Just click the heels together……

March 30, 2007

I don’t know what I expected really - a “yeah sure that sounds great - just let me know when and I’ll make a plan” response?

Well there’s lots of little details I guess - but in the end I figured the offer of lakeside living, sunshine and sand, hammocks and boat trips.... along with building our own business - that would be the kind of opportunity you don’t think twice about.

But the girl is not so sure.

“Forget University, leave your country, your job, your family, your friends, way of life - even daughter for a time - and come to Africa and we’ll build an empire on the lakeside - maybe - and no baby there’s no lions and no baby it’s not living in a jungle and yes baby there will be water & electricity - by the bells of St.Chris we’ve got wi-fi sitting out on the shore..... we run the shop, the bar, the chalets, the restaurant, the water project, the boat trips.....it’ll be what we make it....”

Yeah, that’s a lot to take in.

Though Jakarta is an unbelievable shithole - it is still a shithole called home.

She’s got her father to look after who’s 75 and not doing so good - she’s got the good job going places as a P.A to the director of an intl Cement company - she’s got the part time teaching thing......

But she’s also got the daily struggles and the constant buzz of congestion, pollution, corruption, poverty, decay, earthquakes, floods...... and no me either.

And me no her.

The best way to be together is this - any other possible place on earth we’re talking sky-high costs & visa problems - culture clashes and employment issues - UK? Holland? would be a fucking nightmare to sort that out - and lord knows it’s not likely I end up back in Jakarta anytime soon - here in Malawi, Paul can organise all we need and the life will lend itself to the slow-slow as we find our way.

I ask myself “what’s to think about?” but for me jumping countries and snap decisions are common practice - put me in her shoes and I guess I can see where she’s coming from.

So for now I’m making plans to start without her in December - can’t see past the issue with her father - family first - especially in that part of the world.

But neither the lake nor I are going anywhere.

So there’ll always be a day should she want to make the jump - figure that photo’s and conversation can’t do it justice - she’s got to come and SEE the possibilities I’m talking about.

The folks back home seem to be taking the change of plans pretty well.

If silence on the matter can be taken as indication as such.

Guess they’re just taking all that info in - the whole resigning, selling the flat, new job, career, country, no guarantees it’ll all sail type thing.

I’ll wait till I get back to UK before I mention the Tattoo I think.

Spo | March 30, 2007