Met up with my friend Kim yesterday at a new Ethiopian restaurant on Lanark Road in Avondale and we shared a vegetarian platter with the Ethiopian naan bread with a beef dish. Very tasty and not too pricey. Was nice to catch up with Kim and hear about her travels around Europe.
Today the Austrian cellist Erich Huetter gave a workshop for the elementary students at the Harare International School. He played a couple of pieces by Bach and some more modern composers and described how music can be a language to the students. He will be performing at Arundel School chapel on Sunday at 3 and then at the Saint Johns College carol service on Sunday 29th.
May have another art student as meeting with a friend's daughter on Monday. Going to drop some business cards to the Chinese Embassy to try recruit more English students. Still could do with being busier and a bit more stimulated.
Started today by having coffee at Veldemeers Cafe in Arundel soaking up the lovely cool air after the rain last night. Browsed through the Out of Africa magazine and saw a friend Tammy Maidwell's article in it. Then wandered round the nursery garden at Arundel eying their dahlias and carnations.
Went for a talk by the Zimbabwe born author Lauren St John at the International School and it really was inspiring. She has written numerous children's books on conservation and even human trafficking and has worked with The Born Free Foundation, helping release circus and zoo animals back into the wild in Africa and other places. Some zoo animals have their claws and teeth removed and she spoke of how Ocean World dolphins are often on drugs to stop them being aggressive. For more see her website here. She has even written a book based on a visit to Imire on black rhinos.
Am a bit between things at the moment. Looking for more students to make me earn a decent income and keep busy. Didn't get the job at Arundel but waiting on a few other things. After my jam packed schedule in the UK I do feel at a bit of a loose end coming back and need to find a solution to survive financially.
And at last the heavens open and the first big fat weltering drops of rain fall.
The earth rejoices and my heart is glad.
It quenches the dry earth and brings relief from the staggering heat.
The rich muddy, earthy smell emanates and fills the air and I breath in deep.
Oh rain much needed and longed for,
will you stay a while and fill our land?
Replenish our ground water and make rivers run once more?
Or is this just a fleeting storm and we return to drought?
The rains should have come
but there is not a cloud in sight.
Heat drains you, it zaps you of life.
El Nino is here it seems and the crops wilt.
Dry earth, hot sun, unadulterated heat.
The air time man does his dance by Groombridge.
If only it were a rain dance and the clouds would appear.
Hope of rain but water is scarce.
Something to beat this unquenchable thirst.
Well I touched down at Harare Airport a week ago today and was welcomed by a wall of hot air as I stepped off the plane. It has been really hot and no sign of rain yet unfortunately with clear blue skies. Taught on Monday afternoon but have lost a few of my students so I need to try gain a few more. Am also following up on a few job options.
Helping with the Convent Old Girl's lunch this Saturday at Alo Alo. Also offered to help with a friend's baby shower in a few weeks time. Need to keep busier though.
We went for a meal for Harare Restaurant Week at the Spice Lounge. It was the same day as Diwali celebrations. We ordered an assortment of curries and masalas and shared them.
The flamboyants are all out and the avenues in Milton Park are a sight to behold. Is a different colour to the reds of autumn in the north. Am actually missing the rain and cooler temperatures of England.
Down to my last day and a bit in England. Got back this evening from a day with cousins in Reading. Met my cousin Julia's three year old Alex and then month old Sophie which was special and it was lovely to see them all again. Last time I saw most of them was at Julia's wedding 7 years ago but I have seen Julia and George in Rome since then before they had children.
After returning from York I went to London the following day from Oxford to meet up with my sister Beth and her boyfriend Andrew. Had only otherwise met Andrew briefly when I first arrived so it was nice to get to know him a bit more. We explored the perimeter of Kew Gardens and enjoyed all the autumnal trees as well as the hot houses. We nearly had our lunch taken by the Canadian geese. We then caught the underground to Trafalgar Square and the British Art Gallery where we went round the Impressionists. Was special to see Monet, van Gough's sunflowers and Renoir in particular. Thanks for the recommendation Heather! Was amazing that it was free entry. We then walked to Covent Garden and Beth treated me to Romeo and Juliet by the Royal Ballet at the Royal Opera House. We were right up in the auditorium - more stairs. The costumes were all in rich autumn colours and I loved the full orchestra playing Prokofiev - I do enjoy that music.
Managed to catch the underground in time but the bus was really late. On getting on it turned out the driver was Zimbabwean and I thought typical but it actually wasn't his fault - there seemed to be a big accident on the motorway which had us sit for two hours. Meant I only got home at 2.30 in the morning and I had to then be up at 6.30 to get to the bus for the Forest of Dean to see my friend Alix and her parents. Although the trip to Gloucester should only take an hour I had to go via Leamington Spa on the way and then Bristol on the way back. Was a little worried getting off the bus in Leamington Spa that I was at a different bus stop to the one I needed to be at next but luckily it was the same. It was super to see Alix and her Mum and Dad. Went for a walk with Alix along the Wye River and we went to Ross-on-Wye on the way to Gloucester the next day.
Back in Oxford I went with Sarah who I'm staying with to the Botanical Gardens, met up with my friends Bronwyn, Lauren and Jaimie who are studying at the university and went to an exhibition at the Ashmolean Museum of Titian and some of his contemporaries. Lots of detailed studies in ink, chalk and charcoal and then an interpretive piece by a modern artist following their style. We also found the Egyptian artefact section with some amazing mummies and other things. Will have to try go to the Pitt Rivers Museum next time. Have had it recommended. Went to the movie Suffragette at the Odeon which was good. Had remembered that Switzerland only gave women the vote in the 1970s.
Well the next time you hear from me will probably be from back in Zim electricity supply permitting. It might be a bit of a reverse cultural shock returning. Am looking forward to seeing my dogs and to thunderstorms (and my Mum and friends). Will see if I may save up to come teach scientific English next summer. Will in the meantime look into maybe working with the Cecil the lion research group in Zim. On the bus to Headington tonight chatted to a lady who is a lecturer at Oxford in law and ethics. She was suggesting I look at work done in California on wetlands.
Well since last I wrote I have visited Nottingham and tonight is my last night in York. Travelled up to Nottingham from King's Lynn on Saturday and it was lovely to see my school friend Heather Toovey again. We walked from the bus station and stopped for tea near the city centre. We then went to a pub for dinner with Heather's boyfriend Tom. Heather whipped up all sorts of yummy things for a braai on Sunday at her parents' and my friend Delfina and her boyfriend George drove up from Milton Keynes. I haven't seen Heather since 2008 and her folks since they left Zimbabwe in 2009. We watched some of the Rugby World Cup and I learnt a bit more from George and Delfina on the intricacies of the game. Really was great to see them all.
Nottingham
Nottingham
On Monday morning I walked around the centre of Nottingham for a bit and had a cappuccino at Costas before heading north via Leeds to York. My phone map app didn't work but got a hard copy map from the train station and made my way to a friend of Jessie's who I was to stay with who had the key for Jessie's flat. Jessie is a doctor and was on a shift outside of York but had arranged for her friend to give me her flat key. I left my bags in Jessie's flat and then went exploring. Went along the Shambles and wound my way to York Minster and then to the York Art Gallery and Petergate. Caught up with Jessie when she got home and we planned the next day's trip. We hired a car (a hybrid electric/normal car) and went to the North Yorkshire Moors. We used the sat nav but got as far as Osmotherly. We thought that was the car park we were looking for but then got directions to go back and further on. We found where we were looking for and hiked up along the Cleveland Route. Had great views out to the dales. It was a little uphill and Jessie was very forbearing as she is a lot fitter than I am. When we reached the summit of the hill we were climbing we had a picnic looking out across the heather and countryside. We even had some sunshine. On the way back we got a little disorientated but Jessie steered us back and we found the car park. Along the way we saw three runaway sheep and a dead one.
York
Osmotherley
North Yorkshire Moors
Back in York we went for dinner with Jessie's friends as it was her birthday. The friend hosting lives in a National Trust Tudor house not far from Jessie and we had a scrumptious roast lamb. Today it turned out to be sunny too despite predictions of rain. On our way to York Minster I turned the corner and bumped into Miranda Prendergast and her little boy. Miranda and I were at school together. Such a small world and what are the chances. Didn't know Miranda had just moved to York.
Jessie and I then went round the inside of York Minster and climbed up the tower - again Jessie was very patient with my less fit self. The last few stairs were quite torturous and seemed to go on for ever - they weren't kidding when they said you might feel claustrophobic and I felt the 276 steps. Under the church they had the original foundations and history of the Romans and Vikings. My history is a little out I thought the Vikings were before the Romans - my bad.
York Minster
York Minster
This afternoon we went to St Mary's Abbey ruins in the Museum Gardens and then wandered down Davygate past Bettys Cafe and Tea Rooms chocolate shop. We then walked along the River Ouse and saw lots of autumnal trees.
