About Aidan Simons
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Another day, another beach
After a brief rest at Kikambala Church, we walked down to the beach again, this time Milk the Bottle Bar further north from Sun’n’Sand and North Coast, for a late afternoon swim. Maggy needed some encouragement (it’s OK, I didn’t drop her in).
A local kid helps to bury Jacob in the sand.
Sadly we discovered this beach has rock close in which was excruciating to walk on, so we just floated for a while. The sun was going down.
Back at the church, the house roof was nearly finished.
Sun setting behind the church.
Lunch at Boko Boko
So, does lunch really deserve its own post? At Boko Boko Seychelles Restaurant it does! A wonderful ambience, tremendous welcome, delicious food, and interesting company…
Maggy and Panda (the dog)
One of 3 giant tortoises – they sit in the pools to keep cool.
Tickle me under the chin mama!
What do you mean, phone home?
Back in the restaurant for coffee before we take a matatu to Kikambala.
Visiting the new baby
Emmanuel likes the England kit!
Esther (Joe’s sister-in-law) with her children and nephew.
Walking to David and Eunice’s house to see the new baby.
Hmm, I think I can remember what to do (but Meld commented that I never cooed over my own daughters).
Pretty baby (her mama enhanced the eyebrows!)
Mama and baby
On of the neighbours’ children, a pretty but very quiet girl.
Life’s a beach…
After inspecting the works and enjoying a fine lunch, we were joined by Maggy and took a walk to the beach. On the way we passed a “family of three” baobab tree.
Walking the deserted beach.
First stop, 500m along the beach, is North Coast Beach Hotel, with its beach bar. Mango and passion juice all round.
Meld and I swam, the water has as hot as a bath, and from the water we saw two horses being ridden along the water’s edge. Mandatory photo for Bridget!
Relaxing after the swim.
Then we strolled back, passing the fragrant frangipan trees.
We were back in good time for All Saints’ Day mass, where Joe told his parishioners that the house had to be finished before we go home so that we can spend a night under it roof.
Progress with the Roof
Friday 1st November (posted late because of network)
With the money that has been raised, including the money from the pilgrims, work has restarted, and the roof is well under way.
When the roof is on, the internal work can begin.
Fr Joe and Meld survey progress.
No one is quite sure why some of the roof panels have areas of colour on them, maybe it’s just modern art?
Kikamabala Priests’ House – History
All that remained of the old priest’s house in April 2011.
Building work starts in April 2012
The house is close to the church
Fr Joe Kengah blessing the works, later in April 2012
Progress has been made, but stalled, April 2013.
We made it!
Whether you consider our flight from London to Addis Ababa “good” probably depends on your ability to cat-nap. 8 hour flight; drinks served after 1 hour (over Germany), dinner after 3 (over Greece), lights on for breakfast 90 minutes before an early arrival (over Sudan). I was fine, but Meld felt deprived of sleep. As we did the last stint over Ethiopia, the sun rose to our East, out towards the Red Sea.
Bole airport at Addis was OK: bus between terminals gave us any chance to see our transport up close.
The airport was clean if not exciting, and a chance to catch up on sleep. Our next flight was not too late. We flew over Ethiopia, which looked interesting through the clouds, then alongside Lake Turkana.
Then on past Nairobi to Kilimanjaro –but we were on the wrong side to see the great mountain. From there to Mombasa where Joe and Jacob met us and drove us to our home for the next 3 months, Joe’s house at Majaoni. After lunch Joe’s brother Martin and friend Lucky took us for a walk to view the creek.
Newly-built fish pond, with mangrove planted for reinforcement.
The mangrove nursery.
A little crab with a big claw.
A panorama over the creek.
Sun sets over the mangroves
. 
Back at the house.
The journey begins
It always seems to take longer and be more stressful to pack than it shOuld be, but we were on the road almost on time, stop to say farewell to mum, Martin and RosIe and Mary, and another to leave flowers with Eveline and Desmond, then…. M25 🙁 Mary stayed calm at the controls as we crawled along. and so to Heathrow.
Check in Meant a long wait, but all bags accepted and we can have a coffee, go through security, buy some duty free, and head to the gate. Now on board, it’s a 767, so we get window and aisle, so both happy.
See you in Addis Ababa!
The great packing challenge
How on earth are we going to get all of this in the bags?
Look who’s going to greet us in Shanzu!
New Baby
So it seems there will be a new baby to greet us in Shanzu – David’s wife produced this little one just 2 hours ago (David is one of Fr Joe’s brothers). Karibu msichana mpya!
Meanwhile, the storm left us unscathed and preparations continue – just 48 hour until we leave England and our adventure begins.
Packing and au revoirs
Having said our farewells to work colleagues on Thursday, the weekend has been busy with packing and farewells. A pleasant evening on Saturday with the pilgrims, with whom a 3-month separation is nothing out of the ordinary, but church, family and Minden Rose on Sunday – these are people we see all the time…
And so to bed, bracing ourselves for the threatened storm
The time is nigh
So, 2 months have passed since I created this blog. 2 months ago, our departure for Kenya seemed such a long way off, but now it is just round the corner…
So, are we ready? Well, there are always things to do at home, but we are getting there. Much is packed, and we’re doing well raising money to roof Fr Joe’s house. Work things seem to be under control – I feel like a spare part much of the time, which is a credit to those who have taken things on.
We have some loose plans, but beyond getting ourselves to Mombasa we’re keeping things fluid until we arrive and can talk to our friends and make a mutually agreeable schedule.
But I must add more to this blog!
Getting Started
It seems appropriate to start this blog on the Feast of St Aidan, exactly 2 calendar months before we arrive in Mombasa. There’s much to do before we go…