Stags and Hens

 I had a strange miscommunication with Lawrence yesterday  morning and rather than watering the pots he was washing them. I didn't have the heart to stop him. He's found an old hose from somewhere, after the other one was stolen and is doing his best. He always does his best. 

This week BigA and I celebrated our anniversary, 12 years married, and although we had both talked about it the day before, it wasn't until my sister sent a message to wish us a happy anniversary that we remembered. We went out for a posh meal, a place that we don't go to very often so it felt different and a bit special. We talked about what's happening next and how we need to learn from our Malawian life. 

The work week was a short one, we had Thursday and Friday as a short half term break. I taught my 2 year 9 classes for the last time and enjoyed watching how well they had developed over the time and felt that small pang of something, knowing that I won't see anymore of that progress. I didn't have to follow up on any hard things and so it was a simple one. 

On Tuesday A and BigA set off for a short safari and I stayed behind. A hen do booked for the Wednesday for me and one for BigA from the Friday. They had a lovely time seeing a family of lion, but both still worked. A getting her Head around the UN for her upcoming history exam. She has 7 left to go. Not the most exciting of topics as she points out, so not many interesting documentaries or films to watch to break up the reading of textbooks. 

The hen was really good fun, just the right length too, a meal with a small and select group of fabulous women in an out of the way hotel. Silly games, memory book and a quiz for the bride on how well she knows the answers he will give about her! Potentially risky if it has turned out the answer was 'not at all.' But all was well. Lots of dancing and a naughty cake, and we dressed the bride to be in a fetching dress made of toilet paper. The next morning we had manicures and massages, well those of us who were not too hung over. Breakfast in the suite we had and then home in time to relax with a film before my little family returned from safari. The only downer was yet another email from our agent for our home in London. The washing machine is now bust. it is old now, we had it for a long time before we left so once again we are remotely buying a new thing for the house. Again - at least we will get the benefit when we return. But man, it is making things feel very expensive suddenly, something we will get used to I'm sure. 

The selling continues but at a slower pace. Someone has expressed an interest in the Bongo and so the money from that will be very welcome as we see what the house looks like. I really do want some new carpets, I miss carpets. I keep picturing the home we left and I wonder how it will feel to be back. I don't know if it will feel big or small. Having stairs again will be nice. I've been getting excited by the luxury of the UK, I've even started a Tesco order! I do like to plan. The packing here is almost done too. Although I keep looking at things and wondering if we should take it. It does not help that I have no idea what we left in the loft and what state it will be in. We had the roof fixed about 8 years ago so my hope is it has all stayed dry and that nothing has gone mouldy or been ravaged by moths. 

Yesterday morning BigA set off for the stag do, quite a different plan, They are going up Mulanje and taking a live sheep (I think it's a goat) to slaughter and eat there. As BigA is the only vegetarian I think he is happily allowed to not partake in this, rather cave man part of the trip, I am very glad I am not going. 

The weather here is being very kind, nowhere near as cold as every other May we have had and as June has begun the sun is still shining well and we haven't needed to have a fire in the house, blankets doing the trick. Just 35 days left here. We have a lot of food to get through. The most pressing questions seeming to be ones like - should we buy another pack of 8,000 kwatcha butter or will the one we have last? There is no way we will get through all the lentils or massive jar of poppy seeds we have.