January 2007

Alex has a busy New Year that culminates in another bridge burning...

Monday, 01 January 2007

Happy New Year to me! After lunch today the heavens finally opened for a brief but heavy downpour to welcome in 2007. It was brilliant and what is more nothing leaked. We scored a major victory this morning too by getting the old generator up and running. The final part was to connect the fuel line to the broken valve on the fuel tank. We achieved this by the generous sacrifice of Patros’ transistor radio aerial which we used as a longer tube to the fuel outlet. The whole thing is held together with a combination of liquid steel and silicone. It does not look too fancy but it works.

The generator repair has taken such a long time that I had almost given up on it but it cost 4 million Kwacha which is too much to simply write off. Patros was grinning from ear to ear when we got it started. He fancies himself as a mechanic but, to be honest, I do not believe he has the aptitude. I think I will try him out on a few things and we will see how it goes.

Of course the downside to the rain is the state of the road. I want, actually need to got to Lusaka on Wednesday but am afraid for the state of the road. I shall worry about that tomorrow though. Right now I just want to listen to green things growing.

Saturday, 06 January 2007

The last few days in Lusaka were a pain and I failed in the primary mission of getting my immigration permit renewed by the simple failure of fetching a bankers draft first and leaving it till Friday afternoon. This means I’ll have to head back again next week.

On Friday morning I dropped in at the Chongwe offices and had a chat with Chris Liedenburg about the hunting escape on 22^nd December. We have agreed that nothing will be done about this particular incident but that ZAWA will be a lot more cautious in the future.

Wednesday, 10 January 2007

On Monday night Trevor Long came over for a quick bite to eat after flying the CLZ plane down from Lusaka. He left at around 2:00 am. I think there are a lot of things that we are never going to agree upon but it was good that we could have a cordial debate about the issues affecting CLZ and the area. Actually it really did provide something useful for me. I know now why I am a conservationist and so how to finish the book. I almost cannot wait to get the database released so I can get on with the book.

Each day I am getting closer with the database and it is looking like a reality.

I have big plans to build a house here next year and have got the guys experimenting with various ideas at the moment. My particular enthusiasm is for mud bricks so I am experimenting with them right now. At least I have designed a brick mould and shrinkage tester so we are about to start experimenting.

Friday, 12 January 2007

Last night I invited Phil and Anél with their five year old daughter Danél to dinner and we had a very nice meal and pleasant evening. Phil, a South African has been in the business for years and has plenty of stories. He enjoys telling the story of how he has married his sister’s daughter hoping to offend the audience. His sister was a half-sister and shared no blood with Phil. More surprising to me was that the first time Phil met Anél was shortly after her birth while she was courting his first wife.

Saturday, 13 January 2007

Finally the Lodge Management Database is installed at Kanyemba. Of course I had a nightmare installing it and could not get the packaging software to work because my original discs are locked up in the CLZ office (arrgghh!!) but fortunately Riccardo does have Access 2000 and I took advantage of that. It is not perfect and we will just have to see what the guys make of it in the coming weeks.

I had a lucky conversation with Jerry Carbin who advised me of a decent immigration agent. I will definitely use him as I cannot bear to go through the hassles again.

Wednesday, 17 January 2007

I have lights on my car, my immigration papers are in and all is rosy with the world. I was quite pleased with Bundu Motors even though we had to fix my spotlights together when it was pointed out that they were not “on the list” and I thought “check lights” would have included such things.

Friday, 19 January 2007

Finally I have got the call. The contracts are to exchange on the flat and completion is aimed for 2 February. I must now get tickets for the UK and hope my credit card works.

This is it then... Life gets serious as of now.

Saturday, 20 January 2007

Last night we had (according to CLZ) 55mm of rain. It was quite a storm and finally we were at the centre of it. The roof in the staff quarters leaks appallingly just as I predicted when Mweemba initially put it up. The guys are now paying for their cleverness with uncomfortable wet nights and I am not very sympathetic because they brought this on themselves. It was all to save on a roofing sheet that Chrispine wanted for his house in the village. He had told me that there was an extra iron sheet and though I did not believe him at the time and would have checked had it been any other building I reckoned that it was their loss if the roof leaked.

I am trying to have a rest day today.

Sunday, 21 January 2007

Suddenly I am stressed again. I don’t feel under pressure but my blood pressure monitor disagrees. It is going to be a tight week, particularly if this weather does not let up. With the rain I cannot get a satellite lock so have no internet at the moment. That is not a huge problem on a Sunday because there will not be much happening today anyway.

I must prepare for my inspection today so need to concentrate on having all the papers available for inspection by the authorities. Thank goodness for my old standby camera. I cannot believe I nearly threw it away in the move. It may be a primitive beast but it photographs documents with no problem at all.

Well, bless me the satellite has locked on.

Tuesday, 23 January 2007

After three days of more or less solid rain the sun has returned to reveal a beautiful green and lush valley. It is the day of my inspection for immigration and I have heard from Riccardo that they are on their way down right now and I expect to see them at around 11:00. I have commandeered Paul from CLZ to cook lunch and he seems to be cooking pretty much everything that is in the freezer.

I am nervous as hell – mainly because I do not have any accounts to show them but, hopefully they’ll let that pass when I explain the peculiar situation with CHICODA.

Thursday, 25 January 2007

The inspection went well, I think. With representatives from immigration, the police and the Office of the President it was a pretty thorough check on what my plans were and what needs to be done and invested to make a running operation out of Community Campsite. It can be done and I hope that immigration give me the go-ahead to do it. That is the primary hurdle – once I have crossed over that barrier I need to bring CHICODA around to the idea of a more formal structure.

Sunday, 28 January 2007

In England, Russell Square, my flat for the last few days, I am sleeping in a sleeping bag, eating off paper plates with disposable cutlery. It is not how I envisioned closing a twenty year life in Russell Court. Then again I do not think I ever imagined that I would own this place for just over twenty years. For reasons known only to the purchaser I have to remove the bed by Thursday and plan to move into a hotel on that night before going to Southampton on Friday to try the hovercraft.

There is a lot to do and I am making lists to make sure I do not forget anything. Tomorrow morning I shall double check that everything is on schedule fro completion on Friday. It is supposed to be very stressful moving house. I do not know why I am so relaxed. My most pressing worry is the camera. I need my camera back.

Wednesday, 31 January 2007

Today I met up with Jon and Louise [my brother and sister-in-law] for the first time in ages. We had lunch in the crypt of St. Martin’s in Trafalgar Square, Rowan [my niece] joined us which was a huge surprise as I thought she was still in York. It was good to catch up but surprising to learn that their project in France is in real jeopardy because of financial worries. I can only breathe relief that I have never found a wife to complicate my self-centred lifestyle and am responsible for no-one but myself.

It is selfish and everyone questions my approach to life but I have always believed that I will not be ready to take on a family until I am settled myself. I am hoping that I may find that settlement and peace in Zambia and then maybe, just maybe...

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