Visit from Amanda

Last weekend was a pleasure. Amanda came on a visit from Ntcheu, and it was great to have another woman about the place! Since Sharon and Philip went back to the US Lindy and I have been the only women at Mitsidi and lovely as she is, the balance is not quite right! Last Saturday evening however with Amanda visiting me and Jennifer visiting Lindy there were four of us for a little while and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience!

On Friday after work Malcolm and I went to pick Amanda up from Blantyre and brought her back to Mitsidi for supper. Several of us ended up in the Liquor Garden later in the evening. We were joined by Talimba and several other local friends and acquaintances and ended up dancing, after about the third Green. Charles the Magistrate (the tallest man in Chilomoni!) was pleased to see us and spent a long time chatting. He always asks me how Jack is getting along and this time asked to be remembered to him and bought me yet another Green which I managed to slip into my handbag when he wasn't looking as I really couldn't manage another just then! Why is it that bottles of drink in my handbag seem to figure in the blog when I go out with Amanda? I can't think!

On Saturday we had a pleasant, low key sort of a day beginning with a leisurely breakfast and moving through morning coffee at African Habitat, and a little light shopping, to a trip for me and Amanda to the azungu hairdresser where we enjoyed having our hair washed and heads massaged before having our hair cut by the very efficient Joyce from Zimbabwe. She seems to average about 15 minutes for a cut and blow dry, which is faster than anyone else I know, but she does a good job. We both came out feeling pampered and beautiful!! Then it was back to Mitsidi for a bit of lunch, lots of talking, a swim, dinner and a film. Lovely!

On Sunday we went for an expedition to Mua Mission which had been thoroughly recommended by Sharon. We got up early, planning to be on the road by seven, but were thwarted by the key to the land rover breaking in the ignition! Giacomo was forced to knock on the door of poor Derrick who emerged looking tousled and pulling a T-shirt over his head, but he lived up to his reputation of being able to fix anything and before 8.30 we were on our way. Giacomo drove all the way and we did not break the journey arriving shortly after eleven. It was a beautiful day; the sun was shining from a clear blue sky. The mountains were as beautiful as ever. It has not rained for about three weeks now so I think we can safely say that the rainy season is over. Already the landscape is changing colour. There is still a lot of green about, but it is not as lush as it was and there is just a tinge of red to the landscape already. Even the air seems a bit redder, probably because there is dust rising from the road as you drive along again. It has not taken many dry days for a layer of fine powdered soil about an inch deep to cover the roads. Wheels send it into the air in great clouds and even feet kick it up to knee height. White trousers are definitely not a good idea! The country roads seem to be lined with bushes covered in what look like sunflowers, about three or four inches across. Two weeks ago the bushes were green, then one or two flowers appeared and now there are loads of them adding glowing patches of gold to roadside and mountain. We enjoyed Mua, although Sunday is probably not the best day to go as not everything was open. There are galleries and a shop with art and craft items to view and buy, mostly carvings. The gardens are beautiful and the buildings attractive. There is an amphitheatre with a gorgeous curved iron canopy overlaid with matting that filters the sunlight. Giacomo took loads of photos, I suppose he took a professional interest in its design. We ate our picnic in its shelter where it was peaceful. We could hear a fast running stream behind us and we enjoyed flowers, butterflies and birds in the gardens. We went in search of coffee, but to no avail so we set off on the road over the escarpment and went to Dedza pottery for tea and cheese cake. The road through the mountains was beautiful and we got out a couple of times to admire the views. We all took a turn at the long drive home via Ntcheu where we dropped Amanda off. I hope she comes gain soon. Having her there changed the dynamic of our little group and everyone enjoyed having her with us.