Why has Alex been so lax in his updates?

It has been such a long time since my last update that it is hard to know where to begin to let you know what has been going on. Primarily I have been so caught up in the day to day that I have been neglecting my diary notes and just getting on with stuff.

My primary occupation has been getting Chiawa Community Campsite up and running and I am pleased to say that for the first time since its opening there is hot water in the showers and there are pleasant, flat spots for visitors to pitch their tents. We're not finished yet though - and I'll put up pictures when the place is properly up and ready. We've got two chalets to complete and then the safari tents from here have to be moved. It must be done by the time the rains come. My original target was June but . . .

• Cement went up in price by 50% and more because Zambian made cement is being exported to South Africa to build the stadiums for the Football World Cup. I feel I can complain a little because Zambia did not even qualify for the cup this time!
• Sickness and, sadly, death causes delays. Although my own workers have proved to be a pretty healthy bunch of guys, all too often they are called to attend on relatives who are not so fortunate. These problems have lost me both my skilled builder and carpenter for days and weeks at a time. Other staff too have suffered family losses and though I never ask (it would be pointless and invasive), I feel sure that the AIDS pandemic is responsible for many of the tragedies.
• I forget things sometimes. If I forget to buy nails or wire or glue even, it can delay the project by weeks as a task cannot be completed until the next transport is due and at $1,000 per truck I choose to wait till I can get a full load.
• When I am away in Lusaka and, at the moment I am in Lusaka a lot, things slow down partly because without supervision the pace of work tends, naturally to do so, but also because I do not want critical stages to pass in my absence. Last time I was in Lusaka one of the workers burnt all the new boilers so they collapsed from their old mountings. It was a training issue!

I am in Lusaka a lot because I have other fish to fry too. My self-employment permit has not been renewed and is undergoing an appeal. I am trying to work out what the problem was and get everything in order prior to a further joint inspection here on site.

My new boat has arrived from the UK and had a couple of problems with Customs - firstly we had not anticipated paying 25% duty but could not get around that and then I realised that the trailer was woefully inadequate for these roads so a guy called Clint is, hopefully constructing a new one for the bush. Right now it sits blocking his yard.

The project for my new house progresses - though again too slowly. The mud bricks and mortar seem to be holding well and the house structure looks strong enough. I have put a gallery of photos together so you can see how it looks up till now and when it is finished I think there may a story there in itself.

On top of all this I am in negotiation with DANIDA about writing a book for them on the outcome of the Community Based Natural Resources Management Project in Mumbwa. That is a fascinating piece of the Overseas Development Aid world that I would enjoy getting my teeth into.

It all makes me too tired to watch the leopard as he comes through camp at night. I hope I can slow down at some point and get back to why I originally came . . .

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