8/12/2018

'Boris' is coming along nicely now. I am gradually getting the hide and fur in. Can always add some more mud to him if I need to cover something wrong!
This one is turning out to be quite a challenge.



                                                                   

Life in Africa.

I am getting into the routine of nappies soaking in buckets ready to wash in the big 'dobi' sink in the utility room. No disposable nappies out here at this time. Everything has to be washed by hand and everything ironed to make sure that no 'Putsi Fly,' a little fly that lays eggs it's  on clothes, which then get into the skin and with the heat of a body develop into a maggot. When the boil like spot appears, you cover it with plaster and can then pop it out after a day or so when it is ready. Thankfully none of the children ever had one, and I have only had a couple in many years out there.
A friend of ours is going back to England so I am having their nanny.  Matilda is originally from South Africa and a lovely person. She has come in and taken charge of Debbi who is now getting bigger, and I definitely need help. I can no longer tuck her in her carry-cot and take her with us when we are out for a function, although when something is held at the hotel, which a lot of them are, they always have a maid on hand to babysit any children.
Matilda has taken over and I feel like I am getting mothered too.  She is now well and truly part of the family.
I now have my own car, an old Ford Consul. Top speed is 40mph and you can hear it from one end of the town to the over. It had belonged to a teacher who felt the 100 miles a day was getting too much for the poor old thing. It suited me down to the ground, carrycot strapped in the back with Matilda and off we could go to visit my folks in the next town.
I was stopped once for a vehicle check and the policeman was fascinated with the knob you pulled out on the dashboard to use the windscreen wipers, which kept getting stuck, and with the gear stick on the steering wheel.  It had to be pulled out and shoved into place. When we left Lilongwe I sold it to an african who used it as a taxi.   But it had done me proud and I loved the old thing. We felt it would never make that journey to Blantyre! I heard from a friend later on, it was still going piled high with people and anything, but still chugging along.
Would have loved some pictures of it, wish I could go back in time and photograph everything.


                                                                   

                                           

As I don't have the other pictures, here are a couple of local pictures.  Crossing the river on the ferry.
         

 GOURDS.


Another  bowl and lamp down to 'That Nice Shop' in Polis.

                                                                          

Take care and have a good week and see you next time.
Click on a picture to enlarge it.