2014 nearly over

Another year almost done. I'm not particularly fond of the traditional pastime of ruminating on the past year's events, nor am I partial to making resolutions for the year ahead so I'll just say 'bye 2014, thanks for having me!' and 'welcome 2015, let's see what we can do together'.

Christmas in the Henderson household was a quiet, sedate affair. I felt like dressing for dinner, John didn't, as this photo shows.
We have no plans for Wednesday night but I guess a toast with something sparkling at midnight will feature followed by a cup of tea and then bed.
Happy new year everyone!

December

Suddenly it's December! How did that happen? I went on holiday to England in November.......that's the last thing I remember and ....oh wait....its coming back to me now! Ah yes...I had a lovely trip, saw my wonderful family and my good friend up north, caught up with the special people at my home church, my other family and my neighbours at home. Even the weather was not too bad I recall. There must have been some shopping involved but maybe I've blanked that out (or maybe just lost the bank statement so DH doesn't see it!) and I dare say something alcoholic and sparkling was in there as well.
However, here I am back in Lusaka and already I have three and a half weeks of memories to share.
For those who haven't heard, Zambia celebrated 50 years of independence in October and it was a very colourful time, lots of people wearing the national colours and flags and bunting everywhere.

Then only a few days later the President passed away plunging the country into a period of mourning. Long queues were to be seem daily outside the building where the late president's body was laid in state. I was in UK when the funeral took place but I gather it was a dignified and peaceful event attended by various regional heads of state.
Mourning was over by the time I returned so events such as the St. Andrew's Night ball went ahead at one of the big hotels and a great time was had by all. I even got to dance with my DH!

My darling husband had moved house while I was away so I came back to a new home not knowing which cupboard my t-shirts or the cooking oil lived in! Visitors arrived the very next day so we explored the new house together really. It felt good to be back.
Now I know the house a bit better, have found a suitable hiding place for DH's presents and even had friends over for coffee and dinner so I feel very comfortable here. The grounds are green and flowery and well looked after and there are lots of birds to entertain me.

 

 Various Christmas activities have been happening these last couple of weeks. I attended a ladies Christmas lunch last week which included a fashion show. Volunteers were asked for to model jewellery and clothes so guess whose hand shot up first! I got to wear some stunning earrings and rings and then a dress designed by a local designer and I got to do the whole strutting around the hall thing!! Loved it! (pictures may follow, haven't seen them yet).
But, inevitably, the annual Christmas migration began and last week I said lots of 'merry christmas' es and 'see you next year' s,  kissed lots of cheeks, got a few hugs and drank lots of coffee. Not too many of the group left the celebrate Christmas in Lusaka, as some those who haven't returned to their home countries will be travelling to a game park or Victoria falls with or without visiting family or friends. So I expect DH and I will spend a peaceful time here in our lovely home with its pretty gardens......well it should be peaceful....as long as he doesn't find where I've hidden the presents!

Few more photos

See, I have some friends......really!

A cute visitor!

The living room in our flat.

Lunch out

Had lunch out with my DH last week at a nice hotel not far from his office. The restaurant was an interesting spot, tables arranged around a pond with two little crocodiles in! Lots of fish too, which was a surprise......anorexic crocs.....or vegetarian crocs maybe??
Also loads of weaver birds with their amazing round nests attached to flimsy branches.

Lunch was nice but I was rather distracted when a member of staff appeared with a bag of bread and proceeded to feed the fish. Don't think bread is good for them I thought, then a moment later.......don't think living in a pond with crocodiles is good for them either! Not veggie crocs after all!!

Photos

Here are a few photos.

Moved!

On Monday we moved out of the hotel into a serviced apartment. It's great to have our own space and I can cook now which I've been looking forward to doing. It's a comfy place with a pool and tiny gym and nice gardens. I sit outside and have breakfast and I can hear birdsong, that always makes me happy. Haven't tried the pool yet, there are a lot of workmen around as other units are in construction so I feel a bit like I'm 'the entertainment'. 

Tuesday was John's birthday so I have arranged a meal out at a nice hotel. It's on the ninth floor, great views, food and wine was good as was the service. The waiters arrived with a piece of birthday cake and sang happy birthday! John was suitably embarrassed! 

We don't have internet yet at the flat but I have found a lovely little cafe/shop in a shopping centre 5 mins walk away where I can get a latte and use the internet. They sell organic veg and other interesting stuff.

I have made a few more contacts and hopefully some or all of them will turn into friends. Having coffee with a lady from Benin this afternoon.

Yesterday I attended a traditional Japanese tea ceremony demonstration! That's a first for me. It was very interesting, colourful, informative and I even got to taste the tea. Then I tried my hand at origami and had my name written out in Japanese calligraphy. This is all part of the Japanese embassy celebrations to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Zambia's independance.

So I'm having fun and getting around, must describe the taxi journeys another time! 

Not fun any more!

Well, things were going along nicely and then today happened! We came back to our hotel room after a pleasant morning out and about to discover that the safe wouldn't open with our code. So I called reception and two gentlemen came with a master key and opened the safe. They suggested we check the contents while they were there and we discovered that all our money had gone. The thief took two envelopes with our dollars and another one with euros in. Passports still there, credits cards ok, even my jewellery box was untouched. We both feel quite sick.
John has had to go to the police station with the security a manager from the hotel but I don't feel confident that we will ever get it back.
On a brighter note, I spent yesterday arranging for a one month lease on an apartment in a nice area. We move in on Monday and I'm really looking forward to having our own space and being able to shop and cook dinner!
Another good thing is that I have made some contacts (future friends I hope), I had lunch with a couple of ladies on Thursday and I'm meeting one of them to attend a Japanese traditional tea ceremony on Wednesday. That will be a new experience for me!
So life goes on despite ups and downs, isn't that always the way? .....

First photo

Photo of the craft market on Sunday. I felt a bit awkward trying to take the photo without causing embarrassment so it's not a great shot, but it might give you an idea of the place.

Week one

We arrived in Lusaka one week ago, so I thought I'd give you a round up of my week.
I visited a couple of shopping malls
I had coffee out with a friend
Had dinner out with my DH
Did some exercise
Ironed my DH's work shirts.............sounds like a normal week so far doesn't it?

The bits in between were far from normal however. Living in a hotel is all very nice, (and it is a nice hotel) but I long for my own space. So what bits were different from my normal week at home?
Having hotel staff greet me by name as I walk into the breakfast room (have I been here that long already?)
Ringing complete strangers and asking if I can join them for a coffee
Crossing a busy road while being accosted by ....well let's call them 'bus conductors'....asking where I want to go. That's rather disconcerting when the traffic is speeding by and I'm waiting for a gap to make my dash across.
Line dancing with a group of women I only just met, slightly embarrassing in a bonding sort of way!
House hunting!!!

I've seen a few houses already but they are so expensive so have also had a few conversations with the DH about budget. A furnished house would be best, too much hassle and expense to by every single thing ourselves. Here there are lots of houses on gated compounds often with a communal pool so that's the sort of thing we are hoping for.

I went to a craft market at the mall across from the hotel on Sunday. It was busy and colourful, so much interesting, hand made stuff, loads of wooden carving, fabric bags, jewellery...loved it. I will try to add a photo later when I remember how to do it!

Anyway, having a break from house hunting today. Think I'll wander over to the mall across the road (run the gauntlet of bus conductors) and get coffee and chill.

So what's new?

Well, first full day in Lusaka! After all the tooing and froing of departure dates, contracts, farewells....we finally left England on Sunday 31st August and arrived at our very pleasant hotel late Monday afternoon.
We always like to be early for everything, it's just the way we are, so we thought we had plenty of time to get to the airport when the taxi came to pick us up at 4.30pm. What was it Burns said about 'the best laid schemes o' mice and men......'? Wonder if he was thinking about buses breaking down in the middle of the fast lane on the M3 and gigantic tail backs? Suffice it to say I was making plans quietly to myself in the back of the taxi about how to organise our overnight stay at Gatwick which would surely be required but eventually we cleared the offending bus and our driver didn't spare the horses so we did make it in time. A medicinal glass of champagne in the Emirates lounge was much appreciated.
Our first flight was on an airbus A380 which has an upstairs!! It was quite a surreal experience leaning on a bar sipping a kir royale and chatting to other passengers at 40,000 feet! Yes really, a cocktail sort of bar with nibbles and little napkins and everything....so cool.
We didn't have much time to wander around in Dubai airport and we were rather tired by then so I missed out on the shopping experience. As our next plane approached Lusaka airport I was feeling a little apprehensive about the arrival/immigration process as I recalled memories of other arrivals at other (mostly African but not exclusively) airports. My inbred desire for the world to form orderly queues and immigration officials to work at the speed of light has often been a cause of ......well, apprehension. It was something of a surprise therefore, when we entered the immigration hall to find no queues, no form filling, no scowling officials, just a friendly 'welcome to Zambia', another stamp in the passport and that was it, we were in! 

The beginning

Just this week my DH (darling husband) finally received his draft contract for a two year project in Lusaka, Zambia. A start date of 1st September has been proposed! So now all the talking turns into action. There is soooooo much to do. I must make lists (love lists), go shopping (love shopping), say goodbye to friends over coffee (hate goodbyes, love having coffee with friends) and find the suitcases in the garage. Oh gosh, this is just the start!