Bird bath

22 June 2016

Just another day filled with too much staff drama – this time it’s the arrogant new guide who considers himself part of “senior management”. Management my ass. The only he manages to do is to raise my blood pressure. Since he claims to have so much experience with running a lodge, I can’t imagine why he’s still a guide. What a chop. A chop who still lacks common sense. For example (I’m going to have a quick rant in case you’d like to skip this part), one would think that it’s pretty obvious to write down which drinks he takes for the guests on game drives or which apparent “complimentary drinks” he helps himself to – but no, no one told him to do it, and he feels that he should not have to ask how things are done. Now I’m like – ok so if you don’t know how to do something, you won’t ask?! Told him unfortunately life works that way, if you don’t know something you ASK! Otherwise you’re going to have to suffer the consequences for doing something incorrectly. I could go on for pages about all the things he was not happy about since he excepts to be spoon fed regarding everything – sorry buddy I’ve been chucked into the deep end too many times to have patience with something who can’t think for himself. Especially something who regards himself with such high esteem. I think part of the problem is because he doesn’t like working under a woman – after the story he told about female guides always getting lost, he’s probably one of those who thinks females don’t belong in the field. Oh and another thing, he’s moved tents, and I had the privilege of cleaning his room since I’m so helpful and frankly had nothing else to do. In any case, he’s room was filthy, he has absolutely no shame to even pick up his rubbish before he moves out. So much for a good impression. And he messed shoe polish on the furniture – so knowing this (I had to go into his tent a few days ago to disconnect the solar panel after I heard it making a horrible noise, so I saw this polish tin on the table) – I asked him if he knows what those stains are about – he lied to my face saying he doesn’t know what they are but he’ll go have a look to see if he can do something about it. Uhmm it’s a stain buddy – how on earth does he plan on getting it off? #nocommonsense. I’m going to ask him later today if he managed to do something about the stains, and see if he lies to me again. Part of me wants to tell him that I know it’s the shoe polish and that I just wanted to see if he’s admit it. But that would probably just cause more drama.

Other news – the leopards have moved off for the time-being. I think they were just curious about what’s happening in camp. Since they’ve left, the lions have been roaring away, and one morning we plan to go out looking for them if they start roaring again. Hopefully this time we get a glimpse.  I also had an ellie outside my tent last night, at first it didn’t sound like one but then I heard branches break and his poop hitting the ground – dead give-away. The wind was howling too, which kind of made it a little scary if I’m honest, especially when the tent flaps started smacking against the sides.

I’ve put a make-shift bird bath outside the kitchen after noticing that the birdies were hovering close to the drinking water tank – I love watching them all gather next to the container to drink water. I’ve used an old potjie pot as another one by the dining room, but the birdies don’t seem to like that side, or they just haven’t noticed it yet. Ora (the nice bushman who works for us) suggested I put all the bird baths in the front because they’re used to the other ones now. He even said I should put food out for them. That would definitely attract more birdies. One way of learning all the species in the area. I’m glad my interest in birds have grown since I’ve started coming to Botswana, even though I still have loooooots more to learn. Now before I forget, let me go move the bird baths…