Hot Springs

Thank you everyone for writing in and commiserating with Patters, he was definitely on the mend until he sneezed and then relapsed. In his present state, I have been nominated for driving duties and on this particular day had to chauffeur Pat to Chipinge to see a Paprika Crop .He decided it would be a perfect opportunity to bathe his ribs in the Hot Springs en route, so we packed his towel. We drove off Pat clutching his chest over every bump in the road and I had a driving lesson all the way to Hot Springs. We eventually arrived, avoiding the goats lining the way and drove up to the gate. 

The heat was unbearable and the temperature of the pool matched it. We were the only ones there thank goodness. Pat stripped off, hobbled towards the pool and plunged in. I came to a dead stop at the step. Pat! its full of algae type things. Well its a natural hot spring, why do you want to throw a bucket of chlorine in and upset the balance. No silly, but it looks slimy. Pat was now lying on his back Pass me one of those pool noodles so I can float on my back. I chucked him one, Now another for my feet and hey what about another for my middle back area. While you are up what about ordering drinks! You know, I said, you should seriously talk to Rolfe Kitcat it just seems strange a couple of broken ribs should lead to total paralysis of your arms and legs. But he was oblivious to sarcastic remarks he just bobbed up and down like a cork grinning. I tentatively got in and flicked a bit of algae off my toe it landed on Pat's tummy right near his ribs. There I said that's my contribution to the healing process. After wallowing around for an hour I hauled Pat out of the pool. As we were walking to the car our faces like two boiled lobsters, bits of algae in our hair I noticed Pat didn't have his clothes . Darling, where are your things I enquired?. He looked at me in absolute astonishment. Didn't you pick them up? !! No why should I , I said sulkily. His expression was a picture of pure indignation. But you know I can't bend down!!!!

On our way to Hot springs we passed the Nyanyadzi Irrigation Scheme as I was swerving to avoid the donkeys I noticed that they had very little in the ground, there seemed to be plenty of water running in the canals but other than a few onions and sparse maize not much was going on. We soon found out why! coming down the road was wheelbarrow after wheelbarrow of USA Food Aid. They must have had a collection day at some depot as there were masses of wheelbarrows. I shook my head in utter disbelief. Why would you want to plant anything when you could just wheelbarrow yourself and the relos down the road and stock up for the season! 

We eventually arrived at the beautiful farm of Jean and Gigi Gambeau they have been allocated 100 hectares. The settlers have moved in all around. Some have settled in the coffee plantation and are proceeding to chop down the coffee trees to prepare their lands. We found Jean and Gigi in good spirits. At dinner I said to Jean how do you get up every morning and face this destruction on a farm you have worked all your life and retain your happy disposition. He looked at me and said we are just so grateful that we are still here in our home and are able to carry on with the small acreage we are left with. At least we can still put food on the table and pay our school fees and we thank God for that. I had to bite my lip to stop the tears from welling and I felt so humble in the presence of these amazing people. 

Pat and I drove back in companionable silence well that's until he had an attack of the hiccups. Each hiccups was followed by an agonizing yell and each time he did it I got such a fright I nearly drove off the road. Finally, they subsided the reason being Pat had fallen asleep so I faced the 180 km return journey singing to myself. As I drove into Mutare, Patters conveniently woke up. Then he struggled upright holding his his ribcage. He turned to me accusingly do you know that I passed out with pain during my hiccup attack and you didn't even notice!!!

Mandy Retzlaff
Bvumba
Zimbabwe