Air traffic lack of control

This is the most solemn of the captive chimps, named Congo. I went to stand near him as a lively dog was nipping and yapping in his face. He was cowering and batting it away pitifully. Some ladies walked past on their way back from market, carrying whatever they'd been selling on their heads. He extended his arm vaguely in their direction as if they'd tossed him leftovers in the past, which would have been a regal gesture if it wasn't done so feebly.

He's not in a good state and had bad diarrhoea the first time I saw him. The similarly aged chimp chained to the left, named Juma, has remarkable energy for such horrid conditions and inadequate diet. They are both likely suffering from mental disturbance and desperately need specialist attention to avoid a miserable existence.

Good news is that local decision-makers have listened to pleas from the capital, and the recommendations that we've made, and no longer want to put these animals in the non-existent and inevitably terrible Yambio Zoo. It's a step closer to moving them first to the capital for some rudimentary veterinary care and then to a willing sanctuary overseas. We've managed to get a few parties interested and we hope one of the well-funded refuges will step forward with help for transportation costs, which will be significant.

A usual day of running around Yambio completing all manner of errands: boot mending at the cobbler, stocking up on increasingly rare fuel, preparing pay packets, counting decrepit old bank notes and wondering whether the stench is emanating from them or me, updating government bigwigs and laying the groundwork for upcoming activities.

The strangest moment of the day was being begged for a lift back from the airstrip by the dispatcher after seeing DeeAnn off. It's like being asked by someone from the air traffic control tower to cadge a ride in your car after landing you safely. And then when you agree, despite having to wait around, he then points at a mound of luggage that needs transporting to town, so you become a guest baggage handler too.