WE DID IT! After eight months of fund-raising, we’ve finally reached our target of £11,500. Many many thanks to all who have donated and helped in so many ways to make this happen!
Borehole income Feb 10
Mohsin Hamid: The reluctant fundamentalist
Ian McEwan: Amsterdam
Satish Kumar: No destination
Vikas Swarup: Slumdog millionaire
The veranda is ideal for observing birds of prey. We often see Kestrels hovering motionless in the sky then suddenly plumetting vertically into the terraced fields below.
This morning a magnificent Tawny Eagle is slowly circling the house, taking its time. Which of us is he after? We are feeling spied on.
This morning before dawn, Faustin and I went to visit our next door neighbour, who has just been widowed.
Her husband died last week. I guess he was about 70 years old. Nevertheless, in the days following the burial, the diviner was called in to establish who was responsible for his death.
The diviner accused M of using sorcery, and he admitted to it. Everyone in the village is surprised, but (as usual) no-one more so than me. I mean, M was my friend. Nice guy, friendly, regular church-goer.
Nice or otherwise, M has now been banished from the village. He will lived in exile for five years as a bonded servant with a diviner in Benin. It is not clear to me how his wife and eight children will manage in the meantime.
A Stone Partridge and her four chicks appeared in the fields this morning. Faustin tried to hunt them, but they quickly scurried down the steep terraces and out of sight.
Sunday siesta yesterday was interrupted by two Fork-tailed Drongos arguing noisily in a nearby tree.
A Red-eyed Dove has made its nest in our palm-nut tree and has laid two fragile eggs in it.