The rain came down in torrents

I was a tired little pixie on Saturday morning, having gone to bed well past midnight on Friday. However, I was not in any particular rush to get ready to go out to the Park, as none of the Scouts were able to go out owing to sport commitments. I also understood that Saturday was Valentine's Day and being young blooded fellows, there were more important things to be done on Saturday night than spending it at Gordon Park amongst the leopards and kopjes.

I guess little boys grow up and little girls suddenly have the fairy Godmother wave her wand over them and the girls metamorphose from ugly ducklings to the most gorgeous creatures on planet earth. So it was, that I pulled up at headquarters soon after ten in the morning. Naturally that meant that I was just in time for tea and buns, that was once I had the kitchen fire ablaze and the tea water boiling.

Whilst that was happening I used the time to set up the pump on number three well, to take advantage of the high water table in the well, by transferring said "water from well in ground, to storage tanks on top of hill". Earlier, when entering the Park, I had noted that the river at the headquarter well had receded and was no longer flowing over the bridge as it was doing last week when I left for home, but as by design, under the bridge.

All the chores were seen to in record time, it is amazing how quickly I can shuffle my body around when I do not have atomic powered Scouts rushing about, usually getting under foot, and therefore slowing me down. Actually, if the truth be known, I do not have to think for ten others all at the same time. I only had to think for myself.

The mission for this weekend was to get the parade grounds cut in preparation for the hoards of Scouts expected to be attending the Baden - Powell Camp on the 21 - 22 February, that is, this coming weekend. Starting at the very late hour of eleven forty-five, I set to work on cutting the grass on The "Skipper " Knapman Training Ground under a hot African sky.

It was fantastic, the sky that is, with the first rain clouds building up low on the horizon well to the north and west. By six o'clock in the evening, as I was finishing cutting the overgrown parade ground, now looking like the best manicured cricket pitch you ever did lay your eyes on, the first rain drops blowing in from further up the Mtsheleli valley fell on my head.

As I had only had a one and a half hour break for afternoon tea, I was quite exhausted. Not having any Scouts around, I then had the honour of cooking my own supper, which I managed without even burning the water. It is amazing what I can do when faced with the realization that I could lose out on the benefit of all the muscle building exercises, occasioned by pushing the field mower around for half the day, if I did not feed my 'bod'.

Having gone to bed at a reasonable hour, I was awakened by the arrival of the young men of the Provincial Rover Crew at close on midnight. I had expected them out at the Park early evening, as I had suggested to them the previous week, that if they were going to have the Bowl Parade Ground cut for the B - P Camp, then they should cut it this weekend.

During the early hours of the morning, the heavens opened and the rain came down in torrents. It was really great lying in bed listening to the thunder with the rain slicing through the trees outside.

On Sunday morning I went to start the pump. The river had come up owing to the early morning rain, which resulted in the river flowing over and under the bridge. Having started the pump I then sharpened the blades of the field mower, before handing it over to the Rovers to get on with cutting the grass on the Bowl Parade Ground. There is still some more cutting to be done before the next major event, but the area they have cut will be enough to erect the activity bases for the forthcoming B- P camp.

Whilst the Rovers were hard at it, I continued with rebuilding the road leading to well number three in front of the Naomi Conolly Lodge. Then, there was the continuing task of re-lying loose wooden floor blocks in the Lodge and in between times checking on number three pump.

A great weekend during which a good deal of grass cutting was accomplished. Temperatures recorded for the week ending 15 February: 50 and 84. Rainfall for the week: 0.56 inches. Total for the season to date: 24,60 inches.

Cheers Norman
Bulawayo, Tuesday, February 17, 2009