Thanks for the cyberlove, everyone! I am feeling much better, thank you, despite getting to the team house kitchen only to discover all the Extremely Chocolatey Biscuit Rounds had been eaten. (I should have known this kind of rare treat would disappear in seconds.) So when I spotted some Chocolate-Dipped Rich Shortbread, I got straight in there. It was naughty not to ask, first, but these were desperate times (and it made a magnificent substitute.)

Ugandaman is back! After a diet of posho - think of solidified, cold porridge - and beans, I prepared him a Welcome Home love basket of broccoli and other greens. It may be the only time in our marriage that I've brought tears to his eyes. Either that or it was the stench - we'd had no water for 2 days, so couldn't shower, flush the loo, anything. It's back on now, phew..

I've been meeting some great people and getting some good ideas about what to do with my time here now that a lot of the domestic drudge will be out of my hands, but I'll save that for another post. Happiness is restored at least, and even the Christmas tree is up. A hot Christmas just isn't the same, though. I had a mince pie this afternoon, but with the sweat pricking and the sun streaming in it just didn't feel right.