Wednesday 24 December 2008

Christmas Eve

Hi Everyone,

I hope you are all well and truly into the festive spirit. Yesterday at Scann I had arranged for the boys to show us what they perform at their evening talent shows that they hold three evenings a week. As none of us are about in the evening we miss out. I put up the Christmas tree with decs with help from a few of the boys and decorated the dining hall with lots of help, it still looks a bit bleak but not as bad as usual. I did warn the boys that this year if anyone removed the decorations from the tree I wouldn't put one up next year, I went in today and counted, not one of the wooden ornaments has gone but that was just day one!

The talent event was great the boys had a great time sharing their talents and the staff enjoyed watching. We were even gathered together at one stage into the centre of the dining hall and told to sit in a ring on chairs. Little did we know that we were to take part in 'musical chairs' what a laugh we had......... the boys laughed so much it was great, and I won!!!!!

The best part for me was being treated to a show by the 'c' group of acrobats. It was the smallest boys at SCANN. I sat with tears whelling as I watched the likes of Davey and James Mwangi performing acrobatic feats, some of you will remember Mwangi had been very ill last year always sickly and backwards and forwards to the hospital, even on the last day I was there he had to go for bloods and x-rays. The boys looked so proud and performed beautifully, (well maybe the timing was a bit out and the left leg instead of the right leg was used in the dancing but it was fab). Nathalie I will put some of the videos on a cd and send them to you for the girls to watch.

I left there to go home to many many basins of water as we have been without for 3 days again as there is a problem with the pump at the pumpng station. I called my contact who promised we would have water that day, unfortunately the pressure was so low that we could only get it in basins as it was not pressured enough to get the pump working!

My volunteer house guest (Thomas) is very very adaptable and understanding and quite happy with the facilities available, actually we whop and wail when we actually get a shower. Luckily he had previously spent a year in Colombia and is used to basics!

Tomorrow will be a busy day as Thomas and I are spending the day at SCANN entertaining the children, should be fun.... in addition Thomas and I have bought in some sacks of fruit from the market to add to the boys festivie lunch oranges and bananas which will be given on two different days. After all the activities of tomorrow I think I will need a stiff drink by evening. I am taking Boxing Day off to continue the sewing as I am getting behind, my stitching clothes in the evening days are well and truly over, eyes are not what they used to be!!!! (Sign of age..........um think not just bad eyes).

Thomas and I have discussed going out for Chinese tonight as Christmas Eve treat, although an early night maybe on the cards, in view of tomorrows exertions. In preparation of Catherine leaving for a week to visit her family I went home last night and after about half a box of matches managed to light an amazing jiko, Thomas decided he would cook a spag bol, not that he has cooked before in the true Kenyan way (a back breaking event bending over the small stove). The meal was good and we even managed a large home made creme caramel too for pud, Catherine was amazed we managed to do all this before she got home for dinner. Thomas and I had had a mad dash round town earlier buying things to make 'booty bags' for the boys, we spent our Christmas Eve, sitting at the cleared diningroom table, filling plastic bags with bits and bobs listening to music, chatting and feeling great well into the early hours. What a great way to spend Christmas Eve!

The animals are very well and growing bigger by the moment, Paka is aloof but still around, he loves my ankles around meal time!

It is still hot and very very dry, my shamba is now full of drooping plants in great need of rain, actually everywhere here is in need of rain to get rid of the awful dust, which believe me, gets everywhere!

My love to everyone and my thoughts are with you all over Christmas, Think my Christmas lunch will be a bun and a soda but alot of fun. The boys all send their love and keep asking when my friends are coming.......................

I hope you like my Christmas card, I didn't send any this year, how bad am I........

SO I WILL END NOW WITH MY LOVE TO YOU ALL, PEACE AND FESTIVE WISHES ALL ROUND.

SUSANNAH XXXXXX

Thursday 18 December 2008

Still cooking - alive and kicking

Jambo,

Thought I would take a break from a day in Nairobi and send you a belated email....... Well in my last email I spoke too soon on the sewing front. I have started going throught the boys new lockers checking their clothes and issuing them with padlocks for their doors. The sewing I was getting was the tip of the iceberg, I have done 24 lockers to date and ended up with 15 pairs of school shorts that need sewing, some need burning!! I have taken a bundle home and will work through them, slowly. I thought the inventory of the boys clothes would be good - it would mean that we could keep note in their file of what they have therefore what they need, instead of the boy with 5 jumpers getting another when he has 1 pair of trousers. I hadn't really thought it through it is a slow slow slow process and is very depressing. At least I am spending time with each of the boys even if it is over his clothes.

I have been asked to take remedial lessons with some of the boys who haven't performed well at all, mainly the young ones, they were supposed to start school after Christmas but they just aren't ready. So one-on-one I am to teach them basic English....... I will need all the luck I can get. Armed with some resources that I was given by my sister from her girls I hope to achieve something at least, patience will be a virtue that I will need to possess as two of the boys have major concentration problems.

Ok how have things been, other than trying to avoid Christmas totally, not alot has changed. My first volunteer guest is well established at mine, he is a 30 year old guy called Thomas from Switzerland. A very nice and helpful person, he fits in well in the crazy household at the moment, doesnt even mind all the basin washing. My water pump has died from being sat too long without use and water damage so it was replaced at great cost yesterday. We now have a tank full of water and the use of the ....... wait for it...... showers.

The chickens are giving us eggs sporadically, but not sure if that has something to do with the fact that the guards wife is looking after them and she has 3 children!!!! I have been told that Gibson and his family are leaving me on 2nd January as he is returning to studies. You know this means trying to find another guard, a job that I really don't relish.

This morning I got up at 5am, sorted the dogs, cleaned, set the breakfast table, bathed and dressed ready to go to Nairobi. I had an early meeting with Millicent from the Salvation Army who is helping me renew my 'missionary' visa. She wanted me in Nairobi at 8.30 I kindly told her that 9 would be more realistic. As it happens I was out the house and heading into town at 6.30am. The matatu left at 7am and was not slow about his journey, looked like I would be there with good time.

Little did I know..... the down hill approach to Nairobi was not a good one, we approached a 'car park' everyone was at standstill with no sign on moving. Horns blared and tempers flared. No one could see the reason for the problem. All the public transport were trying to find short cuts only to be turned around by police. We inched round for ages looking for ways through, eventually the driver went all the way round Nairobi outskirts.... now this doesn't seem to be a problem .... except that I only know the place that I usually get the Matatu driver to drop me off at enroute into town. I recognised nothing, it was now 10.30 and I was very late. I called Millicent and apologised telling her that I had no idea where I was, the driver explained that we were at the matatu depot 20 minutes walk from her.

Now in a place that I know where I am this would not be a problem but here it was something I was not happy with. Eventually the driver agreed when he parked at the depot he would walk me to where I needed to be. We walked at a fast pace and it was indeed a 25 minute walk, I gave him enough money for a beer and thanked him. I will never travel without my street map again, even if I know where I am going. Millicent and I went to the immigration office and were told to return in the morning, I nearly cried........ until the officer said that it was only a paperwork thing and Millicent could attend without me. They would locate my application from July and reinstate it as it had expired while I was in UK. I breathed a sigh of relief, took Millicent out for lunch and phoned Jemo (one of the acrobats in Nairobi) who joined me and then walked me back to the Mololine shuttle station as I wouldn't find my way back. It has been a hot and apparently fruitless day, but I have had lunch, met an old friend, and been on a long long long journey.

I staggered from the matatu when we arrived in Nakuru, dehydrated and sweating like a pig (due to taking the last seat on the matatu which happened to be right in the back and on the sunny side all the way home!). I probably smell awful, but I am sat in the internet with a cold stoney drink and talking to all of you. What more could I want........... other than a change of clothes and a shower!!!

I am busy trying to sort out Christmas day at Scann and have now got Thomas who will also be there, I have decided to buy a sack of oranges and a banana each for the boys, something they don't have often. Thomas is looking into getting them all 'Slippers' what we call flipflops which is what most of them wear when at 'home'.

My love to you all, Christmas is just round the corner now and it seems like light years away. I know you are all busy with your plans and will be spending time with your family and friends. I will be there in spirit even if I will be run ragged by the boys partying.

I am possibly treating myself out for New Years Eve, but wait and see, I will try and find somewhere different so that hopefully the troublesome ones won't be around to pester me! Take care, thinking of you all,

Susannah

Nathalie..... keep those chocs away from Alfie, he is only pretending to be good until the Xmas chocs arrive!David... fingers crossed
Kimberley.... glad you got to salsa, you need to extend your social life....xxxx
Paul-Simon...... nice pic took me ages to try and find Mackenzie, give her my love (if she remembers me)
Jean..... thanks for the phone call, but not sure whose phone is bad but you sound like you have a mouth full of bubbles!
Doris..... Have a G&T for me xx

Sunday 14 December 2008

Jambo

Jambo,

Thought I would take a break from a day in Nairobi and send you a belated email....... Well in my last email I spoke too soon on the sewing front. I have started going through the boys new lockers checking their clothes and issuing them with padlocks for their doors.

The sewing I was getting was the tip of the iceberg, I have done 24 lockers to date and ended up with 15 pairs of school shorts that need sewing, some need burning!! I have taken a bundle home and will work through them, slowly. I thought the inventory of the boys clothes would be good - it would mean that we could keep note in their file of what they have therefore what they need, instead of the boy with 5 jumpers getting another when he has 1 pair of trousers. I hadn't really thought it through it is a slow slow slow process and is very depressing. At least I am spending time with each of the boys even if it is over his clothes.

I have been asked to take remedial lessons with some of the boys who haven't performed well at all, mainly the young ones, they were supposed to start school after Christmas but they just aren't ready. So one on one I am to teach them basic English....... I will need all the luck I can get. Armed with some resources that I was given by my sister from her girls I hope to achieve something at least, patience will be a virtue that I will need to possess as two of the boys have major concentration problems.

Ok how have things been, other than trying to avoid Christmas totally, not a lot has changed. My first volunteer guest is well established at mine, he is a 30 year old guy called Thomas from Switzerland. A very nice and helpful person, he fits in well in the crazy household at the moment, doesn't even mind all the basin washing. My water pump has died from being sat too long without use and water damage so it was replaced at great cost yesterday. We now have a tank full of water and the use of the ....... wait for it...... showers. The chickens are giving us eggs sporadically, but not sure if that has something to do with the fact that the guards wife is looking after them and she has 3 children!!!! I have been told that Gibson and his family are leaving me on 2nd January as he is returning to studies. You know this means trying to find another guard, a job that I really don't relish.

This morning I got up at 5am, sorted the dogs, cleaned, set the breakfast table, bathed and dressed ready to go to Nairobi. I had an early meeting with Millicent from the Salvation Army who is helping me renew my 'missionary' visa. She wanted me in Nairobi at 8.30 I kindly told her that 9 would be more realistic. As it happens I was out the house and heading into town at 6.30am. The matatu left at 7am and was not slow about his journey, looked like I would be there with good time. Little did I know..... the down hill approach to Nairobi was not a good one, we approached a 'car park' everyone was at standstill with no sign on moving.

Horns blared and tempers flared. No one could see the reason for the problem. All the public transport were trying to find short cuts only to be turned around by police. We inched round for ages looking for ways through, eventually the driver went all the way round Nairobi outskirts.... now this doesn't seem to be a problem .... except that I only know the place that I usually get the Matatu driver to drop me off at en route into town. I recognised nothing, it was now 10.30 and I was very late. I called Millicent and apologised telling her that I had no idea where I was, the driver explained that we were at the matatu depot 20 minutes walk from her. Now in a place that I know where I am this would not be a problem but here it was something I was not happy with. Eventually the driver agreed when he parked at the depot he would walk me to where I needed to be. We walked at a fast pace and it was indeed a 25 minute walk, I gave him enough money for a beer and thanked him.

I will never travel without my street map again, even if I know where I am going. Millicent and I went to the immigration office and were told to return in the morning, I nearly cried........ until the officer said that it was only a paperwork thing and Millicent could attend without me. They would locate my application from July and reinstate it as it had expired while I was in UK. I breathed a sigh of relief, took Millicent out for lunch and phoned Jemo (one of the acrobats in Nairobi) who joined me and then walked me back to the Molo line Matatu station as I wouldn't find my way back.

It has been a hot and apparently fruitless day, but I have had lunch, met an old friend, and been on a long long long journey. I staggered from the matatu when we arrived in Nakuru, dehydrated and sweating like a pig (due to taking the last seat on the matatu which happened to be right in the back and on the sunny side all the way home!). I probably smell awful, but I am sat in the internet with a cold stoney drink and talking to all of you. What more could I want........... other than a change of clothes and a shower!!!

I am busy trying to sort out Christmas day at Scann and have now got Thomas who will also be there, I have decided to by a sack of oranges and a banana each for the boys, something they don't have often, Thomas is looking into getting them all 'Slippers' what we call flip flops which is what most of them wear when at 'home'.

My love to you all, Christmas is just round the corner now and it seems like light years away. I know you are all busy with your plans and will be spending time with your family and friends. I will be there in spirit even if I will be run ragged by the boys partying. I am possibly treating myself out for New Years Eve, but wait and see, I will try and find somewhere different so that hopefully the troublesome ones won't be around to pester me!
Take care, thinking of you all,
Susannah

Wednesday 10 December 2008

Short and sweet - the email and I both

Hi,

just a quick update, the internet has been a real pain recently I have had to source out another internet cafe. I promised myself that last night I would sit and write you an email but was so tired that it just didnt happen.

Last Thursday, I acquired a house guest, Mama Sweeties oldest daughter Grace who is 12. With the disruption of the clashes here in Kenya and the loss of her father etc etc, most of you know the story already..... her grades in school were not as hoped and she is attending extra holiday tuition in Nakuru, which is some way from her home. I now have Grace living with me for three weeks. She was very quiet but is now settling in well and even managing to make jokes and acting like a true 12 year old.

Moving on, let us all hiphip horray............. I had a HOT shower yesterday, well actually the story goes like this, Grace and I got home, hot, tired and very dusty and we still had water in the mains so I decided to test the showers, finding they worked I had planned on taking a shower after washing my clothes. That was the plan until I realised whilst washing my clothes that the shower in the bathroom was running.... Grace had beat me to it. Her face was a delight, a hot shower!!!! Needless to say I followed a micro second behind her, it was F A B! Catherine who is also staying at the house missed the shower though as by the time she got in from SCANN the mains had finished, but we told her how G R E A T it was !

I am expecting a volunteer to arrive sometime next week, he is someone who Yasmine from SCANN has arranged to visit and spend time at the project. That is all I know and he is down to stay with me for two weeks. All of you that were planning on visiting just to let you know, he will be my B&B guinea pig. Should be fun! At least it will be a bit of spends coming in before Christmas to put in the savings pot. If it goes well who knows the business may become multi national!

Today I spent the day sorting out new systems for SCANN for inventory and also sewing the uniforms that have gaping holes in the seams, my fingers are killing me, I really forgot how to appreciate the sewing machine while I had it. The boys are very healthy as the doctor has been attending to them in my absence with help from Anastasia one of the teachers as 'attending nurse'. Dr. Kuria was overjoyed with the additions of medical items that I managed to bring over with me, thanks to those concerned.

Friday here is a public holiday and I am planning on taking the day off, so far I am working every day and getting exhausted, not a good thing. I think all that souvenier eating in the UK has made me sluggish! Certainly not as fit as I used to be before I left here.

The weather is still hot and dry, although Monday we had some rain and managed to collect water for the parched plants. The animals are fine, although no sign of any eggs from the chickens yet, but alot of clucking!!!!

Love to you all, will spend more time next time working out what to write.
Take care and keep well.xxxxxxx
Susannah

Sunday 7 December 2008

No name

Hi Guys, having so much trouble updating the 'friends list' for my emails it is driving me crazy! I hope you all get this, if not how will I know who isnt getting it??Ok here is todays email... you ready...

Good morning,

Well, after sitting in the internet yesterday and reading my welcomed emails, I began to write an email to you all, unfortunately the ‘stema’ (electricity) went off leaving me with a blank screen. I waited for the stema to come back on and then hotmail was playing up. So this morning at 7, after letting the dogs out for a run in the ‘compound’ and cooking uji (a kind of porridge, nothing like we know it) I find myself sat at the laptop composing an email to you in order to send later when in town.

As I don’t have my previous email to you I cant remember where we left off although I do remember I had a serious water problem…… or lack of. I called ‘my contact’ at the maji office and he told me he would come and look……… what struck me as amusing was that he was true to his word and the next afternoon he came and sorted the problem. They had been doing a lot of work on the pipes at the water station and it had resulted in a great deal of ‘dirt’ coming through and blocking the filter in the meter. This unblocked we now have water and pressure every other day. Today I hope to check that the large storage tank fills, this will prevent us being without water.

I have spent the week preparing card cut out decorations for the boys to paint and put up for Christmas, we leave it to the last minute as they disappear in a few days as momentos, so the later the better, same goes for the Christmas tree.

On Friday, 5th December it was John Ndolos Graduation from University. I was given one of the two tickets he had to attend and after being given directions on how to get there by matatu I was set. I got up at 6 as usual sorted the dogs, ‘bathed’, and put on a dress…… I know I don’t wear one very often, but needs must. I went with a bottle of drink, a book, some biscuits and some boiled sweets. I got into town by local matatu then went to the ‘stage’ to get the one for Egerton University. It was before 8am and already the Graduation atmosphere was alive, people selling cards and memorabilia in the street and around the matatu. It was obvious that everyone on the matatu was heading for graduation with their gowns and mortars in their bags and clean pressed suits on. The driver went like a ‘bat out of hell’ and we were all grateful to arrive in one piece after a couple of near misses on route. People on the matatu had complained that the price had been hiked for the day from 50ks to 80ks I wasn’t complaining as I was told it would probably be 100ks.

I started talking to a lad (George) on the seat beside me who had completed a Business Management course, he was very pleased but was telling me that the problem with university wasn’t doing the courses it was getting employment afterwards, I told him not to be disheartened and to take anything until he found what he was looking for, it would keep his mind busy and some money in his pocket. When I got of the matatu it struck me just how many people there were attending. The place heaved with graduates in gowns, families and friends, security was tight as they were expecting dignitaries. I walked with George as I was unable to get through on my phone to let John know I had arrived. We wound our way to the Graduation Square where I had a ticket for a seat, unfortunately, the placed was so packed that there were no seats left and standing space was like being in a tin of sardines.

I positioned myself under a tree and spent the next 3 hours scouring the crowds for John, the network still was not working and proceeded to not work for the whole day. I was beginning to feel like a freak with people stopping to stare at me and standing watching me when I caught sight of John making his was over to me, I cant say I wasn’t happy to see him, by the look on his face he was worried he wouldn’t find me too

John led the way to where he was sitting with this fellow grad students, now this was by no means and easy task, because he was in his gowns he was given lea way to accessing the square the fact that I was in tow was a problem because everyone let him squeeze through then they closed the space and I had to be pulled through as I was attached by the hand. He eventually left me at the edge of the graduates seating area under another tree. There was so much moving around and shuffling that I was soon not under the tree but in full sunshine, I had a brollie for a parasol but there were so many people it was impossible to put it up. I managed to stand for a while under the shade of a very tall Masai man in full dress who was standing beside me, that was until the sun moved round.

John had disappeared into a sea of black gowns and mortars, I stood observing the proceeding and marvelled at the number of graduates, I would estimate no less than 1000. It was a great event and when the role call was done and the celebrating began it was like festival time, the orchestra struck up and played Kenyan music and everyone sang and danced.

John found me again and we pushed our way to where he had arranged to meet his family, (his mother and 8 of his 10 siblings), in true Kenyan style theyweren’t there. He left me sitting on the grass under a tree while he went in search of them.

I was happy to sit quietly and relax reading my book, this was not to be, people came up to me asking to have their photo taken with me and their families….. I have never been celebrity status,as you will understand, and this was very weird, people then came joined me because they said I should not sit alone on this fine day……. Etc etc etc.

I was pleased to see John reappear after one and a half hours with his mother, his family still at large. John introduced his mother and whilst he went in further search of his siblings, his mother and I tried limited conversation with a lot of laughing and struggling with the language barrier.

When eventually the group was reunited it was now 4.30 we did introductions and photos and I said I would have to leave to get back to town. We all walked together towards the gates and I was ushered with the group to a white pick-up truck that was parked along with hundreds of other vehicles at the side of the road which was now a car park. Vehicles stopped, bumper to bumper in the traffic jam. A crate of soda was brought from the vehicle together with sweet buns, I can't say that I wasn’t happy at the sight, we all piled into the vehicle and I sat in the back with John and his younger brothers and sisters, I think in the end there were 9 of us in the back, we chatted and amused the kids and awaited opportunity to pull out of the parking space.

The journey back was interesting especially as John said his mother wouldn’t hear of me not going to the house for dinner. So I had been hijacked for a second time, the first was by Nick to visit his family and now John and his family. The journey to Lanet was interesting as there was so much traffic on the roads that we crawled along, I was obviously a sight-and-a-half squatting in the back of a packed pick-up, people stopped, pointed and called and waved at me. I was glad to get to the home as by now I needed the facilities and my legs and bottom were aching.

We had a lovely chicken stew and I wandered how Susanne lived with her remaining 6 children in the two roomed home.

I got home that evening exhausted but pleased that I had decided to attend, I decided to make a small photo album to celebrate the day and give it to John’s mother. The question now is what is John going to do with his Degree in Biomedical Science and Technology. He has looked into doing his Masters at Reading University but, that in itself poses problems with sponsorship to get him allowed to attend the University let alone many other issues.

Who knows what Kenya has to offer all these Graduates, lets hope it is a future.

Ok enough for now. I am fine and soon to head off to SCANN as the doctor is coming today to give the boys a talk before he holds his clinic, I know its Sunday but it is the only day during December that he is able to attend due to commitments. I have managed to light my first jiko (Stove) and cooked dinner last night, even managed to buy a packet of Crème Caramel in the supermarket so we had desert too…I am spoilt!!

It is going to be another hot day.

Love to you all,
(Kimberley hope you found the other legs to the Xmas tree and had fun with Mackenzie.
Paul-Simon and Missy hope you had a good night out and you celebrated your 6 years well.)

Take care of yourselves. I have now left Scann and am at the internet - Catherine has confirmed that my storage tank has just began filling so may manage a shower tonight, if the showers are working, it has been a while. I have my friend Mwangi the electrician on standby for a visit on Tuesday to check them over.
Susannah

Tuesday 2 December 2008

Hi there in cold UK

Hi there in cold UK,
Just to let you know we have had temperatures in the region of the 30's recently down to 24 yesterday, still nice and hot, at least now I can walk around without getting scorch marks on my feet!!!

Quick update, I am now the proud owner of two hens, one to make chicks and one for eating eggs, not sure the correct terms but that will do for now. Gibson (guard) has been busy building a hen house, must admit he has told me he is not good but he is better than any of the fundis (workmen) I had at the house. His cockerel has been showing a good deal of interest in the lovely birds!

I visited the vet recently concerning my 'hussy' dogs, we have so many dogs appearing in the garden (Compound) at night due to my dogs howling for them that I am getting no sleep. I had already enquired about having them spayed but it is costly and dangerous for the bitches, not all survive the op. I heard of an injection for dogs of the contraceptive kind. I went into a chemist (out here they deal with animals and humans!! Not to get them mixed of course!) I left with a quick discussion on the merit of inter muscular injections and the fact that it lasted 6 months, two syringes, two needles, and vials of liquid.

Needless to say I was shaking like a leaf by the time I got home with the thought that I would have to do this myself. I explained what was going to happen to Gibson and he appeared to have full confidence in me. He held the chained dog (Fatso first in case of any problems) head and shoulders between his legs looking back, I held the rump, gave it a sharp couple of slaps and whacked it in, took a bit of a shove of the needle but Fatso didn't notice a thing, forgot I had to depress the plunger too for a mo, so that had to be done slowly. That finished, Kim was next, no problem. I did however, keep checking on the dogs to make sure they were still OK during the afternoon and evening. They haven't quite stopped howling but I think they will get bored soon, maybe they are just happy to know I am home.

I have been busy at Scann, as usual nothing runs smoothly. I returned to be called in to sit in a meeting as mediator between the prefects and the staff, there had been issues brewing that needed nipping in the bud before all hell lets loose.

I have been told that I need to get a start on clipping the boys hair as no one has done them since I left, they look like real mop heads not sure if the clippers will manage. I have also been told that the pile of sewing and repairs is huge, I pointed out that would be a long slow process with no sewing machine (it walked with my other possessions for those that don't know). I am also busy sorting out things that we can do with the smaller boys to decorate the dining hall for christmas, I have managed to print off many pages of designs of angels, santas, reindeer, xmas trees ready for photocopying and enlarging on to card for them to paint. Should be fun, my son should remember the fun we had with paint last year......... nice.

The house is good, I have been out and bought a fridge as a necessity to keep food fresh as don't want to be ill again. Today I moaned at the water man who I always moan at....... I don't mind getting water every alternate day but if he is going to do that he needs to make sure the pressure on the day water is available is adequate for people to fill their storage tanks, basins, barrels, bowls, bottles, cups etc etc. I told him that the thin streak coming out of the tap was NOT acceptable for the community. A whole days filling only gives one 25 ltr tank, its useless when there is no water for the following day, we are catching overnight rain water to wash with......... Ok when it rains, no good when it doesnt. He promised he will come to the house and look at the problem tomorrow. He will probably want cake and chai too, should tell him there isn't enough water to wash the cups!!

Gibson and I managed to wash the dogs this morning with water from the roof overnight. I got soaked, using an old cup to scoop the water was such a good idea but such a slow job. I then went indoors, climbed into a basin of cold water for a 'bath', then washed my hair and then my clothes, nice combination. managed to make the water last and had some spare in the other basin for rinsing! My clothes never get that 'whiter than white' look so isn't a problem here, so long as they smell clean and the dust is washed off them.

Anyway, think it is time for me to leave you. Hope you are all happy and managing OK. Got to go or will have to sell house to pay for the emails!
Regards
Susannah
(Sorry if this is disjointed, the one I prepared and saved disappeared so this is the replacement)!

Thursday 27 November 2008

KENYA 3 - Landed Safe

Hi Everyone,
sorry it has been a few days since I arrived and no news from me.

Been so busy sorting things out in the house and getting re accustomed. The weather here is hot and dry.... just how I like it but the shamba and plants are suffering and now we only get water alternate days, and no pressure either.

Believe me or not but I woke up at 6am (as usual in Kenya) I had a cuppa and went back to bed after playing with the dogs. I sat for 3/4 hr and wrote a nice long email to you all and saved it on my memory stick. Nick came to pick me up to go to town to get a ......... wait for it........... F R I D G E........ and in the haste of locking up I left the memory stick at home. You will have to wait for another day..... maybe tomorrow...... who knows ..... this is Kenya after all!

Just needed to let you all know I am OK. Have taken this week to sort things out before going to SCANN, I know once I get back in the swing I won' t have time for getting house things replaced so decided to get that done first.
Love to you all.
Take care and thanks for the emails of good wishes at this difficult time

Saturday 22 November 2008

Return with Trepidation - 'belated'

Hi Everyone,

I won’t say that my return to Kenya was filled with joy and excitement more with worry as I was not sure how I would react to returning after the house had been broken into and with new guard on site.

I shouldn’t have worried, I was met at the airport by Nick (my friendly taxi driver) Catherine (who had been staying at the house and a teacher at SCANN) and Anastasia (another teacher at SCANN). They had left Nakuru at 3am to make sure they arrived in time and didn’t get caught in any traffic, my plane had been delayed before I left and Kimberley (my daughter) had sent Nick a message to let him know. Unfortunately, immigration was so slow and so many people argued when they arrived at the desk that it was a long and painful process. It is far easier to do in the UK before you leave but as I wasn’t sure when I was coming back it made the process difficult, so I paid the price and patiently waited with my 50 USD!

By the time I got out there was only a handful of suitcases on the carousel and there were three very worried but happy faces waiting for me, they thought I had got lost or missed the plane.

After the hugs and jubilant jigging about we went outside, it was brilliant sunshine and very warm…….. you remember that don’t you…… ahhhhh sunshine and warmth!

The drive other than from the airport to Nakuru was smooth and traffic free so I managed (after a lot of conversation) to drift into a more comfortable sleep than on the plane.

My arrival at the house was boisterous, Kim and Fatso (the dogs) were howling when they heard my voice outside the gates and then they went mad when I entered the compound, it was a lovely greeting. The only remaining puka (Puka No 1 was less excited, it took her two days before she would acknowledge me and that was after giving her her cat treats daily. She now sits on my lap and purrs a lot. Puka No 2 disappeared after the break-in and hasn’t been seen since. All the puppies are now re-homed and I am assured they are well.

The new guard Gibson seems OK, but then so was Dominic! He now lives in the guard house with his wife, and three boys (one a babe in arms). Not sure how they all manage to squeeze in there but they seem very happy. It takes a bit of getting used to having small children and a baby crying at the house but they mostly get on with their own thing. I understand Nicks thinking; with a family staying here it means that if Gibson has to leave the compound at least there are still people on the property and visa versa. We will see how it goes.

Gibson is a hard worker he has planted flowers all round the place that he has collected and bought on his travels, the place looks lovely and he has planted the shamba with onions, cabbage, spinach and pumpkin (Squash). They have added an animal into the pot a cockerel that his mother-in-law bought them, nice and noisy at 6am but it manages OK with the dogs and cat and wanders around as if it owns the place.

The house is fine, Catherine has enforced a rule that the guard and his family are not permitted in the house unless asked to come in for a purpose. This means that they are totally self sufficient the house can be locked and left without worry that they need something from the house. The kitchen looks strange, there are gaps where the cooker and fridge used to sit, and the bunk beds stand in the guest room looking bear without the new mattresses and bedding.

My room was untouched and I had to unscrew the lock on the wooden door to release the lock and then we used a crow bar to break the padlock on the security door to get in. The room was untouched other than a coating of dust lying over everything, I am glad I had the foresight to cover everything with sheets and off cuts of material before I left, although am kicking myself for taking the quilts and blankets out to give to Catherine for airing!

I spent the rest of the day, wet dusting, sweeping and cleaning my room, a little difficult as we were out of water, apparently we are now on alternate day water supply….. reminds me I must go and chat to my friend the water man! Nick dashed off as he was having friends visiting him in the afternoon but Catherine and Anastasia stayed around as support.

The clothes that Kimberley had sorted out for Catherine were well received and we were treated to a cup of chai and a fashion show as reward. Everything fitted so well that they could have been made for her, Catherine was so pleased. I managed to find a few bits for Anastasia too, the dogs were happy with their bones that were bought for them and we play daily with the rope toys from my brother. I gave Nick before he left me, a compilation DVD of Disney movies for his boys and a paper lamp shade (he saw mine that I bought on my last return home trip and indicated that he liked it). Even Puka No 1 was happy to receive the cat treats she was bought.

I crawled into bed early that night, with a sheet and a blanket I found that I had stored in the bedding trunk in my bedroom!!!!! (I would like to say I slept like a baby) but the dogs were unsettled with my arrival and getting used to the sounds of the night again took a few nights.

On Monday, I received a call to tell me that my friend Ailsa had arrived in Nairobi with her Virgin Air-hostess friend Jayne. They were on a very short visit provided by Jayne through Virgin at a very good price…….she told me to get in touch next time I need tickets and she would see what she could do!!!! I like Jayne.

Monday and Tuesday were spent running round with Ailsa and Jayne, we had beer and Nyama Choma (roast meat) at Veronicas place (Garden Villa) on Monday after spending the day running round town. We then spent Tuesday visiting Mama Sweetie and the children, we went to see how her project was going as they are building a children’s home on Mama Sweeties property with support from Ailsa’s father and a lot of fund raising.

When we returned home from The Sweeties, we dropped off Ailsa and Jayne and Nick took me shopping, something that I had not yet done. I bought mugs, glasses and an electric kettle (something I had not had before but needed). I bought provisions and cleaning materials, looked at the price of cookers and a fridge and went home. I sorted out the things and washed in a bucket…… yep cold water!! Nick went back and collected Ailsa and Jayne and took them for a quick visit with his family before returning to pick up Catherine and myself, we all headed out the Lotus Garden Chinese restaurant for dinner, a special treat before they left. After a huge meal we then headed back to Garden Villa to have a drink with Veronica… Jayne was given two complimentary bottles of champagne from her friends, so they decided to share them with us. Unfortunately, the first bottle went off like a canon and scared the customers and also drenched Jayne and myself…. What a waste!

I enjoyed Ailsa’s and Jayne’s company on those first few days which were a little strained. Everyone we met kept apologising to me for my situation, obviously word of my plight had got around. Many people were very upset to know what had happened as they know how hard I work for no reward and the benefit of others.

Ailsa and Jayne spent Wednesday running round sourcing provisions, photographing and pricing them ready for when they need to buy at a later date for Mama Sweeties project. I spent the day at home pottering round, sorting my clothes and paper work, re familiarising myself with ‘home’ and playing with the dogs. Gibson in the afternoon came to me saying he had found a greetings card left a the gate that afternoon.

It was a bit strange but here they give cards for most things, it was a ‘sympathy’ card, it had been dated 3rd Aug and it had written inside …..

Sorry for what happened, that’s part of life and some of these things are unavoidable, so take heart and be strong.

Unfortunately, they didn’t sign it so I have no idea who it is from. They obviously wrote it before and kept hold of it as I was away, now hearing I was back decided to leave it.

Many people have suggested that I move to Milimani but I have worked so much on my house to make it home, some things were meant to be, so for now I am staying.

As you will note from above I haven’t been to SCANN yet, I decided that I would sort myself out and settle before getting back into the swing, I have sent messages to the boys to let them know I will be with them soon.

Love to all,
Susannah

Bye for now

Hi Everyone,
just a quick email to let you all know I am heading back to Kenya, I fly out this evening and won't be back until August 2009.

If any of you want removing from my list of 'friends' who get my updates please let me know.If you want to stay on be ready for another 'block buster' Kenyan Adventure part 3!

First part will be 'Susannah's Place return to the scene of the crime!'

Take care of yourselves, sorry I haven't got round to seeing you all, work was top priority this time.... needed the pennies.

A huge THANK YOU to Linda Corby for all her help with the medical items.....and selling of the jewellery, love you loads but you know that anyway.
Hugs all round, especially to the Family
Love
Susannah

Friday 15 August 2008

Photos on My Space

Hi Everyone,

hope you are all well, I am still in the UK but thought I would let you know that I have been uploading photos from Kenya on 'My Space' . http://cid-12ff4e8b2cf9e368.spaces.live.com/

I am hoping this will work if not let me know. I know so many of you are wanting to see photos and I have not got any developed or have time or the means to get round to see you all.

I have had my first temp assignment which was all of two days...... they really know how to use me!! Finances are not what I had hoped as I needed to work these three months to make my trip worth while. To let you know, as I can't remember if I have sent out a message telling you all, my house in Kenya was broken into the week after I came to the UK, most of the items that were able to be removed from my house were so it has been a costly trip.

I am planning on heading back in October with the view to opening the house as a small B&B in order to get some pennies in to cover running costs. Anyone interested in visiting or passing the word round, I am working on web site and flyer's.
Love to you all,
Susannah

Thursday 26 June 2008

Back in the Uk - hangover too!

Hi Everyone,

just to let you all know I arrived yesterday safe and sound. My only problem was the rather large hangover that I was dragging round with me. This was due to accepting the traditional Nairobi trip 'tusker beer' from my friend Jenga in Nairobi. It never is 'a' beer, I fell into bed at around 1 am on Wednesday morning, (fully clothed as it was cold), forgot to set my phone to alarm and was woken at 5.45 am by Jenga telling me his taxi friend was waiting for me outside the hotel. Good job he phoned or I would still be there now. Needless to say I travelled in Tuesday nights clothes and threw the things strategically placed round my room for early shower etc into the huge bag that I had with me.

I must have looked like the wreck of the Hesperous at the airport (not sure of spelling but I am sure my father will put me right)! I stumbled on auto pilot through passport control, etc and only had a bit of difficulty and the double x-ray machines, as usual had to remove belt, this with laptop etc occupying arms, clutching removed jacket and bag juggling act ensued, resulting in problems walking with baggy jeans quickly descending down my hips, from one machine to another a matter of about 15 strides, not sure what they think will change between the two machines as you can't go anywhere en route. It only resulted in me almost embarrassing myself by losing my jeans, the last step to the x-ray machine was one of the John Cleese funny walk strides in order to stop the jeans descending lower than appropriate in public. I think they do this on purpose to have a laugh, the customs people know people wear baggy fashions now, especially those returning from some time in Kenya - everyone loses weight. Next time must remember to wear scarf belt or shorts under my jeans!

I am busy sorting out work clothes in the vain hope that the agencies manage to find me work for Monday as need to make a million before I return to Kenya - (kidding but it would be nice!)

If anyone knows of any temp positions going for a month in Southampton area please let me know. Anything within reason considered!! OK I am sure in the fullness of time I will get to speak to you all, no mobile yet but will let you know as soon as sorted.
Love to you all,
Susannah

Thursday 19 June 2008

No water - No electric but still loving it!

Hi Everyone,
hope you are all well and happy.

I prepared this email at home and can't remember what's in it, have been back and forth from town and every time they are without electricity, there is a major replacement of electrical power lines, (not sure what the problem is with the water supply though probably no electricity to pump the water...... whatever) . Read on .... and hopefully enjoy. For all of you that have kindly offered to help with collecting me, Nathalie my sister has managed to re arrange her family to collect me. THANK YOU XXXXXX.

Looking at my watch trying to see the date reminds me I really must arrange an appointment with the optician and the dentist. I am really struggling to thread needles a problem when I am doing all the sewing for the boys, usually when I am at Scann doing hand sewing I ask one of the boys sitting with me, usually Mwangi, he threads it in a second and beams in satisfaction that he could and I couldn’t, sign of age unfortunately!!

I have seen how the dentists work out here there is little preventative and repair work done. You have a problem you remove the tooth, that easy. They aren’t too great with the pain killers or anesthetics either having been with one of the older boys during an extraction I vowed to never need attention out here.

The medical clinic at Scann is doing well, I am so glad I pushed for it and regular medical attendances. The Doctor is still coming once a week and seeing ‘patients’, many have problems with skin complaints at the moment, lots of skin rashes that we cant fathom. I have trained Anastasia to stand in whilst I am away, she seems to have grasped the system, my only worry is the stock checking, as the Scann Board will be watching us closely with all the drugs we have on site. I am doing a handover stock count this week to cover myself and hope Anastasia is good with hers. Trust is something that is not highly given over here, the medical clinic has come about because I am trusted, something that Anastasia will be working hard to earn.

I am sewing for Kenya at the moment, I think word has got around that I am leaving soon. I have a problem, I know that boys aren’t just giving me repairs, they want alterations done too, designer fashion. I try where I can but have my limitations. It is great to see their faces when I manage to produce what they have dreamed of having.

The boys are wandering what will happen when I return to the UK as I am their only Kinyozi, (barber). Three months down the line and I think they will all need major sheering. What annoys me is that the boys get beaten at school if they don’t keep their hair cut, it makes no difference if they come from a place like Scann or a nice family. Problem is that with 138 boys it is hard to keep on top of the shaving especially as some of the boys are rarely seen by me as they return at 6pm in the evening and leave before 6am. I refuse to leave my clippers for general use as they have managed to get through 4 pairs, I can’t afford to keep replacing them.

On Wednesday this week I went to the water office to tell them that it has been a month since I was told on a Friday that I would have a new meter fitted on the Monday….. needless to say they didn’t come. I went to tell them that it was in their interest to come and replace the meter as it had now stopped recording altogether. I was told that an engineer would be with me the next day, I informed them as it was my day off I would be home all day. I spent all day sewing and didn’t leave the house, I waited and waited an additional problem was NO WATER. At 5pm I called the manager and asked where his men were, he said they were delayed and would call the next day, I asked what happened with the water, he said there was a problem!!

Now it would appear that in Kenya if you are white you are supposed to have numerous people working for you. You are not personally supposed to go and pay your bills, get your shopping, fetch your mail or wait at home for water engineers. I explained to the manager that I would not be home on Friday as I was not prepared to waste another day off. He said it would not be a problem so long as my Staff were home. I pointed out that I was the staff. He promised to call me when he was sending the engineer, maybe it will be another month. Oh,, and today (Friday), still no water. I have washing sitting in basins waiting to be rinsed as I had started washing them (in rain water saved in basins) yesterday in the anticipation that the mains would come on later, funny it didn’t. As it didn’t rain last night not enough rain water left to rinse them and am holding on to my reserve in the 50 ltr tank in case water isn’t forth coming soon.

I am now down to three puppies, two dogs and two cats. The acquired male puppy went to Mwangi the electrician who reserved him. I decided that I would try and get homes for the puppies and settle Kim before I left Kenya. Today I discovered she is on heat again, so no roaming for her!!!!!!!!! Life is getting easier without all the puppies, can't believe how much cleaning up the garage is taking at least now with only three of them it is manageable.

I am starting to get provisions in for Dominic, that is in the hope that he is coming back from Maralell, if he doesn’t there will be problems. One thing at a time, I will cross that hurdle as and when it arises, no use worrying needlessly.

I am concerned about the prospect of getting home and no work, that would be a disaster, but as I am not bothered what I do I think it won't be a problem. Nathalie has managed to re arrange herself and is now collecting me from the airport. I am looking forward to seeing everyone but know I will miss the boys so much.

I am constantly talking to them about my return to the UK and that I will return to them I think I may do a calendar chart so they can see (a bit like an advent calendar but different) only problem is that I don’t have a return date yet, depends on price of flights.

OK will leave you in the knowledge that looks like we will be having lots of rain today so may be able to get the washing rinsed. The maize is no longer looking like ‘onions’ it is looking healthier and may just manage to provide a crop of corn for when I return from UK.

Love to everyone, take care of yourselves until I get home.

Susannah

Friday 13 June 2008

You know who your neighbours are when

Hi Everyone,

this is a type on the hoof email so good luck, sorry for typos and things (they will be revealed later in email (needless to say I have become a light weight!) ..... Today has been an interesting day. It has shown me another face of Kenya. As all you who read my emails know I have been desperately without water for a week now, 4 days in Kenya is acceptable..... a week ummmmmmm. After repeated moans from me and visits to his office 'the water man' has visited me now three times with his men. I get the distinctive feeling that he wishes to visit me without his men, maybe I would get water quicker! I was cautious when he asked me casually if I lived in this big house alone....... I replied what business was it of his or the water people.

Today after numerous text messages a maintenance man I knew came to the house and found the problem........ How do I put this..... outside my property is an area called 'roadside' it is land that is adjoining the property which is acquired with the property but must not be walled or used for building but can be used and maintained as your own, providing access is readily available for the water people. Today the maintenance man found that I did in fact have no water in the pipe....... I already knew this. He investigated outside further, more diligent than the other guys. He started digging and found my water pipe. It surprised me by being plastic. It had been cut and the supply end had been folded back on itself, tied and weighed down by a very large rock then covered with soil.

I was needless to say horrified, apparently it is something that occurs more often when there is low water supply and the neighbours hope to increase their supply by reducing yours. I wanted him to go to my new neighbour who was constructing their property and raise hell. The maintenance man said he had no proof as to who had done it, I tried to point out that my other neighbours had admitted to having no water for months as they had not paid their bills so it was not them. He was not prepared to get involved and I left the scene having paid out for a piece of pipe to join the gap.

I left home when the job had been finished and went to town - it was my day off, I went to my friend the computer man to copy some learning discs for the boys to use on the computer at Scann. I went to the opticians for glasses for one of the boys, I paid in advance my water bill - begrudgingly. Asked about the disputed rates bill, gave in my electricity reading, went to the post box (nothing there) visited my friend at her stall, to all those that know 'Ruth the bead lady' says hi and when are you all coming to visit.


I had packed some shower items this morning with the resolve that after I had completed my list of things to do I would head to Hotel Mercia for a swim (to get a towel) and a well awaited shower. By the time I got to the pool it had cooled and no one was about other than a business meeting by the pool. I um'ed and ah'ed but after a glass of red wine decided what the heck it couldn't be that cold. I was so wrong, whilst I was in the pool Ruth appeared and said she thought that my lack of showering had turned the pool brown - cheek. She left quickly as the only way for me to keep warm was to swim. I had to make the most of the 200KS price of a swim. It was well worth it, another glass of wine later and I was off to the shower. I was good and remembered to be patient and run the water for some time before being rewarded with HOT water, full force. I shaved legs, arm pits, scrubbed, washed hair. I am now a new woman. I dried and went back out in my bikini to dry in the now available sunshine. Not only the warmth of the sun kicking in but also the wine, I feel great, my hair has dried with lovely blonde highlights, all soft and curly after a recent cut, instead of greasy and lank as it was when I arrived.

Dominic called to say that the water is now connected and pressure is better than it has been for weeks, maybe manage a shower at home now. Mind you the 200ks was well worth it I have had a lovely day. I passed a woman who owns a boutique in town, she told me I looked lovely..... I feel lovely. Pity it will be wasted on the dogs and Dominic. OK off home now to do the mega pile of washing, tomorrow I won't be in good shape, my back will be breaking from bending over the basin washing, but I will be happy in the knowledge that I had a good day today and am achieving the list of things that need to be done before I leave.

Happy birthday to birthday people, hugs when I get home.
Nats and David Happy Anniversary sorry not there to 'sit'.
Dad Happy Fathers Day etc etc etc.
See you all soon ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!
Love you all.
Susannah

Friday 30 May 2008

4 and counting

Afternoon All, (or is it morning still)......

Sorry, I've done it again, I couldn't send small emails if I tried.

OK, I have lost tract of where I left you. All I know is that I am down to 4 puppies, two dogs and two cats if that is any indication of time lapse.

I was given the lovely task of typing one of the older boys college project for presentation and assessment. Not a small job, so many accounting charts, maps and others, his project was on John’s Beef Farming outlining the building of a business. I was given it with 3 days to type it. Manic especially when you work into that the problems with power supply! I have been getting up when I feed the puppies and typing like a mad person. Dominic thinks I am crazy. Typing at home evening and morning and at Scann during the day I have managed to get it all typed, even found the required picture of a cow to fill the front page. Three copies later and stapled and bound it was presented, only to be refused as it was insufficient pages, I was told there was a maximum not a minimum. I had spaced well but lacked further information to bulk it out. I will leave that task to the writer.

During this time I forgot to tell you, I had been experiencing problems with the water pump which pumps the water during the day into a large storage tank for use when there is no water between 5pm and 8am. A fundi had been but needed to return. This in itself seemed like no issue, the tank was empty and I had been out and bought a small 50 litre tank which sits outside the back door which we fill with a hose during the day. Good job too……….

For 4 days we had NO water, apparently the water people had not paid their electricity bill for quite a considerable time and the electricity people had cut them off, this mean no pumps to pump ANY water to Nakuru. What a mad sight, so many people streaming to the natural boreholes for water, luckily with only Dominic and I at home the biggest problem is washing the garage after the puppies in the morning.

We managed to stretch the 50 litres and collect what small rain water for dogs etc. Clothes washing was a no no, so when we did get water it was a mega wash day. No shower water meant back to a cup and a bucket again – something I am not unfamiliar with. On the day the water dribbled back I decided that exhausted from all the computer work and puppies etc I would play hookie and treat myself to a hair cut. It was fabulous, great head massage, and relaxing in a comfy chair, not only did they have water they had HOT water, sheer luxury. Heaven. My hair didn’t know what had happened, it was so soft and silky I couldn’t do a thing with it. Mind you everyone wanted to touch it.

We are still having problems with the water pressure it is so low, can just manage to use the hose to fill the small tank, can't water the shamba as it takes hours with the dribble that is omitted from the tap. The small tank has been a God send (although the first one I sent Nick to buy wouldn’t fill, found it had a split in the bottom……….. sent him back for another one, he is a blessing.)

Mama Sweetie is busy sorting her house, she now has a table and a set of shelves from Baba Sweeties Aunt. I had driven to her house alone ready to work at her house in scruffy dirty clothes only to find her in a nice dress and her children in their Sunday Best ready to go to Kabarak University for a Charter Day presentation with Kabaki attending. In usual Kenyan style she said that I was to go too (it would have been nice to have been told, I could have worn a dress too!!) I looked down at myself and said if anyone asked I am her driver – we laughed.

The day was pleasant, lots of people dressed to the nines and me the token ‘white’ dressed in shabby work clothes, nice! Kabarak is a beautiful University and the two older girls attend the adjoining Primary School and were there to entertain the crowd with dancing. We eventually left and went back to Mama Sweeties where the heavens opened, I have not seen so much rain before, especially not at Kampi-ya-Moto. The Sweeties usually have water on a Wednesday, that is the only day a week that it arrives, that week they had had none and it was now Friday.

When the rains came we ran outside with every utensil that would carry water. I rolled up my trousers and ran back and forth filling the 120ltr tank she stores in the house, unfortunately I got very very very wet but the job in hand was greatly needed. I left before it got dark although dusk was setting in. Unfortunately, the drivers window doesn’t close and when I got into the van found that I was to sit in a very wet puddle all the way home, it just finished the day off, I was so wet anyway, I did have a wrap on the dry side of the van which I wrapped my shoulders in as by now I was getting chilly.

My departure was loud and eventful as always, people from the village waving me off. I went with high spirits but very wet. As I drove away from the village I remember a nagging feeling that I really should have got credit for my phone but didn’t want to turn round and go back.

The road from Kamp-ya-Moto is a long straight one that is sparsely inhabited. It was along this road that the van decided to die. I had just enough umph to roll to the side of the road, at which point clouds of steam rose from the closed bonnet. I knew exactly what was the problem - dry radiator, the one thing I had forgotten to check regularly!!! I put on the hazard lights hoping they worked then ran round breaking branches from the trees on the verge to use as a distress signal in the road, they use it like a warning triangle, couldn’t remember how far back it needed to go so put three piles, one for luck sticking out of the roadside back corner of the van too, just in case. Obviously worked as no one hit the vehicle, but no one stopped either.

I sat inside the van thinking why had I swept all the water out of the back of the van before I left it would have come in handy. I left the radiator to cool down and poured carefully the only water that I had which was a 1.5 litre bottle which I carried in case of emergency, it wasn’t enough just ended up as steam. This was why I needed to get the phone credit, I was now stranded, no sign on life other than cars zooming past me, unable to get anyone to help. Two whites passed me in their lovely new 4x4 vehicles but they obviously were concerned that I was a mugger or crazy person as they ignored my waving arms!!

Eventually a man on a bike passed me asking if I was OK, good question to which the answer was I was but I needed water. I explained that unfortunately I had no cash on me to offer him thanks, he told me not to worry and disappeared with my empty bottle. Another man on a bike stopped and offered assistance, I told him someone was already going for water and thanked him. He told me he would wait with me as it was now getting dark, I was not so sure of his intentions but he was OK just stood and chatted until the other man returned and they both waited until the van was running, I thanked them both, wished them a good life and left. In hindsight I realised why no one stopped for me, in the headlights I had seen myself, I looked as though I had wet my trousers, would you stop for some crazy person waving their arms around looking like they were incontinent…. Recipe for disaster, I probably wouldn’t stop either.

I overheated again just outside town, too far to the petrol station to walk and it was now pitch dark, I still had no credit. I opened the bonnet, waited then opened the radiator, steaming beautifully. After a long long wait a security guard from the building site I had stopped in front of came along to help. He spoke no English but with my limited language I managed to get him to find me some water, three bottles later the tank stopped steaming. I managed a smile, thanked him and left.

I got about ½ a mile to the petrol station where it spewed steam again. By now I was getting tired of this, I called over the attendant who waited for it to cool and then filled the radiator. He seemed quite happy to be helping the damsel in distress, giving me soothing words of comfort, or so he thought, actually asking me for a date was not what I was in the mood for!! I got him also to buy me some credit and called Peter who was en route to my house to be on call in case I didn’t make it, he also filled my water bottle and I bought myself some C H O C O L A T E by now even that wasn’t enough to make me happy.

I spluttered my way up the hill to the house, had phoned Dominic to make sure he was ready with the gate open as it was now so dark and loitering around outside the gate was not good.
Dominic took one look at me when I got out of the van and shook his head saying ‘rough day’ it sounded so funny coming from him that all I could do was repeat the words and laugh, it was a mild statement for my adventure. Lesson learnt, don’t rely on the van, always carry credit, always carry spare water (lots of it), ideally don’t travel alone with unreliable vehicle. I went straight to bed with a hot water bottle and a splitting headache.

I have had two more trips to Mama Sweeties one was to shift more things as Baba Sweeties Aunt was renting a house that was sold so they had to move. Mama Sweetie still had a large collection of the ‘heavy things’ at the house that had to go. I am so glad that I had decided to do a road trip and take Dominic and Peter with me, after my last trip I was taking no chances. (Peter an ex older boy from Scann had been suspended from his job as a mechanic due to a misunderstanding and was at a loose end). Mama Sweetie had told me that there was a few things needed to go to the house, that was it. I was so glad that Peter and Dominic came as one of the items was a machine designed by Baba Sweetie to chop and mix feed for the cattle that they had, it took 6 of us to lift it on to the van, we had also grabbed some neighbours as it was impossible for us to move. I wanted to know how she though I would have moved it alone!!!!

Everything got shifted and we returned home shattered but in the knowledge that there was nothing else lying around that would need shifting in the near future. The van, of course was no trouble!!!!!!

Yesterday Dominic left for home, he had received news that his father, who had been unwell for sometime had passed away. Both he and his brother left at 6am after having prepared them food for the trip and a thermos of chocolate, prepared the puppy for its journey and generally sorted them out, like having extended family. I hugged them as they left and wished them a safe journey, it was about 9 hours on a bus. I decided to get to work, fed and cleaned up after the puppies, cleaned the house, washed the van ready to go to the supermarket for sack of dog food and start buying things for Dominic while I am away. Van duly washed, me too, dogs secured and ready to leave……… the van decided not to start, nothing, just a clunk. I said a few choice words and phoned Nick to come and shop with me.

I received a call from Mama Sweetie asking when I was going to see her and I explained about the van and told her I could not spend any more money repairing it, I was broke!! She decided she and the children would visit me on Saturday, will look at photos and she wants to read my version of the Sweetie Story that she had seen last time she was here playing with my laptop. I will probably treat the children to a movie too, must get in some crisps and juice for them, they don’t get many treats.

30th May, 2008. Today, I got up late, I ignored the puppies whining and rested I got another half an hour, 6.30am! I had cooked their food last night and all I needed to do was feed them. I then fed Kim and Fatso (they aren’t happy as I have cut them down to one meal a day – as I cant afford to keep them on two). Fed the cats who also weren’t pleased as am getting them used to sleeping on their hammock outside and closing the window they usually use to come in the house, as have decided to lock up house when I leave so Dominic doesn’t have to clean it daily. (He will stay in the guard house with all the provisions he needs and a jiko stove to cook on, oh and the TV! There is an outside tap for water, he has an outside toilet, and area where he can wash). We have to retrain the animals before I leave to stop them using the house, should be fun.

I have washed bedding as looks like it will be a nice day, this was in water that I collected in a basin yesterday as its still too early for my water supply to be here. I have swept and cleaned the house, done various sewing items for the Scann boys, had breakfast, played with the puppies and it is only 9.30am. Will have a wash when the water decides to be more than a fine line trickling from the tap. Could be a while!! I am heading into town later to send this email, return a DVD that wont play, pick up two pairs of Scann trousers from the fundi (I refuse to do the zips, I still hate them!), pop my head into Scann (I know its my day off but will pick up some more sewing to keep me busy!!!!!)

I love being home alone, I think Dominic will be gone for about 10 days, it will be interesting, he kept saying he was sorry and that there was too much work to leave me with. I said NO PROBLEM!!! Hakuna Shida

Dominic phoned me yesterday when he arrived ……. He said ‘journey, not rough day’ and the puppy was ‘happy too’. It was nice of him to call me. I had bought him a phone so that I could contact him if I was late or in difficulty, it is a great challenge as we usually communicate with a lot of gestures and showing examples, if I get stuck I grab someone to translate, mind you we are both getting better at understanding.

OK I think you are now emailed out………….I will leave you in the knowledge that the day is sunny and beautiful, I need a shower, haven’t had one in about a week as no water pressure……. Bucket wash doesn’t do it for me, besides its cold water! Got to get water pump sorted when I return, no use doing it before I leave as will probably need attention before I get back and be more of a liability for Dominic. I thought I had a water problem until I found out the situation with Mama Sweetie, now I am just resigned to I have ‘a little water’ problem!!!

Love to you all, counting the days now, trying to cram my work at Scann, they are not happy that I am leaving but pleased that I am coming back. They know I will as am leaving the animals and the house as guarantee.

Hope you are all in fine health and are happy, I am.

See some of you soon.

Just realised what are you all going to do for 3 months without emails when I am home………. Shock horror, you will have to find something else to keep you busy.

Susannah & Co.
Flight details for any kind soul who may like to pick me up......!!!!!!!!!!Wednesday, 25th June 2008, London Heathrow, Flight VS0672, Terminal 3 (I got it wrong last time!!) Anticipated arrival time 14.50....... !!!!! Oh it seems so close seeing it is type.

Wednesday 21 May 2008

Double Whammie

It has been a while....... actually for a lot of things!!!!!!!!!

At last the internet is up and running.......I have been typing my emails and saving on the memory stick but the internet is never working when I am here.

Turn off the phones and the TV, lock the doors, brew yourself your favourite brew, grab yourself something to nibble on, get comfortable here goes............. two installments of my life attached.

First is...... THE BUTCHERS DILEMMA

One hot day on my struggle home from Scann I passed a butchers shop called Daylight Butcher. My task that day and there follows many many others was to find somewhere to buy food that would satisfy Kims huge hunger whilst feeding her puppies at a reasonable price.

I entered the butchers and was greeted by a middle aged man with a massive friendly smile. He wanted to know who I was, what I was doing, why I wanted bones etc etc. After this relaxed conversation, it would appear that he was a locals butchers and not many ‘white’ visitors came by, he wasn’t going to let me go lightly. He bagged up an additional bag that he said he had contributed and I wouldn’t pay for.

There started the routine of visiting the butcher. Now one of the ladies in the butchers some weeks later offered me her number so that I could order ahead when I was in a hurry, seemed like a good idea and I have used it a couple of times. It was in fact a ploy to get my number so that the butcher could phone me. He calls when I don’t visit to find out what is wrong, he calls to invite me on trips, and sometimes he just calls me. Yesterday I passed his shop to explain that I am too busy, really not interested and to save his money that is being used on phone calls.

Little did I know…….. I greeted the butcher and ordered as his place was full of people on their way home from work, hoping to get a moment to talk to him discretely. Whilst serving me he reached down below the counter and handed me a parcel, from the feel I knew it wasn’t meat or bones for the dog. I didn’t have time to look inside but protested that he wasn’t to buy me anything, he said it was a gift, (it turned out to be a lovely ‘mumsie’ dress and a jacket to keep me warm). I was duly served with 4kg of dog bones and waste, after only asking and paying for 1 kg. I struggled to carry my load especially the bag of mixed items for the dog, I also became aware how fragile the plastic bag was that was carrying the said load.

I arrived at the matatu stage and found a matatu ready to leave, I was told there was one seat remaining and to get on. Well, I couldn’t find the remaining seat and it turned out that there was to be made space on the already full back seat for me to squeeze into. This is a difficult task when you have nothing you are carrying, when overloaded with bags and slops it is a nightmare. The seats on a matatu as I am sure I have explained before are so close together that it is a real effort to squeeze between them, I always manage to clobber someone with me bag or end up with my rear in someones face, add to this the fact that the matatu doesn’t wait for you to be seated …….. what do you get, mayhem and the locals smirking that you are struggling! I eventually ‘slid’ myself onto the seat whilst negotiating the spare wheel lying on the floor where my feet were supposed to go.

I sighed a sigh of relief, what a struggle, many women do this with 2 kids and a baby on their back whilst carrying bags........nightmare!

The space that had been reluctantly made for me was tight, I was squeezed thigh to thigh with my back seat compatriots, it was at this time that I realised I had not done the usual thing and retrieved my 20bob for the ride, that was still sitting ready in my jeans pocket. I already knew that I only had a note of 1,000ks in my purse. I wriggled to try and make access to my pocket easier, it was no good. I shifted the bags that I had precariously placed on my lap, in horror noticing that the bag of animal waste had experienced a tear and seepage was oozing out onto my jeans along with a nice smell. I wriggled some more and managed to slide my index finger into the top of my pocket realizing that because of the close proximity of my neighbour retrieving my money would not be an easy task as the coin was not within easy reach. I thrust my finger further into my pocket feeling for the coin, in doing so found the man next to me was giving me a strange look, it became evident that whilst wriggling in my pocket I was also wriggling against his thigh as we were so close, I am not sure if he liked it or was offended, his smile confirmed my worry he appeared to think I was trying to catch a feel!

I decided to no longer be discreet, I asked him to hold my clean bag whilst I slid down in the seat to release my jeans pocket so I could reach the coin. I was relieved to find it and held it like a trophy for him to see.

I settled back into my seat and was asked by the conductor for my 25 bob, now having only the 20 available and this being the normal fare I questioned the 25 bob he was trying to charge me, I noticed that there was a lot of disgruntled people ahead of me moaning about the hike in charge without notice. I told the conductor loudly I only had the 20 bob coin and if he wasn’t happy he should let me off the matatu. The lady in front of me turned and smiled, pleased that I had not agreed to pay, having been in this situation before I remembered being told that if the ‘white’ lady agrees to pay no one wants to be made embarrassed by not being able to afford to pay. The man refused to take the 20 bob from my fingers and continued to argue with the other people on the matatu. Everyone now found their voice and argued in unison, the conductor was not happy, he had been hoping that I would pay and the rest would have to follow.

Whilst holding my 20 bob coin in silent protest against him hiking the fare, it was knocked by the man in front shifting in his seat and disappeared onto the floor of the matatu. This just added to my problems, I couldn’t look for the money as I was jammed into my seat and had bags on my lap, I tapped the man in front of me on the shoulder and asked him to see if he could find it. After a lot of shuffling in his seat, muttering and others joining in the money was retrieved and paid to the angry looking conductor, he realised that I was standing by the rest of the passengers and only paying 20 bob.

I got home tired and smelling of nasty bits that were now oozing from the plastic bag and with badly stained jeans. Dominic opened the gate and the dogs greeted me with great gusto added by the smell of the meat. I got to the kitchen having run to the back door with all the dogs in hot pursuit, but I am faster!!! The bag of waste was handed to Dominic to sort into small bags and put in the freezer whilst I investigated what was in the bag from the butcher.

I opened the bag and found a yellow dress which was too big and not me really and a zip up jacket to keep me warm. My dilemma is what am I supposed to do, I would very much like to return the package and say it was a lovely thought but I am unable to accept. I am not happy in encouraging any further attentions from this kind but unsolicited man. I will take advice from the ladies at Scann to find out the best action to take.

Update on the puppies, one left yesterday to a new home, Kim apparently hasn’t even noticed, fingers crossed that it will be well looked after. Mama Sweetie is chomping at the bit for me to take her three puppies this week, I am worried that she will find them an additional problem but she insists that she wants them to provide the family with protection and a deterrent to possible unwanted visitors.

I am watching the CNN news at the moment and just hearing of the tragic earthquake in China. There is so much we have no control of in this world, let us make the most of the things we do have control of, live life to the full it is too quickly over.

On that heavy note, I love you all and will soon be home, take care



Second.....AN UNEXPECTED VISITOR

On Tuesday one of the puppies was found a new home with our neighbour. Dominic went through the procedures of feeding etc and we gave the vaccination record book to show it had been vaccinated against Parvo Virus but would need the others on the 26th of this month.

One down and 8 to go…..

On Wednesday morning I saw through the hedge the neighbour and asked how the puppy had been that night, he said it had cried all night and no one got any sleep. I mentioned to him that when you have 8 sisters and suddenly are alone you would cry too. That evening a knock at the gate proved to be the neighbour asking if they could have another puppy to keep the first one company, Dominic handed over another puppy.

Two down and 7 to go……. Or so I thought.

Kim appeared not to notice that she was two puppies light and the rest of the puppies busied themselves and appeared not to notice either. Dominic and I sat and watched part of a movie as the power went off and we were left with the battery power on the laptop until that died. I went off to bed, Dominic to his nighttime guard duties.

At 2 am I was awoken by one of the puppies howling, not something usual at that time of night. I tried to ignore the noise and went back to a fitful sleep, at 4 am I woke up again and it was still going on, I decided to investigate……I headed towards the garage where the puppies sleep and realised the noise was coming from outside. I looked out of the kitchen window and saw a small black puppy wandering desperately round the garden.
I went out the back door and to the puppy, by this time I had been joined by Kim, the big puppy with Dominic following a short way behind. I was horrified to watch Kim go to attack the puppy, not like her, I scooped up the cold and shivering bundle and went inside. My thought was that one of the puppies that went next door had come through the fence but I knew that we had secured all holes to prevent our puppies wandering.

The puppy kept yelping in pain and was not happy at all, it had obviously been madly digging as it was covered in dirt. I handed the puppy to Dominic who said he would put it by the jiko (charcoal stove) he used at night to keep him warm. In the transaction we noticed the belly of the puppy and discovered it was a boy……………. the only boy we have is brown and not black……………. Curious and curiouser ………….the crazy thing was that the puppy looked so much like the black puppies we had in our litter.

Realising that the puppy wasn’t one of Kims and she wasn’t happy I took the puppy into my room for warmth and safety. All night the puppy whimpered and I discovered why in the morning, I was covered in flea bites and therefore so must the puppy be. I got up at 6am as usual and fed the puppies, it would appear that this one was not yet weaned as it struggled to lap the milk I gave it. My first duty was to douse it in flea powder and leave it to rest. It appears to have sustained an injury to its back leg which is causing it problems. We will wait and see what happens.

One up and now 8 to go…………

Dominic who is as baffled as I am after walking round the fence and realizing there are no holes, cant fathom how the puppy came to be here and where it came from, we haven’t heard of any neighbours having puppies. I told him that as we had passed on two puppies some powers-that-be have decided we have now room for one more lost soul.

The menagerie reduces and increases……….


...... Finished reading ........ all that needs to be said is I need to catch up on news so another one will follow in a few days. In my worry that I would forget various events that are coming up I sent my May wishes ahead of time..,... that is my excuse anyway.... maybe it is just me getting old.

Also attached photos, out of date now of the puppies...... SORRY....... couldnt zip them first, one puppy photo with Dominic in I call 'feeding mania', the second one 'fed and sleepy' I now only have five puppies left and it is much easier that is excluding Kim and Fatso (she was called Pip for a while but Fatso fits much better!)

Love to all, hope the email gets through.xxxxxx
Susannah

Monday 12 May 2008

Slight of Hand

Ok
just a quick email to let you all know that my phone was picked from my bag at the weekend, whilst I have a replacement I don't have every ones numbers so please drop me a line and confirm who you are.

My number has been kept but obviously I don't have any contacts. Safaricom have a promotion here where everytime you add credit to your phone you collect points, luckily, I had enough for them to give me a free phone and I wasn't even aware I was collecting points...., that was the only good news I had that day. I was NOT A HAPPY BUNNY! I am still having problems with my hand and finger since injuries last week but improving slowly.
Take care,
love to you all.
Susannah

Friday 9 May 2008

Ahhhh the Kenyan Internet

Hi All,

well internet is working, we have power but it wont read my memory stick, I spent ages typing my email to you all. I decided today I would take a well earned day off and I mean day off.

I tried washing but have hurt both hands whilst helping Mama Sweetie put in a new window yesterday, needless to say tools are rather rudimentary. I have a gash on my right hand between the thumb and index finger which is now a large flap held together with dressings, I also crushed my small finger on my right hand, it is so swollen and black, not nice and very painful so it is strapped up to stop me whacking it on things, kept waking up last night in pain.

So today was a well earned rest at Hotel Merica, My poor white body exposed to the sun is now red and smarting even with suntan lotion. I have come away before I burn!!!!! I wouldn't mind too much about the memory stick but have taken pics of puppies to send and can't get them either...... ahhhhhhh these simple trials of patience. Typing, bye-the-way is not too easy as use my small finger as anchor, am making a real pigs ear of this and taking ages to correct!

Sorry haven't been in touch recently, seems as though the nearer I get to coming home the more busy I am. I can't wait to see everyone but it won't be like coming home, as I now regard here as home, sorry family! I have been trying to find ways of getting round the visa thing, Nick keeps kindly offering to marry me but I keep pointing out that his 'wife' won't be too happy with that arrangement especially as I won't be happy being second wife! We laugh a lot about it!

Even Mama Sweetie is working hard on the guy who has made he door and window - he is a metal worker and does a great job, yesterday when we went in the morning and put in the order for the window, he smiled at me broadly remembering me from the last visit. He told us the window would be ready at 2pm. Mama Sweetie and I arrived at the end of the compound he works in at 2 to receive a call from him telling us it was ready, I said he is nice working to Muzungu time, was he married?????......... we laughed and got out of the van. Mama Sweetie went up to him and told him I was happy he was working to Muzungu time and I had asked if he was married! Needless to say I blushed and put up a protest, the poor man didn't know what to do with himself, cute!!! Mama Sweetie said she will take time to 'promote' me to Ormond. I think she just wants me to stay in Kenya and live near her!!

My shamba (or kitchen garden as I have been corrected, not big enough for a shamba!) is growing slowly, wish I could say the same for the weeds, mind you Dominic is now well and begining to repair the damage of weed growth in his absence. The puppies are now weaned, and looking at the state of Kims nipples, not a day too soon, they are ripping her apart, not surprised she wasn't pleased at feeding them. I now only have to appear at the gate or clap my hands and it looks like a scene from 101 Dalmations but with out the spots. Its crazy, you have to be here to appreciate just how mad things are at meal times, the puppies' of course. I am working hard on finding homes for them all, at the moment 5 are spoken for, that only leaves me with 4 plus big pup and Kim, and the two cats, nothing at all really.

Scann is good, the boys have returned to school after the Easter break, I was busy shaving heads and repairing uniforms. I have received a donation from a lady out here and arranged for all the big boys bikes to be repaired and serviced so they can use them again, should be fun, they have been getting into a real poor state. The bike fundi is hard at work as I am typing....... I hope!

OK time to go as want to get the shopping in and get home before the crazy late afternoon rush.
Love to you all.
Susannah
Neil, sorry missed your birthday, how bad of me.
Doris, Happy Birthday for this month,
Nats and David Happy wedding anniversary
for those I have forgotten S O R R Y

Sunday 27 April 2008

Second time Lucky

Hi All,

(This was the email that had the attached story of the Sweeties which is now a separate post).

hope my email finds you well, actually, I hope it finds you at all! I have spent an hour now typing an email to go with the attached and then trying to do the attachments, now I have the attachments but have lost the email. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!

OK so here I go, the attachments are as promised the experiences I have had recently with my friend Mama Sweetie and family. Anyone who is feeling low at the moment please either don't read part 1 or read when feeling you are able to get through without tissues (actually I cried again when typing it so no hope there!)

On a lighter note.......All the animals at home are fine, I am now giving the puppies milk as Kim is struggling and covered in suckling sores all over her belly a sign that she has more than she can cope with. Initially the puppies just walked around and lay down in the plate of milk and smelt bad afterwards, now two days later, I just have to tap the plate, pour the milk and they come scrambling over and in no time the milk is gone. I hope this isn't going to be signs of things to come, they will eat me out of my home! Kim sits by watching with a relieved look on her face.

Dominic at present is sick with malaria and as Judith has left, (actually was asked to leave) I am running myself ragged, managing Scann 5 days a week, the house, the puppies, the Sweeties and more, wouldn't be without any of them. Judith was found to be entertaining one of my fundis whenever I left home for Scann, when Dominic tried to point out it was inappropriate behaviour she turned nasty. Time to go, especially as the fundi was getting a nice cooked meal everytime he came round and that's not all!!!! I had some visitors staying with me on Friday night, my friend Jemo from Nairobi and an ex Scann older boy called Sammy who were performing acrobatics for the Showground IDP's (Internally Displaced People) on Saturday. They were joined much later by two girls who were dancers and the balance of 25 people in the troupe arrived on the Saturday morning.

Friday night was fun, Jemo, Sammy and I went to my friends pub to discuss future events that he wishes to plan with Jemo. We chatted and relaxed then when the girls eventually arrived we went home, the girls retiring straight to bed and Jemo, Sammy and I jigging about to reggae music. Actually we ended up dancing with the two dogs (puppies were rightly sleeping!) then Jemo and Sammy were showing Dominic some of the acrobatic things. Got to bed at 3.30am and they were performing at lunchtime! I was unable to attend their performance as I was attending the Scann Saturday Clinic for the boys. We had rather a number and then the drugs dispensing meant that I was late leaving. A pity as I hear it was a good performance, mind you did see highlights on the TV late news. They left for Nairobi straight from the showground. Mind you Jemo has told me of some events that he will make sure he invites me to, one is an open day by author Kuki Gulman (not sure I got that spelling right, I read a book of hers relating her story of Kenya and it was great) It would be good to actually meet her at her home, she opens it to less fortunate and hosts entertainment etc. Look forward to that one!

Scann today was good did some hair shaving and reports, stock taking the drugs and generally hung out with the boys. I have still been going between the other activities that have been going on as you may read in the attachments. OK time to go, back is aching sitting in this bad chair. At a new internet, my friends one closed and not a lot open on Sunday. I hope my recounting of recent events convey to you how it was, I try to paint a picture with words so you can see things that I see, not sure it works.

Love to you all.
As always Susannah xx

Kimberley, good luck with the move, hope all goes well, watch that back and shoulder don't want you starting your new contract in pain.
Paul-Simon, hope the training and job is going well, hugs and kisses all round.
Sis, thanks for the text messages and sorry for this long email it will probably be a pain for you to open and read, S O R R Y!! Love to all xxxxxx
Doris, thanks for your emails I appreciate them and you taking time to send them. Big hug.
John, sorry to read your email, my thoughts are with you. Just picked your letter up from the post box but not yet read it, will do so at home. Thanks.
Bye

Thursday 24 April 2008

Part 3 - Life Goes On for the Sweeties

My drive home from Kamp ya Moto was uneventful, well almost. I was flagged down at a police check, something that I was dreading. The policeman with his large rifle walked round the vehicle and climbed in the passenger side. I sat and didn’t know what to do, I thought he was just checking the outside. He asked me to drive him along the road and drop him off at the next checkpoint. I was a bag of nerves, I had flashes of newspaper headlines flitting into my mind reporting of lady car jacked at gun point and worse. I was in no position to argue with the man what was now sitting beside me with the gun uncomfortably facing in my direction. The policeman chatted to me finding out what I was doing, etc, we arrived at the drop of point and I must have looked visibly relieved as he climbed out into the rain. My mind reverted to thinking about Mama Sweeties home, with holes in the roof from vandals, no door no windows etc etc.

It was dark by the time I got home, I was exhausted again, I got Dominic to cook his own dinner and flopped into bed after a cold wash. I received a call for help from Timo my fundi saying that he had been unable to find work since I released him and he had been unable to pay his rent, he and his family were being evicted from their home (the typical home in Kenya for the everyday man is a one room or if you are lucky two roomed place, no electric, outside communal tap for water and a block of latrines.) A thought occurred to me, I could help both Mama Sweetie and Timo, I agreed to pay him the small sum he needed if he would go with me to Kampi ya Moto and do some fixing of the house, he of course agreed. I called Mama Sweetie and asked if she would be OK with this, she was overjoyed. It was agreed on Thursday, my day off from Scann we would head out.

Wednesday evening, (23rd April) I gathered together roofing plastic, tools, shamba tools, and anything else I thought would be of help. I was to pick Timo up at 8.30 at the same fuel station where we had broken down. I received a call asking me to collect various large washing basins and household items from a supermarket in town where Mama Sweetie had shopped and paid for the said items and left them with reception for me to pick up on Thursday, this seemed like a small task other than the parking in town bit. I made a mental note of the details of which supermarket opposite which bank.

Early the next morning, (24th April) I awoke to find it was very cold and very wet, leapt into action; I cleaned the house, fed all the animals, had breakfast, loaded up the vehicle together with a thermos of hot chocolate and a bottle of diluted fruit juice and set off. I picked up Timo and set off for the supermarket, or what I thought was the supermarket. I tried three different supermarkets and got no joy. Parking had been a nightmare especially as I had no handbrake, but I had had the foresight to collect a decent sized rock and had put it in the back of the pick up for such a use and it really helped, Timo kept jumping out to strategically place ‘rock’, this in itself seemed to amuse passersby. We parked at one location and I had ensured there were no yellow lines present, I left Timo with the vehicle and 50 bob for parking charge and disappeared to another supermarket with no joy, when I returned Timo had told me the parking warden who was now stood at the bonnet of the vehicle tutting was unhappy as I had parked on a yellow line. I huffed and told Timo that I had specifically ensured that there was no line where I had parked, it was beyond the vehicle. Timo agreed but said the road repairs had covered the line with tarmac, but it was still considered to be there. I apologized and smiled at the lady warden who appeared satisfied that the white lady was duly sorry. I climbed into the driving seat harassed, hot and sweaty only to be greeted at the window by a young street boy who proceeded to hastle me. He kept insisting I give him money, and was quite hostile and rude, I refused as I always do, if you encourage them you become a regular target for their begging and most of the time they buy glue with the money. My final No resulted in the boy backing off and shouting obscenities at me at the top of his voice, I shouted back for him to wash out his mouth, although I fought with the desire to chase him and give him a slap, a number of the passersby chased him away in disgust. I sat and calmed myself under the watchful but now sympathetic watch of the warden and tried again to call Mama Sweetie to confirm details but her phone was off .I had already grabbed a few food items for lunch and so set off, without her shopping, for Kampi ya Moto.

I was happy that the landmarks that I had noted for the journey back to Kampi ya Moto had served me well, we arrived at the house to find only the children who greeted us with shouting, chanting, running around and waving arms, it turned out that Mama Sweetie was out. Timo and I got to work, we started on the roof, the sky looked heavy and rain was something we were trying to avoid. The tin roof was flimsy and kept giving under Timos weight, I watched from inside the house, trying to guide him to make sure the holes were covered. I had remembered that we would struggle getting to the roof and had seen no ladder so I had added the tripod ladder to my list of things I had bought with me, it wasn’t high but enough to reach the roof, (a single storey building).

Timo and I are both unskilled in our work but enthusiasm and commitment to what we are doing push us forward. The roof wouldn’t be fabulous but it would keep out the rain.

Mama Sweetie appeared on the back of a motorcycle boda boda, what a sight, sunhat squiff on her head, handbag under her arm and when she saw me a beaming smile on her face. Her phone had died and she had gone to charge it at a local shop, she had also gone to visit a farm who had planted her maize seeds for her and were now ready to tend the crop, so she had gone to check. We chatted briefly and I explained the problems I had had trying to find her shopping. I reluctantly agreed to drive her to town to pick up the shopping (from the only supermarket I hadn’t tried, it will teach me to write down details next time, I have so much going on in my head at the moment and had thought if there was a problem I could call her!) At the same time we talked about the problem of the door, it was decided to take the door to another metal fundi and get it ‘reduced’. A piece of string was found and used to measure the door, knotted and taken together with the door. We left Timo with various tasks and the children playing and headed out. The door was dropped at the fundi, who smiled broadly as I drove in, he doesn’t see too many Europeans in his workshop and obviously thought it boost his business. I gathered the usual crowd before we left and headed to Nakuru.

I managed to find a parking spaced directly in front of the required supermarket and Mama Sweetie jumped out and set the rock in place for the brake. She returned a few seconds later with large water butt and large washing basins. We decided our next stop would be the fruit and veg market. Before I managed to reverse out of the parking place a group of street boys had assembled to ‘assist’ me. I now had no patience for them and shooed them away, much to their disapproval. The side street next to the market was manic, it is the area where the matatus load up, total chaos. I managed to swing very badly into a parking space only to be swarmed by another group of older street boys who wanted to ‘watch’ the vehicle for me. I suggested that Mama Sweetie jump out and I stay with the items she had bought as we were unable to secure the pick up. What hastle I got, one of the boys was upset that I had paid no heed to his directions when I parked, I informed him that I had eyes in my head and preferred to use my own judgement. He sat with his friends on the pavement in front of the vehicle and proceeded to talk about me in a disrespectful way, I told him this didn’t make me feel any better towards him. A friend from the market had seen the gathering and came to talk to me, he is someone I usually buy produce from and he hadn’t been around for a while as he had managed to secure an electricians contract with a company, it was now over and he joined his mother at the stall. I was pleased for the company as it diverted the attentions of the boys. Mama Sweetie soon emerged a small bag of potatoes in her hand. I looked at the prospect of reversing out of the parking space into the long q of matatus behind me, they were unforgiving and not gentlemen drivers who would wait for someone to pull out. My friend hung around to keep the boys at bay although starting the vehicle to leave, resulted in them scuttling to the rear of the vehicle in a vain attempt to ‘help me’. I ignored their indications to pull out, as my road was blocked by matatus. I edged back and forth until I managed to turn the vehicle round and faced a matatu driver with a smiling face, he nudged up to the vehicle in front and let me pull out. I was chased by the boys wanting payment for their work…………. I don’t think so.

I was relieved to head out of town, the drive relaxed me. We stopped off to collect the door which wasn’t quite finished. We both sat and chatted while the fundis worked, it started raining and Mama Sweetie moved the only item available to sit on, a metal chair with no seat into the dry, I sat in the vehicle. A gathering of 6 small children appeared and chatted to me, by the time we were ready to leave they were singing and dancing for me, we said our goodbyes and promised to return again sometime. We arrived at the house and found the roof patched the gate fixed and lunch had been eaten. Mama Sweetie asked me to get Timo to do the door, I explained that I felt this was a major job and beyond his ability…………….I was so wrong. Timo explained that he was familiar with the method of house construction as it was the method used in his rural home and it was no problem. We heaved the door into place and prepared it for fixing. The soil is a heavy clay type, red in colour and is used to make the bricks to build the houses it is also made into a kind of wetter mix used as filler to bind things together a bit like cement.

Timo showed me the method used, he took off his shoes and socks and rolled up his trouser legs in preparation, funny I thought. He lead me to the back of the house to an area that was obviously used when the house was constructed for ‘making’ bricks. Timo proceeded to dig in an area that was hollowed out into a kind of large bowl in the earth, he threw in some already dug soil and added water, mixed together with a hoe and then stepped in. His feet skillfully worked together the combination of water and soil and basically mashed it into a loose mud consistency, it was mad, he stomped around and basically acted like a cement mixer, but with feet.

The mud was scooped up and loaded into a wheelbarrow (strangely a remaining item at the house), wheeled by the children round to the doorway where we had seated the door in place using dried broken ‘bricks’. Timo now demonstrated how we were to fill the large areas around the metal door frame to secure the door in place. It was great fun, we took handfuls of mud and threw it at the area needing to be filled, ensuring it was thrown hard to slide into the gaps. The children joined in and we found this to be a great event, we were securing their home, working together to rebuild their life, we were also getting covered in the mud, those slinging from the outside were getting us on the inside and visa versa. A great time was had by all and I was so surprised that it actually worked, together we had managed to secure the door in place. I decided this was more fun than working on a modern brick house. I told Mama Sweetie that if she had any more building work to do I was to be invited. The time taken to clear up the mess and fill the hole the other fundis had dug for the door was long, we eventually gathered together for a break of chai, crisps, bananas and queen cakes, not a healthy meal but a greatly needed energy boost.

It was getting late and time was nearing for us to leave. Mama Sweetie absently went over the things that would want to be done to the house to complete it, the main problem now was the lack of light. We decided to knock out some of the bricks in one window used to close the holes where to windows had been in order to let in some light. Timo and I secured a batten outside the window together with some of the plastic roofing so that it could be rolled up during the day to let in light and rolled down and secured at night or when it rained. This simple construction, (similar to blinds I made in my conservatory at home, proved to be a great step for the family), they could now read and do things in the house as they had light.

In time Mama Sweetie said she would one by one replace the windows or at least the metal security frames. I held her hand and told her that I wished I could help her financially but it just wasn’t possible, she hugged me tight and said what I was doing was far in excess of any money I could give her, I was helping her rebuild her life, giving her strength and sharing what I had, she said it was more than she could wish for. We said our good byes and I said Timo and I would return this week to do more work and release more light by doing the same with the other windows. I left a selection of books with the children and a large floor sized game of ludo which I didn’t have time to teach them but promised on the next visit I would do so. This time I left in the knowledge that the shell of a house was becoming a home again, for the ‘Sweetie’ family the road ahead of them was not going to be an easy one but they were where they had planned to be together, they were now reunited.

Life will now continue.