Good-byes

 

During the first days of this week, we went to Mavalane airport for a second time in a short period with the same purpose: saying good-bye to divers Jo and JP. They left to Durban with a 4 months valid ticket to Angola.

 

In Durban they are going to join a larger group of SA personnel traveling by land to the largest Portuguese speaking country in Africa, in a caravan of vehicles including a truck.

 

As far as I know, the job is cable related and requires working all long the coast, from Cunene to Cabinda. JP and Jo task is mapping the underwater conditions for cable installation.

 

If you wonder what JP has been doing during these last two weeks in Maputo, I can satisfy your curiosity with a simple word: fishing!

________________

 

Nos primeiros dias desta semana, fomos ao aeroporto de Mavalane pela segunda vez num curto período de tempo com o mesmo objectivo: despedirmo-nos dos mergulhadores Jo e JP. Eles seguiram para Durban com um bilhete válido para uma estadia de quatro meses em Angola.

 

Uma vez em Durban, os dois vão reunir-se a um grupo de pessoal sul-africano que vai viajar por terra até ao maior país africano falante da língua portuguesa, numa caravana que inclui um camião.

 

Tanto quanto sei, o trabalho que vão executar está relacionado com a instalação de cabos ao longo de toda a costa, do Cunene a Cabinda. A tarefa do JP e do Jo vai ser registar as condições existentes no fundo do mar para a instalação dos cabos.

 

Se se interrogam acerca daquilo que o JP tem feito ao longo destas duas semanas em Maputo, eu posso satisfazer a vossa curiosidade com uma simples palavra: pescado!

Active Winter

 

Sometimes African winter can be unexpectedly severe due to cold fronts and other meteorological variations. The hardship of winter is not only felt in terms of thermometer but also in humidity, especially inside houses in general poorly equipped for cold weather. In SA, for instance, 60 people already died in consequence of last week extreme cold.

 

We have been facing the first cold period of this year, but the curious is that outside is always gloriously bright. So the remedy is to keep busy where the sun shines. For now, my weekly plans for the winter include: 1) Three days of afternoon walking. 2) Three days of afternoon running. 3) Morning dance class, sometimes followed by aerobics or step. 4) Once a week, tae bo during the afternoon. 5) Early morning walks on the beach.

 

The last item is doing wonders to my mood. At least once a week, we step out of bed for a long walk on the now almost desert local beach. The effect of seaside walking is completely different from other versions of the same activity. It boosts our energy and brings back that unique summer feeling.

 

Our main plans for this winter are scheduled for the month of September: a) A seven to ten days family reunion in one of the beaches already described in this space. b) Seven to ten days of French channels crossing in a rented boat (kind of Rick Stein expedition), with daughter, son Andy and a couple of friends. c) Around 12 days in Portugal to visit close family.

 

As you can see, plenty to do for the time being! Who cares about front colds?

Tae Bo

 

I learned a saying that proved to be accurate in several occasions: the first time that something happens to us, it can be a pleasant surprise or a tragedy; the second time, it is a joke; the third, it is fate. That’s why I wasn’t surprised at all when the doctor told me that my right leg had a muscle problem, severe enough to leave me out of the spinning group for a long time.

 

The moment I knew it, I had to pick another activity. I was so disappointed that simply decided to go for the closest class in terms of schedule. It was tae bo. Until recently, I had never heard about it. I watched 5 minutes of the class from a window and decided pro because it looked a very energetic activity.

 

Now that I already started it, I can say that fate sometimes opens doors that we usually would never open, despite the fact that they are the right doors. I just love it! First of all, tae bo is a great complement to dance. Second, it makes me feel great. The teacher speaks Spanish, so I am guessing that she is Cuban. She is very lean and muscular. She was very careful in correcting our positions, especially the way to punch. As I see it, our tae bo class mixes a quick light boxing with aerobics. I am in!

 

When I told Paul about my tae bo option, he just replied:

 

“It sounds like food!”

 

I was a little surprised until the moment I found myself remembering the only restaurant in the world I trust enough to eat Chinese food. I could almost smell and taste some of its exquisite fragrant dishes. That’s when I understood the tae bo food connection. It’s the bow tie!

Dance

 

It is hard to believe that I can actually write this: I have been dancing! Perhaps I should explain that I danced all my life, but not as I am learning to dance now.

 

Between any free dance and a choreographic one there is a sea of difference. Our skillful teacher dances as magic and from the first moment he set his mind in making us dance as well. He started with kwassa kwassa, a rhythm from Congo involving a great deal of hip and back work.

 

I am just a little disappointed with the early hours of the class. Imagine yourself stepping out from your bed on a Saturday morning to go out to dance. That’s what is happening to me!

 

Despite this nuisance, I am full of ideas and energy for the time being. I found something that I really enjoy, something that I love to do. My drive is at 100%. And let me state that kwassa kwassa is not an easy rhythm for “occidental bodies”. You have to move parts of your anatomy that you didn’t even suspect that belonged to you! It is such an energetic dance!

 

I am glad to tell that during the second class I could already fit in the choreography and at the same time enjoy the dance. That’s when all the fun begins!

Symmetry

 

TD and I discuss from time to time aspects of our different personalities and attitudes towards relationships and life. After these conversations we usually end up a little annoyed and moody, because we do like each other and care about each other opinions.

 

From my side, the worst word he uses to qualify me is “predictable”. For someone who writes from time to time, to be predictable is like lacking imagination or creativity. Usually he treats me that he can prove my predictability by guessing all the passwords I use to access computer pages.

 

“Do it right now!” I always defy him, but he never wants to go any further to prove that he is right.

 

Another thing that TD criticizes in me is the fact that I am too symmetrical. That one I must confess, right here and right now. I am so symmetrical doing almost everything that I do, that I even don’t have conscience of the fact.

 

I cannot explain to the point how much symmetrical I am, but I can tell you something: there is a lot of symmetry in my life that exists by “superior determination”. For instance: I was born in a symmetrical day, a symmetrical month and at a symmetrical year. How can I change that?

 

In the first part of my life, the names of my two best friends in Portugal were: Maria and Vera. After my thirties, the names of my closest friends in Mozambique are: Maria and Vera. How can I ignore such facts?

 

Symmetry is part of what I am. Let me be symmetrically imperfect! As architect Gaudi said, only nature is un-symmetrically perfect.

 

In exchange, I will respect your cutting humor, your recalcitrance and your judgmental attitude. No comments allowed, but I miss you and I was gladly prepared to invade your castle and give you a big kiss!

Cooking and Diving

 

We left two of our dear divers at Mavalane airport some days ago. Destination: Durban. JP and Jo left to South Africa with great expectations in terms of future jobs. Well paid future jobs! In reality, the situation has not been easy for them because they are in standby due to the uncertainty of tasks in Mozambique.

 

The day they left, JP was in a particular bad mood. I was wondering why, when Jo turned to him to remember:

 

“Hei, JP! Have you forgotten that today is your cooking day?”

 

“Yucky!” he just replied.

 

“His cooking day?” I wanted to know.

 

“Yes” Jo explained. “Each one of us cooks two meals per week. JP always cooks beans stew or tuna salads, but the worst is NB. He only knows how to cook chicken and mushrooms with cream!”

 

“That means that you are eating chicken with mushrooms twice a week, every week. You must be tired of it! At least you know how to cook, don’t you?” I inquired.

 

“Yes. But we could use a few new receipts” confessed Jo.

 

That’s how I got myself a job finding tasty and easy receipts for the boys. Any help is welcome!

Spells and Witches

 

Living today and knowing that a couple of generations ago my ancestors were related with kings, queens, princes and wicked witches, it is simple amazing.

 

In the middle of last year I started to write a few lines about what I knew of my family, not with a publishing objective but with the idea of informing my sons and daughter about our past.

 

I was in the process of reconstituting a couple of things that my mother had told me about her father (my grandfather), when suddenly I remembered a disturbing… fact: my grandfather had a sister who was one of the last powerful Portuguese witches.

 

I feel a little curious about her, but I could never be proud or interested in her fate. Actually, for what my mother told me, she acted more like a contracted assassin than using the usual herbs and prayers stuff.

 

She had two assistants and people of that time swear that when she had a “job” to do, the three of them used the sticks of their brooms to fly to the unfortunate damned soul region. When they were leaving, people could hear that they were singing some words and laughing wildly.

 

My mother, maybe because she was nearer to the spirit of these things than I am, was a very superstitious lady. I know almost all the superstitions rules, but I don’t play by them. I do respect other people ideas and believes, but I don’t care much about superstitions.

 

I play a little bit with the superstition thing, using the good of it. For instance, never kill a spider because it brings bad luck. Of course I would never kill a spider, not for the luck but for the little creature sake. When a spider crosses my way, I usually greet it with nice words like: “Hi spider, will you bring me something new today?”

 

If I was in the mood of being more into superstitions and witchcraft, I would be in a good position to progress in that field. For a start, my grandfather passed to my mother the words and tune of the killing song my grandaunt used to sing and, according to popular belief, that song for itself was enough to kill the intended victim.

 

My mother, for her turn, passed the words to me. Do you believe that I had forgotten everything until recently?

 

The total words of the song are 13 and the song has to be repeated endlessly until it causes the pretended damage. As I understood, it should be only interrupted by evil and vicious laughter. The song is like this:

 

_ _ _

 

_ _ _

 

_ ? ? ?

 

_ _ _

 

Each line represents a word. The three ??? must clearly state who is the person to disappear from the list of the living.

 

Well, confess that you are curious and would like to know what the words are!

 

Perhaps one day I will tell them to my own daughter. Perhaps I will let erase from my memory such awful old song. Perhaps! One thing is for sure: I wish my grandaunt had left us a witch song to stop war, insensibility, stupidity, cowardice, lack of humanity and unlimited ambition.

Soft Lights

 

I have been living under a spell. For too long I thought to be a good spell, but suddenly I discovered that it was a bad one. So I set myself free. A couple of days later, Paul noticed my peaceful mood and even a change of color in my face for the better. I am enjoying a new freedom!

 

Relatively the spell thing, I am this kind of person with a conscience. If something unpleasant happens to me, my only concern is taking precautions to avoid that other people suffer the same. I don’t want to hurt anybody. I just want to prevent people from being hurt. For me, this spell ended two weeks ago. In technical terms, it can take a little longer to solve a few aspects.

 

Feeling great led to new experiences. One of them was spinning, something that I wanted to do for a long time. I arrived soon at the gym, inscribed myself for the class and waited. When the hour came, I climbed to the first floor and entered in the now familiar gymnasium.

 

The teacher is a young Mozambican lady. Before giving us some specific instructions, she looked at me and at another new spinning candidate with a certain condolences air. Minutes later, we understood her sympathy. She turned the lights to soft, as if it was for a romantic dinner and said:

 

“Today we are going to do a lot of mountain! Let’s start!” With these almost shouted sentences, the class began. Fifteen of us, half male half female, started to sweat under her command and “don’t go sleeping now” kind of tunes.

 

I don’t have words to describe how “finished” I was after one hour of spinning. I never felt so tired in my entire life! My legs trembled uncontrollably. At my side, a spinning colleague was sweating so much that a pool was quickly forming on the ground. Definitively, it is the kind of activity I cannot share with Paul due to his high blood pressure situation.

 

“How I missed it!” the lady teacher explained at the end. “Last week we didn’t had this class and I was looking forward for the push!”

 

Some from the group left congratulating the teacher for her drive. I left speechless. Even if I could say something I wouldn’t be able, the way I was concentrated in avoiding the shaking motion or even collapsing on the floor. That’s my luck! That’s my life! I just hope that next time the teacher feels a little less enthusiastic. Nothing else.

Mosquitoes

 

We had a dry summer. The other day I was forced to face how dry it has been when I remarked that I have never seen so few mosquitoes during the hottest part of the year. Even the number of malaria cases dropped drastically. If there were any doubts about the water being a source of mosquitoes, this summer could be a good proof of it.

 

It started to rain lately and mosquitoes decided to reappear with a vengeance. Now there are plenty of them and very hungry. I really hope that it is a short phase, because malaria is a serious illness in Africa.

 

In what concerns malaria, our family is extremely careful. Of the six of us, four had cases of malaria ranging from mild to almost dead. The worst case happened with Andy, after a night slept on a veranda. It was so difficult to treat him that we don’t even like to remember! He spent a week in the hospital receiving quinine directly in the blood.

 

This year mosquitoes are a little “retarded”, because they decided to attack the two of us that never get malaria. I have a couple of bites in my arm. JP slept in Zongoene with his feet out of the mosquitoes net and left to Durban with more spots than a colander. At least we are almost sure that this year “victims” are not going to have malaria!

 

I heard that there are many studies about eradication of malaria. Why not study people like JP and I, people that never get sick? I don’t think that it is a case of pure luck. We are bitten just like any regular person, or even more. If JP and I are in a place with mosquitoes, it is almost sure that we are the first to be bitten. Still we don’t get malaria. Despite being careful, the receptionist in Zongoene has been 7 times sick with malaria in less than a year. Just one bite is enough to put her down. It is really a curious subject!

 

I don’t know if there is an extraordinary similarity between JP and I to justify our malaria free status. The similarities that I know are not scientific, things like sleeping in the morning, loving pastries and cakes… I truly don’t believe that these are advisable methods to get you a malaria free ticket!

On the Road

 

We traveled recently to South Africa, one of our usual short trips with very little to tell. I already described one of these escapes to Nelspruit for shopping and relaxing.

 

I could even forget to mention it, because we are doing the same at least once a month. It is becoming kind of a routine to us. But then, during the travel back home, I just noticed something wonderful: the “police trap” near Nkomazi plaza had disappeared. No trap on the way to Nelspruit. No trap on the way back. It seemed to be planted there for years! Fingers crossed!

 

Uplifted by such promising circumstance, Paul and I started a conversation. Subject: JP’s job in Beira.

 

“We are very requested! It is here, Angola, South Africa and USA…” informed recently diver and cook Jo.

 

Lately, they are coming and going from South Africa to Mozambique and back. There is a big job to be done in Beira with the removal of the Rovuma dredger. The old ship is half sunken in the middle of the main channel serving the harbor. I am not very enthusiastic with the idea of JP working in Beira, at all. I just can’t forget what happened with Vic and two other divers. So I told Paul about my concerns.

 

“Don’t worry!” he replied. “JP is a Superman! Correction, JP and you are exceptional strong people!”

 

“Why is that?” I asked.

 

“Well…” he explained. “In all these years, only JP and you didn’t get malaria of flu. I guess that you both never got sick because you are what we can call “super beings”, people who have huge amounts of T-cells. T-cells are like missiles inside the body aiming virus and parasites like malaria.”

 

“I appreciate your explanation” I commented “but in Beira, as far as I know, the problem is not a virus or a parasite. It is a strange bacteria that destroys the nervous system.”

 

“Yes. But by now they all learned to be more careful” he remembered. “I know that when they dive they take the necessary precautions.”

 

I really wish that Paul is right about taking precautions every single moment, because this matter has been worrying me. Super beings or not, there can always be a bacteria or other strange organism to take us down!