I am so sorry that it has been so long since I last wrote to you all, I bet you are getting bored with nothing else to read! No I haven't been busy writing Christmas cards, sorry not sending any this year......!
OK, I had a meeting with one of the Directors of SCANN who has given me various jobs, one of which to finish the job I started and another Kenyan volunteer took over which entailed logging all the clothes that the boys have in their locker. It would have been a good thing if the new volunteer had used the same format as I was following as it took a long time to establish how many different items of clothes each boys has. The list I have been given as the update has missed off many items making my life very difficult.... do I just go with her list as gospel or do I go back and fill in all the blanks giving myself double the work.
On that note I am still eagerly waiting to complete the above work so that I can give out the donations kindly given by Hawes Down School, but officially until I complete the work I am unable to establish who needs what. I can't wait to take photos and send them back to the school along with some letters.
In addition to this work which is gruelling paperwork, I am also given the job of arranging two parties over Christmas for the boys. These are not parties as we know it just additional items on the menu and if I feel good a dance party, which is crazy hectic especially as most of the staff are off and I am the only volunteer here at the moment. (At least last year I had Thomas to help).
Today we had a 'create our own Christmas decorations' session with two friends who came to help. It was a bit crazy lots of paint, glitter and glue but we had a great time, lots of stories and laughs. I am not sure many of the painted items will be recognised for what they are but they are all named and the boys are proud of their creations. I think more glitter was sprinkled on the boys than on the papers.
In addition to this I am behind on sending my emails and updating my blog, everything here takes so long, travelling to and from SCANN in the heat of the day, struggling along crowded 'pavements' (not as we know them) with bags of work and shopping, then fighting to get a seat on the matatu home when you have to share your seat with another person or sit in the gap between the seats and are still expected to pay full price....... I get exhausted but love it. No wonder I have no social life and fall into bed at 8pm to be awoken by the cockerel anytime from 2.30am!! He may well get eaten over Christmas before more guests arrive! If nothing else I NEED MY BEAUTY SLEEP!!
During the Christmas holidays there is no scheduled work done the boys are left without the tuition that they usually do during other holidays, so we play games, (outdoor and in). They watch movies, they loved the Jumanji and Night at the Museum that I came with, I am not sure how many times they have watched them. I have done no sewing yet as I haven't had the energy, but The Director has offered for me to have someone who does the sewing so I may just have to let them do so, as have little energy for anything else at the moment.
The water situation is fine now, no problem with hot showers, but the rain we had for a few days has now gone, the clouds build with the promise of a heavy fall but they move on elsewhere........ empty promises!
My house without Fatso is a great deal more relaxed, Kim enjoys time in the house when I am around and is great company. Paka is often a distraction when he comes running into the house with a bird in his mouth, Kim never quite knows what to do.... chase the cat or watch in horror as he eats the bird! So many feathers are left lying around for me to clear up, at least there are no gooey bits.
My love to you all at this run up to Christmas, hoping you have already done your shopping to avoid the rush.
Hot and sweaty in Nakuru,
Susannah
Tuesday, 8 December 2009
Water, Water Everywhere... But Not in the Taps! - 18th November 2009
Jambo All,
Well so much seem to have happened and also nothing at all. I am busily keeping track of my ‘house guests’ Moses and Francis (the acrobats) whilst having drop-in visits from Sammy, Peter and a friend called Rono. People have heard that I am back in town and want to make sure I am Ok after my upsetting return to nothing last year.
I am being the hostess with the most’est and providing Ugali and Sukuma like a good Kenyan.
I visited Yasmin with Sammy, Moses and Francis on Sunday just before she left for Nairobi, she was due to have surgery on Monday, I haven’t heard the outcome yet, but hope it went OK. I was quite surprised to see how well Yasmin looked as in August when I left she was so weak and frail I thought it was the last I would see her. Apparently the reaction to the chemo therapy was extreme with her and affected her badly. I will let you know how she is doing when I know more. Yasmin will be in Nairobi for two weeks recuperating before she returns to Nakuru.
On a lighter note let me tell you a story, as you will already know my water situation is this, I get water via the mains pipe on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday supposedly, this water I pump into a large roof level water tank for use when there is no mains water supply. Now in theory this works Ok, there are problems when….
a) There is work being done anywhere in the vicinity.
b) There is an electric power cut this prevents the mains water being pumped from the borehole supply.
c) Someone forgets to flick the switch or
d) I am out and miss when the water is available.
e) No specific reason at all!
Usually these problems are not large ones as there is usually water in the storage tank. Last week however, Thursday to be exact I had no water supply and could not fill the storage tank, not a problem as we had water and just needed to top up which I would do on Sunday, or so I thought. My visitors Francis and Moses are rather meticulous with washing and wash everything in sight until is sparkles, so water is used in rather large supplies.
On Saturday I noticed a work team digging a large trench outside the property along the roadside, in approximately the same line as the water pipe. I presumed this was to supply the new property across the road from me with mains water, I jokingly sent my friendly water man a message to this effect saying that if there was no water on Sunday as a result I would not be happy!! I received no reply.
On Sunday, you guessed it….there was no water and the workmen as expected were no where to be seen (probably at church service). On Monday I notice another trench was being dug on the other side of the road and on walking into town I noticed that these trenches were in fact covering quite a distance and many people were out with jerry cans looking for water. Alarm bells started ringing and I went outside this morning and asked one of the workmen when were we to get water, he said it would be another week!
I left Francis and Moses in the house Tuesday morning and went to SCANN very early to take staff photos arriving there for 7.30am to make sure I caught the night staff before they left. I asked Francis and Moses to be careful with the water, on my return they said there was a problem and there was no water, I checked the tank and it was empty, I checked the mains and they were dry……….. I called my ‘friend’ at the water department and asked him if he had forgotten to tell me something important last time I spoke to him, as there was NO water. He said he would look into it and has been unavailable since!
I stood outside this yesterday morning looking at my wilting tomato plants and kale dreading having to water them…….. I needn’t have worried as there was no water.
When I found that there was no mains available I stood outside in a huff and did a rain dance asking for the heavy clouds to hesitate over Nakuru and drop rain!
About 2 hours later the heavens opened, I ran outside with every bucket and basin available and strategically placed them where they would collect the most water. I was relieved that I would be saved from watering the crops, however my pleasure was short lived when all the basins were being used outside and my roof started leaking inside. Nothing else to use but saucepans!
So much for having no water! Mind you this hasn’t helped the fact that I have only a litre of drinking water in my fridge and rainwater to wash and flush the loos with for possibly a week! I sent the boys out yesterday afternoon to buy me a large jerry can and a couple of supermarket bottles of water, they still hadn’t returned by 10pm but eventually arrived with water bottles as promised. Washing up sat overnight and was done this morning!
What I want to know is how difficult is it to put up fly posters to let people know what is going to happen so they can store water before they cut it off! They could even have printed it on the bottom of our last bill as this is obviously a large job that has been planned for a while. It isn’t as if water is readily available in the area!!
Ok that is my moan for now, at least it means that I won’t have to worry about washing and cleaning for a while, will think about that challenge when water arrives. More pressing is the fact that I didn’t shower night before last, no water to shower last night and haven’t washed my hair in 3 days, could be getting desperate enough to wander down to Hotel Mercia to use their facilities, basin washing is Ok but not sufficient.
My sleepless nights have been reduced by the fact that I have finally let Joe have Fatso. Whilst it was sad to see her go, things here are a lot more sedate, less jumping around and messing up cleanly put on clothes, she never did learn to keep her paws on the floor. Kim is settling into a routine of being around the house during the day when I am about, she is good company, and when I am out or at night she is on guard outside in the porch. I think that maybe the cockerel will be my next victim as he crows anything from 3am onwards but for him it will probably be someone’s cooking pot!
Just call me stinky from Nakuru!!
Love to you all, enjoy your turn of a tap!!!
Susannah
Saturday, 21 November 2009
Paka's surprise n Joseph's story...
Hi Everyone,
Ok now I think this maybe a record but I managed to wash my hair with 1 litre of rain water, that is wash and condition, it doesn't particularly feel great but better than it was. The water was so black afterwards as my long hair hangs on to the dirt here and after so long without washing it was awful. I didn't waste the hair washinh water though, used it to flush the toilet, double wammie!
I haven’t had a lot to report recently, the water is still playing a disappearing act, according to the fundis working in the ‘road’ the pipes are being replaced over a very large area and until they are all done they won’t reconnect the water. Lucky us! I decided that even though my suppy of rain water was dwindling I really had to wash some clothes. I sparingly ensured these were things that I could not do without and left items like jeans and combats to be grubby, fact of life here.
So yesterday, I sat on the back step with my basin of rainwater, enjoying the peaceful afternoon and strange as it may seem the washing! I was disturbed by such a sudden commotion of something being knocked over and then bird’s shrill squarking together with the chickens and cockerel joining in. It transpired that paka (the cat) had caught a bird and was running into the house with it in its mouth. I hurriedly followed to shut all the doors preventing paka from taking the bird further into the house. I managed to confine them in the kitchen and then ushered paka outside again, bird still fluttering its wings in an attempt to get away, but paka was having nothing of it. I decided to let nature take its course as the bird was already badly damaged.
I went back to my washing leaving paka with earned prize sitting behind me on the opposite step. There developed a gathering of many types of birds who frequent my garden, they all perched around making a loud racket. The bird paka caught was a common starling which over here is quite brightly coloured petrol blue and green as opposed to our drab coloured ones in the UK. I was very surprised that the commotion went on for sometime and then all of a sudden the birds started dive-bombing paka who darted in my direction for cover, I was then also getting dive-bombed. I leapt away from my basin of washing and took cover and funnily enough, Kim the dog followed quickly behind me. I have never seen such a spectacle; it reminded me of the Alfred Hitchcock’s movie ‘The Birds’, luckily however without the blood and gore, I didn’t loose any hair or eyeballs! The dive-bombing finally subsided and I resumed my washing and paka enjoyed the feast, however the birds still perched overhead making a great racket. Wouldn’t want to cross them again, next time I may not come off so lightly, I must admit I was so pleased that paka didn’t catch one of the tiny turquoise birds with red circles round their eyes, they are so lovely. After doing my washing I made use of the rinse water and washed the floors of the house, they needed it, the dust has started collecting again.
I have actually had a busy few days, trying to get young Joseph who I have met in town many times in the last year, into SCANN for the long Christmas holidays.
Joseph’s story isn’t unique here in Africa. Joseph’s mother Esther left Joseph and his sister Helen (then aged 8years and 1 years respectively) with their grandmother. After a year Esther still had not returned to claim her children. Aged and without means to continue supporting her grandchildren, their grandmother was finding things very difficult.
One day their grandmother told the children they were going on a trip to visit an ‘aunty’, in fact the grandmother brought the children to Nakuru from Olkalao and told them to wait for her in town, she failed to return.
Some well wishers from the nearby market took Joseph and Helen to the Children’s Officer. Helen was taken to a children’s home some distance away where she has been cared for since, she is now 6 years old.
Joseph was taken in by the headmaster of St Davis school in Bahati, where he is still housed and educated during the school terms, however during the holiday periods he has no family to go to so he stays in Nakuru town. He had been befriended by an older boy Vincent, who had been an orphan and was working as a night guard offering Joseph shelter in the doorway where he was working and watched over him at night. During the day Joseph relied on the kindness of well-wishers to provide him with food. Vincent has since changed jobs and now works during the day as a fruit vendor in town and whilst he now has a one room ‘house’ he can barely afford to feed himself, let alone take charge of Joseph.
Over the last year Joseph and I have had many conversations and spent free time together, after finding out his situation I discussed the possibility of help with SCANN and we have finally worked to keep him during the long Christmas holiday providing him with accommodation until he is due to go back on the 7th January. Joseph is a very intelligent boy who loves reading novels and works hard to keep his position as second in a class of 80 children.
I am hoping that as of Wednesday when Henry (my guard) is back I will be back to my regular attendance at SCANN, until then I am attending the clinic again today, but in the afternoon (as the doctor is busy being locum at another clinic in the morning) at least I got a lay-in!
Love and best wishes to you all,
Stinky Susannah, Nakuru, Kenya
Ok now I think this maybe a record but I managed to wash my hair with 1 litre of rain water, that is wash and condition, it doesn't particularly feel great but better than it was. The water was so black afterwards as my long hair hangs on to the dirt here and after so long without washing it was awful. I didn't waste the hair washinh water though, used it to flush the toilet, double wammie!
I haven’t had a lot to report recently, the water is still playing a disappearing act, according to the fundis working in the ‘road’ the pipes are being replaced over a very large area and until they are all done they won’t reconnect the water. Lucky us! I decided that even though my suppy of rain water was dwindling I really had to wash some clothes. I sparingly ensured these were things that I could not do without and left items like jeans and combats to be grubby, fact of life here.
So yesterday, I sat on the back step with my basin of rainwater, enjoying the peaceful afternoon and strange as it may seem the washing! I was disturbed by such a sudden commotion of something being knocked over and then bird’s shrill squarking together with the chickens and cockerel joining in. It transpired that paka (the cat) had caught a bird and was running into the house with it in its mouth. I hurriedly followed to shut all the doors preventing paka from taking the bird further into the house. I managed to confine them in the kitchen and then ushered paka outside again, bird still fluttering its wings in an attempt to get away, but paka was having nothing of it. I decided to let nature take its course as the bird was already badly damaged.
I went back to my washing leaving paka with earned prize sitting behind me on the opposite step. There developed a gathering of many types of birds who frequent my garden, they all perched around making a loud racket. The bird paka caught was a common starling which over here is quite brightly coloured petrol blue and green as opposed to our drab coloured ones in the UK. I was very surprised that the commotion went on for sometime and then all of a sudden the birds started dive-bombing paka who darted in my direction for cover, I was then also getting dive-bombed. I leapt away from my basin of washing and took cover and funnily enough, Kim the dog followed quickly behind me. I have never seen such a spectacle; it reminded me of the Alfred Hitchcock’s movie ‘The Birds’, luckily however without the blood and gore, I didn’t loose any hair or eyeballs! The dive-bombing finally subsided and I resumed my washing and paka enjoyed the feast, however the birds still perched overhead making a great racket. Wouldn’t want to cross them again, next time I may not come off so lightly, I must admit I was so pleased that paka didn’t catch one of the tiny turquoise birds with red circles round their eyes, they are so lovely. After doing my washing I made use of the rinse water and washed the floors of the house, they needed it, the dust has started collecting again.
I have actually had a busy few days, trying to get young Joseph who I have met in town many times in the last year, into SCANN for the long Christmas holidays.
Joseph’s story isn’t unique here in Africa. Joseph’s mother Esther left Joseph and his sister Helen (then aged 8years and 1 years respectively) with their grandmother. After a year Esther still had not returned to claim her children. Aged and without means to continue supporting her grandchildren, their grandmother was finding things very difficult.
One day their grandmother told the children they were going on a trip to visit an ‘aunty’, in fact the grandmother brought the children to Nakuru from Olkalao and told them to wait for her in town, she failed to return.
Some well wishers from the nearby market took Joseph and Helen to the Children’s Officer. Helen was taken to a children’s home some distance away where she has been cared for since, she is now 6 years old.
Joseph was taken in by the headmaster of St Davis school in Bahati, where he is still housed and educated during the school terms, however during the holiday periods he has no family to go to so he stays in Nakuru town. He had been befriended by an older boy Vincent, who had been an orphan and was working as a night guard offering Joseph shelter in the doorway where he was working and watched over him at night. During the day Joseph relied on the kindness of well-wishers to provide him with food. Vincent has since changed jobs and now works during the day as a fruit vendor in town and whilst he now has a one room ‘house’ he can barely afford to feed himself, let alone take charge of Joseph.
Over the last year Joseph and I have had many conversations and spent free time together, after finding out his situation I discussed the possibility of help with SCANN and we have finally worked to keep him during the long Christmas holiday providing him with accommodation until he is due to go back on the 7th January. Joseph is a very intelligent boy who loves reading novels and works hard to keep his position as second in a class of 80 children.
I am hoping that as of Wednesday when Henry (my guard) is back I will be back to my regular attendance at SCANN, until then I am attending the clinic again today, but in the afternoon (as the doctor is busy being locum at another clinic in the morning) at least I got a lay-in!
Love and best wishes to you all,
Stinky Susannah, Nakuru, Kenya
Friday, 13 November 2009
Dust baths but they had water - 13th November 2009
Jambo Friends,
I think I must be jinxed as apparently Kenya has had substantial rain water in the last week and as soon as I arrive it dries up. I think it transferred back to the UK as I understand that there is plenty there....... SORRY!
It is now Friday and the week has gone so quickly, most of it has been spent with me cleaning and sorting the house and unpacking my things and organising. Henry has now gone home and I am busy attending the compound (garden) chickens, cat and dogs. I think that the dogs prefer the way Henry cooks their Ugali and meat as they don't seem to partial to mine, I wouldn't mind but it takes such a work up to light the jiko, boil the water, add the meat waste to make a soup, then to cook the ugali. How unappreciative they are!
On Tuesday we were scheduled to get our mains water but none arrived, I wasn't too worried as Henry had told me he had used the pump and filled the large storage tank on Sunday. After all the washing of the house, sheet covers, me showering, Moses and Francis also adding to the consumption I began to worry when no water arrived on Thursday either. I duly called 'my man at the water office' and asked if the designated days had changed. He ignored me and welcomed me back in the traditional Kenyan way of being sociable before business! I was told that the days hadn't changed but they had worked on one of the mains pipes so water would come at midday. He invited himself round for 'chai' but I told him that as I had just returned and had been waiting for water I had not been shopping so there was nothing in the house. He said he would then come for a glass of water, I said that this was why I was calling as there WAS NO WATER! He laughed and agreed it was a lost cause and maybe next time.... or maybe not!
At midday on the dot the water arrived but my pump would not pump...... Henry had the water storage drums still in his house and now locked so I had nothing to collect water in. I called my friendly electrician, Joe who works part time in the market with his mother. He came straight over..... 2 hours later..... by Kenyan time that is very quick. He re-primed the pump and helped me put up some lamp shades that I had come with, he is very tall and I have no steps so can't reach.
Francis and Moses are out of the house all day visiting friends and working with the boys at SCANN, they love passing on new skills to the boys, it's great to watch. They are good house guests, making sure they clean after themselves and help with cooking and washing up.
I am still struggling with the neighbour hood noises, I think that Colin the cockerel will have to go, join that with the fact that Fatso (dog) is on heat (obviously the jab I gave her didn't work) she is howling a good un! Joe since he first saw her constantly asks to have Fatso........... she may find a nice new home soon too. Kim has always been sedate and very good company and she listens and obeys, something that Fatso still has not got into her head.
I visited the boys at SCANN yesterday on the way to town, just a short visit, until Henry returns that will be all I can manage, as don't like leaving the house for long periods unmanned. The boys were so pleased to see me, I got lots of hugs and greetings, one boy Gideon saw me arrive and was waiting by the gates. He said you will make me cry, I asked him if it was because he had missed me so much, he said it was because Kimberley (my daughter) was not with me. Kimberley was hoping to come with me but due to medical problems will wait until January when she is feeling stronger. I told him that she was sad that she couldn't be here but would see him in January. I think he is crossing off the days.
Not a lot has changed, Kombo who was overall in charge and education head is now solely Officer in Charge we have a new member of staff who has moved to take over the education side of things. Catherine is unwell but still working with Typhoid and Anastasia is working strong still managing the doctors clinic in my absence. I hope to go tomorrow for clinic to say hi and see how things are doing. That reminds me one of the twins is feeling unwell so I suggested that he comes in tomorrow to see the doctor.
I bumped into Joseph in town, he found me where I usually stop for a waterhole at Guava cafe, Joseph is now 13 and his school is closed for the Christmas break. I had hoped that something had been sorted with him going to SCANN for the holidays but he said he had heard nothing. I will chase this as he is now staying with the security man again, luckily the security man has now got a room and he stays with him there, not really a suitable situation but will try to resolve soon. Joseph tells me that he has managed to remain 2nd in his class and his marks have improved although he didn't quite make 1st place. He was delighted with the story book that Kimberley chose for him and will let us know whether he liked it or not so we can get more.
Oh last night whilst cooking the dogs ugali outside it was growing dark and eventually I could hardly see, I went to put on the outside lights only to find that there was a power cut. I managed with the help of a candle and my phone to continue cooking the ugali and slop it into the dogs dishes to cool.
I then went inside and located and lit my candles, good job I came with some from UK, they last so much longer and smell lovely too! I had no idea what time the boys were coming back or how long the electricity would be off. I decided to continue cooking my dinner and a bit extra for the boys (just in case), not a small feat as it was rather dark. I had brought the animals in the house for company and so that they wouldn't bark and scare me with the slightest sound. They lay on the floor obviously knowing my plight, Paka was the only problem continually tripping me over by twisting round my ankles in the dark.
I managed to successfully cook and eat my dinner and then the boys called to say they were 5 mins away. I told them to call me when they were stood at my gate as there was no way I was standing outside in the total dark waiting for them to arrive. They duly did so and I went with the light from my phone and let them in, not realising that Fatso had slipped out at the same time. It wasn't until we were all in the house that I realised she was missing, I knew it was the only explanation, so I crept to the gate and called, no noise. Suddenly she flew through a bit of hedge and got stuck by the collar, she scared the living daylights out of me. I retrieved her, it was obviously too dark out there for her too.
We were without electricity for about 2 hours, but just when we were ready to sit and rest the lights came on and we managed to watch a DVD, a nice end to a stressful evening!
Ok will move on now as it is time to get home and check on the place, start cooking dinner and chill, did I say how hot it was!!!!!!
Love to you all, still trying to arrange to see Yasmin, hopefully this weekend, will keep you posted.
I send you all rays of sunshine.
Susannah
I think I must be jinxed as apparently Kenya has had substantial rain water in the last week and as soon as I arrive it dries up. I think it transferred back to the UK as I understand that there is plenty there....... SORRY!
It is now Friday and the week has gone so quickly, most of it has been spent with me cleaning and sorting the house and unpacking my things and organising. Henry has now gone home and I am busy attending the compound (garden) chickens, cat and dogs. I think that the dogs prefer the way Henry cooks their Ugali and meat as they don't seem to partial to mine, I wouldn't mind but it takes such a work up to light the jiko, boil the water, add the meat waste to make a soup, then to cook the ugali. How unappreciative they are!
On Tuesday we were scheduled to get our mains water but none arrived, I wasn't too worried as Henry had told me he had used the pump and filled the large storage tank on Sunday. After all the washing of the house, sheet covers, me showering, Moses and Francis also adding to the consumption I began to worry when no water arrived on Thursday either. I duly called 'my man at the water office' and asked if the designated days had changed. He ignored me and welcomed me back in the traditional Kenyan way of being sociable before business! I was told that the days hadn't changed but they had worked on one of the mains pipes so water would come at midday. He invited himself round for 'chai' but I told him that as I had just returned and had been waiting for water I had not been shopping so there was nothing in the house. He said he would then come for a glass of water, I said that this was why I was calling as there WAS NO WATER! He laughed and agreed it was a lost cause and maybe next time.... or maybe not!
At midday on the dot the water arrived but my pump would not pump...... Henry had the water storage drums still in his house and now locked so I had nothing to collect water in. I called my friendly electrician, Joe who works part time in the market with his mother. He came straight over..... 2 hours later..... by Kenyan time that is very quick. He re-primed the pump and helped me put up some lamp shades that I had come with, he is very tall and I have no steps so can't reach.
Francis and Moses are out of the house all day visiting friends and working with the boys at SCANN, they love passing on new skills to the boys, it's great to watch. They are good house guests, making sure they clean after themselves and help with cooking and washing up.
I am still struggling with the neighbour hood noises, I think that Colin the cockerel will have to go, join that with the fact that Fatso (dog) is on heat (obviously the jab I gave her didn't work) she is howling a good un! Joe since he first saw her constantly asks to have Fatso........... she may find a nice new home soon too. Kim has always been sedate and very good company and she listens and obeys, something that Fatso still has not got into her head.
I visited the boys at SCANN yesterday on the way to town, just a short visit, until Henry returns that will be all I can manage, as don't like leaving the house for long periods unmanned. The boys were so pleased to see me, I got lots of hugs and greetings, one boy Gideon saw me arrive and was waiting by the gates. He said you will make me cry, I asked him if it was because he had missed me so much, he said it was because Kimberley (my daughter) was not with me. Kimberley was hoping to come with me but due to medical problems will wait until January when she is feeling stronger. I told him that she was sad that she couldn't be here but would see him in January. I think he is crossing off the days.
Not a lot has changed, Kombo who was overall in charge and education head is now solely Officer in Charge we have a new member of staff who has moved to take over the education side of things. Catherine is unwell but still working with Typhoid and Anastasia is working strong still managing the doctors clinic in my absence. I hope to go tomorrow for clinic to say hi and see how things are doing. That reminds me one of the twins is feeling unwell so I suggested that he comes in tomorrow to see the doctor.
I bumped into Joseph in town, he found me where I usually stop for a waterhole at Guava cafe, Joseph is now 13 and his school is closed for the Christmas break. I had hoped that something had been sorted with him going to SCANN for the holidays but he said he had heard nothing. I will chase this as he is now staying with the security man again, luckily the security man has now got a room and he stays with him there, not really a suitable situation but will try to resolve soon. Joseph tells me that he has managed to remain 2nd in his class and his marks have improved although he didn't quite make 1st place. He was delighted with the story book that Kimberley chose for him and will let us know whether he liked it or not so we can get more.
Oh last night whilst cooking the dogs ugali outside it was growing dark and eventually I could hardly see, I went to put on the outside lights only to find that there was a power cut. I managed with the help of a candle and my phone to continue cooking the ugali and slop it into the dogs dishes to cool.
I then went inside and located and lit my candles, good job I came with some from UK, they last so much longer and smell lovely too! I had no idea what time the boys were coming back or how long the electricity would be off. I decided to continue cooking my dinner and a bit extra for the boys (just in case), not a small feat as it was rather dark. I had brought the animals in the house for company and so that they wouldn't bark and scare me with the slightest sound. They lay on the floor obviously knowing my plight, Paka was the only problem continually tripping me over by twisting round my ankles in the dark.
I managed to successfully cook and eat my dinner and then the boys called to say they were 5 mins away. I told them to call me when they were stood at my gate as there was no way I was standing outside in the total dark waiting for them to arrive. They duly did so and I went with the light from my phone and let them in, not realising that Fatso had slipped out at the same time. It wasn't until we were all in the house that I realised she was missing, I knew it was the only explanation, so I crept to the gate and called, no noise. Suddenly she flew through a bit of hedge and got stuck by the collar, she scared the living daylights out of me. I retrieved her, it was obviously too dark out there for her too.
We were without electricity for about 2 hours, but just when we were ready to sit and rest the lights came on and we managed to watch a DVD, a nice end to a stressful evening!
Ok will move on now as it is time to get home and check on the place, start cooking dinner and chill, did I say how hot it was!!!!!!
Love to you all, still trying to arrange to see Yasmin, hopefully this weekend, will keep you posted.
I send you all rays of sunshine.
Susannah
Tuesday, 10 November 2009
KENYA 4 - The Big Bird with bags has landed
Well,
just to let you all know that I have arrived safe and sound in Nakuru. The booking in at the airport went smoothly although I was wandering if there would be problems with the agreed extra bag that Virgin allowed me, but the guy at check-in didn't bat an eyelid. I thought there were problems at the gate as the seats were empty but we were told that there were only 120 people on board and we did as the pilot said and made use of the extra seats....... I grabbed the 4 seats in the centre of the plane, lifted the arms and managed to sleep stretched out all the way to Nairobi, well after we were fed and watered, so no movies for me!
Jenga (Nairobi trusted taxi friend) was waiting for me with a huge smile on his face (Nick was unable to pick me up as his mother had passed away and he was back in his rural home for the funeral). The ride back to Nakuru was hot, and as we arrived in Nakuru even hotter, if they have had rain in my absence you wouldn't have known!
Both Henry (my askari / guard) and the animals greeted me like a lost relative, the dogs moaned and howled at my return and haven't left my side since, the cat (minus whiskers, Henry decided as he had trimmed his whiskers he would do the cats...... I explained that they needed theirs!) keep tripping me up as he won't get out from between my feet.
The house once opened was a sight, there was so much dust everywhere, that once Jenga had hugged and left me for his return to Nairobi. Henry and I dumped the bags in my room and set to work with the hose and broom to wash away the layer of dust and dirt it on the floor, sweeping would have been so so messy. After Henry and I had done all the washing we changed, Henry, his brother and I headed to Bota Sola for a plate of chicken and chips and a soda, before we went on a basic food shop for me. I had nothing in the house as you can imagine, so had to get the necessaries, milk, coffee, bread, biddys (flora), loo roll! I slept like a log last night, I think before I hit the pillow, didn't even get to unpack, slept with everything lying on the bed.
Thinking we we had done a good job with the washing yesterday, this morning when everywhere was dry I realised that in fact we had done a poor job it had just left muddy streaks everywhere, so wash no. 2 was done today, together with curtains and nets.
About an hour after Jenga had left yesterday I realised that I was one small bag missing, and called Jenga, it was still in his car hidden by the black interior being a black bag and he was already half way back to Nairobi....... he agreed to take the bag to Mololine Shuttle for them to send with their driver after he packed it up, I was so worried as it had my passport in it etc. This afternoon I duly went and collected it Phew was I relieved although my name now is Susan Pamela!!
This morning I woke at various times with the new noises of the night, one of them being my cockerel Colin, need to buy him a watch or a gag. I eventually got up at 7 am walked round with the dogs then sat on the front step watching the slight breeze blowing in the trees thinking how warm it was and how hot it was going to get.....sipping my cup of coffee.
Greeting me has been something that has been going on since last night, I am not sure how people know I am back but my Kenyan phone hasn't stopped and this morning is no exception.
I had a call from the acrobats who are back from Tanzania, they wanted to come and say hi......... um actually they want to stay with me for a week until they head back to Tanzania. I have laid down rules, this time they help with food and jobs round the house, I can't afford to have open house, even for them.
I am looking forward to them providing me with material that I can copy and send home to hopefully promote them in the UK through my friend Simon, who is now joining us on this email list, together with the IKEA 'girls' who are visiting me in February and a nice lady called Mary who used to live in Kenya and now resides in Southampton. Greetings to you all.
Ok I have ventured into town to pick up some fruit and veg for provisions. Have told Moses and Francis (the acrobats) that they are cooking the Ugali tonight as I am out of practice!
Love to you all, finding the heat a little exhausting will take me a while to settle again. SCANN unfortunately will have to wait until the dust settles and only able to do short trips as Henry is off home for two weeks (a little longer than I would have hoped but after being stuck at mine for three months think he deserves it!)
Susannah
xxx
just to let you all know that I have arrived safe and sound in Nakuru. The booking in at the airport went smoothly although I was wandering if there would be problems with the agreed extra bag that Virgin allowed me, but the guy at check-in didn't bat an eyelid. I thought there were problems at the gate as the seats were empty but we were told that there were only 120 people on board and we did as the pilot said and made use of the extra seats....... I grabbed the 4 seats in the centre of the plane, lifted the arms and managed to sleep stretched out all the way to Nairobi, well after we were fed and watered, so no movies for me!
Jenga (Nairobi trusted taxi friend) was waiting for me with a huge smile on his face (Nick was unable to pick me up as his mother had passed away and he was back in his rural home for the funeral). The ride back to Nakuru was hot, and as we arrived in Nakuru even hotter, if they have had rain in my absence you wouldn't have known!
Both Henry (my askari / guard) and the animals greeted me like a lost relative, the dogs moaned and howled at my return and haven't left my side since, the cat (minus whiskers, Henry decided as he had trimmed his whiskers he would do the cats...... I explained that they needed theirs!) keep tripping me up as he won't get out from between my feet.
The house once opened was a sight, there was so much dust everywhere, that once Jenga had hugged and left me for his return to Nairobi. Henry and I dumped the bags in my room and set to work with the hose and broom to wash away the layer of dust and dirt it on the floor, sweeping would have been so so messy. After Henry and I had done all the washing we changed, Henry, his brother and I headed to Bota Sola for a plate of chicken and chips and a soda, before we went on a basic food shop for me. I had nothing in the house as you can imagine, so had to get the necessaries, milk, coffee, bread, biddys (flora), loo roll! I slept like a log last night, I think before I hit the pillow, didn't even get to unpack, slept with everything lying on the bed.
Thinking we we had done a good job with the washing yesterday, this morning when everywhere was dry I realised that in fact we had done a poor job it had just left muddy streaks everywhere, so wash no. 2 was done today, together with curtains and nets.
About an hour after Jenga had left yesterday I realised that I was one small bag missing, and called Jenga, it was still in his car hidden by the black interior being a black bag and he was already half way back to Nairobi....... he agreed to take the bag to Mololine Shuttle for them to send with their driver after he packed it up, I was so worried as it had my passport in it etc. This afternoon I duly went and collected it Phew was I relieved although my name now is Susan Pamela!!
This morning I woke at various times with the new noises of the night, one of them being my cockerel Colin, need to buy him a watch or a gag. I eventually got up at 7 am walked round with the dogs then sat on the front step watching the slight breeze blowing in the trees thinking how warm it was and how hot it was going to get.....sipping my cup of coffee.
Greeting me has been something that has been going on since last night, I am not sure how people know I am back but my Kenyan phone hasn't stopped and this morning is no exception.
I had a call from the acrobats who are back from Tanzania, they wanted to come and say hi......... um actually they want to stay with me for a week until they head back to Tanzania. I have laid down rules, this time they help with food and jobs round the house, I can't afford to have open house, even for them.
I am looking forward to them providing me with material that I can copy and send home to hopefully promote them in the UK through my friend Simon, who is now joining us on this email list, together with the IKEA 'girls' who are visiting me in February and a nice lady called Mary who used to live in Kenya and now resides in Southampton. Greetings to you all.
Ok I have ventured into town to pick up some fruit and veg for provisions. Have told Moses and Francis (the acrobats) that they are cooking the Ugali tonight as I am out of practice!
Love to you all, finding the heat a little exhausting will take me a while to settle again. SCANN unfortunately will have to wait until the dust settles and only able to do short trips as Henry is off home for two weeks (a little longer than I would have hoped but after being stuck at mine for three months think he deserves it!)
Susannah
xxx
Tuesday, 9 June 2009
Out of touch
Hi Everyone,
I have no phone at the moment due to it being accidently washed by the boys at Scann, at least its clean. Am working on getting repaired or replaced with a cheapie.
I am sorry it has been a while, things here are a bit low. I am not sure if I have told you that Yasmin, our Trustee in charge at Scann, is undergoing chemo therapy for breast cancer. She is on her second treatment and it really is taking its toll. The staff visited her at home on Friday and we took all the boys to see her on Sunday afternoon to do a very small performance.
Yasmin looked so frail that it really upset the boys, I had prepared myself for how Yasmin was but when the boys broke down it broke my heart. We are all trying to be positive and give her the strength to get through the treatment, she has a long long way to go, after the third treatment she is due for an op. Will keep you all posted.
Scann continues as normally as is possible, the show Edwina put on for Yasmin in her absence has been given to me and caused me a few problems in copying but tomorrow I should be able to go and visit Yasmin again and give her a copy to see at her leisure. The shamba here is growing like crazy not quite sure what I am going to do with everything planted although looking at it all it will be ready in August when I am away. We are looking to dry the maize and take it to be milled into flour for future months supplies. Fresh maize out here kills my teeth and digestion, its so hard.
The chickens have at last started to lay again, Henry keeps suggesting we let the hens sit on the eggs, but I am insisting that there is no way I can afford to feed more chicks, still busy with the last four, two went to the shamba man at Scann. I now have a new sewing machine which I have got up and running, a good job too as it was needed to make more poi for our trip to Yasmin's, it will come in so useful with all the split trousers and shirts that I have seen recently at SCANN.
My love to you all, anyone who wants to see the DVD and photos from the performance I will be sending a copy to Kimberley this week, hopefully with the Kenyan post she may receive it soon, just ask her for a viewing. Take care, and keep well, happy birthday to those that are celebrating this month, you know who you are.
Susannahxxxxxxxx
I have no phone at the moment due to it being accidently washed by the boys at Scann, at least its clean. Am working on getting repaired or replaced with a cheapie.
I am sorry it has been a while, things here are a bit low. I am not sure if I have told you that Yasmin, our Trustee in charge at Scann, is undergoing chemo therapy for breast cancer. She is on her second treatment and it really is taking its toll. The staff visited her at home on Friday and we took all the boys to see her on Sunday afternoon to do a very small performance.
Yasmin looked so frail that it really upset the boys, I had prepared myself for how Yasmin was but when the boys broke down it broke my heart. We are all trying to be positive and give her the strength to get through the treatment, she has a long long way to go, after the third treatment she is due for an op. Will keep you all posted.
Scann continues as normally as is possible, the show Edwina put on for Yasmin in her absence has been given to me and caused me a few problems in copying but tomorrow I should be able to go and visit Yasmin again and give her a copy to see at her leisure. The shamba here is growing like crazy not quite sure what I am going to do with everything planted although looking at it all it will be ready in August when I am away. We are looking to dry the maize and take it to be milled into flour for future months supplies. Fresh maize out here kills my teeth and digestion, its so hard.
The chickens have at last started to lay again, Henry keeps suggesting we let the hens sit on the eggs, but I am insisting that there is no way I can afford to feed more chicks, still busy with the last four, two went to the shamba man at Scann. I now have a new sewing machine which I have got up and running, a good job too as it was needed to make more poi for our trip to Yasmin's, it will come in so useful with all the split trousers and shirts that I have seen recently at SCANN.
My love to you all, anyone who wants to see the DVD and photos from the performance I will be sending a copy to Kimberley this week, hopefully with the Kenyan post she may receive it soon, just ask her for a viewing. Take care, and keep well, happy birthday to those that are celebrating this month, you know who you are.
Susannahxxxxxxxx
Tuesday, 2 June 2009
Busy, busy, busy
Hi Everyone,
well there is lot to catch up on but just to let you know am so busy I don't know what to do with myself. I fall into bed and fall asleep before the bedside light is switched off, usually with book in hand unopened.
On Friday we had a show with the boys performing for a group of friends we invited to SCANN to display the new routines that Edwina had been working on with them, including a dance routine to Me and My Shadow, together with hats and canes. It was fabulous and the boys thoroughly enjoyed themselves, but the piece de resistance was the poi performance with fire. I will try and send on some photos next time I am at the internet, fire poi is basically a metal chain with a swivel attached which is then fixed on to a small block at the end with a Kevlar wick wrapped around. The boys learn first with practice poi which are cloth and are weighted (here we used a small bean bag) they learn to spin and twirl the poi then the best ones moved on to learning with the fire poi (unlit) then eventually lit poi. The result was an amazing show in the dark with twirling fire. E
veryone was so impressed we managed to video the evening as the event was originally planned to help raise the spirits of Yasmin who is very sick at the moment and on Chemo therapy, but she was too sick to attend. She will receive a copy of the video though and hopefully enjoy it.
Yesterday was a holiday here Madaraka Day, (Independence Day), Edwina and I went to SCANN to entertain the boys with games and a dance off competition. We had a great time and I think the boys did too. Today I saw off Edwina, she is off to a performing arts place in Nairobi (Sarakasi) where my friend Jemo works (he is away in Norway at the moment) I managed to introduce Edwina to Sarakasi and she is going to be there training some of their performers with fire and in return learning some more skills to add to her list, she is hoping for trapeze or another such talent. From there she is visiting our acrobats who are performing Tanzania for a while hopefully getting in some scuba while she is there. She says she will return to Nakuru in July before she heads home in August, we'll see.... the beaches are a strong pull when you spend so much time away from them in Nakuru.
I also said bye to John who has changed his itinerary and is doing a circular safari with my friend Joseph from Mount Kenya, unfortunately, my lack of a visa has put a stop to me going on any of the safaris planned as I would have trouble getting in to the parks. Immigration has assured me that my lack of a visa is no problem, however I would feel a little safer knowing I have a stamp to prove that I am OK here!!!! Be patient they keep saying it is our paperwork problem. Um still not too comfortable, probably find I will be frog marched to the airport and deported as an undesirable.
Edwina and I spent a quiet weekend even though it was a holiday one, as last time we went out on a holiday weekend we spent most of the night breaking up skirmishes with the people we were with, far too much alcohol is consumed by all on these weekends and many many brawls are a result, we stayed in and watched 'girlie movies' on the laptop and ate chocolate. Catherine had travelled home to Nairobi to see her family. The house will be quiet back to Catherine and myself, Henry, the two dogs, paka, one cock, three chickens and 4 large chicks..... (I gave two chicks away to the old shamba man at SCANN he lost his to a virus and I cant afford to keep feeding these chickens!!!!)
My shamba is amazing, I think if I had time I could sit and watch the maize grow........ Henry who is no taller than I am disappeared this morning with his hoe to do some weeding, the only way I knew where he was was the maize moved more than the slight breeze that was blowing. I will be moving myself back into my room today as John has left me....... we had a move around so that John wouldn't have to share the bathroom facilities with so many girlies, I gave him my room with the en suite and I moved into Edwinas, Edwina in turn moved in to share the other room with Catherine, (who apparently snores!) I am much better although I didn't realise how much energy my chest infection had taken out of me.
I am now heading home from seeing off Edwina to do the hand washing of one Queen size bedding and a single bedding together with towels etc etc etc, wish me luck, by the end I hope that my back wont be crook!! This is what you get for being a jack of all trades and unable to employ someone to do it for you!!! Its good for the muscles and keeps me out of mischief. I hope you are all well and happy, I understand that the weather there is much improved, that's a good thing, it will bring more smiles to the UK!
I will love you and leave you. Hugs all round. Oh I am hoping to get a new sewing machine soon from my friend in Nairobi, he kept asking what would benefit the project and the sewing machine definitely would!!!!!!
Susannah
(Typed in haste, please excuse typos and also if it doesn't make sense, need to get home while the sun is still shining to do the washing!!!!) BYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!
well there is lot to catch up on but just to let you know am so busy I don't know what to do with myself. I fall into bed and fall asleep before the bedside light is switched off, usually with book in hand unopened.
On Friday we had a show with the boys performing for a group of friends we invited to SCANN to display the new routines that Edwina had been working on with them, including a dance routine to Me and My Shadow, together with hats and canes. It was fabulous and the boys thoroughly enjoyed themselves, but the piece de resistance was the poi performance with fire. I will try and send on some photos next time I am at the internet, fire poi is basically a metal chain with a swivel attached which is then fixed on to a small block at the end with a Kevlar wick wrapped around. The boys learn first with practice poi which are cloth and are weighted (here we used a small bean bag) they learn to spin and twirl the poi then the best ones moved on to learning with the fire poi (unlit) then eventually lit poi. The result was an amazing show in the dark with twirling fire. E
veryone was so impressed we managed to video the evening as the event was originally planned to help raise the spirits of Yasmin who is very sick at the moment and on Chemo therapy, but she was too sick to attend. She will receive a copy of the video though and hopefully enjoy it.
Yesterday was a holiday here Madaraka Day, (Independence Day), Edwina and I went to SCANN to entertain the boys with games and a dance off competition. We had a great time and I think the boys did too. Today I saw off Edwina, she is off to a performing arts place in Nairobi (Sarakasi) where my friend Jemo works (he is away in Norway at the moment) I managed to introduce Edwina to Sarakasi and she is going to be there training some of their performers with fire and in return learning some more skills to add to her list, she is hoping for trapeze or another such talent. From there she is visiting our acrobats who are performing Tanzania for a while hopefully getting in some scuba while she is there. She says she will return to Nakuru in July before she heads home in August, we'll see.... the beaches are a strong pull when you spend so much time away from them in Nakuru.
I also said bye to John who has changed his itinerary and is doing a circular safari with my friend Joseph from Mount Kenya, unfortunately, my lack of a visa has put a stop to me going on any of the safaris planned as I would have trouble getting in to the parks. Immigration has assured me that my lack of a visa is no problem, however I would feel a little safer knowing I have a stamp to prove that I am OK here!!!! Be patient they keep saying it is our paperwork problem. Um still not too comfortable, probably find I will be frog marched to the airport and deported as an undesirable.
Edwina and I spent a quiet weekend even though it was a holiday one, as last time we went out on a holiday weekend we spent most of the night breaking up skirmishes with the people we were with, far too much alcohol is consumed by all on these weekends and many many brawls are a result, we stayed in and watched 'girlie movies' on the laptop and ate chocolate. Catherine had travelled home to Nairobi to see her family. The house will be quiet back to Catherine and myself, Henry, the two dogs, paka, one cock, three chickens and 4 large chicks..... (I gave two chicks away to the old shamba man at SCANN he lost his to a virus and I cant afford to keep feeding these chickens!!!!)
My shamba is amazing, I think if I had time I could sit and watch the maize grow........ Henry who is no taller than I am disappeared this morning with his hoe to do some weeding, the only way I knew where he was was the maize moved more than the slight breeze that was blowing. I will be moving myself back into my room today as John has left me....... we had a move around so that John wouldn't have to share the bathroom facilities with so many girlies, I gave him my room with the en suite and I moved into Edwinas, Edwina in turn moved in to share the other room with Catherine, (who apparently snores!) I am much better although I didn't realise how much energy my chest infection had taken out of me.
I am now heading home from seeing off Edwina to do the hand washing of one Queen size bedding and a single bedding together with towels etc etc etc, wish me luck, by the end I hope that my back wont be crook!! This is what you get for being a jack of all trades and unable to employ someone to do it for you!!! Its good for the muscles and keeps me out of mischief. I hope you are all well and happy, I understand that the weather there is much improved, that's a good thing, it will bring more smiles to the UK!
I will love you and leave you. Hugs all round. Oh I am hoping to get a new sewing machine soon from my friend in Nairobi, he kept asking what would benefit the project and the sewing machine definitely would!!!!!!
Susannah
(Typed in haste, please excuse typos and also if it doesn't make sense, need to get home while the sun is still shining to do the washing!!!!) BYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!
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