La Bella

It's a grey late afternoon with nattering birds in the palm trees; from the terrace you can hear the grey waves at the lake, the fisherman singing as they go out for the night, and the rapid splosh of their oars (surprisingly fast). Behind the blue mountains of Minova where all bad things happen, merge tranquilly into the petrol sky.

It's very strange that in 3 weeks we'll be in Europe, and after 9 years, here, won't (under current plans) be back. The biggest feeling is relief. No more Goma airport, no more Kinshasa hotels, no more summoning up the energy to ask people inane questions about their awful lives, no more fighting with recruitments and finance.

Nena arrives on a jolly to picking up Mutzig the cat and take her to Chad. It's lovely to see her and she's living evidence of live after Congo. Though whatever her enthusiasm, straight to Chad doesn't appeal.