I have found the perfect bar

Following on from my visit to Lilongwe market - see previous post, Perhaps not the best selling technique, I have now found the perfect bar to go to, unfortunately it is down in Mwanza, which is a good 90 minute drive away.

Just in case you can't read the sign "Fat Friends Bar"
We spent the weekend in Mwanza celebrating Diana's birthday, another VSO friend, who came out at the same time as myself. In true British style we had a bbq in the rain, well it was a very light drizzle, but it didn't dampen our spirits (I made sure I kept my vodka and diet coke well covered :0)sorry! In the evening we went and watched the football, I must admit to watching far too much world cup football whilst out here. This is for two reasons, one it is very exciting seeing something on a big screen, and two it is what everyone is doing out here, and unless I want to be billy no mates, I need to join in. I do however try and refrain from making comments like who is the guy in the yellow shirt, it appears that generally this is the referee. But have been known to ask who is playing in which colour, just so that I can keep up you understand. One of the sounds that I will now forever associate with Malawi, is the sound of the horns being blown all the time.

Is this the best excuse ever for being late for work?

Thursday 8^th July 2010

This morning I got up as usual, went to unlock the front door ready to go to work, and lo and behold couldn't unlock the door. After calling out to the night guard to see if he could open it from the other side, we realise that I am well and truly locked in, the lock had completely seized up. However bearing in mind the VSO moto, flexibility and adaptability, I got the trusty screw driver out, took the lock to pieces, used a bit of blue band margarine to oil the mechanism and ta da, the lock was soon working gain. In the meantime as this did take a while, I had sent a text to work to let them know that I would be late as couldn't get out of the house!

My fire lighting skills are coming on a treat

No I haven't become a pyromaniac, but it is so chilly in the evenings out here, we are now having to light a fire each evening to keep warm. My fire lighting skills are improving which each night, and tonight managed to get a really good blaze going, without having to resort to a plastic bag ( a well known Malawian technique for getting the fire going). It is amazing that it can get so cold out here, you always imagine that you will be hot in Africa. Today saw me in a T-shirt, jumper with a cardigan on for good measure, and the electric fire on in the office. Who would have thought it. It is currently winter in Malawi, and though it doesn't get to below freezing in Blantyre, if you are in the more mountainous parts of Malawi, it is not unheard of to have a frost in the mornings.

The only downside to having the fire in the house is that you do rather smell of firewood all the time, and every so often have to open the door to let some of the smoke out, this despite having the chimney. I wonder if there are chimney sweeps here, I think we could use one.

A zebra crossing in Malawi

 

Tuesday 6^th July 2010 was a bank holiday in Malawi, celebrating Independence day. Took the opportunity to go on a little day trip to Nyala Park, which is about a 90 minute drive from Blantyre. It still amazes me that I can do this sort of thing as a day trip and see nature at it's best.

Hence the title of the blog (sorry couldn't resist it, it had to be done)?

What you looking at?

Who lives in a nest like this?

Perhaps he does?

And a few other images from a most excellent day out, the sun was shining, the weather was warm.