The Way to Work

Not it’s not all about maximising profit, increasing efficiency and making a big name for yourself. It literally is the way to work.

Apologies to all those that logged on yesterday expecting to see the latest installment. My computer fell over and I had quite a bit of work to do. But it is here, it all it's glossy technicolour.

Starts off at around 7.10 with a swift jaunt across the car park to the red gates where John or Paul are guarding.

Then a right turn onto the roller coaster road. The cobblers may look rough but trust me they are way worse than that, although it does allow you to drive up the hill in the pouring rain.

Next we rise up someone else’s drive, that’s Debbie and Adina you can see in the far distance.

Enter the jungle trail, which used to be a pleasant incline, but the rains came and turned it into a maize maze and during a downpour something that wouldn’t look out of place in total wipeout.

(yep still haven't worked out how to turn them the right way up!)

Then we are up into Chilomoni proper. In the morning the streets are full of people going to work and collecting firewood and water. On the way back they a filled with children asking how you are and shouting azungu at you – which is a somewhat racist term meaning white person or ghost or non-entity.

Along these streets is a corner shop, market stalls and the local watering station. The local water board employ someone to stand next to this and charge people as they come to use it.

We then descend the hill and round the corner where Beehive nestles between two schools, which at home time is somewhat crowded.

And there you are. My walk to work. ( And I don't walk with my head tilted to the right!)

We have had quite an extravagant weekend. Pub on the way home from work on Friday. Then I when to the pub on my own to watch the rugby, had to turn the curling off. Taught a load more Malawians the rules. I reckon by the end of the 6 Nations I’ll have a full team.

Saturday we went for breakfast, apologies no photo (which is a shame as I will have to go again!) and then onto our friends house with our very expensive crate of Kronenburg and endured two rather tense sets of rugby games.

Sunday was a relaxed affair which we went out for a leaving meal to Veg Delight, an vegetarian Indian restaurant. We gave them our budget and they provided a delicious meal of, well, rice, naan, three separate starters and three separate mains. We then left to go and watch 12 Years a Slave. Wow, not for the faint hearted that's for sure. But a exceptional film. There was pretty much silence in the bar at the end of it.

Monday I was selfless in the act of driving Claire, who is sadly leaving us, round all the nice coffee shops for one last coffee and pudding, along with some present buying as well.

Here is a Apple Pear and Cinnamon pudding with custard and ice cream, with coffee and tea in the background. I tell you this volunteering in Africa is tough tough stuff! :-)
All in all not a bad week.

STATMAN

Average time taken walking to work – 15 minutes

Number of steps – 1064

Cost of Kronenburg – 30p a 300ml bottle

Cost of Indian meal – about a fiver

Number of sub contractors on site – 2

Progress made on site in one week – about two days!

Amount of coffee drunk on Monday – 6 cups (woo hoo!)

Score of Ryalls pudding out of ten – a solid 8
Score of 12 Years a Slave - 9/10