Harare: Beautiful Aliens

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I know it’s not environmentally correct anymore but I was really hoping to see Harare dressed in purple. It’s natures colour at it’s best distracting one from the hum drum of daily life in Zimbabwe. The roads are pretty shot and to be a cautious driver means you’ll never make it out your front gate. Fourway stops at out of order robots be dammed. At first I was taking cover along side tiny little Yaris to get across the intersections but soon had to man up. After all Florence is pretty imposing…………eeek.

One thing that hasn’t changed is how helpful everyone in Zimbabwe is. Florence’s exhaust had developed a rattle so I phoned Terry (never met before) and organised with him to take a look. No problem, fixed in no time and no cost. Brett you owe Terry next Dad’s and Lads……..thanks. Terry also phoned a friend and organised us accommodation in Tete. All in a days work.

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Billy’s meats is an institution in Harare. Family friends for years, Mitchell’s but not related unfortunately. Billy and Sandy are in the process of breeding a pedigree Brahman herd. I weaseled my way into an invite to join them at the farm near Beatrice. Can’t resist a cattle farm. Billy warned me not to be a hesitant driver. First orange robot he sailed through and parked waiting for me, could hear the muttering. Note to self, get with the program.

The farm is rented and farmed with consideration for the surrounding community. Billy’s beautiful Brahmans share the grazing with a motley crew that get dosed and dipped as one. Bulls however, are not tolerated. Only the fancy boys have that task. Sandy carefully monitors numbers and matches calves to cows. It’s an intricate recording and registering process. Billy applied the pour on dip while two herdsman did the spraying. All nice and calm, unlike the Brahmans I remember who loved a bit of chaos.

After the dipping we went to check on the water, as one does as a farmer. Breakfast sandwiches and a lesson for Greg on the eating of Mahobohobo fruit. Not sure that Billy enjoyed the parrot food, Greg didn’t take any home.

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More old friends. Sheila is a legend. Her and Richard’s home defines the term, lived in. Their house is lived in by everyone and anyone who needs a place to stay. It’s a special place, created by special people. Always good to catch up.

Also connected with some old Masvingo school friends over a Gin at the local pub. Graham, Ruth and Johan (Zulu). Johan lived in Zambia for a while and has seen the Shoe-bill, even got the perfect photo. Hopefully I’ll add that tick to my list in November.