Defeated by the cold but recovering

The cold last weekend turned into a chest infection and a bit of a fever. I went to see my doctor on Monday after teaching and she said I had the onset of pneumonia and bronchitis in the base of my lungs. I really did not feel at all good on Tuesday and Wednesday but my supervisor again was not impressed with me staying away and expected me to have gone in to teach. Still feeling a bit unsteady I did go in yesterday and had my charge come skipping through the gate and then take one look at me and start bawling - great morale booster. Today was better and I'm starting to feel a bit better, just wish the cough would go and am not enjoying swallowing massive penicillin tablets.

Afraid all this meant I didn't go to Aberfoyle this weekend. Hope I'll get another shot at going some other time. It is blustery and wet here right now. Hope they get better weather there tomorrow and Sunday. I will however be going with a group to Nyanga in two weekend's time - yay! It is mainly for a serious fishing expedition but there will be some of us non-fishermen joining the party.

My routine police dodging in Mount Pleasant was thrown out this morning when they were lurking in the taxi rank bay by Arundel Village shops. I made a detour to avoid them but on my return they had shifted back to their usual favourite pickings spot - by the stop street road sign.

The 39 Steps & a cold

I was supposed to go to a workshop this morning looking into helping children with learning difficulties through art, music and dance. I think I have contracted Ira and Scott's colds - not sure whose though, and stayed in bed. Hoping it will go fast as I have agreed to go to Aberfoyle with friends next weekend.

I managed to get out of bed to go watch The 39 Steps farce at Reps this afternoon, which was very creative and highly enjoyable. Harare people be sure to go watch, it is worth seeing. A good piece of theatre art and Kevin Hanssen was in his element.

Yesterday I went to paint pottery with a friend and another friend's mum at The Studio in Borrowdale. I got there first and my instructor was quite bossy in how I applied my glaze. Afraid I am too used to painting water colours. When my friend and my friend's mum got there he gave them more of a free rein and they got to do their own designs. Oh well. Want to have our next depression support group meeting there at the end of March.

Burnt Earth Designs tiles at The Studio

Burnt Earth tiles and a bowl similar to what mine should turn out like.

Don't have another accident, avoid the police & dodge potholes

Have started Ira's sticker reward chart but I'm afraid today he didn't earn any stars. He helped himself to straws and at one point reminded me of a sea anemone as he sat fanning them out from his mouth. He later started shoving his wax crayons up the legs of the trampoline stored in our classroom and was driving me dilly. He went and mournfully told the nursery school teacher at the end that he didn't get a sticker. Hopefully tomorrow's behaviour will be better and worthy of stars.

Met up with a friend I haven't seen in a while at Queen of Hearts which is now quite a hub of activity. It has the cafe and then at night there is a sushi bar - Oh So Sushi and a bar called the Horsebox Bar which is literally a horse box converted and specialises in  artisan craft beers and gins. There is also a clothing store which is constructed from a shipping container and there are some other stores that have been added on to this. Not to forget the Curves Gym and Bratz Basement in a Cape Dutch style building on the side and there is even a nutritionist on hand. I stayed on for a bite to eat for lunch and randomly bumped into two other friends who came and joined me.

Headed back to Avondale to go sort out the car insurance and showing the police the car log book and insurance certificate. Alberto's mum whatsapped while I was there to say Alberto was sick so I finished earlier than usual. My mum and I were driving back home when on the exact same road I had the accident yesterday someone had a tyre blow out and their car went skidding over the traffic island and across into the opposite lane. Luckily it didn't hit us and they didn't go into oncoming traffic but a near miss and I can't believe it's twice in two days. Hoping for police and accident free roads tomorrow and not too many potholes.

A friend has invited me to go to a kayaking and white water rafting festival at Aberfoyle next weekend. Never been to Aberfoyle so am keen just hoping there's not heavy rain as it would be camping for two days - eeek. Aberfoyle is situated on tea estates in the Eastern Border Highlands.

Aberfoyle, Zimbabwe

Faulty Brakes

Had a scare this morning driving from teaching Ira. I was going along King George Road when I heard a screeching of tyres behind me and next thing a truck came careening into the side of me and then glanced off my car, swerving off across the traffic intersection and up onto Aberdeen. Getting out of my vehicle I expected the worst but I was incredibly lucky. My door was dented and scratched but it still opened OK and I am very fortunate that it didn't impact my car more and I didn't get injured.

Another car coming up Aberdeen witnessed what happened and they very kindly went and picked up the police from the nearby Avondale Police Station and then gave their account as a witness. The driver of the truck which turned out to have faulty brakes was compliant and when the policeman arrived a few minutes later we got through the necessary paperwork in record time. The policeman was polite and got to it quickly. A refreshing change. All in all I had my faith in humanity renewed as everyone was civil and people kept stopping to ask if I was alright.

Seven years

Seven years ago today. Seven years! This was the day I decided to quit. To quit my PhD, to quit being a workaholic, to quit battling at writing code and to try quit life. The voices in my head shouted and I over analysed all that was said to me. On a broken phone line I dialled home to Zimbabwe and then paced around my shared apartment talking gibberish to my flatmate.

After a night of no sleep I caught the metro to EPFL and told my department I wanted out. I waited all day for my supervisor and HOD and then told him I couldn't do it any more. They offered me an avenue of seeking help and I took it. I was driven to CHUV where I was cross-examined in French and then placed under observation. Lying on the hospital bed my mind raced and I had trouble knowing what was reality.

At midnight they said I could either go home or be transferred to the mental health facility. Not trusting myself I chose the second and climbed into an ambulance which took me off into the night to an unknown destination.

In the dim lights I got out and entered the corridor of locked doors of the asylum. It felt like a scene from a thriller and I pondered how I had come to be being here, although deep down I knew I had had this sickness inside of me for a long time and it was finally coming to the surface from the depths. Finally my DNA and childhood were catching up on me and I was facing my inner demons.

Half Term

Have survived the first half of the first term with Ira. I won't lie I am looking forward to two extra days off this weekend. I will still have Scott and Alberto for tutoring though. Got to school this morning to Ira throwing around his teddy bear brought for the teddy bears' picnic after he finished with me. It got confiscated and this resulted in tears. I didn't think this boded well. There was a point in lessons when I wondered if we would ever finish but miraculously we eventually did. We are having problems with pattern sequences. Ira won't look at what I'm putting in front of him and this makes it very difficult. My cousin who is an OT has sent me some resources for autism and there are some tools for patterns and shapes.

When Ira eventually went to go and join in the teddy bears' picnic I headed to Bottom Drawer and had tea with my friend Nina, her baby and then five former teachers from my high school. We sat in the peaceful surrounds of the Bottom Drawer garden and had hens with their clutches of chicks scurry past us.

Yesterday I had a lovely surprise of a voice whatsapp message from my favourite student Runbo. I had messaged his mum saying I hoped everything was going well with the new baby and Runbo adjusting to him and that I missed Runbo. In response Runbo said he miiiiiiiiissed me toooooooo and what was I doing, he was sleeping. It made my day and is my new feel good sound bite.

Police Valentine

I think everyone in Zimbabwe has their stories of police encounters so I won't bore you for long with mine. When turning onto certain roads your heart drops at the sight of fluorescent green vested men. Occasionally these are in fact airtime vendors but more often they are our beloved police force out to glean cash from a people who don't have much to offer.

I was going out to visit my friend in Hatfield this morning after teaching Ira. I hit a police roadblock on Chiremba Road and to cut it short after looking for anything to fine me for they decided my wheel was too worn. I honestly didn't have any cash on me. They told me to phone my husband and get him to come with cash - hahaha. They wouldn't believe me I didn't have one and then said well call my children - how old did they think I was to have kids to come bail me out. In the end I sat it out in my car for about half an hour until my friend Nina kindly came and paid bond notes for me.

We are still having cyclonic rainfall. I dashed into Arundel Village before going to Hatfield. The security guard I regularly see wished me happy Valentine's and asked after my mum which I thought was sweet. Veldemeer's the Belgian chocolate shop seemed to be doing a roaring trade and the florist had bucketsful  of roses. Scott wished me a happy Valentine's too when I taught him this afternoon.

Veldemeer's chocolates for Valentine's