Getting the Timing Right

When we first went to Tanzania in 2008 and 2009, we would leave the UK in April and return 6 months later in October, just is time for winter. This led to our vicar pointing out that we always got the timing wrong.

We have learnt!!!

This week we booked tickets to return to Tanzania for 6 months, but this time we leave the UK in November and return next May. This means a long, hot, winter.  (Oops - it will also be the rainy season - a long, hot, very wet winter).

We will be 'relieving' the long term Mission Partners, Ben and Katy Ray, who have been managing Neema Crafts in Iringa. They have been there for about 6 years and are due a break. It is really a 'house-swop' as they will be living in our house whilst we are in theirs. They get carpets and central heating, we get house staff and lizards.

Neema Crafts was set up about 14 years ago to train and employ disabled and deaf people. This is a group which is normally ignored in Tanzania as they are often seen to be a drain on a very poor economy. Neema Crafts now employs about 90 staff working in a range of crafts such as tailoring, carpentry, silk screen printing and paper making. They also run a guest house and a cafe (one of Malcolm's jobs will be to test the quality of the food in the cafe - it's going to be tough!!!!).

So - in just 3 months time we will be packing up and on our way. We will hope to restart our weekly blog diary while we are there.

For more information on Neema Crafts go to: https://www.neemacrafts.com

And if you happen to be passing Iringa do drop in for some chocolate cake at the cafe!!
Neema Crafts, Tanzania

PS Malcolm's beard has now grown so he looks like David Bellamy / Father Christmas. The most difficult decision in the next 3 months - should he keep it or lose it?

Blood, thicker than water

It’s time for Malcolm to return home to his family.

 Before doing so he did first go to see if he could give blood in Uganda. Unlike the UK the location for donating is much more relaxing – like sunbathing under the shade of a mango tree. 

Now that's how to give blood.

 The only problem is that in Uganda there are 3 reasons why Malcolm couldn’t give blood, which don’t really apply in the UK:

-          He has high blood pressure

-          He’s too old!!!!!!!!

-          He’s on malaria tablets.

The good news that as a result of this disappointment Malcolm has discovered that after being back in the UK for 6 months (having returned from a malaria country) he will be OK to try and donate, being neither too old, nor prevented as he has medication for high blood pressure.  Yippee!!!

The first stage of the journey home was a 50 mile drive to the airport. This was going well until, in a Kampala traffic jam, the engine ‘refused’ due to an electrical fault. After a 15 minute hunt around the minibus to find out where the battery is, Malcolm and Rory surprisingly found the owner’s manual. (How many used cars in Uganda do you think still have an owner’s manual????) Only problem is, neither of them could read Japanese. Doh!

Now we know where the battery is!!!!

Eventually the battery was found, and a temporary fix made to get the minibus to a KFC for lunch. Here, their friend, Rashid, a mechanic, met them to do a proper repair.

Thank you, Rashid

So, finally, it was farewell to Rory and Uganda, for Malcolm’s flight back home.

Dinner for One?

Dinner for One?

It’s Malcolm’s last week at Kiwoko Hospital. Any thoughts that he might lose some weight during his time in Uganda have been swallowed up in a round of meals.

 Firstly, there were some new visitors at the Guest House. Gillian, Wendy and Myrtle from Northern Ireland came for a few days to visit friends, carry out some staff training and pray with patients. They even survived some of Malcolm’s cooking.

When we lived here, we attended a weekly Fellowship group. It so happened this week was ‘Swallowship’, a meal to celebrate the birthdays of 4 group members.

 

Malcolm has been working with the Finance Team for the past 5 weeks and it is time to say farewell. You can’t say goodbye without having a proper party, can you.

 

Finally, there was a farewell meal at the Guest House arranged by Michael and Conrad.

 

 

We are now a little worried about Malcolm carrying excess baggage on the flight home!!

 

Incidently, after the farewell meal we played a game of Cranium. For years, for some reason known only to him, Malcolm has been carrying an old 3d coin in his wallet. This odd behaviour has now been totally justified as it proved the answer to on of the question.

 

The other ‘oddity’ is that Malcolm learned that, whereas in Britain during Christmas the film, ‘Great Escape’ is usually shown on British TV to remind us of life inGermany, in Germany the tradition is to show a short film ‘Dinner for One’ which gives them an impression of normal typical life in England. The following is a link to the film Dinner for One – fast forward the 2 minute introduction in German – the main film, starring Freddie Frinton, is in English and lasts about 15 mins.

Next week – back to dear old Blighty 

All in a Day's Work

The working day starts early at the hospital.

Because we live close to the equator dawn is at 7 am throughout the year. The first arrival is the milkman. In previous blogs we’ve shown milk being delivered from a churn tied to the back of a bicycle. This has now been upgraded to a motor bike for speedier delivery from cow to home.

July 2013

The modern milk round - from udder to you

On weekdays there is chapel before the start of work. This Friday the staff who helped at the children’s club, Ekisa, earlier this month lead the worship by introducing songs and dances used with the children.

Enjoying worship

 

It is the middle of the rainy season which means on most days there are periods of heavy rain separated by bursts of hot sunshine.  Because the building are roofed in corrugated metal sheets the noise of the rain falling on the roof makes normal conversation difficult.

Water, water, everywhere.......

 

The large quantity of water falling means that the basic drainage system is subjected to a lot of pressure. This week some of the hospital’s staff had to sort out drainage problems near to on of the main hydrants from the hospital’s water source. This water, pumped from our underground well, is essential as the main water supply to the hospital.

...... but not always where you want it

Coming Home to Roost

Let me introduce you to some of Malcolm’s new acquaintances.Malcolm is staying in the guest house at Kiwoko Hospital with 2 young German doctors, Michael and Konrad. They are staying here for about 3 months each. On Friday they  were invited round for a meal and a couple of board game to a couple who have recently come to work for 6 months as teachers at the Hospital. 

John, Catherine, Konrad and Michael playing Cranium

 
Earlier in the week Michael introduced Malcolm to a new friend – Hans, the chicken. It many ways it this was a pity as it is usually a mistake to be formally introduced to your food. Hans had had a happy but inevitably short life. He was, however, was made most welcome at the dining table with the help of Becky, a nurse at the hospital.

Holding Hans

Hand in Hans

Mind your Hans

Many Hans make light work

It was also an exciting week as our friend Corrie returned to Kiwoko after a 7 month ‘break’ in England – though the word ‘break’ is probably inappropriate with the work she had to do visiting churches, other supporters, etc.

Welcome home Corrie

 
Finally the following is a short video of last weekend’s Kiwoko Chase. Quite frankly you will see why we were all surprised that Malcolm was able to make it home.

 Catherine is a primary school teacher for the Medical Superintendent’s young son, Gideon. John is teaching IT to some of the students at the Laboratory and Nursing Schools. (Malcolm did particularly badly at the game ‘Love Letters’ – which would be no surprise to his wife, Irene!!!)

It's Too Darn Hot!

One of the advantages of living in a hot country is you can save a fortune on fuel bills. One of our enterprising Ugandan doctors has set up a solar oven which is ideal for cooking stews etc.

Bring me sunshine........

 Malcolm has his own way of cooking. This week he not only baked some scones but also managed to make some real clotted cream to go on top. Eat your heart out, Mary Berry.

.......in your smile!   Scrummy!

In the local village there are other entrepreneurs. One has set up a recording studio, and has copied the name of the famous American studios that launched the careers of Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash amongst others.

Anyone want to make a hit record?

 

Another team of visitors arrived this week. Aspen is an international insurance firm who are major funders of the hospital. Each year they send a team of staff from across the world, this year including London, New York, Singapore and Australia.

The Aspen team with hospital staff

 

One of the events they will join in with is the 16.5km annual Kiwoko Chase for runners and walkers. On Friday we arrived for the briefing. Malcolm was there with other Mzungu volunteers: Michael and Konrad , medical students from Germany with John and Catherine, teachers from England.

Konrad, Michael, John and Catherine - ready for the briefing

 

For some reason the children have taken a particular liking to Michael.

 

Michael - the main attraction!

Living in a hot country means we also get some spectacular insects. This moth flew in one evening. 

Wait  till you see my big brother!

 

So next week – Malcolm will have taken part in the Kiwoko Chase. Will the pace, and the temperature, prove just too hot for him? We think so.

Still Holiday time!

The team from Northern Ireland are here for a second week to help at a fun day for the Hospital’s ‘Afaayo’ (He Cares) Club. This is a regular time for children and young people who live with the challenge of being HIV+, usually because they acquired the virus at birth.

 However, there was more work for them to do. To raise funds to pay the fees for those who cannot afford to pay for treatment or need assistance to buy food there was a sale of items brought here by visitors and left (including a suit, 2 jackets and ties Malcolm no longer has a use for). The team became willing stall holders and almost 2,000,000  Ugandan shillings was raised (about £380). This is a great help to the 20 million shillings needed per year to support this assistance.

The team left on Thursday. They presented bags of toys to help with the Hospital’s clubs for children.

 

They also presented a banner which had been made by one of Rory’s patients when he was a GP in Ireland.

 

So next week – Malcolm really must get down and do some proper work! We are still waiting!