Hot stuff!

Wow, it’s hot today. I think we are now moving out of the wet season here in Zambia to the very hot season!! I am however being very good and limiting the amount of time I am actually in the sun. I did get a little bit burnt the first weekend I was here so don’t want a repeat of that.


My first batch of sun seeking took place after breakfast, when I figured the sun might not be quite so hot. However, the hotel also decided it was a good time to cut the grass round the premise, including the pool. There I was flopped out at the opposite side of the pool on a towel, trying to drown out the sound of the mower with my iPod and wondering what they were going to do when they came to cut my side. Which obviously took a long time, not because there was a lot of grass on the other side, far from it, just because, well, because it’s Zambia. It did have some feelings of similarity with back home, with one bloke cutting the grass and another apparently standing back and watching (from under the shade of some trees). Off course, it was not completely like back home, as if it had been in the UK there would have been at least 2 blokes watching but they would have had the sense to have been at least leaning on some tools to pretend they were working. Anyway, they eventually got round to my side and then asked me to move. To be honest I was feeling most grumpy about it as by now it was 11.30, if they had been cutting the grass at 8 am and I was in the way I might have deemed it acceptable to kick me off my patch – but 11.30 am!!!. So huffing and puffing about being a paying guest and it being nearly lunchtime (none of which the bloke would have understood) I reluctantly moved myself over to the other side. Now I swear it was a full 30 minutes after that before a single blade of grass was cut on my original side. I figure they were waiting for the grass I had been lying on to fluff up again – just so they could be sure of not missing a blade or two. Then there was the point when the electric cable was trailing its way through the pool. The plug bit was still outside the pool but I was lying there thinking, water+electricity – not good!!

I went out for a second blast of sunshine later in the afternoon. The pool is at the back of the hotel and I practically had it to myself. So there I was with the iPod stuck in my ears again, lounging about in my bikini when a bride, groom and entire wedding party, all suited and booted turned up round the pool. I did feel ever so slightly under dressed and a tad embarrassed. Thought I was going to have to move again to let them take photos, but they disappeared down among some trees. Although I think some of the wedding party were more interested in me than the bride and groom!! Will feel strange to be back home and not be stared at wherever I go!!

Some brave young chap turned up later and actually went in the murky waters of the pool, head under the lot. I will never know if he lived to tell the tale!!

I have been intrigued by tropical bird noises coming from the trees near the bottom of the gardens here, but could never see any birds. I had just come to the conclusion that the owners had put recorded music in the trees just for affect, when this little fella popped out and started heading in my direction. Thankfully, he decided not to go as far as shaking claws with me which I was actually relieved about. Not all that keen on birds truth be told, I find all those flapping wings and beaks slightly disconcerting. I guess I watched Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds too often as a kid!!

It’s Saturday night and I am that bored I think after my dinner I might go back to reviewing Gideon’s funding report. I tried watching a Guy Ritchie film last night on the TV – had no idea what was going on half the time so gave up, had never heard of it so maybe it was one of his earlier ones (not that I can actually name any Guy Ritchie movies). Oh how I miss Coronation Street!!