Replacement

Work travels begin again today, as I’m going to southern Tanzania for two weeks. I’ve been in the same location for around five weeks, which feels unprecedented in recent times.

As we set off from Dar es Salaam, our driver Pastory reminded me he had had a new baby with the woman, an ex-girlfriend, who stayed with him and nursed him after the terrible accident last year that killed his then wife. He smiled that the ex was ‘the replacement for the one who died’. I am very happy that he’s bounced back from injury, bereavement and all sorts of issues with police and legal proceedings, and is celebrating a new kid. Sometimes the language used in such situations comes across as very stark, but is only a different way of expressing.

Somewhere near Kilwa we stopped for food. Ace of Base (All That She Wants) was blasting out of an extremely loud sound system. May this song always remain on the list of all time classics.