We've had weeks now it seems of temperatures above 35C. I know for sure a few days were 40C maybe more. And the rain is just passing us by. Is this global warming? If so I think we need to make a serious plan. We need to somehow adjust our mindset to allow for the fact that rain is not part of life here. Otherwise I'm sitting in an endless state of anticipation, and this with the heat,is not conducive to sanity. But it seems I'm not the only one. We've had wild, crazy , scary things going on in Bots the last few weeks.
The one I can't quite get out of my mind is the flooding of rivers up north that has released a crocodile farm of crocodiles into the Thamalakane River and its tributaries. Some were found but some were not. They set out cages with chickens inside to capture the crocodiles live. In one case, a hungry dog got in before the crocodile but he wasn't heavy enough to activate the mechanism that closed the door. But the crocodile that followed him in was. Now they were both caught inside a tiny cage- dog and croc. Luckily the dog had sense of his situation and started howling at the top of his voice until a human came and saved him before the croc had him for supper.
They've given up on capturing any more of the crocodile farm crocodiles. But now there are these crocodiles, not quite wild, not quite not, out swimming trying to survive in the wild. Now the other day I read in the paper a woman was washing clothes by the river and put her baby on a blanket nearby. Before she knew it a crocodile had jumped from the river and the baby was gone- for ever. I can't even imagine the terror of such a thing happening. They're not sure it was one of the crocodile farm crocodiles but it is suspected.
The other crazy sad news this week was the woman in Maun who apparently changes into a snake- but she actually doesn't. Someone started a rumour and the village went crazy. People started crowding at her house demanding to see her. She was scared (rightly so) and refused to leave her house. Reporters were sent in to see what was going on. They went back to the crowd saying it was all a hoax and the woman was just a normal woman. This apparently incensed the crowd, some saying they'd burn her house down if she didn't come out. Eventually the police had to come to break up the mob. Some needed force to get the message. The whole thing has made me very sad. I wonder how this woman will be able to live in her home after all of that.
So the heat continues, I'm two degrees above melting, and I wonder what new craziness will happen this weekend. Or will the rain finally fall.
Crazy things indeed. Really sad about the baby eaten by the crocodile. There's no good way to lose a child, but that...
ReplyDeleteIt's horrible, Uche. That story has just been sitting at the front of my mind since I read it. I feel so awful for that mother.
ReplyDeleteAmazing stories. And so sad about the baby. The mother must be inconsolable. Not exactly sure what 35C would be in Fahrenheit numbers, but I think it's a 3 to 1 ratio. If so, that's crazy hot. We've been so hot here in TX and are in a major drought. I'm glad Fall is finally here and we're getting cooler weather and a bit of rain. Hope it cools off for you.
ReplyDeleteOh god, what terrible stories. The heat can drive you crazy, can't it? And that poor mother... We have/are having wierdly warm temperatures too, the trees and animals are definitely confused, they think it's spring. They're about to get a shock. No rain here either. Oh dear...Thinking of you.
ReplyDeleteHelen- it's cooled off a bit and we got some rain last night (finally) and more predicted.
ReplyDeleteTania- Yes terrible stories. Maybe everywhere is having crazy weather. Is it the beginning of climate change? I wonder.
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