Libby's week

Some things never change, Bethany has woken me up early, so I thought I may as well write a blog. I am drinking 'Africafe' which is not really that nice, so I'm so looking forward to the arrival of our container and my stockpile of real coffee. I have done my usual morning cockroach scan, and fortunately there don't seem to be any lurking about. I really hate cockroaches they make my skin crawl and there are usually one or two about. I have an agreement with Daniel that he'll deal with the cockroches if I deal with the spiders. It seems to be working out well so far, for me at least, as we haven't seen any spiders yet and cockroaches turn up every few days. However, saying that there is definitely something big lurking behind the toilet cistern!!! There is a big blue lizard that lives outside the front door along with a couple of gigantic hornets. Daniel keeps trying to photograph the wildlife but they are rather uncooperative.

We have had an OK week, although I found it quite hard at the beginning. Everything takes so long and cooking and shopping is such a headache. I keep trying to think up menu ideas and then realising you can't buy half the ingredients. I thought I'd really miss Tesco on line shopping here but the Tanzanian equivalent turned up on Thursday in the form of Mamma Pendo who offered to do my shopping for me. For a small fee of course, but much cheaper than Tesco and as she can gets things cheaper than me at the market anyway it all works out rather well. There are also a few ladies that come round to the compound selling fresh fruit and vegetables so I try and buy things off them as it means so much to them and it's really not that much money for me.

I went to buy meat yesterday. Basically all you can buy is beef, although for a price you can buy one type of sausage, bacon and mince, in the Asian supermarket. The problem is you don't really know how many times it has been defrosted!! There is no chicken or pork or lamb or anything else, although apparently once or twice a year someone will come round to the compound selling chickens or a pig. The trick is to buy lots when you see it and put it in the freezer, then pray you don't have a powercut. Anyway back to the beef, they sell it in small blood spattered shacks in town. Basically there is a counter, some scales and a whole cow hanging on a hook and that's it. Oh I forgot the thousands of flies and the revolting smell. I just had to stand outside because I thought I was going to vomit. You just tell them which cut of meat you want and then they hack it off for you and sling it in a bag. Remember me next time you're buying your nicely cellophaned meat selections from Tesco or Waitrose and appreciate the choice you have. Once we got the meat home it all has to be sterilised in a bucket and then washed in filtered water. Now it's all in bags in the freezer waiting for me to actually feel like eating it. Becoming a vegetarian seems rather appealing at the moment!! By the time the meat was sorted and the vegetables all cleaned ( Daniel did that he makes quite a good house girl) it was already four a clock and time to start cooking the tea. It feels like I spend most of my time in the kitchen.

My wonderful house lady came twice this week. She is a real whizz in the kitchen. In a morning she has knocked me up 5 loaves of bread, some rolls, fresh passion fruit juice, a huge pan of tomato soup (made from scratch) and a pile of chapatis. It would have taken me weeks to make all that but she seems to do it so effortlessly. I so glad of the help, especially when Daniel starts work next week.

For Wendy's (my sister) benefit, I will download some photos of our house. This isn't actually our house as eventually we will be moving next door or to one of the other houses on the compound, but all the houses are the same so it gives you some idea.

Kitchen



















Lounge/dining room














Kids' bedroom














Our bedroom














Bathroom (but without the bath)














Outside