Guest Blog Spot August 09

Ed: "Have allowed Lock, A's dad, a go on the blog..."

I am sure that avid Blog readers will, as a matter of priority, wish me to verify that the “table” outside is not a PhotoShop job but it exists. It was tested to the full last Friday night when a full mob of about 20 arrived for sundowners and nibbles hut style – major success!

We have of course had an absolutely fantastic time here and still coming to terms with all the sights, sounds etc. What do we think of it? Some things will stick.

The first is of course the resourcefulness of the people. Bicycles are a major form of transport as are women’s heads – I knew this all happened but had no idea just how much of the daily chores rely on this.

The second is the formulation of a priority list for Malawi (having been here 5 mins!). On a short term basis health and nutrition of Malawians must be no 1 and on a longer term basis education is my no 2. The change in government appears to be pressing ahead with the first one and the newspapers here are full of demands to sort out the pay for health professionals, which has seen a major drain on professionals leaving and a resultant decline in care provided. I also include in this the various NGOs and of course Mary’s Meals programme doing feeding in schools etc. The new government has now indicated that they will put in place general schools feeding as policy and are looking at the organisations, already with the mechanisms to do this, to assist putting this in place. A real ratification, if one was needed, that MM is genuinely fulfilling a need for the people of Malawi.

My third was a 10 second cameo which flashed in front of my vision as I drove through a poor suburb of Blantyre. If you were asked to go and bring a goat from a field to your house, I guess this would exercise your ingenuity, patience and fitness to say the least. Actually it is very easy and, in case you have to do it sometime, I will explain. You get a rope and tie it – no not round the neck – round one of the front legs, then you run home keeping that leg from landing on the ground. The poor goat now follows keeping up by running on 3 legs! I’m sure that Malawi has as much to teach us about basic life, as we think we are in a position to teach them about the modern world.

I can’t finish without saying a big thanks to Malawi for an amazing experience & of course Fiona & Andrew for making it all possible and giving us such a wonderful time together. Lock & Anne