Some rain has fallen at last.

PLANTING MAIZE

Thank goodness the rains have started and planting the maize can begin albeit late. This is one of few jobs done by machine.  All crops are grown for seed, conditions must be perfect and hand planting is not appropriate, however there are plenty of lads on hand to check the rows are straight and the drills unblocked. The top hopper contains fertiliser and the lower the seed.

SETTING UP A FISHING BUSINESS

First find a fallen tree and fashion it into a boat shape

.

Paddle the boat on to the lake at all hours of the day and night with hook and line.

Sell your delicious Chambo for £1.50each

Fish is important in the diet of Lakeshore dwellers and provides employment. Sadly the lake is being overfished especially in the shallows where the fish breed.

CHRISTMAS

Eventually we found somewhere to book lunch on Christmas Day. Inspite of being  a mainly Christian country (85%), little is made of Christmas here. There were family parties however, all the shops and markets were open as usual.  We exchanged gifts of a local key fob and a packet of Malawi peanuts.

 New Year's Eve has been a bell ringing fixture for us for many years, this year we will think of our ringing friends at midnight on 31st December and look forward to ringing in 2016.

Happy New Year.

T and I