November 18

John leaves early in the morning for Francistown in Botswana. He is primarily going to buy some car parts, but also has a shopping list: toilet rolls, washing powder and toothpaste, to name a few.  Exciting stuff - and all at least half of the price of what they cost in Zimbabwe.  Hopefully, he will also buy Marmite.

John takes my car and Sian is mortified that this means we have to go to school in my mum's old car, affectionately known as Chugga. Chugga is about thirty five years old, and, although only one door can be opened from both the inside and outside and the boot cannot be opened at all, it is not to be under-estimated. I am the bigger problem as I have to get used to driving a manual again. Sian rolls her eyes at me when I forget to change gear and we stutter across the Cecil avenue traffic lights in an awkward jerking manner.

'Do you know Nana used to drive this at 120 (kph)?' There is something accusatory in her tone. I can understand why my mum might have driven it so fast though; as soon as you start slowing down, you feel as though the engine is about to cut out. At the next traffic lights, I unintentionally do a (small) wheelspin and we finally shoot into school with about five minutes before the bell goes.

We get a message from Airbnb, suggesting how we can get more customers over the next two weeks.  This involves cutting our prices in half.  Yes, of course we will get more customers that way; just about everybody will come and stay at our expense.  We will be cheaper than a backpackers'.

What Airbnb don't seem to understand is the psychology of pricing.  Most people, including myself, tend to look at the mid-range price.  We don't look at places that are vastly too expensive, but nor do we look at exceedingly cheap.  Exceedingly cheap has a big question mark over it (even two on occasion).  We wonder how such a price can be offered.  Do the sheets get changed? Are the staff getting paid properly?  If not, will they be seeking to top up their dismal salaries with what they can find digging around in our bags?  Cheap also suggests struggling: we are desperate to get you here.  Please, please, please, come and stay so we can all eat tonight.  Please!

We have discovered that the best thing is to offer clean, comfortable, pleasant accommodation that does not make any false claim to lavish luxury, but is also quietly confident and therefore does not stoop to the lows that Airbnb suggests we should.

It is a very hot and sticky afternoon with no rain.  John is back in the evening, quite exhausted.  A quick trip to Francistown still involves six hours of driving and the hassle of crossing the border.  He managed to buy two tyres for my car (two is still cheaper than one in Zim) and some other bits and pieces for his car.  He has also bought Marmite so we can all sleep well tonight.