'Tis the season to be - sporty

We are delighted that our younger son, Stephen, came to visit us this Christmas. It is his first time to East Africa so it took him a short time to acclimatise. Still, he came prepared, leaving the plane that brought him to Iringa looking like Indiana Jones. 

We had been invited by one of the staff at Neema Crafts, Paulina, for a meal at her house – so we took Stephen. Paulina lives in a small 2 bed room house with her grandmother and her daughter. 

The house had been built by Neema Crafts, with the help of a charity and a 10% contribution from Paulina and so it now belongs to her. To provide a separate bedroom for her grandmother she has divided the lounge into two by constructing a partition wall – so it is now a 3 room house.

Not one to boast about his sporting prowess Stephen joined in with the various games played over the Christmas period.

On Christmas Eve we visited a local dairy farm and held a candle light carol service. No need for thick over coats and scarves here, even at midnight. 

Though there were one or two spectres that turned up.

We had a Christmas tree - though not the traditional sort we might have in Britain. Still, it looked festive especially with the jolly Christmas robin.

On Christmas day and Boxing day we were invited to two farms with a group of friends to share lunch. Clearly someone thought lunch should have been shared more widely.

 

 It may be hot, but it is the rainy season, so games were interrupted by a short but very sharp downpour.

Even though it is Christmas most people continue to work. As we enjoyed a stroll around the farm on Boxing day we met some children picking spinach leaves in a field.

Stephen enjoyed his visit to Iringa. At the end of his stay we are all going on a safari – but more of that another time.