Pete’s African Adventures

It’s been awhile since I updated anything on here but her goes.

For a start I’m back in Mozambique at Cahora Bassa for work for the past 3 months.  Our contract at Ingula wasn’t extended after the end of March, they wanted us to stay on for another year to complete things and it was eventually approved all the way to the Eskom board level but stopped by Treasury – Eskom is in serious financial trouble and they were stopped renewing about 1000 peoples contracts.  I stayed on for a couple of months (April/May) while they were trying to sort out some way they could re-employ us (everyone was just expecting our contract to be extended so work didn’t have anything else for me to do anyhow), but it become obvious it wasn’t going to happen.

Then someone said they needed a site supervisor for 4 to 6 months for some other work we were doing at Cahora Bassa – I was available, knew the people, and was probably the safest person to send as I knew what the place was like so wasn’t going to run off after a week.

So now I’m back here supervising the replacement of a large emergency diesel generator and an upgrade to the controls system. Have left Raima and the kids in Ladysmith till the end of the year as there didn’t seem to be any point pulling them out of school and moving back to Joburg if I wasn’t even going to be there with them.  Plan is to move back to our house in Joburg at the end of the school year (mid December).

Well I finally got my old lathe set up on my new (to me) lathe cabinet.

Stefan helping me out in the garage

and the final result.  Well not final but the first component of the forge I’m building complete.

Stefan’s first flight in a helicopter over Catherial Peak in the Drakensberg ranges

Stefan is all ready to start ‘big’ school next week.

Decorated Vanessa’s room this afternoon

Went to Stefan’s school nativity play tonight

Stefan was a dog this year – a bit of a come down from Joseph last year but he still enjoyed himself and was great.

Raima and her Mum who his been down staying with us for a month or so.

Still getting used to the face hair but starting to get used to it and may keep it after Movember.

Three weeks in and it’s starting to grow on me – literally.

Six years old today.  Thanks for all the birthday wishes.

Well have had a couple of weekend back at home now and had a bit of a play with the new acquisition.  Arrived while I was away in New Zealand, so got my first look at it in the flesh when I got home.

Have managed to get the engine running (on most cylinders anyway), fitted the missing tyre, put in battery, installed a new alternator (and modified the mounting bracket), removed/flushed and refitted the radiator and started with pulling the body off the back to tidy up the chassis.  A bit of rust to repair and it needs a complete rewire, new brakes and some slop taken out of the steering, but I have managed a spin around the block.

For the record it’s :

• 1971 Ford F250 4×4
• Fibreglass body and cab
• 300 cubic inch straight 6 motor
• NP435 4 speed gearbox
• NP205 transfer case (2H, 4H, 4L)
• DANA44 8.5” front differential
• DANA60 9” rear differential