Party on the mountain

Pat picked up the phone and made a routine telephone call to Geoff the irrigation specialist to find out if everything was in order. We have had so many delays in setting out the irrigation schemes in Chimoio (Mozambique) and now at last everything seemed to be coming together. You can imagine Pat's shocked surprise and bewilderment when the phone was answered abruptly and a tense and agitated voice told Pat to find a lawyer quickly.

It appeared that our irrigation specialist was now under arrest and was headed for Southerton Police station. Pat's telephone call came at an opportune moment for Geoff as he was able to let the outside world know where he was headed, before his phone was taken away. While I scrambled on all fours frantically looking for the telephone directory to phone lawyers, Pat managed to get through to Jonathan Landry who did a stirling job and luckily for us managed to secure Geoff's release after only a couple of nights in the slammer. Unfortunately its dangerous times living in Zimbabwe and anyone at anytime can get arrested, for almost anything. Its all rather terrifying specially if you know the condition of Zimbabwe's prisons. So I am trying hard not to piss anyone off.

In the midst of all this we had to throw a party as you can't be despondent on your birthday. Pat, Gaydia and I all celebrate our birthdays in June. So it was a Party on the Mountain. For anyone who has been to the Bvumba you will know how beautiful it is this time of year. Everyday when I wake up I say thank you for letting us live in such a wonderful place its just a pity about the state of the country.

As Sunday dawned I peered anxiously out of the window to see if it was going to be a sunny day and not one of those cold misty ones the Bvumba is renowned for. It was more than perfect. Unfortunately the chief chef had to rush to Harare to attend to urgent business so I prepped and got everything ready for his return. It was make a curry in a hurry for 40 people. On the chef's return everything was laid out. He just had to pummel a couple of spices and start cooking. As the spices mingled and the curry fragrance filled the air the unforgivable happened. The electricity went off.

Crisis like you have never seen in your life.. Pat and I looked at each other in despair. We grabbed a wheelbarrow and filled it with logs, set it ablaze in the middle of the garden As the flames scorched my eyebrows and lashes I somehow could not see us cooking up a feast good enough to eat on an improvised braai made out of a wheelbarrow and a bit of wire netting. I phoned ZESA pleading in desperation and told them about our impending birthday party disaster. Unfortunately they didn't know how long the delay would be. Forget about the curry how would I blow dry my hair. I flung myself on the bed in a spasm and wept noisily. The gorgeous Kate slunk past and said reassuringly" Mum the electricity usually goes off all day on Sunday." Just as I was reaching for the valium on came the lights. We were miraculously saved. In the end it was an amazing party, wonderful food, the most divine people and lots of wine I definitely had too much because i don't remember saying bye bye to anybody. It doesn't take much to bring back that old African Magic and forget our troubles. So this letter is dedicated to Spero Landos who we hope will get bail soon and to all the people who came to Party on the Mountain. Thanks for making our birthdays special.

Mandy Retzlaff
Bvumba
Zimbabwe