Happy Bean, classical music and The Bottom Drawer

On Sunday my Mum and I went for lunch at the new Happy Bean Coffee Shop. A friend Gretel had invited us as she is helping her partner Walter who is the chef and owner. We had a delicious roast followed by tiramisu. It was nice to sit on the verandah surrounded by the nursery garden and bowers of roses. They operate during the week and then do breakfasts on Saturday and Sunday lunches.

From there we went to the International School for the Celeb Subscription Concert. Celebs has just revived again after having struggled to get international artists licences to come into the country to perform. Sunday's concert was Theo Bross on cello and then Maxime Zecchini on piano. It was quite an extensive program including works by Couperin, Schubert, de Falla, Saint-Saens,Vaughan Williams, Bruch and Piazzolla. I particularly enjoyed the Schubert - Sonata for Arpeggione and Cello in A minor. This was apparently originally composed for an instrument called a guitar d'amour - a cross between a guitar and cello.

Yesterday was half term but I taught my grade 3 from Bishopslea and then went to The Bottom Drawer. Was supposed to have met with a friend there for lunch but she had forgotten. I bumped into another friend though and her Mum and baby. We sat amongst the flowering bushes and had the odd fluffy footed chicken come and inspect the ground around us. Today is back to the normal routine. Tonight I'm supposed to be going to the pub quiz at 167 Enterprise. Hoping it's going to rain.

Family with a side of bipolar

My Dad has bipolar but to date refuses to get it treated. I can remember his mood swings and found them difficult to handle. He could become violent and very angry as well as super critical. His unpredictable plunges into mania or depression scared me.

My Step-mother who is now divorced from my Dad and my Half-sister had reconnected with my Dad last year after many years. They thought he was a changed man and encouraged me to try make contact. My Step-mum had said my Dad was too proud and I would need to make the first move. I was hesitant, my Dad's erratic behaviour and instability still haunting me. I did consider emailing but I just wasn't sure if I was strong enough for the possible repercussions of making contact after almost 20 years. I got an email from my Step-mum this weekend saying that my Half-sister had told my Dad she was getting married. He reacted really badly though when he realised he was not invited. I don't know that I would want him at my wedding - you would just not know what he might do or say. It is sad but he pushed us all away and he needs help.

With my friend who is also bipolar having just had a baby it has made me think about if I ever have children. I would have to come off lithium as you can't be on lithium when you're pregnant. You also cannot breastfeed if you are on medication for depression which is a pity as it is what I would do if I was able to. My friend is also having to manage sleep as if you alter your sleep cycles it can trigger manic episodes or depression. The other big thing is that bipolar depression is hereditary so you risk passing it on to your child. After  one has gone through it, it makes you think about inflicting it on to your child. There is treatment but it is still a hard road. My Dad definitely passed it on to me.

Dodging the police and busyness

This week feels like it has whizzed past. I teach four mornings a week at the home school in Mount Pleasant and then on Thursday mornings I have my Chinese lady Yalin. In the afternoons I tutor some Harare International Students and then two girls from Bishopslea. I think I enjoy my private tutoring most and I have had interesting conversational English lessons with Yalin discussing politics and Chinese geography and culture. I was amazed when she thought Zimbabwe allowed a lot of freedom of speech and observed human rights. I guess China could be worse. Saying that Yalin thinks I should go teach English as a foreign language in China for a year. Will see. She asked if I liked living in cities. I replied I do as long as there are gardens, parks and trees. Unfortunately there don't seem to be many of those in Chinese cities.

My one little girl from Bishoplea's mum gave me the biggest bouquet of multiple bunches of roses I have ever received. I think she works for a florist or rose farm. Was able to give some to friends and still have enough for four vases in our house. Have only been teaching her little girl for two weeks - was blow away.

Roses in transit in the car with the required fire extinguisher.

Have been asked to be a friend's baby's godmother. Feel very honoured and makes me realise I'm a grown up. Popped in to visit my friend and her baby yesterday. On the way opted to not drive down Edinburgh Road as the police were standing waiting just round the bend. I would rather not stop if I can help it as they now have a ridiculous list of things you have to have and will make you wait and show all of them whilst they look for any possible way of fining you. Today I went to Big Sky to get the new requirement of larger reflective triangles (the previous size is now not accepted - grrrrr! There were five of us who were having to buy them when I went in). I also had to get honeycomb reflectors - the previous plain ones aren't adequate). So irritating and frustrating. I just don't want to have to argue with the police and be threatened and harassed if I can help it but you drive around Harare nervous you're going to run into them round the next corner.

My Mum and I went to home group on Wednesday. Was good to connect again. I am feeling a bit dry spiritually and am questioning. Feels like depression has made my heart harden a bit.

Tomorrow there's a big rugby match with the South African Bulls and Cheetahs playing on Zim soil. Afraid I'm not a big fan though although it might be fun. Thinking of going to a new place called the Jam Tree (in the old Mount Pleasant Sports Club) with friends at 4 as they'll have djs playing. Am then going to a play at Reps Theatre called The Pianist. So tomorrow's quite busy. Sunday I'm doing kids' church again and then there's a classical concert on at Arundel Chapel.

Jam Tree

Harare Chamber Orchestra @ Arundel School Chapel (7 February)Harare Chamber Orchestra presents a concert of chamber music at Arundel School Chapel on Sunday, 7 February, starting at 3.00pm
Entrance $5. (Students free)
Refreshments will be served after the concert by our patron: The Honorary Austrian Consul Dr Djordjevic.
Handel: Sonata No 3 for violin and harpsichord
Mozart: Quartet for flute and strings K285
Beethoven: Sonata Op5 No 1 for piano and cello 
Soloists:
Jeanette Micklem - Piano
Nina Crowhurst - Flute
Cabby Stirling and Abigail Macy - Violin
Michael Peto - Viola
Amy Macy - Cello
Carolyn Peto - Harpsichord