Folding table, luxury on an expedition

Day: 51

Heart Camp – 01.07.2000

Apart from the time pressure on our shoulders, we spend a pleasant weekend. Jo, Tom and Petro come to visit us on Saturday evening and bring the rest of the modified L-frames. Unfortunately, Jo was unable to sew the other 8 saddlebags. She has been working hard, but as I mentioned, her sewing machine is on strike. Nevertheless, she was able to run an endless number of errands for us in her absence and, with enormous effort, sewed me a fantastically beautiful cover for a lightweight folding table, which the two of them also brought with them and presented to me as a gift. I am speechless and delighted. I finally have my own desk and no longer have to write my notes on my knees or in other crazy positions. Of course it’s a luxury to have a folding table with you on a camel expedition, but considering the three-year period, I don’t think it’s particularly luxurious. It’s important for me to be able to sit reasonably correctly when I’m doing a lot of writing. In addition to the often grueling days, it is exhausting enough to record our experiences. In the evening or on rest days, when the camels have been unloaded and all the important work is done, I sit there tired, typing away on the computer. It doesn’t matter whether it’s storming, raining, the sun is blazing down from the firmament or thousands of annoying flies are crawling into your nose and ears. Even though I now enjoy writing, it’s a tough job under these conditions. However, I am now the proud owner of a travel table for which we just have to find a suitable place on the camel.

As Jo will be leaving us here in Cleary as agreed, we are also using this evening to present our friends Jo and Tom with a long-planned gift. Tom accepts the small parcel wrapped in a napkin. He carefully opens the loop of black hay tape and when he recognizes the Leatherman, he can’t believe his eyes. Jo is also overjoyed and delighted with the useful knife. We hug each other in gratitude for the indescribable help, with the odd tear rolling down our cheeks. So that the two of them don’t have to squabble over the knife, we give Jo a Swiss Army knife. We are happy to have hit the nail on the head and spend a wonderful, very harmonious evening.