It seems strange to be sat here writing what will be (after lunch tomorrow) our final blog post from St Francis'. I say final but you will find a set of photos appear over the coming 8 days or so [depending how much electricity and patience I had after this]. I can remember very vividly writing the first blog post sat on a chair in our room in Lusaka on the first night. I was pleased that we'd mastered the internet so quickly because I thought it would come in handy for sanity preservation - and so it proved.
Today has been a sad day as both Geoff and I have been around the hospital trying to say goodbye to people. Inevitably some people haven't been around so some goodbyes have gone unspoken. We've both been touched by the genuine expressions of sadness and regret that we are leaving so soon. I've even mastered a diplomatic answer to the question 'When are you coming back?'. I haven't yet worked out the best reply to the men in Accounts who told me that if I couldn't stay in Africa forever because I'm too pale then they would happily find Geoff a black wife :)
On Sunday morning we will jump into the back of Will's car and the 4 of us will turn left at the end of the drive and onto a new adventure in Malawi for a week. They have luckily picked the week that includes our 11th anniversary (yes, he has really put up with me for that long) and Valentine's Day so it's going to be a nice romantic jaunt...
Our first stop will be Dedza, which is now well known for its pottery, but is of particular interest to me because it's where my Dad spent 9 months teaching in 1967. I'm going to see if it's changed. We've already noticed that the main road has moved so it might take a little investigating to find his old house (assuming it's still standing).
From there it's some pampering and relaxing in the tea plantations near Blantyre then the compulsory Lake Malawi stop - we already have the Praziquantel needed to make swimming safe!
We are both looking forward to getting back to Blighty, even if we omitted to pack coats in our haste in August. It will be interesting to see how we re-adjust and whether the changes that have undoubtedly happened to us out here will stay or whether we return to our old selves when we get back into a routine.
There is one thing I'm sure of though - I'm not going to take electricity and water for granted again. And as for my washing machine... I'm sure you're all bored of hearing about that!
So we'll see you all soon we hope!
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