Mosquito net finished at last hooray

Middle of May


Six weeks after moving into this lovely house, we were told by the Bishop that there was the possibility of a new Principal coming.  We invited her and her friend to stay after their visit to Chodort, and the general concencus was that she would not come until after September, so we will still have room for our very exciting and eagerly awaited family visit, phew.  

Some of the cards in the window
 (still more in other window)

The Zambian choirs came from miles around to attend,
and find it impossible not to dance when singing

The Bishop's wife and their adorable daughter Rhoda

The Bishop's Reception
The middle of May brought this big event at St Stephen's, the Bishop had been appointed shortly before our arrival, and the celebration was still to come.  Preparations had been under way for some weeks; the flowerbeds had been tidied up and planted with marigolds, the tarpaulin was put up over the grassy space in the courtyard and then filled with chairs and a great big sofa out for the Bishop and his family.


We were told the service started at 8am, although the sheet said earlier, and so we were shown to our seats in one of the rows facing the congregation - scary.  Visiting choirs took their turn, each of them completely loving it and giving their all.


By around noon we decided to wander home for a coffee, since wandering in and out of the service appeared to be the norm.  We came back and lunch was being served in a very jolly party atmosphere, and we enjoyed a chat with some people and admired the wonderful outfits. 

The washing up under way - Paul
and Billing not a great help

Edward (volunteer from Bangladesh)
The Bishop in traditional dress
although he said the flour on his head
isn't, Jane in very acceptable long skirt

Reminiscent of Fishbourne Fete

Paul's news from the site

The water tower, the water tank and the surrounding wall - essential kit 

The first two houses on the site are now well advanced, one all decorated ready for the kitchen to be fitted and the other ready for second fixing. These houses will be rented out and the income used to help finance building the next ones still to be commenced; seventeen in all.  As the income increases over time, the proceeds will then be further used to build a new and bigger college. The scope of courses available and the amount of disadvantaged youths able to attend will then grow as the college grows. It’s a long term project and we are in at the beginning. We won’t see the end in our two years here!!

We are also putting in a proper drainage system with a septic tank and soak-away that have been designed and calculated to work correctly and connected to drains and manholes from each house. We are trying to raise the standards in this important area of sanitation and we’re all learning a lot! We have ensured that the septic tank is positioned well away from the water supply to avoid contamination.

kari

Welfare facilities for the workers on site have been enhanced and basic safety equipment introduced as a way of lifting standards. This is appreciated by all and the comments to date are very positive with everybody keen to advance forward. As time goes by we will make other improvements.

It’s all good stuff. The present college trains youths in carpentry, tailoring and IT. The trainee carpenters can then become self employed or possibly work in the attached joinery shop, which makes furniture, kitchens and building components on a business basis. Some of the students that have graduated work on the site and gain experience in all the various trades. The present students also gain experience this way. They make the roof trusses and fit fascias and doors.One of the great things about being here is that you meet like-minded people from all around the world and also make friends with locals. It opens your mind and you really get to know what makes other countries and cultures work. 

There’s usually a reason behind the way other people do things which at first seem strange to us. This can be because of cultural differences, weather, local conditions and customs.  For instance, I wanted to order timber recently to make kitchen units, but was told there would be a delay because of supply shortages. This was because all the forest workers leave their jobs at this time of year and go to work in the fields harvesting maize for themselves and as a cash crop to sell.  I assumed at first that there would be timber stock-piled to meet needs but this is not the case and you just have to be patient.  Once I considered this further, I could see why the workers looked after themselves and their families by taking advantage of different occupations at different times to meet their needs.

Everyday Choma

Descaling - you're welcome to
take over

Our friend Famke (VSO Belguim) came to visit and brought us some frozen Kariba Red Bream for a BBQ.  Never phased, we set to and descaled and gutted said fish.  Took most of the morning.  In the end we decided each of the 5 of us should experience every process - before we could actually eat the things.

Bring back fish fillets ....

Stage Two of the Bream Processing Plant















                                                                            

Bream ready for the BBQ
(Think I got all the scales out of my hair)

Three little pigs - but these ones were
still squealing

The usual traffic 

  








































We had offered Famke a lift back to Sinazongwe as we has wanted to see it, and being our wedding anniversary seemed a good place to go - a village on the edge of the beautiful Lake Kariba.


We popped in to Choma on the way to find the usual shopping going on.
















The first part of the road was tarmac, but the latter 17 km was not.  Busy traffic, mostly made up of oxen and carts, cattle, goats, donkeys and chickens, not to mention lots of local people going about their day.

Batoka market

A quick stop along the way to restock with fruit and vegetables - best prices.

This photo was worth one banana each

These two little girls had been running across the road, barefoot on tarmac, collecting plastic bottles, which children also do in Choma.  They can sell them to market stallholders for a few kwacha.











                                                                                       


Fishing is an important industry on the lake, and capenta are very small fish that remind me of whitebait.  They are eaten fresh or frozen, but we mainly see them dried.  They are for sale in the markets, and we have not tried them ... 


We had a lovely lunch in a restaurant by the side of the lake - Kariba bream, naturally.  


Our Birthday

Thanks for the fairy cake birthday candle -
Angie and Cyra!

It was my turn to host the painting group, so the 7 of us enjoyed lunch on the verandah, and Paul and I shared out first birthday cake of the day with everyone.  I had made another for Paul to take into work which was enjoyed by all - not something they are used to.  

Birthday Sunset

We made a quick visit to a little craft shop outside Choma which had always been closed every time we'd been in the past.   Lovely young man there took our photo.

Our evening birthday cake -  Ben's speciality Chocolate Cola Cake (don't ask)