Goodbyes...

It's been a manic day - but before I go into that I would like to thank two of you in particular -

Craig for describing in detail on the phone all the ingredients that was going into his Chicken Pie - I didn't know you had a sadistic streak

and Tara for phoning to tell me how bad my typing is - in my defence - the computer has several keys missing and others stuck - the chair has three legs and I am often distracted by a lizard or some nights a plague of dragon fly things that drop dead at dusk

Anyway today -

We started with meeting His Royal highness Chief Chitina - well that was a palava - I was collected by his security guard - and we were told we had to be quick as he had to go to the clinic for his stomach ulcers. Anyway I was told to take a gift so grabbed the last of my supply of love spoons - and we sat. The guard looked at the gift and said yes this is nice but the Chief also likes paper. I asked Donata how much I should give - and she shrugged - the guard helpfully said the more cash I gave the bw\etter the quality of the audience. I gave a fiver.

The Chief arrived complete with a Giraffe Tail to flick away the flies and my fiver got me a ten minute chat about the school.

Then off to the local education minister for a grilling about the business plan - after feeling inadequate he then said it was good - asked to copy the appraisal system in governemnt schools and asked if I could come back and work at a District level - I just smiled. He also agreed some support for the school - al last we will ahve science equipment and craft equipment.

The off to the School for the Mzungu leaving party - I had Chocolate and crisps for the Children - at the sight of the chocolate they fell silent - some were frioghtened to eat it - none had had it before - then they murdered the crisps - a tube of Pringles from my bag just went up in dust. Te kids kept all the packaging to take home and show their families.

We then danced to Zambian Music - and then I played them tunes from my IPOD - they were stunned into submission - and just stood mesmerised especially when it played videos - they loved Go West by the Pet Shop Boys - though I'm not sure in this country I should be introducing them to my camp classics.

I told them about all of our fundraising efforts - there were teats and I filmed a message from them all I will post it on a stronger connection.

Then off to brief Mrs Hunt the schools patron on the work I ahve done and to actually giver her the donated cash to look after. We are buying some text books and funding about 70% of the bore hole

She seemed pleased with the work -

I now just have to finalise some things here - there off to Lusaka to complete some work around sustainanability and to make sure al the actions are bottomed out

Walking back from school today I knew that my work was settling in - Donata and I were talking about how bad the food is in the Harvest Inn - even she thinks so - she said Mr Charlie (the owner) needed to performance manage his staff and give them appraisals!  Result....