Okay, so it's not an actual gym. It's a corner on the way to the stairs and the elevator in our hotel, so basically anyone going to breakfast gets to watch the people using the bikes.

The hotel has four floors, and this setup is available on the third and fourth floors. As you can see, it looks out over...a gym. That way, while one is struggling to get the ancient equipment to perform to any kind of program (turns out - not possible), one can watch people going in and out of the gym across the road and watch them using the modern equipment in the gym. But hey, it's better than nothing!

So do people often use the bikes?

Nope. Have never seen anyone on them the several times I've stayed in the hotel. Granted, the first time I stayed there I was on the second floor, so might have missed a flurry of fitness activity...but I doubt it.

The value of a gym buddy

My business partner, who's also in Lusaka this week, is possibly the most reliable gym buddy a human could ask for. I don't have to call him as I'm leaving for the gym to ask if he'll be there - if we agree the previous day "See you in the gym at 6:30", well, I'll see him in the gym at 6:30. There's no pressure on either side, but it's really motivating to know that somebody else will be there and doesn't mind pushing themselves a bit with whatever equipment is available.

Is the Deity happy with my performance this morning?

Those of you who didn't read my post 12 days ago might be wondering what Deity I'm talking about. This is the Great Medical Aid Deity of South Africa, and it uses a Pavlovian system of points to get us to do what its actuaries want us to do, which is get our heart rates up a lot at least three times a week.

The Deity hasn't deigned to let me know yet whether I got more than a measly 100 points for this morning's workout.