Nasty insecty things

Another fine winter’s day. The weather hasn’t altered much since we arrived. Rarely a cloud in the sky and temperatures somewhere in the 70s. Locals in town often wear winter hats and leather jackets to keep themselves warm. I pass them sweating profusely in t-shirt and shorts. At night the temperature drops to sweater/ trouser wear. Not looking forward to the middle of summer.

Mary has put the house (meaning ‘me’) on snake red alert. She has briefed me on how snakes get into houses (they climb trees and slip through windows apparently). She has also told me about the difficult clinical decisions for doctors treating those bitten by snakes. I promised to be more cautious (I didn’t mention that I already check under everything when I enter a room and that they feature in many of my dreams).

We had some positive developments today. Firstly, I met with Andrew Swift. He is in charge of an educational NGO in the area. He is setting up meetings for me with some local schools. He and I will visit them next week. Current thinking is that I will teach in one of these schools 5 mornings a week. In the afternoons I will help him to run a sports program for schools in the area. This program involves coaching school children in different sports and helping to organise tournaments. All sounds very promising and I shall keep you posted.

The second big development is that we now have a cleaner. She is called Sophie and she is excellent. I always think cleaners are very good at their job because I don’t much notice untidiness or dirt. However, Mary, who most certainly does notice these things, is very happy. Sophie has also spotted a nasty flying biting insect nest just outside our door. I hadn’t noticed it because the bugs don’t move much unless disturbed. Indeed, I was convinced they were all dead, I tried to persuade Sophie that this was the case. Sophie won the argument most heroically, by running up to disturb the insects. Cue much screaming and shrieking as she and I then ran for cover.

Third piece of exciting news, is that we plan to go to Tembe elephant park on the weekend. It apparently contains South Africa’s last ‘free ranging elephants’. (Hopefully more free range than the hens at Billhurst). There are also lions, buffalo, leopard, rhino et al hidden among the forests. God willing, they will all come out to say hello.

So plenty to rejoice about. One exception is our car which is scooping awards left, right and centre for crapness. I am going to try and sort out a new battery tomorrow.

Lastly, please spare a thought for my wife tonight as she tackles her first night shift. I shall let you know how she gets on.