Getting hitched, Zimbo style

Here's a quick photo of the wedding I officiated at yesterday, in the Peak District, in Staffordshire. We are on the run today, getting my mom to friends at the start of a 2 week walk-about for her. Rose and I have a few days off work. The wedding was great fun, and I will post more on it later.

Why People Stay in Zimbabwe

This is a question I am often asked - Zim is often in the news these days - and there is no easy answer. The poem below arrived in my email today, forwarded by our daughter Michelle, who called it 'a classic'. Maybe because it gives a hint of the resiliant spirit of many who stay living there during all the current troubles ...

I have so much more money in my bank

For all of this, I have you to thank!

I'm saving money at a rate of knots

By the time I'm 40, I'll really have lots!

I can't spend it on fags, fine food and fair

'Cos when I go to TM, the shelves are all bare!

Other shops are quite empty of tempting treats

Who needs dairy products, cokes or sweets?

Standing all day in the queue for maize meal

Mean's I don't have to work - wow, what a deal!

I see all my mates there from days gone by

We catch up on news and make plans for a braai!

I can't find any marg or oil in the shop

My bathroom scales are starting to drop!

When I put on my jeans, they fall to the floor

'Cos no sugar or flour, means no baking no more!

Now bread, it seems, is a thing of the past

But I'm not worried, 'cos I'm loosing weight fast!

There's no need to lose weight by going to a gym

Just live in Zimbabwe and you'll get real thin!

I walk everywhere; there's no fuel in my car

I'm really quite fit now, from walking so far!

I spend more time at home than ever before

This is a good thing 'cos there's always a chore!

I take time for all the positive things in life

Like my family, reading and staying out of strife!

I'm coping quite well; so it just goes to show

That living with shortages is not such a blow!

Anonymous, Mutare, Zimbabwe

Relocation Relocation Relocation

I had a wonderful hour-long catch-up via Skype with my brother Rogan, last night. One of the enjoyable things of us both having excellent broadband is that staying in voice (and even video) contact is easy. They have lived in Southfork, Colorado since January 2007:

Images from GoogleEarth. '>HERE'S THE PLACEMARK

Nicole, Amy, Caroline, Rogan, Emma - Looking so much more relaxed than we we last saw them 9 months ago

They recently purchased their first home - something they had not been able to do when living in Zimbabwe. It is a typical wooden house for the mountain area they live in, and was originally delivered on a truck, in two halves. Their eldest daughter Amy is home from College for the summer, and they all have had summer jobs. Nichole will start College in the Autumn, about 75 miles away. Emma stays at the local High School. They seem to be very happy with their new life - different for sure - but not so much of the general stress that comes with just living between the Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers these days.

New home for the Southfork Taylors - check out the Zimbo flag