Life is an adventure, especially out here on the banks of the Zambezi. Just having to send this message via email involves pre-planning and some motivation.
It started at breakfast time – I tried to find the energy to carry the 50L tank of diesel to the generator. This would be fine if it was not 80m from the office. Once there, I noticed the baboons were too close to the satellite dish, so for the next half hour I spent trying to chase them out of the camp.
The value of energy is something that needs to be understood and valued by people and more importantly by children. I suggest the following activity for your next family camping trip – get the kids to make you a cup of coffee in the morning (simple enough), have them look for the firewood and then get them to light the fire. They must fetch the water and pour it into the kettle (All this under your supervision of course).
While the kettle is boiling explain to them about the amount of energy each activity is using, get them to understand that they are burning all that wood for just one cup of coffee. Ask them what other things we could use the fire for while the kettle is on. Get their little minds thinking on how much energy they use at home on TV’s, lights and water. I am sure it will open their eyes to how much energy we use day to day.
Now back to dealing the elephant that’s pulling out my water pipes…
