Some surprises and a few other things too...

Hello everyone!

I am sitting writing the blog on a cool and bright morning. In fact it was so chilly earlier when I got up I could see my breath! I was very glad of my cup of coffee today and of the warm sweaters that I brought from Northern Ireland. It seems to have got much cooler quite quickly but it is still very beautiful and the view from the garden across the marsh is great.

The last week brought a few surprises and some more learning for me about life in Malawi. 

I travelled to Lilongwe to get some necessary jobs done there and learned first hand what effect a fuel shortage can have on the most simple of plans. We were able to get fuel in Mzuzu but it was a real challenge to get fuel to get home and ended up having to spend an extra night in Lilongwe as we waited for fuel to arrive. The lines of cars waiting at the garages we saw were very long. I'm sorry that I didn't have my camera handy to take some pictures but the wait for fuel for people can be many hours. I am learning that it is important to factor in the unexpected in any plans that I make!

Last week also I was visited by Reverend and Mrs Banda one evening. Reverend Banda is the Education Secretary at the Synod. It was a nice surprise as I don't often get visitors in the evening. Mrs Banda brought me a gift of some freshly baked cake. I enjoyed it very much.

Let me introduce Mr Gondwe to you. He is my night watchman and patrols the house at night. He was just calling round to check that I had returned safely from Lilongwe!

I have been asked to do some teaching about outdoor play in August so this week I have been out observing what is happening in the outdoor playground at the nursery. The children are having good fun and as usual love having their picture taken!

A big basin of water and some balls provided these little ones with plenty of fun!

A lovely surprise!

Thank you very much to the friend who packed me a wee surprise parcel. In fact it is not so wee and is very tasty! I think it will not last very long...

Some more surprises of the natural variety. I heard a very quiet knocking at the back door and thought it might be one of my small neighbours come to say hello but when I opened the door there was noone there. Imagine my surprise when up leapt this beautiful quite large grashopper. It must have jumped almost 5 feet and it was it banging onto the door that had made the noise.
It lived happily on the verandah for a few days. I would love to tell you that the grasshopper story has a happy ending but sadly yesterday at lunch time it became lunch for a rather pleased chicken!!

Even though it is now the cold season here I am enjoying the flowers that are still in my garden. This rose is just outside the kitchen window and is very beautiful.

The bottle brush tree in the garden still has a few blooms. It is very pretty and I'm enjoying it while it lasts. Wonder what next season will bring...?

So with work and things at home the weeks just seem to fly by.

Wishing you an encouraging week.

Love and blessings

Fiona