Rock Hyrax and some Luxury

Last weekend was quiet and we were able to have a chalet for 2 nights. How the other half live. Large spacious rooms and what are in effect four poster beds with a square mosquito net. Outdoor bathroom and shower with a lake view. We were however very happy to return to our home in the volunteer village.

In the chalet we stayed in there are Rock Hyrax living in the rocky surroundings. Rock Hyrax are apparently related to Elephant, but look rodent like. Like a BIG rat, with bleached eyebrows!

I have been seeing more and more bird species, Pied Kingfisher, Trumpeter Hornbill, Scarlet breasted sunbird. Yesterday on the way from the farm there was a large troop of baboons in a fig tree having a feast, (about 20 or more) What a scatter when they saw me! In a second they were gone, completely invisible in the bush. I also saw a snake in a tree sapling by the side of the path. It was a pale iridescent green and purple colour, pencil thin and looped over a couple of branches. Needless to say I didn’t get too close.

The weather is getting hotter, it 32 in the shade, (42 in direct sun) during the afternoon. We try to get in the lake for a while mid afternoon. It starts to cool from 4 and is nice at 6 and then we have a welcome “sundowner” at 6:30 before dinner on the beach.

We are considering the next steps now, we leave on the 2^nd November and are going to the South Luangwa Valley game park in Zambia for a 5 day safari, and then travelling to Livingstone to visit the “Smoke that Thunders” (Victoria Falls). The travel will be on local buses and shared taxis, so we expect plenty of adventure.

We are also aiming to come back here in January for the Emerald(wet) season. Has to be done to see the amazing contrast to the dry weather now.

Peggy is enjoying the teaching and her pupils have a great time, plenty of fun in the lessons and they are improving markedly in their confidence in speaking.

I am planning the farm crops for 2010 season, we need more bananas and passion fruits and these have to be started in the wet season, taking 8 months to produce first crops.

We have been repairing the farm boat and that will be finished tomorrow, with a final coat of paint inside. Then it will be the grand launch. Not sure if you need a guest to launch a rowing boat.

More later……..

Electricity reaches Volunteer Village

This week there have been big developments, we have had low wattage LED lights installed in our hut. These are run by a battery, which is charged during the day using solar panels. So now we can read in the evening and don’t have to rely on wind up torches and lamps.

I have been working on the farm continuing to replace the bamboo edging to the paths and then bringing more white pebbles from the beach to make the paths look clean and tidy.

The weather in getting hotter and by midday it is very hot, so a swim every day before lunch and maybe again after 5 is welcome, the lake looks like a sea so when you dive in and its clean fresh water, then it’s always a surprise.

I continue to add new birds to the list, crowned hornbill, fire finches, blue waxbills and some others I haven’t found names for yet, still looking in the bird book.

Every night the fishing boats are out, with their lamps, attracting fish. They come to the lodge in the day and sell Chambo and Kampango, (Catfish) Both are delicious. The catfish is not muddy in taste but very clean and fresh tasting just like the water here.

It’s now Saturday lunchtime, we will tidy our hut today, sweep out the sand from the floor and rearrange some stuff. How little we need to get on and enjoy our lives. Tomorrow we may canoe, or if we get up early, walk to Mala for church at 8.00 and then go visit some of the staff there for “tea”.

We heart this week that a Lion has been seen on the road from Cobue to Metangula, maybe 3 hours from here but still exciting since it means that game is returning to the area.

Wildlife and Hands in the Earth

Well we walked to M’bueca last Sunday and had lunch with Elias and family. That was great, we also met a lot of his neighbours, met the village chief, the deputy chief, saw the church, school, and were warmly welcomed. There is one lady there with triplets, 3 months old, tiny little bundles still.

The walk was 2 hours each way, the whole day was 7 hours. When we got back a swim in the lake was a welcome cooling relief to tired feet and aching limbs.

Monday in the morning I was at the farm watering and planting squash and marigolds, pansies and red hot pokers. Today I planted the ginger in a long bed, it will be ready to harvest next year.

At Limes Park we woke to the sound of wood pigeons and motorway traffic. Here we wake to the sound of Fish Eagles calling and the waves on the lake.

There are many birds, Scarlet Breasted Sunbird, Bohms Bee Eater, Pied Crows, and many others I don’t know the names of.

Today as I came along the beach there were a family of Vervet Monkeys. A couple of them were making sure there would be more monkeys soon J

This Sunday we are planning another early start, going to church at 8.00 in Mala village. Will be interesting.