Thirty three very long hours later!

Yes that was how long it took me door to door to get to Kitwe.  My flight was good and landed on time just before 6.30 am.  I even managed to successfully haul all the boxes, cases and holdalls off the carousel all on my own (those weights at the gym paid off!).  Then the fun started with customs.  Long, boring story short I got to take all my personal stuff with me - unchecked so haven't been done for carrying suspicious looking vitamin pills - but we were told to go back at 8 am for the boxes.   Then we were told to go over to the customs office where we were  told we had to do a full itinery of what was in the boxes - although 7 boxes off used school books seemed to work for them!  We then spent several hours watching lots of people with ID tags wander (slowly) around wth bits of paper, did some arguing over what fees we were to be charged, and then waited, and waited, and waited...!  Eventually 5 hours after I landed the car was loaded -  boxes hadn't even been opened and we just had to pay the minimum in Government fees - success I guess!  Although I was by this time very hot, sweaty and having a seriously bad hair day!!

There then followed some running around Lusaka with Jedone and Gideon which I was fine with until I got left in the hot car on my own for 10 minutes that turned in to at least 30.  But they did take the brand new laptop with them for safety - just left me in the car!  Duh! 

We eventually arrivied in Lusaka at 7.30 pm, with me having left my flat at 10.30 am the previous day.  I was very tired and feeling decidedly grubby and have to admit felt a tad emotional when the hot bath I had been promised was a  plastic tub of boiled water - there is no running hot water.  The toilet currently has no seat and I have to remember that once the cistern is filled I need to turn the water off at the inlet tap otherwise the cistern will overflow - I have fogotten twice already!  You don't even want to know how long it took me to get ready this morning, with water boiling to be done and hair rinsing with a cup only. Will need a 5 am start most days at this rate.  But hey, on the upside the cold shower might be fixed by the time I get back tonight!!!  We have no idea how good we have it until we leave it behind!!

I am now embracing another plumbing crisis as the office toilet has a sign on it 'for urination only' and yes, this one doesn't even flush. I haven't worked up the courage yet to ask about ....well lets not go there on this blog, especially if you are reading it during your lunch hour!! Last time I grumble about the toilets back in Gogarburn!

Must go and do what I am here to do and stop stressing over Kitwe plumbing.  (Although may be shopping for a toilet seat in my lunch break today!).

Love from Zambia! x