Your Man in Malawi: Summertime

Four weeks later, and the piglets aren't quite as cute as they used to be, which is probably nature's way of signalling their transition from Instagram fodder to potential sandwich filler. The end of September in Lilongwe sees temperatures soar, and the heat won't start to ease until the start of the rains in late November. To make up for it, the Jacaranda trees flower, covering the city in lilac blossom. With just one year left in Malawi, this will be the last time I witness it - a sad thought.

Spending time in a nylon tent at this time of year is unconscionable, but that's just what I did for two nights at the annual Lake of Stars music festival last weekend. I made it work by retreating to the nearest swimming pool at regular intervals. The week prior, two friends from the UK visited, and we spent a lovely weekend at Kumbali Lake Retreat in Senga Bay, where one of them snapped a great shot of a fish eagle (below).

Things are going grand on the farm. Nepear has been busy planting and I'm expecting a bumper crop in time for the next farmers' market at the end of October. We let four of our pigs out for a wander around the garden this morning, which they very much enjoyed - earthing up a number of hitherto undiscovered root vegetables. We've launched a consultancy service for Nepear, called Homegrown Gardens, which provides bespoke garden design services and training to other gardeners on compost making, organic pest control, and animal husbandry, amongst other things. So far, so good.

The boys - Paddy included - have all gone back to school. For Robert, this is his first year at primary school. We found him a nice little school not far from my house, called Dreams Private School, where he seems to be settling in well. Patience is in his final year of pre-school and hasn't got into any trouble yet, and Paddy has just started what will hopefully be his final year of secondary school at a good private school, again not far from my house.

The leg is healing. I'm walking around on it, but it'll be a while before I'm allowed to get back to the rugby.

I'm off on holiday to Zanzibar first thing tomorrow morning, for a week of relaxation with the missus. So expect photo's of turquoise lagoons, piles of spices, and sunburn in the next edition.