Fine, Fine, Fine…..

May 12, 2007

6.35am and I’ve awoken to the sound of the lake lapping the beach, a stones throw from the door – I lackadaisically wander over to sit out on the wicker couches at the end of the veranda, take in the first Blue Peter of the day (cigarette) and take a sip of water – strange night last night – a lot of dreams about folk and places I know oh so well, yet have not seen for quite some time now – especially in UK – distinct feeling when I woke up that I’d been back that side and everyone had moved on without me – faces so familiar now just folk in the bar – a nod hello being the extent of conversation – hard to say the who’s, what’s, why’s, when’s and where’s with dreams - the vessel shipwrecks on the shores when you wake and all you are left with are fragments of the last few hours memories that then start to slowly sink beneath the surface as reality grabs a hold.

Sun is breaking slowly over the hills to the right, beams smoke through the Gecko trees as the sound of the bay coming to life filters in from the distance. Villagers can be seen up and down the shoreline doing the daily wash as kids play around them – Andrew, the cook, comes over to say hello – still beaming about the stereo I picked up for him in Blantyre – one problem is there’s no electricity in his house and the batteries required aren’t sold in the Cape – never the less the stereo is the talk of their neighborly community and his wife has been proudly showing it off – I promise I’ll sort the batteries so that his kids Colletta 4, and Clement 1, can get their groove on soon enough – for the moment he’s sticking to dancing in the kitchen, which is “fine, fine, fine” – as everything always is in the life of Andrew it seems.

James the “professor” and odd job man in general, comes over with the tea – everything is “fine, fine, fine” with James as well – he calls me professor as he greets while setting down the cups – the fact that his nickname came about due to the sudden taking up of wearing glasses despite not needing them still sails over his head – I remember the day:

“you got glasses James”
“yes”
“from the doctor here?”
“Ah no”
“from….”
“my friend – he give me for appearance only”
“so you can see perfectly OK?”
“yes”
“well why not get dark ones – you know – for the sun and everything”
“Ah no – I like these ones”
“ok”
“yes”

I have thought about trying to explain that he is the professor as he now looks more intelligent (and the irony is he’s actually as sharp as a bubble) – but James seems pretty happy with the new greeting we have established – I say “Hey Professor” – he says “Ah you, professor” and the day carries on in it’s own way.

James reminds me again to buy baseball hat for him in Blantyre – I decide that I’ll get him a Straw Tombola hat instead as it will look funnier.

Alex the gardener appears wearing Straw Tombola Hat looking ridiculous – “Muli Bwanji Alex?” - brushing the beach he looks up smiling “Ndili Bwino, fine, fine, fine” as everything always is in the world of Alex - he grins 24 hours a day it seems – could be happiness – could be mental instability – either way – he’s “fine, fine, fine”.

I make mental note to buy everyone Straw Tombola Hats.

Sun really up in its tree now around 7.15am - Gecko slowly coming to life as the characters start playing their roles around the place. I look to the lake and contemplate the daily swim around the boats. The scrawny cat from Gaia snakes between my legs and then jumps up to start walking on the keys looking for some attention – I play a while until he curls up in the corner of the chair – my work is done – we are all slaves to our cat masters.

Breakfast arrives as does Ronald the barman:

“Muli sharp asai”
“sharp”
“how’s things today?”
“ah things are fine”
“Wife and kids Ok?”
“Sure they’re fine”
“Wife still fat?”
“yes – big” (Ronald smiles and gestures to suggest she has quite an equator wrapped around her)
“good – that means you’re a rich man in this place”
“Sharp”

Breakfast of Omelet and toast along with all the usual Fry-up trimmings is shared – even the cat gets some.

I stand to take in the beginning of the day – the cat moves into freshly available warm seat – like the “walking on the keyboard to get attention” move, cats tricks such as this seem universally understood within the species – I contemplate how many cats across the world are currently pulling the same move right at this moment.

Stretching out I stare at the Gecko Tattoo on my arm – needs a touch up here and there after the first inking to fill the gaps – but once it gets drilled again that means no swimming for two or three weeks and with each weekend being lake-bound, who can say when there’ll be a gap in my busy loafing schedule.

My mind races with ideas for this place – Pushing the shop sales on the other lakeshore, the DVD rental thing, the travelers book exchange, internet café, music and film deliveries via Hard-disk sent via DHL from my contact in the UK, private cottage maintenance and kitchen delivery service, bike hire, dive platform out in the lake, pizza oven in a kitchen overhaul – I look around at the developments taking place or planned – extension of the dance-floor, overhaul and thatching of the VIP captains table drinking area, the 8 person Dormitory coming along nicely, DJ booth in the corner – consider the plans talked of in government about fixing up the road and how much extra business can come our way as a result…..

The Lake shimmers, beckoning me to take the daily dip….

Spo | May 12, 2007

Comments on Fine, Fine, Fine…..

sounds like you’re really wrapped up there. that professor is a pimp.

i meant to wish you happy 4/20, but it’s almost a month later.

Posted by on 05/16 at 03:28 AM

i think a month late on 4/20 is actually quite fitting - sorta sitting on the couch smoking a J and then the thought registers while the action follows 4/20 style a month later.

Posted by spo on 05/16 at 06:14 AM