In the morning we go to my friend's house and she gives Sian a maths lesson whilst I give her children an English lesson. Social distancing is taken seriously and all lessons take place in the garden with many metres between us all. At the end of it my friend tells me that she ordered some chocolate and tea for me with a runner, but doesn't feel she can give them to me as the runner did not pack her order very well and Handy Andy spilt onto both items.
Because prices are so high in Zimbabwe and the range of goods so limited, many people pay runners to buy their groceries in South Africa, where prices are lower. They generally add around 30-35 per cent onto the cost of the goods which is still often cheaper than buying them here. Because the border is closed to everyone except cargo and returning residents, I am not sure how shopping is being done at the moment. I have heard that orders are squirelled away on long distance lorries and so it is not surprising that my friend's order arrives in haphazard fashion: heavy items on top of easily breakable ones, lids not screwed on properly and no separation of goods so toiletries, detergents and dairy products are all lumped together.
However, being a desperate Zimbabwean, I do not mind at all that the cover of the Lindt chocolate was damaged or that the box of tea got squashed. I will take them! English breakfast tea is English breakfast tea after all and a real treat for me.
Back home, just before lunch there is a loud bang that seems to come from the direction of our neighbours. They are a rowdy lot, zooming around on motorbikes and playing Bryan Adams very loudly at the weekend. It is not unfeasible that they have shot each other and in many ways that would be a relief. However, the electricity goes off at the same time which is not a good sign. We may be in for a long, dark night.
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