We are both getting into a nice routine. Mine perhaps slightly more comfortable than Geoff's because I'm still identifying projects and meeting new people. I have now read the majority of the papers I need to on Cost Effectiveness Analysis (and am in touch with our UK contact) but still have time to find myself reading my book occasionally.
I haven't yet explained who Nat and Will are and, as we have two new doctors this week, I think it's a good time. Nat is a GP trainee who is out here for a year - her husband Will is a professional wildlife photographer. He used to be an auditor for a company called PwC, who knew. Whilst Nat is attempting to save lives, Will has mostly been sorting his 12,000 photos of Ethiopian Wolves, or so he claims. Between times he's also managed to kidnap a chameleon to be his pet, photograph said chameleon and eat most of the muffins that Nat baked today.
Tomorrow he and I have a project. Separately we'd been thinking that what we really needed was a bucket shower. That way we are in control of the temperature and flow of water at all times. Sometimes the old methods are the best. Nat was pleased when she discovered I'd thought the same 'So we might get one soon? Because you are a do'er'. Sure enough the do'er has found the workshop foreman, got approval that they can make the things and found out where to find the stuff. Now all Will has to do is drive us to the shops... I think he got the easy part :) That said, neither of us has quite worked out how we'll rig up the frame we need to hang the thing off - one thing at a time, right?
The new doctors are Fiona and Rory. Both medics but Fiona has done ST2 and Rory F2. They are here for 6 months and will be doing the medical stuff (as opposed to surgical or obs and gynae). I managed to sneak on their tour of the hospital today so I've got a better grasp of where everything is. I'm summoning up the courage to be taken to the delivery ward and watch a delivery..... perhaps in a month. Apparently it's silent because the midwives don't let them make noise and there's no analgesia... but more of that when I've seen it.
Slightly confused this afternoon to find a little boy using my outside tap to fill about 100 bottles a) because I'm pretty sure that's theft and b) how was he going to carry them? Two hours later, as we left for dinner the answer presented itself - the rest of his family was going to pitch up and join in! I think I might have to intervene if they come back frequently!
This weekend we have planned another trip (aka sneaked ourselves onto Nat and Will's trip - they have the car) to Chipata where there's the supermarket and hotel with nice food. Nat insists that 'we' will actually go swimming this time because the weather has got much warmer. I'm not so sure about the increase in temperature! Although I did nearly get burnt today as I stood nattering / finding out all the politics with a volunteer on the building side - didn't quite have the courage to ask to relocate our conversation to the shade...
Next week there are 2 new doctors coming and 2 large groups of people. I am watching with interest how they might be accommodated. The 'new' houses I was shown at the weekend (due to be finished Monday) are exactly as they were and, according to John, exactly as they have been since last year...
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