Back in the Bush

Our return to SA after a two week absence was made very special by a surprise on the road up to Ingwavuma. Driving the last bit of the journey from Durban to the big ‘I’ in the dark, we rounded a bend to begin our ascent into the mountains. And lo and behold! For sitting in its usual spot, was Ntabayengwe School. But lit up spectacularly by a beautiful outside lighting arrangement. The following day, the Principal confirmed the exciting news telling me with great joy, ‘Mr Toulson, do you see we now have electricity.’ I told him about my wondrous experience the previous night. Unfortunately, we currently have no use for our power supply, other than night time illumination – the one time that children are not in the school. But, we are working on changing this.

Other than the arrival of electricity little else has changed. This week has been unbelievably hot and we have had no rain for three weeks. And, to welcome us home, our car has begun playing up again. This time it is the immobiliser that is faulty – something I find intensely irritating. There are two obvious reasons why our car should not have an immobiliser device. Firstly, it is rubbish (even by South African standards) and so low risk to break in or theft (a great pity!). Secondly, it has so many other unintentional immobilising devices. Now the car has been towed off to Jozini (70 kms from us) to have a new part fitted and key made.*

This weekend we are going to Mozambique with friends. There are three main reasons. Firstly, to say that we have been there. Secondly, to sing the Bob Dylan song. Thirdly, to try and swim with dolphins. My wife has been particularly looking forward to number 3; I will be quite satisfied with numbers 1 and 2. We’ll let you know what happens.

* Please note that favourable car reviews are likely to follow in the next few months to coincide with our attempts to sell the car; any praise will be entirely fictitious. UK doctors coming out here have been directed towards our blog to get an insight into life in rural SA. We will be aiming to sell the car to one of these unlucky sods. Hence the need to create a false impression.