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shook_foil
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Name: Debra
Gender: Female
Interests: God, his Being, Works and Word. Family and friends. Reading, languages, needlework.
Occupation: Education/training
Message: message me
Member Since:
1/27/2006
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| Moving...I have decided to follow the hordes and move my main blog over to blogger. I've been playing with its appearance for quite a while, and it still doesn't look quite the way I want it to, but it seems more flexible than this is.
You will find further updates at: http://telassar.blogspot.com/ | | |
| Just in Time ...... for Brian to go down to Nelspruit - do some shopping (he has a longish list of things to get, including lots of medicine), see doctor, and then meetings in Maputo on the way back - our kids seem to finally be recovering. Melanie had Malaria, Philip was slammed with Malaria followed by Pneumonia (as best as we could guess via telephone with a doctor), Lee had Asthma & Bronchitis, and Michael and Brian just had nasty coughs and colds.
Christmas crime is stepping up, with pickpockets abounding and more break-ins - too many adolescents with nothing to do except lounge during the holidays?
The owner of the pool was expected back on Thursday, so, when we arrived to swim the water was actually clear enough to see the lines all the way down in the deep end (first time since he left in October) - and the algae on the sides (blackish), as well as all the dead algae floating, and the very large, very black, very dead, unidentified beetle floating on the top. Hopefully, I will be able to speak to him and compliment him on the huge improvement in the pool, and he will point out to the chappie in charge, that just because the water 'passes the test', if you can't see the bottom, you need to put more chemicals in. Recent topics of conversation with friends:- To whom would one sell pool chemicals in town with one public pool, one hotel pool, and one private pool? Is it more comforting to swim through dead algae floating in the pool, or be unable to see it and know that it is thriving on the walls? | | |
| This and ThatWe had a rather tranquil week, partly due to internet constraints and partly due to sickness - malaria, asthma, bronchitis. A spectacular thunderstorm in the early hours of Wednesday morning knocked out the antennae of one of our servers, the other is having 'issues' (billing and reliability) so we had to work hard to get online for classes and everything else was very low-grade. As a result we did lots more reading aloud, played some games and talked - an interesting reflection on what the internet does to relationships.
Since it poured with rain on Day 16 (when our lake was merely a thick muddy sludge with 12" deep ruts through the one navigable part) after the promise given below, it will surprise no-one that we have our (smelly) lake-front property restored with the comment from the authorities that it is difficult to repair with all this water (but no mention of the months during which it was dry and nothing was done). If you are wondering why we have not done anything ourselves, it is an offense to meddle with municipal property (like potholes), and we don't want to pay the large fine. In addition, if we just dump rocks in and don't seal them with tar or bind them with cement they will merely become ammunition to throw at our dogs.
We were grateful that we finally seem to have sealed the windowsill on the verandah from becoming a water conduit, and the only problem was in the bathroom where some more chunks of plaster fell although there was an ominous pitter-patter on the hall ceiling (above the bookcases). | | |
| Thanksgiving Day CelebrationWe enjoyed our gathering yesterday for fellowship and feasting, even though Brian was unable to be present (his flight didn't arrive until 8pm). I had a nasty moment at 7am when the electricity went off just as I put the turkey in the oven. By the grace of God it was just a short cut, but it reminded me of the many Thanksgivings of earlier years in which we had everything cooked at least the day before because of the erratic power. It didn't really matter when the power went off at 1.30pm because by then we were all enjoying ourselves and the preparatory work was done. While talking we spent the time sitting outside in the shade where there was a slight breeze, and cutting out the crafts for the last day of EBF (VBS) today. Yesterday was cooler (41 Celsius) than Wednesday (50.5 Celsius).
It is 11 (or 12, if you count the 12th) days since the Mayor gave his word on our 'hole' - no sign of any work or plans for work yet, but he still has a few days left! I avoid putting the car in the driveway, although I can do it first try - the trick is to hit the exact bit of the kerb where the step is lowest, on the right angle to reverse the car straight through the (narrow) gateway, with enough speed to make it up the 8" jump - I hate to think what will happen if I miss and hit the pillars - or alternatively have to get out and step in the stinking mud to lock the wheels! | | |
| Our Lake Front PropertyWe have a 'guarantee' from the mayor himself, as of yesterday, that our lake "will be repaired within 15 days"! Stand by for updates - the street-sweeper ladies have been using it as a convenient hole for leaves etc, and here in Quelimane any open hole is a garbage bin (even the open storm drains), so since it rained the first time it has been a stinking morass. Now it is a stinking lake! Can the mayor fix it, with all the water around?
We also have a new pet - a tortoise - fruit of the last hunting expedition. He is not happy in his cardboard box, but likes being taken for walks.
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