Living it up at 'T?he Ritz' - perhaps not

 This week we were invited to Kabale (a town about 50 miles away) by the British High Commission for a routine meeting to explain what services they have to offer British Citizens; such as passport renewal, or as a contact if detained by the Police (not that we have intention of needing that!). The Commission phone number will be useful if we ever need it.

The briefing was in he grounds of a smart hotel in Kabale, The White Horse Inn. It was an opportunity to meet other British workers in the Region, as well as Dr. Mike Hughes.

 

Mike and his wife are planning to come to Kisoro for about 2 years from next January. Mike has been working at Rugurama Hospital in Kabale as part of his ‘acclimatisation’. He will be visiting Kisoro next week.

After the briefing we went for lunch at the Little Ritz!!!!!!! Unfortunately, although it is a pleasant enough restaurant in doesn’t quite live up to its London name sake.

As we returned to Kisoro we passed the local UNHCR Refugee transit camp. This has become much busier as large numbers of Congolese refugees have come across the border to escape fighting with rebel soldiers. The refugees stay only a short time before they are moved to ‘permanent’ camps inland, as they have to be held at least 15 km from the border.

On the return trip we also spotted a Hamerkop having a rest beside the waters of Lake Bunyoni. Maybe he was 'living it up'?

The BBC News, Africa website regularly includes ‘proverbs’ sent in by readers. Out of interest, this one was sent in from the South Sudans:

“A drop of ink makes millions think”

Mouse (Puss) in Boots and other Fairy Stories

Once upon a time……….

………..we mentioned that we had caught three (not blind) mice (blog of 16th March). This week we discovered where they were building a home. Irene wanted to dig some potatoes from the garden, and not wanting to get bitten by a snake got out here Wellington boots. She found that a nest had been made in one from scraps of material and wool. Who knows, if we hadn’t moved the mice from our house, we could have had a family!!!!

……….Ravens came to live in the Tower of London, and the story is that if they should ever leave then England would fall. Well, we have seen Ravens here. There are a lot of black and white crows, but occasionally amongst them is a black and white Raven. We hope that there is not too much trouble back home?

……….. we also mentioned that Potter’s Village Home for Vulnerable Children had some goats because goats milk is a healthy alternative to formula milk for babies (blog of 24th February). This week a male goat was brought as a ‘visitor’ – and a handsome brute he is to. Who knows, in a few months there may be the pitter patter of tiny hooves.

 

…………Sleeping Beauty pricked her finger on a spinning wheel and fell asleep. Only, in this case the Health Authority have agreed that the Medical Centre at Potter’s Village can act as an immunisation centre for local villages. The first baby was brought this week who had his bottom pricked with a syringe by Nurse Jovia. His name is Daniel, and he didn’t fall asleep but has a healthy pair of lungs with which to cry!! We are sure his mother cheered him up with a kiss (and some 'mums' milk)!!!

New buildings - New adventures

On Sunday we revisited Mabungo Parish Church. In the past year they have moved into their new building. As is the custom they have moved in as soon as the roof is on, and are collecting more money to finish the floor, plastering, doors and windows.

During the 3 hour service various choirs sang, including the Sunday School and the ladies choir which included some energetic dancing – such a good idea to take back to our Chesham Church!!!!

We have also been energetic. On Tuesday we looked after Jenny’s son, Jojo. We thought we would visit the nearest National Park, Mgahinga. Although only about 9 miles away it too about an hour to drive as the mud road was very rocky and almost washed away in places. On occasions the Park is home to a family of mountain gorillas. However, at the time of our visit they had moved across the border to the Congo. In any case it costs about £300 per person to trek to find them. Although we saw the ‘spores’ of a buffalo and an elephant, the only wild creature we saw from the viewing platform was one we had taken with us. Just as well the guides had a rifle to scare off anything dangerous!

Whilst having lunch there we met a Swedish Engineer (Hamak? – or usually known as Williams) who is helping design and build schools near the Park and Kabale. We visited the site to find that he is using tested Swedish technology and local materials to build wooden schools on concrete ‘stilts’. His disappointment was that the locals had ‘clad’ the buildings in his absence, and had forgotten boarding to keep out the wind and rain.

To the ends of the Nile

Jinja, the second largest town in Uganda, is also a holiday retreat on the banks of Lake Victoria. It is well known as one of the sources of the Nile – and we spent a long weekend there with Corrie.

Jinja was first identified as the source of the Nile in 1862 by John Speke. The plaque that said that he discovered the source of the Nile was removed some years ago on the basis that the local Ugandans have always known it had been there (although they would not have realised it was the Nile).

The original waterfall that mark the spot has disappeared as the valley has been flooded by the creation of a hydro-electric dam.

Corrie decided that one of the items on her ‘must do at least once in a lifetime’ list was to dip her toe in the Nile.

We spent some time visiting various restaurants along the Nile to see what was available. Malcolm, of course, did find all this eating quite exhausting.

It was interesting to see the different styles of traditional houses. The local tribe favour round huts made of branches and mud, compared to the rectangular huts we see in Kisoro.

At the end of a long day there is nothing like a relaxing swim in the hotel pool – just don’t tell the manager!!