Next we bought two hundred sacks of guano to spread on the fields. I imagine that the sacks came to about three or four tonnes in total. We picked up a couple of rough looking labourers from a group of them who hung around in the centre of town. Anybody who wanted some temporary labour knew where to find them. We also bought nitrate chemical fertilizer pellets and stupidly Roger and I spent an afternoon spreading fertilizer ourselves on the fields with no gloves, masks or any kind of protective clothing at all. Neither of us really knew what kind of chemicals we were exposing ourselves to. I think it was another example of me engaging in activities without really understanding what I was doing or knowing what I was letting myself in for and being unaware of the possible consequences. I think that at other times I was aware of the possible consequences but I just didn´t care and went right on ahead anyway.

Our work was constantly being delayed because of one problem or another. At one point Roger was ill for two weeks after eating seafood and all work had to be stopped while he got better. The sowing of the seed was delayed for almost three weeks. We agreed to start on a Saturday but Roger decided to stay in bed with Susanne instead. Then on Sunday it was the birthday party of Roger´s uncle which we both had to attend instead of going to work. Roger told me not to worry, we could start sowing the seed on Monday. But on Monday it started raining heavily when previously the weather had been dry. It rained for a whole week