My one-man relief effort is already going awry. It's not every day I try to buy five packs of aspirin. But it's not every day I go to Zimbabwe.
Six months into my freelance career, this is one of the last trips I expected to make. Putting any ethical concerns aside, I've sold it to myself on the strength that it might do some good for ordinary Zimbabweans.
A friend at the Christian charity Tearfund advised me to take a few hard to obtain items and distribute them discretely.
But the man at the Gatwick Boots counter has taken exception to my need for so many painkillers.
"They're not for me!" I protest.
He still looks at me as though I'm some demented hop head. Eventually, we switch to a mix of aspirin and paracetemol and he relents.
Also in my bag are pens, notepads, chocolate, cigarettes and soap. Hell, why not throw in some nylons? This is going to be quite a trip.
Matthew Hampton
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