Amina has got front teeth!

I am introducing a special new blog category, for Amina’s growing body of fans. I am back at school properly again after a ridiculously fun few weeks with intrepid pals who made it out here – Rosie and Steve followed Sharon and Fred and camped in the middle of nowhere, hung out on Zanzibar’s paradise beaches and then came to school for two days as honorary classroom assistants.

I am sorry I haven’t been written much recently. I was away with Rosie and Steve, then the internet here didn’t work, then I had a vile bug – my first here – which rendered me even hotter and sweatier than usual, aching all over and most significantly, needing to be very, very near the loo at all times. Luckily Rosie had a supply of antibiotics which I scorned at first (no, no, you shouldn’t take other people’s drugs) and then was cravenly begging for.

So, Rosie and Steve and I all went on safari together. We camped in the most remote place I’ve ever been. It was like Out of Africa, finally. Downtown Dar is more like Out of Dalston. We did a night-time safari drive and Rosie and I really, really needed to do a big wee about two seconds after leaving the camp. We finally had to give in and ask our nice driver (Hot Guide from previous blog entry, making a guest appearance!) to let us go. We had to go together behind the truck and were mildly worried that we would suddenly see glowing eyes in the darkness and hear a throaty lionish roar. Anyway, no such luck, as that would have been a much better anecdote. We also visited a Masai village and were informed that we were VERY old not to have children yet. I smiled nicely but I was wishing them a bad harvest.

Here’s Rosie and me in excellent slightly pissed-up old slag mode. Me really, Rosie looks much more decorous.








And then Steve and me looking a bit bleary on our sunrise walk. Emmanuel the Masai “no, of COURSE I don’t go hunting” is in the background. Sadly, you can’t see his mobile phone in this pic but he was always on it shouting things like Buy Pork Bellies! etc etc. It was such a privilege to be introduced to a culture which has remained unchanged for so many hundreds of years.










Anyway, I feel a bit guilty about spending yet more time on the beach, so no photographic evidence there. So on to the most important blog topic. Here’s Amina! Looking absolutely gorgeous! I am looking customarily varnished.










I really am in danger of bringing her home. I just gaze and gaze at her when I am at school. She has to repeat the nursery year but she is now Class Monitor and very proud. She is very good at counting and leads the class welcome routine when visitors come. Rosie and Steve and I had super japes with them all and pushed them on the swings and watched them racing up and down the slides. Then we had a go!









I do normally work harder than this.

It was very sad when Rosie and Steve left. I suddenly realised how far away everyone is and had a big weep later that day. But I have made lots of nice plans for the rest of the week, and most importantly, will buy some NEW SHOES with my Christmas money from Uncle Fred and Aunty Sharon, as I am tired of looking like an aid worker in my horrible sports sandals and want to be glamorous again. I don’t how long finding the right pair will take, as I have now turned into my dear old Nan and tut over everything that isn’t second hand, making a low growling noise and saying “it’s a terrible price”.

But I shall update you all, and maybe even with some more important school news too.