Over the time I’ve lived in Seronga I’ve gotten used to some things. One of them is my bathing situation. I’m getting to be an expert bucket bather, and I only usually find myself in tears over my desire for a hot shower or bath or really any amount of hot water to be touching my whole body simultaneously after about a month in Seronga. I’m used to it. But it could, admittedly be better.
Enter the Aussies.
(Sorry guys. I’m usually better at coming up with genius nicknames but I’m failing here. You’re left for the eternity of the blog as the Aussies. Hope you don’t mind.)
Although my new house guests were incredibly flexible and undemanding and seemed to fit comfortably right in (perhaps the outback is another terms for bush ;-) in my luxury accommodations they decided at some point in the first day that there was room for capacity to be built in Seronga, namely in my hut. On the second evening we were chatting and I realized the time, temperature and amount of water I would have to heat on the stove and excused myself for my evening splash bath.
And genius suddenly struck my houseguests.
Liam mentioned that he and Gavin had decided they thought they would be building me a solar shower. In their wanderings around the village that day they had come upon the hardware store in their attempts to locate the bottle shop (they’re in the same complex of buildings).They had been at the hardware store and discovered that the humble offerings in Seronga appeared to just about have the supplies to create such a thing. I remained cautiously optimistic.
So the next day we go to the hardware store. I soon found myself haggling with the staff because from the time we were quoted prices for piping in the morning until the time we showed up ready to buy in the afternoon the prices had mysteriously doubled. I was ready to give up. It’s continuously disheartening to me when I find that people I interact with every day can so effortlessly attempt to screw me over with no shame or apology. There was some story about them misquoting the price to me in the am, despite me taking someone outside to show them the exact piping I wanted, as well as confirming the price several times. It was time to call in the big dogs. Or rather big dog.
As with most things in Seronga, this project could definitely come off without Simon, but was made both simpler and more complicated, as well as infinitely more entertaining by his presence.
So in the middle of these near to tears negotiations with the women I check in on nearly daily, Simon shows up. He’s flustered and muttering about a plane coming this side and transport. It seems as more white people move to this side of the delta the responsibilities of the white people already living here are increased based on the fact that life in Seronga is in fact, as Simon himself says, “simpler, but not easier.” Meaning that yes, the village life is lovely in its generally calm and quiet serenity, but this is a direct trade off for the increased difficulty of getting simple (and yet occasionally essential to one’s little piece of sanity on this island) provisions, such as cheese, affordable cement, petrol to run generators, fresh fruit, ect, ect. It seems Simon has become the director of transport, import/export and general movements in Seronga, a title he enjoys marginally, and bitches about constantly.
So Simon’s in a bit of a state. As he takes in my state, he shakes his head at the ladies, declares the whole thing highway robbery and decides we’re going to see what we can do to find the supplies we need in Seronga’s other supplier of general goods, Simon’s own yard. The guys and I load into the back of the pickup and we’re off.
Within about 30 seconds the four of us are tramping through the bushiest, likely most snake and creature filled area of Simon’s yard in search of piping. When we find it, near his sewage tank, it’s filled with a foul smelling liquid that once may have been water, but isn’t currently very promising in terms of something I want to stand my body under in an attempt to get clean. But at this point it’s free, it’s there, and beggars can’t be choosers. We attempt to rinse it out and begin the search for fittings. It’s altogether a more difficult, involved scenario than I had imagined, which reminded me why although Simon had growled something about the simplicity of completing this very task a few months back, I had yet to attempt to undertake it. In this instance, with all this testosterone flowing and all those present needing to prove themselves and complete the task, I decided to just sit back and watch. And wait for the fireworks.
I’ve recently noticed that Simon can get a little funny when I bring friends around. I noticed this is especially true when they’re guys. It’s like everyone, regardless of the circumstances, might be a potential suitor, and thus everyone is put up to some crazy Simon test. Very few past muster upon the later analysis. Thank God no one that comes to the bush is trying to actually date me or we might have a problem on our hands.
So through the process of these two guys attempting to make my life a bit more pleasant Simon sort of put them a bit through the wringer. Whenever one of them had a suggestion or idea Simon was ready to inform them why it wouldn’t work. When one of them starting using a tool to do something it was either the wrong technique, or too slow or he just looked on shaking his head. Like the lone male in the elephant herd he was waiting for one of the guys to earn his respect by showing him up, and when it didn’t happen they were both dismissed, in Simon’s mind at least, as a threat. It was the scene I’d always watched on TV when the guy picks the girl up for the prom and the father stands threateningly and broodingly in the corner. To me it was slightly hilarious, and I tried to explain the concept of the prom scenario to the guys, but being Aussies, they didn’t quite get it. There’s some crazy animal stuff going on in the bush.
So eventually we got all the necessary pieces in order to put together the shower. Les and I started on our pedicures as I figured my role would be mainly a consultative one as necessary. It ended up that I have a huge loop of black piping running in and out of my window and up onto the roof of the building next door.
Within another hour I had damn hot water running in through a pipe positioned in my window. It was actually too hot to properly stand under but gave me a good three or four warm weekend baths before it got to cold for the winter. A subsequent houseguest has managed to rig it from the ceiling and my short self can mange to stand right under it and actually proper shower. I mean there’s conditions, I have to shower while there is still plenty of sunlight to keep the water warm. The water has to be working in Seronga in order for it to work. There are a few pressure issues. Now that its winter it’s too cold to use it unless it’s the middle of the day and it seems I’ve found myself incredibly busy during the day these days. But generally it’s a big improvement. Upgrade!
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