Staff

Even here, in this wild camp, there are staff. Jophie and Al employ three people to cook, clean, do the laundry and look after the children while they are at work. It takes some getting used to. I go back into my tent after breakfast to make my bed, and it's already been done. Any clothes that have been left lying around have been taken off to be washed. Sometimes this feels a little excessive.

All the meals are prepared for us, even breakfast. It feels uncomfortable to go into the kitchen and start cooking, even though all the staff working here are very friendly. It's like I am trying to do someone else's job for them, and getting in the way of their well ordered routine.

Jophie has found somebody to work for us when we move into our own home. Her name is Flora and she is the daughter of Evie and Lali's nanny, Rosie. Flora is 21 and has spent the last few months training in the kitchen at Sirikoi.

Adharanand and I have been struggling with the idea of having a 'house girl', we've never even employed a cleaner before, but Flora has already got the job, and if nothing else, Jophie assures me that so many people out here need work, that giving somebody a job is a good thing.