So I went to Harare for the weekend as friends of mine are leaving Harare. I was driving from Nyanga to Rusape and was about 16k’s from Rusape when I smelled smoke. Winter is also called fire season as forest fires are set for various reasons. I looked in my rearview mirror and saw smoke coming from the rear light that turns on when the trunk is opened and then… it caught fire, FIRE! So I pulled over and turned off the car, opened the trunk and pulled out my fire extinguisher. It’s traffic law that all cars must have 2 hazard triangles, reflector vest AND a fire extinguisher. It’s the time I wanted to praise the traffic department. I used my fire extinguisher and put out the fire. I then saw smoke coming out the front of the car, not the hood but inside out of the wheel and console, I sprayed the front with a fire extinguisher incase the smoke was leading to a fire. After everything was as aired out as I could get it, I tried to start the car and NOTHING! Then I realized my hazards weren’t on anymore the whole electrical system in the car was shot. I started think about what my options were, luckily I had cell service and called Willie, my colleague in Nyanga and asked him if he knew of anyone in Rusape who could help me. I also called a friend from Harare who was in Marondera for the Bernard Mezeki day, which I was suppose to go to, to also ask if he knew of anyone in Rusape I could use. Willie like a champ came through and 2 hours later I was in Rusape having my car towed to a garage that specializes in auto electrics. While I was waiting for the tow, the mechanic called to ask me questions about my car, the make, model, standard or automatic, fuel injection or carburetor, etc, etc and luckily I knew the answers to all. When he arrived he praised me for actually knowing and getting those questions right. I explained my dad taught me about cars and got me interested in cars not only in real life but by watching James Bond movies. So once I got to Rusape reality sunk in about what really happened and what was I going to do. Rusape is like getting stuck in Hazelton, BC for those of you who don’t know, Hazelton is 45 minutes away from Smithers, BC and is one of those places with a gas station, a grocery store and a Motel 6, if you blink while driving through it, you miss it. What was going to be able to be done about my car in Rusape. He pulled my car apart looking at the electrics from back to the battery in front. The mechanic was surprised the battery was still in tact. It had turned itself off when wires were going nuts, when it should’ve caught fire and blown up, I’m very grateful it didn’t blow up and very lucky. So he took out the burnt wires, there were more than 1 as the 1 that started it was next to other wires, which were starting to melt, so 3 wires were damaged. He fixed 2 wires but left the 3rd, the original out. My friend in Marondera took public transport to Rusape to make sure I was ok, to make sure the car was ok and to make sure I wasn’t being hustled by the mechanic and he actually did the work. So the mechanic said he had fixed the important parts but I would need to come back on Monday for him to finish the job. He needed a part he didn’t have so I had to pick up a part in Harare, luckily my friend was there with me so I had some backup incase anything else happened, which it didn’t!!!!

Monday I came back to Rusape and he looked at the fuse box, which is plastic, which seems really dumb to me as fuses are metal. Anyways the fuse to the rear trunk light was melted into the fuse box and 3 other fuses were starting to melt. He was able to put in a new fuse that was melted in a different location of the car until the fuse box could be taken out and properly sorted out and he put in a new wire so I had an overhead light when I opened my car doors. So my car is driving well now, no light issues and no smoke or fire. But I’ll have to have the fuse box removed and sorted in the near future. I also need the roof of my car re-upholstered as it is burnt and falling off.

Work is going well, that’s my good news!!! The construction workers are learning how to use the bricks and foundation is coming together. We are dealing with a few blips like lack of materials bought, therefore coming up with creative designing off the cuff, construction worker communication, budget issues, which are always a good time but I go to site a few times a day and spend some time learning, walking around, seeing the project come together, talking to the brick makers and construction workers.