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Eve Hall: assignments 9/92 - 1/93

Project evaluation: Action to assist Rural Women

Guinea 07.09.02 - 27.09.92
Tanzania 28.09.92 - 27.10.92
Geneva 28.10.92 - 03.11.92
Mali 04.11.92 - 21.11.92
Niger 22.11.92 - 09.12.92
Zimbabwe 10.12.92 - 27.01.93

27/3/93

Darling Mom,

I am off to Tanzania in three days time, for a month or so, so I thought I'd write before I go incommunicado in Mafinga. The sun is shining brightly outside, but there's already a nip in the air -- winter is creeping in. The flowers you planted are thriving, though the new lawn we worked so hard to plant is looking very thin. The house looks splendid with a lovely bunch of bouquet from London, a fantastically exotic orchid from To, and a bunch of daisies from some of To's colleagues, to say nothing of lovely birthday cards, including yours with 200 francs, darling, thank you so much. I had a lovely birthday with a small heap of books from To to distract me in airports, planes and the convent, and a very cute pottery bird...

But things have been rather sad these last few Weeks, of course, with the shattering news of David's illness - it so took us by surprise, David of all people! News now seems that he is stabilising, the chemotherapy seems to be helping. Yesterday was his 60th birthday, and John and Linda and Mike and his son Christopher came over and we had a quiet drink together and thought of him. Felicity seems to be a tower of strength. If he does improve (and the signs are hopeful) he will still need constant nursing and the family is wondering, of course how this can best be provided. Perhaps the USA isn't the best place and he can come here? It's for the sons and their wives to decide, of course To's spoken to him on the phone, he really sounded quite cheerful but very tired. [Sadly, David died three weeks later. Ed.]

On to a more cheerful subject: We had a pleasant time in Cape Town, wandering along the coast, which is as beautiful as we remembered it, though much more built up, of course. We went to a few of the old haunts, and even tracked down the flat building where we lived for those first few months of married life, when To was doing the journalism course ---- and where Phil spent most of his embryonic life! We also house hunted a bit for Xmas, but found nothing suitable in such a short time, though it gave us an idea of what might be available for how much. The problem is that on the Atlantic side the water is very icy; so, for the little ones, we must go to the Indian Ocean side. I think Muinzenburg perhaps? ...

[Then Mom explains to Granny how she had a carcinoma removed from her nose and her feelings about missing the visit to Mexico She reassures Granny: ILO trips will resume as soon as the stitches are out and that Granny should please, not worry.]

It's not been the most pleasant month we have ever had but it's had its good times too. We hired a video and TV and watched the video Chris made in Mexico and London, which was lovely. Tere was very pregnant, amazing to think that a day later, there was Carmen.! To my mind she looks a bit like Betty. I can't believe how much all the babies have grown, they're all so utterly cute. We got a very big kick out of seeing John Ant and Myles walking - they are both such lovely boys. We saw Phil in his office, and their house and a glimpse of Guadalajara, looks lovely. We got a very nice letter from Dylan too in which he says what a wonderful person you are! We've watched some films since we had the video and we have been out with friends quite a bit, see quite a bit of Bar Harmel [!], of course, she always asks after you. To's not getting as much tennis as he should and would like, but no doubt that will pick up when I am away. We sent a card to the Pooles, thanking them for their lovely hospitality, and I will phone Rudi and Claire before I leave.

I am longing to see you all. To will do all the bookings while I'm away. I'll be in Magfinga over Easter, I wonder if the sisters will make me fast on Good Friday and even drag me off to mass on Easter Sunday? I'll be thinking of you all having a jolly time in Golfe!

All my love, hugs and kisses

your Evechen and To

PS Someone told me that Helen Suzman had the same thing as me some years ago, and she's fine!

PPS We had the rest of the Boef Bourgignon for my birthday!

Comments

  1. Flabbergasting, Phil ... _such_ joie de vivre leaping out of her sentences, and what a very good idea that was to put her work schedule at the top of your entry. . . The intergenerational details are delightful -- first you in embryo, then Carmen popping her coccoon.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Definitely.

    And she enjoyed staying at the convent in Tanzania. The sisters were kind and solicitous and naturally absorbed her into their routines. It was a very peaceful work environment. She was completely cut off from the world every time she stayed there.

    ReplyDelete

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