London here we come!

We went to a local café for dinner on Saturday. The menu looked good but that was as far as it went. There was a nice bacon butty advertised – looked so appetising, real food I thought – but no they didn’t do that, I asked for something else on the menu and they didn’t do that either. I asked what they did do and the answer was rice. I am not sure why they bothered with the menu – the pictures looked good – but you can’t eat pictures.

Linda had chips the other day, so she asked for egg and chips. She was told they did not have chips and there was only rice. So she decided to share my rice. About five minutes later our friend ordered his meal and had chips. I said to the waiter you said there were no chips. He replied “when you asked there were no chips but now there is.”  The only bright side it was a healthy meal of rice.

Graduation arrived today, the procession was to start at 9.30 and it did by my command. I think I made them jump when I shouted out the instructions. The students were ready but not many other people had come by that time – so it was an empty field.  Linda was in fine form taking pictures, ensuring they were dressed right, giving instructions to them. We were able to give them all a card of London and a book.

Although the ceremony started on time it soon fell behind!  It was meant to finish by 1pm but most people didn’t arrive till midday. It was very hot and humid. However, it was good to catch up with a few friends from the last graduation and see our friend Stanley graduate with distinction. Linda had a chat with his mum, she was very pleased with his performance.

We had to leave before the end as our car was waiting to go back to Nairobi. We arrived at the airport in time and are waiting in the BA business lounge. It is rubbish – no wi-fi, a few  measly sandwiches, no latte – I am glad I am not paying for this. It is nice to eat sandwiches rather than rice  but I was hungry as all I have eaten since breakfast is 2 samosa.

So we are nearly home and time to  look at  the IPAD 2

We managed to give away

350 pencils

400 pens

50 Sunday school leaflets

22 bibles

75 hymn books

41 theology books

2 camera

1 personal  cd player with headphones.

6 soaps

3 umbrellas

Pair slippers, jacket, 2 t-shirts, 8 socks, rulers, pencil sharpener, erasers, shirt and tie, 4 bags

It’s here – finally!

No not the IPAD 2 but the Graduation Banquet. It was due to start at 10am on Friday the Principal told me, I just laughed and said so about 1pm then. No he insisted be here for 10am. 

However, on Friday I sent a text message to check and received one back stating it was now starting at 1pm. It had been delayed.  This meant we had the morning to catch up on other things (including reading about the IPAD 2) at the hotel.

We arrived at the college just after 1pm and it still had not started, it was delayed to 1.30pm.  Finally, it started at 1.45pm with just a few people present. Most of the graduands had not turned up; they had gone to town, visiting friends.  It did not appear to be very well organised, when people were asked to give a speech or sing a song the look of amazement on their faces indicated they had not been forewarned.

By about 2.30pm most people had turned up, although the programme was over running (as usual), I was due to speak at 2.45pm but did not start till 3.15pm. I was speaking on the subject of the 43^rd tribe – the church (Kenya has 42) and we are called to serve him.

Following the awards ceremony there is the candle lighting ceremony (health and safety look away now). The students have a candles which is then lighted and we sing the final hymn, however whilst we are singing the hymn  they put the candles on the wooden chairs or the floor – they are still alight at this stage – so if one falls over whoosh! Fortunately none fell over.

The goat had been sacrificed and we had it with rice (Linda just had rice) and we chatted with the guests.

On Thursday our car had broken down – a hole in the radiator. This meant water was flowing all over the road when we stopped. However, the local council road workers came to our rescue and started to fix it – well pour water in and watch it come out again – but we managed to get enough in there to struggle back to Kericho (although the pot holes didn’t get filled). Linda as usual was running around taking photos.

Saturday was the seminar day at Kericho AIC, we were assured that  50 were coming, so we photocopied enough for 20. It was due to start at 10 and finish at 2 – but no-one was there at 10 so it started about 10.30 – although people were still  arriving at 12.45. They then decided they would take tea at 1pm and finish – so I had to squeeze a  4  hour presentation into  2 hours by the time they had a break in the middle.  About 20 turned up – eventually.

It is very hot today – must be in the 80’s and it’s also the day of the Kericho marathon. Linda was out taking photos of the runners and the helpers. They must have been tired running in this heat – I felt tired and that was just watching.

This afternoon we visited the Mutai family and saw the two boys. They were fascinated with the IPAD  - drawing and making music on it – they wanted me to leave it behind (no chance!). They are building a house so we had a look round, it will be nice when it is finished, we all our friends building houses – in a few years we should not need to stay in hotels.

 We have given away all the pens and books now. We have to pack tonight but our luggage is reduced by 50% and down to three bags.

 Graduation tomorrow which should finish by 1pm and then back to our hotel to leave at 2pm to go back to Nairobi straight to the airport for the 11pm flight home and hopefully sleep most of it.

Hello Mr President - I am Linda

Linda had a royal invite this week to attend the awarding of a charter to Kenya Highlands Evangelical University by His Excellency the President Hon. Mwai Kibaki, C.G.H., MP

She did have a dilemma? Did she have anything in her wardrobe to wear. I am sure if we had been in the UK despite all the thousands of clothes she would have wanted  a new dress, however as we are in Kericho the local market does not provide the same choice, so she had to choose from her current selection.

She had to be at the university for  9.30am to meet our friend Joseph.  He had a chat with her, explained the layout and where to sit. She was only 11 rows back from the President. Fortunately for the President she had only taken her small camera otherwise she would have been telling him to stand still so she could get a better picture (shot probably isn’t a good word to use here).  It was nice and warm.

She thought it was starting at 10am – but it did not start till gone 11. The President flew into a local airfield and then arrived by car. He planted a tree ( we have something in common as I planted a tree at Sitotwet Bible College) and then the proceedings started, music and speeches. There were 18 MP’s president – and all were asked to introduce themselves for a minute – impossible – about 30 minutes later they were still going.

The President gave the address and spoke about not being afraid, why struggle when there are several options in life  and not holding back but going forward (or words similar).  This was new college, the first evangelical university in the area and it was a unique moment and Linda was there to witness it!

Three and half hours later it finished and the dignitaries went for dinner. Linda didn’t have a pass for this so she wandered around taking photos of the event.

Linda is happy because she has seen the President in the flesh and sat ONLY 10 rows away from him.

I feel sick – bang- Er where am I?

There has been a distinct lack of blogging activity on this trip due to two factors – I have been ill and then when I recovered I have busy catching up on all the things I should have done when I was ill!

On Friday I had not felt too good so had stayed in bed most of the day and Linda had popped into the college and collected our bag.  We were due to visit Stanley family on Saturday, but I was too weak in the morning to go, so Linda had to go alone. She had a good visit seeing the family and his new house he has built. It is an improvement on the last house as it has a tin roof and he can fit two beds in it. They also visited the local church – and great excitement – electricity has arrived. They don’t just have the poles and wires but electricity running through them.  This means they do not have to play the keyboard using a battery powered by solar panels.

On Sunday we were going to Samuel’s church to speak. He was one of the students who had graduated last March. I felt better and so we started off. We had not realised how far it was, nearly 2 hours.  We were nearly there, when I felt sick, which is unusual for me in cars. I got out to try and be sick and as I learnt over, I suddenly blacked out and fell backwards hitting my head of the ground. A women over the road screamed, but I didn’t hear – in fact I don’t remember anything, I may have gone unconscious as the next thing I remember is being helped to my knees – and feeling groggy with slurred speech.  I was a bit slow here- I should have asked Linda who are you – and not remembered her!

They took me to a local private hospital and I was briefly examined and then left on a bed in the examination room. I had to have a drip and so lay on the bed for about 5 hours. Whilst I am lying there other patients are being treated with malaria, flu etc – but the nurses were very friendly.  They checked I did not have malaria and then told me to rest, the doctor came and visited prodded my head a few times and said ‘you’ll; be ok’.  Someone else had to preach at the church – bit the congregation did come and visit me in the room and prayed for me.

They were talking about keeping me in – but I felt better so I wanted to come back to Kericho and our hotel.  Linda didn’t want me to stay either as she knew I wouldn’t like it, although I would have had my Ipad for company (IPAD 2 launch today!!).  Linda knew I was ill and a little concerned as I did not use the Ipad at all or even ask for it whilst I was lying on the bed – must have been very sick!

We had to pay the bill and at least got change from a fiver, so no need to claim on my travel insurance.   They managed to get me back to Kericho  and the hotel without any further mishap and I just had to lay in bed and rest – not very good at doing that.

On Monday I was due to started teaching at the college, but Linda prevented me from going. I was told to stay at the hotel and rest.  I set the students an essay question and Linda taught them for two hours and then  distributed the handouts for them to read.  On Tuesday I felt better so started the lectures on conflict management and reconciliation. I started with thirty students and gradually the fourth and third years disappeared as they had work to do for graduation. I was left with between 10-12. The studies seem to go well and they were very interactive. We completed some case studies on the Thursday which they said was helpful  to their ministry. On Thursday night I spent the evening marking their assignments.

One ring elephant, two rings rhino, three rings leopard

We were staying at The Ark, in the Aberdare National Park, and overnight there was a system that bell rang if there were visitors to the waterhole. About midnight  two black rhino had turned up and so the bell had rang waking Linda and I up. So we had to get dressed and then go and look at them. Interestingly no elephants turned up.  The good news is that out of the 2000 elephants Linda has now seen ONE!   So only 1999 to go.

I forgot to mention on Sunday it was  ‘tithing Sunday’ and so people brought their tithes to church including bananas and a rabbit.  Linda was quite concerned for the rabbit but I am sure it will make a nice dinner for someone!

On Tuesday we had an invite to the National Police College which is nearby. We had met some of the staff at PACPAC and they had invited us to visit. It was like the good old days, people marching everywhere, saluting senior officers, drill sergeants shouting at everyone and discipline in the classroom.  All ranks have to do drill and the 40 mile hike on a Saturday.  The Chief Instructor Miriam showed us around  and  was very informative.  We had tea in the officers mess, which had the heads of wild animals as decorations on the wall – in fact Linda saw more wild animals here compared to the park.  After this we met some members of the CPA and had dinner with them. The Kenyan training seems much better organised than ours – here you go a course before you get promoted so you have the skills for the next rank, not after you have been in the job for ages like Essex.

In the afternoon I was giving a lecture to the Sergeants and Corporals course at the regional training centre. It appeared to go down well sharing new concepts like the golden hour, problem solving triangle and 5 building blocks. We gave them all a pen at the end and they were extremely grateful for this – it doesn’t matter where you go in Kenya people are always grateful for a pen!

In the evening we had a dinner with James and Grace a typical Kenyan meal of rice.  Although in this part of Kenya you do not get ugali.  It was a lovely evening and we exchanged some gifts and had a good time.

On Wednesday morning we re-packed our bags and loaded up the car, we have distributed one bag of items already so it is less to carry. We met James for coffee and then made our way to the Aberdare Country Club. This is about 15 miles north of Nyeri and from here you are transported to The Ark.  The name gives you a clue on the shape of the hotel and it has four floors. It is situated near the water hole so in theory lots of animals come to drink – in theory!  We had lunch at the club, not sure if I can stomach all this rich food and Linda can’t even eat  any of the chocolate desert – as it is too sickly for her – Amazing!

The Aberdare Country Club has its own grounds of 100 acres and you have warthogs running around. There was an option of a 3 hour safari on route to the hotel – I sent Linda on the safari – which meant I would get three hours of peace and quiet and time to read my book. Well I would have apart from the Americans – why are they all so loud and ask stupid questions – like ‘is that Mount Kilimanjaro? (oh – that’s in Tanzania) or my favourite ‘will the road be dusty’  - no its going to be a perfectly tarmacked road which a sidewalk, traffic lights…. What do you expect in the forest?

Linda had a good safari – very excited that she had seen an elephant – and we emailed it to James to share her good news.  I did get some reading done, halfway through Sarah Brown’s book on life at number 10 – haven’t got to the bit where they kick him out yet.  It is an  interesting read and gives a good prospective on life at number 10.  It has put me off being Prime Minister as you have to be too social in the role.

Dinner was ok – didn’t eat too much as it was a bit rich – but had some rice and then afterwards settled down to watch for the animals – which was boring as part from a few buffalo no-one else came till midnight. I was going to watch the football as they had a satelite TV but was too tired (and reading the reports in the paper didn’t miss much as it was a draw).  I read the Times everyday as I can download it to my IPAD ( only 7 days to launch IPAD 2) so I keep up to date on world news which either on Japan or Libya.  

On Thursday we had breakfast at 7am and then back to the Country club for 0830.  We were then moving to Kericho – rain here we come. It is about 5 hours to get there, you go north over the equator and then back south across the equator. Although it is confusing as coming south I saw at least ‘three official equator signs’ in different positions so perhaps the straight line is now a wiggly one. I did see a shop called Equator Motor spares.  Linda wanted to get out and take a photo at one of the signs so we had to stop but this meant all the slow vehicles we had overtaken were now back in front of us, great!

We arrived at the hotel and were assigned our normal room.  So we started to unpack and settle in. It was back to rice for dinner with fish, although Linda was insistent that the head was cut off hers prior to service. 

True to form it is very wet here and quite cool compared to Nyeri.

Preach 30 minutes start 10.15 end 09.45??

The instructions were  the 8am service finishes at 9.45am, you need to preach for 30 minutes. The second service in Kiswahili starts at 11am.  It seemed so simple – what confused me was how I was meant to end at 09.45 when I didn’t get to start preaching till 10.15 – go back in time? But this is Africa and the first service lasted for three hours. The choir sang, the children sang, the youth sang but fortunately I didn’t have to sing.

St Peters Cathedral Nyeri is where Lord Baden-Powell is buried (him of dib, dab, dob or something similar fame). He has definitely got it sussed – he is buried facing the Mount Kenya with  beautiful views and its warm here – no cold winters with snow whilst waiting for  the rapture. Talking of the rapture – it would be a good place to be buried because the first thing you would see would be Mount Kenya, unless it was a cloudy day. Anyway definitely a better location than Southend cemetery – although Linda tells me there is room for her in the family plot. Suits me- she can be buried in Southend and I will take the African view.We had a wander around the cemetery and Linda spoke to the lady about Guides and was quite interested- I wasn’t.

So the first service finished about 11am. I preached on Nehemiah re-building the wall of Jerusalem in 52 days, they are building a new cathedral but its taking longer than 52 days. The challenge was what was their one priority in their life – it should be God. In the interval you get a cup of tea, before round two. It is the same service but this time in Kiswahili. The church is Anglican so they use the prayer books, although as it wasn’t in English it  was difficult to follow.  They sing the same hymns, the same Bible reading- but the sermon was different. It was a bit longer and I chose a different subject – The Good Samaritan – ‘What must I do to inherit eternal life’.   The children has stayed in for  both services – so I wanted to do something different. This service finished just after 1pm.  They were slightly confused when I didn’t have a bible but used the Ipad.  Then it was time for a cup of tea and we got invited out for dinner – but it wasn’t ready yet so we had to go somewhere with James and family for a few hours.

We went to the Outspan Hotel, where the Baden-Powell lived and you could have a look around his small house – so guess what Linda wanted to have a look round, sit on the same furniture he would have sat on, really interesting!

We stopped for another cup of tea there as Linda was thirsty.  James and family were playing with the Ipad (mark2  out 25^th March) and having great fun. About 4pm we received the call to go to the house, they lived next door to the President’s wife, but she didn’t come.  There was plenty of meat on offer – and rice, so Linda had rice. The men sat in one area while the wives were dispatched to the other side – so it was quiet our side but rather noisy over the other side.  There was a church council meeting going on and we couldn’t leave till the vicar had arrived, so we were there some hours chatting to people. Then he arrived and we still couldn’t leave as there was a small program followed by cake. Eventually we left about 7pm – having been out since the early hours – so we were tired.

On Monday we had a lie in but this meant we missed breakfast so we had to make do with rolls and marmite.  At 10am we went to the Provincial Police headquarters to meet the Provincial Police Officer for Central Province, probably our equivalent of a Chief Constable as he controls an area bigger than Essex with an establishment of 5500 (although it should be around 8000). We had a nice chat, but as he was very busy we left and had a tour of the Police station and met some of the other commanders. We went to James office although they do have many computers.

After this we went to the Aberdare National Park as Linda wanted to see some animals. Well she may have wanted to see some – but she didn’t see many. We drove around for 5 hours and all she saw where warthogs, monkeys, buffalo, baboons and a leopard. It was very hot and there was no Starbucks to stop at in the park – definitely third world here! We saw Treetops where Queen Elizabeth found out she was Queen, its not the exact place as the old one burned down in the Mau Mau rebellion. You can stay there – but its expensive and the rooms are not ensuite.

There are 2000 elephants in the park – and they must have all packed their trunks and gone on holiday. We saw plenty of spoor but nothing dropping it.

We gave up and came back to town for a late dinner. We went to the Safari hotel. There was a vegetarian menu for Linda, it was quite interesting as you could have spaghetti bolognaise with meat. Linda asked about vegetarian  spaghetti neapolitan and was told it was spaghetti – with meat. She was well confused by now and asked for spaghetti without meat.

They had mixed grill Eland style – now I like a bit of game and I had seen an Eland in the park. I soon found it didn’t consist of Eland at all and in fact it wasn’t a mixed grill as they had run out of lamb so it was just beef and chicken – but it tasted nice and I was hungry by now.

We did some shopping and then came back to the apartment  by 6pm to relax, well we would have relaxed but we found out today we are going to the regional training centre tomorrow afternoon and I have to speak to them for the whole afternoon – so am still working at 11pm

Have you got the Passport? No. Have you?

Fortunately it was on the A127 when we realised that neither of us had remembered the passports! So it was turn round at Rayleigh Weir and go home to collect them. The neighbours must have been surprised to see us back so soon. We have six suitcases, all weighing the maximum allowed. It is mostly books and Bibles but still have about a 1000 pens and pencils.

I had to call in at Spurgeons on the way to the hotel to drop some books in so after the Bridge it was driving through London. It is only about 18 miles from the college to Heathrow and we drove through some interesting London suburbs, lock the car doors! We were staying at a Travelodge near the airport but the only problem was the road had been closed off due to an incident and the sat nav was not impressed. We managed to find a back way into the hotel and parked the car, the next problem was we didn't have enough change for the car park, so Linda chatted up an Australian (don't mention the Ashes) and he gave her a pound. We checked in and found our room and then went for a walk. We were hungry and there was an Indian but a dose of 'dehli belly' is not conducive with air travel so it was Tesco Express instead.

We got up at 6am and after showering etc went to park the car, I then had to lug the bags on to the bus and off again. As we are travelling business class (courtesy of our air miles) check in was quick and we could use the fasttrack lane through security. It wasn't fast by any means as it was quite busy.  We had access to the club world lounge which meant free coffee (no Starbucks today) and more importantly free food. It was bacon rolls and fruit, plus free internet. The plane was boarding about 0910 so we made our way to the gate and then to the plane. Unfortunately I had to sit next to Linda but the good news in business class there is a divider that comes up to block her off from me - bliss. We took off at 10.10 and then sat back, relax and watch video and read books on the IPad (new version being released on 25th March). Food was plentiful as I had lobster for starter followed by salmon and then coffee. After that it was time to relax, lie back and sleep.

We landed on time – 21.30 in Nairobi. Immigration was a nightmare as not enough channels were open and nobody followed the correct signs. Those who did not have visa still queued in the those who did have queue – which meant it took ages. Our luggage has all arrived and eventually we went to the Stanley hotel where we booked in.

We were up early the next morning, had breakfast and then did some shopping for the journey and a few things we need – like water.

The guidebook says do not drive at night, stand out in a crowd or go near political meetings. We managed to do all three in one day. We drove to Nyeri with Kemal our driver and to get there you go through Thika. There was a political meeting over the current turmoil of the ICC (International Criminal Court –not International Cricket Council) investigation into the 2008 election violence. The meeting was near the highway, so all the matatus were stooped, people sitting on top of them listening and then cheering etc. It took an hour to manoeuvre through the traffic and get on our way.

On arrival at Nyeri we met our friend James, who had given us the wrong directions. He gave us the wrong name of the town and said look for the green edges notice board- so we were looking or a notice board with green edges – but that was the name of our apartment!  It’s a two bed roomed apartment just outside town and breakfast is served over at the big house.

We had a meal with James in town, Linda had vegetable samosa and I had steak with chapatti. It was very nice – but as we are the only white people in town we sort of stand out.

In the evening we were invited to James’ house for dinner. It was a 20 minute drive from our location  (in the dark – watch out for lions) but we met his 4 year old granddaughter and family. The meal was nice consisting of rice, meat, vegetables, local spinach dish and a few other things. Linda was her normally picky self – don’t like this and brought her own tea bags. You can’t bring coals to Newcastle –but Linda can bring her own tea bags back to Kenya – pity they don’t gain air miles!

We finished about 22.30 and came back to our apartment in the dark – no lions seen or elephants. We are tired – it’s been a long day and we have to be up at 6am to get ready for church tomorrow.