Toss

What a weird day - and loads of ups and downs

This morning Donata wanted to visit the education department - so we went their and there was noone in so we waited - and waited - then gave up - then I was to meet the District Comissioner - he seemed pleased to see me - and had the first air con that I have come across - he also had a selection of flags on his desk - and bizarely a 5 foot high gold painted Maize plant. He also had gout - so I sympathised as a fellow sufferer and then offered him my miracle tablet - maybe he will fund the school.

I thin had the amazing news that out Aberdare and Ponty centres from work have raised 350 quid to sponsor a teacher - that's amazing - I have not told the school yet.

We then went to school and had a staff meeting so that I could update them on my progress - it was idyllic under the mango tree until the rains hit. There were no school lunches today as the cook was at a funeral - there are only 4 staff members at the school and 3 working days this week have been lost to different funerals - it's a sad reflection of this village. You see Mkushi is a staging post on the great north road - traffic passes here from Tanzania - heading south to Botswana and Namibia - and also west to Congo - as such it is one of Zambia's worst places for HIV and AIDS - those lorry drivers don't behave - and also prostitution is quite rife in the village.

Anyway this afternoon I stareted in earnest on the business plan for the school - and I have to claim frustration as all the salaries and staffing requirements changed with every bottle of Fanta that Donata placed on my account! There is a shortfall on the running of teh school that Donata intends to make up by keeping and selling Chickens - she can make about two pound fifty per chicken....however she seemed to determined to keep an infinite amount of chickens to meet the defecit - we did have words that I felt that 5000 chickens was excessive, unsellable and made her a chicken farmer not a headmistress. To prove my point I went into the market and analysed chicken sales (note chickens are sold live and slaughtered as necessary at the stall). Chicken sales were no where near Donata's hopes and we are to look at other income - cabbages were mooted as we packed up tonight - I am more thinking about Government subsidy! The bonus was there were avocado in the market

I did get to meet the deputy education minister today - I scored his mobile number from flirting with his secretary so phone \d it - he said he would see me immediately - I have never met a minister before so inadequately dressed - a sweaty fred perry and cargo shorts - raybans on my head - anyway he was great and we continue our discussions next week.

So Caterpillars - hard, deep fried and crunchy - and not filling.

Toss..? Well I got my clothes laundered yesterday - the maid at the Harvest Inn offered to do them - I do miss Fatimah (and her sweet store) - anyway I also had to buy soap powder - so I left her w\some Kwacha - she left me the unused soap powder, beautifiully called Toss - and on looking on the inbstructions it says if your floor is greasy use extra Toss!

Tomorrow we start the school self assessment process - and I have morning workshops with the kids and afternoon workshops with the staff - should be good

Anyway I must go - speak soon

R