Malawi & More

  With cyclone Freddy making his way ever closer I cracked open a jigsaw. A bit later I went for a cuppa at Kelsey's and stupidly didn't take a coat as it wasn't raining as I set out. Drenched in the short walk back down the hill. Then a quick trip to the supermarket for lunch supplies for Sunday's rehearsal and a night out with the ladies. Back in time for an all too quick catch up with the Wagner's on line and then bed.  Sunday began with intermittent power and, frustratingly, worrying about if school will open. I took the cholera vaccine that BigA had for me. Truly disgusting. In the school show rehearsal and the power issues were very frustrating. The students were amazing, carrying on despite the power cuts and the continuous rain. As we did our best to keep going the news about the cyclone became more clear and the decision that school would be shut was agreed.  That evening we had no power or solar but we did have a fully charged battery pack and our fire, fo...

T his has been a hard one, moments that were surreal with the contrast of those who have and have not. The ones outside the wall. And getting on with it.  With cyclone Freddy making his way ever closer I cracked open a jigsaw. A bit later I went for a cuppa at Kelsey's and stupidly didn't take a coat as it wasn't raining as I set out. Drenched in the short walk back down the hill. Then a quick trip to the supermarket for lunch supplies for Sunday's rehearsal and a night out with the ladies. Back in time for an all too quick catch up with the Wagner's on line and then bed.  Sunday began with intermittent power and, frustratingly, worrying about if school will open. I took the cholera vaccine that BigA had for me. Truly disgusting. In the school show rehearsal and the power issues were very frustrating. The students were amazing, carrying on despite the power cuts and the continuous rain. As we did our best to keep going the news about the cyclone became more clear an...

 Back in the sun and with a full house I got ready for a day of frisbee. Great to play even if I felt very unfit. I was knackered with the running around in the game and in getting food to where it needed to be. It was a very positive day and so well organised by bigA, there were lots of comments on why everyone will miss him. The best part of the day was probably diving into the pool after my last game. We were hosting the after party and despite the noise of the party I was in bed by 9:30 and slept well, all things considered, still in A's bed.  We didn't really have chance at the weekend to appreciate each other until Sunday morning, once the house was was again just us three (and our gardener who bigA had paid to come and tidy up - definitely going to miss that) bigA and I finally began to catch up a bit, I plucked a grapefruit from our tree and brought us both half cut up. I then got to show him and A more of the goodies from the UK. I hadn't gone too wild, enou...

  spent the weekend with the now almost familiar friends, job interview prep and good food. I went out in the truly typical cold, wet and sunny day with Phil watching the rugby - Saracens v someone. Good pie! Then a longish walk back, almost all of the way And Sunday I caught up with Joanne again and another walk, we went to the school I would be interviewing at later in the week. It's snuggled into a surrounding park where lots of people played tennis.  On Monday the legend that is Sarah 'the hero' met me at Waterloo and we had a fantastic catch up. She's one of my oldest friends and it was just hilarious talking about all things silly and serious, teenage children and what we were like when we used to get drunk. I'd decided this was more important than reading the website of Highgate Wood school again.  Back in Edgar's flat we had tea and dinner and then I had an earlyish night. Up and ready to head off on a quick and chilly walk down the hill to the school. I...