Out of Africa - Letter 13, April 2009
Hello Everyone,
This letter is somewhat overdue because we’ve all been so busy with preparations for the mine opening on Friday April17th – then I decided it was best to wait until it was over and things had quietened down so we could tell you about it. However, life has continued to be chaotic, with a big town party in Karonga and one still planned for the all the villagers at Kayelekera. Fortunately the celebrations have been staggered as one of my responsibilities has been to organise helpers to cut, fold and bag over 2,000 Paladin print sarongs! (It’s a good thing I didn’t need to hem them as well!)
After months of intense work by 2,000+ people to finalise construction and get ready, the President of Malawi (Dr Bingu Wa Mutharika) did the final speech of the opening ceremony, pressed a specially set-up button, and the massive drum of the crusher began rolling, pushing soil out along conveyer belts – a proud and moving moment for us all! The opening was followed by a sit down luncheon for about 400 guests in a huge marquee (previously used by Nelson Mandela!), and then there were displays and guided bus tours around the plant, before departure back to Karonga - by buses or helicopters that had been specially brought in to facilitate transport of all the ministers, officials, bankers etc. I think there was a huge collective sigh of relief from us all that it went off so well when so many things could have gone wrong!
Celebrations continued the next day with the sub-contract groups going off to party at various locations. Paladin employees went to Beach Chamber Motel for a Big BBQ/smorgasborg lunch from 12 – 5pm – it was a good time to chat, relax and recover. Chris and Kat (with whom we shared a house for the first 9 months) are leaving, so I made a big farewell cake and the Mine Manager expressed Paladin’s appreciation for all their hard work. We are sorry to see them go, but they will continue working for Paladin in Australia so we’re sure to see them again.
Chris is relieved that food orders are now starting to get smaller as construction workers finish and leave. His work is relentless with no days off so we’re really looking forward to leaving here on May 7th to do a 16 day coach tour around England, Ireland and Scotland – it will be so nice to give our heads a break from constant responsibilities! Chris was going to hand over the food buying at the beginning of June to be fully involved with Comminity development/Agriculture but has now been asked to keep buying until the end of July! Despite the hard work, he likes doing it and gets satisfaction from knowing he is a vital link in the chain.
Over the last 2 months I’ve been supervising a team of workers renovating a property Paladin has rented next door to us. Staff from the Lilongwe office want to move into the 5 bedrooms next weekend, so I’ve had carpenters, electician, plumber and tiler going flat out this last week and it’s looking good!
I went to a ‘Bridal Shower” recen tly – Wow! Certainly not like we do it in Australia! About 500 women, mostly in gorgeous evening wear, packed into a big church hall with lots of loud thumping music, dancing and laughter. It started with all the ladies coming out to the front in groups of about a dozen, and dancing in a circle around a lady holding a basket ready to catch the money they were waving and throwing! There were about 6 speeches (counselling for the bride-to-be) and between each speech, they would start dancing and throwing money again – they were obviously having a marvellous time, while the bride-to-be sat on the stage with her assistant looking rather hot and bored! It’s hard to imagine what the wedding will be like!
Saturday night we had 9 young volunteers over for dinner and watched “Evan Almighty” Some of the girls were ecstatic to be in a “real” home for the first time in a month! We still have plenty of visitors staying over, or just in for a meal.
Four weeks ago we went to an excellent contour drainage seminar in Mangochi and enjoyed a few days with Rina. We then returned to Karonga (11 hours drive!) and she went to Kenya for two weeks hands-on professional devlopment in contour design techniques.
Jim and Robyn Nottingham arrived back last week from a 6 week break, it’s great to see them again and to have them back on the team!
We’d love to hear from you if you have time to write.
Warm regards,
Chris and Anne Mattinson
April 2nd 2009
Hello Everyone,
This letter is somewhat overdue because we’ve all been so busy with preparations for the mine opening on Friday April17th – then I decided it was best to wait until it was over and things had quietened down so we could tell you about it. However, life has continued to be chaotic, with a big town party in Karonga and one still planned for the all the villagers at Kayelekera. Fortunately the celebrations have been staggered as one of my responsibilities has been to organise helpers to cut, fold and bag over 2,000 Paladin print sarongs! (It’s a good thing I didn’t need to hem them as well!)
After months of intense work by 2,000+ people to finalise construction and get ready, the President of Malawi (Dr Bingu Wa Mutharika) did the final speech of the opening ceremony, pressed a specially set-up button, and the massive drum of the crusher began rolling, pushing soil out along conveyer belts – a proud and moving moment for us all! The opening was followed by a sit down luncheon for about 400 guests in a huge marquee (previously used by Nelson Mandela!), and then there were displays and guided bus tours around the plant, before departure back to Karonga - by buses or helicopters that had been specially brought in to facilitate transport of all the ministers, officials, bankers etc. I think there was a huge collective sigh of relief from us all that it went off so well when so many things could have gone wrong!
Celebrations continued the next day with the sub-contract groups going off to party at various locations. Paladin employees went to Beach Chamber Motel for a Big BBQ/smorgasborg lunch from 12 – 5pm – it was a good time to chat, relax and recover. Chris and Kat (with whom we shared a house for the first 9 months) are leaving, so I made a big farewell cake and the Mine Manager expressed Paladin’s appreciation for all their hard work. We are sorry to see them go, but they will continue working for Paladin in Australia so we’re sure to see them again.
Chris is relieved that food orders are now starting to get smaller as construction workers finish and leave. His work is relentless with no days off so we’re really looking forward to leaving here on May 7th to do a 16 day coach tour around England, Ireland and Scotland – it will be so nice to give our heads a break from constant responsibilities! Chris was going to hand over the food buying at the beginning of June to be fully involved with Comminity development/Agriculture but has now been asked to keep buying until the end of July! Despite the hard work, he likes doing it and gets satisfaction from knowing he is a vital link in the chain.
Over the last 2 months I’ve been supervising a team of workers renovating a property Paladin has rented next door to us. Staff from the Lilongwe office want to move into the 5 bedrooms next weekend, so I’ve had carpenters, electician, plumber and tiler going flat out this last week and it’s looking good!
I went to a ‘Bridal Shower” recen tly – Wow! Certainly not like we do it in Australia! About 500 women, mostly in gorgeous evening wear, packed into a big church hall with lots of loud thumping music, dancing and laughter. It started with all the ladies coming out to the front in groups of about a dozen, and dancing in a circle around a lady holding a basket ready to catch the money they were waving and throwing! There were about 6 speeches (counselling for the bride-to-be) and between each speech, they would start dancing and throwing money again – they were obviously having a marvellous time, while the bride-to-be sat on the stage with her assistant looking rather hot and bored! It’s hard to imagine what the wedding will be like!
Saturday night we had 9 young volunteers over for dinner and watched “Evan Almighty” Some of the girls were ecstatic to be in a “real” home for the first time in a month! We still have plenty of visitors staying over, or just in for a meal.
Four weeks ago we went to an excellent contour drainage seminar in Mangochi and enjoyed a few days with Rina. We then returned to Karonga (11 hours drive!) and she went to Kenya for two weeks hands-on professional devlopment in contour design techniques.
Jim and Robyn Nottingham arrived back last week from a 6 week break, it’s great to see them again and to have them back on the team!
We’d love to hear from you if you have time to write.
Warm regards,
Chris and Anne Mattinson
April 2nd 2009
Labels: News fm Africa
posted by Chris & Anne Mattinson @ 11:34 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home