In Which Good Things Come To Those Who....Read?
on Zoe Page (Sierra Leone), 20/Oct/2010 20:35, 34 days ago
The sole benefit of being all alone in Kenema with no hint of a job: reading time. Books I have enjoyed since coming out:• Mini Shopaholic• The Perfect Lie• House Rules• Pictures of Lily• Friends, Lovers and Other Indiscretions• This Charming Man• Dead Aid• How To Persuade and InfluenceI am now well equipped to tame a toddler, flee to Venice, defend an Asperger’s teen, choose correctly whom to marry, prove my husband is not cheating on me, prove he is, doubt the point of me being here and, most brilliantly of all, convince people to do things by making them think it was their idea. That one seems to be a bit culture specific though, unless I didn’t read the tips properly. They’re not doing me much good here.Next on my Amazon wishlist (if Amazon deigned to deliver here):Geckos and their Eviction. There is one in my bedroom. It doesn’t want to leave and quite frankly I’m not sure how it would seeing as I haven’t a clue how it got in.I get up, make porridge, look with concern as the bananas disintegrate before my eyes. Literally, one falls off the bunch and peels itself a little. All very odd. Do some washing, mop my bedroom and ensuite’s floors, listen toHealth Check. Not heard anything more from Theresa, Koi or Maryline. Which way to walk up Hangha Road? Choices, choices. Opt for the hospital. Can at least take some photos of the hilarious posters if nothing else.Get to the hospital. IRC are here but not Maryline or Tamba Sam. They are delivering supplies: drugs and mattresses from the look of it. Parked right in front of the posters. blocking shot. Poo. Walk round to UFC. M&E office full of people. None look like Koi but...I’m awful with faces especially when there’s no skin tone / hair colour variations to help out. Take a stab and ask where he is (will be tres embarrassing if he is in there). Phew. He’s not. Is in Bo with Dr S. So...useful (not) Random men in office assure me letter has been sent. Promise and double promise so.Ring Theresa. She is‘up country’ but hasn’t heard back from the CMO who was supposed to be chasing the DMO. Text Maryline. Still no letter from anyone. Why am I not surprised?Walk to market. Buy tomatoes– little cherry ones, already in a bag. All 2000 Le. Look at a few. Pretend I know what I’m doing. Buy the one nearest to me. Walk to Choitram’s. Buy curry in a packet. Same price as buying ingredients separately. Much less hassle. Proper authentic Made In India too.Walk home. Spot ice cream machine on way. 1000 Le for a small whippy vanilla in cute plastic cup. Is hot out and, for now, electricity is on. Will take a chance. Will be home with access to only acceptable toilets in town for rest of the day anyway.Theresa rings. Is delayed. Will be in Kenema‘early tomorrow, by 9am’. Not that early really, but ok. Lie on bed watching download TV. Big bangs from ‘parlour’ as storm brews. Wind whistling through house. Lovely and refreshing.Cook curry. V. v. hot. Beads of sweat start running off forehead. Pants. Another way to confuse symptoms of Malaria with everyday life.