Saturday 30th
November
I don't tend to make a big thing of my birthday, but this year seems
a bit different – more of that later!!
Yesterday I knew that a couple of people were due to call around.
I had arranged to see Hennah and her mother Euphrasia. I have kept in
touch with them for a number of years and wanted to know how they
were getting on. Water is a big problem this year – this morning I
saw three women carrying 20 litre buckets of water along the road and
in the other direction and at the same time, a guy was rolling a drum
of water – perhaps 200 litres along the road.
In Euphrasia's area they had no water taps, so some of the people
came together to pay for a line to be brought from the water main.
People are now able to obtain taps at their houses for a more
reasonable cost. Hennah has passed some nursing assistant
qualifications, but has yet to receive her papers. In both instances
they are things we take for granted. Not only a tap in our yard, but
throughout the house! The idea that somehow after passing your exams
– you still have no official confirmation six months later is
outside our experience.
Luke and Diven arrived together! Luke was on time and had travelled
from Chikuni to see me, so we chatted under the veranda and in the
garden, while Diven waited inside. Chikuni is a small town in a rural
area. The town is built around some Jesuit communities. There is a
Jesuit School and hospital. If life is difficult in town, in the
rural areas, where people are reliant on growing their own food to
survive, it is much worse. Luke told me that some people have nothing
and have to live on wild fruits, leaves and roots in order to
survive. We had some discussion about churches building huge
expensive structures and buying expensive vehicles, while people have
nothing to eat. It seems to me that there are some who have lost
their way – others of course are totally committed to relieving the
plight of the poorest people and the churches are also in the
forefront of providing support.
Power came on so I got busy cooking while chatting to Diven. We still
haven't an answer to his business challenges!
Jennipher was delayed and missed supper!! We decided to postpone our
joint birthday party as there were other events taking place.
Dilys had been in touch during the day to discuss planting trees on
my birthday. For those not aware it appears that there is an attempt
to get 1 million of my UK friends to plant trees to celebrate my 70th
Birthday. At least I think that is what I read!!
My granddaughter Amy had obtained permission to plant an oak tree in
Cheltenham – I believe they even identified a good central position
for the planting. The only problem was she hadn't obtained an oak
tree! Dilys rang around to try to locate one, but at such short
notice she had no luck. I put a brief message on Facebook in a final
attempt to locate a tree just before midnight (Zambian Time –
GMT+2)
This morning, despite a late night, I arose at about 6.15 and headed
for 7 am mass at the cathedral. Unfortunately they seem to have
changed mass on Saturday to start at 6.30 to match the weekday mass
time. I would have been early for the 7 am mass, so at least I was
present for the main sections and didn't miss mass completely.
Yesterday the ATM was not dispensing cash and I had little faith that
it had been filled. However, to my relief the money was flowing once
again.
I was going to relax and do a little bird watching, but Raymond was
determined to come and visit! He brought me a birthday card and a big
bag of mangoes picked fresh from the tree. He stayed an hour or so
and we spotted a few birds between us. In fact, like most people
Raymond is much better at bird spotting than me! We saw a blue
waxwing – small birds that make me think of cartoon creatures. They
look as if they have sat in a pot of blue paint! We also saw a pigeon
– possibly a laughing dove.
Ireen promised to have a shirt ready for my birthday and I was to
collect it at 10 hrs. I called around at her shop around 12.30 to see
her busy with a number of sections of my shirt!! It was a long way
off being ready to wear!! She said she would ring me Monday or
Tuesday when all three will be complete!! We shall see !!!
I had built in a little slack, but now I was ahead of schedule. I
decided to check out the Southern Comfort Motel. Originally I was
going to celebrate Jennipher's birthday of 24th November
with mine today. When I was told the children were gathering at Our
Lady's church at 14hrs. I wondered whether we could meet at Comfort
Lodge as it is known. In the end it was decided to rearrange for
another day. Anyway I had an excuse to call in and see whether it
would be a possibility for next week. Then I thought of a cup of tea
and my mind was made up.
I needed to see Diven briefly, so I arranged for him to meet me at
“Comfort Lodge”.
When I arrived I asked whether there was any chance of a cup of tea.
The manager (and it seemed, the cook and waiter as well!) Seemed very
doubtful that tea could be provided – power was off! After a few
moments hesitation he told me to make myself comfortable and he would
try to conjure up some tea!
It took twenty minutes or so, but a pot of tea arrived, together with
an egg sandwich, some coleslaw and tomato – not that I remember
ordering the extras!! I was very grateful and decided that I should
enjoy my birthday treat – even if I was now running late for my
meeting with the children – due at 14 hrs.
Diven didn't appear and I was reminded of my last day in Monze in
May.
Diven wanted to say goodbye and would meet me at Roadhouse – the
bus stop. I rang him and yes he was there! I arrived complete with
shirts, quickly bought tickets, but couldn't see Diven! I rang again
and he admitted he was in a taxi very close – a couple of minutes
passed and the bus was about to leave! I left with Diven chasing
behind!!!
On this occasion Diven caught up with me at Our Lady of the Wayside
church.
The children were gathering – more than a hundred in total. At
about 15 hrs they were ready. They started with a prayer and then
launched into “Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday Chris, How old
are you?”.
The children present are from families suffering the most from food
shortages. Their families will have received some extra food from the
funds sent by my church in Cheltenham. A small amount was also raised
by the children back in the UK and it was thought appropriate to do
something for the children here with that money. When I was told the
day chosen, I admitted that it was my birthday and hence Fr. Wilson
hatched this plan. Fortunately I have never experience real hunger,
but I imagine that it saps your strength and can lead to a sense of
helplessness. I am sure that it is easy to lose any hope.
Meeting with others can help – an excuse for a bit of singing and
dancing in itself can raise the spirits. The children are of primary
school age. Though there are no school fees for primary schools the
children are expected to meet certain standards. They need to obtain
their own notebooks and pencils. They are not expected to go to
school dirty or with unwashed uniforms. At the moment the families
cannot manage to feed the children properly - there is no spare money
for books or even soap!
Each of these children received a notebook, pencil, bar of soap
and/or some washing paste.
Its hard to understand that these small gifts could mean the
difference between continuing in school or being sent home facing
more stigma and humiliation.
After watching the distribution of goods, the huge birthday cake,
with which I was presented was cut and distributed.
Fr. Wilson took me then to see a building which will be let to
students at a nearby college. The idea is to buy this property for
the parish and generate some income. Income from some of the rooms
will be earmarked to support elderly and vulnerable parishioners.
Fr Wilson dropped me back home where I made a quick cup of tea to
make use of some electricity. I rang Raymond and Diven. Raymond had
informed me that “Debonnaires PIZZA” had opened on my birthday
and he liked PIZZA!! Diven and Raymond both being friends I met on my
first visit in 2003, I thought it appropriate for the three of us to
celebrate my birthday with a PIZZA!
In the event – as this was the first PIZZA restaurant in Monze and
its opening day – the place was packed, with a queue coming out of
the door! and there was nowhere to sit. I suggested that we retreat
to Food Royal close by and perhaps have a PIZZA another day! So
that's what we did – eating more traditional fare!
My birthday concluded with a walk down a semi-dark road to my house.
I enjoyed reflecting on the day and looking at an upturned moon
which, like the Cheshire Cat, was just left with a smile!!
I did pop over to the staff room when the power returned just after
10 pm. Dilys had already rung to confirm that an oak was planted in
my honour, together with other trees.
For a long time I have wanted to grow an oak. The oak is a very
special English tree. It is big and strong, full of character with
branches that go in all directions and show all the cracks and
creases that come with age. It is loved by a huge variety of insects
and birds - it grows large and can live to a great age. I have had a
couple of issues when trying to grow an oak – one was that even
when I found some acorns, I could never get them to germinate. The
second was, if I had succeeded, where would I plant it? Oaks are not
really suitable garden trees unless you have a huge plot!
My appeal on Facebook for a tree was successful. My friend Brenda had
a self sown sapling in her garden - probably from a tree she grew
from an acorn, found I believe at Prinknash. Dilys planted it along
with my daughters and grandchildren.
I am very pleased that I now have a very special oak tree – made
even more special because of the links with friends, family and
Prinknash - somewhere which has had a special place in my life. I
hope it thrives and outlives me by at least a couple of hundred
years!!
I couldn't think of a better birthday present.
Best Wishes,
Chris
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