Return to Mozambique – Four Speeches and a Promenade

Harriett invited us to return to Mozambique for her Graduation. We caught the flight on time and changed planes somewhere on the way. After two long and gruelling flights, it was a huge relief to land and meet Sam and his family. We were decidedly tired after our journey and we both felt jetalled© – like jetlag but decidedly worse – even though Mozambique is an hour ahead of the UK.

Sam drove us and Harriett to Il’ha da Inhaca – quite a long, small-boat crossing from Maputo. On our arrival, we walked up the beach to the house where we were going to stay overnight. The garden hosted large numbers of tropical flowers – Mozambique is very colourful, even in winter. That first afternoon we walked down to the town and had a good meal in the restaurant. I began to feel a lot better after a good night’s sleep. The following day, we had pleasant weather and went out in a small boat to the bay. We walked along the beach. Surprisingly, I took a few photos while Annabel and the others went for a swim. One highlight of the day was watching silverfish jumping out of their pool. Back in Maputo, we had a most pleasant surprise. Imogen, Sam and Zoe’s other daughter, arrived home from school in the Netherlands. It was great to see them all again.

The following day was Harriett’s graduation day, the main purpose of our visit. A celebration for school children on the cusp of adulthood, dressed in mortar boards and gowns. I assumed they were wearing shoes but I| couldn’t tell from my seat. There were several speeches from dignitaries, who certainly knew how to talk. I think I managed to stay awake which, unfortunately, is not an unusual experience. After the ceremony we were pleased to be able to move out into the shade, where the temperature was somewhat cooler. That evening we all sat down to a celebration meal with Harriett, Sam, Zoe, Imogen and a few of Harriett’s friends. It was a memorable day.

Sam and Zoe have bought a new house which is impressive, spacious and a really good place to live. They will be moving in shortly. While we were there, April sent us a photo of a splendid painting which featured, wait for it, a dragon. She has a real talent for art. That evening, I had pizza, while the others ate sushi. Unfortunately, beans on toast with an egg on top was not available!

We said goodbye to Imogen who was returning to her school. We set off with Sam for a couple of days in Ponta Membene in the Maputo Reserve. We enjoyed observing a wide range of wildlife as the light faded, dark by 6 pm. At our lodge we enjoyed an enormous room with a large fan swirling above the bed. Outside, the wind blew furiously.

On the second day we had breakfast and then went down to the beach where Annabel and Sam snorkelled. I had not swam for some time, having had an unpleasant experience in a swimming pool where I had a bad cramp. On the final day we packed, had breakfast and returned to Maputo. We stopped on the way back to view an extensive plain crammed with wildlife including nyala, warthogs, wildebeest, waterbuck, zebras, vervet monkeys and elephants. Sam mentioned that about thirty people were reading my blog. Thank you, readers!

Our final excursion was to Eswatini, a small country in southeast Africa. Harriett and her friends came along to enjoy the nearby Bushfire Festival. We might have joined them twenty years ago but not now. There was a rhino at the entrance to the reserve. The evening meal was most pleasant, and we laughed a lot. It was obviously quiet there. The dark skies were wonderful with masses of twinkling stars – just like stars are supposed to twinkle. Far more than we can see in the UK. The song “Starry, Starry Night” would have made a wonder musical accompaniment! And to top all that we had mosquito nets, running water and a flushing toilet. Luxury. What more could we have asked for? Electricity maybe.

We had a game drive through the reserve which contained an abundance of animals including rhinos, hippos, marabou storks and oxpeckers and elephants. There was, however, some fear when an angry elephant intimidated us and block

ed our path. The guide responded by revving the car in order to put it off, then drove away quickly. Phew!

During our ‘down’ time, we relaxed by watching hippos and rhinos at the water hole. The were magnificent to look at and dead easy to photograph while they slept. A variety of antelopes were also present. We spent our time sitting, relaxing and walking. On the last day of our holiday, we awoke to spot a dead impala outside with no obvious injuries. I guess it didn’t remain there for long. Then we finished our sojourn with a bird spotting walk.

Postscript. We finished our holiday when Sam drove Harriett and us to the airport. We really enjoyed this holiday and thank Sam and Zoe for having us with them and for arranging a variety of activities which we thoroughly enjoyed. Thank you both – we really appreciate your very successful efforts to keep us entertained! Harriett has stayed with us since we got back and has earned some money working in a local pub, cooking for us and doing some cleaning – thank you, Harriett, we very much appreciate your efforts!

Sam and Zoe realised that my mental condition had not deteriorated significantly. As you are probably aware, I take a variety of precautions to reduce the speed of the Alzheimer’s. People I meet for the first time are often unaware of my condition. I appreciate the way that many people support me without making a fuss, the Culgaith walkers for instance. This makes my life easier – thank you all, especially Annabel, Sam, Tom and their families and friends and acquaintances in the U3A and the Ramblers. I keep on fighting and writing this blog is one way which helps.

N.B. In less enlightened times Mozambique was previously known as Portuguese East Africa and Eswatini as Swaziland.