I struggle with what to write in this blog this time around...technology is not so easy to come by, which is my excuse for not writing more often, but so much happens that is just not understood that I find it difficult to explain!
Rainy season here is dragging on, but I have already seen the difference and this morning the sun is shining! It’s getting hotter every day, and soon, the rain will stop, and not start again until April. Right now, there is mould everywhere and everything goes bad fast, but soon, it’ll be bone dry! The heat is more than tolerable, but air conditioners are everywhere...the problem is that they mostly don’t work, and that we only have power for a few hours each day! We have a generator on the compound and one at school, so I don’t notice it much, but the generator broke this morning and so I can’t boil water for coffee...so today I’m noticing!
The other excitement...well, the power company went on strike for 2 and a half days, which meant no water and no power unless you live on a compound like mine and have a borehole and a generator! At school though, there was no running water! It all seems rather normal now!
Yesterday there was an election, and so a state-wide curfew was imposed and we couldn’t leave the house until 5pm! Between that, the rains and the fact that there’s not much to do here, I spend a lot of time laying in bed, dozing until 2pm!!! It’s a slower way of life, and though it may sound like we are lacking for a lot, I don’t miss much (except coffee!). I have a lot of friends, and I’m out every night. School is busy and the kids are wild! I’m getting to know the whose who of Calabar! I like it!
Today I am learning to use the washing machine! Because the power goes out so often, we have an old school washer that gets the job done, but is a lot of work on my part! The power is back on, so I can get a bit done and have a coffee. Then I’ll get some planning done for this week and we go to the pool on Sunday afternoons, so I’ll get my fix of swim and sun, maybe a hike before that...it’s all good!
If you are trying to reach me, facebook rarely works here, so email me....if you email me, I’ll email back! Peace!
Do you have isopropyl or rubbing alcohol (the kind that burns) readily available? You could get a small camp stove and boil your water for coffee that way! Alcohol is usually readily available and it is cheap. It doesn't burn as hotly as propane but it is very low tech and easy to handle - it won't explode. And even when it's on fire, if you knock it over, the rush of liquid usually puts out the flame. My husband uses a tiny alcohol stove that he made himself out of a pop can and some fibreglass insulation! But I know you can buy them - you might get someone to ship it.
ReplyDeleteGo to the MEC dot ca and look for the Trangia mini stove. It is only $30 but I suppose it will cost to ship. But it is small and light, if you can get alcohol locally, it would be just the cat's meow!