retail therapy

Yesterday we were given a lift to Manda Hill shopping Mall where I found a bargain mobile for ZK 63,000, equivalent of about £8, to use with my Airtel (Zambia) sim card. Lots of things available, bought some hair slides to keep my hair, wild because of the dry air, in its place (on my head, fairly neat), some notebooks, ice cream and some tonics for our gin (Hurrah, now we have gin, tonic, ice and lemon- a great victory)
7 hours (7am) Mass very lively with excellent song and dance.  Music in Nyanja (local language) but Mass prayers and readings in English.  The church (of our Lady) is being extended as there's insufficient room, even with two Masses; fund raising concert in Lusaka next Saturday, tickets ZK100,000.
Everyone friendly and accepting with apparent pleasure my faltering attempts to communicate in Nyanja- keep breaking into the tiny bit of Tonga (from my time in Southern Province) which causes general amusement. 

Lusaka shopping trip yesterday- today the post office!

Yesterday Liz and I took the 'minbus' to Lusaka from 'The Road' (Great North Road, designed to connect the Cape to Cairo) outside Mother of Mercy Hospice.  The 'bus' seemed already overful but we were merrily crammed in on a single seat together. The fare was as we had been told, Kwacha 5000 each so we were disgorged in the City Market whence we walked through to Freedom Road and on to Cairo.  Money changed, we walked to 'Downtown', a shopping area where they were, as on Saturday, unable to get my cell phone going, (mine is Orange UK locked so I will buy  a Zambian one- they had a Samsung for K 83,000 (K8,000 = £1 currently)-and I have bought the sim plus talktime.  Then on to 'Shoprite' for our groceries.  We bought a bottle of gin but missed the tonic though overall a successful mission: envelopes, biscuits, cheese,... delights in store!
Today I did the 30 minute round trip walk to Chilanga Post Office where I bought USA and UK stamps (K5,000 and K 4500 respectively)  It was hot and dusty along the Road.

Would love some comments on this!!

in Zambia

Arrived early on Saturday 13th at Lusaka airport- delighted to find my old friend Sr Bernard still sorting out safe passage for people arriving and leaving.  Met By Sister Jeremia and transported to Chilanga.  Many memories for me- partly the same and partly moved on.

3 days in...

First duty day today, job-shadowing the counsellor.  Sadly the in patient wards (8 men's, 8 women's, 5 children's beds) at the hospice are closed as we await government funding for wages which are needed to keep this Mother of Mercy Hopice operating.  At the moment only clinics and home visitations are operating; the wards are waiting, neat and clean and ready to welcome needy patients. 

ten days to go...

First duty day today, job-shadowing the counsellor.  Sadly the in patient wards (8 men's,  women's, 5 children's beds) at the hospice are closed as we await government funding for wages which are needed to keep this Mother of Mercy Hopice operating.  At the moment only clinics and home visitations are operating; the wards are waiting, neat and clean and ready to welcome needy patients