To Wednesday 5th July
Sunday 2nd July
Quiet day. Had intended to go to the museum, but did some work in the morning, then spent 3 hours in the internet café – I had some more work – work to do. Took this picture of the President Hotel Terrace – you can see that there is some upgrading work going on. (sorry this one will have o wait!) Wouldn’t like to stay there just now, it gets very noisey at times. It is Rachael’s birthday tomorrow, and I’ll not likely get online, so Happy 30th Birthday Rachael!
Monday 3rd July
It’s a public holiday in Botswana, everything is very quiet. Started back to F’town at 10.00AM. We had other passengers. Jan was taking his sister-in-law back to Francistown, where she had parked her car to get the bus to Gabs to visit her sister for the weekend. Ashati is a biology teacher in a senior secondary school in a village near to the Zim border (about 1.5 hours by car). The other passenger whose name I can’t remember was a carpenter. Jan was taking him up to F’town to build a kitchen in the new house he will move into. Theer is foot-and-mouth deisease in some parts of Botswana and along the road there a two permanent disinfecting stations. We passed through quite quickly, but sometimes it can take up to an hour if you get stuck behind buses – everyone must get off and disinfect their shoes, while the vehicles pass through a disinfectant bath.
We picked up even more passengers on the way. At a police road block (they are frequent), a policeman ‘politely’ asked is we could take more passengers, the bus to F’town had been full. A woman and her baby got in. By coincidence, we dropped her off at her house which I pass most days while walking to/from work. Ashati’s brother lives just a few doors along.
Update on bogadi - the bride price. Ashati had recently been at a family meeting with the fiance of her other sister, who works as a nurse in London. They have a young child. In Botswana, this counts as lumo, or ‘damages’. The fiance has to pay an additional amount on top of the bogadi to repair the damage done! Some young girls apparently ensure thay get pregnant before they are married, so that it increases the bogadi their family will get! Anyw ay, Ashati’s sister will get 9 cows, 1 of which is lumo.
Back in F’town around 3.00PM. Did some shopping, tired, had an early night.
Tuesday 4th
The last member of our team arrived to-day. Alison is English, but has lived in Namibia for the past 10 years. She and her husband will move to F’town in August, they hope. Coincidentally, she goes to Jaimaica in November to deliver a paper at a conference! June is just back from there doing the same!
Avia, the new maid also arrived, then quickly departed! She needed to go back to Zim to pay her child’s school fees. She will be back on Friday and work the weekend to make up for the days lost (her suggestion, not mine).
On the way home, met Nasa from next door with her mother, Elizabeth. Welcome to the neighbourhood! she exclaimed. Seemed the exuberant type - I’m sure we’ll get on. She was called after Queen Elizabeth, had she been a boy, she would have been called Charles!
Felt very tired when I got home – they have the heating on a work! Everyone is complaining about the cold weather. Honestly its 22-24°C during the day and short sleeves are necessary. It is cold at night, especially in the early morning, but its not a bitter cold, there is no wind (yet). In bed by 7.00PM! I’ll just get the Italy v Germany highlights tomorrow. I’m supporting Italy Lucia!!
Wednesday 5th July
Still no news of Rebecca. June phoned to say she may be induced soon. Lets hope it comes by itself before then. Went to a large cash-and-carry wharehouse to-day, looking for a fridge and a bed for the maid. Easy to get a card.
Went to Game also looking for a fridge. I had been looking for a small one, but people tell me I should buy a big one. In the summer you have to keep everything in it! So, there was a tall Bosch stainless steel one, that I definitely didn’t want to spend P4400 on, but my negotiating skills are getting better, and we had a deal at P2800. I felt pleased with myself, even though I could have probably bargained for one of the white ones for less. It’s a better fridge than we have at home! Next challenge a cooker!
Quiet day. Had intended to go to the museum, but did some work in the morning, then spent 3 hours in the internet café – I had some more work – work to do. Took this picture of the President Hotel Terrace – you can see that there is some upgrading work going on. (sorry this one will have o wait!) Wouldn’t like to stay there just now, it gets very noisey at times. It is Rachael’s birthday tomorrow, and I’ll not likely get online, so Happy 30th Birthday Rachael!
Monday 3rd July
It’s a public holiday in Botswana, everything is very quiet. Started back to F’town at 10.00AM. We had other passengers. Jan was taking his sister-in-law back to Francistown, where she had parked her car to get the bus to Gabs to visit her sister for the weekend. Ashati is a biology teacher in a senior secondary school in a village near to the Zim border (about 1.5 hours by car). The other passenger whose name I can’t remember was a carpenter. Jan was taking him up to F’town to build a kitchen in the new house he will move into. Theer is foot-and-mouth deisease in some parts of Botswana and along the road there a two permanent disinfecting stations. We passed through quite quickly, but sometimes it can take up to an hour if you get stuck behind buses – everyone must get off and disinfect their shoes, while the vehicles pass through a disinfectant bath.
We picked up even more passengers on the way. At a police road block (they are frequent), a policeman ‘politely’ asked is we could take more passengers, the bus to F’town had been full. A woman and her baby got in. By coincidence, we dropped her off at her house which I pass most days while walking to/from work. Ashati’s brother lives just a few doors along.
Update on bogadi - the bride price. Ashati had recently been at a family meeting with the fiance of her other sister, who works as a nurse in London. They have a young child. In Botswana, this counts as lumo, or ‘damages’. The fiance has to pay an additional amount on top of the bogadi to repair the damage done! Some young girls apparently ensure thay get pregnant before they are married, so that it increases the bogadi their family will get! Anyw ay, Ashati’s sister will get 9 cows, 1 of which is lumo.
Back in F’town around 3.00PM. Did some shopping, tired, had an early night.
Tuesday 4th
The last member of our team arrived to-day. Alison is English, but has lived in Namibia for the past 10 years. She and her husband will move to F’town in August, they hope. Coincidentally, she goes to Jaimaica in November to deliver a paper at a conference! June is just back from there doing the same!
Avia, the new maid also arrived, then quickly departed! She needed to go back to Zim to pay her child’s school fees. She will be back on Friday and work the weekend to make up for the days lost (her suggestion, not mine).
On the way home, met Nasa from next door with her mother, Elizabeth. Welcome to the neighbourhood! she exclaimed. Seemed the exuberant type - I’m sure we’ll get on. She was called after Queen Elizabeth, had she been a boy, she would have been called Charles!
Felt very tired when I got home – they have the heating on a work! Everyone is complaining about the cold weather. Honestly its 22-24°C during the day and short sleeves are necessary. It is cold at night, especially in the early morning, but its not a bitter cold, there is no wind (yet). In bed by 7.00PM! I’ll just get the Italy v Germany highlights tomorrow. I’m supporting Italy Lucia!!
Wednesday 5th July
Still no news of Rebecca. June phoned to say she may be induced soon. Lets hope it comes by itself before then. Went to a large cash-and-carry wharehouse to-day, looking for a fridge and a bed for the maid. Easy to get a card.
Went to Game also looking for a fridge. I had been looking for a small one, but people tell me I should buy a big one. In the summer you have to keep everything in it! So, there was a tall Bosch stainless steel one, that I definitely didn’t want to spend P4400 on, but my negotiating skills are getting better, and we had a deal at P2800. I felt pleased with myself, even though I could have probably bargained for one of the white ones for less. It’s a better fridge than we have at home! Next challenge a cooker!
posted by George Herd at 10:02 AM
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