'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.

Fun and Games at the Farm and the Farewell

Last Saturday some of the female hospital staff had a Fun Time at the Hospital Farm. No men allowed!

 The entertainment included food, food and talks.

 

Everyone was given the chance to milk a cow. First Robert showed how easy it is to fill a bucket from one cow.

Then Irene had a go.

 

Later that week it was time for Dr Natasha to return to England after 2 years at the hospital. Many people attended the farewell party, and joined in the games.

There was traditional Lugandan dancing

 

Several presents were given from ward staff and doctors.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This week’s proverb from the BBC Africa web-site is from Zambia: “First find an escape route before taunting the cobra”

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”