The Farewells Begin

It’s not supposed to be a long farewell, but the past couple of days have started to feel a bit like it!

Sunday, after Mass, we went to Boko Boko, treating Fr Joe and Deacon Joseph in return for the many meals we’ve shared with them at Kikambala. Yolande, the owner, came and talked to us after the meal. I’m sure we’ll sneak back there once more before we go home!

These two musicians serenaded us with an eclectic range of songs.

Then on Monday we went to Joe’s rural home. Our last opportunity to visit this trip.

Two of the puppies, Rodney (a girl) and Lou (a boy) are moving there, and Martin made them a box to travel in.

First, and most important, task was to greet Joe’s mum. She’s ailing, and often doesn’t remember people, but at Christmas asked why we were not there!

The tent, used for the memorial service and at Christmas, was dismantled.

Joe’s truck had a puncture a couple of weeks ago, and the rather worn spare was still on with the repaired wheel in the back of the truck. I suggested that we should swap them back, and somehow landed the task for myself (assisted by Martin and encouraged by a typical African crowd).

Replacing the spare – I love how all the kids bent down to see this happen!

Truck fixed, i inspected the sukuma wiki preparations

 

Joe’s aunt and one of the children.

It’s the mzungu baby thief again

Lunch – Patrick’s never late!

More of the family and kids

Meld and Joe start a school

It’s quite green up here – not as dry and dusty as Mombasa

Eliza opens coconuts – don’t argue with her when she has a panga, she’s got a killer stroke.

Back to normal tomorrow…. school, laundry and websites!

Old Town and more

We took a matatu to town and walked to Fort Jesus, looking across the creek to Nyali.

The coast has suffered erosion.

 

Me and the fort.

The fort without me! (Well, part of it)

Roundabout outside Fort Jesus with tea or coffee pot and cups – supposedly indicates that Old Town is an alcohol free area.

We took lunch at Jahazi Coffee House, where the friendly cats sleep.

Along the road through Old Town

We visited several curio shops and bought a few souvenirs, after bargaining.

Then a rapid tuk-tuk ride to the ferry to meet Lucy, on her last day in pwani before heading to Eldoret at 5am Sunday.

Posers.

The ferry in the late afternoon sun

Hordes of people make their way onto the ferry, passing the Italian aircraft carrier Cavour, here on anti-piracy patrol we presumee.

From the ferry we took a very bumpy matatu to Bamburi to meet Harrison, headteacher at Barnabas, and join his family for supper. We had a lovely time, and discussed school and their website.

Cat pillow

New Classroom for Barnabas

I went up to Barnabas School on Friday afternoon to meet Meld and also to see progress with the new interim Standard 4 classroom (current Classes 2, 3 and 4 are in one room, with a thin board partition separating Class 4).

The frame is mostly up, and most of the roof sheets are on (they need a bit more money to buy the rest of the sheets).

Putting in the last upright.

 

The classroom will have plywood half walls and a concrete floor.

Meanwhile this is the Class 4 room, with mwalimu at the back.

Meld and most of her 12 students (and a couple of others hanging on!)

With 2 of her lady colleagues.

Staying cool despite Kenya Power

Having procured the new power supply yesterday, I had the computer up and running again (using the PV solar system). The new power supply works like the old one – it is small and runs pretty hot (it did in UK). Here, in ambient temperatures of 30°C it gets untouchably hot. This almost definitely contributed to the demise of the original, and I don’t want a repeat. The question was, how to keep it cool when there was no power to run a fan?

My immediate thought was to construct a heatsink. Phase 1 one to strap the transformer tightly to the metal colander – I know from experience of draining pasta that it conducts heat far too well! And the holes should aid cooling.

With this set-up, the colander got hot quite quickly so I thought we needed something else, if only to raise the colander into the airflow more. So I placed the transformer and colander on an inverted sufuria (cooking pot),

Despite the sufuria not having a flat bottom (they are really designed for use on wood fires or charcoal jikos) it soon got quite warm, and the colander also was warm enough to know it was working as a heat sink.

I’m glad to report (a) that the power supply is still working well and (b) now that the laptop battery is fully charged and the power supply is just ticking over, heat is less of a problem.

So now, back to my various web projects….

 

Oh, Kenya Power and Darkness, how we hate you.

Electricity in Kenya is supplied (intermittently) by Kenya Power and Light Company – fondly (?!) known “Kenya Power and Darkness” or “Kenya Poor”. On Tuesday afternoon the power was off and on, and I mistakenly left my laptop plugged in to a wall socket (without surge protection) and at some stage the internals of the power supply melted and fused the plug. Careless mistake on my part, left with 2 hours battery to last over 2 weeks unless I could find a replacement.

So I contacted Edu, who said he knew a place in town that might have what we needed, if I could join him on a visit first, so late Wednesday morning I met Edu and Noelia and we went to pick up a boy called Juma (front) and his mum to take them to Barnabas School.

On of Juma’s brothers.

Ready to go to school.

So by foot and matatu we all headed to Barnabas. While Juma was interviewed by Harrison, I disturbed the Class 4 teacher.

During the lunchbreak we inspected the new classroom being built to give room for the Class 4.

Saying farewell to Barnabas, we took 2 matatus via Bamburi to Mombasa town, where Edu visited a friend (running a graphic design and print service) who took my laptop and the dead power supply and came back a little later saying the place next door had one for 2,500 KES (under £20). We had quite a wait while the item was retrieved from store, then a hunt for the socket-to-transformer cable (the new adapter, genuine Samsung of the correct rating, had a 2-pin input rather than 3-pin).

By now we were tired, thirsty and hungry, so we headed to the Old Town.

Eventually (mainly because Noelia and I kept stopping to take photos!) we reached Edu’s favourite haunt, Jahazi Coffee House.

It’s a cat-friendly place.

Snacks and drinks

Edu made himself at home.

And I found a purring puss

From Jahazi we headed to the waterside by Fort Jesus (about 100 metre walk) and took the view.

Then, leaving Noelia to meet a friend, Edu and I headed back to Shanzu.

Now you can see the evidence that the power adapter is functioning… and the electrician is here fixing the house electrics (I’m connected to the solar).

Farewell Marius, Hello Noelia

Marius, the Norwegian intern who has been here over Christmas, was leaving this evening, so a party was planed in his honour. Marius has been a great hit here, working hard with the special school and Barnabas orphans.

I visited during the day when preparations were under way. Gloria was in the bath…

And Shanique hopped in with her, fully dressed!

We got spruced up and joined the party in the evening. Lydia is not yet used to Jacob’s extended family!

Shanique loves an audience

Marius was given a cake – naming him “MJ Charo”, i.e. one of the Charo family.

The tradition is that he has to feed everyone cake, then be fed by everyone,with much chanting!

With his new wazazi (parents)

With the whole family, and new intern Noelia

The Charo Brothers

Fed by mama

And then, everyone departed to see Marius to the stage on the way for a night flight to Nairobi (first of 4 flights over 48 hours to reach the Arctic circle in northern Norway – that WILL be a shock to hs system!)

Kolewa, at last

Fr Joe works a 3-weekly cycle: Week 1 he says Mass at Kikambala, Barani and Bomani; Week 2 at Kikambala, Vipingo and Kolewa; Week 3 at Kikambala, Vipingo and Shaurimoyo. (See map). So, over the 10 weeks we’ve been here we should have visited all the outstations at least once. But 3 weeks ago there was no Kolewa mass (the big Legion of Mary event at Vipingo), 6 weeks ago we were in Eldoret, and 9 weeks ago we stayed for Mass in Shanzu. So today was our last chance to visit Kolewa.

We were enthroned at the front!

The choir were wonderful, no electronic organs, just drums, karamba and voices.

It’s quite a big, traditionally built, church. The makuti roof makes it the coolest of all of the mass venues, but the dark mud walls and bright sunlight outside makes it challenging for photography.

After lunch we walked to the beach, the men swam, and we took drinks at North Coast.

Sea and Culture

Friday afternoon Joe came and collected us and drove us to Kikambala, then we went to North Coast for a swim – the tide was actually HIGH!

After Swimming drinks.

The hotel has Christmas design painted on the walls.

Lucy and her maasai boyfriend

On Saturday we went to Bombolulu Workshops and Cultural Center. This is a mijikenda kaya

In the Luo homestead.

Lucy looks for her Maasai boyfriend

And Lydia tries too

In a Luhya home

Making Giriama music

In the Swahili house, not very elegant but surprisingly comfortable

Thank you Lydia

Swahili bed

Jacob and Lydia

The traditional dance show

Time to join in (badly)

Meld escaped the dancing, but Lucy got her with a hat

Farewell

On the way home (via Nakumatt) we bought a plant – seemed like a good idea, but it was rather heavy and we had a mile to walk!

Back home, treating the puppies for ticks with big dollops of Vaseline

Desk Delivery Day

Today we collected the desks that Martin has been making for us and delivered them to Barnabas School.

The desks were ready in the workshop.

Carried out to the road

Loaded into Joe’s truck

Driven to the school and unloaded

Tried for size outside the classroom

Moved inside

With a crowd watching

Tried out inside with Meld teaching

Counting in kiswahili?

Chatting to teacher Silas before we returned the truck to Joe.

Happy New Year – Mwaka Mpya Mwema

New Year’s Eve morning we visited Martin to see progress on the desks for Barnabas School.

We all had to try them for size.

Back home, Meld had a visit from a horde of local kids who know her from Fumathoka School next door – she always said she’s never work at a school close to home…

In thee evening we went up to Kikambala for a New Year Vigil mass, after which they burnt a scarecrow to symbolise the end of last year’s ills, wiping the sate clean. I think Joe in not keen on this “witchcraft”, so it happens after the mass.

After Mass we went to Boko Boko (the Seychelles Restaurant) for a family party. The tables were arranged around a pool, and the kids danced across the walkway.

The kids loved showing their moves.

One boy did a hilarious dance wearing a Barack Obama mask.

The dancers got bigger.

Meld was encouraged to join in

Our group: Med, Yolande (our hostess), Lucy, Deacon Joseph, Coralis, Fr Anthony, Fr Joe.

A performance for our table

Lucy and Deacon

Coralis, Anthony, Joe, Meld

The dancing got more cosmopolitan

We eventually left about 2:30 and drove home in Joe’s truck through Mtwapa (very interesting at this hour!).

New Year’s Morning we drove to Kikambala then up to Vipingo for lunch with some of Joe’s parishioners. After lunch, Joffrey cooked nyama choma to accompany the beers.

Deacon and Joffrey’s brother in law (deaf / dumb)

The house, you can see where we sat in the shade with our beers, sodas and nyama choma.

Meld and Joffrey’s wife, Grace.

Chilling in Kikambala after a little stress

After we returned last night there was a lot of discussion with the owner of the car over the reimbursement of the cost of the new tyre and the bribe we had to pay the police to be allowed on our way on Christmas Eve.

This morning, with Jacob at work, Maggy and I took the car back and had a long and rather heated discussion with the owner and his many friends, the result of which was a little cash now and the promise of more later, but we’re still well out of pocket (and not confident about getting the rest of the promise money).

We then joined Meld and Lucy at Kikambala, and after lunch went to Blue Sky for a swim, sodas, and photos on the beach.

Leaving Mivumoni

Before we got up, we’d heard birds squawking in the trees, and Meld spotted the green parrots.

Lucy’s uncle brought his children Margaret and Titus to visit.

Accompanied by Agostino, Meld and I drove to John Mulwa’s home, which proved to be a long way out from the village on a very rough road. We met his grandmother, cousins and niece.

They liked to try on my hat.

Setting out to return to Mivumoni

John’s neighbours are building a house by the road.

Back at Lucy’s we sat and chatted

After lunch, with the car loaded, we waited for Mike to return from work so that we could get some group photos (although Japhet was out with the cattle)

And so we set off, heavily laden. The blue water lilies near Milalani were stunning.

The journey proved quite easy, apart from Mombasa traffic.

Back home we had a few challenges – the gas ran out so we had to move to the charcoal jiko, and big debates with the owner of the car who wants the car back and said “come to the office tomorrow for your money for the tyre and fine” to which he got a resounding “you don’t get your car until we see the money”.

 

Base Titanium

Today’s main activity was a visit to Mike’s workplace, Base Titanium, but before we set out we had to have breakfast – githeri and casava.

Agostino has become a villa fan.

At the titanium plant we only visited the catering section where Mike works, and met his bosses David (pictured) and Brian. Dave gave us a tour of the kitchen and described the operation.

After lunch in the mess we said farewell to Mike.

We drove to Ukunda for shopping, and visited the Kamba carving centre. Meld bought a karamba for school, and Ndunge demonstrated how to play it.

Bixa, used for dyes, grows well here.

Lucy working again, this time the laundry.

The new bathroom – no more views of the stars as you do your ablutions.

Japhet brings home the goats and a calf.

Meld makes sure that Sue’s Christmas decorations are still hanging on the wall – it’s been a bit breezy.

Kennedy and Japhet prepare coconuts.

I went with Maggy for a drink at the pub (well, we’d promised the owner we’d return), then back to Maggy’s where Black Jack soon jumped on my lap (having licked my feet).

Sitting tasting Maggy’s githeri I suddenly realised I’d left my camera at the pub, so Agostino, Maggy and I hurried back. Nearly to the pub we heard squeals from behind – Black Jack had followed us and was being bitten by the black ants. Maggy had to carry her to the pub and home again, and hold onto her as Agostino and I left.

Back at Lucy’s it was Chapati Party time, accompanied by green grams and potatoes fried in batter (which Meld cooked with Lucy).

Boxing Day Walks

Every morning found Lucy doing the washing up from the night before – it can’t be done in the evening because there is no light. It’s a careful process as all water has to be carried from the spring, so you don’t waste it.

The cattle stay in overnight.

Our car by the sitting room. (OK, this morning we did drive the car to church because we were so late, with lots of people in the back!)

Meld found my bed jumping – and this was who was in it!

Lucy’s parents took us on a tour of their shamba. The maize is growing well.

Oranges

Mike explains what they are growing.

Lucy’s mum checks some low-hanging pawpaws.

Bananas.

Afterwards we walked to Lucy’s uncle and aunt’s for lunch and a tour of their shamba.This is the store.

Checking the oranges.

Passion flowers – there were fruit too.

Carrying home the fruit we’d collected.

Time to say farewell.

Mivumoni is named for the Mivuma trees which grow here/

We passed one of the boreholes that we helped to refurbish a few years ago, still working.

Back in Mivumoni, we went for a drink with Mike and meet some of his work colleagues and other villagers.

Lucy’s sister Ndunge

We were invited to supper with the St Joseph Sisters, who made us very welcome. Seminarian Gabriel came along too.

Mivumoni Christmas Day

I should have said yesterday, Christmas started with the vigil Mass, which was full of song and joy. Starting at 10pm, home about midnight. No Christmas Carols as we know them. The church was decorated with balloons and was very festive.

Christmas Morning we got out the banana-fibre crib we bought in Nairobi.

After breakfast, Lucy was soon onto preparing lunch – a simple meal of ugali and cabbage ahead of tonight’s feast.

We were visited by the children of some neighbours (the parents were working I think)

Soon Lucy’s aunt (in pink) and uncle joined us.

We spent most of the day sitting and chatting with visitors.

The watoto eat their lunch.

In the afternoon, Lucy,Meld and I paid a visit to the St Joseph Sisters whose convent is next to the church.

The sisters loved seeing the photos on my phone, and were soon taking selfies (but the light was challenging and they weren’t very good)!

Sister Ancilla had dislocated her wrist working in the shamba.

We returned via Maggy’s home, saying hello to her family and to Black Jack.

Back at Lucy’s, preparations for dinner were under way. Our contribution was a Christmas Pudding and custard. teaming the pud wasn’t too difficult, though making custard (even from powder) on a very hot wood fire was a challenge.

Soon the pilau was served.

The Christmas pud was liked by some and not by others (just like home!). And I got to finish off the custard 🙂

And so to bed.

Preparing for Christmas

Having got the electrics wired up to the oven, Meld made some Lemon Drizzle cakes for Christmas.

In Shanzu, Tina was more traditional, making ugali for the family.

The four remaining pups wait for supper.

Christmas Eve, Black Jack is ready to travel to Mivumoni.

But runs off to lie with her brothers.

Then it all went a bit pear-shaped. Our hire car, promised at 8, only appeared at 11. We hurriedly loaded and set off, picking up Maggy. But we only got as far as Nyali when we were stopped by the police because one tyre was very illegal.

We got taken away to the police station, where extended discussions took place, trying to get the owner of the car to come and take the rap, but eventually we were encouraged to make a payment to the police and meet the owner in town to resolve matters.

Needless to say, the owner didn’t show, so we had to get a new tyre fitted, then we headed off, but the queue to the ferry was long. Net result was that it was getting dark as we reached Likoni, so we drove all the way to Mivumoni in the dark (the one thing I wanted to avoid). We arrived in time for late supper instead of lunch!

Then we hurried off the Christmas Mass, taking Black Jack with us because there was no time to take her to Maggy’s home beforehand.

And so, back to Lucy’s home, and bed.

Shaurumoyo – at last

Today we got to visit the last of Joe’s mass centres, in a school at Shaurumoyo at the northern end of the parish.

Mass is celebrated in a classroom.

The congregation is small but enthusiastic

 

There are huge baobab trees all around.

After Mass we visited a nearby family for Joe to bless their new baby.

Back at Kikambala, we had lunch, Tusker and a snooze, then helped Teddy preparing mchicha (a kind of greens).

We then went down to the beach at Blue Sky

And drank sodas in the shade

Whilst enjoying the view

A Couple More Days

Friday, a day for massage, laundry and visitors! In the afternoon, Joe came and drove us to Chalets Beach for a quick swim and soda. Next to the beach are the Cowrie Shell Apartments: you can almost see the coloured glass in the link between the two blocks.

Joe dropped us in Bushy and we picked up vegetables before walking home. We met Joe’s sister Sidi on the way an she took us to see her home/.

Jacob brought his girlfriend Lydia home, and on Saturday morning they looked smart for the children’s birthday party.

After a morning of websites, we went up to Kikambala with Maggy and had a drink at Sun’n’Sand Hotel.

The tide was far out when we arrived so we didn’t swim, but the view was nice.

In the evening we went to a house mass with some of Joe’s parishioners, their children and grandchildren, followed by supper.

Catching Up

Tuesday morning we went up to Barnabas Childrens Center to deliver some bits and pieces we brought from home, and to greet thee kids. There are about 29 kids (orphans and street kids) who stay there even during the holidays.

Football in the classroom!

The little ones were playing school

Marius, a Norwegian intern, has just arrived and was soon playing games with the kids.

Silas, the deputy head.

Pretty flowers near the school.

Back near home, some huge spiders on a web between two tall trees.

Wednesday we planned to go to KWETU, a project just across the creek, that specialises in products of the neem tree, but when we got there we were told we had to pre-book because the staff were mostly away on holiday.

On the way there (it was a long way: into Shanzu, matatu to Mtwapa, then 6km on motorbikes) we stopped at a former childrens fun centre. The owners have returned to Europe, and edu has the option to use the premises, but its a big undertaking and needs capital.

Back home, we had a visit from a friend of Jacob, Kisten…

And then by Manny and cousins.

After supper I made another trip to Club Lambada for some light refreshments.

Thursday we went to City Mall shopping and I lost our small-change purse with about £20 in it. Not a disaster but very annoying. In the evening we were given super at Eunice’s (just round the corner) before Aid went off to Bundus to meet Edu (who turned up 2 hours later!)

 

 

Ticking Over in Majaoni

It’s been a few days since we blogged, so it’s time for an update. We’ve not been idle, but we’ve been doing things that aren’t really photo-worthy. So this is a pot pourri of snapshots from the past few days.

On Friday we found Mary sporting a T-shirt she’d got from the scrum on Thursday, and looking very pleased about it.

On Friday, Saturday and Monday we had downpours just before lunchtime.

On Saturday, Angelo (the largest of the puppies) was off to his new home with a cousin, so he had to be shampooed.

Catherine had come to get help in completing an application form to be an au-pair in Germany, but ended up picking fleas off Angelo!

Handover – kwaheri Angelo

And then there were four.

Saturday night I went out for a drink or two with Tina at Club Lambada in Mtwapa (so I wasn’t very impressed when Jacob got up at 5 on Sunday and started housework!)

On Sunday we went to Mass at Barani and Bomani, the two southerly outstations of Kikaambala (both pictured before). In both places (as at Vipingo last week) there was a big fund raising push to help the Diocese pay off its debt.

After lunch we went to the beach with a youth group from Kongowea parish – unfortunately, few from Kikambala turned up. The water was full of the remains of fishing nets – Natasha and I did our best to clear up so that we could swim.

The youth played games on the beach.

Gillian, the local representative.

Group photo

On the way back we stopped at Sweetwaters Pub for a soda – Maggy and Gillian insist they are the Tangawizi Twins, it’s not Tusker!

Monday was spent at home, with me working on a web site for Okoa Jahazi (you can see the early progress at http://okoajahazi.asimons.co.uk) before heading to a very wet and muddy Mtwapa for shopping.