new year - almost

 I hope you had a good week. I've just got back from the pool, having to get the right moments in between rain. Lovely way to end the year. 

The week between Christmas and new year always feels odd to me. 

Christmas Eve felt very quiet, mainly doing a bit of prep but not much else. BigA  had made a very impressive looking vegetarian wellington which he prepared most of the day. He very sensibly arranged to find a different fridge and oven for it. Ours is small and rubbish. 

Christmas day itself was lovely, far too much food and drink, very indulgent. Stockings ready, mainly filled with treats BigA  brought back from the UK and a few for A from her grandma. Those who know me well will know this is my favourite part of Christmas. I have some of my happiest memories of my sister, brother and me opening them all before we went into mum and dad, then bombing on their bed, doing it all over again and then watching the two of them opening up. I knew for as long as I can remember that father christmas did not exist and so I loved the pretence, and the silliness that went with how mum and dad would look at each other, making 'ooh, I really wanted this, how did father christmas know' type utterances. Then chocolate for breakfast. Conrad, to memory, had eaten quite a bit before we had all gotten ready for church. Except dad of course, who stayed behind to cook our delicious dinner. 

BigA  and Margaret had made a lovely breakfast, with a Malawian version of bellini, mango instead of peach. We were able to sit and open presents and because my sister is unbelievably organised, we had actual gifts from her to open and we all loved. I now funny need to work about the moisturiser that I use until we get back to the UK. BigA  and I had agreed to not get anything for each other really, as we're leaving in a few months we just wanted consumables, and he didn't disappoint with my favourite tea bags and posh gin. I'm not sure he was a thrilled with the Branston pickle I got him. 

Then Keith came over, the morning sound track was, however, a very loud computer game being played by Keith and BigA . It did feel like I had teenagers in the house (not my actual one) she was being sensible and did my makeup.I was mainly cooking, I had success with the Yorkshire puddings, which I was worried about but they were great despite taking over 40mins to cook. That afternoon we played codenames and watched some TV before digging into another meal of cheese and stuff. Margaret had brought a Christmas pudding but we were all too full. All this wa been punctuated by a neighbours house alarm going off every few hours. 

For Boxing day I ate leftover roast dinner for my breakfast. Lush! Then a bit of prep for a boxing day braai. We had invited the few people left on campus and a couple of other friends that were around. It was very relaxed until the 'boys' got onto the computer fifa game. Too noisy for my middle aged tastes. I was feeling a bit sorry for myself with unusually painful period cramps so by 5 I was on my bed stretching out and trying not to think about the noise from the alarm next door, the front room and the church over the wall. 

We have been having a lot of rain, it's hard to describe what that means but I'm sure you get it. Big storms and lots of heavy rain for a good deal of each day and night. There was a weather warning but happily the worst of it seems to have passed. While the sun has shone we've been able to get to the pool. I am very much doing my best to take advantage of it while it's hot here and it's so close. Indoor swimming at the freezing pool in Tottenham won't be the same. 

 

On Wednesday we decided to head off to Zomba, my favourite restaurant was sadly shut so we headed up to the plateau to see the view and then went to the well established Italian place, Cafe Rosa, I had an unusual filled pasta, cheese and mashed potatoes. It was really lovely and the others all had pizza, the best they had all had in a while. Then we decided to take a stroll in the botanical gardens. This was going well but perhaps a little much for some, so we agreed BigA would go and get the car to pick us up, A and I then agreed to march off with him. He confidently followed the path and then, about 10 minutes in he turned and said 'did we come this way? ' 'No' A and I replied in unison. We continued on, it isn't a big park, but we soon realised that it would be better to turn back. Off we went, A saying she thought she saw where we had gone wrong, and she was completely right, so we then got back on track, to find D&M had found a much quicker route to the car and had been waiting for us! 

We set off home, stopping to fill up the car and discovered an almost flat tyre. That was quickly sorted and we even made it back before the sun set. With his seemingly boundless energy BigA  then went off to frisbee. I read a book. 

After all that Thursday was a day in the garden and not much else. Well not for me, but Margaret has been making the most of our garden and gardener. She's got such a talent for it. Already making it look more sculpted and separating plants that have been struggling where they are. Moving things around to get the most out of the space. We will reap the rewards for a little while and whoever lives here next will certainly benefit too. I've made her promise to come and sort out our garden in Tottenham when we return. I'm very much going to miss this one. 

Yesterday was very rainy again and despite that we agreed to head off to Game Haven, it's a bit of a drive and we didn't really see much because of the rain. We had a hearty lunch and a very short stroll and then can home. Not quite what I'd envisaged for the day but we got out of the house. That afternoon I had a chat with an agent about a job but the more I've pondered over night the more I realised it's not for me. So I'm not going to apply. It's still very early in the UK season for jobs so I am happy to wait. Also flights to the UK are really very expensive at the moment so I really should only go for ones I want to fly back for. I really dislike missing school and this would be in the middle of February. 

So good bye to 2022, it's not been too bad a year. How different things will be this time next year. Lots of change ahead of us. I am excited mostly for all that A will discover and experience. She has a long list of things she wants to do. We're heading off to the lake and Mumbo Island for a few days, on Monday,I may do a social media detox while on the island. I think a break from the grim reality of life will do me good. I half thought of an alcohol detox too, but that can wait for our return to Blantyre. Maybe. 

Oh and A's hair is now pink. We did it this morning, which is why this email is later then usual.