Life moves at a different pace here. Power is rationed. Two water heaters are on timers to avoid simultaneous operation. Compete with either and the limiter trips taking one outdoors to turn it back on. Some appliances are protected by UPS’s so you don’t always notice the power is out. Internet is getting scarcer. Last time I visited it was slow. Now it’s slow and severely restricted. Just like the electricity. Hard to say what’s worse.
Each evening, along with twenty five million inhabitants of the world’s forth largest island, we helped warm the planet. The log fire is a wonderful invention. The living room floor stays toasty for twelve hours after the embers have died down. Unfortunately, keeping the planet warm does make the air a bit smokey. Maybe more smokey than last year. I guess you get used to it. Except when the wind changes direction driving plumes of smoke back down the chimney and into the living room.
Soccer seems to be the thing this year. Super Mario Kart is being rested and Fifa 18 is in. As are daily games on the local field. Madagascar had an extraordinary run at the Africa Cup of Nations. Sometime after sunset on Sunday 30th June we heard screams and cheers and a general commotion echoing over the paddy fields. Kim quickly bought some internet to learn that Madagascar had scored a goal against Nigeria. About an hour later huge celebrations could be heard from afar. Another goal and certain victory over Africa’s largest nation. The city hummed for hours late into the night.
Hockey’s another new thing contested most vigorously at the nearby mini sports ground. Too vigorously for my old legs. I must have run more in one day than since I was a teenager. Saved only enough strength to limp up the stairs to the bedroom to rest up. Still it’s extraordinary how a decent night’s sleep can repair a wrecked human body.
There are pics I didn’t take that I should have. I didn’t get a photograph of Andy on his bike. Nor of Jem on his scooter. I think I should have tried riding these machines. Next time. I whisper prayers everyday for the riders. Be safe, guys.
Here are some pics and videos. Many taken with the iPhone. Many far from technically perfect. But it’s the people in them that matter. Enjoy!
Relatively smooth landing. After Melbourne this is like coming back to summer. It feels wonderful. We flew on an Embraer 190 operated by SA Airlink. A much more comfortable flight than the ancient Boeing 737 that brought me to Madagascar on my first visit in 2011.
I should have made better notes about this cold beef salad/meal. Genuinely delicious. The best light meal I’ve had on any aeroplane.
Loving his dog. Jem’s about six foot tall now. But he’s still Nuke’s little boy :-)
Trying to find a gift for a special brother. They’re all special. Except for the mannequin.
And Reece’s fifteen!
The young man with the hair wings who knows how to wrap. Mexican in Madagascar .. so good!
Queen Diesel keeping watch from the Nissan. She’s into birding. Just like me. Except her’s are digested, not merely digitised, for she rules with an iron claw. Kim, seeing one of my photos, mused: “I wonder how many Diesel has eaten. You know she eats them feathers and all!”. To which I replied: “I’m sure she only eats the Fodi’s (i.e. like sparrows)!”. Yeh, right.
Walking off a scrumptious breakfast after visiting Tanya’s maternity clinic.
Best birthday cake ever. Waited fifty one years for this one. Amazing work of art by Sue.
But wait, there’s more. The world’s best fudge. What a brilliant birthday gift.. Thanks so much, Sue! Yes I still haven’t finished it all. It’s so good one must savour each bite.
Independence Day!
So much fun with the lanterns on the eve of Independence Day. Anyone see a ghost?
Lanterns walk, eve of Independence Day
Painting with lanterns
Madagascar, land of Chameleons and other exotic creatures. This fellow’s wild and free to try to catch insects in the front yard.
And any visit would be incomplete if one didn’t see a lemur or two. Here we have a gorgeous Bamboo Lemur sharing a branch with a Sifaka.
No, it’s not Yoga, it’s SOCCER practice. Jem (not in picture) had the ball. But they’d all be trying to intercept it. Took me a few minutes to understand the unique game they’ve evolved. I tried to play but it’s hard to keep up :-)
Meanwhile an Olive Bee-eater watches from a nearby power cable. Do these guys know how blessed they are to have these incredible birds in their neighbourhood. OK, the bees are not blessed by their presence. But, seriously, these birds are amazing to see snatching insects mid-air. They go like a bat out of…
We have you surrounded, almost :-)
An unusually cold morning at the monastery. That’s when it’s good to have a cat.
No problem, I’m not ticklish, see!
Migrating phones takes an expert touch!
Simple treasures. Andy’s twenty!
Smile Andy. Sorry, caught him with his mouth full!
Yes, the truth is out there. So is the ball. Soccer’s the game this winter. The guys are wondering when their cousin will come join them for a game.
Feels like Christmas in June. Three birthdays. Three times the cake :-) AND now, in August, it’s congratulations to a TEENAGE E!
You know who’s going to win!
The winner. SIX today as I add this shot to the blog. Happy birthday J, you’re growing up so fast !
It’s fun trying to save the world, or build a new world. If we didn’t know better they could be twins.
Recorded on Reece’s birthday. Sneaked the camera onto the mantle above the fireplace. Reece, however, spotted it and played on :-)
I captured thousands of images of these guys playing soccer. Many great soccer moments on the hard drive. But it’s the moments in between that usually fascinate me the most. I love this one.