December 21, 2002

Good Morning to all of you.

It is Sunday AM here and hot already. Up at 6am and downtown looking for diesel to top up my nearly empty tank. The good news is that I have a Rotary friend here who has a petrol station and he has filled a 45 gallon drum that I purchased. All I need now is a truck (that runs on gas and is empty) to pick up the drum and get it home so I can start using it. I have about enough diesel for another 40-50 kilometres so a couple trips out to the lodge at Umguza and I am finished also until I can get my drum.

All the streets downtown here are congested with lines, sometimes two deep, that stretch for blocks to stations where there is a rumor they will be receiving fuel. They que up all night in anticipation. A great joke I heard the other day is that imbabweans have the high IQ's in the world. "I Que for fuel, I Que for bread, I Que for mealie meal!!!"

I am really finding prices here atrocious from my last trip. Everything is double to triple what it was 6 months ago. Mr. Mugabe promises to solve the problem, especially the petrol problem, by Christmas but it is now Dec. 22 and no sign of relief.

The lodge is suffering a bit from lack of big crowds due to the lack of fuel and people not being able to get out there. You can not get a taxi because they are dry, Communter buses are running sporadically so some of our staff do not turn up for work. We go shopping for drinks for the lodge and half of what we want is not availablle. No Cokes, or no Ginger Ale, the list goes on and on. But I take it all in stride as we are all in the same boat and everyone understands.

My new vehicle is a Toyota TownACE. Runs like a top and 600km to a tank with most of that in city traffic. Put brand new tires on it and will have the brakes checked and new shocks put on it.

For Christmas I have organized a Christmas Eve party out at Umguza for the Matopos Rotary Club members and spouses. I have purchased 3 turkeys (what a job that was trying to find them and again a Rotarian found them for me) and plan to roast them and show them a traditional Canadian dinner.l

I have my airfare purchased to get up to Uganda on Jan 05, returning Jan. 13th. Looking forward to that trip for Rotary Int. and checking out a big water system for a village of 20,000 in the rural areas there.

Spent yesterday shopping for the house as Charles Chiponda pretty well cleaned out this house for his new one across the street. Bought a couch set, two double couches and a chair. Now looking for a coffee table and a dining room table and chairs. Also purchased kitchen stuff like garbage can, toaster, kettle, sharp knives, utensils, glasses, mugs, dish clothes, plates, bowls, etc. Only $119,000. That is about $100US and the couches were $180.00US so much less than over there.

Charles two boys arrived from the UK and his wife,Catherine, arrives today. I love the boys as they are real characters and very helpful to me. I am also the proud owner of a cell phone here. The only way to communicate but frustrating as the network is often down or there is no coverage or your battery is low or you have run out of "juice" which is the air time you buy. The cards sell for $400Z and that is 8 minutes of air time so I bulk buy them but you go through them like water.

Meals here are still great in the restaurants but often deleted items on the menu. Still lots of meat but no toast with breakfast as no bread!!! I have a fridge I bought here and have stocked up with staples and meat in case these run out as well.

Have met with some of the teachers from the schools who are in town. Ran into Lewis from Silozwe by coincidence yesterday. He has moved to town rather than live at the school. He was the first teacher I ever met here when Carol, the Scobies and I were here as tourists 6 years ago.

Still no word on when my Rotary money will be coming but I am going to e-mail then right after this and see what is happening. Must sign off now. Thanks for the communications you have been sending.

To all my family in Vernon - have a great Christmas. To all of you, take time to count your blessings. We are blessed in Canada and be grateful - you could be living under the damndest of conditions like these people. It is only my foreign currency that allows me to live with some dignity and comfort.

Love to you all.

Doug