Millipedes, Muzungus and Mice.
 
We have had kitchen visitors of late, both harmless which is good and a change from the gigantic cockroaches which 'come out to play' when the lights go out.

A giant millipede made its way graciously and determinedly across the kitchen floor the other night, heading for the back door, which we opened to allow it exit. The perfect synchronisation of its numerous legs was truly something to behold.  I mean, 'who thought that up?'

The materialist scientists would say it was just random, it simply happened, and because it worked it was retained. But the perfection of it belies such simplistic explanations - watching those hundreds of legs in perfect motion was for me yet more evidence that this amazing world is not just intelligent it is designed.

Although there is plenty of chaos in Africa still! Clearly, at some level, chaos also works. I am not sure that people sitting in their cars for hours in petrol queues would agree with that. As Muzungus we have an edge because the company is allowed a certain amount of fuel and we can access enough to fill the car and keep our generator running from the depot. With three full jerrycans in the shed it is a nice feeling.

The other visitor was a mouse which has necessitated moving onions and potatoes up from the pantry floor onto a shelf. Chewed ends may make a meal for a mouse but I prefer my vegetables intact. I spotted our visitor dashing across the lounge room floor the other day and I am thinking we might be able to share space as long as he or she cannot reach the pantry shelves. No doubt there are enough crumbs to keep a small mouse going although Limited is pretty rigorous with the broom and mop.

Things have been fairly quiet in Lilongwe although there is word of demonstrations next week. Things have a way of simmering in such places and erupting unexpectedly. Then again, the people have plenty of issues to keep heat under the simmer spots.

As my mother would so often say, 'wishing doesn't change things' and I am sure, if it did, then Africa would be very different to what it is. The people themselves have wished for better things for millenia and everyone who comes, well, probably everyone who comes, can only wish for a better life for Africa.

Or perhaps such 'wishes' are countered by the power of witchcraft and the 'thoughts' or beliefs or wishes inherent in that complicated, convoluted and often cruel system. The power of belief in Africa is more than enough I am sure to counter the best of intentions and the most powerful of wishes.

But life goes on and the avocadoes on our huge tree grow equally huge and shine in full-bellied abundance with each new dressing of rain. The limes are also ripe and this year have not suffered from the fungus which destroyed much of last year's crop. Nothing has changed except this year the Wet season has been wetter so perhaps the more rain the less fungus although logic suggests quite the opposite.

The rains have been so abundant that it looks like a good maize crop will come in and the countryside is so green and lush it spreads like a flowing ocean in waves of grass and trees. Even the stumps of trees are now languidly shaking fresh fronds - resourceful life surging from the cruel cut and thrust of life on the African continent. But the branches and fronds will not last very long if the fuel crisis continues.

People must eat and that means people must cook and if there is no fuel to be purchased they will make their own by cutting down trees and shrubs to make charcoal.Survival will always be the prime motivator and just as it fuelled the rotating legs of our millipede visitor, so it fuels the life of Africa, no matter how or what anyone else may wish.

It is only when people have security that they will be supported in their bid to survive that they can take the time to indulge in other thoughts. Aesthetics and ethics are privileges of a more certain world.