An early blog today as I am doing the candlelit worlds aids day thing later - and Donata has gone to a funeral giving me some unusual afternoon space.
well I think there is a new cook at the Harvest Inn, last night it was steak - and it had some life left in it! We then had the most major storm I have ever seen and heard (and felt as my hut shook in the thunder)
Anyway today is pay day in Zambia - well supposedly - there are huge queues outside some of the banks - and it appears that a number of people have not been paid which is common place. Donata's daughter is a teacher in a government school and this is her 3rd month with no - admin issue apparently - equally the Programming Director of Mkushi Radio said that he has gone 2 months without pay when I grabbed a beer with him last night.
Being a radio man he was interested in what music I liked - and teh whole bar become involved in this discussion so I went to get my ipod and speakers. The verdict
Take That - the jury is out
Freemanson and Goldfrapp - a definate no
Amy Winehouse - a huge row with noone here accepting that she is white!
Anyway up early today and got the Orphan application to the MP - then we waited for Mrs Hunt to come with the money to pay the teachers - she didn't show - so our teachers will also go without pay today - but they are promised cash tomorrow. this was interesting in that they totally accepted this - and actually in teh self assessment exercise actually put although they weren't paid much they did at least get the cash every month unlike many in this country.
I bought bananas from teh lady outside the Harvest Inn today - she always comments that I never buy from her - not intentional just I'm always past het when I start working out what I want - my impulse purchase prompted a Banana Dance from her and we both did a little sing song in the treet. This was interupted by the most horrific noise and I turned round to see a Pig - restrained in a sack, strapped across the cross bar of a push bike and being pushed...presumably towards some type of end.
I had a conversation with Donata about staff today - she wanted more - it reminded me of conversations at work with Centre managers - I said she didn't ahve the budget for a new staff member - she told me to find the cash - I said we can't just print it.....and then - I guess that this is different from our centre managers - she said maybe I could write to the Queen for some cash - I reminded Donata how she had told me last week with great pride that she had been a Freedom Fighter for independence from the UK - Donat smiled and said 'yes but she has cash'
Anyway speak later
R
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