tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73114918752595972072024-03-14T07:52:28.777+03:00Susannah's PlaceMy Kenyan Volunteering Journal. Emails home since 2006.
Some to make you laugh, some to make you cry - all from the heart.Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02387261449058135642noreply@blogger.comBlogger160125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7311491875259597207.post-23091751927664094032011-09-06T12:37:00.000+03:002011-09-08T12:37:47.152+03:00Finally Got to Internet<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Hi Everyone,<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />yes it's me and I have made it to town to the internet at least.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" /> Well, I have no idea where I left you all other than this has been a very hard month (at least) of health issues. I would like to say they are all out of the way but after food poisoning, post food poisoning stomach issues, then malaria with headaches for days, those done I then trapped a nerve in my back which after a week in a lot of pain woke last Wednesday and it had vanished all I was left with was a stinking cold and cough. Coughing fit on Sunday put my back out again I was not happy, so have antibiotics to clear the coughing and chest issues and hopefully at some stage the pain killers will numb the back pain till it vanishes again.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />All in all feeling very low and hot a happy chappy. The weather is still raining and cold which isn't helping the back pain in the slightest. I managed to get to the Kenana Knitters on Thursday and Friday last week to help out with big orders of toys before the back went on Sunday. Monday I went in but was troubled with the back so sat doing paperwork for them, got a good roast chicken lunch, it was worth the effort! <br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Kim is unwell, she started to be very quiet and appeared to be sleeping a lot what actually was going on is conjunctivitis making her close her eyes. I was a bit concerned as the manky dog from next door has been breaking into our grounds as Kim is on heat, he didn't look healthy and we have been fighting to keep him out, well Henry found out he had died, we just hope Kim hasn't been too close to him and caught something bad. The vet came today and got me out of bed, (I can't get Kim to him as no transport) so he called early before he went to clinic, whilst he was there I got him to give her her annual rabies and other jabs, together with ointment to clear her eye problem. It was an expensive morning. I asked if he had a jab in his bag that would help my back, he laughed.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />I have been occupying my time with crocheting with remnant strips of fabric making rag rugs, well I am impressed with them. Henry claimed the first one and now I am on a large one that is now having to be done at the dining room table as it is too heavy for my lap. Better sitting position for the back too. This morning as it was so wet Henry and I sat taking and he was asking about how to crochet, He is now on his first attempt, I think he may have a few tries as this one will end up as a hat as the edges are getting tighter!! Oh well something to keep him busy at night. I called in at the fabric place where I got the last bag of remnants from and they have more interesting fabrics for me to pick up, will try and get Emma to drop them off for me when I meet her later. <br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Emma and I had planned on doing more painting at SCANN today as she leaves on the 16th for the UK and will hopefully have finished the arty bits before she goes. I have arranged to meet her here in town and will go to SCANN with her, to catch up and see the boys, but I wont manage any painting as it is all at shoulder level and will cause me standing problems. <br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />I have acquired a lodger who is paying a small amount for room only, she is an American who says she is a pastor attached to the Provincial Hospital here in Nakuru. She was staying with a Kenyan family but found it far too noisey so she contacted me for a room. She is an interesting character and I think the 2 months will be long ones. She moved in on Saturday with her tiny kitten which fits into the palm of your hand, she keeps it in her room with a litter tray as Kim and Paka would not think twice that it would be a tasty morsel or play thing. On Sunday she woke late complaining she was unwell, deciding to call my piki piki friend to take her to the hospital for malaria tests, when he arrived she was about to get on when she started vomiting badly, well what to do she obviously needed to get seen to but I was worried that the piki was going to end up with a back covered in vomit before he went far. After a violent vomiting fit we decided that there could not be any more for a while so off they set with very strict instructions from Jennifer that if she clapped her hands to his waist he was to stop quickly.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Well by all accounts they made it to the hospital, an injection and medication later, having a bacterial stomach issue she returned, I handed her a basin for vomit and boiled water, she didn't surface until after I returned form the knitters last night. Although she did get up to complaint to Henry to stop his singing whilst cutting the hedge round the property as she wanted quiet! Now Jennifer is not a small lady and we have found that she cant open the door as you have to insert your arm to reach the padlock on the inside of the door, her arm does not fit in the hole far enough to reach the padlock let alone undo it, so either Henry or I have to be home when she arrives, interesting and more interesting!! She asked me to put the padlock on the outside of the door at which I pointed out the whole reason for it to be on the inside is to stop someone being able to crow bar the padlock! We will see. My fridge is crammed full of her food and so is the cupboard full of cans and packets for food, so much for all the healthy fruit and veg in the market!! Another problem is the cooking on the jiko and not a microwave, well if she can afford one she can buy one!<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Oh I took the same piki piki into town today, a very slow route trying to avoid all the pot holes, he told me that Jennifer had been very sick all the way to the hospital, I apologied for his long long journey, but he was happy that he had done a good service to someone who was unwell.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Last Wednesday when i woke up with no back pain I went with George (not Clooney - a teacher from SCANN) to Mama Sweeties for a quick catch up visit, George came too as I had a big bag of clothes to deliver and wasn't able to carry it. The toilet block is now finished and her chickens, the puppy and the goose are all happy with the chicken house, the new chicks will be arranged on my next visit to the sweeties. Photo of completed toilet is attached (for Ailsa), as you will all see the children are very very happy with the new addition to their home. Along with those are photos that I promised before and forgot to send of the painting work at SCANN, more will follow as we have done so much more now. <br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Anyway that is my news for now, hopefully the sun will shine soon and the bugs will disappear, the back will mend and I will sleep at night, everything is a huge effort at the moment but I am sure it will improve again. I am looking forward to visiting the boys at SCANN even if it is to do nothing but chat to them.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Hoping your news is better than mine, will keep you posted on the recovery of both myself and Kim. Love to you all, wishing my son and his family a quick settle into their new long awaited house, lets hope it will soon feel like home. I am missing my grand daughters 2nd birthday this week, but wish her a great birthday.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Love, hugs and healthy wishes for you all,<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Susannah</span></span>Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02387261449058135642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7311491875259597207.post-63272417090310150322011-08-22T12:29:00.000+03:002011-09-08T12:30:20.654+03:00Slowly on the Mend<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Hi thought i should do a health updates. <br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />The tests have shown the malaria has gone and no typhoid but was still feeling unwell. After a consult with SCANN dr on saturday he thinks the stomach issue stems from the fish that i had a few weeks ago that bounced, he said that it would have been food poisoning and that was enough to disrupt my stomach and digestion, so am on tablets to help that. The tiredness etc is post malaria along with the stomach issues so am on high dose of multi vits and minerals to build me up. <br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />So luckily nothing serious.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Just a quick one today as struggling with keys on the mobile.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Love to everyone and hoping you are all well. On my way to the Knitters today.<br style="line-height: 17px;" />Xxxxx</span></span>Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02387261449058135642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7311491875259597207.post-65058572752669499062011-08-18T12:28:00.000+03:002011-09-08T12:29:12.859+03:00More Blood Tests<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Well, I hope you are all well!!!<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />I find myself back at the internet waiting for blood results as managed to get in before they closed for lunch at 1.00pm but have to wait till 2.30pm for the results, mind you that is a lot quicker than in the UK where I sat in the hospital Acute ward waiting for confirmation for two days going home in between to sleep, I thought they were joking especially when I told them I walk into a lab, they take blood and in half an hour usually they give you the results, sometimes bureaucracy goes crazy, they even phoned the London Hospital for Tropical diseases and I didn't have Malaria at the time.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Anyway to kill time I will let you know what I have been up to as I know you are all waiting with baited breath. Had a quiet weekend thinking I was getting better as you know so on Monday I was picked up at supposedly 8.30am but was Kenyan time and 9.45 to go to Kenana Knitters where I visited with Julian. I am volunteering there with the hope that they will possibly be able to get around my visa issues and employ me, it is an amazing place, supporting so many people and youth in the community through health and education issues.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />So on Monday my first day to visit for volunteering I was asked to weigh all the skems (think that is right - the lengths of wool that is spun from the fleece before it is made into balls) that the ladies had spun over the weekend. There was so much it took me all morning, especially as it meant lifting huge bundles that the ladies had done, quality control it and then decide on the rate to give them for the spinning (that was difficult as I had to decide only after a quick feel and instructions. This process meant that the ladies would then have their money calculated and then paid.... apparently my next job.....um...<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />We broke for lunch and I must say that Paddy provides us with a lovely fair with desert too, all with napkins and silver napkin rings in her home on the estate. After lunch the ladies had come with so much wool that I ended up tied up with that for some time. Paddy ended up paying the ladies which I am pleased about as that took some doing as the ladies were from all different tribes and many of them old so English is not an option and not sure my pigeon language would manage, maybe next time under supervision I will give it a try.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />I was then shown the next part after the ladies are paid...... they go to a different section of the building to buy their raw wool /fleece for them to spin. They fill bags which is then to be weighed, the cost calculated and then they pay with some of the money that they were just paid. They then disappear into their corners for the social aspect of the day when they compare stories and support each other - many of them are also knitters so they then sit and knit for the rest of the day.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />I then was shown the computer system that is used to transfer all the data of the daily sales of fleece and the purchase of the skems to enter all the information, took me a while, then it was home time.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />On Tuesday Emma and I headed to SCANN to do some more painting as she is heading to the UK mid September to stay for a few years so she had to finish the pictures at least before she goes. We went into town afterward for lunch as I couldn't face cooking. I then headed home.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Wednesday - back to the knitters, I am getting there by car as it is so far away from me, I get a lift so I waited at my tree for collection and this time only half an hour late and very chatty we headed off. I was thrown straight into packing soft knitted toys for a company in USA - there were hundreds of these critters that needed packing. I took great care making sure all the labels were attached, the quality was good and the toys were standard size and shape, bearing in mind they are all hand knitted this was fun, knitters will know! I ensured that when packing them into the sacks for shipment they were all snug and comfortable with penguins wings and scarfs lowered to a comfortable location, the moose's antlers were not bent and they were all happy before they left. This took me nearly all day there were so many and this was only part of the order as it is a very large on going one. <br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />The next job I was introduced to was looking at the figures for all the children and adults that they support financially through education and health, this had been left for a while and needed a good look at as it was showing that since Feb things were not good, what the problem was was that the person had not been putting in the paid in funds..... This is a major job and will be one I started and will take me forever to get through to sort it......... hey here is the challenge.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />They wanted me back today as I am getting on well with everyone and don't wait to be told what to do, but I am still not feeling great and Henry left for a day in Naivasha at 5.30 this morning to promote his VCD he wont be back till late and I didn't want to leave Kim for that long, besides woke up this morning needing to go back to bed after breakfast which didn't sit well in the stomach.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />I did go to salsa last night and had rounded up 5 other girls, they had a fab time and things are moving on - the girls are actually asking to have men at the lessons so they can try partner dancing, unfortunately there is only us and the male teacher who would be danced off his feet with all of us, they are so demanding. I went home early after putting my head in the door at Guava as one of the guys is leaving Kenya today.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />My Virgin friend Marouella sadly lost her father and is not sure she will be coming to Nairobi at the weekend and I was planning on going to the immigration on Monday to check on things with my still illusive visa. I will see how things go and how I am feeling as to whether I get to Nairobi, it always takes it out of me even when I am feeling good!<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />As far as SCANN is concerned I am still actively continuing my visits and supporting them, only this week I was contacted by someone in Nairobi who is visiting and coaching juggling from Holland, he asked me to arrange for him to visit and coach the boys this Sunday so hopefully that will go ahead and they will have a great time.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />I still need to get to Mama Sweeties as the toilet block is now finished and I need to take photos and sort out chicks and feed for the chicken house. Mama Sweetie is arranging her own community fund raising weekend on 27th August to help her with a large water tank and construction of a kitchen. Expect I will be going although I tried to get out of it as I think personally if the community think she is so well supported by whites then they wont help! Anyone interested in boosting this fund raising don't forget the Visoi web page for any donations www.visoi.com <br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Ok well I think that this is probably all I can manage today as not sure it runs too well together. Whilst sitting here I have been chatted up by a guy from Nairobi sitting next to me on Facebook, he obviously is totally blind to the fact that my hair is a haystack, I am wearing 2 day old jeans, need a shower, no makeup, puffy eyes and and sweating rather badly.......... other than that I am old enough to be his MUM.........ah bless made me smile. Good thing was he smelt good........!<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Anyway, time to walk down the street and get my results.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Bye for now.<br style="line-height: 17px;" />Sickly Susannah<br style="line-height: 17px;" />xxxxxx</span></span>Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02387261449058135642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7311491875259597207.post-25926512906327574162011-08-14T12:26:00.001+03:002011-09-08T12:27:22.785+03:00It's confirmed Malaria not migrane or too much sugar!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Hi All,<br style="line-height: 17px;" />well after struggling since last weekend with thinking I was dehydrated, too much sugar or just run down. Emma insisted I went for a blood test and it showed that I had Malaria again. I have to admit that after attending SCANN painting on Wednesday morning and then having a meal at Guava for lunch and some pain killers I was feeling better and decided to head to the Guava 'Woodstock' Party that night. Well, I had spent the whole of the previous day making flowers for my skirt as I was home feeling unwell. Mad I know but sometimes you just have to do it.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />The theme was 'woodstock' so I dug out my red wellies again and stuck big yellow flowers on them, good job as as soon as I left the door way of the house to get the taxi, the heavens opened, they must have known, bu the time I got out the gate to the taxi I was thankful for the wellies as it was flooding down the drive way.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />The rain stopped no one, it was a made night, the salsa before hand had been canceled as the teacher was unwell and gave no notice, so after a few phone calls we all went straight to Guava. What a mad night, I think the atmosphere kept me on a high, everyone had made such an effort, those of you with Face book can check out the photos.(Doris, maybe you shouldn't be shown!)<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Well to say the least that night was amazing but unfortunately I felt the effects of the efforts the next day, I spent the next two days in bed having expended all my energies at the party and feeling the malaria badly. Henry made sure there was food in the house and tended the animals, but he also was busy as his church was having a convergence of churches and he wanted to get lots of his VCD made to sell at the event. He spent alot of time in town arranging this. By the way anyone who wants any copies let me know, I can arrange it. I slept alot and eventually on Friday evening got out of bed and sat knitting, I know not my thing but something to keep me focused. I am knitting a shrug, I found a pattern and thought it would be a good small coverup when going out as at the last party at Guava my lovely black drapped cardigan went 'missing'. All I have now is zippies. Anyway I am starting with the only colour that I have - cream to see how it goes then will look at buying some nice wool at the Kenana Knitters when I go on Monday.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Yesterday I got up early did some washing and took a very well earned shower, found that I was still wearing the felt tip 'tattoos' that I had done on Wednesday, washed all the bedding too as it needed it. I then headed to SCANN to do the clinic, we had a couple of skin infections and bronchitis, not surprising with this cold wet weather. After that headed to town with Emma who had come over to do some more painting, (she had come down with a cold and was feeling a bit worse for it) Nice pair we made. Anyway sorted out some more cards from Chas, got Julians bead band done at last, went to the Post office to see if anyone loves me - they don't and grabbed my piki piki Francis to take me home via Tuskys at Highway as I needed some food as the house was lacking. Got home and slept. Well after washing all the floors and rearranging the furniture.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Today got up feeling good, decided to dress girlie and make an effort - I think more psychologically than anything. I decided to put on a floaty skirt and walk towards town, being a Sunday the matatus were all full. so I just kept walking. I got to the Highway and continued walking towards town feeling good. I was joined by a boy of about 13 who asked me where I was going, I told him, he asked if I was walking, I said yes. Um....... He got out a piece of paper and asked me if I would support him for a fund raising, I said no as I had given to so many that I had no money. He asked if I was walking all the way to town, I said sure. He asked me if he could pay for my matatu fare as it was a long way and I would get tired. I was so take aback that I blessed him and said I needed the exercise but thank you. He wandered off to try and get money from some other people waiting for the matatu. I smiled as I walked on for about another 10 mins as it made me realise that it was a lovely day and humanity was not totally doomed. After a while I discovered that he was right it was too far and my energy just was not going to manage. As I came off the Highway at Section 58 my regular boda boda (bike taxi) came along and offered me a life, I told him I only had change of 15bob and he took me anyway (should be 20bob). I wrapped up my skirt and sat side saddle in the lady like mode and we headed into town, I was still smiling as now 2 people had proven that humanity is not doomed. I don't need much to make me happy.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />By the time I was dropped off and walked to the cyber cafe, I realised that in fact I am not on top form, I was sweating badly and in need of sitting down, so here I am pounding away on the keys writing to you and uploading the energetic photos on to Facebook (taking an age I must say) I will then head to Guava for a well earned lunch and wait for Cheryl to turn up for a coffee and cake later. I may even write some of my cards, who knows.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Love to you all,<br style="line-height: 17px;" />Susannah determined to be on the mend.</span></span>Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02387261449058135642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7311491875259597207.post-67318045396240062892011-08-01T12:33:00.000+03:002011-09-08T12:33:38.574+03:00Photos<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.75pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Yes its me again, hi there and welcome to the continuing journal of craziness.....<br />
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Sorry Tracie I was lazy and copied most of what I sent to you but there maybe more you will miss if you don't read all hehe!!!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.75pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a;">well it has been a bit crazy here with two visitors and a surprise trip to Mombasa (which was amazing). Since my visitors (Ailsa and Julian must point out that they were not together in case there is any confusion there) have left I have been busy pricing up materials and costings for the two jobs, the toilet block and the chicken house. <br />
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</span><span style="color: #2a2a2a;">Decided that as I had to spend time at the cyber cafe sending update emails to Ailsa in (Scotland) and Tracie (Salsa) for the building projects of toilets and chicken house at Mama Sweeties decided I would grace you all with my email too.<br />
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I have spent my time minus visitors (Ailsa and Julian) catching up on work that I needed to do..... pricing materials and costings for the above projects. Took some doing, Ailsa and I had decided that we would use Henry to build the chicken house and Daniel a builder and neighbour to Mama Sweeties to do the toilet block. <br />
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</span></span><span style="color: #2a2a2a;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Toilet and washing Block<br />
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The toilet block is a bigger project and we have got a local builder who is a neighbour to Mama Sweetie and knows us all well to manage the building etc. It has gone up very quickly and I have attached photos for you to share. At this point in the photos, the bulding of the 2 girls and 2 boys long drop toilets is done with roofing. (A long drop toilet is built over a pit, dug 11ft length x 2ft wide x 20ft deep is as there is no mains water being used for the toilets, hence no flushing. A concrete slab stone is constructed over the pit with a hole in each cubical for toilet usage. The waste is absorbed into the ground at the bottom of the pit slowly over time, helped by the addition of the water from the washing). The next stage is the two outer additions which are the areas for body washing for the children, this will not be showers, as there is a terrible lack of water with no mains to the property. There will be guttering from the roof to harvest any rain water that may come her way, this together with any delivered water will be stored and used with basins in the washing rooms for washing down the children. No baths here!!<br />
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Chicken House<br />
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The chicken house has been constructed by the amazing team of yours truly and Henry (my guard/odd job man). As you know Henry has been with me for some time now looking after the house, the pets and the grounds. Although I no longer can afford to pay him, I feed him and he still lives in the guard house in exchange for working for free. We decided as he and his family have kept chickens in his rural home for years now he would be able to construct the chicken house for us.<br />
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We have used as much of the wood from the cow shed and on the property as was available to keep costs down so we can actually manage to buy some chicks too. Mama Sweetie does already have some older hens and a couple of cockerels which roam the property but they lose many of the eggs as they lay them anywhere and are hard to find. Many are also lost to local dogs on the scavange. At least now they will all be contained in one place and order resumed. <br />
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The chicken house design was to take in the end of the 'cow shed' (most things are in disrepair) but we decided that we should have to use the timber from the side of the cow shed to help construction. The chicken house will consist of three levels, the bottom level is for new chicks and will not be accessible by the older hens and the chicks will also not be able to mix outside with the older hens either until they are of suitable size.<br />
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The next level which is accessible from the outside chicken run, when the access door is opened will be for sleeping at night. The top level will be accessible to the outer chicken run by the door on the level below and this level will be for hens sitting on eggs.<br />
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We have already had a great deal of interest shown in this construction by the hens who have already started fighting over where they are taking up occupancy. I think it will cause problems amongst the ranks of the chicken community at Mama Sweeties. We hope to finish this week and will send more photos<br />
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In between this I have been visiting SCANN to rest my poor arms, I wish....actually I have been doing more of the painting on the classroom walls, I have now completed the alphabet but didn't have my camera to hand - will have to take photo next time, I am impressed anyway. I also managed to do the clinic a week ago and a good job too as two of the boys had had to see the doctor during the week with very bad bronchitis which needed injections of antibiotics to clear the infection. I am pleased to say that after more meds they are well on their way to recovery. On the Sunday, I spent most of the day working round the garden, the maize is so tall I struggle to get through it. (See picture attached) I made a path using huge stones and digging a route to the seed bed, I was tired of walking like a mountain goat on the stones and ripping apart my toes. I decided that as there were potatoes planted in with the maize I would try and find some for lunch, this was not an easy matter. The actual plants had died away leaving little or no trace of where the potatoes were. I prodded and scratched away with my fingers and actually found a wash basin full, that was only a tiny part of the area planted. Wooo hooo, had an amazing vegetable stew for dinner. Henry was away at a church meeting in Nyaharuru (probably spelt wrong) that night it rained so heavily that he was unable to make it back. I find it amazing that the north of Kenya is desperately suffering with drought when we have so much rain here in Nakuru, even Mama Sweetie is in the dry belt, we have too much, not that I am complaining. Am also sending a pic I took last week to prove we have rain and floods!<br />
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I have also been going to Wednesday night salsa and last week even got talked into attending a Hat and Boot party afterwards at Guava. I went a little tongue in cheek as decided to promote the safe sex theme and convert a sun hat into a 'safety hat', attached to it were many packets of condoms like an aussie hat and it read safety hat at the back and front. I also wore red wellies kindly left to me by Ailsa, so safety hat and safety boots went down a storm. Needless to say that the condoms were all removed from my hat by the end of the evening when I left at 2.30am.<br />
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I had forgotten that I had arranged to head to Mama Sweeties with Henry at 7am!!! That was very hot long, long, long, long day! On Saturday, 30th headed back to Mama Sweeties to do more work, Henry is a slave driver, no time for snoozing on the job. It was such a cold day that I even kept on my zippy, it helped us to get lots done though. <br />
<br />
I missed the after Safari Rally party that was held also as Ben's birthday party, it was invite only and I seemed to have missed the invite giving.......... issues with that one so less said the better, my friends didn't miss me until the Sunday when I asked how the party was!!!!! Nice to be loved!<br />
<br />
Anyway Sunday Henry decided not to go to church (unheard of) instead he did his washing and cleaning, even caught him washing my flip flops that I had used for wandering round the garden when it rains! I decided that as he had worked so hard we would have lunch out at Garden Villa, we arrived at about 2.30pm and I think the food arrived about 5pm...... not bad service just Kenyan Time I guess. By this time Henry had had to leave so I ate my portion of roast potatoes, shredded cabbage, and Tilapia fish. I had invited along my friend Tim for a beer as he was off sorts and had expected to have eaten by the time he arrived. I let him nibble on my roast potatoes and have the bits of fish I couldn't bear to pick (he had already eaten so was not bothered - I was not being mean). The heavens opened and we had to wait until the rains cleared then headed home at about 7pm by Taxi. Tim was dropped off after me on the taxis way back to town.<br />
<br />
I had only just managed to get into the house when my stomach started churning and I spent the rest of the night vomiting. I am not sure if this was from something I picked up from the playing with the children at Mama Sweeties or what but it wasn't nice having my lunch twice.<br />
<br />
I got up this morning at 7.30 dehydrated, managed breakfast of loyal weetabix, avoided the coffee. I did my washing then went back to bed till lunch time. Decided I needed to chat to you guys and update on the building projects for Ailsa and Tracie, so here I am, I have managed to pay my post box fee for the year, picked up a post card of London from my Niece. Moaned loudly at Chas the card guy who let us down, but then gave me the balance of cards I ordered from him back in April when I arrived and offered as consolation another 5 cards as freebies. I also went to the butcher and bought some nice lean minced beef, chicken breast and stewing steak. My fridge was bare only had some tomatoes and milk, not enough for a meal really, not that I am hungry at the moment.<br />
<br />
Anyway this is probably a bit bitty, but wanted to try and back track, hope you are all well and life is treating you as you deserve to be treated.<br />
<br />
My love to my family, you know who you are, you can't deny it, sorry. Hope Julian is settling back into the UK swing of things with many stories for you salsa people.<br />
<br />
My house is so quiet and big with no visitors, good thing really, as I am too tired to look after them.<br />
<br />
Bye for now,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Susannah</span></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02387261449058135642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7311491875259597207.post-84818776596274910932011-07-26T11:51:00.000+03:002011-07-26T11:51:43.332+03:00So Much to Tell! Mombassa Story<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Hi All,<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />well as many of you will now know I am laptop less and back to the cyber for email writing although my friend Julian left me with his touch phone so I can read incoming ones!!!<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />My last email was out we visited Kenana Knitters on Monday the 11th July! Which was also the day that on the return to Nakuru Julian and I went to the station to buy his ticket from Nairobi to Mombasa by train for the 15th, after we went through the whole process of her phoning through the booking to Nairobi and she filled out the receipt, Julian suggested that I went too as his guard to make sure he wasn't pestered and he would cover the costs. Sounded like a good plan to me and it was decided, the lady phoned Nairobi again and booked me on she then re wrote the receipt. Nice lady, she even gave me a nice new pen to keep as mine had leaked inside my bag!<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />The following day I had arranged for Julian and Henry to go with Nick to Lake Nakuru, I headed off to Scann to cut out more of the show costumes for the sewing lady as I would not be around on Saturday to assist her with cutting out. That evening I had heard that there were to be visitors to Scann so I headed home, tried to prepare dinner, power was out and it was pouring with rain, so a quick omelet and Julian and I were in a taxi headed in the dark to Scann which also had a power cut but they had eventually managed to get the generator to start supplying the hall with power. The boys performed beautifully with songs, dancing, acrobatics and karate show. We managed to get a lift home and had a nice early night.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />13th July ...... got Julian a number for a dentist as his temporary filling for his root canal had fallen out. I headed to Scann for more alphabet painting with Emma and Julian was picked up by Nick for his appointment and would join us afterward. Emma and I had a good time painting it was starting to look great now the colours were being added. Julian appeared no worse for his appointment and we gave him the job of decorating his own short wall with shapes, triangle, square, circle etc he did them beautifully and I got him to add his name and date at the end for prosperity! From there we headed into town, then home for a quickie dinner as it was salsa night and also a PJ party at Guava afterwards. Well salsa was good fun and Emma joined us too we laughed so much it was great, we then left and stopped off to change en route to Guava, we looked a sight, I was in bootie stripped slippers - from Anna, black cycle shorts and black vest top not sure what else as cant remember...... oh Virgin eye mask covers for my hair band, and a teddy bear. Emma had on a pair of black leggings and top which I added to with my brother-in-laws Wallace and Gromit PJ boxers, together with a Virgin Toothbrush in her hair. Julian had on a T shirt and lightweight trousers with my lovely sisters silky blue wrap dressing gown, he looked lovely! We had such a fun night so many people came in fancy dress it was a laugh, many bad bad photos that I can't share with you! I think we got home about 2.30am a late one for us. <br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />14th was a bit sluggish did some washing and sorting before our trip. Had coffee and lunch in town at Guava Lounge it poured with rain on the way home got totally soaked. Cooked dinner and sorted clothes out.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Packed things in the morning as couldnt find a back pack big enough so ended up packing a wheelie bag. Got a taxi into town as Julian had all his bags as would be leaving from Nairobi to UK on the way back from Mombasa. We took the Mololine shuttle to Nairobi and our plan was to arrive in Nairobi find Jenga and go to an afternoon show at Bomas of Kenya a cultural show of music and dancing. We arrived late and managed to grab a pizza for lunch before being picked up by Paul one of Jengas drivers who took us to Karen where the Bomas were. I had no idea how fab the show was to be, we entered and sat in a huge circular theatre, no idea the capacity but it became full to bursting. The show began and I was so pleased that after this long I had actually managed to go and see it. A must for any music / dance enthusiasts it was amazing. We left there and headed for a coffee before being taken to the train station. The traffic was at stand still and we were worried we would miss the 7pm deadline for the train so in a frantic effort the taxi driver found a parking place and walked us to the station, I have heard of schools doing walking bus but walking taxi is something else. <br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />We had to fight our way through to the station past a huge bus/ coach station, it was bustling to put it mildly, we arrived and were pleased to see the train was still sat waiting for us. Actually we should not have worried, we walked the 15 carriages before we found ours and then sat waiting for quite some time before we set off. The First Class sleeping compartment that we had, may have been first class at some stage but not then. It comprised of two bunks, I had the upper one as more agile (we seemed not to have been given a ladder!) There was a small sink, what was labeled a wardrobe for jackets, a fan. It had definitely seen better days. We were just settling down to a good old chat when we were disturbed by the 'bedding boy' who dropped off bags with bedding and said he would be back to make up the beds. Sure enough he was, as there was no room inside we waited outside the compartment while he deftly made up the beds, sheets and blankets with pillow. Sometime later we were called to dinner by the dining car with someone going down the carriages clanking a spoon and metal sugar bowl lid together summoning us for dinner delights. <br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />The dining car was made up with crockery and silverware, tables were a bit cramped for 4 people to a table but we managed. Many eager diners sat waiting to see what delights we would receive. We had mushroom soup and bread for starter followed by rice and veg casserole, or chicken and roast potatoes. Considering it was mass produced it was not bad, this was followed by a cuppa, bottles of soda and alcohol were available during dinner at a supplementary cost.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />We retired to our compartment so that the next sitting could partake of dinner. The toilet facilities were as expected a hole in the floor to be used when not in a station, not in the sleeping compartment I would like to point out! I cleaned my teeth with the bottled water I had carried with me in anticipation of being required then clambered on to my bunk to settle down for sleep, or so I thought......... the train was so old and clankey that I tossed and rolled all night listening to all the noises. This together with Julian's snoring made for a sleepless night add to that the need to get up and use the toilet but not wanting to disturb Julian beneath was a problem added to by the lack of ladder. Luckily at some point Julian himself got up for a wee and I leapt at the chance while he was awake. <br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />We were told we would arrive in Mombasa at between 7 & 8am being a 12 hour duration if no problems. We arrived at 11.30 am after being awoken at 6am for breakfast!!! Not funny! I had the number of a Taxi in Mombasa thanks to my friend Tim. He collected us and took us to the hotel via a supermarket for water, alcohol and provisions! We had a nap as soon as we arrived as I was so tired I couldnt think straight. We then headed to the beach for a walk before finding somewhere to eat, I knew just the place. Unfortunately the tide was very high which meant we were splashing round up to our knees on our walk making it a little difficult to make good headway. We walked back and had dinner at El Covo which was lovely the same place Kimberley and I had eaten, same seats too when she had visited, then back to the hotel for more sleep catch up!<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />17th Sunday, up for breakfast - the weather was rather overcast a contrast to our arrival yesterday it was so hot. We sat at the pool whilst trying to work out what was wrong with my laptop / hampered by the fact that the internet wi fi at the hotel was not working. A rather large group of young conservationist volunteers appeared at the pool which was time for us to head off for a walk along the beach, the sun was beating down and the tide was back where I was used to it being, definitely OUT! We stopped on the way back for pizza at a restaurant looking over the beach together with a few drinks, it was lovely. Early night as the sun was tiring us out that and the walking.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Mon 18th July, had breakfast then walked on the beach, talked a boat owner into taking us to the reef in his dhow for snorkelling, it was a bargain especially as I managed to use my Alien card which was out of date to get me a good deal on the pass for the reef, also lied a bit and said my husband had forgotten his card, but I had beaten him that morning to make him remember next time. The guy laughed and accepted my story so we made a good saving. The tide was way out so we had a bit of a walk to reach the Dhow, I am sure it had seen better days but it performed beautifully, against the motor driven glass bottomed boat which was the alternative, needless to say we had the best option, it was amazing and so well handled by the two guys with us. They took us out and one of them escorted us snorkeling as I explained I could not see without my glasses, it was actually quite clear, I managed to see many of the fish. Especially those that were in front of my face when I was giving them bread from my fingers, I actually had to swim backwards so they wouldn't bump into me. The colours were amazing, wrasse, parrot and star fish, a sea snake and so much more. I was so pleased that we made the effort to haggle and went for the sail. On the way back to shore we discussed lunch and decided to head to the public end of the beach which was miles away, I knew that there was a fish market and they would cook your fish there and then on the beach. Considering I dont like fish it was a fabulous experience, we had white snapper and it was delicious, we were sat surrounded by many cats enjoying our meal, that Julian photographed being prepared and cooked. The guy who cooked it came and sat with us chatting and obviously happy that we were pleased with his culinary expertise.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />We walked slowly back along the beach, had a drink on the way and then headed for a nap planning on going out later, satisfied and pleased with the days events and the lovely people we had met. I crashed and slept all night, leaving Julian chatting on hot mail to Kimberley, I think the snoring and bar next door had been hampering a good nights sleep for me.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Tuesday 19th, we woke early and headed straight to the beach for a long walk before breakfast as today we headed back to Nairobi. We actually walked and watched the sun rise, it was beautiful and there were no looky looky people on the beach at that time, no stall holders pestering us for buying their wares, and guys trying to sell us boat trips or safaris, it was peaceful! We walked past the fish market where we had eaten the day before to the complete end of the beach, we passed a hotel which promoted no smoking or alcohol..... give that one a wide berth on the alcohol front! On the way back we stopped for a coffee where we had had pizza, people were just appearing and setting up their stalls on the beach. I chatted to a lady called Lucy who had a story to tell. We headed back for breakfast checked out, put our bags into the store cupboard and sat by the pool. We headed back to the beach so Julian could interview Lucy on video for his Kenyan experience stories. She was only too happy to be interviewed and as the beach was so windy and becoming busy she took us to a small shed that was used as a church and was where she attended service. From there Julian and I headed for some lunch back at El Covo I had pasta in ham and cream sauce and Julian had ... cant remember but it was delicious a contrast from the fresh fish from the day before but none the less yummy. We went back and killed time by the pool, I had a swim then the taxi came and picked us up for the return journey, not something I was looking forward to. It was basically a repeat of the way down still no sleep! <br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Jenga tried to pick us from the station in Nairobi but the traffic was still bad cluttered with buses and coaches, so I told him we would start walking towards where I thought he would be. We met at a roundabout where he parked and loaded us on board. I told him to drop us at Java Coffee house as I had a huge need for coffee. The coffee was needed and hit the spot. Now the plan had been for me to get the shuttle back to Nakuru and for Jenga to take Julian around to the Giraffe sanctuary (it was too late for the elephant orphanage unfortunately as the train was late arriving!) I ended up agreeing to go the the Giraffe sanctuary as had not been before. It was some way out of town but the ride was smooth and full of traffic, time to chill. We enjoyed seeing the giraffes up close and feeding them, then returned to Nairobi, Jenga coursing his way through the nightmare traffic to drop me off at the shuttle, I actually leapt out along the way as the traffic was at stand still grabbed my wheelie suitcase, hugged Julian, told Jenga to look after Julian and headed off to the shuttle, I tried to nod on the way back to Nakuru but just couldn't manage, unfortunately I was in the last seat available and was in the blazing sunshine all the way back to Nakuru, sweltering hot, a good job I still had plenty of water with me.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Got home, said hi to Henry and the animals, dropped my bag, grabbed a sandwich and a coffee, a shower and changed and headed to salsa with the girls, having promised that I would be back early enough to go with them. Fun was had by all but not quite as much as last week with the PJ party afterwards!<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Hoping you are all well. My trip to Mombasa was lovely but now back to lots of work with Mama Sweetie and washing bedding from my visitors and clothes from my trip. Found lots of sand in my shoes............ reminds me of a song!<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Love and kisses to you all. Nearly caught up but not quite, my fingers are aching and time to go as I can smell it is raining again outside.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Susannah </span></span>Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02387261449058135642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7311491875259597207.post-22971478911674814212011-07-26T11:49:00.000+03:002011-07-26T11:49:38.087+03:00More Catch-Up<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Sorry laptop is still not working so using Julians whilst in Mombassa to type this....<br style="line-height: 17px;" /> <br style="line-height: 17px;" />6th July arranged to meet our old friend Veronica who runs Garden Villa a restaurant and bar (Ailsa and I both stayed with her when we first went out to Kenya in 2006) We decided to go to have nyama Choma (roast meat) This process usually from ordering to eating takes a couple of hours as it is not a quick process - which goes with many things here in Kenya. We caught up with Veronica between her doing disappearing acts, but as always it was lovely to see what little of her we could manage. We had a nice meal and then headed back home to get ready for a crazy night at salsa. Julian actually managed to show then how to do a bit of rueda dancing, we laughed so much we didnt know what to do with ourselves, it was such a fun night, the two teachers were eager to spend more time with Julian so that he could share his salsa knowledge but we were off the following day to meet friends in Naro Moro near Mount Kenya.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /> <br style="line-height: 17px;" />7th July Ailsa wanted to make the trip to Naro Moro and I decided it was a good opportunity for Julian to see other areas of Kenya. We had an event ful trip, Ailsa and I sat on the back seat of the matatu (it had a low roof) and we got Julian to sit in the next row which had more head room. Needless to say they crammed our bags in, including one with donations of cold weather clothes for our friends (Jayne - it included your white fur fleece!) We had banked on the fact that it would be alot cooler near Mount Kenya but nothing prepared us for how cold the nights would be, it was so so so cold I ended up wearing the fur fleece as I was freezing. Ailsa wore a big warm parker that she was taking up for one of the men at the re forestation projects! Julian just managed with what he had he didnt quite feel the cold like we did. We visited the re forestation project which had grown since we last visited a number of years ago. Everyone was so happy to see us it made us feel bad for it having been so long since our last visit. We slept early after a rushed hi to our friends<br style="line-height: 17px;" /> <br style="line-height: 17px;" />The 8th July we rather cold headed to the project to help with some of the work of potting up plastic bags with soil for seedling planting, we chatted about the project and its work and Julian actually took a video of Robert talking about the project to add to their web site, we were taken for a walk to one of the slopes that had been stripped of trees to see where in 2007 Ailsa had planted seedlings with a group of volunteers, the seedlings were now about 3 ft tall, considering that they had been very short of rain they had survived well and were looking strong. The work wasnt just to add trees, it was to help restore the whole balance of water harnessing that had been destroyed by stripping of the forests. The trees help stop the rains from evapourating and create a natural water harnessing system which helps keep the water in the soil, this feeds down to the streams and rivers helping the lowland areas. No trees means lack of water.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /> <br style="line-height: 17px;" />That evening a group of about 20 business people from Nairobi in their expensive and big 4x4 vehicles, we were told they were doing a team building exercise and climbing to the first rangers station at Mt Kenya. Team building they definately did making so much noise playing 'team' games that we got little sleep, they then got up at 5am to prepare for their day's walk, making so much noise clicking on and off the car alarms, slamming car doors and talking loudly, it was so nice of them to appreciate that we were also staying there and we had had no sleep due to them the night before. <br style="line-height: 17px;" /> <br style="line-height: 17px;" />9th July We were cold and so tired - not a good combination. Julian thought we were kidding about the fact that we could normally see Mt Kenya as it was so foggy and cloudy that you could see NO mountain at all. We went and spent the day with our friends Scholar and John and their two children, we had a lovely time, played some salsa music and did a bit of dancing - Scholar loves to dance and was glad for the opportunity as Julian as her instructor. We had lunch with them and Julian made another video of John talking about his life as a smallholding farmer. It was an amazing time and we were upset to leave them. Ailsa was heading to Nairobi to get her flight the next day, Julian and I were returning to Nakuru. It was an emotional day with lots of hugs as we left Ailsa in Nyahururu, little did Julian and I know just how long it would take us to get home, it was so dark and I found it impossible to see where we were to get land marks, luckily we eventually got back exhausted, we ate at Bota Sola as it was too late to start cooking when I got home, chicken and chipati was all they could rustle up as the kitchen had already closed, (it is good to know the manager he fed us). We got home and flopped into bed exhausted only to be awoken by the cockerel! <br style="line-height: 17px;" /> <br style="line-height: 17px;" />I had also previously made arrangements to join my friend Cheryl on a walk round Menengai Crater to show Julian what an amazing place it was. Cheryl came and collected us at 8.30am - we sat and had a cup of tea at Cheryls whilst talking to her family and waiting for other friends to join us. We clambered into the friends old green landrover together with provisions for breakfast in the crater. Cheryl and her daughter followed in the estate car with the 7 dogs in the back. We had a lovely walk and then met up with Paddy who was driving the landrover who had taken it down into the crater with the provisions for us to make a picnic breakfast, all very 'famous five' on a trip, it was almost surreal. We had drop pancakes, cookies, flap jacks tea and coffee, by the time we left we were stuffed. We all headed back to Cheryl's, Paddy and her friends left. Julian and I joined Cheryl's family for a proper cooked breakfast which then turned into a long story telling session and then extended into an impromptu lunch which was whatever we found it the fridge. We laughed and chatted loads and rather alot of alcoholic fruit punch was consumed - excepting Cheryl as she doesnt drink! By the time Cheryl was ready to drive us home we were a little giggly and even more so when we disclosed that we needed to go via the supermarket for provisions, Cheryl did a quick list of her own and we set off. I dont think the supermarket was quite ready for us decending on them, but we managed to pick bits up that were useful when we got home. In return for the lift and great friendship I let Cheryl take cuttings of two of my bouganvilliers which she has been admiring for some time. <br style="line-height: 17px;" /> <br style="line-height: 17px;" />10th July we had arranged to visit Paddy at her farm where she runs a womans project called the Kenana Knitters. As it is some distance from me, Julian and I arranged to meet one of the workers in town to get a lift. Now the story here is that Paddy and her husband own 800 acres of land on which they breed horses, have a dairy and wheat farm, an overland vehicle camp site, and various properties that they rent out to families, also they run the project which started out as being an acquired project left to them which involved women preparing fleeces to be spun into wool, which was sold. Well the project grew and the wool is now bought from sheep farmers in various regions, the wool is then sent out to be spun and washed, it is returned to the project ready to be dyed and knitted into garments and toys. These items are shipped out to outlets round the world, many places giving specific orders for items that they want individualised. The project has grown from strength to strength. The ladies who work for the project are supported by earning for the piece work they produce either at the project or in their own homes. In return Paddy also provides health care for the women, HIV advisors come and take to the women together with providing anti viral meds and a clinic on the premises for family planning and other health issues. A savings plan is in place to help the woman keep their money as their own instead of going into the hands of their husbands who often abuse them and spend the money on booze or drugs. The woman are also encouraged to do basic literacy classes on the premises enabling them to be able to write their names and basic reading, as many of them have had no schooling. There is now even a computer class available to those that are able to progress further. The project has 240 woman workers who are helped by the business many of whom are HIV positive and now able to receive medication without the need for treking to the nearest VCT clinic to get them, which in some cases can be a trek of many hours to get to it. The smaller children of the workers also come and are helped by the clinic and are found sitting on the grass under the shade of the trees playing with the creche toys whilst their mothers are busy knitting and finding the comfort of like minded women to spend time with who know their situations are similar. To many woman this has become their life line to a 'normal' life, they have gained freedom from husbands who abuse and beat them to be able to rent somewhere for them to live with their children in a safe environment. They have found a community of people who understand their plight. A number of them have progressed so well that they have found employment outside with the help of additional support from the project. I am possibly going to look at spending a few days a week helping at his project if I can sort out the transport issues.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /> <br style="line-height: 17px;" />Ok well that is enough catch up for now will send more maybe tomorrow.... so much to tell and so much is happening I just cant keep up.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /> <br style="line-height: 17px;" />Love to you all,<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Susannah</span></span>Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02387261449058135642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7311491875259597207.post-31725757964554007182011-07-18T10:43:00.000+03:002011-07-18T10:43:48.674+03:00More Catch-Up<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Sorry laptop is still not working so using Julians whilst in Mombassa to type this....<br style="line-height: 17px;" /> <br style="line-height: 17px;" />6th July arranged to meet our old friend Veronica who runs Garden Villa a restaurant and bar (Ailsa and I both stayed with her when we first went out to Kenya in 2006) We decided to go to have nyama Choma (roast meat) This process usually from ordering to eating takes a couple of hours as it is not a quick process - which goes with many things here in Kenya. We caught up with Veronica between her doing disappearing acts, but as always it was lovely to see what little of her we could manage. We had a nice meal and then headed back home to get ready for a crazy night at salsa. Julian actually managed to show then how to do a bit of rueda dancing, we laughed so much we didnt know what to do with ourselves, it was such a fun night, the two teachers were eager to spend more time with Julian so that he could share his salsa knowledge but we were off the following day to meet friends in Naro Moro near Mount Kenya.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /> <br style="line-height: 17px;" />7th July Ailsa wanted to make the trip to Naro Moro and I decided it was a good opportunity for Julian to see other areas of Kenya. We had an event ful trip, Ailsa and I sat on the back seat of the matatu (it had a low roof) and we got Julian to sit in the next row which had more head room. Needless to say they crammed our bags in, including one with donations of cold weather clothes for our friends (Jayne - it included your white fur fleece!) We had banked on the fact that it would be alot cooler near Mount Kenya but nothing prepared us for how cold the nights would be, it was so so so cold I ended up wearing the fur fleece as I was freezing. Ailsa wore a big warm parker that she was taking up for one of the men at the re forestation projects! Julian just managed with what he had he didnt quite feel the cold like we did. We visited the re forestation project which had grown since we last visited a number of years ago. Everyone was so happy to see us it made us feel bad for it having been so long since our last visit. We slept early after a rushed hi to our friends<br style="line-height: 17px;" /> <br style="line-height: 17px;" />The 8th July we rather cold headed to the project to help with some of the work of potting up plastic bags with soil for seedling planting, we chatted about the project and its work and Julian actually took a video of Robert talking about the project to add to their web site, we were taken for a walk to one of the slopes that had been stripped of trees to see where in 2007 Ailsa had planted seedlings with a group of volunteers, the seedlings were now about 3 ft tall, considering that they had been very short of rain they had survived well and were looking strong. The work wasnt just to add trees, it was to help restore the whole balance of water harnessing that had been destroyed by stripping of the forests. The trees help stop the rains from evapourating and create a natural water harnessing system which helps keep the water in the soil, this feeds down to the streams and rivers helping the lowland areas. No trees means lack of water.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /> <br style="line-height: 17px;" />That evening a group of about 20 business people from Nairobi in their expensive and big 4x4 vehicles, we were told they were doing a team building exercise and climbing to the first rangers station at Mt Kenya. Team building they definately did making so much noise playing 'team' games that we got little sleep, they then got up at 5am to prepare for their day's walk, making so much noise clicking on and off the car alarms, slamming car doors and talking loudly, it was so nice of them to appreciate that we were also staying there and we had had no sleep due to them the night before. <br style="line-height: 17px;" /> <br style="line-height: 17px;" />9th July We were cold and so tired - not a good combination. Julian thought we were kidding about the fact that we could normally see Mt Kenya as it was so foggy and cloudy that you could see NO mountain at all. We went and spent the day with our friends Scholar and John and their two children, we had a lovely time, played some salsa music and did a bit of dancing - Scholar loves to dance and was glad for the opportunity as Julian as her instructor. We had lunch with them and Julian made another video of John talking about his life as a smallholding farmer. It was an amazing time and we were upset to leave them. Ailsa was heading to Nairobi to get her flight the next day, Julian and I were returning to Nakuru. It was an emotional day with lots of hugs as we left Ailsa in Nyahururu, little did Julian and I know just how long it would take us to get home, it was so dark and I found it impossible to see where we were to get land marks, luckily we eventually got back exhausted, we ate at Bota Sola as it was too late to start cooking when I got home, chicken and chipati was all they could rustle up as the kitchen had already closed, (it is good to know the manager he fed us). We got home and flopped into bed exhausted only to be awoken by the cockerel! <br style="line-height: 17px;" /> <br style="line-height: 17px;" />I had also previously made arrangements to join my friend Cheryl on a walk round Menengai Crater to show Julian what an amazing place it was. Cheryl came and collected us at 8.30am - we sat and had a cup of tea at Cheryls whilst talking to her family and waiting for other friends to join us. We clambered into the friends old green landrover together with provisions for breakfast in the crater. Cheryl and her daughter followed in the estate car with the 7 dogs in the back. We had a lovely walk and then met up with Paddy who was driving the landrover who had taken it down into the crater with the provisions for us to make a picnic breakfast, all very 'famous five' on a trip, it was almost surreal. We had drop pancakes, cookies, flap jacks tea and coffee, by the time we left we were stuffed. We all headed back to Cheryl's, Paddy and her friends left. Julian and I joined Cheryl's family for a proper cooked breakfast which then turned into a long story telling session and then extended into an impromptu lunch which was whatever we found it the fridge. We laughed and chatted loads and rather alot of alcoholic fruit punch was consumed - excepting Cheryl as she doesnt drink! By the time Cheryl was ready to drive us home we were a little giggly and even more so when we disclosed that we needed to go via the supermarket for provisions, Cheryl did a quick list of her own and we set off. I dont think the supermarket was quite ready for us decending on them, but we managed to pick bits up that were useful when we got home. In return for the lift and great friendship I let Cheryl take cuttings of two of my bouganvilliers which she has been admiring for some time. <br style="line-height: 17px;" /> <br style="line-height: 17px;" />10th July we had arranged to visit Paddy at her farm where she runs a womans project called the Kenana Knitters. As it is some distance from me, Julian and I arranged to meet one of the workers in town to get a lift. Now the story here is that Paddy and her husband own 800 acres of land on which they breed horses, have a dairy and wheat farm, an overland vehicle camp site, and various properties that they rent out to families, also they run the project which started out as being an acquired project left to them which involved women preparing fleeces to be spun into wool, which was sold. Well the project grew and the wool is now bought from sheep farmers in various regions, the wool is then sent out to be spun and washed, it is returned to the project ready to be dyed and knitted into garments and toys. These items are shipped out to outlets round the world, many places giving specific orders for items that they want individualised. The project has grown from strength to strength. The ladies who work for the project are supported by earning for the piece work they produce either at the project or in their own homes. In return Paddy also provides health care for the women, HIV advisors come and take to the women together with providing anti viral meds and a clinic on the premises for family planning and other health issues. A savings plan is in place to help the woman keep their money as their own instead of going into the hands of their husbands who often abuse them and spend the money on booze or drugs. The woman are also encouraged to do basic literacy classes on the premises enabling them to be able to write their names and basic reading, as many of them have had no schooling. There is now even a computer class available to those that are able to progress further. The project has 240 woman workers who are helped by the business many of whom are HIV positive and now able to receive medication without the need for treking to the nearest VCT clinic to get them, which in some cases can be a trek of many hours to get to it. The smaller children of the workers also come and are helped by the clinic and are found sitting on the grass under the shade of the trees playing with the creche toys whilst their mothers are busy knitting and finding the comfort of like minded women to spend time with who know their situations are similar. To many woman this has become their life line to a 'normal' life, they have gained freedom from husbands who abuse and beat them to be able to rent somewhere for them to live with their children in a safe environment. They have found a community of people who understand their plight. A number of them have progressed so well that they have found employment outside with the help of additional support from the project. I am possibly going to look at spending a few days a week helping at his project if I can sort out the transport issues.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /> <br style="line-height: 17px;" />Ok well that is enough catch up for now will send more maybe tomorrow.... so much to tell and so much is happening I just cant keep up.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /> <br style="line-height: 17px;" />Love to you all,<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Susannah</span></span>Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02387261449058135642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7311491875259597207.post-38798760393699170342011-07-13T16:10:00.001+03:002011-07-17T12:57:37.779+03:00Laptop Supposedly Fixed<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 17px;"><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Hi All,</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I know it has been another long while but just to let you know the laptop was repaired (within reason) but I have been busy with my visitors since. </span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I also have no idea where I am up to with the emails as I lost all the previous information on my laptop, if I am repeating myself it isnt old age it is lack of info........</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Sunday 3rd July Ailsa and I headed to Nairobi under the premis of meeting Julian from the airport early on Monday morning, what we were actually doing was heading there to check out the salsa scene at a place called Heartz Club on Moi Avenue, Nairobi. </span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">We booked ourselves into a cheapy ‘hotel’ which happened by pure luck to be just up the road from the club. In the afternoon we wandered around the Masai Market creating major havoc as we were not intending to buy anything but just ‘window shop’ something not totally appreciated here. Then we returned to the room a quick brush up and change and then we met up with Shem who had come to Nakuru to join us for salsa a few weeks ago, it was through him that I had heard of the club.</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">By the time he met us the lesson had unfortunately already finished and it would have been nice for us to have joined in as we were outsiders. I was so amazed at the amount of people there and the dancing looked great. We sat ourselves in a prominent place and watched for a while, Shem taking us on the dance floor now and again for a spin, I must admit it takes a while to get into the swing of their technique of leading as the signals are a little difficult to pick up. After some dancing and a lot of watching we became more aware of our surroundings……… we were in an upstairs bar which was divided into bar, dance floor area and food preparation area. Now the food preparation area was a sight to be seen, there was a cook who was busy preparing vegetables ie; kale (chopped very finely, steamed and added to fried onion and tomatoes) one of the stable dishes here called skumawiki (possibly not the correct spelling!!) he was also frantically using his large chopped to chop up whole chickens into pieces for cooking, not a sight we usually see at salsa!! Maybe we could introduce this and enhance our salsa enjoyment.</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Still on the salsa theme the thing that totally ‘blew our minds’ was people texting and talking on their mobile phones whilst dancing, now how crazy was that!! Something to behold and not a particularly easy task. After a while we decided that the need for a good pizza was very high of the agenda and we left in hot pursuit, needless to say it went down very well, although we were looked at strangely as many of the customers at the pizza place were dressed for winter in puffer jackets, scarves etc and I was sitting in a pair of jeans and a salsa top!</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">In the morning, Monday 4th July, Ailsa headed off and I was collected by Jenga to greet Julian from the airport. The drive to the airport was fine it was just the drive from the airport which was challenging as we were sat in a ‘car park’ all the way back to Nairobi which I think probably took all an hour, which on the way took 15mins.</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Jenga dropped us at the Mololine shuttle for our ride to Nakuru, via the police vehicle check. We arrived in Nakuru about 2.5 hours later due to traffic. We got home dropped the suitcases, had the all important cuppa then headed on foot to Tusky’s Supermarket on the Highway for food., stopping at the fruit/veg stalls for some papaya, mango, passion fruit and onions. We went home on a piki piki with all the shopping, I thought this was probably the last time Julian was to use this form of transport, especially as he was on the piki piki with me and the shopping!</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">That night I cooked a bean and mince stew (Henry had already soaked and started cooking the beans that morning ready for the final cooking in the evening) we had this with a potato and squash mash, hopefully a satisfying meal for all!</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">(Tuesday, 5th July was my sons birthday) we headed to Mama Sweeties with Ailsa, this was to be another experience for Julian who was having a baptism by fire on his first few days,. The day was hot and unfortunately due to needing to find out lots of information before we left Nakuru we did not leave as early as we had wished. We squeezed ourselves onto a matatu, trying to find Julian a seat which would give him more leg room (unfortunately this meant that he was sitting on the seat behind the driver (which would not normally be a problem) however beside him were 3 sacks of cabbages, when the other guy came and sat next to Julian forcing him to shuffle over Julian was sat with his head against the cabbages, I managed a lovely pic that I am hoping to attach to this email. I think I remember a lyric of a song which says a,,,,, ‘a bosom for a pillow‘, but in his case it was a ‘cabbage for a pillow‘! </span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The journey was a hot and sticky one and we were all relieved when we arrived at Kampi, however I think we terrified Julian by saying that we needed to take a piki piki to Mama Sweeties house. Ailsa and I climbed on the back on one with the bags perched on our knees and Julian reluctantly climbed onto another. Julian wanted video footage of us on the piki piki so we set off, it wasn’t until we were some distance away that I shouted to the driver to stop as I realised that Julian had no idea where we were going and was not in sight. They eventually caught up and I sighed with relief. </span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">We arrived at ‘The Sweeties’ after much hand waving to the local children, we always cause a stir in the Kampi ya Moto community.</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">We were greeted warmly by Mama Sweetie and Lami (the boy who suffers from epilepsy) who was on good form and full of energy. The other children were at school, the small ones slowly drifted back around lunch time and the older ones during the afternoon. We had a lovely time playing with the children whilst Ailsa and Mama Sweetie had time to discuss ‘funding concerning the building of the project buildings and other business’.</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">When it was time to leave we were walked along the way past the local school called Lords Primary School, we were asked to enter and meet everyone, including the schools football teams (as they needed new footballs!!) This involved lots of photo taking and talking to the teachers and the head before we left, by this time we were escorted by all the children leaving school at the end of the day walking up the road behind us. We left Kampi ya Moto by matatu another hot and sweaty experience for Julian but he survived it.</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Will let you catch up and give you the rest of this adventure later.<br style="line-height: 20px;" /><br style="line-height: 20px;" />Love and hugs to you all.</span></span></span>Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02387261449058135642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7311491875259597207.post-40455809205080219452011-06-17T13:05:00.007+03:002011-07-17T13:35:43.144+03:00Seriously, Can You Believe it?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 17px;"><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">...me being tucked up in bed on a Friday night, with my laptop for company at 8:30pm</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">... does that make me sad or what? I had a busy day (realising that all the bites I have are in fact flea bites from my beloved pets) I decided to maniacally clean and wash the house. I started by sweeping, then washing the floors. I decided to drag the sofas out of the lounge o to the porch area (ask Kimberley they weigh a ton)... I then beat the living daylights out of the arms and backs of the sofas, (Kimberley also has video footage of this but was threatened with death if she showed them to anyone as I look like a crazy woman). </span></span></span><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 17px;"><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span> </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 17px;"><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Henry would have helped but he had decided that today he would transplant some seedlings for some passion fruit seeds we had saved from eating the fruit, I misheard him when i though he had said that we had 8 seedlings, infact he had said 78!!!!!! Wow I hope they all survive as we can sell some of them... (sorry I digressed) </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 17px;"><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span> </span></span></div><div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GNoxEsAvFJQ/ThN8kj7SCJI/AAAAAAAAAPc/u3zA1FtpUdY/s1600/100_3851.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GNoxEsAvFJQ/ThN8kj7SCJI/AAAAAAAAAPc/u3zA1FtpUdY/s320/100_3851.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mopping the floor</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a;">To wash the ft the moment I of cotton tract suit shorts by the waist band over the bristles of the broom and used this as my mop, adjusting as I went as they kept falling off. Did a good job though. I left the sofas to recover from their beating and doused with dudu powder (flea powder) whilst I washed the big woollen blanket that had been lying on the sofa. It took all my strength to lift the wet woollen blanket, to wring and then to get it onto the washing line without breaking the line. The trick is to upturn the huge wash basin after rinsing and bundle the blanket into a ball and balance on top of the upturned basin for the water to seep out, makes finally lifting it lighter without the water. </span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 17px;"><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 17px;"><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> From there I decided to douse Kim in flea powder, she kindly lay down and allowed me to apply the powder whilst massaging her to make sure the powder was well into all the fur, unfortunately Paka had seen this and was no where to be seen when it came to her turn. I did however grab Pakas bedding and threw that in the wash too. Now all bedroom doors are closed so no sneaking in and sleeping on the nice soft blankets by Paka, the sofa cushions will be lifted when not sitting on and spare blankets will be stored well out of Pakas way. Not saying this is all the cat's fault as I have many times left the lounge and returned to find Kim lounging full stretch on the sofa... she soon gets moved as she takes all the room.</span></span></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oPnw-d3EdU4/ThN3gTZtlfI/AAAAAAAAAPM/MydDUAeoq8E/s1600/Kim+Bone+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oPnw-d3EdU4/ThN3gTZtlfI/AAAAAAAAAPM/MydDUAeoq8E/s320/Kim+Bone+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kim</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 17px;"><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 17px;"><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> I dragged the sofas back into the lovely clean room and admired my hard work, they looked positively new...and smelled nice too. Paka has taken off and is no where to be seen, probably the smell of powder was too much to bear. Kim is oblivious as she thoroughly enjoyed the massage and would have wanted me to continue for hours, I am hoping that the biting will now stop... but who knows. The thing I find funny is that Henry spends time with the animals and sits watching movies on my laptop on the sofa, why doesn't he get bitten, its the same with mosis's... I can't be that tasty, not at this age would have thought it was a bit tough now. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 17px;"><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span> </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 17px;"><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Anyway after all that action, I showered and headed into town to meet up with George as it was his birthday today so I had a beer with him at my friend Veronica's (some of you may remember she has a nyama choma restaurant and bar in town which has dancing in the evening) Unfortunately Veronica was not there today but we had a nice Guinness each and roast potatoes with Kachubari (finely chopped tomatoes and onions with chilli peppars and a bit of salt) I like it but without the chilli peppars and I am pleased to say they now serve the chilli peppars at the side of the plate so you dont need to take them if you dont want to. George was working later tonight tutoring the boys so we only had one beer and then he headed off, I was pleased to get home as I was exhausted. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 17px;"><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span> </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 17px;"><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I have checked my emails and facebook and am now nicely relaxed ready for a busy day at SCANN tomorrow with the clinic etc and apparently we have visitors coming too so it will be all hands on deck for sprucing, (as if I need to do more sprucing). I also need to go to town to pick a sample of golden beads for necklaces for the fund raising costumes (dont ask), go to the internet place to scan immigration documents for the Salvation Army to contest Immigration on the expiry date of my visa (they are trying to say it expires 26 June 2011 when I have receipts showing I paid for visa until June 2012...) corruption rules!!!!!! I am also waiting for Crown to finish decorating SCANN, they are painting all the buildings inside and out, I have been asked when they have finished to decorate the classrooms as we have been given lots of small pots of paints, they want them to look more like classrooms.... so I am presuming, alphabet, letters, tables, etc etc etc with pictures also. I have asked my friend Cheryl if her daughter can come along and help me as she is artistically inclined and I can only copy. Just waiting for the paint to dry and the Ok to start work, should be great fun. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 17px;"><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span> </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 17px;"><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I am looking forward to my friend Ailsa (who came down for the fundraising at Salsa) to arrive on Friday, she will be staying for a while so that she can organise things with Mama Sweetie (as we are looking to start construction of the proposed ablutions block) and see will catch up with old friends, it should be fun. Hoping she will join me for beginners salsa on the Wednesdays, the more the merrier. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 17px;"><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span> </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 17px;"><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> Anyway time I left you, its a short and sweet one tonight as eyes are tired, not sure I will get much reading done, probably just as well that I get an early night after all that exertion. My love to you all, June is a busy event month for my family, so happy birthdays and anniversaries all round, I am hoping all the cards get there OK. </span></span></span><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 17px;"><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span> </span></span></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 17px;"><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Ah the local dogs have started their evening howling session, catching up on their news of the day, usually lasts about 5 mins then stops so will love you and leave you on that howling note. Enjoy the weekend whatever you all decide to do, hoping the weather is improving there. Susannah </span></span></span></div></div></div>Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02387261449058135642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7311491875259597207.post-42262668730511122642011-06-12T15:55:00.004+03:002011-07-17T13:36:36.808+03:00Purring at the End of the Day<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Rhft0tmh3cY/ThN4wtOl4DI/AAAAAAAAAPQ/r7V3-hyDj60/s1600/100_3864.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Rhft0tmh3cY/ThN4wtOl4DI/AAAAAAAAAPQ/r7V3-hyDj60/s320/100_3864.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Puka</td></tr>
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</a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AAsV6IJgTcg/ThN9430Mo-I/AAAAAAAAAPg/4I2QqzI4BDs/s1600/K+Jiko+03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AAsV6IJgTcg/ThN9430Mo-I/AAAAAAAAAPg/4I2QqzI4BDs/s1600/K+Jiko+03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Hi Family and Friends,<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Hope life is treating you all well and that you are looking after yourselves.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Busy, Busy, Busy………. Well the week was varied consisting of making sure I was in the right place before the rains started in the afternoon, I must admit I didn’t always get it quite right, but that just helped on the personal hygiene front with an extra shower!!<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />I went to SCANN on Wednesday having agreed that I would go in and help with some of the sewing of the costumes, it was not an easy job stitching white satin…….. I managed two pairs of trousers which I hoped would help towards the finished items. (these are the muslim long tunics and baggy trousers, I am sure they have a proper name but I don’t know it! From SCANN I walked into town with one of the evening tutors who was spending time at the centre called George, he is relatively new and wanted inside information!!!!<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />It was such a hot day and the clouds building indicated that there was heavy rain on the way I left George in town and went to the internet to read my emails as I had been having continued trouble at home, I think they must have moved my satellite….. How rude!!!! Anyway one of the emails was from a lady that I have been waiting for her to confirm if she wants to stay at the house and when, she told me that she wanted to come on the 17th for three weeks, I sent her an email back saying that I had waited so long for her to confirm that in the middle I had taken two bookings and if she wanted to come she could only stay for two weeks, , with which I gave her the details of Guava Guest House in town run by Danielle. <br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />The story continues that she wishes to stay at the house with her Kenyan boyfriend who works some way out, I suggested that maybe Guava would be better for her. I suggested that due to the distance from town maybe her boyfriend should get in touch to visit the house and see the distance she passed my number on to him.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Yesterday I arranged for a piki piki to pick me up from the house as I was taking a big bag of small boys clothes to help the new boys we have had at SCANN as they seem to be a little thread bear on the clothes front. It was also Clinic day. I am used to walking to SCANN and I must admit that I could easily used to riding on a piki piki it is so much quicker. I sorted out the clothes on my arrival and will check out the lockers tomorrow as it was impossible to do with all the boys at the centre. I attended to my duties in the clinic most of the boys were suffering from sore throats and coughs with the cold weather one boy had an old knee injury which is playing up due to the cold nights so we gave him painkillers and wait for the warmer weather. I cut out some more of the costumes for the sewing lady helped with ideas for decorating the school house and chatted to some of the boys. I received a call from Wesley (the ladies boyfriend) asking if it was ok to view the house, the timing worked out well as I was ready to leave for the afternoon. I told him I would let him know when I had reached town.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lighting the jiko</td></tr>
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</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"></span> I got a piki piki to collect me as I remembered that I had to buy two jikos (cooking stoves) for Jayne my virgin airline friend who I was meeting on Tuesday in Nairobi. I went to where the ‘tin men’ sit all day hammering away at the various items for kitchen use, I can sometimes hear them from SCANN and today as I stood looking through the various items I became mesmerised by the tink tink tink sound of them hammering, it is a lovely sound of industry at its best, none of the supermarket rubbish!! I negotiated the price as he tied the two jikos together and placed them into my large IKEA bag which comes in so handy it is untrue. I loaded the bag and myself on the back of the piki piki and we headed into town, I decided my first stop would be Guava for a bottle of beer it had been a long day. From Guava I arranged to meet Wesley outside Barclays bank as I needed to take some money out from the cash dispenser (was rather worried as hadn’t used it in such a long time couldn’t remember my pin number) . After the second try I got it right and breathed a sigh of relief as my cash was dwindling down to nothing. I stepped out from the bank lobby and was greeted by a man smiling and waving his hand at me, I took this to be Wesley with a friend in tow. Now by this time I was on foot and lugging the two jikos was not light weight………. After polite friendly introductions I asked if it would be possible for one of the strong giants to help carry the bag as it was so heavy, Wesley’s friend happily obliged.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />We headed towards the matatu stage which was on the other side of the town at which point the heavens opened and Wesley opted for a taxi ride, as both the guys were in shirts with no jacket or sweater, I was in no position to object and had an inward smile as it would have been a fight at that time with the rain falling trying to get a matatu with three of us together. Having had no notice of Wesleys visit I had not prepared the room but it made no difference he loved the place and said as he had a motorbike the distance was no problem I am just waiting for Belinda to confirm and pay a deposit they only want B&B which suits me to the ground. <br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />After they left I had a mad session of dismantling beds and washing floors, mainly because I only have one double bed and that’s mine……. Whilst I am loathed to let someone else use my bed , due to the short notice I wont be able to get another one made in time and the additional cost will take away any of the benefits of having people stay. Henry and I spent about two hours lugging bits of beds around and fixing them back together, now I sleep on a single bed in my large room which even Kim (the dog) found to be unsettling, maybe she thought I was on the move again. I seriously don’t think my queen sized bed made of solid wood was made to be moved around, maybe I should just change rooms but I would miss my ensuite!<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Henry and I decided that we deserved to watch a movie on my laptop after all the hard work so I planned to start cooking early as it was a bean and vegetable casserole. Little did I know that on a jiko it would take 3 hours for the beans to cook…… add to that the additional vegetables and rice to go with it, bearing in mind I started at 3.45pm we didn’t get to eat until gone 9. We washed up feeling very full with the lovely meal but so tired that I went to bed to read, I don’t think I got to the end of one page. Sleeping in a single bed and sharing it with the dead weight of Paka will take some getting used to.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Today, after a rather disturbed nights sleep, at one point I woke up with a start and shouted out for Henry to help (luckily he had not heard), not sure what the dream was about but it wasn’t good was the feeling I got. Kim woke up at 4.30 am needing to wee so wanted to be let out and before that at 4am my neighbour was chopping wood for his wood burning stove to heat the hot water for a shower……… I was NOT pleased and let him know this when I opened my window and shouted at him. I have had conversations in the past with him asking that if he must shower at that time, due to his work commitments, then why could he not cut the wood during the afternoon for that evening (made sense to me) . Now this guy looks older than the hills and always talks to me in what he regards the Queens English, and lets me know he understands that my bedroom is on the other side of the path separating our two properties where he has his ‘wood burner’ and that is why he no longer chops wood at night. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!! Next time I will take his photo, hopefully not while he is standing in his yard showering under the stars!<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />I got up today (Sunday) at 7am and wished that I was able to stay in bed longer but I seem to be so busy with things here that it seems like such a waste. I sat on the step as usual with my coffee, giving Kim an early morning brush, (she loves it). I set down the empty coffee cup and started plucking at the weeds in the pebble drive. Since the rains the weeds have gone crazy, I am sure that if I sat long enough I could watch them appear, I go out in the morning and by the evening there are loads, even after I have just weeded. I ended up out there for 3 hours, hand plucking the weeds, luckily it had rained last night quite heavily and the weeds just pulled easily from the ground. I have only managed to complete about half of the front drive way but gave up due to the sun getting too hot. From there I swept the house, no idea where all the dust comes from, I sweep daily. Henry disappeared for the day to Church and as usual I asked that he include me in his prayers, well someone has too! The mains water came early today and I managed to get the storage tank filled with no problems. I then got to work washing my bedding, blankets and quilts ready for the imminent visitors, with the amount of rain we are having it would take a while to get anything dry, at least I now have lines set up in my garage for drying when the day turns wet, the garage is at least getting used for something!! <br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />After my hyper work session I had a shower myself in the ‘family’ shower to make sure it still worked, it did and quite nicely too. I then flopped on my (small) bed and had half an hour feet up reading my book. Guilt soon hit me as I needed to go to town to get milk and some meat for Kim as she was without. I got dressed, put clean bedding on my bed and headed off, just in time for the clouds to darken and the wind to build.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />I started walking down towards the highway, stopped on the way to talk to the man at the hotel and order some bones for Kim which I would collect on the way home, at this point it started spitting so I hailed a passing Piki Piki and headed into town ahead of the rain, but only just. As a treat to myself and to save me getting home and having to light the jiko I had a late lunch in Guava Café, it was a delight, smooth mashed potatoes, steak with onion sauce and a soda. I left there and picked up some shopping headed in the rain to the matatu and alighted at the hotel on the way to mine to pick up the meat for Kim. I then had to walk home all of 30 mins in the rain (I did remember to take my rain jacket, but not sure it is supposed to stop you getting wet). On the way I was passed by 4 empty matatus going in the opposite direction and guess what, none going my way. It was a long walk with a bag of meat and shopping but it was OK, I didn’t mind the rain. I got in just as the rain had soaked into the material of my skirt making it hard for me to walk as it was clinging so tightly to my legs. I put away the shopping and thanked my stars that I had the foresight to get the washing in the garage before I left! I flicked on the kettle for a hot cup of coffee only to find that the stema (electric) was out, it was Sunday afterall, a normal day for power outages. <br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />I sat at the laptop as it had a bit of battery left and I am still here, in between, Henry has returned from church, (glad that I reminded him to take his rain jacket). The stema has come back on, I have managed a cup of hot coffee, Kim has been fed and paka is sat hanging on to my lap as I am typing….digging her claws into my belly….. purring away. A lovely end to a very tiring day……. <br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />My credit just died on internet so had to top up from my phone, just my luck.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Love to you all.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Susannah</span></span>Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02387261449058135642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7311491875259597207.post-31957756048021144902011-06-02T15:59:00.003+03:002011-07-17T13:45:26.195+03:00It's raining... all my tanks are full<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7Jv6pfe__G0/ThN5YQ2LvHI/AAAAAAAAAPU/9fzirX0T19g/s1600/100_3857.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7Jv6pfe__G0/ThN5YQ2LvHI/AAAAAAAAAPU/9fzirX0T19g/s320/100_3857.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Water Tank</td></tr>
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</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Hi Everyone,<br style="line-height: 17px;" />well it appears to be that time again. Yesterday was a holiday Madaraka Day (think that is the spelling) such a weird day to have as a holiday mid week, made me think it was Sunday all day. I had planned on a morning walking in the Menengai Crater with a new teacher from SCANN who does not know Nakuru well. I made a picnic and everything unfortunately they was delayed at a SCANN meeting which started at 9am and by the time they were free it was 2pm and it was far too hot to head to the crater, so we sat at Bota Sola (a bar and eaterie at the bottom of the hill) chatting and comparing notes on life. I ended up heading home, weeding and washing before the heavens opened, I had dinner then decided as the day was wasted to put my energies into painting one of the spare rooms. <br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />The room had a problem since I last painted it when I moved in, it rejected the paint on one wall, which meant it bubbled and oozed so last year I scraped off all the paint in that area and left it. I was surprised to find the wall was dry, everyone had told me there was water coming through the wall, NO IT WAS DRY! I left the room as it was when I went back to the Uk as I knew Nicks boys would be using that room and pointless to paint it before hand.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />I went out last week and bought some paint a roller tray, roller and a couple of paint brushes. I coated the area that I had scraped the paint off to balance the colour (took two coats) but was worth it. I have been waiting for the chance and energy to get it painted but been putting off ..... last night was the night. With no ladder in sight I used a small full height table and chair to get around the room, must admit worked far better than the ladder I used last time. I completed the rooom at 11.30pm I fell exhausted into bed, but not before washing the roller and brushes. Looking at it today, it is so clean but unfortunately, will need another coat, glad to see that there is enough paint left in the can to let me do this, paints here when they mix for colour never come out the same colour, even though they tell me they will, it is computerised don't you know.......um!<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Needless to say I didn't get to Salsa last night, besides it was pouring with rain and a holiday so transport was a big problem, Danielle couldnt make it either so we agreed to meet up next week.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />I have been busy trying to get plans drawn up for the toilet block for Mama Sweeties, it is a bit of a nightmare as she keeps changing the plans, it will get done eventually. I had a lovely time there on Sunday, I took with me some drawing paper and pencil case, I got the children sat at the table in shifts drawing and colouring, they loved it, not sure they get to do much of this. I promised that if they kept them safe I would go back with tape to put them on the walls.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Scann is being painted at the moment, CROWN paints have kindly offered to do the job and supply the paints, inside and outside. I have been asked to decorate the school rooms to make them look more like classrooms when they are finished. I have roped into the team Cheryls daughter as she is arty farty and whilst I can copy and paint, imagination is a little limited. Will let you know how it goes when it happens, may even do photos.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />I sent Henry off to see his parents as yesterday was an official holiday, he went Tuesday evening and returns Friday evening. He was so happy, he had a hen from a neighbour to take to his father. The house is lovely when I am here alone althought I am pleased when Henry is here, it is not the same, I can walk around in my pj's instead of having to dress before I leave my room.......... the freedom. This morning I fed the chickens, one is sitting on eggs, so I think Henry is planning on increasing our stock, at present 3 hens and a cockerel. I lifted the bag of maize Henry left me (he usually takes care of them as they are his) I was not aware that the bag had a big hole in the bottom and the maize shot out all over the floor before I realised what had happened, ideal start to the day! <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1_XHiieBuN8/TiK8lHI7BOI/AAAAAAAAAPs/Wms3yG3fmNk/s1600/100_3855.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1_XHiieBuN8/TiK8lHI7BOI/AAAAAAAAAPs/Wms3yG3fmNk/s320/100_3855.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of my chickens</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1_XHiieBuN8/TiK8lHI7BOI/AAAAAAAAAPs/Wms3yG3fmNk/s1600/100_3855.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></span>I am heading off to SCANN now to say hi to the home boys, the new ones are just getting used to me, takes them a while, (I am strange after all I think we all agree on that one). I spent the morning tracing some animal and bird pictures for them to colour in, they love it and it helps them become more fluent with the use of pencils.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Jayne (my Virgin Airlines friend) has told me she is visiting Nairobi soon for a one night stopover and I am very welcome to join her at the hotel for the night, for a soak in the bath, wine and girlie gossip............... I love her ! Keeps me sane, she also sometimes brings chocolate!!!!!<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Anyway must go or won't get to SCANN and back before the afternoon rains, dont fancy getting soaked today too tired, not a good combination.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Love and hugs to you all,<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"></span></span></span>Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02387261449058135642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7311491875259597207.post-19486125288014814342011-05-25T16:01:00.005+03:002011-07-06T00:32:39.860+03:00My Body is Not My Temple<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a;">Hoping my email finds you all well,</span></div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Of2LSxOg1U0/ThN6bKCgqcI/AAAAAAAAAPY/AAaYsK7m-VI/s1600/DSC02114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br />
</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 17px;" />has it been a week already? Well Sunday and yesterday were both water days and guess what, we didn’t get any. Today is salsa day which would entail having a shower but not sure I have enough water for one!!! You guessed it may have to take another walk to Hotel Merica for a sneaky one!<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Since I last wrote to you I have been busy, but not quite sure doing what. We lost the only key we had to the post box in town (most of you will know we don’t get post to the house you have to rent a post box and collect from there). I had to arrange for a new lock and keys which will take about 2 weeks, until then I have to wait in line and ask the nice lady to check the mail box for me, usually only dust in there, unless anyone wants to write to me:-<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Susannah Chandler, PO Box 17224, Nakuru 20100, Kenya<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />I only get a water and electric bill and dust that’s it!<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Anyway have popped to SCANN a couple of times, now there are few boys there during the week having remedial classes until they are able to manage school admittance I think there is now about 8 boys, all the rest are out to school. On Saturday I walked in early as the air was fresh and walk was good, I wanted to check if the doctor was attending. It wasn’t until I got there that I found that there were no new cases of chicken pox and everyone else was healthy. I spent time talking to the older boys who were on work attachment locally and therefore were around at the weekends, they seem to be settling into their relevant ‘jobs’ well and enjoying the experience. <br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />I spent some time with the sewing lady who is stitching the costumes that I cut out during the week, I want to see what one is like complete before cutting out more in case they need alterations. She did this between being asked to mend uniforms by the boys which was more important, split trousers for school was not a good thing!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"></span>I noticed while there that there was a bees nest hanging from the computer room outer wall and made a mental note to report it to Management. The bees were very active and with so many boys around it probably needed to be removed.</span></span><br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Of2LSxOg1U0/ThN6bKCgqcI/AAAAAAAAAPY/AAaYsK7m-VI/s1600/DSC02114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Of2LSxOg1U0/ThN6bKCgqcI/AAAAAAAAAPY/AAaYsK7m-VI/s320/DSC02114.JPG" width="320" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">From SCANN I walked into town to hopefully collect my laptop which had developed a major problem during the week, hence no emails. I couldn’t even switch it on it just made a loud noise and blank screen. My computer ‘fundi’ Dennis had it for a few days and now its good as new, it felt awful without it as I use it so much not just for emails but for typing reports and information seeking.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a;">Unfortunately, my laptop was not ready, which in hind sight was a good thing as on the way home the heavens opened and I got soaked through to the skin. My light coloured ¾ length trousers became see through which upset me as I was wearing really bright pants underneath and they showed through, at least it was letting people know wearing some.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 17px;" />I jumped into the shower and sat outside in the ‘after downpour’ sunshine to dry my hair. I was off to spend the night with my friend Cheryl and her family. Cheryl came over to pick me up as it was over the other side of town to my house. We arrived and I was greeted by her 6 dogs, the number had gone up since I last saw her! The place was even lovelier than I had remembered, the single storey home is nestled in the most gorgeous grounds, surrounded by indigenous trees and flowering plants, you wouldn’t know it was there. On the back of the house is a very large veranda covered in such an assortment of hanging and climbing plants, lots of pots and cactus adorn the place made even better with large wooden sofas and chairs covered in huge cushions, a great place to relax and enjoy the surroundings.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />We spent the evening sat catching up on stories from the last year, it was a time just relaxing and enjoying their company. Cheryl’s daughter Emma was staying there having returned from studies in the UK, undecided on what her next move would be, we chatted about the UK and its problems and also Kenya the same. Anthony (Cheryl’s husband) does like a drink in the evening but finds it better when he has someone to drink with as Cheryl doesn’t drink and his daughter slept early. I joined him in a couple of whiskies and then he said he would mix a drink (can’t remember the name) whisky and ice cream in a blender. Yummy!!<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />I awoke at 7 remarkably clear headed, dressed quickly, after being given a cuppa in bed (luxury). Cheryl likes to have me as an overnight guest as I like to walk so we get up early on the Sunday and walk the dogs at the Menengai Crater, today we were joined by Emma which was a lovely surprise. We piled into the estate car with all the dogs crammed in the back. The walk was amazing as usual, we walked up to the lip of the crater instead of heading to the floor. The dogs ran around enjoying the freedom and a couple of times were chased by the resident baboons (not something to mess with). As we walked we collected various grasses, Cheryl makes cards using the materials found at the crater to sell to raise awareness of the nature of the crater and help fund a local Menengai educational centre. There is a geothermal plant nestled in the crater producing power locally.</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LHlCjpR6WMQ/ThOCvYtlyOI/AAAAAAAAAPo/RIMivf8xQqU/s1600/Crater.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LHlCjpR6WMQ/ThOCvYtlyOI/AAAAAAAAAPo/RIMivf8xQqU/s320/Crater.jpg" width="320" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">By the end of the walk we were all ready for a hearty breakfast, and the truth be known I had forgotten to take a bottle of water with me and my head was throbbing from dehydration from all the walking, we were out for about 2 hours and it was not all easy going!</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"></span>We settled on the veranda for a breakfast of toast from home made bread, bacon, eggs and tea, just what we needed. I packed all my wet walking gear (from the early morning dew not the rain for a change), I drank loads of water to try and get rid of the thumping head ache but ended up with pills, I sat on the veranda watching Anthony remove a rockery for the cactus at the side of the veranda as he said it had become too choked and needed extending and thining.</span></span><br />
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I asked for some cuttings as I have always admired their display of cactus. I then ended up helping out, you know how aggressive cactus can be. I came away with 2 carrier bags with cuttings in and was thrilled, together with dried grasses and things I had collected from the crater.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Cheryl enjoys her coffee and decided we would head to Guava for Sunday coffee, unfortunately the electric was off so the coffee machine was out of action and the coffee was not great. Cheryl wanted to check out a new camp called Punda Milias (means something to do with Zebra) so I went along for company. This was off the main road but was 5km along rutted dirt tracks with no signage, it had to be new. We eventually arrived at a large gate which was opened by a friendly grinning man who confirmed we were in the right place. The grounds looked lovely with acacia trees and many floral bushes and plants. The place was built with the idea of having overland vehicles with many occupants, the grounds were laid out for camping and they had also built some bandas (these were raised wooden sleeping cabins) actually they were just bedrooms, toilet and washing facilities were nearby but separate. In our opinion he had built these too close together, and we told him so, when sleeping in these you do not want to hear your neighbours, the idea is the think you are sleeping out in the wilderness. <br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />The shower block was interesting he had built them without a roof so you showered under the sky or if you were crazy enough to shower at night, under the stars, (ideal food for the local mosquitoes). Everything he had built was with a great eye for detail and consideration for the environment it was nestled in. The bar/restaurant was lovely with big windows over looking the grounds.<br style="line-height: 17px;" />I loved the place but would not be able to visit without a car, he has paid for the overhead electric lines to be put in and the new road is due to be built to his place, a good job as when it rains it would be impassable.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Cheryl and I noticed the black clouds overhead and made a hasty retreat but not before a well needed Tusker Malt and Ginger Ale. We did a quick shop on the highway and then I was dropped at home. A great time spent with friends.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Monday I walked to SCANN discussed working on doing some painting in the class rooms after the walls were painted, to add interest, numbers, alphabet etc, not that I am an artist, but I know that Cheryl’s daughter is and she is planning on being around until August so maybe able to rope her in to help!!!! <br style="line-height: 17px;" /> <br style="line-height: 17px;" />The ‘home boys’ were busy playing with a ball made from plastic bags so I took out of my bag an inflatable rugby ball one of many kindly given by Jayne from Virgin. I had given most of them to Mama Sweetie for the children but kept a few of SCANN. The boys soon saw what I was up to blowing away to inflate the ball, they quickly gathered round me trying the acquire the ball, I gave it a lob and they charged after it. That kept them amused for sometime. I checked on the stores cupboards to see what materials we had for arranging an art class with the small boys and to see what paints we had for doing the walls. All noted, I talked to Mama Zubeda for a while about things at SCANN and then planned to be there Wednesday afternoon to do the art class (mayhem more like) but fun anyway.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Yesterday was Tuesday and I decided to stay home to help Henry. Kim had been continuously getting out through gaps in the hedge caused by my neighbour removing the wood on the other side of my hedge (used for firewood). This wood is not mine but was put up by the council as the area on the other side of the hedge is an access route. People here take over this land as has my neighbour and it has been planted, but at night they come and remove the wood and use if for their wood bringing water heater!! Henry has been filling as many holes as possible with materials we have round the place but it has now got silly. I went into town and bought two rolls of wire chain fencing and in order to put this up we had to cut back some of the very spiky hedge before attaching the fence. In addition to this we decided to dig a big sump hole at the back of the house as it collects a lot of water that sits when it rains. I started digging at the lowest point in the area with a jembe (hoe) and then a spade, I now have a round hole about 5ft wide by at present 4ft deep, it still needs to go deeper but my arms and hands are shattered!! We plan on filling this with stones to help the drainage and then cover with soil, obviously the soil will keep sinking with the rain but eventually it will settle and the water should collect here instead of sitting on the ground, well that is the theory anyway. Needless to say by the end of yesterday I was totally exhausted, with blistered hands and burnt neck, to top it all not enough water for a shower, so washed with a bucket instead, didn’t quite do the job but so tired couldn’t be bothered to worry. I cooked us a hearty meal of minced beef with rice and veg to make up for all the energy we had used up. We now have a half dug hole, a lovely new wire mesh fence and a lot of mess to clear up!!<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Today is Wednesday, my back, arms and hands are aching like mad, my neck is smarting nicely, I desperately need a shower (will send Henry up the ladder to check the water level in the tank may just have enough for one!) Maji (water) man didn’t reply to my message asking him where the water was and when we would get some…………… my man has been moved to another office and I am not sure this new one is very accessible. Anyway thought you guys needed an update, lounging on my bed having already leapt out of bed at 7, fed the animals and myself wandered round checking plants and weeding, that is it for today as off to SCANN. <br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Love to you all, hope your lives are a little less exhausting and full of happiness.<br style="line-height: 17px;" />Susannah</span></span>Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02387261449058135642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7311491875259597207.post-12157036780191124492011-05-19T16:02:00.001+03:002011-07-05T16:09:12.778+03:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 20px;"><span style="line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Evening all, <br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />As I have been typing this it has grown so dark that all I can see is the laptop screen, that's what I get for too much concentration!! Will have to stumble around the table to find the light switch!</span></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Well I have been busy trying to replace all the doctors record cards for the boys at SCANN from home and to help I have actually drummed up help from Henry. I am not sure if he has ever used a keyboard, but in order to make the job putting into alphabetical order all the cards in dorm headings I showed him how to type all the names as a list in excel. It took him so long but it made him happy and he was impressed that with a click of a switch they became in order.</span></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 17px;" /></span></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 17px;" />This job has spread over 3 days between trips to town etc, but finished it today, now I need to find a box big enough to hold the cards as they are big ones, using my bread box at the moment to stop them getting out of order.</span></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 17px;" /></span></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 17px;" />I popped to SCANN on Tuesday to pick up the cards and drop off the costume templates for Saturday stitching managing to avoid contact again with Moses Kombo. The smallest new arrival Peter, who I think is 3 or 4 was in such a bad way, he came down with the chicken pox but had additional virus his eyes were so puffy and runny and he had so many blisters in his mouth and a very high fever. I was pleased that Anastasia had made sure he went and was seen by a local doctor as he needed meds in addition to the usual panadol and piriton the other boys were receiving for reduction of the itchies. I sent him to his bed and covered him with a cotton sheet as he looked as though he was about to fall off his feet, he slept soundly and I was told awoke eager to get up and ‘play’ with the other boys, at his age we couldn’t really stop him.</span></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 17px;" /></span></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 17px;" />I have been doing medical cards ever since, they were out of order, many scribbled and messy. New cards now should make my job easier on Saturdays.</span></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 17px;" /></span></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 17px;" />I have had a couple of beers with Tim who is a tour guide who was trying to get Kimberley and I to visit Masai Mara but told him not somewhere we would want to go as it was a long and tiring trip. He knows that I need work and money and has, as he did a year ago, offered for me to learn his tour guide business so that I can help him promote and go on safaris and get a cut of the business. Do you realise how much info I have to learn about the safari areas, the land, the animals, migration, sustainable tourism, etc etc etc……… he sent me loads of info on his business and the trips to ‘learn’. Not sure I will be able to manage but thought it worth a try. I think he thinks that by having a mzungu promoting and on the trips will reassure the punters. Who knows keeping my options open on that one.</span></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 17px;" /></span></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Well, yesterday was fun, I promised the old lady who’s shack is behind my place that I would pass by and say hi. She lives in the small wooden enclosure beside a huge monstrosity of a house on the other side of the road that I pass every time I walk from home to get a matatu.</span></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> She invited me in to see the place the other day, her shamba is so full of everything, including strawberries it is amazing, she told me to go back and visit so she would give me some strawberry plants, as an exchange I gave her some of my tomato plants that were growing, fair trade I thought.</span></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 17px;" /></span></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 17px;" />In the small space that she lives in she has a wooden room which is the kitchen and one room half the size of my family bathroom in which she lives. She sleeps on an old sofa and she is 70 if she is a day. She has some hutches in which she raises rabbits for market, together with chickens, a goat and a calf. Makes my efforts pale into insignificance. I have no idea how she manages when it rains! </span></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 17px;" /></span></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 17px;" />After the visit I went into town with Henry determined to buy enough chain wire fencing to stop Kim from getting out through the hedge, I am sick of it and also there is now a pack of dogs who are coming into my compound (garden) at night….I am so angry! My camera’s battery died so had to be replaced, NOT CHEAP at all, also got some white cabbage seeds for planting and Henry some gunboots his had huge holes!! </span></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I got Henry to get a tuktuk home and I stayed in town to get ready for the possibility of salsa....... yes I said SALSA in the evening.</span></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 17px;" /></span></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 17px;" />I had run out of water at the house, no idea how that happened, think maybe Henry forgot to turn of the valve after the tank was full and it slipped back to the people who supplied it originally and today there was so little pressure in the mains that there was no way even with the electrical pump that we would get any more. With no other alternative other than wet wipes (no good for washing hair), I headed to town with a change of clothes and shower things in order for me to sneak into Hotel Merica for an illicit shower, it was a laugh. I felt bad walking in with the sole purpose of using the shower. The pool guy was no where to be seen and I strode into the loos and piled into a shower realising I had forgotten to bring a towel with me. It took forever for the water to get hot but when it was it was amazing, I showered and washed my hair then set to trying to dry myself with my T shirt and then wrapped said T shirt round my head like a turban to keep the water from dripping. I walked out of the shower stall to be met by 3 nude Sudanese women who obviously were not happy to be unclothed with me there. I left quickly although I had hoped to be able to apply some makeup as I was wearin none. When I walked round the pool, I came nose to nose with the pool guy who gave me an enquiring look to say ‘have you been swimming’ I pursed my lips and shook my head and continued walking. I think that the dripping wet hair may have been a give away as to what I had been doing but what the hell. I walked from there straight to Guava as I was not appropriately dressed for afternoon strolling, (leggings and the bright dress top I sometimes wear to salsa) I even draped a long black salsa cardi over my shoulders to hide my discomfort! I only had a 3 hour wait until salsa but not worth the hastle of going home and trying to get back in the evening. I sat and chatted with friends.</span></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 17px;" /></span></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Salsa was interesting and I had arranged to meet Danielle (from Guava Cafe) who wanted to come and see what Salsa was all about. She met me in the bar where I was sitting chatting to Tim, he got invited to come along to Salsa by Danielle (I was trying to avoid mentioning it to him) . Off we went and when we arrived there was no one around other than the bar staff at Enigma. We asked if the salsa teacher was coming and she said she didn’t think so, Danielle told her that she should phone the teacher and let him know there was a mzungu who was waiting for him for salsa. She went and phoned him and we were told that he would be half an hour (actually an hour but who is counting).</span></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 17px;" /></span></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Slowly 3 Kenyan women arrived who looked like they were also waiting for the dancing. When the guy arrived I found that it was a beginners class and the level of the teachers was not high but it was full of enthusiasm. I joined in giving tips, one woman had high heeled slip-ons we were dancing on a very slippery tiled floor, not ideal and so so slippery, she had such problems trying to keep her shoes on I worried that she would break something!</span></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 17px;" /></span></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 17px;" />I got lots of encouraging ah’s from the ‘teacher’ who looked about 18 years old. Our group increased by 6 when Ben (Danielles brother who runs Guava Bar) and his followers showed up, they sat around watching and drinking and no matter how much I encouraged Danielle she would not join in. She and the other girls she knew well, decided they would go to the classes held at a new place run by the same guys who were running this Wednesday evening event but the classes are 200ks and no way was I paying to learn beginners level. The girls just wanted to know a bit before they danced in a bar. What was missing was NO MEN IN THE CLASS!! The guys not only taught basic salsa, they did bachatta and cha cha too. I think for a beginners class this was rather too much confusion. After the classes I asked one of the two teachers to dance and it was a bachatta, but he was doing the cart wheeling arms and legs too, bit crazy, I told him that if he kept his arms moving I could not tell what was a lead and what was not…… um that went down well!</span></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 17px;" /></span></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Anyway bothteachers individually came to talk to me, one of the teachers who did the chacha and bachatta was a Sudanese, he was extremely tall and did huge steps, I didn’t fancy dancing with him but he obviously ‘thought’ he was fab. </span></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 17px;" /></span></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Anyway I had a couple of dances with the short teacher and it was a bit difficult as the leads were so weak and they actually hold your hands instead of just palm to palm so makes moves difficult. I think after a while I will get the hang of it, it is always difficult dancing with strangers and boy were these strangers.</span></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 17px;" /></span></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 17px;" />They said we should ’hook up’ next week, probably means they like the fact that I will bring others, including more men to the bar on a Wednesday as other than us there were 4 others in the bar! Wait and see if the word gets about for next week.</span></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 17px;" /></span></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 17px;" />I enquired about the fact that there were no other men for the woman to dance with (and me) how many were there at their other classes. I was told in total there were 4 men in Nakuru who could salsa and I had just met two of them!!!! Got to remedy that somehow, maybe if I start wearing revealling tops etc it will attract more.... kidding! </span></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 17px;" /></span></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 17px;" />There maybe a possibility of me helping them out but who knows what and how they teach here. NO LADIES STYLING FOR A START and although I hate it, seeing these ladies dance with nothing to do with their arms it looked awful, maybe Susannah's Styling Tips will have to start not that I know many!! I may also suggest that they concern themselves with one style of dance only until the basics are achieved because three dances for beginners is CRAZY. I wont be getting any good dances in the foreseeable future!!!! Wait till I hit Nairobi - sometime or never will have to find their clubs as no salsa dance satisfaction as yet in Nakuru. Forever hopeful.</span></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 17px;" /></span></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 17px;" />We will see what happens, so many fingers in so many pies!</span></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 17px;" /></span></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Stayed home today as I was busy and determined to finish the doctors record cards so didn't to go to town. Henry has been helping me again with the record cards and we have finished them which is a load off my mind. Henry has then been outside tidying the garden, I gave him some money to go and get himself lunch as I have nothing in the house and had some weetabix. It is getting ready to rain now and as we speak the water tank is slowly topping up from the mains as they decided to send me a bit more pressure, even though the water meter is not going round (I am not going to tell)! To make matters even more amusing the water pressure has just been bumped up, I checked the water storage tank and it was filling quickly. The Heavens suddenly opened at the same time as the overflow indicated that the tank was full, I got soaked to the skin turning off the valve at the tank to stop it filling, irony of complaining of having no water I now have it coming at me from all sides!</span></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 17px;" /></span></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 17px;" /></span></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I hope those of you going to Tracies Anniversary Weekend for TLC will have a fabulous time, needless to say 'wish I was coming' and know it will be amazing, I want to see photos on Facebook soon.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />I have a school teacher who wants to stay at the house for a few weeks but can't I pin her down to dates yet. I also have my friend Ailsa who wants to come during June and Paul who is planning on a visit, anyone who wants to visit please make sure you give me adequate notice of your planned dates so I can work around them and make sure there is room......... not a problem at the moment as I only have paka and Kim (cat and dog) to worry about!</span></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 17px;" /></span></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"></span></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"></span></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I am meeting Mama Sweetie in town tomorrow as I have managed to get my friend Jeremiah (who runs a tourist gift shop) to sell the bags that the positive ladies of her village are making, she is coming in with more supplies as I only travelled from Kampi ya Moto with one. </span></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Hugs and wishes to you all</span></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">,</span></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 17px;" /></span></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Susannah (Tour Guide and Nakuru Salsa Advisor to add to my many hats!) </span></span></span></span>Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02387261449058135642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7311491875259597207.post-25468660806432375212011-05-15T16:04:00.000+03:002011-07-05T16:05:30.337+03:00Not So Wet...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a;"><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Hope this Sunday finds you all well and rested,</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Well an interesting week, the rains are still here but not everyday so some days you are in for a soaking another day you will prepare for a soaking and none will come.</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">On Monday I went to SCANN in the afternoon to see how everyone was and had a nice chat to an older lady called Zepeda (something like that anyway) she was Yasmins cousin and after losing Yasmin wanted to get involved at SCANN during her retirement. She is a very lovely gentile lady who was so pleased to see me and wanted my help and direction as she had heard I had done so much at SCANN.</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">We chatted for a while about what was needed and planned out program for the weeks ahead. I said that as it was late in the day I would arrive in the morning and start working my way through the boys individual files to ensure all the documents needed where inside. The setting up of the files had been a huge undertaking I had completed before I left last year but nothing had been updated in my absence including the new additions to SCANN.</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I arrived on Tuesday morning and set to work, I arranged for one of the college boys to assist by hooking out the files by name for me to check what was in and to record on a sheet. We did this for a number of hours and worked very well. It became apparent that there was a lot missing including things that I had put in the files initially. Kombo the Officer in Charge of SCANN had not been around the few times I had visited SCANN so I had not been able to discuss what I was doing, anyway he appeared and hit the roof, yelling and shouting that I had no right to be in the files and demanded that I left the office…… he wouldn’t even listen to me explaining what I was doing, she shooed me out and locked the door. I was so angry I tried to speak to him but all he did was shout so I left very angry. </span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Moses Kombo and I have always worked closely at SCANN since I arrived in 2006 but it would appear he was no longer happy with my ‘interference’. On the walk home from SCANN I called the Chairman and explained what had happened he was not happy and said he would talk to Kombo. When Zebeda arrived at SCANN the next day and was told she was also livid. Apparently Kombo is working his notice as he was found to have started his own project in the area and was spending a lot of time there when supposedly out on SCANN business so he was told to either relinquish his chair at the other project or leave SCANN so he is leaving SCANN. </span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I think that the timing of my arrival back in Kenya has made him think I am back here to take his job, there is no way I would want it as it is too involved for me to manage with the ‘Kenyan’ way of doing things dealing with colleges and university entrances etc etc. On the way home I went and did some shopping and treated myself to a beer in Guava Lounge, I met up with a friend and ended up having a few more than one, it turned out that the evening was an 80’s fancy dress evening and whilst I was not in fancy dress I took some photos which were quite funny.</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">On Tuesday evening I arranged to go a visit Mama Sweetie on the Wednesday, I called a friend and asked if he knew anyone who would loan me a vehicle if I fuelled it. He did better than that he sent me a van and driver in the morning who took me and the 5 suitcases to Mama Sweeties. There are good people here, I just don’t seem to come across them often! Mama Sweetie and I spent the whole day sorting the clothes donations so that each of the children would have a new set. We also made each of the older children in charge of a suitcase and divided up the smaller children to a numbered suitcase, in this we put their clothes, tooth brushes and soap for each child. The other toothbrushes that were donated from my friends at Tracie’s Latin Club were put in Mama Sweeties store, they will last them a long time hopefully. The many clothes donated from Marouella and Jayne from Virgin were thankfully accepted along with toys and dolls for the children to play with and a surprise gift of Easter eggs from Jayne.</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I asked Mama Sweetie to arrange for her builder neighbour to come and discuss the plans for the building projects that we had in the pipeline, we sat and went through many things in preparation for Ailsa’s visit hopefully next month.</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I was walked back to the Matatu and on the way collected a sample of lovely bags that the ladies of the village have been making to take to my friend Jeremiah to see if he will sell in his gift shop. (Hope to see him this afternoon as he was out when I dropped it off with the explicit instruction that we discuss BEFORE he SELLS!)</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I climbed into the matatu just as it started raining again, I took the last seat by the door…….. I know why it was free, the seat was soaked through, the man beside me just looked at me when the cold wet oozed through my trousers and I figetted, he smiled knowing my dilema. By that time it was too late to sit on my waterproof jacket but at least it was long enough to hide my embarrassment as it looked like I had wee'd myself when I got off the matatu, it had stopped raining by then but I still wore the jacket.</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">On Thursday I was in town collecting my post and pricing up various things that I needed for the house I popped into Guava Café and had a soda, while there I chatted to Daniella the owner who said that Guava Lounge’s next fancy dress was Latin flavour, I told her that I would be Ok as I had my salsa clothes, she told me that one of the newer bars in town had salsa classes and it was that night.</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Whilst Daniella was unable to go I decided that I would go and check it out, I called a friend to escort me and we went, unfortunately we found that Tuesday and Thursday was Karaoke and WEDNESDAY was salsa, we headed back to Guava Lounge disappointed for a couple of beers before I headed home having booked Daniella for the following Wednesday.</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Saturday I decided to head to SCANN early as the doctor would be doing his clinic as many of the boys had come out in chicken pox and unless contained they would all get it. Dr Kuria was so pleased to see me and we had a busy morning seeing 10 of the boys with various ailments but predominantly chicken pox. After he left I prepared the required medications and updated the children’s medical cards for the clinic, if there is one thing I am glad that I instigated at SCANN it is the visits by the doctor, the children are so big and healthy now. We have so few stomach problems, hygiene is greatly improved and all due to the doctor coming.</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">SCANN now also has a Saturday sewing lady who comes and repairs and adjusts all the boys clothes, a job that used to keep me busy most evenings until I could see no longer. I spent a lot of time with the sewing lady and Zebeda on Saturday as there is a big fundraising being planned for around July / August in Nairobi and there are some of the boys doing some Indian dancing (most of the people who attend the fundraising are Asian business people) I was asked to help with producing the costumes, white tunics and trousers….. In white satin! Yes I said WHITE!! We started cutting the fabric yesterday and I have taken some home to cut the designs out of, as Doris will know…. I hate trousers they confuse the hell out of me! I will be doing this as and when during the week. Needless to say that although I stayed away for a few days to avoid Kombo he was there all day Saturday, we managed to avoid each other but there was no sign of an apology, maybe I expect too much sometimes.</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Today is Sunday, Henry is out at Church (saying a few for me no doubt) I have been busy fixing some of my wall light fittings that were broken and also my cupboard doors in the kitchen. Managed a bit of washing, swept the whole house, had a nice hot shower and will be heading into town for a bite of lunch, my treat on Sunday saves me cooking. </span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Love to you all, hope you are all well and the weather there is improving.</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Susannah</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">, Paka and Kim</span></span></span>Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02387261449058135642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7311491875259597207.post-9917263191081937752011-05-09T16:05:00.001+03:002011-07-05T16:07:23.963+03:00Wet and cold... yes I am talking about Kenya<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a;"><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Welcome to wet and cold Nakuru.</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /><br style="line-height: 20px;" />(I have had some delays in writing this email to you as for the past two nights we have had no electricity and my laptop battery was dead, so third try lucky...)</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">7th May, I decided before the afternoon rains came to wander to SCANN today, hoping to find everyone at home, just as I got to the entrance I called Anastasia one of my teacher friends to tell her I am knocking and to let me in……….. she told me that there was no one at SCANN they were all out at a celebration being held at Showground. Well that will teach me, walked all the way there as well. I had a brief chat with a lady who is helping as administrator at SCANN she was busy doing paperwork while everyone was out. We chatted about how I can help show her what needs to be done……. Um will wait a few weeks after being at SCANN until I know what is lacking!</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">On leaving I bumped into two older boys waiting to go back to University after the Easter break, we walked together into town and they chatted about their courses, attachments as teachers and general life issues. It was a lovely exchange of experiences and lives. I have been asked as one of my ‘jobs’ to familiarise myself with the University Policy that SCANN Directors have put together, so that I can advise the university boys accordingly, um think it will take some doing as they are already questioning how come it was done without any consultation, think I may have a tough time but will give it a go.</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">When in town I went to the phone friend who I sent a message to yesterday as my mobile was running out of credit and with the heavy rain was in no mood to travel to town to top up, over here you can be sent credit via your phone from someone else, so I had to go to his shop to pay up. I find this a great life saver some times especially when I am stuck somewhere and need credit.</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">From there I went to Top Market and sat talking to some other friends who own a stall, I picked up some vegetables for dinner and also sent him to get me some omena which is a small dried fish (like whitebait) which I buy in a kilo bag and use to feed the cat (Paka). It smells really bad so I always take a spare plastic bag to put it in and tie it tight or I smell out the matatu.</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Whilst at the market the heavens opened, the heavy rain that fell was crazy, Kamau told me to sit on his chair and he ran to get a heavy polythene sheet to cover me with, actually it was so big that two other vendors sat under it with me. We sat watching the pounding rain for about 15 minutes before it let up then started again. I sat patiently watching the people sheltering in the market resigned to wait until the rains finished. I will never get over the sight of women walking in the rain wearing what we use in the shower to protect our hair from getting wet, they wear these in the rain as rain caps, they also wear plastic bags knotted at the edges like hankies, there is no way that a Kenyan lady will allow her weave or wig to get wet so these sights whilst being surreal are around whenever it rains. I keep avoiding the men who are selling the shower caps as they seem to think that I really NEED one, I should really get Kimberley to send me a totally funky one for me to wear……. I am sure they would all love one the same.</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I left the market with many moans from my friends who were enjoying sharing stories with me, I passed by a butcher on the way to the matatu and stopped to buy 3 kilos of bones and waste for Kim. These also get double bagged and even then the smell in the matatu was not good, mix omena and butchers waste, not nice……. People probably thought I needed a shower. </span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The rains were so heavy that the roads were running like rivers with people desperately trying to avoid the waters, I was so wet with sandals on that I just waded through without a care, someone shouted, ‘hey lady do you not see the water’ I replied, ‘yes, it’s everywhere we are blessed’ it kept him quiet. Over here if you are out you are going to get wet, it is that kind of rain, no avoiding it, none of this drizzle or shower, torrential rain I just love it the energy is amazing.</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Anyway after a smelly ride home in a matatu in which we all had our own seat, including the conductor which is totally unheard of, Henry met me at the gate and offered to cook Kim’s meat, hey I didn’t want to argue it would have been rude…..hehe. I decided that it would be good to cook early as no doubt we will have a power cut as soon as the light declines, this is what has happened for the past 4 or 5 evenings.</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Oh another story I almost forgot……… Henry went home for a couple of days to visit his parents so while he was away I had the place to myself, you know the thing, dancing round not worrying whether or not Henry was outside watching. Well as previously mentioned I have been caught out with the electric power failing at dusk resulting in trying to cook by candle and torch light. Yesterday I cooked early but still got caught having to cook with the torch balanced between my teeth so see what I was doing. I managed but decided the washing up could wait. I sat in the lounge with a candle burning on the mantle piece reading a new book via torch light, blanket spread over me to keep warm. My peace was disturbed by Paka shooting in the opened window, well I couldn’t see that it was Paka but assumed it was, I thought the destination was the kitchen for the milk I had put in Paka’s dish. No this was not the case, Paka was under the table in the dining area doing something, I got up and shone the torch and found that Paka had come in the window with a huge rat that was at that moment having its head crunched off. It was disgusting, the sound of all that crunching was making me feel sick.</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I blew out the candle and went to my room closing the door behind me to stop Paka coming in with its prize. I think Paka was making a point ,I had tried earlier to give Paka a worming tablet and Paka was NOT happy, I failed and crunched up the tablet and mixed it with Pakas milk, which was not being consumed, presumably Paka could smell the tablet, to not drink the milk is unheard of.</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I decided there was no way in the dark that I was going to attempt to clear up the mess of carnage left by the cat. I sat in bed reading my book by torch light, under the mosi net felt a bit like a child reading under the covers after being told to sleep.</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Some few hours later the lights came back up and at that moment Henry appeared from his travels. He had come with gifts from his parents, three chickens.......ummmmmmm. I told him about Paka and he insisted on coming in a clearing up the mess, why do cats chomp off the head and leave the rest behind, it was disgusting and still warm. </span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Ok, I wanted to get this info down before the power went again as I feel it has been a while since I wrote to you. I am off to SCANN again tomorrow when hopefully I will meet up with all the boys. Should be good if the response from the two older boys is anything to go by, I know I missed them terribly but they also missed me and keep telling me I make a difference to their lives….. it makes all the hard work and sacrifices worth while.</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Ok must go and cook my dinner now that Kim’s dinner is boiled, thanks to Henry, which also means that tonight I don’t have to light the jiko, I offered Henry a hot chocolate drink as I had boiled the kettle for a coffee, so he lit the jiko while I made him a drink, fair swap I think, my jiko lighting skills are thankfully returning after a number of duff tries.</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Love to you all,</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Susannah</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Please note, I pound these emails out so any bad grammar, incorrect spelling etc I apologise for, that also goes for going off on tangents etc………</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">PS. The painstaking job of removing with a toothbrush the scale bugs on my rambling rose has paid off, it is looking so much healthier, hopefully it may reward me with some flowers at some stage. My back as a result of doing this is the sunshine is peeling nicely!</span></span></span>Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02387261449058135642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7311491875259597207.post-1297900153755827462011-05-01T16:09:00.000+03:002011-07-05T16:11:06.012+03:00Nearly There... Promise<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Happy May Day to all…… enjoy the pole dancing, (Maypole!)……<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Almost caught up now….<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />After getting Kimberley to the airport, remembering that we can only drop off as only those travelling can enter the building, we stood waiting for her to be checked through the door without words, tears welling, we hugged and the security guard asked who was travelling I pointed to Kimberley, he looked at us (and I am sure Kimberley wont mind me telling you this) he said that I could go through with her, I was shocked and said this was not permitted in the past how come….. He said that as Kimberley was a minor it was OK!!! Oops needless to say the look on Kimberley’s face was not a good one. I hugged her and told him she was not a minor, but thanks anyway. We parted and I stood with my nose against the glass watching as Kimberley went through the booking in process to make sure that the change in her flight had gone through ok. She came to the window with thumbs up and then disappeared pleased that all went smoothly.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Jenga used to tears at the airport said nothing as he watched from a distance. He then chatted away on the ride back to the apartment where he dropped me. I let myself into the apartment and dropped back into bed, emotionally exhausted. After sleeping for a few hours I got up and pottered round, I was feeling rough, the cold that had been hanging round since before I arrived in Kenya decided to hit, I lounged round for the most part of the day, hitting the sack early that night after a long soak in the bath.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />On Monday I headed back to Nakuru, was pleased that Moses and Edwina were still around to occupy me. Meals were great and cooked by Edwina, Moses always washed up, I was enjoying the treatment while it lasted. Nick was still upset with the fact that requested that his family leave my house bearing in mind they were supposed to be out before I returned, the 10 day extension was me being nice, but not regarded that way by him. As far as he was concerned I embarrassed him and treated him and his family badly after they looked after my home. Nice that he only portrayed his part of the story to all his friends. Still if the friendship is to survive it will take time for him to get his head out of his ………….!<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Marouella, my friend from Virgin sent me an email to say she had managed to get on Kimberley’s return flight and she would ‘look after’ her on route home. Unfortunately, this was the original flight that we had booked, Kimberley had already flown home on Sunday!!!! I know Kimberley was soooo disappointed to miss that luxury trip! Marouella also said she was bringing some donations with her so we arranged for her to leave them at the hotel in Nairobi for me to collect later in the week.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Wednesday, Edwina and Moses decided they would head back to Nairobi on the night train leaving Nakuru at around midnight. Edwina cooked a lovely meal and then we waited until 1.30 for the taxi to collect them (well I waited whilst typing my emails home, Edwina and Moses slept on the sofa). When the taxi arrived they said their goodbyes and left. Moses earlier in the day stripped the beds and did all the washing before they left.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />I closed up the house for the night and headed to bed, about 10 mins later my phone went, apparently the guy at the station didn’t tell Edwina that the night train was booking only and they were unable to get on. I told them to get back in the taxi and come home. I madly ran round making the beds and waited for them to return, tired and not happy.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />On Thursday morning after a really bad nights sleep the phone range at 7.30am, it was someone from Hotel Intercontinental saying he had some bags for me to collect that day….. Bleary eyed and not understanding him I said that I was in Nakuru and could not collect them that day, he then let me speak to Marouella who was happy for me to collect them later, but he said the store was rather full and I needed to pick within the next 48hrs!<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />When I eventually woke up, I spoke to Edwina and Moses who decided to head back on the shuttle to Nairobi, I decided I would go with them and collect the bags and return the same day. I sent a text to the guy at the hotel who was overjoyed! <br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Now I had been talking to Edwina and Moses about the fact that they wanted to do a promo video to help them promote their act OneFace as they needed work and were tired of being cheated by trainers/friends who were finding work for them but not paying them for it. I thought of a good venue in Nairobi, the offices of my friend Haroon are set in the most amazing grounds, it would be perfect. After a few phone calls it was arranged, we would travel to Nairobi that day, pick up the donations and go and visit the premises to have a look at the suitability.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Edwina and Moses loaded with their rucksacks and I with my huge empty (ShoeZone carry all dead body size bag) headed to Nairobi, we met with Francis at the hotel and between us managed to load the 3 smaller bags into mine which left me with a huge suitcase and my bag instead of many small ones. <br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Moses and Edwina loved the grounds of the offices, we negotiated the day and left with lots of smiles. All we needed was someone to video, money being the huge issue in this we may end up with doing it ourselves! I have since provided a good proposal to Haroon and his company and will let you know if it is agreeable before letting you know.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Jenga my loyal Nairobi Taxi driver and friend, picked us and the bags up, we dropped Moses and Edwina in Nairobi and then took the bags to the Mololine shuttle for them to watch until I was ready to leave. Decided to have a couple of beers with Jenga as we had not had time to catch up on news. After a lot of talking and Jenga giving advice on the Nick issues, I headed for the shuttle, collected my bags and got straight on as there was one waiting for a last passenger, ME!<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />It was a long ride with 3 tusker beers inside of me, 2 hours on a shuttle, reminded me not to have beer again before I travel. Due to the lateness of the ride I stayed on the shuttle instead of getting him to drop me on the highway near the house and getting a taxi to pick me from there, not wise at night, besides managing the bags anytime of day would have been a problem. I got home late, tired and desperate for the relief of the beer!!<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Compared to the night before I slept like a log that night, satisfied of a day well spent!<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Since then, I spent the day yesterday in the ‘compound’ (garden) making good after the effects of the boys and Nick on it. I have been spreading many of the plants round filling the gaps by taking cuttings. Henry’s planting of the seeds I came with has proved very fruitful, we are going to be eating salad till the cows come home, especially as I don’t have any cows! I was alone as Henry had some work at one of the neighbours, so managed to get outside in shorts and bikini top, silly really as burnt!! No one to put sun cream on my back also no one to put on the after sun. I struggled as best I could and in the process managed to rick my neck. Now I know why people get married!!!! Kidding. X<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />When I returned and checked out the plants, I noticed that the short stubby rose I bought and planted before I left had now covered the open fretwork in the porch beautifully, but was covered with scale and black soot on the leaves. Yesterday I patiently washed with soapy water all the leaves, removing the worst of them, this is why I got burnt, today I am staying inside keeping busy until the sun has gone, it is now heading towards the rainy season and the storms are hitting us, lots of noise, lightning and little rain, but when it does rain its fabulous and torrential. We are having many electric breaks usually in the evening which is not so good, as candle light really doesn’t help much when it is so dark. There will be many babies arriving in 9 months, what else are people going to do. I on the other hand just sleep and last night I listened to the ipod Swahili course, well 5 mins of it before I fell asleep! Never was good with languages.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />May manage to scrape some of the scale off the rose before it starts raining as the sun has dipped behind the clouds. Wish me luck, nasty things those scale bugs. Any home remedies for the like would be appreciated. As you can see I have kept myself busy with sorting out house paperwork, checking what has been paid as far as the bills are concerned in my absence and those I need to pay. I am meeting with Shamsher on Monday, (the Chairman of SCANN) just to see how things are now and how I can help, I am usually given an assignment to manage, not sure what this one will be. I have stayed clear until I was settled so Monday looks to be the day. Also off to Mama Sweeties this week to drop off the bags, was hoping to do it bits but so much will just get a taxi and drop all together will be less hastle.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Love to you all, the thunder is rumbling as I prepare to sign off, just hope the internet doesn’t cut off before I send. Will do some updated photos of the place soon.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Missing you all, wish you were here.<br style="line-height: 17px;" />Susannah</span></span>Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02387261449058135642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7311491875259597207.post-13863527995651241222011-04-28T16:22:00.001+03:002011-07-05T16:22:38.699+03:00Continuing Catchup<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a;"><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Edwina and Moses decided to stay on a bit longer to spend time with the boys at SCANN and Moses twin brother Francis went back to Nairobi (he missed his girlfriend).</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Kimberley and I have only had a quick visit to SCANN as it was in the morning and most of the boys were at morning holiday tuition held at their respective schools (I had forgotten this) there were very few around other than the smallest boys who were sat in a class with a teacher so we didn’t want to disturb them. We said hi to the various staff members who were around and I told them I would be in after Easter.</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Kimberley and I decided that we would head to Fisherman’s Camp in Naivasha on the Thursday before she left on the Sunday, we would stay Thursday night and Friday, leave Saturday morning and head to Nairobi where we would stay at my friends apartment ready to go to the airport early Sunday morning.</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">We left Moses and Edwina staying in the house, providing for themselves and Henry providing for the animals. We took the local matatu to Naivasha which was fine until the last seat which was next to me was taken by a lady with a small baby, and two children, one of which looked rather unwell. The older children stood in the footwell between the mother and I. I took the sickly girl and put her on my lap leaving more room for the brother to stand and to make her feel more comfortable as she looked fit to drop (she was about 5year old). I asked the Mum if she was suffering from Malaria as she was burning up. She nodded, what a handfull the mother had to travel with. The girl slept fitfully on my lap, soaking me through with her sweat, occasionally waking sipping water and then sleeping again. The mother decided at some time to squeeze the boy onto the seat between herself and I, by now I am feeling a little put out considering I am squeezed sharing a little of Kimberley’s seat whilst having her child on my lap.</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">When we arrived at Naivasha town, I helped the girl off the matatu and the mother turned to me and thanked me, she was also looking feverish and I thought maybe she was also suffering from malaria. It turned out that we were heading in the same direction and caught the same matatu ending up in the same seat formation as before. We headed out of the town centre and the matatu stopped, people started getting off, Kimberley and I and also the woman had no idea what was going on until a man behind us said we were changing matatus to another one in front. So off we got changed to the other matatu and headed off….. By this time we were tired, dirty and sweating badly! In the new seating arrangement I ended up with the conductor sharing my seat, which meant only half of my bottom was actually on the seat, not comfortable at all.</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The lady and the children got off before us which meant that I got my seat back….. That is until a rather large suited gentleman was picked up and took his seat and part of mine……. It turned out the he was the chief of the area, he chatted to me about Naivasha and what we were up to, it killed time.</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">We were dropped near at the road to Fisherman’s camp, bearing in mind I had a rucksack with my clothes in for 5 days, we had Kimberley’s rucksack and her suitcase to fly home with, we were not travelling light! Normally I stay at lakeside camp which is down the driveway, but this time it was full and we were staying at Top Camp, I had not been there before so we headed down the drive to Fisherman’s a good 10min walk with Kimberley’s suitcase on my back, she had her rucksack on the front and mine on her back! We must have look like total loonies. Just before we arrived at the lake camp we met someone going in the other direction with a bike. I asked him if we needed to register here for Top Camp, he said no we needed to go straight to top camp and he would show us the path to get there. </span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">With all the weight we were carrying the only bag he offered to take from us was a carrier bag containing the empty yellow canvas bag which I use to bring over donations. Probably the lightest thing we were carrying!! In the rush to get our bags off the matatu, we had missed the fact that we were actually dropped at the sign pointing to Top Camp! We were shown what I can only consider to be a goat trail up a rather steep hill as being the path to Top Camp, we thought he was joking, but no. We stood laughing and with some pushing and shoving from Kimberley from behind we started our ascent alone, the man made his way on his bike along the road. With lots of puffing, moaning, cursing and rest breaks, we made our way up the steep climb. We wandered into someone’s property who lead us to the camp. By this time I was almost crying with the effort of carrying the bag on my back.</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">We were shown to our banda, wooden chalet where we quickly freshened up with wet wipes, added a bit of makeup and got ready to go back down the hill to the bar as it was already twilight. We found a askari (guard) not far from the banda and asked him the best route, I had torch in hand and he lead us down by this time the light switch had been flicked and it was now dark. Trying to descend the goat trail in the dark was scary even though we were lead by the askari (without torch he obviously had good eyes) I lead Kimberley with the torchlight shining at our feet. The journey seemed endless in the dark and all our muscles ached from the tension by the time we appeared at the road. We thanked the askari (took his number for the possible need for a guide for the return trip) and headed down to the club house for dinner.</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Unfortunately, our favourite spot in front of the huge fireplace was taken by some german or finnish girls who looked to be settled for the night. We settled for a sofa placed well under some lights so we could indulge ourselves with reading our books. Sean, the owner of Fisherman’s came to chat, we had met him at the Guava Bash at Naivasha the previous weekend. He kindly bought us drinks and continued on his busy job of making sure everyone was happy. Later in the evening we made light of the fact that we didn’t realise we had to be mountain goats to stay at Top Camp, apparently most of the people who stay there come with vehicles, he could have told me! He also said if I had called him he would have picked us up and driven us to the banda!!! AHHHHH!!! Well, we had a good work out to get rid of all the excess weight from the Guava pancakes. Sean offered to give us a lift back to the banda later and we eagerly agreed. We went back to eating our chips and veg samosas too tired for a full dinner and reading our books.</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">At about 11.30 or it may have been midnight the bar was clearing (there was a big music event being held on the Saturday and I think that was why people were sleeping early), Sean said he would be right with us to give us a lift and then he disappeared into the store room behind the bar. When he reappeared he was carrying paint cans, rollers and brushes, I asked what was going on. He told us that after he dropped us off he was coming back to paint the bar. </span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Needing no encouragement whatsoever we leapt at the challenge and offered to assist. In total there were 5 of us, Kimberley, myself, Sean and two helpers, we threw ourselves into the task which was helped along with numerous glasses of alcohol to make the job easier, if not such a good finish!</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">We stopped at about 4.30 exhausted but pleased with the job, the bar had been pink for 7 years and was now jungle green to fit into the leafy environment in which it sat. Covered in paint and rather worse for wear Sean drove us to our banda where we fell into bed as we were. We had been troubled by a couple of mosis but managed to get through the night.</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">At 7am we were awoken by very loud conversations from the next banda which was being renovated then followed by more loud conversation and the sound of large rocks being chipped away into brick blocks. I was so tired that I got up and went out and shouted that we were still sleeping……. It went a little quieter but the chipping of the blocks continued. We dozed for a couple more hours fitfully with the outside noise. We got up, tried to get rid of some of the paint we were sporting on us looked outside, the view was spectacular, we looked straight out over Lake Naivasha and as we were so high up all the surrounding area too, it was worth the hike. I checked with Sean that although breakfast finished at 11 that we would be able to get something to eat, he arranged with the bar that we could.</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">We strolled down the goat trail with what we felt we would need for the rest of the day as it was too far to pop back for provisions. We sat watching the black and white monkeys jumping through the trees above us as we waited for our breakfast in exhausted silence (and a little hungover to tell the truth). We ordered a backed lunch and decided to go back to the banda for a catchup nap. So that we would be able to come back down early evening and enjoy the free steak dinner that Sean had promised us for the work we had done.</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">That evening we came down early before the switch turned out the daylight, we picked our way through the rocks and managed to avoid the prickly acacia saplings that lined the route. Yet again our seat by the fire was taken, this time by two mature English photographers who were discussing their shots of the day. We sat to one side at a table, ordered our well deserved filet medallions is a yummy creamy sauce with rice, it was delicious and even more so that we were not paying for it. We would have had pudding but there was just no room for it. We then waited patiently for the gentleman to vacate their places by the fire, even asking for first refusal when they moved on. They were settled for the night. We went and sat back on the previous nights sofa reading and I was getting madly fed on by the mosis, eventually we had to ask for a coil to be burnt at our feel to try and discourage their unwanted attention. </span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Sean came over and chatted about the colour of the bar, I liked it but Kimberley thought it was a bit much. I mentioned the mosis and the lack of nets in our room, he said he would see if there were any at top camp and get it sorted (needless to say they had none available). We had an early night that night as we knew that the following day we would be leaving and it would be an effort as we so love Fisherman’s, the bar was also rather full as the camp during the day had filled out ready for Saturday nights music event. We prefer it mid week when it is quiet and peaceful. </span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">After Sean again giving us a lift to the banda we settled for a good nights sleep or so we thought. Having mentioned the early start of the workers Sean had requested that they start late Saturday morning and were more aware of the visitors so we felt we would not have such an early rude awakening………</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The banda proved to have added its number of mosis, without a net we were troubled all night by the buzzing of our little unwanted guests, this required us to hide under the rather thick duvets that we had on the beds. Now we were either left to the mercy of the biting of the mosis or suffocated with the heat of hiding under the duvet. To top this during the night we were awoken by heavy hoof sounds outside the bands and very noisey munching noises, apparently the locals had brought their cows over during the night to graze on the grass to keep it short!!!!!! More problems with the mosis then just as we thought we would sleep the men arrived and instead of starting work, sat noisily talking. We got no sleep!</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">When we got up and started packing ready to leave I noticed from the open window (opened the panel in the wooden wall) to find that some tents had appeared over night a short distance away, there were three people standing chatting quietly, one of them I recognised as a project owner from Nakuru, I went over to greet them and he came over for a chat and too see what the banda looked like. It turned out that he was so angry with the noisey chatting of the work men that he had gone over and told them to BE QUIET, so that was how we managed to nap for a short while! He and his friends were staying for the music event that evening.</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Sean had promised he would come and pick us up to save lugging the suitcase on my back down the goat trail. We waited and I sent him a message, some time later his wife called to say he had been doing more painting and went to bed after 4 again, so she would come and pick us up.</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">We were dropped at the road between the two camps to catch the matatu into Naivasha. We waited with a guy from Mexico who was working in Nairobi as a tutor for a family, he was touring round for the weekend and had been waiting some time for a matatu. A car appeared up the drive from lake camp and stopped to see if we wanted a lift to town, we were so happy as this was travelling in comfort (even if it was for a short ride) we all climbed in and he dropped us right at the matatu stage for Nairobi. </span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The Nairobi leg was a long one as the matatu stopped and picked and dropped along the way, cramming as many people in as was possible. We got off at Westlands where we found somewhere to sit and have something to eat whilst waiting for my friend to pick us up and take us to the apartment where we were staying for the night. We showered and napped then went out to a place called Diamond Plaza which is a favourite of mine for an amazing atmosphere and a good selection of food stalls. We had a good evening then back for an early night as my taxi friend Jenga was picking us up at 5.30 to get Kimberley to the airport.</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Well, think that will keep you all going for a while. </span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Love to you all,</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Susannah </span></span></span>Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02387261449058135642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7311491875259597207.post-31946289991045313092011-04-26T16:23:00.000+03:002011-07-05T16:24:35.857+03:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Sorry it has been so long, so much to catch up on………..<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />I have not been abducted by aliens……. So much has happened since I last wrote to you that I had to re read my email to check how long ago that was. Whilst Kimberley was here I have delayed starting at SCANN as I know when I get there there will be lots to do.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Having Nick and his family vacate the house was bliss, everything changed, Kimberley and I spent a couple of days making the place more of our home. I got a phone call from Edwina saying they were coming to visit, that is Edwina (who used to stay with me from the UK) along with Moses and Francis the two acrobats. Now that the house was straight we felt we were ready to have visitors however not until Sunday as we had two late nights planned as we were off to Guava for a leaving do for one of the volunteers we had met in town on Friday night and then we were off to Naivasha for a ‘rave‘ on the Saturday night. We arranged that they would come on Sunday afternoon following us catching up on sleep.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />The leaving party was a mad mad night of lots of drinks (supplied by various Guava friends) followed by lots of laughs and dancing. We got in in at some crazy time of the morning and slept, well actually Kimberley slept for some reason I got up and got busy around the house, we had breakfast and went back to bed, Kim joined us for a sleep taking up the whole bed. <br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />We ate dinner and prepared ourselves for another evening out, patiently awaiting the arrival of the person who agreed to pick us up and drive us to Naivasha the key factor to us buying tickets. 2 hours and many calls later we found out he was already in Naivasha and had been dropping off crates of beers for the event, on the way back his car had broken down……mummmm! Kimberley and I got a local taxi to pick us up and drive like the devil to meet the people at Guava who were getting minibus transport to the event. We sat for over an hour with people who were all friends from New Zealand and they talked loudly and lots.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />By the time we got the the venue it was about 11pm and we were expecting it to be well on its way, not so, the two minibuses with volunteers were the first arrivals. The stage was very impressive with huge spinning lazer lights like a fair ground ride, this was really not good for Kimberley who had to sit with her back to the stage to avoid the lights.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Very cold and not too happy we took the minibus home to Nakuru, the others on the bus were staying camping overnight. I paid a little extra and got the driver to drop us home, not a good night at all. We know for next time.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Greeting Edwina and the boys at the house was lovely, they have been good company, they have helped with shopping for food, Edwina cooks, the boys wash and clear up, we are eating so well it has been great. We even managed to fix the bush oven and cook pizzas although ended up with them being ready in the dark and we burnt the base.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Kimberley and I went off to visit Mama Sweetie and her extended family. Kimberley had never met them as last time Kimberley was here and we planned a visit Kimberley was under the weather.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Mama Sweetie greeted us like long lost family, huge hugs when she greeted us from the matatu from Nakuru. She lead us to a small duka (shop stall) which she has started with her sister to help generate some funds. We had a soda each in the duka and chatted then Mama Sweetie disappeared to find us two piki piki’s (motorbike taxis) Kimberley climbed on behind the driver with Mama Sweetie squeezed on the back and I had one to myself with the driver! We headed off to the house where we were greeted by giggling and laughing Sweetie children.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />We had a great visit with lots of singing and dancing from the children (who all love to perform), I am so pleased they don’t ask us to get up and do the same I would really struggle. Lami who suffers from epilepsy was in a bad way as a few days before we arrived he had had a fit and fallen hitting the back of his head and badly grazing his face. His head and face were badly scabbed and he was vacant and unaware of his surroundings on the meds he was on phenobarbitone not be best by far but all that is available here. He spends most of his time stoned. The other children always look out for him and try to make sure his is safe.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Our first visit was a short one but we were introduced to ’Jasper’ our TLC goat. The children proudly brought him into the house on a rope lead and he stood and looked at us like he owned the place. I got up to greet him and then we went outside when there the children got so excited that we played with Jasper, I found that the rope that was tied to Jasper was so long that I was able to use it to let the children play skipping, they thought it was fabulous, they laughed so much, Jasper just stood and patiently watched them play. Jasper then came for a reward of me stroking him, unfortunately he rather liked me smoothing his long ears and got a bit frisky, he is really tall on two legs!!<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Kimberley and I said our goodbyes and were walked back to the road by Mama Sweetie, the children madly waving their goodbyes. We had been passed on the way to Mama Sweeties by a guy on a piki piki who was playing a loud radio, I started dancing around, telling Mama Sweetie I was dancing for the rain, she said it had been so dry they were praying for the rain. Whilst walking back to the matatu it started raining and we laughed and took shelter in a duka until the rain stopped, we caused a stir with the neighbouring dukas.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />It was a tiring day but also an emotional one for Kimberley as Lami seemed to take to her and she struggled to communicate with him, although anyone would have struggled as he could hardly talk in his doped state. <br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />I decided that although I had been given lots of donations for Mama Sweetie I would go empty handed this time as it is bad to start taking things every time as it becomes expected. I was so pleased that the children were as happy to see us empty handed as they were when we arrive with bags of things.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />A week later we went back before Kimberley left Nakuru, we again met Mama Sweetie at the duka and decided to walk to the house, enjoying the sunshine. The children were waiting for us to arrive and were so happy and excited they took up their places and began their rendition of singing and dancing but with great gusto this time, the older girls leading the way. Each child took a turn at choosing a song to dance to it was great, even Lami was up to clapping and mouthing the words to some of the songs.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />We had a great time, I had come to visit with the laminated A4 pictures of the children that I had used at the salsa fund raiser, I thought they could be used to decorate the room adjoining their sleeping area. Mama Sweetie and the children thought this was a great idea, we all ran across to the room and proceeded to attach double sided tape to the pictures and attached them so high on the walls only the tallest daughter could reach them to put them up, hopefully they will stay there for a while. <br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />The children had a lovely time looking at their photos and comparing them, some of the more recent additions to the Sweetie Clan were not included on the photos so there then followed a quick photo session of which everyone tried to join in on. It was crazy fun, so much laughing and merriment. While we were in the orphanage building it started to rain, actually it poured, we ran to the house during a lull where we continued with stories and laughing. The rain got heavier and heavier and the leaks in the ceiling became more and more, we were busy avoiding the streams of water by moving the chairs around. We ended up all squashed on a sofa and a couple of chairs, the children all piled on top tickling and laughing. <br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />We had come with a bag of oranges that were cut into segments and shared around, I was given a piece and was so disappointed at how desperately sour they were but the children seemed not to notice, sucking on a lemon took on a new meaning when it is an orange.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Kimberley kept looking at me and at the rain pouring and flooding both outside and in with concern on her face. There was no way a piki could come through the torrential rain to collect us so we were stranded until it let up. By about 4 we were getting worried as it was heading towards twilight. At the first sign of a lull in the heavy rain we made a dash for it, we took off our shoes and rolled up our long short legs and waded through the rivers of water followed by a giggling group of neighbouring children. We slipped our way along being stared at by anyone passing, how could we walk with no shoes!! We must have been the talk of Kampi. When we eventually got to a slightly higher area we put on our shoes and Kimberley’s started rubbing. She walked without, this drew crowds of children pointing and laughing, we stopped at the nearest duka and bought a pair of flipflops (locally called slippers) they only had a size 7 Kimberley is a size 4.5.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />We managed to get on a matatu before the heavens opened again, I was seated with a lovely cockerel between my feet. He got progressively friendlier to me on the journey, rubbing his beak on my chins, he at one point decided to flap his wings and cause rather a stir as his feathers were flying.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Kimberley and I slept well that night, we were rather damp, dirty footed and had spent a lovely afternoon with the children.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />I will end now as there is so much more to tell but I don’t want to bore you.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Love to all,<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Susannah </span></span>Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02387261449058135642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7311491875259597207.post-32309416627749451492011-04-15T16:24:00.000+03:002011-07-05T16:26:48.767+03:00Home Sweet Home<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a;"><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Hi Everyone,</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Well on a happier note than my last email, my ‘house sitters’ have finally left. We came home on Wednesday evening to find a truck in my driveway and a hurried loading was going on. </span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Sheila, Nick’s wife was very chatty and hugged me as she left, I had a quick word to say that I felt that Nick was not happy with me for asking them to leave, she said that he was a man and would take a few days to get over it. </span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I sent a text message to them on the Thursday to make sure they settled in their rented home OK. Sheila told me all was well.</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">On Wednesday night Kimberley and I slept well and were not disturbed in the morning of Thursday. All day Thursday was spent cleaning and washing the house and arranging my things to make it more like my home. We had a mammoth pancake making event for lunch as a quick and easy meal, Henry joined in after he had been to the local duka (corner shop stall) for some lemons.</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">We had a huge thunderstorm during the day and torrential rain which I managed to collect in buckets beneath the corners of the roof for the plants when it is dry. It is the first rain we have had since we arrived two weeks ago. The smell of the fresh rain on the dusty earth was amazing, I just sat on the step of the porch and inhaled.</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Last night for dinner between the two of us we managed a combination of a vegetable stir-fry and paella it was surprisingly good, followed by baked bananas and chocolate. A treat after a day of heavy and exhausting work.</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Kim (the dog) got out again yesterday and was gone for some hours, we keep closing up the gaps she makes in the hedging but as soon as we close the holes she makes another one. It was late by the time I heard her moaning outside, it appeared that whilst she managed to escape yesterday she could not get her way back in, Henry and I tried for ages, using his mobile phone as a torch, to coax her through a hole but to no avail and she was getting more and more distressed. In the end we had to get a hammer out to detach some of the chicken wire to let her back in. Needless to say we will have to close it again this morning!</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The dogs, according to the taxi driver from a few days ago, all go crazy just before the rains, it is considered the mating season for dogs, they howl a lot and go wandering. The howling I can handle (within reason), but not the wandering - each time she goes out there is so much risk of her eating poisoned meat that is left to kill off strays and rats, also getting bitten risks rabies (although the vet said that where I am there is little risk), I cannot have her having another batch of puppies (9 last time was enough of an experience I do not wish to repeat) and the other problem is she is a fit and healthy dog that is a loving and friendly one and well desired for a pet. Paka the cat on the other hand doesn’t stray far from the fridge. I always thought that the light coming on signified the opening of the fridge door, in fact the cat is there before the light goes on……… always wanting milk, it is a real pain as I have so often closed Paka’s head in the door forgetting she is around, this does not deter her. Last night a dead weight landed on me in bed and I awoke to find Paka snuggled up keeping me warm, the rains have dropped the temperature by a few degrees, will have to get the blankets out!</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Today we are treating ourselves to only light housework, sorting the donated children’s clothes for giving out, some will go to SCANN, Mama Sweetie and also the smaller items to a local Baby Orphanage, at the moment they are all on the bed in the now, spare bedroom. We have a list of things that need to be bought for the house….. A mop is one important thing as I washed all the floors yesterday with just a rag, no wonder my back was breaking!!</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Needless to say Kimberley and I have not got to Naivasha yet, hopefully we will manage a few days next week, we are too happy enjoying the peace and tranquillity of the house.</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Looking out the window this morning the sun is shining and everything looks so green after the rain. Beautiful.</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Love and best wishes to you all.</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Susannah </span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">(Kimberley is still sleeping after the busy day yesterday)</span></span></span>Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02387261449058135642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7311491875259597207.post-54779587415654876822011-04-12T16:26:00.001+03:002011-07-05T16:53:31.705+03:00Not Everything is Smooth Sailing...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a;"><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Dear All</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I expect you are hoping that my email will be filled with lots of interesting stories, unfortunately not at the moment.</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Kimberley and I are struggling with the fact that Nick and his family have not yet moved out of the house, even though I am getting increasingly more encouraging and irritated.</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">My dear friend Nick has two young boys who wake at 6am and do not know what being quiet means. Nick and his wife seem to be able to sleep through this and the house-girl that they have ignores them. Now as many of you know Kimberley on her meds struggles with mornings anyway, this is just adding to the tension. </span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Living arrangements are at present Nick and his wife have one bedroom, their boys another and Kimberley and I share (together with all my household possessions that were stored in my room whilst I was away) add to that the 6 bags we came with and to put it mildly it is a bit of a squash. Kimberley and I are basically lodgers in the house, feeling very intrusive when we are around so we try and spend a lot of time out. The household are very keen listeners of Gospel music and have it playing along with the TV being on too, singing along loudly is not uncommon.</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Our ‘haven’ is the pool side at Hotel Merica, we can sleep on the lounger’s when there is a bit of quiet but have to put the alarm on the phone to wake us to move because of the sun. Meal time is interesting they are eating late about 8.30 or 9 waiting for Sheila to come home from work. Kimberley and I grab food in town to make sure we like what we are getting, kitchen arrangements are impossible as the house girl prepares food that is around so we have stopped buying.</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Nick packed all his things up to move out at the weekend so Kimberley and I went shopping yesterday and started sorting out the kitchen things ready to use (unpacking boxes from our room) in preparation. We ended up cooking outside as the house girl started preparing their evening meal, which was not a good sign that they were leaving. Kimberley and I enjoyed a nice meal of sausages, onions, rice and fried tomatoes, (for speed I got Henry to light the Jiko (BBQ stove). Sheila and Nick came back and were upset that we were eating outside, I explained it was a BBQ and we didn’t want to get in the way. He told me that the house they had gone for had fallen through. I nearly cried.</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">After a little bit of discussion I have given them until Friday to shift, Nick is not happy but neither is his wife or I as she is sitting her Criminology Exams this week and could really do without the hassle.</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Kimberley and I are planning on a couple of days at Naivasha to have a bit of space, otherwise it will end in tears.</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I would love to say everything is honkey dorey but I would be lying. I am finishing this now as the boys will be back from holiday tuition soon and the house will be in uproar, as the house girl who oversees them chooses that time to sleep! Kimberley are heading into town.</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">On a lighter note.......I was busy this morning typing a summary of school results for the children at Mama Sweeties it was very interesting some of them had higher grades in English than they did their native tongue!</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">!</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Will keep you posted. Hoping you are all well and having an easier time, keep smiling. </span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Love to you all,</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Susannah & Kimberley</span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">xx</span></span></span>Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02387261449058135642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7311491875259597207.post-65397158835489831642011-04-09T16:28:00.000+03:002011-07-05T16:29:56.522+03:00Back in Kenya<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Hi Everyone,<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Well as some of you will probably know Kimberley and I are back in Kenya. I have returned with many bags thanks to my friends at :-</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
IKEA who donated items from their ‘children’s lost property.<br style="line-height: 17px;" />Salsa friends who donated hundreds of toothbrushes.<br style="line-height: 17px;" />My sister who gave me girls clothes.<br style="line-height: 17px;" />……and the list goes on.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
As a result I was grateful for Virgin Charities who allowed both Kimberley and I to bring an additional bag each which meant that the two of us were hauling 6 x 23 kilo bags. Thanks to my brother who leant me his vehicle and my friend Paul for driving us to my sister’s for Sunday lunch and then to the airport everything went smoothly until…….<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />the airport that is where the fun began, after meeting a lovely lady called: Natasha at the booking-in desk who chatted and upgraded us, we then went for a coffee, as time passed Kimberley looked up at the schedule board and said casually that our flight had been CANCELLED.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />All I can say is that it was a good job Paul had stayed and had a coffee with us, apparently we could stay overnight at a local hotel and hang around waiting for the next evenings flight OR go to my sisters and spend a restful night and peaceful day. We chose my sisters, we were asked to collect our baggage and the lady was taken aback when we emphatically said ’no’, as there was no way we wanted to haul the six bags with us to bring them back again.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />We managed a successful booking in on the Tuesday evening and were assured that our bags would in fact be joining us on the flight…… um I wasn’t so sure. We arrived safely and were standing with two trolleys waiting for our bags which were not the first off the plane by a long shot, but we counted off the six just about remembering that they were all very loud flowery bags (cheapies from ShoeZone). Between us we hauled them on to the trolleys and were pleased to see Nick waiting for us with his friends ’large vehicle’.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />We have been here a few days now, the weather is hot and dry. Nick and his family have ’not quite’ moved out yet so it makes living arrangements interesting, I feel like a lodger, we are eating in town a lot and spending time with volunteers in town. <br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Yesterday we went by matatu (Nissan van) to Mama Sweeties, she greeted us with her usual exuberance and we sat with the children (I have lost count of how many she has). Mama Sweetie asked the children to bring ’Jasper’ the goat in to see us as she said he was very friendly, actually a bit too friendly if you know what I mean, he can’t wait to be introduced to his ’wife’ who will be arriving shortly. I must say Jasper looks more like a lama in real life than he does in the photos…… people in the neighbourhood come and visit just to see him as he is one of a kind, lets hope he produces well.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />I hardly recognised the small children they have grown so much, Lami (the small boy who has epilepsy) had a recent fall during a fit and has a nasty graze on his face, he takes meds for this but they make him very slow and vacant. After all their greetings the children arranged themselves ready to sing to us, it was lovely, even the small ones joined in. We had lunch which was rice and githeri (bean and maize stew) we did try to refuse but as Mama Sweetie had cooked enough for all, we felt obliged to join them.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />I will keep you posted on any further ‘stories’ as they happen, I have managed to delay visiting SCANN as Kimberley and I are settling in before I return to helping out there. Unfortunately the word is out that I am back though as I was seen by one of the college boys in town…..<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Love and best wishes to you all<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Susannah</span></span>Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02387261449058135642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7311491875259597207.post-14191550681844993302010-04-10T16:30:00.000+03:002011-07-05T16:31:12.005+03:00Heading Back to the UK<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Hi Everyone,<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />I know it has been a while but things have been manic here. My good friend Nick and family have moved into my home ready for me to fly back to UK on the 12th April. It has been an interesting exercise due to mains problems, we have had NO WATER since before they arrived (over a week) and they have two young boys with lots of washing!!!<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />The weather has been very changeable but that has been good providing us with rainwater at least.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Kim and Paka are getting used to their new roomies........ some have tried their patience but I am sure things will be ok.<br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />I will write again when I get home letting you know what recent events have passed at Scann and how the boys are, at the moment I am struggling with having to go in and say 'bye'. <br style="line-height: 17px;" /><br style="line-height: 17px;" />Love to you all,<br style="line-height: 17px;" />Susannah xx </span></span>Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02387261449058135642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7311491875259597207.post-70953367783358896842010-03-24T16:32:00.001+03:002011-07-05T16:54:34.275+03:00Yesterday's News... Sorry Had No Credit!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"></span><br />
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Good morning,</span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">today is Tuesday and it isn’t raining, a good day to have the fundi (repair man) to come and fix the ever determined leak in my roof. I have already had 3 try to fix it but guess what, it still leaks.</span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Ailsa my friend from Scotland arrived on Sunday unfortunately I had had a bad night with terrible diarrhoea but by the time she arrived in Nakuru I was up and about and Nick collected me with his boys and we picked Ailsa up from the Mololine shuttle.</span><span style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">As it was now lunch time we decided that we all needed something to eat so off we went to …..GUAVA café.</span><span style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Ailsa said she had heard so much about it that it was time she tried it for herself.</span><span style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The boys eagerly tucked into sausage and chips, Nick had chips, Ailsa had a tortilla wrap and chips and I ate 2 pancakes with maple syrup which was all that was on the menu that my stomach didn’t do a mad flip at the thought of.</span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Nicks two boys had been to early church service and were in their Sunday best, white shirts and 3 piece suits, they looked lovely and were so cheekie with it.</span><span style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">We chatted and Ailsa re acquainted herself with Dickson who used to serve us at Sweetmart before it closed……. Guava is so much better and we enjoyed our chat and lunch.</span><span style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Nick and the boys headed off somewhere and Nick left us with the car to take us home.</span><span style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The plan was that he would call later in the day to collect it or to get me to pick him up……. Problem……. Shaffer (Nicks youngest) had been playing with my phone and slipped it into his breast pocket to pretend he was cool.</span><span style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Guess who forgot it was there until we got to the house and I had no phone. Ailsa was going to use my spare sim, but we couldn’t get it to work so had to walk to the local duka (shop) to ask the lady to help us get the credit accepted, she did this and we eventually managed to call and tell Nick to retrieve my phone from his son.</span><span style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Many hours later and still no sign of Nick we called him and he decided to leave us with the car until the next morning.</span><span style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Suited us nicely, but meant that I had no phone!!!!!</span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">On Monday (yesterday), Ailsa, myself and Henry (my askari/Guard) headed into town, Henry had an interview at a café, he is looking for another job while I am in the UK. Ailsa and I met up with Nick and busied ourselves with tasks around town.</span><span style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">We went to our friends club called Garden Villa to say hi, had some lunch and a ‘couple’of Tuskers…. Well we may have had a few more than a couple.</span><span style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Veronica who owns Garden Villa was the lady I first stayed with when in Nakuru back in 2006!</span><span style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">We had a lovely catch up and I was still mindful of my grumbling stomach and realised that the Tuskers probably weren’t doing me a lot of good, but by that time it was a little late. We called Nick he collected us and we decided that neither Ailsa or I were in the mind to light the jiko and cook so we phoned Guava and ordered steak and chips for dinner, just before they closed for the night.</span><span style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Dickson kindly cooked our dinner as the ‘ladies’ had already packed up for the night, it pays to have good friends around town who go the extra mile for your. </span><span style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">We got home, had a warm drink and wandered off to another early night.</span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">So I find myself at home giving the fundi a watchful eye, I think he thought I was joking when I told him I would be on the roof later to check his work…….A woman on the roof is something unheard of here, except me of course!</span><span style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The crazy lady in Teachers hits the headlines again! Ailsa has gone off in a matatu to visit Mama Sweetie for the day, hopefully to catch up on stories and check things are going Ok with their project.</span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Yesterday was my uncles funeral and my thoughts were with his family and mine who had travelled to the funeral.</span><span style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I heard from my brother and my daughter in the evening and know it was not an easy time.</span><span style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">My cousin has since been in touch via Facebook and I look forward to taking time when I return home to the UK to visit my family in the north.</span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I will be busy tomorrow as The Chairman of Scann has just called to say he has been given many items of clothing and toys and he wishes me to pass by his office tomorrow to sort them out, take them to Scann and distribute (never an easy job).</span><span style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I also want to pass on some messages to him that I have kindly received from the BBC crew who came over to do the filming of Taking the Flak pilot that the boys were in.</span><span style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I notified them of Yasmine’s death as I know they spent time with her here and thought a lot of her and the work she was doing.</span><span style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I am trying to mentally prepare myself for my return to the UK but it has been hard with everything that has been going on here.</span><span style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">It was nice having the two IKEA friends over to talk to and now my friend Ailsa, it doesn’t lessen the feelings but it is good to share them and the company is good.</span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Ailsa, unfortunately is only here for a short time, she is leaving on Monday as she has only managed a short time from work.</span><span style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I know Ailsa will be busy catching up on old friends and acquaintances here in Kenya who will give her such a hard time when they find out she is only here for such a short time.</span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">My love to you all and thanks for the words of support and comfort that you are sending.</span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Susannah</span></div>Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02387261449058135642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7311491875259597207.post-52010706142053572682010-03-18T16:33:00.003+03:002011-07-05T16:55:15.344+03:00Time Heals All Things<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"></span><br />
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Dear Friends,</span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Whilst I have devoted a lot of time to Yasmine it would be extremely terrible of me not to share the loss of my Uncle Graham who passed away last week, (brother to my father).</span><span style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Whilst we saw little of each other in recent years, whenever he was around he used to make me smile.</span><span style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">As a young girl, he often used to chase me to say hi by rubbing his bristly beard on my cheek, it drove me mad.</span><span style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">As I grew older it became an act of endearment between the two of us, instead of a greeting I used to offer my cheek for a bristle kiss.</span><span style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Crazy the things that change over the years, childish dread that I would be ‘bristled’ by Uncle Graham and now it will be a fond memory of a lovely man.</span><span style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">My love and condolences to my whole family at this sad time and my strength goes out to you all for the funeral on Monday, Farewell Uncle Graham you will be missed.</span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></div><div align="center" class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">---"---</span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I remember telling you that I was arranging various things to help the boys come to terms with Yasmine’s death, well this is what I have been up to……</span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I have been busy running round Nakuru trying to gather materials to decorate one of the large notice boards in the dining hall at SCANN, it will be transformed into Yasmine’s Remembrance Board for the boys. It will be somewhere they can express their thoughts, put letters, pictures, prayers, poems words of songs that will help comfort them.</span><span style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The notice board that I am using is very old and pitted so I decided that I would need to find some sort of paper to cover it with.</span><span style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">This in itself took a while. </span><span style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I managed to find lots of flowery metallic birthday wrapping paper but nothing that would be suitable.</span><span style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I eventually stumbled across some pale purple almost parma violets coloured paper with a very small almost embossed pattern on it, I carried off 8 sheets hoping it would be enough.</span><span style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I then (when nipping though one of my many short cuts along the back alleys of Nakuru) found a shop that sold artificial flower garlands and arrangements for wedding cars.</span><span style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I decided that there was one garland that contrasted well with the paper it had deeper purple and white flowers, knowing how much the boys love flowers I bought one.</span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I had already had enlarged and printed my favourite photo of Yasmine (actually my only photo of Yasmine because she hated to be in any) this was when the BBC were filming Taking the Flak and Yasmine was grabbed for a group photo with the boys dressed in their ‘boy soldier’ outfits, she looked so happy and proud of the boys! I had also been busy cutting out letters from gold metallic paper to make the words, WE REMEMBER MAMA YASMINE.</span><span style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I typed out a notice for the boys and had put one in the entrance to each of the dormitories, explaining what I had planned and asking them for any words, etc that they may want to put up.</span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I had received nothing from the boys and was actually told by one older boy who I asked if he had anything that no one had understood what I was planning…… I sent him off with a clearer mind and asked him to spread the information.</span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Yesterday I went to SCANN with all the items ready to prepare the notice board, teacher Catherine assisted during her free lesson time and we put together the basics for the remembrance board.</span><span style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The final effect was quite stunning and I really hoped the boys would be pleased, I mounted the items that I had already gathered, one being a letter written that morning by Sammy Mwangi one of the boys who had briefly returned from Tanzania to visit Yasmine’s grave, some were the pictures from the younger boys that I had been given to pass to Yasmine on the Friday that I visited her only to find that after my short visit I still had them in my hand when I left the room mind distracted by how frail Yasmine had looked.</span><span style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The picture I had enlarged was now mounted in the centre of the notice board, proud of place with some of the flowers from the garland draped over the top and down the sides of the photo like a shroud, it looked very effective.</span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I had printed some emails that I had received sending support and condolences from friends and relatives, typed up text messages of the same and put these on the board, to let the boys know their loss was shared and love was being sent their way from many directions.</span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">By the time I left SCANN some of the boys who were on the premises had come to see what was going on and they loved the board, I just hope the others will think the same and provide me with additional messages etc to add to it, it is a way for them to say ‘Goodbye’ as they had no time to do so and to celebrate that they had known Yasmine as their Mama for many of them it had been from day one, 9 years ago.</span><span style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Other things that I have planned are still in early stages so I will inform you when they come about.</span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Today I didn’t get to SCANN, I was busy preparing the summary for the bike repairs that the ‘fundi’ had given me hand written.</span><span style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I am hoping to get the green light to get the repairs done before I return home, one less job out of the way and one more thing that the older boys could do with to make their long journey to school easier.</span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">We had quite heavy rain today but having just wandered around outside a couple of hours later you would not have thought a drop had fallen if you didn’t walk on the grass, which would reveal the secret that the dry ground was hiding, that in fact rain had fallen, I even had to check the water butt which collects the roof rain water to double check……. before I walked on the grass that is!</span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The mosquitos have decided to start nibbling away at me so I am retiring early and hiding under my mosquito net for safety…..</span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">2010, I feel will be a harsh year.</span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Susannah</span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div>Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02387261449058135642noreply@blogger.com0