100 billion dollars!

So now we have a hundred billion dollar note - looks like we have more than ten zeros back on our currency as this will buy - just three eggs!!!!!!! And this would only be possible if the shops would take local currency.

A friend of mine tried to buy some vegetables yesterday - no one would take a cheque, the cash card machines in all the shops were out of order and of course she did not have enough cash to cover the amount. She tried to yet some forex - legally - and was told sorry there is none. She tried to get some petrol coupons but her supplier did not have any - they had no forex to buy them with!

We are coming to a standstill.

We manage to socialise quite often. Usually over lunch as people don't like to drive at night. Our lunches are varied and often taken outdoors - especially now when it is hot and dry. We still manage to put together a variety of meals and drink a selection of wines - sometimes having been stored away for some time!

The bread in this picture was home made. I make our bread, yogurt, cakes, pasta and cream cheese and we try and grow all our own vegetables and fruit.

6 packs of Vodka!

Spirits are in short supply but vodka is being produced locally. We were buying it in 5 litre plastic containers - now we buy it by the six pack. Cheaper than the supermarket offering of one bottle at a time!

Note the gas cylender and thermos flask. When we have no power - almost every day now - we use a gas ring for cooking - I am am now an expert on one dish meals! We boil a kettle before retiring at night - before the power goes out - and fill the flask so we can have tea or coffee in the morning!

Wonder what our money looks like?

Well it changes so quickly we have difficulty keep in up with it

Here is a photograph of how we were given the 20,000 dollars we were allowed out for one day!

All one dollar notes!

On top of it all it doesn't buy anything.

Sometime ago 10 zeros were taken off our currency - now they have almost all returned!

Never got to the Clarins Presentation!

The day before the presentation I was picking mulberries in the garden and was bitten by, what we think, was a sack spider! The bite was on on my left cheek - it left a horrible suppurating sore - there was no way l could go out! I would have frightened everyone!

I understand the event was a great success and hope I get invited to the next one!

My cheek is now almost healed but I stay away from the mulberry tree!

CLARINS - Tribute to Zimbabwe Women

Next week I have been invited to a function by Clarins. A garden party with demonstrations and make overs!

I have used their products for some years and really feel they are the best! My skin responds to them and their natural ingredients make me feel good using them. the results show!

At their last function I was lucky enough to win the hamper of products which extended my knowledge of the range. Here I am seen with Jane Coombes - the Zimbabwe General Manager for Clarins.

"With Clarins Life is More Beautiful " is their slogan - and I agree. More about this after the 25th!

Difficult times for foodies

The supply of basic food stuffs had diminished drastically over the last month. it is almost impossible to find eggs - flour - milk!!!!!! However we still manage to provide food on our tables that is more than acceptable.

some years ago i found a little book written by a commune in America. the members do not eat meat or any dairy products or eggs! so now i am happily making egg less biscuits and egg less cakes.

Good food is still be provided on our tables.

However restaurants are suffering. I went to a meeting a week or so back - a lunch with a speaker - on the menu was the choice of chicken and chips or soup and rolls. Guess what? No rolls - how can you have a meager bowl of soup and not provide a roll to accompany it! The excuse? They are too expensive to provide!!

Oh well lets hope things will look up over the next couple of weeks!