Thank Heavens for Evans...

It has rained all day today. I'm sitting at a table watching the rain drip from the thatch roof. The 'Jenny' (short for generator) is pleasantly purring in the background powering my laptop and the energy-saving light above me. Can't tell you what a pleasure it is, not to be in a tent on a day like this.

Been at Sijwa almost a week now. Taking awhile to learn how to power the place, as it alternates between solar power and a generator. A day's sun is enough to run the lights and the fridge but on a dull day like today, the 'Jenny' is on almost constantly.

Robin, an Australian who works in fire management arrived back a couple of days ago from Mozambique. He's on contract to IRDNC (Integrated Rural Development and Nature Conservation) the NGO who own Sijwa and will spend next the couple of weeks living here while he supervises a bush burning programme. Up until last year, he lived permanently at Sijwa, while he trained locals in fire management. He now has his own company called 321 Fire! and has become a fire consultant to a number of NGOs which seems to be quite lucrative work.

Elle, has much to celebrate this week, having succeeded in attracting a number of sponsors to her project, including a Dutch zoo. She is now very happily 'moved in' to Sijwa, having quite quickly overcome her reservations about living in a 'house', and her aversion to modern appliances.

The house comes with a young caretaker called Evans, who is quite a handyman. He's also self-appointed pest controller and is at his happiest when destroying termites, ants and various other creepy-crawlies which threaten the fragile human eco-system here. Today, he has been busy setting traps for a huge rat, I encountered in the kitchen the other night, which I was surprised to find given that he's probably at the very bottom of the food chain round here.

Evans I'm relieved to hear, is pretty good at dealing with snakes too which is reassuring. According to Robin, who lived at Sijwa for four years, the grounds are full of black mambas, which are Africa's most deadly snake. 'Thank Heavens for Evans' is turning into a bit of catchphrase round here.