Stormy weather

It has been an interesting half week back with lots happening and not happening.

Our newly recruited and fantastic ARV counsellor did not turn up for work on day one and gave Sal a weak excuse when called. So she can beat it and I am trying to contact the number 3 choice to give her a go. I had the best gut feel about number 3, despite her having slightly weaker English, so let's see if I was right. Only problem is that I am not getting through on her phone.

School is out so that is one less thing to think about for now. Thandeka, the teacher, has had her roof pretty much blow off in some horrendous winds. She called me to see if the Foundation can help. I am going to speak to her today, but I think this could be a mine field. My instant reaction is to help fix it with funding, but I have a nagging feeling that that is not the answer. I have thought about an advance on her pay, but that could lead to a lot of requests for advances on pay from all our employees. What I can do is give budgeting advice to try to get her managing her finances better. We shall see.

I am learning constantly about the dynamics of charity and development work. I suspect I will write more about that later. At the moment I am quietly content that this job is so difficult and that I think I can get it right with time and help from others. It is all about relationships.

Kim had an awful night on call last night, only returning for about 2 and a half hours of the night between doing a caesarian and stitching up some dudes hand and other things. Today is is second on call so hopefully will be free and then tomorrow she is back first on call. She is sleeping next door with a face that has slept so deeply on the pillow that it has nearly folded itself in half. I watched In The Thick Of It whilst she healed the sick and laughed my ass off (big thank you to Tom and Sara for that pressie). I had watched the movie In The Loop on the plane and the series is as good if not better. Lots of excellently creative swearing which always pleases me. And the Scots run the show, just like real UK government.

So it is Saturday and I am not sure what we'll do today. It pissed it down all last night, which must have been very helpful for Thandeka and her bust roof. And today is grey and threatening. The Sprinboks get the chance to put the nail in the coffin of the Lions this afternoon. The series is over and we lost, but I suspect it will be a hard contested game anyway. That is if we have any uninjured players left.