Cyclone Favio

Just when you thought it could not get any worse there was a cyclone warning! I phoned Pat in Vilanculos to tell him to baton down the hatches there was a cyclone on the way. While Vilanculos practiced cyclone drill we waited for news. Various reports kept on coming in and Njerenji School made preparations to evacuate their computers what about your pupils I asked as an after thought. Things are getting serious I told the volunteers the cyclone is going to hit Chimoio. The skies were sunny blue so it was hard to imagine wild winds and devastating rain. I asesssed the horses, it seemed best to leave them where they were, the alternative was to put them in the pig pens. "Maybe we should do our own cyclone drill" I shrilled enthusiastically, but the volunteers did not look convinced. I don't really know what you do in a cyclone with 100 horses, I have never been in one so I was a little relieved when they decided to abandon the exercise. Casa Bella is a huge sturdy, dilapidated mansion and must have withstood a few cyclones over the years. 

Patrick had never faced a cyclone either but when I managed to get hold of him in the morning he seemed to be right in the eye of it. The wind howled down the cell phone "Can you hear me" he screamed, the horses have all bolted and we are sheltering in the remaining bit of Ian's rondavel. There are trees flying around like skittles." Then the phone went ominously dead. I phoned around to see if anyone had any news but it seemed people were taking refuge under their dining room tables hoping they would survive.

It hit Chimoio in the morning. I woke up to windows being forced open and a river of rain water pouring through the door. Jumping up I was horrified to see the trees bent double as the gale force wind blew. Then the real rain started. Unlike Vilanculos where they experienced sunny skies straight after the cyclone we are now in our fifth day of heavy rain. Just getting to the paddock to feed is a nightmare. The horses can't understand our frustration and they are fed up if we are not there at 5.30am. They look accusingly at us. Can't you see we are wet and hungry and covered in mud" their eyes express indignantly. They were unscathed by their cyclonic experience except for Duke who had a twig entangled in his mane and Blitzen lost her fly mask.

Sadly Vilanculos is like a war zone and the damage is enormous. The horses were found unharmed once the cyclone abated and they were joyously reunited with Pat. Although he is still looking for their tack and ropes. I think it was blown to Madagascar. Cleaning up operations have started and lets hope they are back in business soon. We are all in tact except for no water and sometime no lights. We look as muddy and dirty as the horses. The volunteers are slightly cyclone shocked but as people say Mozambleak is not for Sissies. 

To all the people who phoned and messaged thank you. Also a big thank you for the people who try and do so much for us. Meryl Harrison, Simon Pope, Roger Caterall, SPEIR, Gerry Jackson, Donna Walker, Sharon Moore, Angi, Patricia Finn, the list goes on. The horses may appear ungrateful at times but they know you have their best interests at heart.

From Amanda, the volunteers and all the horses. 

Amanda,
Casa Bella,
Mozambique