The Master's Territory

 Tolerating Malcolm at the moment is Max, the cat. While his ‘staff’ (Ann) is back in England Max has allowed Malcolm to share his territory.

 

 

The main condition for Max’s generosity is that Malcolm should do his duty – primarily to provide food. (A job Max has noticed is done much better by his normal, permanent ‘staff’. He is considering whether to allow ‘staff’ to go on leave again).

 

Max is not the only animal at the Hospital. There is also a small herd of cows which provide milk to the Hospital. 

 

Malcolm also has his own ‘territory’. He has the largest office in the Hospital – the only problem is that it is primarily the Board Room which he shares. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This does mean he has no excuse for being late for meetings.

 

Did the earth move for you?

 On Wednesday we thought our chairs had developed massaging features. We were experiencing our biggest earthquake which lasted about 30 seconds at a magnitude of 5.7. Fortunately its centre was on Lake Albert and we don’t think there have been any fatalities, though traditional wood and brick houses in the area may have been damaged.

 

 Last weekend was the end of the financial year which meant it was time to do the annual stock take. In addition to the usual counting of drugs, syringes and other medical equipment that Malcolm was too squeamish to ask what they were used for, it was also necessary to visit the hospital farm and count the cows. For the record there were 24 in the herd: 11 in milk, 6 dry, 5 in calf and 2 heifers.

 

Each morning before work a brief service is held in the dining room.  On Wednesday Irene gave the talk for the first time – Genesis 18. Is your God a big god?

 On Wednesday every week a group of lady patients meet to make craft which is sold in the hospital shop, and is a chance for them to earn some money. They were pleased that Malcolm came to  take their photographs.

This weeks bug is a spider which decided to help out with some embroidery.

 This week’s Swahili proverb from the BBC Africa web-site is from Kenya  “A cow dies with grass in its mouth”

Timbaah!!!!!

Occasionally we need to attend a school ceremony. 

Last week Malcolm was invited to the swearing in ceremony for the new Guild (Student’s Union Committee) at the Hospital’s Training Schools. This event lasted for about 2 hours and included several speeches and entertainment. Part way through, and to his surprise, Malcolm was asked to present prizes to the outgoing committee members. You need to be ready for anything here.

 

One of Malcolm’s responsibilities is the hospital farm with its herd of 24 cows. This has not been doing very well with the previous Farm Manager sacked for stealing trees. The new manager, James, invited us to visit the Farm to find out more. Whilst there we met Sarah, one of the milking cows, but unfortunately not Rachel.

 

Talking of cutting down trees a team from a church from Northern Ireland are visiting for 2 weeks to do a number of jobs. Steve is a former forestry manager who brought with him the equipment to cut down some of the older, dieing trees around the hospital.

 

This week’s bug is a large flying beetle which visited our home.

 

 

This week’s proverb from the BBC Africa web-site is from South Sudan  “To love someone who does not love you is like shaking a tree to make the dew drops fall”