Thu 2 Oct
I got a taxi to the minibus station on the edge of town. I bought a ticket and by 0900 we were on our way, via Mbala, finally arriving around 1300. I walked down to the house of Ant and Berlinda – they were out but the houseboy invited me in. It was nice to sit in an air-conditioned room after carrying my bag in the heat of the day. Ant arrived home from the office followed shortly after by Berlinda and visiting friend Barbara. I felt they "sort of" remembered me from a drunken night two years previously when they generously said, "if you’re ever in the area feel free to come and stay".

We had a very nice lunch of local fish and in the afternoon went to see the new [tropical] fish house they were building, and next door: a plot of land they’d just secured to build their new home; right by the lakeside. After, we went on a few hundred metres to a lodge for a swim and a beer. The water was wonderfully refreshing and I was amazed how many tropical fish one could see just immediately by the water’s edge.

That evening Ant was trying to persuade me to come back and manage their tropical fish business. I must admit this was the closest I’ve come to seeing myself earning a livelihood out here. With great enthusiasm he also showed me the architect’s plan for their house. I must admit I thought it rather unimaginative but perhaps it was easier and cheaper to adopt a pre-approved plan rather than get carried away with designing your dream house.