prepared to think that the British press were biased about the state of the country, but apparently not. Francistown has many Zimbabweans. They cross the border, often illegally, and buy basic items that can no longer be obtained in their own country. Lorries arrive and buy fuel in drums, to take back to sell at a profit. I’ve been told that the ordinary people are having a difficult time. The ZM dollar was at one time equal to the US dollar, but now it’s worth fraction of a US cent. The local press here write about it; they say nothing much can be done, it is problem for the Zimbabwean people to sort out.
Had a visit from Peter the painter foreman this afternoon. He still has some work to do on the garage door, and there is a water leak which will need the drive digging up (paving blocks). It’s important to get this fixed; it’s on my side of the mains, and water is metered, so you pay for what you use. Gave him a key to the ‘pedestrian gate’ so he can get in tomorrow. He advised me to get an additional padlock for it, and another for the gate. I suppose I will.
Just watched Holland V Serbia-Montenegro good match. I’ll watch another couple of episodes of ‘24’ on the laptop – thanks Thomas, great TV! Got an email from Thomas. Someone at the Vodaphone shop in the new RBS headquarters paid with a Jack Nicklaus limited edition £5 note, only issued at the Open last year. So he kept it for me – great! (I presume he substituted it for one of his ownJ).
Monday 12th June
After work went up to the Auto-Lot sales again. They had got the Honda out in the yard and I was able to start it and get a proper look at it. Engine was smooth and clean, it needs new tyres, brakes checked, wheel alignment and the radio repaired, all of which should be done this week. As with a lot of things here, the tyres have to come from Gabs (Gaborone). Anyhow, they will contact me later in the week and I’ll get a test drive with everything done.
As I got home tonight, passing my next door neighbours house I took the opportunity to say dumela, and introduce myself as the ‘new next door neighbour’. The woman replied an elongated OKAAY. She didn’t seem to want to continue the conversation, so I smiled and walked on, wondering if I’d broken some social norm that I was unaware of. However, after I’d had my tea, I heard someone calling from the gate. It was by this time dark, just after 6.00PM It was Nasa, my next door neighbour. She had a pen and paper and quickly wrote that she had suffered a stroke and it was then obvious that one side of her face was paralysed. Clearly, this explained her reaction earlier. She can say some words clearly but has difficulty with others.
She had come to ask if I needed curtains and that she would make them for me. Obviously I said OK and she went home again to fetch her tape measure then proceeded to measure up the 3 windows that I still needed curtains for. She stayed for about an hour and a cup of tea and a biscuit! Conversation was a bit stilted, but I showed the pictures I’d brought of June and the children, my brothers etc. Nasa Myengwa, stays with her Mama, her Papa is dead. She has a 17 year-old son Kunta, who is in form 5, the last year at secondary school here. She has a sister Bintu or Binta (I think), married to Ben. Ben is a golfer so I’ll keep that in mind although they live in Gabs (Gaborone). Her sister is a lawyer. Nasa didn’t go into her own background much, I didn’t ask, nor did she volunteer, any information about a husband. She doesn’t work and earns money where she can making curtains etc. She asked if I had a maid, and I told her that I may have one which a colleague has contact with. She seemed disappointed, and made it clear that she would have liked to have been the maid, it would have been extra money for her I suppose. Anyhow, since I don’t have an iron yet, I asked if she would do my ironing in the meantime and she was only too glad to oblige. I felt strange asking this woman I’d only just met to do my ironing. I asked if I was being rude, but clearly she was pleased that she was to get some work. I’ve no idea what will happen with the curtains, she did ask about what material I would like, but apart from saying neutral/sand/beige/cream that was it. So we shall see want transpires. I’ve to drop my ironing into her house just after 7.00AM tomorrow.
Finished the wine to-night. A bottle of wine can last three days! Whoever would have thought it?
Tuesday 13th
Tiring day. About 11.30 the previous night the dog chorus got into full swing. Many of my neighbours have dogs, and on occasions they all seem to get excited at the same time. The barking went on for about an hour. About 3.00AM the thunder and lightening started – most unseasonal! There were a few heavy bursts of rain. Very noisy on my metal roof. The electricity went off, and was still off when I got up, but it came back on just as I was about to leave for work. Suddenly the alarm went off. I’d no idea why, nor how to turn it off. The code you need for the controller is safely kept by the previous tenant. Resourceful as ever, found the Klaxon and ripped the wires out of it! The controller was emitting a high pitched whine, so dismantled that and removed the power from the circuit board – silence. Dropped the ironing off next door and off to work late!
Left work at bit early and got back to the house only to find I couldn’t get in. The electric was off again. I didn’t have the key to the pedestrian gate because I’d given it to Peter the painter. Had to phone Ashan the landlord and then Peter, and wait for an hour until Ashan came with the key. That didn’t stop me trying to climb the wall. I reasoned that if the electricity was off, then so must the electric fence. Wrong! I touched a wire and no shock, so tried to climb up the wall using the gate grating as a foothold. Next thing, I’m lying on my back having been shocked and thrown back onto the drive. Won’t try that again – the fence has a battery back-up!
Got into the house, but no electricity, so an electrician was called. His name was Chris, from Malawi. He picked up my Scottish accent very quickly, he loves going on holiday to London and its multicultural population. He also worked in the mines in Zambia and there were lots of Scots there. Anyhow, he quickly established that the fault must be on the pole outside. He rang some contacts and then another wait, but at around 7.30 the guys from the ‘electricity board’ came, got up the pole, did some work, and I had electricity again just after 8.00PM. Chris gave me the numbers to ring if it should happen again.
Wednesday
Our request to visit Gabs at the end of the month is approved. I’ll spend the week there, a good chance to see the capital sights.
Had to go to the Water Utilities and the Electric Company to open accounts in my name. Went quite smoothly, although it took 1.5 hours and .5 hours respectively. Went to the bank to change some £. Systems down again. Used Visa.
Spent some time in an Internet café this afternoon, the best connection I’ve found so far. Still slow, but better than elsewhere. I may try again tomorrow, and even try to post some pictures.
On my way home stopped to get some takeaway seswaa (boiled beef) and rice. You also get some potato salad and coleslaw. A meal for me and just for a £1. It is cheaper to eat out!
Nasa came round with the ironing and one of the curtains. Not to our taste, but typically African I think. A very heavy cream net curtain with blue frills and tie backs. I’ll grow to love them. Nasa wanted just a P10 for the ironing, but it was about 10 shirts and 2 pairs of trousers, so gave her P50. She was pleased. She didn’t stay, but asked what material I would like for the living room. I showed her the ready made ones I’d bought and hoped she understood that I didn’t want net again.
About 6.30, another shout from the gate. It was Kunta, Nasas son, come round to introduce himself. A very handsome boy, and very well spoken and polite. He is ‘nearly’ 19, He said his mother forgets his birthdays. Left school last year, but still not working. He would like to be an architectural technician (he didn’t say that, but that’s what he meant). I asked if he had a girlfriend – he has – and a baby son called Owen. Owens setswana name is Thabang which means be happy!
He stayed for about an hour, I showed him some of our photos – his eyes popped when the ones June took during the winter of the heavy snow, came on screen. He has seen snow before, in SA.
Here are some photos of the house: Sorry, tried this a couple of times and its just not working. Taken me 20 minutes to get logged in, so trying again with just the text…
Up at 7.00AM, felt better for a long night sleep. Did some washing (doing it all by hand) - using OMO washing powder! Not seen that brand name for a long time! Need to get a mop, some floors needs a wash. I’ve also got an ant problem. Tiny ants invade the kitchen worktop if I leave anything there. I suppose I should get a fridge.
Opened the gates (security grill) at the rear ‘veranda’ for the first time, and gave it a clean. There are about 20 keys for different locks and doors, but I’m getting used to what fits where.
It’s warm outside in the sun, especially if walking about, but in the house it’s cool. In the summer though, I’m told most people live outside, the houses get really hot, especially in the evening. I’ve seen lots of butterflies - perhaps about a dozen varieties so far. Lots of colour variations; most are of a similar size to those in the UK, although saw a large one this morning hanging out my money on the washing line (left it in the pocket of a washed shirt!). The bees I’ve seen are blue/black and white. Not seen that many different kinds of bird yet, mostly Sparrows, Doves, large Jays. Saw something the size of a blue tit with very similar markings but in an almost translucent blue. I need to get a book to tell me what all these things are. There are elephants in the vicinity. Klavs was saying that the person he rents his house from is now in a farm just 15Km from town and was recently visited by a lone bull elephant. Need to get that car and visit some of the sights outside of town. There is a dam somewhere close – The Shasha dam. You can fish there I’m told.
Talking of fish, there was some fresh fish in the supermarket yesterday; I’d only seen frozen before now.
Arranged a chat session with June at 1.00. She is back from Barcelona to a garden full of weeds. She is likely to come over mid July. I’ll take a holiday and we can get up to see Victoria Falls (about 500Km away). I’m told its best to see from the Zimbabwe side, but I’ve also been told not to bother going into Zimbabwe. As a British passport holder I’d be charged a £50 entry fee and apparently it’s a hassle. It’s a hassle for most people trying to get into/out of Zimbabwe. I was prepared to think that the British press were biased about the state of the country, but apparently not. Francistown has many Zimbabweans. They cross the border, often illegally, and buy basic items that can no longer be obtained in their own country. Lorries arrive and buy fuel in drums, to take back to sell at a profit. I’ve been told that the ordinary people are having a difficult time. The ZM dollar was at one time equal to the US dollar, but now it’s worth fraction of a US cent. The local press here write about it; they say nothing much can be done, it is problem for the Zimbabwean people to sort out.
Had a visit from Peter the painter foreman this afternoon. He still has some work to do on the garage door, and there is a water leak which will need the drive digging up (paving blocks). It’s important to get this fixed; it’s on my side of the mains, and water is metered, so you pay for what you use. Gave him a key to the ‘pedestrian gate’ so he can get in tomorrow. He advised me to get an additional padlock for it, and another for the gate. I suppose I will.
Just watched Holland V Serbia-Montenegro good match. I’ll watch another couple of episodes of ‘24’ on the laptop – thanks Thomas, great TV! Got an email from Thomas. Someone at the Vodaphone shop in the new RBS headquarters paid with a Jack Nicklaus limited edition £5 note, only issued at the Open last year. So he kept it for me – great! (I presume he substituted it for one of his ownJ).
Monday 12th June
After work went up to the Auto-Lot sales again. They had got the Honda out in the yard and I was able to start it and get a proper look at it. Engine was smooth and clean, it needs new tyres, brakes checked, wheel alignment and the radio repaired, all of which should be done this week. As with a lot of things here, the tyres have to come from Gabs (Gaborone). Anyhow, they will contact me later in the week and I’ll get a test drive with everything done.
As I got home tonight, passing my next door neighbours house I took the opportunity to say dumela, and introduce myself as the ‘new next door neighbour’. The woman replied an elongated OKAAY. She didn’t seem to want to continue the conversation, so I smiled and walked on, wondering if I’d broken some social norm that I was unaware of. However, after I’d had my tea, I heard someone calling from the gate. It was by this time dark, just after 6.00PM It was Nasa, my next door neighbour. She had a pen and paper and quickly wrote that she had suffered a stroke and it was then obvious that one side of her face was paralysed. Clearly, this explained her reaction earlier. She can say some words clearly but has difficulty with others.
She had come to ask if I needed curtains and that she would make them for me. Obviously I said OK and she went home again to fetch her tape measure then proceeded to measure up the 3 windows that I still needed curtains for. She stayed for about an hour and a cup of tea and a biscuit! Conversation was a bit stilted, but I showed the pictures I’d brought of June and the children, my brothers etc. Nasa Myengwa, stays with her Mama, her Papa is dead. She has a 17 year-old son Kunta, who is in form 5, the last year at secondary school here. She has a sister Bintu or Binta (I think), married to Ben. Ben is a golfer so I’ll keep that in mind although they live in Gabs (Gaborone). Her sister is a lawyer. Nasa didn’t go into her own background much, I didn’t ask, nor did she volunteer, any information about a husband. She doesn’t work and earns money where she can making curtains etc. She asked if I had a maid, and I told her that I may have one which a colleague has contact with. She seemed disappointed, and made it clear that she would have liked to have been the maid, it would have been extra money for her I suppose. Anyhow, since I don’t have an iron yet, I asked if she would do my ironing in the meantime and she was only too glad to oblige. I felt strange asking this woman I’d only just met to do my ironing. I asked if I was being rude, but clearly she was pleased that she was to get some work. I’ve no idea what will happen with the curtains, she did ask about what material I would like, but apart from saying neutral/sand/beige/cream that was it. So we shall see want transpires. I’ve to drop my ironing into her house just after 7.00AM tomorrow.
Finished the wine to-night. A bottle of wine can last three days! Whoever would have thought it?
Tuesday 13th
Tiring day. About 11.30 the previous night the dog chorus got into full swing. Many of my neighbours have dogs, and on occasions they all seem to get excited at the same time. The barking went on for about an hour. About 3.00AM the thunder and lightening started – most unseasonal! There were a few heavy bursts of rain. Very noisy on my metal roof. The electricity went off, and was still off when I got up, but it came back on just as I was about to leave for work. Suddenly the alarm went off. I’d no idea why, nor how to turn it off. The code you need for the controller is safely kept by the previous tenant. Resourceful as ever, found the Klaxon and ripped the wires out of it! The controller was emitting a high pitched whine, so dismantled that and removed the power from the circuit board – silence. Dropped the ironing off next door and off to work late!
Left work at bit early and got back to the house only to find I couldn’t get in. The electric was off again. I didn’t have the key to the pedestrian gate because I’d given it to Peter the painter. Had to phone Ashan the landlord and then Peter, and wait for an hour until Ashan came with the key. That didn’t stop me trying to climb the wall. I reasoned that if the electricity was off, then so must the electric fence. Wrong! I touched a wire and no shock, so tried to climb up the wall using the gate grating as a foothold. Next thing, I’m lying on my back having been shocked and thrown back onto the drive. Won’t try that again – the fence has a battery back-up!
Got into the house, but no electricity, so an electrician was called. His name was Chris, from Malawi. He picked up my Scottish accent very quickly, he loves going on holiday to London and its multicultural population. He also worked in the mines in Zambia and there were lots of Scots there. Anyhow, he quickly established that the fault must be on the pole outside. He rang some contacts and then another wait, but at around 7.30 the guys from the ‘electricity board’ came, got up the pole, did some work, and I had electricity again just after 8.00PM. Chris gave me the numbers to ring if it should happen again.
Wednesday
Our request to visit Gabs at the end of the month is approved. I’ll spend the week there, a good chance to see the capital sights.
Had to go to the Water Utilities and the Electric Company to open accounts in my name. Went quite smoothly, although it took 1.5 hours and .5 hours respectively. Went to the bank to change some £. Systems down again. Used Visa.
Spent some time in an Internet café this afternoon, the best connection I’ve found so far. Still slow, but better than elsewhere. I may try again tomorrow, and even try to post some pictures.
On my way home stopped to get some takeaway seswaa (boiled beef) and rice. You also get some potato salad and coleslaw. A meal for me and just for a £1. It is cheaper to eat out!
Nasa came round with the ironing and one of the curtains. Not to our taste, but typically African I think. A very heavy cream net curtain with blue frills and tie backs. I’ll grow to love them. Nasa wanted just a P10 for the ironing, but it was about 10 shirts and 2 pairs of trousers, so gave her P50. She was pleased. She didn’t stay, but asked what material I would like for the living room. I showed her the ready made ones I’d bought and hoped she understood that I didn’t want net again.
About 6.30, another shout from the gate. It was Kunta, Nasas son, come round to introduce himself. A very handsome boy, and very well spoken and polite. He is ‘nearly’ 19, He said his mother forgets his birthdays. Left school last year, but still not working. He would like to be an architectural technician (he didn’t say that, but that’s what he meant). I asked if he had a girlfriend – he has – and a baby son called Owen. Owens setswana name is Thabang which means be happy!
He stayed for about an hour, I showed him some of our photos – his eyes popped when the ones June took during the winter of the heavy snow, came on screen. He has seen snow before, in SA.
Here are some photos of the house: Sorry, tried this a couple of times and its just not working. Taken me 20 minutes to get logged in, so trying again with just the text…
posted by George Herd at 1:13 PM
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