Onto the final straight

After a long flight back to the UK, I got the bus back to Oxford and was literally freezing cold... The boiler had stopped working due to it being switched off over the holiday, and so we had no hot water or heating for five days! My grandfather's adage was 'suffer a bit' and this certainly was suffering! But, the plumber came and sorted it on Monday and that raised spirits-it's amazing how we often find satisfaction in the smaller things in life...

I didn't have much of a break as lectures started the next day and with the reading already piling on, we're into the last semester! EVER of undergraduate study! pretty daunting, but also exciting I suppose in that you move out of this protected, comfortable environment into the 'real world' as they say... A lot of final years are applying for postgrads-which is not surprising given the recession and few jobs. I am slowly gathering together a plan for when I leave, but so many options-travel, post grad, work???

Well, the plane has been taxying on the runway, and now, is gathering momentum in order to take-off in May. It is all in my hands. From the last set of results, I am just below a first-in order to get into a postgrad, I need to get a first. But with only four marks left, and some challenging modules to tackle, it will be a serious challenge. But then, what is life without challenges?

Some of the finer things in life

One thing I really look forward to whenever I am back is being hosted by our friends the Williams'. Whether it is fine wines, French cheese, Brazilian coffee, single malt whiskys, the best of classical music, the Williams have it...

During our poker game last week, Matthew, brought out his 21st present which was a bottle of 1987 Meerlust, cabernet sauvignon (see link below). I couldn't even try to be a wine connoisseur, but it really was brilliant. After maturing for over 20 years, what else would you expect? We then tasted a selection of other wines from that period. One only had about 5 minutes to drink the wine, as it was oxidizing so quickly after all those years in the bottle. One was corked-something new I learn't from Roger is that corked means there is a virus in the cork.

Anyway, we continued our game, of which I managed to regain my $5, but lost out on a potential $40!







http://www.meerlust.com/index.php/meerlust-rubicon-1987.html

Mozambique-09/10

Mozambique is an amazing, but unfortunate country. Almost exactly double the size of Zimbabwe, it is one of the poorest states in the world. It has access to the coast, very fertile land, and brilliant opportunities for tourism-why is it so poor?

I put three reasons-one, colonisation: whilst Zimbabwe and other states benefited hugely from British colonialism, in the form of infrastructure, industry and agriculture, and also a very well organized administration system, the Portuguese colonised Mozambique. One can see just from driving through the country, how disorganized the Portuguese were-houses scattered all over the place, and little sound infrastructure, agriculture and industry.

Linked to this is the second reason, the civil war which raged from 1977 to 1992 between Frelimo and Renamo. This resulted in any expertise to leave the country, many deaths, and of course, huge damage to the economy.

Thirdly, the climate. Being tropical, Mozambique is extremely hot, and because of its low altitude, is very prone to mosquitos and malaria. I feel this plays a massive part in the undevelopment of the country.

So, how to fix it? Eradicate malaria, promote agriculture as an economic base, and open the Beira corridor to the port. In other words, big investment-and I feel there is huge potential, particularly in agriculture.

The eight days spent in Mozambique was fantastic. Maybe it is only unique, to Africa, perhaps I am wrong, but personally, I lose complete sense of time when on holiday in Africa. You put a cossie on in the morning, which is usually about 6.30am when the sun is already burning hot, and all day is spent, boating and tubing, sitting next to the pool with a beer and a book, chatting to mates, or whizzing across to Paradise Island for lunch. It really is relaxation and so important I feel, to completely clear your head and rercharge the batteries for another semester, work etc.

New year was on the beach, and co-incided with a brilliant full moon, and partial eclipse-perhaps this means a good year, or decade for Africa? Time will tell...

Christmas

I left London on 21st December and due to a short delay, it meant I missed the connection flight from Nairobi to Harare. This meant having to stay in Nairobi the night and missed Alistair's 25th party which was a shame! Anyway, they did put us in a 5 star hotel and had a good afternoon of swimming and sitting by the bar drinking Tuskers with some other stranded passengers. I always find it interesting who you meet on flights. On this occasion, a member of the famous 'Leakey' family who discovered human archaelogical remains in Kenya/Tanzania; the president of Cambridge Uni rowing club, Tony Blair's right hand man, and Emma's ex's brother!

Last Christmas I swore I would never fly Kenya airways again, however, I did, and alas, our bags got stranded at the airport for a couple of days. Nairobi airport must be the worst airport I have ever been to! Disoganized, crowded, hot, delays, lost baggage......

Anyway, finally got back home, and we went to Ruwa to Cathy and Alistair's farm for Christmas eve which was really enjoyable.

Christmas day was at our house, where we had a late supper/lunch, followed by Boxing Day at our house with the Brown family, our longtime family friends. 27th at Roger and Nona's for the 60th, and 28th we went to Mozambique!

Coffee Break

I have really been putting in the study hours this week; knowing well in the back of my head that it is not quantity but quality that matters... however, I feel I am making some headway with my subjects. Just got back from a day at Wheatley campus (worst thing about Brookes-it's where the business school is located and half an hour bus ride away). Taking a short break, then up to the library to crack on with some micro. Two exams on Friday and one on Saturday-horrendous planning by the university, but c'est la vie and have to get on with it.

Oxford continues to amaze me-I have joined the Bodleian library which is a copyright library meaning that it is entitled to every single book that is published in the UK-about 6 in the world if I am correct (or UK??). I primarily work in the social science library, which is incredible-awesome building (excuse the terrible use of the word), and got everything from Zimbabwe economics journals, to every development book I can think of. In fact, you can order a book from any of the university libraries theoretically meaning that I can access any book ever published-how's that compared to the 15000 book volume Falcon library??

I would really like to spend some time in elder years I think, spending time using all these magnificent facilities.

Right, enough library talk, and lets have some library action!

Shakira in Oxford

The Oxford Union continues to invite many high profiled speakers. Last week, Shakira came. I was working on security and so got entry, but the debating chamber, where it was held, attracted over 600 students (supposed to only carry about 300 people). Personally, I wasnt really interested in the talk, but interesting to meet such a high profiled, and glamorous celebrity.

Watch the youtube video (link below) to get an idea of the union, and of course her talk.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yRm3GCZ2U4

A trip to Essex

It has been a very lazy, unproductive weekend. Went for some drinks on Friday, which turned into Clems (nightclub) and only got in at 3 in the morning. Up at 7.30am to go to a friends farm in Essex who was shooting ducks. I went along as a beater to make the ducks fly-which is a bit of a demeaning job, but quite fun none-the-less. Good lunch, then back to Oxford. A bit of work in the evening, watched highlights of the Barbarians game which was brilliant then bed. Not much done today-fixed a tire puncture and did a bit of work-other than that nothing. Think I will put an end to partying until exams sometime this week!

Only two more weeks till exams are finished-crikey! Feeling somewhat unprepared, but am sure that it will all fall into place with some hard work.

Off to work now till eleven-hopefully won't be too busy-Shakira speaking at the Union tomorrow which should be interesting..