Gypsies, tramps and thieves

Until now we had hardly left Kisoro. The furthest Malcolm has been is about 70 miles to Kisiizi. But this week we have been invited to visit our friend, (Dr) Corrie who is working at Kiwoko Hospital.

The 400 mile journey began with a 10 hour ride on the Post Bus to Kampala, which leaves at 5.30am – not our best time of day, especially when the 'tramp' to the Post Office was through torrential rain. Bearing in mind the increase in postage rates in the UK it was interesting to see that the familiar looking stamp machines at the Post Office are as useful as those found in Britain

The main excitement in Kampala was when someone tried to pick Malcolm’s pocket as he was carrying two heavy bags onto a bus. We are not sure who was most surprised; Malcolm, or the thief when Malcolm realised what was happening so quickly that the thief fell over and dropped the wallet. Be warned - It’s never easy to get money off an accountant!!! (especially one with Scottish ancestry!!!!)

Kiwoko Hospital is about 50 miles north of Kampala based in a fairly isolated village.

Apart from recovering from the journey we have spent our time visiting the hospital, meeting some of the staff and searching out some of the birds..

Children, children and more kids

It is very dangerous walking around Kisoro with a camera.

Malcolm was out last weekend taking some long distance shots of Potter’s Village for a video he is making when a crowd of children from a nearby schools scurried up the hill side and insisted on a video being taken of them. Here is the very excited result.

And then later this week he was walking quietly to work carrying his camera when another group of children rushed up and insisted on their photo being taken.

Malcolm never realised he was so popular – which is just as well as Irene had gone to Kampala with Jenny Green for a few days so he was otherwise home alone.

The Easter term finished this week. The boarding school opposite our offices held their end of term assembly, and then like a colony of ants the children left, carrying not only their trunks but also their beds.

And finally, our garden is a popular destination for young goats. And even the high wall that goes round most of the site is not a real deterrent to these determined kids.

Easter chicks

It has been a very enjoyable Easter.

We were delighted to receive a ‘food parcel’ from our son and daughter in law over the weekend. This came with a selection of goodies, including chocolate and little fluffy Easter chicks.

We did have chicken for our Easter Sunday lunch. Although we buy ours frozen from the local ‘supermarket’ (more recognisable as a corner shop) most people buy their chickens still alive and in need of plucking. These are often bought from the market or from men who bring one or two to town from their small holdings. There is one shop in Kisoro which sells them, along with a selection of kettles and other bits and pieces!

We buy our eggs (and bananas) from a shop owned by Hope with the help of her daughter, and Olive. This is a typical Ugandan shop selling a range of groceries and other basic provisions.

On Sunday we went to the service at the Cathedral. As you would expect during the service the children leave for their own Sunday School. A Sunday School class can be more than 100 children of various ages – we don’t know how the teacher copes!!!!

Comings and Goings

 People have come, and people have gone this week.

Ruth came to the end of her one month spell at Potters Village Crisis Centre for Children. This was the second year she has volunteered to work there and has done a brilliant job helping in the office. Not wanting to let her go without some sort of celebration we all went for a farewell drink at the Travellers Rest Hotel. The party included Brian and Sheila. They are regular visitors to Uganda, not only helping at Potters Village but Brian has also been out to various schools and the Health Centre to do some decorating.

Another visitor was Emily who came for a couple of nights. She is a volunteer with the Church Mission Society (CMS) working for 6 months at the Kigali Theological College in Rwanda. She had a week in Uganda touring friends and going on Safari at the Queen Elizabeth Park.

Another arrival was a new kid at Potters Village. Goats are being kept because their milk is more digestible to young babies than cow’s milk. And one of the goats gave birth.

Locals are very inventive in making things to help them get around. We spotted in the market one of the home made wheel-barrows that someone had made to move goods from place to place. Perhaps the design will catch on and you will be able to buy one at B&Q? Wheel-barrows are not something that are easy to buy here.

And finally, Malcolm models the gift he received from the Pastor’s wives last week. Very man about town!!!!