Take a look at these

30 07 2008

I think the last time I updated you in regards to zim cash was to show you the 25 billion note, well I have some more to show you now …  I know I metioned (but could not get my hands on) the 50b note (shown below) but now that is small change and we now have the 100,000,000,000 note … yes that is right, we now have a 100 billion dollar note.



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Have you ever seen one of these?

25 07 2008

The other day when I was walking around the grounds with Chris (our head groundsman) I finally asked about the satellite dish that is sitting next to the main house and his response was one of HUGE laughter.  He proceeded to tell me that it was not a satellite dish for TV, but instead it was a solar cooker … how cool is this?

 

What you do is position the MASSIVE solar dish in the direction of the sun in the morning with your food dish (stew, roast etc…) on the rack and through out the day you reposition the solar panels so they are getting the full beams from the sun.  Then by the end of the day you should have a perfectly cooked dish without using any ZESA (power / electricity).


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I just have to tell you this

22 07 2008

OK … let’s begin.  At the moment people are finding it a little difficult to find adequate amounts of cash to purchase everyday items.  The banks are helping provide everyone with their cash by limiting daily withdrawals to 100,000,000,000 (100 billion dollars) per day.  I hear you say … “WOW, 100 billion dollars a day; that is a lot of cash”.  Unfortunately this is not so true, as a 300 ml bottle of coke is now costing about $150 billion.  If a coke costs that much it means that everything else is a whole lot more expensive … hmmm … as a Zimbabwean always says “ahh boz … we wil mairk a plun”


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After the Aussies left …

22 07 2008

Not long after our Australian team left (actually two days later) we had more people (from Australia) come and stay with us.  It was FANTASTIC to have Graham, Joy and their daughter Riana come and join us in Hotel Muller after giving Father Charles a heap of support out at his rural hospital.  Graham and Joy actually come out last year with another team from Australia and they felt so moved by what is happening over here they just had to come again … they say they won’t be back again for another couple of years; but I reckon (much like malaria) once you get it (Africa) in your system you can never get it out.  We look forward to seeing you again next year Graham and Joy J


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Antelope Park

15 07 2008



A trip to Zimbabwe is not complete without going to Antelope Park for the day or night … so being the GREAT tour guides that we are we ventured out to Antelope Park for a night.  These guys had an absolute ball; even the trip up for them was exciting as they got to do something that is not allowed in the land of Aus … ride in the back of the bakkie.

 

I think that these guys got to experience the true Zimbabwe on this trip … not only did they get to see lions, elephants, zebra and giraffes, but they also got to experience a breakdown in the middle of nowhere.  Yes, that is right on the way back to Bulawayo (about 80klms away) the front wheel bearing got too loose and we had to pull over and wait about 2 hours for a truck to come and collect the car.  You can’t say you have visited Zimbabwe unless something unplanned happens.


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More that just building

15 07 2008

Having the SPCC team at Willow Park was such a HUGE help; not only did they help train the guys how to build they also got involved in a whole range of other duties.  A group helped re-furbish the volleyball court; they cleaned the chook (chicken) pens as well as help repaint the glass hall … what absolute legends.  One lone sole also fixed our ovens and hot water geezers as well as a lot of other electrical stuff that needed altering / fixing.  Thanks Team!!!!




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Out at Willow Park

15 07 2008

The main aim for the trip to Zimbabwe was for the South Pine team to help in the re-building of the dining hall at Willow Park.  They have done an absolutely fantastic job getting stuck into the plastering of the inside of the building and helping train the Mawabeni guys on how to fit windows.  Two of the carpenters told me that when they were training the guys in fitting the window, the Mawabeni men had never seen a power drill before and it startled them at first, but low and behold they were excited to use it and became quite skilled in the art of power drilling.  The building is finally beginning to take shape … it will be great when all of it is finally complete.








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Occupational Heath and Safety … is it really needed

8 07 2008

One of the interesting things here in Zim is the lack of Occupational Heath Safety on the worksite.  It always humours me to see the ways in which things are done without the stringent guidelines back in Brisbane.  I remember last year when one of the dorms was being re-thatched; the thatchers put their scaffolding on a bucket and a couple of bricks so they could get it a little higher and more even.  This year, when the roof structure was being put on the dining hall, a young man was up about 3 m’s and walked out onto an wooden plank only being held by another man on the scaffolding … life is Zim … you gotta love it.




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Just the other Sunday

6 07 2008

Jodi and I flew up to Victoria Falls last week to welcome our team to Zimbabwe.  We had an awesome time exploring the Victoria Falls township taking in the local sights and sounds.  These guys had a great time on a sunset cruise along the Zambezi as well as getting totally drenched after exploring the Victoria Falls. 

 

An interesting story we heard whilst at the backpacker’s lodge where we were staying was about a girl from western Europe.  This young lady has travel down from Cairo through northern and central Africa to Zimbabwe and is making her way down to Cape Town in South Africa on an old tractor … how bizarre???

 





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I am so proud

2 07 2008

I have some absolutely FANTASTIC news I just could not wait to tell you all.  Are you ready?  Our chickens have finally started to lay … yes that is right.  After 20 weeks of feeding the little ones from day old we get to see the fruits of the labour.  Not all of them are laying yet, but we are starting to see more and more eggs each day … I am so proud of my little chicks.




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