May 1995
Dear Diary,
“The tea sessions [at work] are witness to the most animated conversations”
5.45 AM: I wake with Rachel, and remove the infernal Mosquito net that’s pressing against our faces. Bliss! 15 minutes rest (or or…)
6.00 am: Alarm clock goes off – I should get up. Rachel does !
6.15 am: Finally get out of bed – tempted by the smell of toast! I Shave, wash, and prepare my ruck-sack (a clean, ironed shirt; a not so fresh towel; something to read). Eat 3 Weetabix (!) and tidy up.
7.00 am: ‘Bye !’ We cycle off together – but then I take the high (long steep incline) road and she takes the low (downhill easy-peasy) one. My journey is great: beautiful morning sun-shine; roads lined with assorted pedestrians (‘Get out of the way!’); fellow cyclists vainly struggling to move their rickety machines. It’s starting to give me a buzz (except when it’s raining and cold – even here! – then I limp to work dripping and miserable! ).
7.20 am: Arrive at work – usually hot, sweaty; in need of a nice cool shower.
7.25 am: Instead, I strip and wash torso near a ghastly smelling toilet. I transform into Mr Office Worker; at no point am I naked – I’m not sure my fellow workers could stand the shock.
7.40 am: Start work (at last ?) – well not quite. I may talk or play around with the computer, or I may read the Introduction To UNIX book (UNIX is my speciality !?)
10.00-10.30am Tea-break! [Not for us is the constant grazing of food and drink. We have an allotted time for tea and coffee – tea and coffee which is supplied by Data (pronounced DARTA)]. We all crowd into a small and dingy room. Our seats encircle a table crammed with cups, spoons, tea, coffee and tea-pot (filled with hot milk) – sometimes a packet of biscuits too. The tea sessions are witness to the most animated conversations. Whether in English or Chichewa, they cause great hilarity. If I don’t understand, I just watch the bodies double-up and hands slap, as the mirth bubbles over. (No one-upmanship here: anyone can give the killer line.)
10.30-12.30pm More work, of sorts. [Actually, I am preparing the Introduction to Unix course using books I brought with me, existing course notes, and my knowledge of Windows software – think this is what I’m meant to be doing ?].
12.30-13.15PM Time for food, and a pleasant (if hot) walk to the dining room. There’s usually a Ghetto blaster blaring: the sounds of UB40 or just the mid-day News – different! I wash my hands (very important this !), sit down, and a minute later a meal is brought out – no choice! I Eat, drink ice cold water, and finish with a few delicious bananas. [This meal is free so I don’t complain – even if it’s Nsima (a large lump of tasteless white stuff, that resembles Semolina).]
13.15-13.30pm Still trying to do useful things with my time – read, or play with the computer
13.30pm Work – again !
15.00-15.30pm Tea, coffee, and biscuits – again!
15.30pm More work !
16.55pm Hold your nose! – it’s time to change back to Mr Cyclist; get on that bike and get the heck out. ‘Cheers Charlz! ‘, my office mate, – I think he acknowledges me!
17.05pm A pleasing ride through a mountainous landscape that basks in early evening glow. Down-hill – yippee!
17.25pm Switch off, talk to Rachel! (Or is it the other way round !?!)
18.00pm Have hot or cold bath – depends whether we remembered to flick (outside!) electricity switch.
18.30pm Make tea – or watch Rachel make it; eat tea – I can do that!; wash up – and, unfortunately, that!
19.15pm ‘Computer Love!’ – think I’m getting obsessed with Dell-Boy(#). Better talk to Rachel instead
21.30pm Sleep! (Oh dash! – general, offend no-one curse, it’s tomorrow in a few hours !].
#Dell-Boy is the nick-name of my laptop
