Power Cuts and Short Cuts!

Over the last three weeks we have been adjusting to our new surroundings. We are preparing to move into our house next week. Until then we continue to stay in a guest house on the same compound. The compound is beautiful and quiet. As the weeks pass we are experiencing more and more power cuts. We have had more power cuts in the last week than there were days! This has been a stress point for us. Regular power cuts were not so common where we stayed before.

In our house there is never a good time for a power cut. At night we usually leave a light on so that we are not tripping over things when the twins kick up a fuss!! The twins wake in the night because their fan has stopped and so mummy and daddy are called - not that we can do anything for them! One morning, Joshua had had enough and wanted out of his cot at 4.30am. I tried to settle him in the living room but to no avail. He was so frustrated that no one was turning on the light to allow him to see his toys! On another day, the power went out halfway through the twins bedtime praise baby dvd routine - NOT A GOOD THING! On Wednesday Sharon was baking when the power went out - just as well we have a gas oven.

Staying on the theme of electricity, I went to get my haircut last week. I thought I would be the admirable missionary to immerse myself in the local culture! I told Sharon that I would head up the road to the local barber and that I should not be long. When I arrived at the little tin shack I didn't see any customers but one guy half asleep. I asked if he was the barber and he said he was so I asked him how much a haircut cost. He said it would cost 15mts (30p). I proceeded to tell him that I wanted a hair cut with a 3 on top and 2 on the sides. He said that was fine so I sat down while he got himself organised. Before I knew it, he took a swipe at my hair with his clippers but without using any guide. After the shock, I acknowledged that it was too late to tell him that I wanted the guide so it was a 'zero' haircut I was getting! To make matters worse I soon realised that his clippers were not up to the job. I think this was the first haircut the barber had ever offered a white man! I could see that the barber was way out of his comfort zone. The more I spoke, the quieter he became! Eventually, he claimed that the electric current was low and so he couldn't get his clippers to work properly. At that moment I needed to be calm and 'keep my hair on' but it was a bit late for that as half of my head as almost bald! What next? I asked him if maybe he could cut my hair with scissors first and then trim with the clippers but he didn't have any scissors! Eventually I suggested that he come with his clippers to my house to see if the electric current would be better. In the end, my idea of saving time and money didn't turn out the way I had expected. The good thing is that my hair will grow back and anyway, the grey hairs don't show when my hair is so short! The photo shows my haircut one week on!

Everything takes such a long time in Mozambique. Getting through traffic, buying a few items from the hardware store or paying a bill. This means that we try so hard to find 'short cuts' (faster ways to do things). A good friend, Juca, showed me a short cut to town one day but when I tried to follow the road back I feared that I was going to lose my way. Every junction had three or four little paths that all look the same. As it was getting dark I decided that it would be safer to stay to the main roads which meant a long track round. We will get used to living on the suburbs eventually!