Domestic Duties

A muddy shopping trip

Andrew has bean very busy!

A look at life on the domestic front

Shopping
There are a couple of small food shops in Dodoma, but no supermarket. Supplies seem to vary day to day. Last week, I planned a minced beef dish- but there was no mince available in any of the shops. So we had chicken instead! The chicken was tasty once roasted, although far skinnier than the chickens I'd find in Sainsburys! We have to be careful about preparing chicken, though, as they are sold frozen, but may have been defrosted at some time in their shelf life, due to being transported in non-refridgerated lorries, with only bags of ice to keep them cool, or there could have been a powercut in town whilst they sat in the shop freezer...
For fresh produce, we go to Dodoma's market. So far, I have been accompanied by MAF ladies, but I am apprehensive about going alone. It's not just the language barrier, it's also the struggle with the mental maths, as we deal in cash, with huge numbers: £1 is equivalent to about 2,500 Tanzanian shillings! It's quite tricky to work out the totals and change whilst trying to choose decent looking vegetables and avoid getting squashed by the myriad of other shoppers in the dark, narrow alleyways between stalls.
Then there is also the mud if it has been raining. Esther and Ben joined me and MAF lady Angela on a market expedition, just after a downpour of rain- and we got FILTHY, as we slipped our way through muddy alleyways and puddles!! Next time, I'll choose a sunny day!

Food preparation
It's not just vegetables and fruit that need cleaning. I bought a kilo of beans on Friday, and Andrew gave them a good clean and sort before I soaked them overnight and cooked them (most delicious in a nice stew). Andrew found several stones and a piece of glass, so I was grateful for his help!

Laundry
In Dodoma sunshine, my laundry dries outside amazingly fast and is crisp and fresh when it comes in. But there is a catch. Everything hung outside must be ironed, to ward off the risk of
the evil mango-fly, who could potentially lay eggs on our washing, which could then hatch and bury themselves under our skin as we innocently wear our fresh clothes! Ironing kills any eggs, but this was not such good news for me: I hate ironing!! And it's hot work in 30'C heat!!

Cleaning
This is not just a matter of having a dust-free house: it's also a way of combatting bugs. However, we do have fly-screens on all our windows and doors. What a great invention! Still, I am on high-alert at the moment, as 2 scorpions have been found (and disposed of!) in a nearby home and garden...

Meanwhile, Benjamin is doing his bit to help out on the domestic front. To cut back on washing,
he's found a new way to play outdoors...