Visit to Lumbumbashi

I was lucky enough to once again visit Lubumbashi ...shortly after getting back from our busy two weeks in Canada.
We stayed at the Rose Hotel that has a little gym and swimming pool, that I got to enjoy every day all on my own...
For those of you going to visit Lubumbashi, The Rose Hotel is comfortable. It was clean but had some teething problems as it had just recently opened....so one day the bar was opened the next it was closed.The reason I enjoyed the bar was because it was a nice little place to go for a light lunch or supper..
There was no DsTv in the rooms but they where going to have it installed soon... . The Internet connection worked fine, so you are able to stay in touch!
Breakfasts in this Hotel, and the other two I have stayed in have one problem, when you arrive for breakfast in the morning you are not given a menu or choice but asked if you will have coffee...The coffee and an omelet with bread not toast is put in front of you.....I decided to buy yogurt,muesli and fruit to enjoy in the morning....they do not understand scrambled eggs or any other variations......
I am happy that I got spoilt by been taken away just to have a change of scenery ...and cooler weather..it was a mini holiday for me ...."merci mon ami"

I Have a French Teacher....

I want to introduce you my French Teacher......Professor Richard. He comes to the house every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning for an hour to give me my French Lesson.
I feel that I am starting to make sense of the French language with all its grammatical rules...! I do think M. Richard feels the same way!

There are times , that i can see a flicker of frustration passing over Prof. Richards face when I forget some the rules, while having a conversation with him....he has no hesitation in putting me on the right tract. It makes me try a little harder.!

Prof. Richard has been teaching French for many years here in the DRC. He has had experience of teaching different nationality"s and different levels....he has pointed out to me that in some ways I have been a little challenge to him.... I believe I have the habit of using all 3 tenses and more no matter which Tense I am supposed to be using....

My answer to this " Pas probleme....je essayer toujours!

Hello Kinshasa ..........................

A bit difficult to think that just two weeks ago I was in the snow , dressed in a warm coat...been a true "Canadian"..... having my say about the weather.....I hear the weather this past week has really been cold dipping down to -24C and that without the wind factor , which could bring it down a futher -10C.......on that note we are back in Kinshasa.

I will not say that it is sunny with a blue sky ....because most days here in Kinshasa are grey. When the wind blows the clouds and pollution away we have a blue sky !!!! The heat and humidity, that is a given, with temperatures always in the 30C+

Just before we left for Canada , we bought a beautiful side table and lamps for our house. We ordered the table in November from a work shop called "Artisanat et Developpement"

Artisans in Congo have worked in a chaotic situation of war, corruption and uncertainty. Exporters here face considerable obstacles, including the most expensive port in Africa. Artisanat et Développement is a local nonprofit artisans’ organization that provides training and marketing assistance to Congolese artisans, and ensures that they receive fair payment for their products. Other artisan benefits include interest-free loans for workshop construction, wood-drying kilns and other needs. Along with its export business, Artisanat et Développement runs a retail store in Kinshasa, Congo’s capital. Historically craftspeople in Congo were not respected. Because of these artisans’ involvement with Artisanat et Développement, they and their families are now more respected. They achieve dignity through this work.

Artisanat et Développement was established in 1997 with assistance of Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), a U.S.-based relief and development organization and Ten Thousand Villages parent organization. Artisanat et Développement became independent in 2007. In 2003 Ten Thousand Villages was temporarily forced to stop importing from Congo due to local trade barriers including corruption and lack of infrastructure. But Ten Thousand Villages buyers continued to work with MCC offices in Congo and with the director of Artisanat et Développement to build artisan capacity. With the Congolese presidential and parliamentary elections held in 2006, Ten Thousand Villages was able to again resume trade with Artisanat et Développement. visit there website :http://www.tenthousandvillages.com/catalog/

http://www.artisandevelop.com/

We had an opportunity to buy a new painting to put a bit of colour into our apartment.....this we bought on a Sunday afternoon while visiting one of the Restaurants .... ...........

MY Holiday Away From - KINSHASA

With great excitement I watched the days drawing closer for my trip back to Canada to be with my family for the holidays.
Vianney and I had planned to spend two day in Geneva but unfortunately that went very wrong….I still travel on a South African Passport something I hope will change in the near future when I get my Canadian Citizenship, to explain further,…On the day we booked our luggage in at the Memling Hotel downtown Kinshasa , I was told that just two days previously the visa requirements for South Africans travelling to Switzerland had changed.... I now needed a SchengenVisa to travel . The Swiss had just signed a new agreement with the rest of the EU countries. I was unaware of this and my travel agents did not inform me ...

With our bags ready to be checked in and not enough time to apply for a visa…. we had to go along with plan B….. I would remain in Kinshasa for two days .

It was just one of those things I had to accept. I was so disappointed that we where not leaving together but it turned out well, we met in “Paris” and flew to Montreal together. ( Kind of romantic) , the first time for me to be asked.........“Lets meet in Paris!”
The winter weather , when we landed in Montreal hit us with a blast, plenty on snow on the ground and a -18 C temperature. After the temperatures here in Kinshasa that is always at 30+ it was very fresh start to our holiday break, from T shirts to Coats…….

Dorianne our daughter got us tickets to watch the Junior Hockey Championships, in Ottawa and the teams playing was Russia vs. Slovakia…(8-1)… I really enjoyed my first ever live Hockey Game .

Our time with the family was very special the only complaint, far too short, now we are back to reality…… “Living in Kinshasa”………………….

International Horse Jumping - Kinshasa

On the 27 November we had a 3 day International Horse Jumping Show in Kinshasa.
It was fun to watch South Africa, Kenya, and Zimbabwe competing against each other.



We spent an hour or two watching the younger riders going through there paces before the mosquitoes got the better of us... it was fun and entertaining!

Falling In Love with A Baby Bonobo.....

Bonobos, or pygmy chimpanzees (Pan paniscus), are the last of the great apes to have been

discovered, but they could well be the first to disappear.
A species unique to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), bonobos face the threat of extinction due to war, hunting, and deforestation.

Lola ya Bonobo is the bonobo sanctuary run by The Friends of Bonobos in the DRC (Les Amis des Bonobos du Congo or A.B.C.). Lola ya Bonobo is a unique project to protect bonobos through education of Congolese youth and lobbying for the enforcement of wildlife laws, including the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

When I arrived at the nursery where the Congolese "mama's" look after the orphan bonobo's I knew that for me I had stumbled onto something so special.....love at first sight for me!!!!:)

The youngest bonobos remain in the care of substitute mothers (sanctuary staff) until they are fully rehabilitated and acclimated to their new environment.
The new site of "Lola ya Bonobo," where the sanctuary was moved in February 2002, provides the juvenile and adult bonobos with over 20 acres of enclosed forest where they can develop into a social group with minimal human interference. It provides an ideal environment for educational programs for school children, as well as for ethological observations.

http://www.ippl.org/2002-congo-sanctuary.php ( the site where I found some of my information) you might want to go there and read more and maybe offer some support for this organisation.

http://www.friendsofbonobos.org/ I am sure this organisation will appreciate any sponsorship that you can give them.... .......save a "Bonobo" ;)

"Enfin Bonobo Centre"-"Lola ya Bonobo"

Sunday has arrived again....and yes at last I get to visit the Bonobo Sanctuary.....we left the house at about 10.30am , I really thought that it was not going to be that far...but our driver had other plans for us!!!!

The trip should take about 45 minutes to get to the area where "Lac de ma Valee" is and the Bonobo Park is about 3kilometre from there but our driver took the wrong turning and took us on an hour long drive in the wrong direction....Talk about been stubborn, I told Vianney to tell him I have a feeling we are going in the wrong direction....but he said no he has been before and we are not..... Well after Vianney nearly lost his cool with him and telling him 3 times to stop asking for directions now and turn back he had no option but to listen but both Vianney and I where really fed up ....I saw my little adventure coming to an end....and once again no Bonobo Park..

When we got to the end of the road where we had gone wrong earlier, thirst was on my side ..and the sign said 3km to Bonobo Sanctuary...so off we went...

When we arrived to my surprise there where many people around picnic tables enjoying the

Sunday afternoon. There are small radis in the little river

that devides the restaurant from the bonobo Reserve.

the children where really enjoying themselves, swimming and
playing on the beach....

Vianney an I decide to go and have a very deserving "Primus Beer" or two and ordered some lunch - Steamed fish in Banana leaves cooked in a lovely juice served with rice....great lunch!

Then the walk up to Bonobo Centre ...where we followed a guide who explained the different behavior and habits of the Bonobo....

here another link to learn more about them and perhaps you would like to support them-
http://lolayabonobo.wildlifedirect.org/category/the-sanctuary/

http://www.bonoboducongo.free.fr/

lolayabonobo@ic.cd

I am going to move on to tell you how I fell in love with them.........well one little baby!

Making a Home, buying African Arts

In this picture....the cushion covers, I am so proud of, the wooden elephant, there is a papa that comes around selling African art...so now I have to find a place for him...(he is a bit big for the table) that's the elephant...not the papa :)

The cloth is made by the Pygmy Tribe that live in the forest in the Kivu Province near the borders of Rwanda, if you would like to know more about the Pygmy's I discovered this link :http://www.pygmee.nl/pygmy_algemeen.html very intersting and they need support!

This week we found a little shop down town Kinshasa, where they sell beautiful materials with African Prints on , lamps and other products imported from Kenya. I fell in love with the beautiful beaded sandals, kokois and hand bags for sale. A great little find!!!

So the past week I have been using the sewing machine I brought along, sewing, curtains for the passage and cushion covers for the sofa....trying to get rid of the glitter that adorned the existing cushions ....just wanting to put my own stamp on the apartment to make it feel more like a home....

This lovely Jug statue I found at "Artisan Development"http://www.artisandevelop.com/

They have some lovely pieces and the wood work is really beautiful....we have ordered a table and some lamps from them , I cannot wait for them to come ......

Visiting the Bralima Brewery

The past two week have been busy and fun.....The International Woman's Club organised a visit to the Bralima Brewery . They are a Dutch owned company and where established here in the DRC 80 years ago.....

Bralima, which employs 1,100 people in the DRC, has six production sites in the country, along with a bottling plant in Kinshasa. The Kinshasa production facility, which was recently modernized and equipped with state-of-the-art machinery, is running at its full production capacity of 1.2 million hectoliters.....that's some production!!!

The tour of the Brewery ended of course in the little pub they have on site, where they provided snacks and of course an ice cold beer....

Our Trip to « Lac de ma Valee »

Sunday morning we thought it would be a good idea to just stay home, take the breakfast /brunch later in the day at the “Le Cercle Gourmand” a lovely little outside restaurant at the Kinshasa Golf Club…..but the weather looked a little risqué to be sitting outside the canopy of trees……
We decided to go little further out of town about 45minute drive to “La de ma Valee”…what a beautiful little spot , it is a small lake surrounded by a beautiful forest of trees, its really pretty much like a little oasis in the middle of no where….
You can order your lunch at the small restaurant on the banks of the lake, then take the 6km walk around it…..hot but fun!!!!

We of course had the lunch first, as we met up with some friends unexpectedly that had come for the day…..
The lunch was delicious and well prepared …typical Congolese food, Chicken cooked in coconut milk served with rice and a Green Leaf Spinach called Manioc…..I found this Article and Recipe at this Web site http://www.congocookbook.com/
So here a Recipe again for you enjoy :)

Greens in Peanut Sauce

This recipe, variations of which are found all over Central and Southern Africa, combines greens with another common feature of African cuisine: the groundnut, or peanut, sauce.

What you need
one to two pounds (or more): cassava leaves ( Feuilles de Manioc), collards, kale, turnip greens or similar; or spinach; cleaned, stems removed; and shredded, or pounded in a mortar with a pestle
one ripe tomato, chopped (or canned tomato, drained)
one onion, finely chopped
one-half cup peanut butter (or peanuts)
salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper or red pepper (to taste)
What you do
If you are using peanuts (instead of peanut butter), make your own homemade peanut paste:Remove the peanuts' shells, roast the peanuts on a baking sheet in a hot oven, or in a large skillet on the stove, stirring often, then remove the skins. Place the peanuts in a saucepan, add a few tablespoons of water to partially cover them and bring to a slow boil, stirring often. Reduce heat. Crush peanuts with a potato-masher.
In a large pot bring two cups of water to a boil. Add greens. Cover and cook on high heat for ten minutes, stirring often.
Reduce heat. Remove most of the liquid from the pot and save half of it. Add tomatoes and onion to the greens, stir and simmer for ten minutes or more.
In a bowl combine the peanut butter with enough of the liquid from the cooking pot to allow it to be mixed until smooth.
Add peanut butter mixture to greens. Season to taste. Simmer on very low heat until greens are tender to your liking.

My Surprise Trip To South Africa

Vianney, came home one night and told me that he was going down to Lubumbashi for a week. Surprise, he had bought me a ticket to go with him, we sat chatting about it that evening and I told him it would be fun to go to South Africa to do some shopping, well Vianney just said why don't we organise that for you. So off we went to the Travel agent and we booked my ticket for Sunday morning. We both went to the airport as he was leaving later in the day for Lubumbashi .

My daughter Tanya and her family where at the Airport to meet me, as I stayed with them, it was a time to get to know her two children Lizel nearly 7 and Theo 2 years of age, as I have not seen them for almost 6 years. Its strange to be called Nana ....guess I will just have to get used to it.!!! loved all the hugs I received from them.....it was fun!

I spent time meeting, friends, shopping and going out to some really good restaurants.
I was delighted with the growth of South Africa and the way the people treat each other with respect....I know that South Africans find the crime and the cost of living very high, I guess this is true for them but I still think that it is one of the best and most beautiful country's in the world.

I had a great time in SA and also enjoyed my birthday there but wow it is good to be back home with V again ....we really missed each other.....

Have a great week ..!!!

Lunching at Embassy's doing Crafts and Cooking lessons

This past week has just been so full of different outings , meeting new people and learning new things. I have become a member of the International Woman's Club here in Kinshasa...they really seem to keep us busy....mind you as busy and involved as you want to be....

I joined the Arts and Craft class really had some fun learning to do something different with a lovely young woman called Rania....

Rania not only does craft she is a excellent cook so , on the Thursday we went back to her house where she showed how to to prepare "Rough Wheat Tomato" in her country it is a poor mans supper , it is delicious, you eat it with the Lebanese pita bread, and chopped onions( I could have the name of the bread wrong...but I will give you the recipe....great for vegetarians, at a BBQ...just give it a bash I love it!!!!!

ROUGH WHEAT TOMATO- (Lebanese Dish)

1. Little Oil in a pot.

2. 3-4 Onions chopped fine...add to oil and brown.

3. 1 Tin of Chick Peas -washed and drained, add to onions.

4. 4 grated tomatoes - add to pot with a 1/4 up water.

5. 1 teaspoon tomato puree added to pot.

6. 1 Teaspoon cinnamon added .

7 1 Cup of Rough Wheat

8. 3/4 cup Water added to the pot with a pinch of salt.

Cover the pot , simmer, stir occasionally, and it will be ready to eat in 10 minutes or when most of the liquid has been absorbed.....

I really think that this dish is great hot or cold, eaten on its own or as a side dish........ENJOY!!!

Now about luncheon, at the Belgium Embassy, with another lady"s group called "Femme de Kin Accueil" its run very much the same way as the IWC ... I was invited to this very posh lunch where we where served champagne in the garden, while meeting ladies of Kinshasa Woman's Club... Lunch was a served in the dining room of the Embassy...we had 4 waiters catering to all our needs .....it was really fun.

I want to add that this organisation does allot of work for various charities here in Kinshasa, I feel very honoured to be part of such organisation doing there bit to help others less fortunate.......so you see we get involved and try our best while supporting our husbands in what they do..................

.The woman that accomany there husbands, all over the world are really remarkable....and do there utmost to enjoy the new experience as an ex-pat wife!!!! bravo!!

Malaria and Hospitals in DRC

What a strange weekend.... after a great week...all of a sudden things go weird. The first thing that happened is on Saturday late afternoon, we see allot of activity going on at the pool and the next thing two little boys run past the house shouting "his dead...definitely dead" with one adult telling us, no don't listen to that there was an accident one of the boys about 9yrs old was at the pool playing but could not swim and ended up nearly drowning. Thanks to the 3 adults that where present who managed to rescue him and resuscitate him the story ended well....



On to the next event , we went out for dinner after this with some friends, but the service was not the best and my Vianney was not feeling himself. I put it down to the little boy episode but when we got home he said his head felt like it was about to burst...So sunday our day that we planned to go to Lac de ma Valee was canceled. Vianney had a fever,body ache and really felt awful, he just spent the whole day sleeping hoping it was a one day flu..........

Monday morning again after not having a good night, we decided to go to the clinic to have a blood test done for malaria...I must be honest if you are on the outside of the clinic you would not want to go in for treatment. Once in, the staff tried to be very helpful and accommodating. It was a long process but finally by 11.30am we where on our way after seeing the doctor.

While we where waiting a young guy was brought into emergency, after suffering a heart attack...very scary to watch but the staff where there ready to deal with the emergency.

The result of our visit Vianney has malaria, so he is been treated for 5 days with Quinine and will go back to be retested, after completing the medication.....I am sure that this too will end with a positive result...

Meeting New People and Trying New Restaurants!

This week has been full of new, people , good restaurants and happenings in my life !!!! On Tuesday I went off to the International Woman's Meeting at the Canadian Embassy. We had a speaker who chatted to us about the impact of deforestation here in Africa and the effects it has on Global Warming.



I was really happy to join this group of ex-pat as it opens the door to many more activities and new people in my life. The most important happening for me was meeting "Ingrid" " who writes the blog"Life as in Kin" , she really is a delightful, positive young woman. I think that if you have been following my blog from the beginning, you realised that at first I was very negative about coming to the DRC until Dorianne my daughter found Ingrid's blog and of course the rest is history it turned things around for me completely,and more positive about joining the ex-pat life here in the DRC.

Thanks Ingrid you are really an inspiration, and described life here in Kin very accurately. You just have to make the most of all opportunity's thrown your way in life.

Now to the subject of the restaurants, a group of us went to the Mandarin Chinese Restaurant after the meeting where the view is just so beautiful. You look across the Congo river and see Brazzaville very clearly on the other side. The other restaurant was the the Taj-Tandoori which is on the top of a building with a fabulous view of the city lights in the evening. In fact you could be anywhere in the world having a evening out with friends.... the only off putting thing about going to this restaurant is the small lift that only takes 3 people....it is very claustrophobic....but guess to enjoy we need to pay a small price....

Lumbumbashi

Finally on Saturday I left for Lubumbashi with Vianney. Leaving for the Airport at about 11.30 am thinking we would leave at 2.30pm well think again... in Africa time takes on a new meaning...we arrived safely after a two and a half hour flight in Lubumbashi, with Air Zimbabwe. Lisa was at the airport to meet us so getting our luggage went smoothly , finally at 8pm we checked into our very modest Hotel called "Nazim" with its fake palm trees outside, flashing their welcome!!!

We went off to meet the rest of the consultants at the Belgium Club for dinner . It was a good supper, what surprised we was finding a place where you can do some 10 pin bowling...2 lanes but thats not bad !!!

Lubumbashi is much smaller than Kinshasa , the main road is ina very good condition not one pothole. There are traffic lights and unlike Kinshasa people obey the rules of the road.

The little Hotel we where staying in was quiet funny , in the morning you have no choice of what breakfast you are going to have, the old Papa comes along with your tea or coffee and 5 minutes later you get a little oily omelet with two slices of bread and a blob of jam.. so off to the nearest little shop I went to buy some yogurt and muesli....this was much better for me.

Lubumbashi is very dusty due to all the mines around and also the fact that the roads leading off the main road are in a shocking condition, potholes , soil erosion ...so as a result you have this red brown dust all over...everywhere dust....apart from that I enjoyed Lubumbashi....

They have some great restaurants most of them associated with a Club eg..Italian Club, Greek Club, Belgium Club then we have Holly Bum which is a Restaurant and Guest house, Chez Robert

has the same concept and is really cute....it has a pool , nice little garden with lots of bird life around.

On Sunday for lunch we all went a place called "Bush Camp" where we had a great lunch, you get to choose you meat which can be anything from sausage , crocodile, ostrich or game they barbeque this and you help yourself to salads and cooked vegetables...

We flew back to Kinshasa on Wednesday with CA Airlines it was not bad at all, I was just surprised that after an hours flight we stopped at a town called Mbumbayi , looking down you see these huge mining holes....and I believe this is where allot of the diamonds come from. Mbunbayi is in the middle of the country...we stopped there for refuelling and of course more passenger.....it was funny to see some of the household goods they loaded onto the plane...stoves beds some plastic chairs...its different in Africa but wow what an opportunity....

So I am back in Kinshasa settling down in my home and Vianney has gone off to Matadi , maybe one day I will get to visit this little town too........

What's New At Belle Vue

Well the little Complex is coming along fine, it has had its teething problems but I guess that is to be expected. One day you have Internet then there is nothing again for a few days.....Sometimes you have excellent TV reception then the lights go out and everything is blurry and there is no signal . This goes on almost every other week......So when we have a good week its bests to enjoy it while you can. (Just an update here we had Internet connection installed by Vodacom and it is working well now after 5 days of no service....guess I should not complain it might just go off again!!!!)
Some of the people staying on the compound have had there own Internet and satellite TV installed at a price but if you are going to be here long term its a small price to pay!!!! (Hey ....just joined in with this too, so I am set up!) Its great!
School has opened , we have the International School called "Jewels Int. School" just down the road from Belle Vue. So the mornings around here are very quiet.....The afternoons when the children get back they all seem to meet at the swimming pool, that was just filled this last week so now they can swim and get rid of any left over energy, cooling down in the pool.


Around the pool they are still busy building, they will have a gym,small shop, restaurant so at least once that is ready we too will be able to enjoy more facilities.


Vianney spent 5 days away down in Lubumbashi and I thought it would be best to stay behind , just as well, I ended up with flu....and been a twit kept on thinking it was malaria talk about been obsessed about something!!!! guess I just want to be care full....anyway I am well now!

Every other day you about someone that has malaria, a driver, a maid or one of there children so its out there...we just have to take care and spray our "Deet" perfume!!!!

This weekend , Vianney will be off again to Lubumbashi but he wants to go to Matadi.as well...have no idea which one it will be and maybe I will get to go with....so its all up in the air for now, best to play it by ear... I just hope the time comes soon when we can go off and explore around Kinshasa... I did get to some of the markets last weekend but still want to visit Lac de ma Valee!!

Have a good weekend , I know I will ....make the best of it!

What I do when we travel......

I guess its time I answer this question once and for all.....If you have read the beginning of my blog you know that Vianney and I met 7 yrs ago, I knew that my life would be full of new adventures and experiences,........exactly what I was looking for after meeting the man I had been searching, for a life time... ( I know it sounds kind of sugary but true)
So I packed up my suitcases and decide to follow him where ever he went...In my opinion if you are in a relationship especially at my age you do not make decisions like this lightly. I still feel that I made choice for myself...leaving one continent for another....but part of life is finding the right person to be with and to enjoy life together by giving encouragement and support .

I feel that long distance relationships do not work for everyone....guess that puts me into that category....life is too short if you love someone to be sitting at different ends of the world waiting.. is just not my bag I would be very lonely ......if that was the case I would not be where I am here in DRC ...I travel to be with Vianney..so that is the first reason I am with him...You want to know how I fill my time exactly, the same way many woman do, I support my man in every way I can , take care of the two of us with doing the cooking , laundry ,entertaining,just generally been a good better half. For myself I am still doing my French Lessons on the computer, writing this blog, meeting friends for coffee doing some walking .....and when I look again the day has just passed by so quickly and it is time to start all over again.......... its called a life!

So I am sure for some it mind seem kind of boring.....I can definitely vouch for the fact that if woman had to be paid for what we do......we would definitely be far too expensive because as a woman and a mom.....I find that we are always compensating doing without to make it easier for those we love.......

So I hope this answers this question..........NO I AM NOT BORED...................I am happy!!! I speak this softly.....:)

Two Month's have passed now!!!

It has been a busy two weeks for me in a way...guess it has something to do with getting into a routine and just dealing with Africa.
I unfortunately parted ways with young Jael....lets say it just did not work out and maybe she had more aspiring ideas...and doing housework was not really on the agenda...so hopefully she has moved on to greener pastures where she can run the household.
Well that has left me again trying to find someone that is going to be more suited to me....I took one look at the next person, offered to me and knew that it was not going to work for me so now I think i am known for not been too easy to please...well too bad!!!
On Monday i had a papa who's name is eBabi, start but I don't think that it will last much longer than this Monday for me either....I know people are poor but that is no reason for them to go through your bags......unfortunately if you do not catch them red handed its a bit difficult to prove!!! So I have some decision to make....and soon.!!!
On the social side,we have attended a few birthday dinners and a house warming party they turned out to be fun.
Our Thursday morning tea this week was great, we had it at a lovely German lady's house (Ava )who made us a great curry and rice for lunch...
we sipped some champagne to celebrate one of the lady's getting her container.....so all is not dull here on the compound!!!
This morning we enjoyed a birthday breakfast I organised for young Bev from Australia...
We found a delightful restaurant called Mozart's where we sipped some champagne and chatted over a beautiful cheese and ham omelet....we bumped into two more international ladies Alison a Korean/American and Biva from Nepal .
After our breakfast we went with Biva and Sylvi who is Congolese married to a (Canadian) who comes from Iran....to do some shopping.........a little nerve wrecking with Biva driving who tells us she is used to driving an automatic car ....and that she just cannot get used to how the Congolese drive ....they make one lane into three and if all else fails improvise and make it four with the other side of the road doing exactly the same.....Welcome to the DRC .driving experience...this explains why we need a chauffeur......until next time have a good weekend.!!!

Sometimes its good to read Poetry

IF

By Rudyard Kipling
If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,Or, being hated, don't give way to hating, And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools, Or watch the things you gave your life to broken, And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss, And lose, and start again at your beginningsAnd never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew To serve your turn long after they are gone, And so hold on when there is nothing in you Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on";

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you; If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute With sixty seconds' worth of distance run - Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it, And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!

Rudyard Kipling

Here's a link to a Web site all about Rudyard Kipling:www.kipling.org.uk/kip_fra.htm

Weekend Visits

Sunday has arrived and finally there was a car and a driver outside our appartment who really had no one to take shopping....We decided to take advantage of the opportunity to go on one of our visits. After a brief discussion with our driver Etienne we decided to visit Kinsuka to visit Chez Conseille (Pompage) It is about a 35 minute ride from Belle Vue on the road going to Matadi... Driving on the roads he has to go around the potholes and broken down truck and cars at times, which give you time to look at how the people of Kinshasa live. Mama's with big basin's of bread (baguettes) and a jar of homemade peanut butter making breakfast for anyone who stops by to order with her...Woman going about shopping for vegetables all dressed in the beautiful dresses or skirts and tops made of wax anglais materials...so bright and colourful I just love it! Not to forget the many full little churches (some make shift ) full of people singing and praying...People are very religious here , I have come to the conclusion when there is nothing else, no hope you turn to something or someone that offers some form of hope! I do not think a day goes by when I am not asked if I have a job for someone....it is sad, and I feel a bit helpless at times.

What a surprise when we eventually got to Kinsuka, we where on the Congo River with a view of the rapids and just on the other side of the river Brazzaville. The beach is full of huge black boulders. Here and there you spot a fisherman on the rocks fishing with a net or rod.. and.kids bathing in the shallow water. In this area you also find that they earn minimal money by breaking up these rock, first by making dynamite holes blasting them and then chipping at them to make smaller pieces so that they can build houses .....in a week they can earn about 10 20 dollars doing this.

I also discovered some very nice statues that where made out of cement dotted around the gardens before getting to the beach .I spotted my first African Dwarf Pygmy Kingfisher(Bird)
in some reeds next to what was once upon a time a fish farm.....

After our walk we discovered a little restaurant , where they have a buffet lunch for $20 but we opted for the fried bananas with a fish that is steamed in banana leaves ...it was delicious...

We had a great Sunday and will visit there again......