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Update 3 - 23rd July 2005

FUN FROM THE FIELD 2: PERSONAL GLIMPSES
Hey did I tell you that I am doing physical exercises. For those skeptics who thought I would not continue with my efforts to keep fit please note!! On arriving home from work about 5.45pm I turn on the telly and there is this keep fit class. A group of about six to eight folk, male and female clad in up-to-date footwear and the latest sporting apparel being led by either a male or female instructor. The make-up of the classes vary from day to day but for the most part they look disgustingly healthy, lithe and supple. The TV crew usually focus in on the most attractive females!!! Well try and visualise Helen trying to keep up with the group - I now admit I have some co-ordination problems but imagine my delight when I actually keep in time with some of these graceful creatures (not often I might add). Sometimes there is a group of more elderly folk, often overweight who begin to pant after a few exercises- with them I can relate. At the close of the session (takes about fifteen minutes) the TV exercise group all clap while I collapse into my armchair and reach for a whisky, or wine or something but Oh do feel virtuous.

All my life I have had this thing about being surrounded by plants in pots – when I was a child I would never have my photo taken without some pots around me ( I wonder what the psychologists would make of that !!!! ) Imagine my delight when I found that the only ‘greenery’ at my little house is five pink geranium plants in rusty milk tins and they are now flowering. Wonderful. I will also add that there is a hideous huge red flowered plastic plant which was in the salon - now removed to the outside verandah so at least I don’t have to look at it inside.

Found a scorpion on my bedroom floor the other day so I now have to forgo the luxury of wandering around barefoot (which I love) and have bought a pair of plastic thongs.

I am having this continuing battle with my gas stove - how to regulate the flame. It takes finesse. It goes full bore and then as you slowly reduce the flame it usually goes out. I have already used-up three boxes of matches but I am persevering, The other slight complication is that the gas cylinder appears to be leaking - no doubt due to the rather rough handling it got when it was removed from the outside kitchen into an inside room. To prevent being ‘gassed’ I turn the cylinder tap on and off whenever I use the stove. But soon my trusty ‘handyman’ will be arriving to help me out. He goes with the house. The other day I smelt burning and found that the ‘fridge plug was slowly melting in the socket so my trusty man soon arrived, after I contacted the landlord, to fix it for me.

I launched out last weekend and bought an iron - tried putting my trousers under the mattress to remove the creases but it didn’t work and I do have to keep up some appearances!!! So home to try it out. Plugged the cord into the socket and away I went. All went well until I tried to pull out the plug. Out came the whole socket plus wires accompanied by a slight electric shock!!!! Again my trusty handyman came to the rescue and I am now learning to manage plugs and sockets.

Maria, the Australian REST staff member who lives and works in Addis Ababa, was in Mekelle last weekend so we shared some meals together. For the ‘old-timers” - those who have previously worked in Tigray - can you imagine sitting in this up-market restaurant eating pizzas!!!! And about fifteen choices. They were delicious.

Helen dining with Maria from REST and others celebrating in Tigray

It is still raining, nearly every day. This is wonderful for the country. One has to be prepared though. It can be sunny one moment and then pouring down the next. When I go on my shopping excursions into the town, usually at the weekends I wear my op-shop sneakers, old trousers and have my plastic raincoat in my handbag so at the first drop of rain it is out with the raincoat and try and head for some shelter (together with dozens of other people). I often wish I had my rubber boots to negotiate all the mud, puddles and slippery surfaces. But is it so good to have the rain- the life-blood of the people. Rain means planting, harvesting and food.

Until next time. Chow
Helen, 23rd July 2005.