A very sad day indeed.....

Animal update: when leaving the house today our house girl Anita called to me...."come look at this" she led me into the Banana trees and pointed behind one of the trees saying "look, modesta" Modesta is the name I gave to my favourite kitten. I was so excited and happy to think she had been found, then I looked and saw that she was dead. A sight I wish to erase from my memory. I fell into a complete state of shock, I started heaving and sobbing uncontrollably. The poor girls didn't know what to do as for them they were extremely shocked to see my reaction as they hadn't expected it. 

The treatment of animals in TZ is worlds away from how we are in the UK and this is in someways understandable, as here animals, for the most part, they need to serve a purpose - for meat, for milk or to help with the work. Also it is believed that animals don't feel things in the same way a human does. I've been speaking with Aive today about this (as she was there when it happened and was also shocked and unsure how to handle my reaction) - she told me that although my reaction seemed odd she understands why I feel the way I do and she respects my feelings. She also told me that even here in TZ some families keep cats not only for Rat control but as pets. 

I'm going to write a letter to the house girls to explain what happened I why I reacted that way and Aive is going to support me to translate the letter.

It's very sad but I'm trying to keep perspective and in the big scheme of things this situation pails into insignificance with the bigger issues which are taking place here. I just keep telling myself that Tumaini and Anna are both safe and happy and Modesta is in 'kitten heaven' with all the milk and meat she could ever imagine and a kitten god taking care of her ......

On a much lighter note I'm now withAive  watching the final of Africa's equivalent of  X factor and she's very happy that the power is back so she can see it!