Lifted high

23 April 2023

Hi Shinghy,

I hope you and Bagheera do get along very well  with Louis and Estelle. Be kind to them; you will be housemates for forty-five days. I am looking forward to hearing a good report when we come back.

Let me tell you about our experiences during the last three days, which was also the first three of our journey. During this time we have been uplifted in more than one sense.

The first uplift (if I may use such a word) was flying from Cape Town to OR Tambo. On departure, it was interesting to hear the captain saying "liftoff" and not"takeoff," but then the airline's name is Lift. We were lifted high into the sky, and then our spirits were lifted higher by Lift offering a complimentary glass of wine. The other airline we sometimes use does not do that!

On our first evening here in Pretoria, the celebration of Mwanba's birthday was another uplifting experience. If I remember correctly, it was the first time that Mwambo's and Malaika's families got together as an extended family to celebrate a birthday. You can see all of us in the photo taken at the restaurant.

For the ladies in the family, the next upliftment was the baby shower for Malaika and the coming twins. I was not on the guest list but took the liberty to gatecrash the party. What  a beautiful occasion! Here are some pictures.

Barika and Rafiki left earlier today and and are now on their way to Barcelona. They are going to watch the Moto GP in Jerez next weekend. We wil meet them in Logrono on the second of May when they and Mwambo will join us on the Camino for a few days.

Later today, Mwambo and Malaika will give us a lift to the airport, where Dadatu will join us for the flight to Paris and Biarritz in France. I don't think the Air France pilot will say "liftoff" like the Lift pilot. But we will be lifted high into the sky again.  So many uplifting experiences!

Cheers for now, the next letter will be written from France, or maybe from Spain.

Msafiri