Hi There, my brother asked me to share with him how I made coconut chicken after I sent it to him I decided to share it with you all as it may make you smile a bit!
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Preparation time about 3 hours from start to finish…..
Empty the old charcoal ash from the giko, dig out of the charcoal bag some good lumps of charcoal, together with paper or card to help with lighting the charcoal and matches. Take all this and the empty giko outside, open the vent door in the giko to allow good air flow. Tear and twist the card and paper so it burns slower and put in the bottom of the giko where the vent door is, then put the same twists in the top of the giko to help light the charcoal. Put on top of this a small amount of good sized charcoal. Light the base of the giko and wait for the flames to rise then fan frantically with a large flat plastic lid to encourage the flames. After about 5 minutes of fanning the flames should be well on their way and the charcoals should be taking.
If nothing is happening repeat the process again!!!!
If all is well then leave the giko outside to smoke and go and prepare dinner.
Chop an onion and put in a pan with a bit of oil. Chop a tomato and carrot and leave to one side. Cut up a chicken breast. Mix up the coconut milk powder with water ready. Wash rice.
Go outside and collect the giko, the smoke should have died down by now and the charcoals a nice shade of red. Don’t burn your fingers whilst carrying the giko, hold by the handles.
Place the giko in the chimney, collect the pan with the oil and the onion and heat on the giko, when the onions are nicely translucent add the chicken, tomatoes and carrots. When this is cooking nicely add the coconut milk and rice and allow to simmer for as long as it takes the rice to cook, add water as needed to prevent burning. For added flavour you can add a little chicken masala seasoning. Add salt to taste.
By this time you would be so tired, you have fallen asleep and burnt the dinner!!
Coconut chicken done and dealt!
Easy peasy.
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I hope you are all well and enjoying the cold weather you are having, I must admit we are having cold nights and lingering fog in the mornings.
I was feeling under the weather on Friday and left the project early, forced myself to the internet to try and get in touch with some business contacts to see if I could get any jobs for the older boys who are being asked to stand alone from Scann now. I was falling asleep and it was only 3pm. I got home, didnt even strip off my clothes and hit the sack, Catherine returned home and tried to get me to have food but I just couldnt wake up. Eventually after sleeping all night I awoke on Saturday at about 11am, I pottered around and still felt shakey. I cooked dinner "coconut chicken' not quite to my usual standard..... a bit bland but then that was how I was feeling. We then had a power cut and sat in darkness eating dinner, lit the candles and then watched a movie from my laptop on battery power, luckily before the battery gave out the power returned. I was in bed again before 10pm and slept soundly till 7am.
As I was on duty with the SCANN clinic today I spoke to the Dr, who said it was probably down to my age and hormones as opposed to anything medical....... ummmmmmm checkie man!
We did the clinic with only a few boys, one with asthma, another with a skin complaint and one with recurring head aches, not bad. The Dr left and I sat in the dining hall with the boys watching Sunday morning TV, a few boys with issues came and sat and chatted.
Brian Kisia appeared with a gashed little toe so I leapt into action took him to the medical room and prepared for minor surgery. He had been stood on by a man with very hard shoes and ended up with all the skin on top of his little toe coming away held only by a flap under the nail. It needed removing, cleaning and dressing. Surgical gloves donned, sterile blade in hand and betadine and dressings close by, I set to work. Not a nice job, but someone has to do it. He went off with clean dressings for tonight and tomorrow for Housemother to apply for him.
One of the very old 'boys' at the centre is now aprox 35 years. He has severe learning difficulties and still stays at the project and works in the Gilanis supermarket. This is the only home he knows and he manages his daily routine with little hastle. In the staff meeting on Friday it was decided that we as staff need to counsel him and prepare him for independant living, ideally by finding him a suitable wife/supporter. Not an easy task. This morning he came to me distressed and muttering many words that meant nothing to me, when I calmed him down and found Anastasia to interpret, it would appear that one of the staff present at the meeting had prematurely told him it was time to leave. He was not ready for this news and had his world turned upside down. I calmed him and said that now was not the time and we would discuss in a lot of detail with him what was happening.
Tomorrow I will arrange another staff meeting to shame the culprit for causing Peter undue stress before he is ready.
I love my 'job'.
I decided that as there was little to do I left after the dinner was served and am now heading home. I have sewing repairs to do there and can spend my time better doing this than watching pop videos at SCANN.
Love to you all,
Susannah
Age'in lady in Kenya!
Sunday, 11 January 2009
Sunday, 4 January 2009
Live long, be happy and prosper this 2009
Happy New Year.....
Christmas Day was a manic and fun event with lots of activities and smiles at SCANN.
Well the New Year has started with my guard and his family leaving on the 31st December. Must admit things were starting to be a bit difficult as after Gibson had been here for a while he invited his wife and three children ‘to visit’ this wouldn’t have been too bad but they didn’t ever leave. This meant that they were here living in the one roomed ‘guard room’ (whilst in Kenya this is still considered to be roomy) they still had to run of the compound (grounds) and freedom to come and go as they please.
When I returned from the UK and put in some rules it was me who was made to feel that I was interfering with their world, as opposed to them living on my property. We had various issues that were not easily resolved like…… trust…… that is a big one for me as you can imagine with what happened with the last guard.
We decided to part company and for a few days I was without a guard but the dogs watched out for us. Catherine and I managed to have a crazy last minute New Years Eve, we dressed up and went to Sumit a large night club. It was so packed that we actually thought about coming home again, instead we held out and had a mad night, dancing like crazy people. We eventually summoned the taxi to collect us at 6am getting home with the dawn light at 6.30. We were exhausted but had had a good night. I let the dogs loose for a run then closed them again and went to bed. At 10 am I awoke fed the dogs and remembered I had two chickens that needed attention to. As Gibson had dealt with them I followed what he did and collected some kale leaves from the veg patch tied them by the stalks and went to the chicken house to hang them for the chickens. Catherine at this point joined me and showed me what to do, add some maize meal and water to the kale and they had a banquet, no eggs though!
We then had food and went back for an afternoon snooze, needless to say we were exhausted. I got up and did some housework and then cooked dinner, chicken in coconut, potato/sweet potato/carrot and onion mash together with some tomato and onion salad, it was lovely and well received.
Thomas (my lodger) had left for Nairobi on Tuesday morning and I went with him as I decided to meet up with a guy who maybe able to provide some work for the university graduate from Scann. Although John wants to study for his Masters the trustees of SCANN are unable to fund further studies and he has to do so under his own steam. He will have to earn a living so he can save to study further. I was treated to lunch and a nice afternoon visiting the new offices of the company in Nairobi, however my hope for an opening concerning work was not fruitful as he was leaving for two weeks leave in South Africa the following morning and so my request was delayed until his return, good excuse for another lunch!
Thomas left me with his parting gift to the boys, sorting out giving them ‘slippers’ which are like flip flops, basically rubbers that they use in the dorms and around the project when they are at 'home'. The problem is this is not a small job, we have ordered to slippers and now find that the boys have given all the wrong sizes, this means that I have to sort what we have and then return and exhange what does not fit. With 130 boys who some lucky ones are spending Christmas with relatives and friends I am finding it a slow and thankless job. Hopefully tomorrow the balance of the boys will be at SCANN ready for starting school again this week.
I have given up on the sewing front and asked Yasmin to order some more shorts for school as the ones they have given me to repair are beyond it by hand.
My attempt at stopping the dogs from having puppies again has been a little late for Fatso who is now hobbling around looking sorry for herself with a very swollen belly…… yep looks like she was already with pups when I gave her the injection as she hasn’t been out since and is definitely looking like she will deliver in the next week. I am unable to feel any movement though and whilst it is a bad thought I am half hoping that the injection will result in ‘still births’ the thought of going through puppy raising again is not one that fills me with pleasure
I met a man yesterday who was recommended to me for an askari, I interviewed him and he appears good, I asked him to come to the house today and we would start a months trial. My phone went at 7am, after a sleepless night of the dogs being restless and barking, it was Henry the new askari saying he was here. I leapt out of bed and quickly dressed and was greeted at the gate by Henry with a beaming smile of his face telling me he was so happy to be here……. We will see. At least he doesn’t have a family in tow. He is at the moment busy tidying the ‘compound’ as he has been out of work for a while and is excited of being able to work he wont stop. It would be nice to have someone that I feel happy with, instead of someone who I tolerate because I have no one else.
I have taken the day off today to be around the house for him to settle, although I will be heading into town in the afternoon for flea powder for the dogs and some food. Maybe even manage a quick sit by the pool with a book for an hour. I have decided to speak to Yasmin and let her know that I will do SCANN every alternate day as I am finding everyday a bit too much with looking after the house as well.
I have had an enquiry from Facebook, a lady looking for accommodation for two weeks end of Jan beg of Feb, only problem is her project is the other side of town, will see what she says after she gets my email…..fingers crossed.
Ok well it is now 11.45am and it is so hot outside that the dogs are struggling to find shade from its glare and Henry is still working hard. I have done all my house work and busied myself sorting washing and dusting. I think I deserve an hour of indulgence by the pool especially as I will be at SCANN tomorrow for the doctors visit and sorting the slippers.
Love to you all, I hope you all get what you wish for in 2009 together with happiness and good health.
Ok that was yesterday, today has been a day and a half, so hectic, especially as the new guard is not too well versed in the barking of my dogs, I was up in the night so many times, I think there was alot of dogs running round the neighbourhood annoying the others. I spent most of the morning with the doctor at SCANN as we had a number of visitors to the clinic which resulted in me spending a long time sorting out the resulting meds. Then came the slipper sorting, we are still short of many boys returning for school this week which means I am unable to get their shoe size. I have asked the dorm master to go round and check the sizes against other boys who have been issued with slippers. Save me time tomorrow as I need to go back into town and swap sizes etc.
The mood at SCANN was not good today as a number of the older boys who have finished at college and are in part time or temporary work have been asked to move on and become independant. It is always a hard time pushing the fledglings out of the nest, so mood was heavy. I am very tired and on my way home, I had thought about not sending the email today, but thought it had been a while.
Lots of love care of yourselves,
Susannah
Christmas Day was a manic and fun event with lots of activities and smiles at SCANN.
Well the New Year has started with my guard and his family leaving on the 31st December. Must admit things were starting to be a bit difficult as after Gibson had been here for a while he invited his wife and three children ‘to visit’ this wouldn’t have been too bad but they didn’t ever leave. This meant that they were here living in the one roomed ‘guard room’ (whilst in Kenya this is still considered to be roomy) they still had to run of the compound (grounds) and freedom to come and go as they please.
When I returned from the UK and put in some rules it was me who was made to feel that I was interfering with their world, as opposed to them living on my property. We had various issues that were not easily resolved like…… trust…… that is a big one for me as you can imagine with what happened with the last guard.
We decided to part company and for a few days I was without a guard but the dogs watched out for us. Catherine and I managed to have a crazy last minute New Years Eve, we dressed up and went to Sumit a large night club. It was so packed that we actually thought about coming home again, instead we held out and had a mad night, dancing like crazy people. We eventually summoned the taxi to collect us at 6am getting home with the dawn light at 6.30. We were exhausted but had had a good night. I let the dogs loose for a run then closed them again and went to bed. At 10 am I awoke fed the dogs and remembered I had two chickens that needed attention to. As Gibson had dealt with them I followed what he did and collected some kale leaves from the veg patch tied them by the stalks and went to the chicken house to hang them for the chickens. Catherine at this point joined me and showed me what to do, add some maize meal and water to the kale and they had a banquet, no eggs though!
We then had food and went back for an afternoon snooze, needless to say we were exhausted. I got up and did some housework and then cooked dinner, chicken in coconut, potato/sweet potato/carrot and onion mash together with some tomato and onion salad, it was lovely and well received.
Thomas (my lodger) had left for Nairobi on Tuesday morning and I went with him as I decided to meet up with a guy who maybe able to provide some work for the university graduate from Scann. Although John wants to study for his Masters the trustees of SCANN are unable to fund further studies and he has to do so under his own steam. He will have to earn a living so he can save to study further. I was treated to lunch and a nice afternoon visiting the new offices of the company in Nairobi, however my hope for an opening concerning work was not fruitful as he was leaving for two weeks leave in South Africa the following morning and so my request was delayed until his return, good excuse for another lunch!
Thomas left me with his parting gift to the boys, sorting out giving them ‘slippers’ which are like flip flops, basically rubbers that they use in the dorms and around the project when they are at 'home'. The problem is this is not a small job, we have ordered to slippers and now find that the boys have given all the wrong sizes, this means that I have to sort what we have and then return and exhange what does not fit. With 130 boys who some lucky ones are spending Christmas with relatives and friends I am finding it a slow and thankless job. Hopefully tomorrow the balance of the boys will be at SCANN ready for starting school again this week.
I have given up on the sewing front and asked Yasmin to order some more shorts for school as the ones they have given me to repair are beyond it by hand.
My attempt at stopping the dogs from having puppies again has been a little late for Fatso who is now hobbling around looking sorry for herself with a very swollen belly…… yep looks like she was already with pups when I gave her the injection as she hasn’t been out since and is definitely looking like she will deliver in the next week. I am unable to feel any movement though and whilst it is a bad thought I am half hoping that the injection will result in ‘still births’ the thought of going through puppy raising again is not one that fills me with pleasure
I met a man yesterday who was recommended to me for an askari, I interviewed him and he appears good, I asked him to come to the house today and we would start a months trial. My phone went at 7am, after a sleepless night of the dogs being restless and barking, it was Henry the new askari saying he was here. I leapt out of bed and quickly dressed and was greeted at the gate by Henry with a beaming smile of his face telling me he was so happy to be here……. We will see. At least he doesn’t have a family in tow. He is at the moment busy tidying the ‘compound’ as he has been out of work for a while and is excited of being able to work he wont stop. It would be nice to have someone that I feel happy with, instead of someone who I tolerate because I have no one else.
I have taken the day off today to be around the house for him to settle, although I will be heading into town in the afternoon for flea powder for the dogs and some food. Maybe even manage a quick sit by the pool with a book for an hour. I have decided to speak to Yasmin and let her know that I will do SCANN every alternate day as I am finding everyday a bit too much with looking after the house as well.
I have had an enquiry from Facebook, a lady looking for accommodation for two weeks end of Jan beg of Feb, only problem is her project is the other side of town, will see what she says after she gets my email…..fingers crossed.
Ok well it is now 11.45am and it is so hot outside that the dogs are struggling to find shade from its glare and Henry is still working hard. I have done all my house work and busied myself sorting washing and dusting. I think I deserve an hour of indulgence by the pool especially as I will be at SCANN tomorrow for the doctors visit and sorting the slippers.
Love to you all, I hope you all get what you wish for in 2009 together with happiness and good health.
Ok that was yesterday, today has been a day and a half, so hectic, especially as the new guard is not too well versed in the barking of my dogs, I was up in the night so many times, I think there was alot of dogs running round the neighbourhood annoying the others. I spent most of the morning with the doctor at SCANN as we had a number of visitors to the clinic which resulted in me spending a long time sorting out the resulting meds. Then came the slipper sorting, we are still short of many boys returning for school this week which means I am unable to get their shoe size. I have asked the dorm master to go round and check the sizes against other boys who have been issued with slippers. Save me time tomorrow as I need to go back into town and swap sizes etc.
The mood at SCANN was not good today as a number of the older boys who have finished at college and are in part time or temporary work have been asked to move on and become independant. It is always a hard time pushing the fledglings out of the nest, so mood was heavy. I am very tired and on my way home, I had thought about not sending the email today, but thought it had been a while.
Lots of love care of yourselves,
Susannah
Wednesday, 24 December 2008
Christmas Eve
Hi Everyone,
I hope you are all well and truly into the festive spirit. Yesterday at Scann I had arranged for the boys to show us what they perform at their evening talent shows that they hold three evenings a week. As none of us are about in the evening we miss out. I put up the Christmas tree with decs with help from a few of the boys and decorated the dining hall with lots of help, it still looks a bit bleak but not as bad as usual. I did warn the boys that this year if anyone removed the decorations from the tree I wouldn't put one up next year, I went in today and counted, not one of the wooden ornaments has gone but that was just day one!
The talent event was great the boys had a great time sharing their talents and the staff enjoyed watching. We were even gathered together at one stage into the centre of the dining hall and told to sit in a ring on chairs. Little did we know that we were to take part in 'musical chairs' what a laugh we had......... the boys laughed so much it was great, and I won!!!!!
The best part for me was being treated to a show by the 'c' group of acrobats. It was the smallest boys at SCANN. I sat with tears whelling as I watched the likes of Davey and James Mwangi performing acrobatic feats, some of you will remember Mwangi had been very ill last year always sickly and backwards and forwards to the hospital, even on the last day I was there he had to go for bloods and x-rays. The boys looked so proud and performed beautifully, (well maybe the timing was a bit out and the left leg instead of the right leg was used in the dancing but it was fab). Nathalie I will put some of the videos on a cd and send them to you for the girls to watch.
I left there to go home to many many basins of water as we have been without for 3 days again as there is a problem with the pump at the pumpng station. I called my contact who promised we would have water that day, unfortunately the pressure was so low that we could only get it in basins as it was not pressured enough to get the pump working!
My volunteer house guest (Thomas) is very very adaptable and understanding and quite happy with the facilities available, actually we whop and wail when we actually get a shower. Luckily he had previously spent a year in Colombia and is used to basics!
Tomorrow will be a busy day as Thomas and I are spending the day at SCANN entertaining the children, should be fun.... in addition Thomas and I have bought in some sacks of fruit from the market to add to the boys festivie lunch oranges and bananas which will be given on two different days. After all the activities of tomorrow I think I will need a stiff drink by evening. I am taking Boxing Day off to continue the sewing as I am getting behind, my stitching clothes in the evening days are well and truly over, eyes are not what they used to be!!!! (Sign of age..........um think not just bad eyes).
Thomas and I have discussed going out for Chinese tonight as Christmas Eve treat, although an early night maybe on the cards, in view of tomorrows exertions. In preparation of Catherine leaving for a week to visit her family I went home last night and after about half a box of matches managed to light an amazing jiko, Thomas decided he would cook a spag bol, not that he has cooked before in the true Kenyan way (a back breaking event bending over the small stove). The meal was good and we even managed a large home made creme caramel too for pud, Catherine was amazed we managed to do all this before she got home for dinner. Thomas and I had had a mad dash round town earlier buying things to make 'booty bags' for the boys, we spent our Christmas Eve, sitting at the cleared diningroom table, filling plastic bags with bits and bobs listening to music, chatting and feeling great well into the early hours. What a great way to spend Christmas Eve!
The animals are very well and growing bigger by the moment, Paka is aloof but still around, he loves my ankles around meal time!
It is still hot and very very dry, my shamba is now full of drooping plants in great need of rain, actually everywhere here is in need of rain to get rid of the awful dust, which believe me, gets everywhere!
My love to everyone and my thoughts are with you all over Christmas, Think my Christmas lunch will be a bun and a soda but alot of fun. The boys all send their love and keep asking when my friends are coming.......................
I hope you like my Christmas card, I didn't send any this year, how bad am I........
SO I WILL END NOW WITH MY LOVE TO YOU ALL, PEACE AND FESTIVE WISHES ALL ROUND.
SUSANNAH XXXXXX
I hope you are all well and truly into the festive spirit. Yesterday at Scann I had arranged for the boys to show us what they perform at their evening talent shows that they hold three evenings a week. As none of us are about in the evening we miss out. I put up the Christmas tree with decs with help from a few of the boys and decorated the dining hall with lots of help, it still looks a bit bleak but not as bad as usual. I did warn the boys that this year if anyone removed the decorations from the tree I wouldn't put one up next year, I went in today and counted, not one of the wooden ornaments has gone but that was just day one!
The talent event was great the boys had a great time sharing their talents and the staff enjoyed watching. We were even gathered together at one stage into the centre of the dining hall and told to sit in a ring on chairs. Little did we know that we were to take part in 'musical chairs' what a laugh we had......... the boys laughed so much it was great, and I won!!!!!
The best part for me was being treated to a show by the 'c' group of acrobats. It was the smallest boys at SCANN. I sat with tears whelling as I watched the likes of Davey and James Mwangi performing acrobatic feats, some of you will remember Mwangi had been very ill last year always sickly and backwards and forwards to the hospital, even on the last day I was there he had to go for bloods and x-rays. The boys looked so proud and performed beautifully, (well maybe the timing was a bit out and the left leg instead of the right leg was used in the dancing but it was fab). Nathalie I will put some of the videos on a cd and send them to you for the girls to watch.
I left there to go home to many many basins of water as we have been without for 3 days again as there is a problem with the pump at the pumpng station. I called my contact who promised we would have water that day, unfortunately the pressure was so low that we could only get it in basins as it was not pressured enough to get the pump working!
My volunteer house guest (Thomas) is very very adaptable and understanding and quite happy with the facilities available, actually we whop and wail when we actually get a shower. Luckily he had previously spent a year in Colombia and is used to basics!
Tomorrow will be a busy day as Thomas and I are spending the day at SCANN entertaining the children, should be fun.... in addition Thomas and I have bought in some sacks of fruit from the market to add to the boys festivie lunch oranges and bananas which will be given on two different days. After all the activities of tomorrow I think I will need a stiff drink by evening. I am taking Boxing Day off to continue the sewing as I am getting behind, my stitching clothes in the evening days are well and truly over, eyes are not what they used to be!!!! (Sign of age..........um think not just bad eyes).
Thomas and I have discussed going out for Chinese tonight as Christmas Eve treat, although an early night maybe on the cards, in view of tomorrows exertions. In preparation of Catherine leaving for a week to visit her family I went home last night and after about half a box of matches managed to light an amazing jiko, Thomas decided he would cook a spag bol, not that he has cooked before in the true Kenyan way (a back breaking event bending over the small stove). The meal was good and we even managed a large home made creme caramel too for pud, Catherine was amazed we managed to do all this before she got home for dinner. Thomas and I had had a mad dash round town earlier buying things to make 'booty bags' for the boys, we spent our Christmas Eve, sitting at the cleared diningroom table, filling plastic bags with bits and bobs listening to music, chatting and feeling great well into the early hours. What a great way to spend Christmas Eve!
The animals are very well and growing bigger by the moment, Paka is aloof but still around, he loves my ankles around meal time!
It is still hot and very very dry, my shamba is now full of drooping plants in great need of rain, actually everywhere here is in need of rain to get rid of the awful dust, which believe me, gets everywhere!
My love to everyone and my thoughts are with you all over Christmas, Think my Christmas lunch will be a bun and a soda but alot of fun. The boys all send their love and keep asking when my friends are coming.......................
I hope you like my Christmas card, I didn't send any this year, how bad am I........
SO I WILL END NOW WITH MY LOVE TO YOU ALL, PEACE AND FESTIVE WISHES ALL ROUND.
SUSANNAH XXXXXX
Thursday, 18 December 2008
Still cooking - alive and kicking
Jambo,
Thought I would take a break from a day in Nairobi and send you a belated email....... Well in my last email I spoke too soon on the sewing front. I have started going throught the boys new lockers checking their clothes and issuing them with padlocks for their doors. The sewing I was getting was the tip of the iceberg, I have done 24 lockers to date and ended up with 15 pairs of school shorts that need sewing, some need burning!! I have taken a bundle home and will work through them, slowly. I thought the inventory of the boys clothes would be good - it would mean that we could keep note in their file of what they have therefore what they need, instead of the boy with 5 jumpers getting another when he has 1 pair of trousers. I hadn't really thought it through it is a slow slow slow process and is very depressing. At least I am spending time with each of the boys even if it is over his clothes.
I have been asked to take remedial lessons with some of the boys who haven't performed well at all, mainly the young ones, they were supposed to start school after Christmas but they just aren't ready. So one-on-one I am to teach them basic English....... I will need all the luck I can get. Armed with some resources that I was given by my sister from her girls I hope to achieve something at least, patience will be a virtue that I will need to possess as two of the boys have major concentration problems.
Ok how have things been, other than trying to avoid Christmas totally, not alot has changed. My first volunteer guest is well established at mine, he is a 30 year old guy called Thomas from Switzerland. A very nice and helpful person, he fits in well in the crazy household at the moment, doesnt even mind all the basin washing. My water pump has died from being sat too long without use and water damage so it was replaced at great cost yesterday. We now have a tank full of water and the use of the ....... wait for it...... showers.
The chickens are giving us eggs sporadically, but not sure if that has something to do with the fact that the guards wife is looking after them and she has 3 children!!!! I have been told that Gibson and his family are leaving me on 2nd January as he is returning to studies. You know this means trying to find another guard, a job that I really don't relish.
This morning I got up at 5am, sorted the dogs, cleaned, set the breakfast table, bathed and dressed ready to go to Nairobi. I had an early meeting with Millicent from the Salvation Army who is helping me renew my 'missionary' visa. She wanted me in Nairobi at 8.30 I kindly told her that 9 would be more realistic. As it happens I was out the house and heading into town at 6.30am. The matatu left at 7am and was not slow about his journey, looked like I would be there with good time.
Little did I know..... the down hill approach to Nairobi was not a good one, we approached a 'car park' everyone was at standstill with no sign on moving. Horns blared and tempers flared. No one could see the reason for the problem. All the public transport were trying to find short cuts only to be turned around by police. We inched round for ages looking for ways through, eventually the driver went all the way round Nairobi outskirts.... now this doesn't seem to be a problem .... except that I only know the place that I usually get the Matatu driver to drop me off at enroute into town. I recognised nothing, it was now 10.30 and I was very late. I called Millicent and apologised telling her that I had no idea where I was, the driver explained that we were at the matatu depot 20 minutes walk from her.
Now in a place that I know where I am this would not be a problem but here it was something I was not happy with. Eventually the driver agreed when he parked at the depot he would walk me to where I needed to be. We walked at a fast pace and it was indeed a 25 minute walk, I gave him enough money for a beer and thanked him. I will never travel without my street map again, even if I know where I am going. Millicent and I went to the immigration office and were told to return in the morning, I nearly cried........ until the officer said that it was only a paperwork thing and Millicent could attend without me. They would locate my application from July and reinstate it as it had expired while I was in UK. I breathed a sigh of relief, took Millicent out for lunch and phoned Jemo (one of the acrobats in Nairobi) who joined me and then walked me back to the Mololine shuttle station as I wouldn't find my way back. It has been a hot and apparently fruitless day, but I have had lunch, met an old friend, and been on a long long long journey.
I staggered from the matatu when we arrived in Nakuru, dehydrated and sweating like a pig (due to taking the last seat on the matatu which happened to be right in the back and on the sunny side all the way home!). I probably smell awful, but I am sat in the internet with a cold stoney drink and talking to all of you. What more could I want........... other than a change of clothes and a shower!!!
I am busy trying to sort out Christmas day at Scann and have now got Thomas who will also be there, I have decided to buy a sack of oranges and a banana each for the boys, something they don't have often. Thomas is looking into getting them all 'Slippers' what we call flipflops which is what most of them wear when at 'home'.
My love to you all, Christmas is just round the corner now and it seems like light years away. I know you are all busy with your plans and will be spending time with your family and friends. I will be there in spirit even if I will be run ragged by the boys partying.
I am possibly treating myself out for New Years Eve, but wait and see, I will try and find somewhere different so that hopefully the troublesome ones won't be around to pester me! Take care, thinking of you all,
Susannah
Nathalie..... keep those chocs away from Alfie, he is only pretending to be good until the Xmas chocs arrive!David... fingers crossed
Kimberley.... glad you got to salsa, you need to extend your social life....xxxx
Paul-Simon...... nice pic took me ages to try and find Mackenzie, give her my love (if she remembers me)
Jean..... thanks for the phone call, but not sure whose phone is bad but you sound like you have a mouth full of bubbles!
Doris..... Have a G&T for me xx
Thought I would take a break from a day in Nairobi and send you a belated email....... Well in my last email I spoke too soon on the sewing front. I have started going throught the boys new lockers checking their clothes and issuing them with padlocks for their doors. The sewing I was getting was the tip of the iceberg, I have done 24 lockers to date and ended up with 15 pairs of school shorts that need sewing, some need burning!! I have taken a bundle home and will work through them, slowly. I thought the inventory of the boys clothes would be good - it would mean that we could keep note in their file of what they have therefore what they need, instead of the boy with 5 jumpers getting another when he has 1 pair of trousers. I hadn't really thought it through it is a slow slow slow process and is very depressing. At least I am spending time with each of the boys even if it is over his clothes.
I have been asked to take remedial lessons with some of the boys who haven't performed well at all, mainly the young ones, they were supposed to start school after Christmas but they just aren't ready. So one-on-one I am to teach them basic English....... I will need all the luck I can get. Armed with some resources that I was given by my sister from her girls I hope to achieve something at least, patience will be a virtue that I will need to possess as two of the boys have major concentration problems.
Ok how have things been, other than trying to avoid Christmas totally, not alot has changed. My first volunteer guest is well established at mine, he is a 30 year old guy called Thomas from Switzerland. A very nice and helpful person, he fits in well in the crazy household at the moment, doesnt even mind all the basin washing. My water pump has died from being sat too long without use and water damage so it was replaced at great cost yesterday. We now have a tank full of water and the use of the ....... wait for it...... showers.
The chickens are giving us eggs sporadically, but not sure if that has something to do with the fact that the guards wife is looking after them and she has 3 children!!!! I have been told that Gibson and his family are leaving me on 2nd January as he is returning to studies. You know this means trying to find another guard, a job that I really don't relish.
This morning I got up at 5am, sorted the dogs, cleaned, set the breakfast table, bathed and dressed ready to go to Nairobi. I had an early meeting with Millicent from the Salvation Army who is helping me renew my 'missionary' visa. She wanted me in Nairobi at 8.30 I kindly told her that 9 would be more realistic. As it happens I was out the house and heading into town at 6.30am. The matatu left at 7am and was not slow about his journey, looked like I would be there with good time.
Little did I know..... the down hill approach to Nairobi was not a good one, we approached a 'car park' everyone was at standstill with no sign on moving. Horns blared and tempers flared. No one could see the reason for the problem. All the public transport were trying to find short cuts only to be turned around by police. We inched round for ages looking for ways through, eventually the driver went all the way round Nairobi outskirts.... now this doesn't seem to be a problem .... except that I only know the place that I usually get the Matatu driver to drop me off at enroute into town. I recognised nothing, it was now 10.30 and I was very late. I called Millicent and apologised telling her that I had no idea where I was, the driver explained that we were at the matatu depot 20 minutes walk from her.
Now in a place that I know where I am this would not be a problem but here it was something I was not happy with. Eventually the driver agreed when he parked at the depot he would walk me to where I needed to be. We walked at a fast pace and it was indeed a 25 minute walk, I gave him enough money for a beer and thanked him. I will never travel without my street map again, even if I know where I am going. Millicent and I went to the immigration office and were told to return in the morning, I nearly cried........ until the officer said that it was only a paperwork thing and Millicent could attend without me. They would locate my application from July and reinstate it as it had expired while I was in UK. I breathed a sigh of relief, took Millicent out for lunch and phoned Jemo (one of the acrobats in Nairobi) who joined me and then walked me back to the Mololine shuttle station as I wouldn't find my way back. It has been a hot and apparently fruitless day, but I have had lunch, met an old friend, and been on a long long long journey.
I staggered from the matatu when we arrived in Nakuru, dehydrated and sweating like a pig (due to taking the last seat on the matatu which happened to be right in the back and on the sunny side all the way home!). I probably smell awful, but I am sat in the internet with a cold stoney drink and talking to all of you. What more could I want........... other than a change of clothes and a shower!!!
I am busy trying to sort out Christmas day at Scann and have now got Thomas who will also be there, I have decided to buy a sack of oranges and a banana each for the boys, something they don't have often. Thomas is looking into getting them all 'Slippers' what we call flipflops which is what most of them wear when at 'home'.
My love to you all, Christmas is just round the corner now and it seems like light years away. I know you are all busy with your plans and will be spending time with your family and friends. I will be there in spirit even if I will be run ragged by the boys partying.
I am possibly treating myself out for New Years Eve, but wait and see, I will try and find somewhere different so that hopefully the troublesome ones won't be around to pester me! Take care, thinking of you all,
Susannah
Nathalie..... keep those chocs away from Alfie, he is only pretending to be good until the Xmas chocs arrive!David... fingers crossed
Kimberley.... glad you got to salsa, you need to extend your social life....xxxx
Paul-Simon...... nice pic took me ages to try and find Mackenzie, give her my love (if she remembers me)
Jean..... thanks for the phone call, but not sure whose phone is bad but you sound like you have a mouth full of bubbles!
Doris..... Have a G&T for me xx
Sunday, 14 December 2008
Jambo
Jambo,
Thought I would take a break from a day in Nairobi and send you a belated email....... Well in my last email I spoke too soon on the sewing front. I have started going through the boys new lockers checking their clothes and issuing them with padlocks for their doors.
The sewing I was getting was the tip of the iceberg, I have done 24 lockers to date and ended up with 15 pairs of school shorts that need sewing, some need burning!! I have taken a bundle home and will work through them, slowly. I thought the inventory of the boys clothes would be good - it would mean that we could keep note in their file of what they have therefore what they need, instead of the boy with 5 jumpers getting another when he has 1 pair of trousers. I hadn't really thought it through it is a slow slow slow process and is very depressing. At least I am spending time with each of the boys even if it is over his clothes.
I have been asked to take remedial lessons with some of the boys who haven't performed well at all, mainly the young ones, they were supposed to start school after Christmas but they just aren't ready. So one on one I am to teach them basic English....... I will need all the luck I can get. Armed with some resources that I was given by my sister from her girls I hope to achieve something at least, patience will be a virtue that I will need to possess as two of the boys have major concentration problems.
Ok how have things been, other than trying to avoid Christmas totally, not a lot has changed. My first volunteer guest is well established at mine, he is a 30 year old guy called Thomas from Switzerland. A very nice and helpful person, he fits in well in the crazy household at the moment, doesn't even mind all the basin washing. My water pump has died from being sat too long without use and water damage so it was replaced at great cost yesterday. We now have a tank full of water and the use of the ....... wait for it...... showers. The chickens are giving us eggs sporadically, but not sure if that has something to do with the fact that the guards wife is looking after them and she has 3 children!!!! I have been told that Gibson and his family are leaving me on 2nd January as he is returning to studies. You know this means trying to find another guard, a job that I really don't relish.
This morning I got up at 5am, sorted the dogs, cleaned, set the breakfast table, bathed and dressed ready to go to Nairobi. I had an early meeting with Millicent from the Salvation Army who is helping me renew my 'missionary' visa. She wanted me in Nairobi at 8.30 I kindly told her that 9 would be more realistic. As it happens I was out the house and heading into town at 6.30am. The matatu left at 7am and was not slow about his journey, looked like I would be there with good time. Little did I know..... the down hill approach to Nairobi was not a good one, we approached a 'car park' everyone was at standstill with no sign on moving.
Horns blared and tempers flared. No one could see the reason for the problem. All the public transport were trying to find short cuts only to be turned around by police. We inched round for ages looking for ways through, eventually the driver went all the way round Nairobi outskirts.... now this doesn't seem to be a problem .... except that I only know the place that I usually get the Matatu driver to drop me off at en route into town. I recognised nothing, it was now 10.30 and I was very late. I called Millicent and apologised telling her that I had no idea where I was, the driver explained that we were at the matatu depot 20 minutes walk from her. Now in a place that I know where I am this would not be a problem but here it was something I was not happy with. Eventually the driver agreed when he parked at the depot he would walk me to where I needed to be. We walked at a fast pace and it was indeed a 25 minute walk, I gave him enough money for a beer and thanked him.
I will never travel without my street map again, even if I know where I am going. Millicent and I went to the immigration office and were told to return in the morning, I nearly cried........ until the officer said that it was only a paperwork thing and Millicent could attend without me. They would locate my application from July and reinstate it as it had expired while I was in UK. I breathed a sigh of relief, took Millicent out for lunch and phoned Jemo (one of the acrobats in Nairobi) who joined me and then walked me back to the Molo line Matatu station as I wouldn't find my way back.
It has been a hot and apparently fruitless day, but I have had lunch, met an old friend, and been on a long long long journey. I staggered from the matatu when we arrived in Nakuru, dehydrated and sweating like a pig (due to taking the last seat on the matatu which happened to be right in the back and on the sunny side all the way home!). I probably smell awful, but I am sat in the internet with a cold stoney drink and talking to all of you. What more could I want........... other than a change of clothes and a shower!!!
I am busy trying to sort out Christmas day at Scann and have now got Thomas who will also be there, I have decided to by a sack of oranges and a banana each for the boys, something they don't have often, Thomas is looking into getting them all 'Slippers' what we call flip flops which is what most of them wear when at 'home'.
My love to you all, Christmas is just round the corner now and it seems like light years away. I know you are all busy with your plans and will be spending time with your family and friends. I will be there in spirit even if I will be run ragged by the boys partying. I am possibly treating myself out for New Years Eve, but wait and see, I will try and find somewhere different so that hopefully the troublesome ones won't be around to pester me!
Take care, thinking of you all,
Susannah
Thought I would take a break from a day in Nairobi and send you a belated email....... Well in my last email I spoke too soon on the sewing front. I have started going through the boys new lockers checking their clothes and issuing them with padlocks for their doors.
The sewing I was getting was the tip of the iceberg, I have done 24 lockers to date and ended up with 15 pairs of school shorts that need sewing, some need burning!! I have taken a bundle home and will work through them, slowly. I thought the inventory of the boys clothes would be good - it would mean that we could keep note in their file of what they have therefore what they need, instead of the boy with 5 jumpers getting another when he has 1 pair of trousers. I hadn't really thought it through it is a slow slow slow process and is very depressing. At least I am spending time with each of the boys even if it is over his clothes.
I have been asked to take remedial lessons with some of the boys who haven't performed well at all, mainly the young ones, they were supposed to start school after Christmas but they just aren't ready. So one on one I am to teach them basic English....... I will need all the luck I can get. Armed with some resources that I was given by my sister from her girls I hope to achieve something at least, patience will be a virtue that I will need to possess as two of the boys have major concentration problems.
Ok how have things been, other than trying to avoid Christmas totally, not a lot has changed. My first volunteer guest is well established at mine, he is a 30 year old guy called Thomas from Switzerland. A very nice and helpful person, he fits in well in the crazy household at the moment, doesn't even mind all the basin washing. My water pump has died from being sat too long without use and water damage so it was replaced at great cost yesterday. We now have a tank full of water and the use of the ....... wait for it...... showers. The chickens are giving us eggs sporadically, but not sure if that has something to do with the fact that the guards wife is looking after them and she has 3 children!!!! I have been told that Gibson and his family are leaving me on 2nd January as he is returning to studies. You know this means trying to find another guard, a job that I really don't relish.
This morning I got up at 5am, sorted the dogs, cleaned, set the breakfast table, bathed and dressed ready to go to Nairobi. I had an early meeting with Millicent from the Salvation Army who is helping me renew my 'missionary' visa. She wanted me in Nairobi at 8.30 I kindly told her that 9 would be more realistic. As it happens I was out the house and heading into town at 6.30am. The matatu left at 7am and was not slow about his journey, looked like I would be there with good time. Little did I know..... the down hill approach to Nairobi was not a good one, we approached a 'car park' everyone was at standstill with no sign on moving.
Horns blared and tempers flared. No one could see the reason for the problem. All the public transport were trying to find short cuts only to be turned around by police. We inched round for ages looking for ways through, eventually the driver went all the way round Nairobi outskirts.... now this doesn't seem to be a problem .... except that I only know the place that I usually get the Matatu driver to drop me off at en route into town. I recognised nothing, it was now 10.30 and I was very late. I called Millicent and apologised telling her that I had no idea where I was, the driver explained that we were at the matatu depot 20 minutes walk from her. Now in a place that I know where I am this would not be a problem but here it was something I was not happy with. Eventually the driver agreed when he parked at the depot he would walk me to where I needed to be. We walked at a fast pace and it was indeed a 25 minute walk, I gave him enough money for a beer and thanked him.
I will never travel without my street map again, even if I know where I am going. Millicent and I went to the immigration office and were told to return in the morning, I nearly cried........ until the officer said that it was only a paperwork thing and Millicent could attend without me. They would locate my application from July and reinstate it as it had expired while I was in UK. I breathed a sigh of relief, took Millicent out for lunch and phoned Jemo (one of the acrobats in Nairobi) who joined me and then walked me back to the Molo line Matatu station as I wouldn't find my way back.
It has been a hot and apparently fruitless day, but I have had lunch, met an old friend, and been on a long long long journey. I staggered from the matatu when we arrived in Nakuru, dehydrated and sweating like a pig (due to taking the last seat on the matatu which happened to be right in the back and on the sunny side all the way home!). I probably smell awful, but I am sat in the internet with a cold stoney drink and talking to all of you. What more could I want........... other than a change of clothes and a shower!!!
I am busy trying to sort out Christmas day at Scann and have now got Thomas who will also be there, I have decided to by a sack of oranges and a banana each for the boys, something they don't have often, Thomas is looking into getting them all 'Slippers' what we call flip flops which is what most of them wear when at 'home'.
My love to you all, Christmas is just round the corner now and it seems like light years away. I know you are all busy with your plans and will be spending time with your family and friends. I will be there in spirit even if I will be run ragged by the boys partying. I am possibly treating myself out for New Years Eve, but wait and see, I will try and find somewhere different so that hopefully the troublesome ones won't be around to pester me!
Take care, thinking of you all,
Susannah
Wednesday, 10 December 2008
Short and sweet - the email and I both
Hi,
just a quick update, the internet has been a real pain recently I have had to source out another internet cafe. I promised myself that last night I would sit and write you an email but was so tired that it just didnt happen.
Last Thursday, I acquired a house guest, Mama Sweeties oldest daughter Grace who is 12. With the disruption of the clashes here in Kenya and the loss of her father etc etc, most of you know the story already..... her grades in school were not as hoped and she is attending extra holiday tuition in Nakuru, which is some way from her home. I now have Grace living with me for three weeks. She was very quiet but is now settling in well and even managing to make jokes and acting like a true 12 year old.
Moving on, let us all hiphip horray............. I had a HOT shower yesterday, well actually the story goes like this, Grace and I got home, hot, tired and very dusty and we still had water in the mains so I decided to test the showers, finding they worked I had planned on taking a shower after washing my clothes. That was the plan until I realised whilst washing my clothes that the shower in the bathroom was running.... Grace had beat me to it. Her face was a delight, a hot shower!!!! Needless to say I followed a micro second behind her, it was F A B! Catherine who is also staying at the house missed the shower though as by the time she got in from SCANN the mains had finished, but we told her how G R E A T it was !
I am expecting a volunteer to arrive sometime next week, he is someone who Yasmine from SCANN has arranged to visit and spend time at the project. That is all I know and he is down to stay with me for two weeks. All of you that were planning on visiting just to let you know, he will be my B&B guinea pig. Should be fun! At least it will be a bit of spends coming in before Christmas to put in the savings pot. If it goes well who knows the business may become multi national!
Today I spent the day sorting out new systems for SCANN for inventory and also sewing the uniforms that have gaping holes in the seams, my fingers are killing me, I really forgot how to appreciate the sewing machine while I had it. The boys are very healthy as the doctor has been attending to them in my absence with help from Anastasia one of the teachers as 'attending nurse'. Dr. Kuria was overjoyed with the additions of medical items that I managed to bring over with me, thanks to those concerned.
Friday here is a public holiday and I am planning on taking the day off, so far I am working every day and getting exhausted, not a good thing. I think all that souvenier eating in the UK has made me sluggish! Certainly not as fit as I used to be before I left here.
The weather is still hot and dry, although Monday we had some rain and managed to collect water for the parched plants. The animals are fine, although no sign of any eggs from the chickens yet, but alot of clucking!!!!
Love to you all, will spend more time next time working out what to write.
Take care and keep well.xxxxxxx
Susannah
just a quick update, the internet has been a real pain recently I have had to source out another internet cafe. I promised myself that last night I would sit and write you an email but was so tired that it just didnt happen.
Last Thursday, I acquired a house guest, Mama Sweeties oldest daughter Grace who is 12. With the disruption of the clashes here in Kenya and the loss of her father etc etc, most of you know the story already..... her grades in school were not as hoped and she is attending extra holiday tuition in Nakuru, which is some way from her home. I now have Grace living with me for three weeks. She was very quiet but is now settling in well and even managing to make jokes and acting like a true 12 year old.
Moving on, let us all hiphip horray............. I had a HOT shower yesterday, well actually the story goes like this, Grace and I got home, hot, tired and very dusty and we still had water in the mains so I decided to test the showers, finding they worked I had planned on taking a shower after washing my clothes. That was the plan until I realised whilst washing my clothes that the shower in the bathroom was running.... Grace had beat me to it. Her face was a delight, a hot shower!!!! Needless to say I followed a micro second behind her, it was F A B! Catherine who is also staying at the house missed the shower though as by the time she got in from SCANN the mains had finished, but we told her how G R E A T it was !
I am expecting a volunteer to arrive sometime next week, he is someone who Yasmine from SCANN has arranged to visit and spend time at the project. That is all I know and he is down to stay with me for two weeks. All of you that were planning on visiting just to let you know, he will be my B&B guinea pig. Should be fun! At least it will be a bit of spends coming in before Christmas to put in the savings pot. If it goes well who knows the business may become multi national!
Today I spent the day sorting out new systems for SCANN for inventory and also sewing the uniforms that have gaping holes in the seams, my fingers are killing me, I really forgot how to appreciate the sewing machine while I had it. The boys are very healthy as the doctor has been attending to them in my absence with help from Anastasia one of the teachers as 'attending nurse'. Dr. Kuria was overjoyed with the additions of medical items that I managed to bring over with me, thanks to those concerned.
Friday here is a public holiday and I am planning on taking the day off, so far I am working every day and getting exhausted, not a good thing. I think all that souvenier eating in the UK has made me sluggish! Certainly not as fit as I used to be before I left here.
The weather is still hot and dry, although Monday we had some rain and managed to collect water for the parched plants. The animals are fine, although no sign of any eggs from the chickens yet, but alot of clucking!!!!
Love to you all, will spend more time next time working out what to write.
Take care and keep well.xxxxxxx
Susannah
Sunday, 7 December 2008
No name
Hi Guys, having so much trouble updating the 'friends list' for my emails it is driving me crazy! I hope you all get this, if not how will I know who isnt getting it??Ok here is todays email... you ready...
Good morning,
Well, after sitting in the internet yesterday and reading my welcomed emails, I began to write an email to you all, unfortunately the ‘stema’ (electricity) went off leaving me with a blank screen. I waited for the stema to come back on and then hotmail was playing up. So this morning at 7, after letting the dogs out for a run in the ‘compound’ and cooking uji (a kind of porridge, nothing like we know it) I find myself sat at the laptop composing an email to you in order to send later when in town.
As I don’t have my previous email to you I cant remember where we left off although I do remember I had a serious water problem…… or lack of. I called ‘my contact’ at the maji office and he told me he would come and look……… what struck me as amusing was that he was true to his word and the next afternoon he came and sorted the problem. They had been doing a lot of work on the pipes at the water station and it had resulted in a great deal of ‘dirt’ coming through and blocking the filter in the meter. This unblocked we now have water and pressure every other day. Today I hope to check that the large storage tank fills, this will prevent us being without water.
I have spent the week preparing card cut out decorations for the boys to paint and put up for Christmas, we leave it to the last minute as they disappear in a few days as momentos, so the later the better, same goes for the Christmas tree.
On Friday, 5th December it was John Ndolos Graduation from University. I was given one of the two tickets he had to attend and after being given directions on how to get there by matatu I was set. I got up at 6 as usual sorted the dogs, ‘bathed’, and put on a dress…… I know I don’t wear one very often, but needs must. I went with a bottle of drink, a book, some biscuits and some boiled sweets. I got into town by local matatu then went to the ‘stage’ to get the one for Egerton University. It was before 8am and already the Graduation atmosphere was alive, people selling cards and memorabilia in the street and around the matatu. It was obvious that everyone on the matatu was heading for graduation with their gowns and mortars in their bags and clean pressed suits on. The driver went like a ‘bat out of hell’ and we were all grateful to arrive in one piece after a couple of near misses on route. People on the matatu had complained that the price had been hiked for the day from 50ks to 80ks I wasn’t complaining as I was told it would probably be 100ks.
I started talking to a lad (George) on the seat beside me who had completed a Business Management course, he was very pleased but was telling me that the problem with university wasn’t doing the courses it was getting employment afterwards, I told him not to be disheartened and to take anything until he found what he was looking for, it would keep his mind busy and some money in his pocket. When I got of the matatu it struck me just how many people there were attending. The place heaved with graduates in gowns, families and friends, security was tight as they were expecting dignitaries. I walked with George as I was unable to get through on my phone to let John know I had arrived. We wound our way to the Graduation Square where I had a ticket for a seat, unfortunately, the placed was so packed that there were no seats left and standing space was like being in a tin of sardines.
I positioned myself under a tree and spent the next 3 hours scouring the crowds for John, the network still was not working and proceeded to not work for the whole day. I was beginning to feel like a freak with people stopping to stare at me and standing watching me when I caught sight of John making his was over to me, I cant say I wasn’t happy to see him, by the look on his face he was worried he wouldn’t find me too
John led the way to where he was sitting with this fellow grad students, now this was by no means and easy task, because he was in his gowns he was given lea way to accessing the square the fact that I was in tow was a problem because everyone let him squeeze through then they closed the space and I had to be pulled through as I was attached by the hand. He eventually left me at the edge of the graduates seating area under another tree. There was so much moving around and shuffling that I was soon not under the tree but in full sunshine, I had a brollie for a parasol but there were so many people it was impossible to put it up. I managed to stand for a while under the shade of a very tall Masai man in full dress who was standing beside me, that was until the sun moved round.
John had disappeared into a sea of black gowns and mortars, I stood observing the proceeding and marvelled at the number of graduates, I would estimate no less than 1000. It was a great event and when the role call was done and the celebrating began it was like festival time, the orchestra struck up and played Kenyan music and everyone sang and danced.
John found me again and we pushed our way to where he had arranged to meet his family, (his mother and 8 of his 10 siblings), in true Kenyan style theyweren’t there. He left me sitting on the grass under a tree while he went in search of them.
I was happy to sit quietly and relax reading my book, this was not to be, people came up to me asking to have their photo taken with me and their families….. I have never been celebrity status,as you will understand, and this was very weird, people then came joined me because they said I should not sit alone on this fine day……. Etc etc etc.
I was pleased to see John reappear after one and a half hours with his mother, his family still at large. John introduced his mother and whilst he went in further search of his siblings, his mother and I tried limited conversation with a lot of laughing and struggling with the language barrier.
When eventually the group was reunited it was now 4.30 we did introductions and photos and I said I would have to leave to get back to town. We all walked together towards the gates and I was ushered with the group to a white pick-up truck that was parked along with hundreds of other vehicles at the side of the road which was now a car park. Vehicles stopped, bumper to bumper in the traffic jam. A crate of soda was brought from the vehicle together with sweet buns, I can't say that I wasn’t happy at the sight, we all piled into the vehicle and I sat in the back with John and his younger brothers and sisters, I think in the end there were 9 of us in the back, we chatted and amused the kids and awaited opportunity to pull out of the parking space.
The journey back was interesting especially as John said his mother wouldn’t hear of me not going to the house for dinner. So I had been hijacked for a second time, the first was by Nick to visit his family and now John and his family. The journey to Lanet was interesting as there was so much traffic on the roads that we crawled along, I was obviously a sight-and-a-half squatting in the back of a packed pick-up, people stopped, pointed and called and waved at me. I was glad to get to the home as by now I needed the facilities and my legs and bottom were aching.
We had a lovely chicken stew and I wandered how Susanne lived with her remaining 6 children in the two roomed home.
I got home that evening exhausted but pleased that I had decided to attend, I decided to make a small photo album to celebrate the day and give it to John’s mother. The question now is what is John going to do with his Degree in Biomedical Science and Technology. He has looked into doing his Masters at Reading University but, that in itself poses problems with sponsorship to get him allowed to attend the University let alone many other issues.
Who knows what Kenya has to offer all these Graduates, lets hope it is a future.
Ok enough for now. I am fine and soon to head off to SCANN as the doctor is coming today to give the boys a talk before he holds his clinic, I know its Sunday but it is the only day during December that he is able to attend due to commitments. I have managed to light my first jiko (Stove) and cooked dinner last night, even managed to buy a packet of Crème Caramel in the supermarket so we had desert too…I am spoilt!!
It is going to be another hot day.
Love to you all,
(Kimberley hope you found the other legs to the Xmas tree and had fun with Mackenzie.
Paul-Simon and Missy hope you had a good night out and you celebrated your 6 years well.)
Take care of yourselves. I have now left Scann and am at the internet - Catherine has confirmed that my storage tank has just began filling so may manage a shower tonight, if the showers are working, it has been a while. I have my friend Mwangi the electrician on standby for a visit on Tuesday to check them over.
Susannah
Good morning,
Well, after sitting in the internet yesterday and reading my welcomed emails, I began to write an email to you all, unfortunately the ‘stema’ (electricity) went off leaving me with a blank screen. I waited for the stema to come back on and then hotmail was playing up. So this morning at 7, after letting the dogs out for a run in the ‘compound’ and cooking uji (a kind of porridge, nothing like we know it) I find myself sat at the laptop composing an email to you in order to send later when in town.
As I don’t have my previous email to you I cant remember where we left off although I do remember I had a serious water problem…… or lack of. I called ‘my contact’ at the maji office and he told me he would come and look……… what struck me as amusing was that he was true to his word and the next afternoon he came and sorted the problem. They had been doing a lot of work on the pipes at the water station and it had resulted in a great deal of ‘dirt’ coming through and blocking the filter in the meter. This unblocked we now have water and pressure every other day. Today I hope to check that the large storage tank fills, this will prevent us being without water.
I have spent the week preparing card cut out decorations for the boys to paint and put up for Christmas, we leave it to the last minute as they disappear in a few days as momentos, so the later the better, same goes for the Christmas tree.
On Friday, 5th December it was John Ndolos Graduation from University. I was given one of the two tickets he had to attend and after being given directions on how to get there by matatu I was set. I got up at 6 as usual sorted the dogs, ‘bathed’, and put on a dress…… I know I don’t wear one very often, but needs must. I went with a bottle of drink, a book, some biscuits and some boiled sweets. I got into town by local matatu then went to the ‘stage’ to get the one for Egerton University. It was before 8am and already the Graduation atmosphere was alive, people selling cards and memorabilia in the street and around the matatu. It was obvious that everyone on the matatu was heading for graduation with their gowns and mortars in their bags and clean pressed suits on. The driver went like a ‘bat out of hell’ and we were all grateful to arrive in one piece after a couple of near misses on route. People on the matatu had complained that the price had been hiked for the day from 50ks to 80ks I wasn’t complaining as I was told it would probably be 100ks.
I started talking to a lad (George) on the seat beside me who had completed a Business Management course, he was very pleased but was telling me that the problem with university wasn’t doing the courses it was getting employment afterwards, I told him not to be disheartened and to take anything until he found what he was looking for, it would keep his mind busy and some money in his pocket. When I got of the matatu it struck me just how many people there were attending. The place heaved with graduates in gowns, families and friends, security was tight as they were expecting dignitaries. I walked with George as I was unable to get through on my phone to let John know I had arrived. We wound our way to the Graduation Square where I had a ticket for a seat, unfortunately, the placed was so packed that there were no seats left and standing space was like being in a tin of sardines.
I positioned myself under a tree and spent the next 3 hours scouring the crowds for John, the network still was not working and proceeded to not work for the whole day. I was beginning to feel like a freak with people stopping to stare at me and standing watching me when I caught sight of John making his was over to me, I cant say I wasn’t happy to see him, by the look on his face he was worried he wouldn’t find me too
John led the way to where he was sitting with this fellow grad students, now this was by no means and easy task, because he was in his gowns he was given lea way to accessing the square the fact that I was in tow was a problem because everyone let him squeeze through then they closed the space and I had to be pulled through as I was attached by the hand. He eventually left me at the edge of the graduates seating area under another tree. There was so much moving around and shuffling that I was soon not under the tree but in full sunshine, I had a brollie for a parasol but there were so many people it was impossible to put it up. I managed to stand for a while under the shade of a very tall Masai man in full dress who was standing beside me, that was until the sun moved round.
John had disappeared into a sea of black gowns and mortars, I stood observing the proceeding and marvelled at the number of graduates, I would estimate no less than 1000. It was a great event and when the role call was done and the celebrating began it was like festival time, the orchestra struck up and played Kenyan music and everyone sang and danced.
John found me again and we pushed our way to where he had arranged to meet his family, (his mother and 8 of his 10 siblings), in true Kenyan style theyweren’t there. He left me sitting on the grass under a tree while he went in search of them.
I was happy to sit quietly and relax reading my book, this was not to be, people came up to me asking to have their photo taken with me and their families….. I have never been celebrity status,as you will understand, and this was very weird, people then came joined me because they said I should not sit alone on this fine day……. Etc etc etc.
I was pleased to see John reappear after one and a half hours with his mother, his family still at large. John introduced his mother and whilst he went in further search of his siblings, his mother and I tried limited conversation with a lot of laughing and struggling with the language barrier.
When eventually the group was reunited it was now 4.30 we did introductions and photos and I said I would have to leave to get back to town. We all walked together towards the gates and I was ushered with the group to a white pick-up truck that was parked along with hundreds of other vehicles at the side of the road which was now a car park. Vehicles stopped, bumper to bumper in the traffic jam. A crate of soda was brought from the vehicle together with sweet buns, I can't say that I wasn’t happy at the sight, we all piled into the vehicle and I sat in the back with John and his younger brothers and sisters, I think in the end there were 9 of us in the back, we chatted and amused the kids and awaited opportunity to pull out of the parking space.
The journey back was interesting especially as John said his mother wouldn’t hear of me not going to the house for dinner. So I had been hijacked for a second time, the first was by Nick to visit his family and now John and his family. The journey to Lanet was interesting as there was so much traffic on the roads that we crawled along, I was obviously a sight-and-a-half squatting in the back of a packed pick-up, people stopped, pointed and called and waved at me. I was glad to get to the home as by now I needed the facilities and my legs and bottom were aching.
We had a lovely chicken stew and I wandered how Susanne lived with her remaining 6 children in the two roomed home.
I got home that evening exhausted but pleased that I had decided to attend, I decided to make a small photo album to celebrate the day and give it to John’s mother. The question now is what is John going to do with his Degree in Biomedical Science and Technology. He has looked into doing his Masters at Reading University but, that in itself poses problems with sponsorship to get him allowed to attend the University let alone many other issues.
Who knows what Kenya has to offer all these Graduates, lets hope it is a future.
Ok enough for now. I am fine and soon to head off to SCANN as the doctor is coming today to give the boys a talk before he holds his clinic, I know its Sunday but it is the only day during December that he is able to attend due to commitments. I have managed to light my first jiko (Stove) and cooked dinner last night, even managed to buy a packet of Crème Caramel in the supermarket so we had desert too…I am spoilt!!
It is going to be another hot day.
Love to you all,
(Kimberley hope you found the other legs to the Xmas tree and had fun with Mackenzie.
Paul-Simon and Missy hope you had a good night out and you celebrated your 6 years well.)
Take care of yourselves. I have now left Scann and am at the internet - Catherine has confirmed that my storage tank has just began filling so may manage a shower tonight, if the showers are working, it has been a while. I have my friend Mwangi the electrician on standby for a visit on Tuesday to check them over.
Susannah
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