A Zimbabwe day

Today, we have had a day that you can only have in Zimbabwe.  

We had a number of errands to run in town, including trying to find a new car for my mother in law (the one she is currently driving has done over 500k kilometres, and the brakes are starting to go.  She excuses this by saying she only drives slowly..... it's time for a new car).  So, we have said we will find her one, this meant hours going from one dealer to another - dealers being a bit different out here, no looking at the internet to see what they have, or being able to select what you want, it's turn up and see.  Most are at least 10 years old (we're hoping to get one that is 10 years old), dealers will tell you they have what you want, just not on the forecourt....  Eventually, we found one, but it's a 2003, so we have our friends at the garage on the case trying to find one for us at the border that we can bring in.  It's complicated. 

Our morning coffee stop was made more interesting by the arrival of riot police at the office across the road - they didn't look too enthusiastic about the whole thing and we have no idea what was going on. We were also entertained at lunch by three ladies who certainly lunch, complaining loudly about not being able to smoke when at the hairdressers and similar difficulties with life.  It was interesting listening. 

Our final errand was to collect some salt-licks for the cattle from the stock feed company.  When we arrived we were told that the car wheels had to be sprayed against Anthrax and Foot & Mouth (which is very common here).  As Dirk sorted out collecting the feed (having also had to stand in a disinfectant), I watched a lorry being loaded with feed, the bags weigh 50kg each and were being loaded on the lorry quickly and easily.  I think there are many men who frequent the gym I used to go to who would struggle with a work out these guys were having. 

Home to our little boy who stayed with his grand mother all day, both seemed quite happy when we got home, although I think they were both pretty exhausted and glad to see us.