I will explain the title later but for those of you who probably didn't even know it we had an offer to come to Uganda tHelloo work for WaterAid in Kampala for 6 months and felt that the opportunity to work for an International NGO was an offer we couldn't refuse. Of course it had absolutely nothing to do with the chance to see gorillas and chimpanzees in the wild, more game reserves, the source of the Nile and raft grade 5 rapids at Jinja one of the thrill capitals of the world etc etc, well maybe not the last one!!!
Yes, just when you were having a nice break from us and getting on with life we are back in Africa volunteering again just 2 months after we got home from South Africa. You know and we know we are mad but nothing had come up in London ( not that we gave it much chance). So in a whirl of flight bookings , inductions at the London office, injections ie 6 in one day where I felt like a pin cushion, the realisation that I needed a new passport so had to go for the one day passport service, and saying hello and goodbye at the same to lots people, I was whisked off to Ethiopia for 2 weeks. I'LL STOP THERE FOR A SECOND WHILST YOU GATHER YOUR BREATH.
I promise there will be some lovely Manda photos coming up but you have to sit through the
explanations first.Oh okay here we are:
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| The national bird of Uganda - A Crowned Crane |
So 2 weeks flashed by in a flash. Slightly wearily I boarded the flight to Entebbe. For those of a certain age the name Entebbe is of course remembered for the famous raid by Israeli commandos back in the 1970s. Today the most dangerous thing that happened was me landing closely followed by the President of Uganda arriving I assume in a private jet. I wonder if masked nurses checked his temperature for Ebola? And so it was that I was met by Manda and there were thousands of Ugandans cheering me along the route from the airport to Kampala. I assume they had all gone home when the President passed a bit later. Very nice of them to turn out, especially on a Saturday.
In Kampala we are living in a very comfortable flat/apartment in a hotel 5 minutes walk from the office serenaded by the obligatory loud Ibis', very excited male frogs (its the mating season again), resident cockerel, goats and birds plus,alas, plenty of mosquitos as we back on to a swamp. Lots of birds to see though. Skype tours are available assuming the internet is working which yesterday it wasn't but today is! Yes there are monkeys but they seem very well behaved so far.
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| A Woodland Kingfisher - on guard helping to keep the mosquito colony in check |
I am acting Head of Finance as unfortunately the incumbent has been very unwell. Okay let's get the jokes over with the 'acting' bit. I'll start you off. He was acting as an accountant for 30 years which proves you can fool most of the people all of the time!!! Other jokes welcome.
Manda is assistant photographer in the Communications team and is happily proof reading any reports etc that are thrown her way. She was supposed to have gone 'up country' for a few days, as we locals say, to photograph the opening of some project by the President's wife but just as Manda was about to set off on her 250 mile trip Mrs President called it off.A severe snub to Manda who was keen to go one better than meeting Charlize Theron. Just because I stole the President's thunder at the airport - see my grand arrival above!!!. Sorry Manda.
As for me, to say it has been hectic in the first week is definitely an understatement. There is a ton of work to do with deadlines everywhere. Pressure. Ha. I don't know the meaning of the word. Well actually I do and it does focus the mind quite quickly. Can I also say that the Ugandan team, all 25 or so of them have been great to the two of us and made us very welcome
And so to the first weekend and we don't have the use of a car. The options are 1. walk - it is very safe here 2. Get a taxi or 3. Ride on the back of a Boda Boda ( motor bike) for 50p a trip. We have tried all three and the boda boda is certainly the most exciting, especially carrying your shopping whilst hanging on as the driver avoids the potholes.
Shopping - I will report on this a bit more next time when we have worked out what is around You may have seen at the end of film credits 'No animals were harmed in the making of this film' well unfortunately in the next blog comment will be made about an animal that was harmed!!! Due warning will be given to look away at the appropriate moment.
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| Don't the kids look thrilled to be having their picture taken with me? Why don't you think up your own caption and e-mail it to me!!! |
So to finish off the first entry quickly, or I'll never finish it, it's Manda's photos at the Festival. We'll be back with another thrilling episode soon:
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| Another form of transport but one we will not be using. May try bikes ( but as most of you know for me that might not be such a good idea) |
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| Another excited kid!!! |
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| It's party time. A coke and balloon dog. She couldn't be more excited |
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| No words necessary |
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| Good to see that Kampala takes such issues as seriously as South Africa |
Farewell for now from sunny Kampala
