Colleagues

Eva, my fundraising counterpart; Paul, the Lobbying & Advocacy Officer; Stephen, works in the field. Bonding & boozing after a week long staff retreat...

My house

This is my cosy home on Mawanda Road, which I share with salamanders, cockroaches, mosquitoes & the occasional frog.

The flicks

My local bar, 'Bubbles', runs a movie night every Tuesday. It's like being at the open air theatre, only the seats are comfier, it's warmer & free popcorn is handed out - a welcome luxury when surviving on the VSO allowance! Last night was a showing of 'Clockwork Orange', & it felt like my own private cinema as you can see!

Nicola & Gus lose their sea-legs...

A fun day's sailing on Lake Victoria & then the whole world turns upside down...

The Feast of 'Sinterklaas'

The last few months have been as much an education in all things Dutch as they have been Ugandan… this weekend played host to ‘St Nicholas' Day’. On 6th December, our Dutch counterparts celebrate the arrival of St Nick from Spain to Holland. Traditionally he arrives on a boat, accompanied by his helper ‘Black Pete’ (Holland’s answer to the little elves) & dishes out presents to the well-behaved. Here in Uganda, we had to make do with Lake Victoria (which is shared by Uganda, Kenya & Tanzania!) & a speedboat. It must have been fairly amusing for the local Ugandans to see 2 Muzungus decked out in black face-paint!

In the evening, we ate ‘pepernoots’ (cinnamon biscuits) & exchanged presents & poems (the poem usually derives some fun out of your foibles & quirks & the one I received was quite long?! )

Not wishing to be outdone, this week is truly British. It's 'Panto’ season. Yes, even in Kampala! We’re off to see ‘Robin Hood & his Merry Men of Mbarara Forest’ & we’re dragging the Dutch with us...

(Oh, & can anyone post me a haggis for Burns’ night?)

Fort Portal weekend – 28th – 30th November

A happy weekend was spent with the Dutch bunch (Renzo, Marlies, Guustaaf, Alien & Andre) in Fort Portal. Situated in the northern foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains, 320km west of Kampala - near the Congo border - it’s a pleasant place surrounded by tea plantations, rolling hills & national parks. Trekking in Kibale National Park with baboons for company & breathing in the fresh air around the tranquil crater lakes (a novelty when you live in Kampala!) were the highlights.