i havent done this for a while…

It’s clear life is much more basic here.  Which is entirely what I expected; you can’t live in a refugee settlement and expect the creature comforts.  I’m used to cold showers, no AC (whatever the temperature), intermittent power, limited (or no) availability of (previously-essential) stuff, no labour saving devices and I suppose also no spontaneity.  One thing I have plenty of, that always seems to be in short supply at home though, is time. 

Our cleaner moonlights as laundry lady, great news.  And she insisted that my first wash was a gift, how generous?  But of course, rightly, my ‘smalls’ are my responsibility.  First time, I find it somewhat satisfying to spend an hour with a bowl of water and a bar of soap and some quiet music in the background, though I don’t fully understand why.  Maybe it’s having so much time on my hands.  But I guess the novelty will wear off; after all, the last time I faced this prospect was probably 25 years ago, at sea.