I wonder how my wife and children would cope with the current water crisis. I was concerned when the tap ran dry last Monday. I became more concerned when they announced that the mains water would be turned off for 5 days. Today we found out that it is 10. The 25 gallon drum in the bathroom is in fact 50 gallon. No wonder my twelve buckets of rain water only half-filled the drum. Now it is empty. There are two 25 gallon drum near to the ironing board. One of them is empty and the other is reducing fast. I suspect that Jeff will have to buy in water to make it through the week. Drinking water is not a problem, as Jeff buys his in and has a supply that will last many weeks. Unlike many Africans Jeff and Tamara are educated. They understand basic sanitation, and lead a healthy lifestyle. I suspect that there are many who do not. My healthy lifestyle this morning was a bowl of Frosties with long life milk, two bananas and several glasses of water. The bananas tasted good, but not as good as the ones that I had yesterday. Tam and Jeffers looked after me well, they bought re-hydration salts and insisted against my wishes that I eat. It was a good decision. They made me up a plate of chopped banana and pineapple. Although I was not sure if they had gone to the shop or into the garden to collect the fruit. It turned out that it was a shop. I noticed the lady when we went out later yesterday afternoon. Her stall established on one of the many national government bus stops. African buses stop anywhere, wherever they can get a fare. The larger orange single decker coaches only stop at the designated stops with the raised pavement and the White, Green and Red signs. A good choice for the location of a stall. The fruit lady has opportunity for passing trade from the African Bus, Taxis and passengers who are waiting or alight from the transport. The African bus will swoop into the layby and if the fare collector is hungry or thirsty then he will trade from the window. Taxi's also swoop, especially when they see a European or well dressed person. The fruit lady had got it right, but I wondered if she had any water at home.
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