tea estates, family holidays and birthday parties

Well the diesel arrived and off we set in Jurie's luxury mobile - it was a gorgeous time away. The tea estate was lush and lime green with new shoots and the tea fields stretched up the mountains all around as far as you could see. It was cold and misty and we wore our only pairs of jeans and jackets for three days in a row. Went for long walks on the roads through the tea fields and pockets of indigenous forests and ate like kings (again there were cooks on hand!) and had tea brought through to the sitting room on a trolley as we lounged about in front of a huge fire and read while the kids coloured in (still a favourite pastime) and played lego (essential travel companion - they even played it in the car). It was a real break and felt like another world.
(It is another world - the workers all but salute you as you pass and wear absolute rags and tatters while the owners live in gorgeous mansions and drive about in flash 4x4s and play golf at the country club. They have a glossy printed leaflet in the house telling you they do such a lot for their workers - like provide protective clothing in the factory(!) and a clinic, but really one wants to say "Oh put a sock in it and just pay your workers a bit more! Their houses don't even have doors and it's freezing there! - Felt very socialist, but still loved our time there - amazing how one can suspend one's morals!!)
Then went on a meandering route homeward via the magnificent Mulanje mountain and Polombe to Zomba Forest Lodge where we again ate the most magnificent fillet and veg and had roaring fires and hot water bottles in the bed. You can buy strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries, mulberries and grenadillas on the mountain road up Zomba - we got terribly excited. Have frozen them and intend to make delicious smoothies for breakfasts!
Today was Ben's birthday and party. Had all the local kids over and provided biscuits, orange chips and sweeties and a chocolate cake and they ate themselves silly and had a great time. Got James the carver to make Tintin and Captain Haddock and Snowy for Ben and I painted and varnished them yesterday - they look splendid and Ben has played with them all day. Shall affix a pic.
All exhausted now - Bush and Eddie have passed out but Ben and Buj are still jorling about with Tintin...
Toodle pip