Selfie of Innocent and I on our way to the borehole

Looks easy!

After the rains the fields were green and lush with crops

So my turn!

The jerricans are empty but far more difficult to manouver than I thought!

We were greeted by homeowners along the way who I think were highly amused that I was ‘helping’!

Long narrow ro the bore holeute to

This cow was not keen on me passing it and bellowed at me! May it had never seen a Mzungu collecting water before!

Almost there!

Other locals were using the borehole filling their jerricans and while others were doing their washing so they didnt have toccarry the heavy loads home

Off loading

Maize, rice, beans, cassava, all growing in the fields

Six jerricans to fill

Innocent showed my how it was done

One done, five to go and

I filled all five!

My back ached so I had to stand in ‘split’ style and my right arthritic wrist ached so I had to use my left hand but I did it!

I tried to hold the bike steady as Inncoent attached the heavy load but wasn’t stong enough so this man came from digging and helped us

This elderly man asked for a photo with his hoe!

The long road home, uphill!

I didn’t even offer to help push

Six large jerricans full of water weighs and enormous amount!

Really getting his back into it!

I just followed with my camera!

Innocent didn’t didn’t stop for even a breath in the 20 minute push home!

Home at last, and still uphill!

In the heat and the dust I needed to bathe at least once a day but it meant that someone had to fetch the water from the village borehole! I tell you what, you really appreciate every drop when you witness the hard work it takes to provide the water.

Though it was early morning this was hard work! I needed my bathing sessions so had to be willing to put the effort in. Though if the truth be known I only went with Innocent to collect water the once! I helped push the bike to the borehole, filled five out of the six jerrycans but there my help ended!

Nico had a deal with Innocent that if he borrowed Innocent’s bike he should fill one of the empty jerricans. I was very grateful and Nico was happy to use the bike!

My bathroom. No running water so my dear friends provided me with water whenever I needed to bathe. Buckets, jug, roap ‘sponge’ and a baby bath to stand in, what more does a woman need! PS the blue stool with a hole in it is my loo. I have biodegradable bags that fit in the hole then it and its contents get deposited down the latrine outside – just saying!