Yesterday we went into Nanyuki to sign our lease and then stayed in town for a fundraising day of cricket. The cricket was to happen at the Braeburn school and of course we turned up on time but everyone else was on Kenyan time. So we took ourselves off to a coffee shop to waste a little time.
When we went back it was so a lovely scene. I have always loved cricket watched live. The hushed conversations of the fans on the sides, the quiet consultations in the middle of the pitch by the players and the muted thwack and occasional thud of the ball and bat connecting always makes me feel calm inside. In this scene the grass was a brilliant green and the players slow moving white against it. Behind them, and ignored was the statuesque mountain, wreathed in clouds and looking down ominously on the field.
We had a lovely morning of meeting new people and catching up with old friends but I also realised that this year is going to be hard work. It is always hard work to make new friends and meet new people. The first task of which is to remember their names, which neither K nor I are any good at. Ironically though, we are really good at remembering people's dogs names!
Sunday, May 22, 2011
What's Next?
This is a question our little family has been asking every year since we got married. Four countries and ten houses in ten years. Last year this question led us to Kenya and this year it has led to us staying in Kenya for another year.
We will be moving to Nanyuki which is the nearest town and K will commute into Mpala three days a week. The little house we have found is on the same street as the Police Commissioner, which I am told means that when we lose power, have potholes etc, it is not for long. The house is much smaller and darker than our incredible house at Mpala but has the bonus of constant electricity and (Hallelujah!!!) hot water in the taps. No more splishing and splashing in Emma's used two inches of slightly chilled bathwater. The house has a lovely garden and porch so we will still have an outdoors to enjoy and we always have the option of going into Mpala with Keir for a day to visit our dikdiks and hornbills.
Most excitingly we have found a little school for Emma to attend, it is the Braeburn Nanyuki. The school has a lovely campus, in the shadow of Mt. Kenya with ranch style individual classrooms organised around gardens of different kinds and plenty of outdoor space for the kids to play in. There is also a petting zoo complete with turkeys! She will go for four hours, three days a week and initially I will go with her. It is really more like a play group than formal schooling and they focus on helping the children with language and social skills.
Walking around the school and watching Emma watch the other children and realising that we will be separated from one another gave me a heart stopping feeling of sadness and excitement. She is going to have so much fun being around the other children and having stimulation other than that which I give her. It also signifies a change in our lives, one where K and I are no longer the most important people in her life. I now understand this feeling of time fleeting by you that I noticed all adults have but did not feel as a child. It is knowing how precious and notable every single second of your child's life is, and knowing you will not remember each one but that they will come and go so quickly and never again be found.
We will be moving to Nanyuki which is the nearest town and K will commute into Mpala three days a week. The little house we have found is on the same street as the Police Commissioner, which I am told means that when we lose power, have potholes etc, it is not for long. The house is much smaller and darker than our incredible house at Mpala but has the bonus of constant electricity and (Hallelujah!!!) hot water in the taps. No more splishing and splashing in Emma's used two inches of slightly chilled bathwater. The house has a lovely garden and porch so we will still have an outdoors to enjoy and we always have the option of going into Mpala with Keir for a day to visit our dikdiks and hornbills.
Most excitingly we have found a little school for Emma to attend, it is the Braeburn Nanyuki. The school has a lovely campus, in the shadow of Mt. Kenya with ranch style individual classrooms organised around gardens of different kinds and plenty of outdoor space for the kids to play in. There is also a petting zoo complete with turkeys! She will go for four hours, three days a week and initially I will go with her. It is really more like a play group than formal schooling and they focus on helping the children with language and social skills.
Walking around the school and watching Emma watch the other children and realising that we will be separated from one another gave me a heart stopping feeling of sadness and excitement. She is going to have so much fun being around the other children and having stimulation other than that which I give her. It also signifies a change in our lives, one where K and I are no longer the most important people in her life. I now understand this feeling of time fleeting by you that I noticed all adults have but did not feel as a child. It is knowing how precious and notable every single second of your child's life is, and knowing you will not remember each one but that they will come and go so quickly and never again be found.
Emma update
She is so excited about using words. Her current favourite is cow, which means cow, car and cloud. You know which one she means by the sounds she makes to accompany it. She has also become a big fan of pretending to drive the car, so we spend happy hours sitting in the car (when it isn't too hot) with her driving and me reading my book and making sure she doesn't break anything permanent. When she wants to tell me we should go in the car she points to her foot, which means go and then says cow until I break down and take her.
My current favourite is "whoops" that she says as "aaps". She says it for all kinds of occasions. When she drops something accidentally, when you drop something or even when she purposely drops something.
She has also discovered "no". She says it in such a cute way. You ask if you can have kisses and she tilts her head, shakes her curls and says; "Nooooooooooo".
My current favourite is "whoops" that she says as "aaps". She says it for all kinds of occasions. When she drops something accidentally, when you drop something or even when she purposely drops something.
She has also discovered "no". She says it in such a cute way. You ask if you can have kisses and she tilts her head, shakes her curls and says; "Nooooooooooo".
Friday, May 20, 2011
Have you decided?
So the day after the leopard peered into E's bedroom window the head of security told us a scary story. A few years ago, the neighbouring house had a dog. There was a leopard who broke the glass in a window to get to the dog. Naturally we then moved E's crib back into our bedroom so that now she is just a foot away from me.
We have been taking the screens out of the windows, locking the doors and cringing at every ping or pong the roof makes. It is not a healthy way to live! Other news that I cannot decide if it makes me feel worse or better; leopards hang out around the center a lot and have probably been around before when we didn't know it.
We have been taking the screens out of the windows, locking the doors and cringing at every ping or pong the roof makes. It is not a healthy way to live! Other news that I cannot decide if it makes me feel worse or better; leopards hang out around the center a lot and have probably been around before when we didn't know it.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Ask yourself: are you predator, or prey?
It's 11:19, 41 minutes from midnight. My legs are shaking, I have the beginnings of an adreneline headache and I feel like my whole body is twitching.
Just 10 minutes ago, Emma stirred in her bed, then woke fully and cried for me. I got up to go to her and as I did there was a really loud thumpety thump on the roof. It sounded like something really heavy landing and then running across the roof to the other side of the house. I went in to Emma, picked her up and shushed her, then lay her down. During this time there were a few quieter thuds as whatever it was moved back to our side of the roof.
It's full moon so I went to the partially closed curtain to look out at the landscape washed into pale shadows. My heart stopped. Something moved underneath the window. I thought at first it was the monkey that has been plaguing us. Then it slunk under the window ledge, from one window to the other. A full grown leopard! Shoulders tall as the window sill, heavy, muscled, soft and quiet. It's head perfectly balanced between it's shoulders and it's long tail hanging loose and straight behind. I quickly stepped behind the closed curtain and the leopard stood up on the sill and peered and snuffed at the crack in the closed window.
For a heartbeat we stood as we were, with just window panes and curtains between us. Then it stepped down and moved back under the window and around the corner. I dashed next door to our room, whisper-yelled to K to get in the room with me. He woke in a panic and came in with me. I felt the need to close and lock the door and then explained to him what I had seen. He appeared disbelieving but claimed to believe me. We stood for a while at the window, looking out, exclaiming in hushed tones at one another when suddenly I saw the unmistakable white butt of the monkey. It was up the pathway from the house, having just descended from the water tower. It froze, looking over its shoulder at the house. We froze too.
We could see the shadow of the roof on the ground, and it undulated as something slipped noiselessly along it. Then the gutter gave it away with a groan and the monkey sped up the pathway and into the bush. The leopard ran along the rest of the house, lept off the roof and onto the water tank, then down in a one-two-three motion and was off up the path as fast as a slip of the tongue.
Oh! Another thud on the roof as I type! We are both locked into Emma's bedroom, thankfully there is another bed in here. K has managed to fall back to sleep and I can hear his breathing in tandem with Emma's coming from her crib but I do not think I will be able to sleep. I will be lying waiting for tell-tale creaks and thumps from above.
Just 10 minutes ago, Emma stirred in her bed, then woke fully and cried for me. I got up to go to her and as I did there was a really loud thumpety thump on the roof. It sounded like something really heavy landing and then running across the roof to the other side of the house. I went in to Emma, picked her up and shushed her, then lay her down. During this time there were a few quieter thuds as whatever it was moved back to our side of the roof.
It's full moon so I went to the partially closed curtain to look out at the landscape washed into pale shadows. My heart stopped. Something moved underneath the window. I thought at first it was the monkey that has been plaguing us. Then it slunk under the window ledge, from one window to the other. A full grown leopard! Shoulders tall as the window sill, heavy, muscled, soft and quiet. It's head perfectly balanced between it's shoulders and it's long tail hanging loose and straight behind. I quickly stepped behind the closed curtain and the leopard stood up on the sill and peered and snuffed at the crack in the closed window.
For a heartbeat we stood as we were, with just window panes and curtains between us. Then it stepped down and moved back under the window and around the corner. I dashed next door to our room, whisper-yelled to K to get in the room with me. He woke in a panic and came in with me. I felt the need to close and lock the door and then explained to him what I had seen. He appeared disbelieving but claimed to believe me. We stood for a while at the window, looking out, exclaiming in hushed tones at one another when suddenly I saw the unmistakable white butt of the monkey. It was up the pathway from the house, having just descended from the water tower. It froze, looking over its shoulder at the house. We froze too.
We could see the shadow of the roof on the ground, and it undulated as something slipped noiselessly along it. Then the gutter gave it away with a groan and the monkey sped up the pathway and into the bush. The leopard ran along the rest of the house, lept off the roof and onto the water tank, then down in a one-two-three motion and was off up the path as fast as a slip of the tongue.
Oh! Another thud on the roof as I type! We are both locked into Emma's bedroom, thankfully there is another bed in here. K has managed to fall back to sleep and I can hear his breathing in tandem with Emma's coming from her crib but I do not think I will be able to sleep. I will be lying waiting for tell-tale creaks and thumps from above.
Sunday, May 08, 2011
Hippo pools - not just hippos.
Our friends came out from the UK recently and we decided to stop at Hippo pools to see what could be seen on our way to visit the Ranch house. The pools kept us entranced for hours and we never made it to the Ranch house.
As we rounded the corner on the drive to the pools, we could see the opposite bank between the thorn trees. It looked like there were large, slightly purple rocks covering the bank and as we came all the way around the corner we couldn't believe our luck. 14 hippos were out sunning themselves. What awe inspiring creatures they are! Purplish black except under their chins and bellies where they are a startling pink. Their heads are no less than a third the size of their bodies and their yawns remind you of how deadly those yellowed arm-width teeth can be. We watched the hippos for a long time. The adults watching long after the children had completely lost interest. They put on a perfect show for us, not just lounging around but also having occasional farts, rumbles, and laughs and even one disturbance when a young one got up before nap time was over.
When the children became too restless we decided to walk over to the falls on the other side of the curve in the river and when we came back we were stopped in our tracks as a large bull elephant took our breath away. He was also on the opposite bank, thankfully and we were able to go and stand safely close to the car and watch him drink. We quickly realised he was accompanied by another chap who also came down to drink. We were amused with watching them for at least an hour, during which time Emma's new bff "drove" the car and Emma had a fat nap in the back of the car. At one point the first elephant just had an itch he had to scratch and hilariously rubbed his not-insubstantial backside vigorously back and forth against a fallen tree.
While the elephants were there a zebra and some impala just couldn't get up the nerve to come down to the water. A few large warthog had no such compunction and rooted around in the dirt behind the elephants. Once the elephants left we started to notice the birds around the pools. A stunning pied kingfisher was darting about and making dives. A yellow billed stork was fishing with dedicated skill until he caught one that was just too large to fit in his mouth, no matter which way he tossed it in the air and he eventually lost it.
Into this scene of tranquility came the most graceful beast in Africa. Five giraffe, hesitantly came down to the river and drank. Or, in some cases, tried to drink. One couldn't get himself down far enough to dip into the water from the bank. They were very cautious about coming down to the water and when you see how they have to prostrate themselves, legs wide open to get to the water you can see why it takes them so long to come to the river. And also why they leave so quickly if disturbed.
This was easily my most pleasant morning spent at Mpala and I was so lucky to share it with really good friends. The day was topped off by large afternoon naps and a Thunderstorm that turned our driveway and front yard into a river. Mpala bliss I call it.
As we rounded the corner on the drive to the pools, we could see the opposite bank between the thorn trees. It looked like there were large, slightly purple rocks covering the bank and as we came all the way around the corner we couldn't believe our luck. 14 hippos were out sunning themselves. What awe inspiring creatures they are! Purplish black except under their chins and bellies where they are a startling pink. Their heads are no less than a third the size of their bodies and their yawns remind you of how deadly those yellowed arm-width teeth can be. We watched the hippos for a long time. The adults watching long after the children had completely lost interest. They put on a perfect show for us, not just lounging around but also having occasional farts, rumbles, and laughs and even one disturbance when a young one got up before nap time was over.
When the children became too restless we decided to walk over to the falls on the other side of the curve in the river and when we came back we were stopped in our tracks as a large bull elephant took our breath away. He was also on the opposite bank, thankfully and we were able to go and stand safely close to the car and watch him drink. We quickly realised he was accompanied by another chap who also came down to drink. We were amused with watching them for at least an hour, during which time Emma's new bff "drove" the car and Emma had a fat nap in the back of the car. At one point the first elephant just had an itch he had to scratch and hilariously rubbed his not-insubstantial backside vigorously back and forth against a fallen tree.
While the elephants were there a zebra and some impala just couldn't get up the nerve to come down to the water. A few large warthog had no such compunction and rooted around in the dirt behind the elephants. Once the elephants left we started to notice the birds around the pools. A stunning pied kingfisher was darting about and making dives. A yellow billed stork was fishing with dedicated skill until he caught one that was just too large to fit in his mouth, no matter which way he tossed it in the air and he eventually lost it.
Into this scene of tranquility came the most graceful beast in Africa. Five giraffe, hesitantly came down to the river and drank. Or, in some cases, tried to drink. One couldn't get himself down far enough to dip into the water from the bank. They were very cautious about coming down to the water and when you see how they have to prostrate themselves, legs wide open to get to the water you can see why it takes them so long to come to the river. And also why they leave so quickly if disturbed.
This was easily my most pleasant morning spent at Mpala and I was so lucky to share it with really good friends. The day was topped off by large afternoon naps and a Thunderstorm that turned our driveway and front yard into a river. Mpala bliss I call it.
Vanquished: a tale of the final battle
This was the final straw. A beautiful new bowl for my birthday, some ripening tropical fruit and a rat-faced, fluffy tailed, flea-infested fruit bowl violater. Spiro came into the house, he sampled and was chased out by my irate self. He then came back with his little buddies and the three of them had a partaay on my mangos.
I decided it was time, no more Mr. Nice Guy, no more tolerance. I borrowed traps, I baited them with the self same mangoes they had already destroyed and I set them just inside the door. Hah! Snap! Bang! Caught four of the little blighters.
Oh the pleasure I took in finding them new homes. One lovely spot down at the river, all the Fever tree they could climb. On the road to Nanyuki, just a few more kms and they could become town squirrels. Plus on the way to the tower where they could flick their tails at passing researchers.
What bliss, what heaven, what open windows and doors!
But lo, there is a fly in my ointmenteth! Now a Vervet, large, unafraid and aggressive with balls the colour of the Windhoek Swimming Pool has found my bowl, and the stash of Avos on top of the fridge. This time there will be no mercy, I will give no quarter. We have already set the traps. He has eluded them, but I have at least .2% more genetics than he does in my favour!
Emma update
We had visitors recently who have a two and half year old boy. Emma was so in love with him. She followed him around and stared, learning as much as she could from him. The biggest development being that now she understands how to use words to communicate. Her babbling has changed from just chatter to being directed, She really wants you to listen and understand.
The other day she climbed up in my lap, looked at me with sparkling eyes and a smile and said "more booze?" I KNOW she didn't mean alcohol so we spent a frustrating 20 mins trying to work out what booze means. I never did figure it out.
She also learned the sign for more, which is to bump your fingers together. She does this while saying more. She has also learned the word for cheese. So anyone who has watched Wallace and Gromit will have a lovely visual when I say that she bumps her hands together and says "more cheeeeese"
At last her canines are showing themselves so now only the last molars and we are done! Cannot wait for that pain to be over.
Her little two year old friend had lovely wellies and we went stomping through the mud and puddles with him. She loved it so much that she regularly requests puddles and we are looking for wellies for her.
The other day she climbed up in my lap, looked at me with sparkling eyes and a smile and said "more booze?" I KNOW she didn't mean alcohol so we spent a frustrating 20 mins trying to work out what booze means. I never did figure it out.
She also learned the sign for more, which is to bump your fingers together. She does this while saying more. She has also learned the word for cheese. So anyone who has watched Wallace and Gromit will have a lovely visual when I say that she bumps her hands together and says "more cheeeeese"
At last her canines are showing themselves so now only the last molars and we are done! Cannot wait for that pain to be over.
Her little two year old friend had lovely wellies and we went stomping through the mud and puddles with him. She loved it so much that she regularly requests puddles and we are looking for wellies for her.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Cooking!
I had an exciting day! I made jam for the first time. Deliscious, scrumptious Mango Jam. It is such an easy recipe I don't think we will ever have to buy jam again.
Mango Jam Recipe
3 mangos
1 C water
1 ½ C sugar
1 Tbs vinegar
pinch salt
Peel and cut mangos into 1/2 inch pieces. Put in blender with water Bring to a boil on medium high. Then reduce heat to medium and boil slowly for about 30 minutes, stirring frequently.
Reduce heat to med-low and simmer for another 30 minutes, stirring frequently, until thickened.
Move pot from stove and set aside to cool.
Transfer into boiled jars.
This recipe makes about 12 ounces.
Of course you can increase the amount if you need to.
Mango Jam Recipe
3 mangos
1 C water
1 ½ C sugar
1 Tbs vinegar
pinch salt
Peel and cut mangos into 1/2 inch pieces. Put in blender with water Bring to a boil on medium high. Then reduce heat to medium and boil slowly for about 30 minutes, stirring frequently.
Reduce heat to med-low and simmer for another 30 minutes, stirring frequently, until thickened.
Move pot from stove and set aside to cool.
Transfer into boiled jars.
This recipe makes about 12 ounces.
Of course you can increase the amount if you need to.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Emma update
She is really getting into saying words. This week she has been interested in words beginning with "m" or with the sound "oo"in them. Of course, Moo was a natural starter but she has also started saying Broom, Room, Poop and Mole. Mole because I have a mole on my knee and she wanted to know (repeatedly) what it was. Then I showed her that she has one too and from there she just loves the word. Poop came from the large cowpats dotting the center recently and anyone who knows me, knows where broom comes from.
Most of her other "words" are sounds that are close to the word but the same sounds for a number of words.
"Ow!" for when she gets hurt and also "ow" for out.
"oh" for discovering something new and also for "open"
She has become far happier about letting me change her diaper and will even go into her room and climb up on the bed saying "Di" when I say it is time for a change. K yesterday told her that we would be going to Aunty D's house and she very excitedly said "Di!"
Most of her other "words" are sounds that are close to the word but the same sounds for a number of words.
"Ow!" for when she gets hurt and also "ow" for out.
"oh" for discovering something new and also for "open"
She has become far happier about letting me change her diaper and will even go into her room and climb up on the bed saying "Di" when I say it is time for a change. K yesterday told her that we would be going to Aunty D's house and she very excitedly said "Di!"
Miscelleny
Chocoholic
I decided that the size of my belly needs massive reduction and so I banned chocolate from the house. This has been a massive failure the size of... well of my belly. As I sit here I have in my mouth an empty spoon. What was in it? Nutella. I have raided all forms of chocolate in our house to get my fix. I even baked brownies one night. This is a lesson to me. Give up something else. And please - until you have played ring-a-rosie with Emma sixty-eight times in a row, don't tell me to get more exercise.
Boo
There is a group of students studying at the Center at the moment. They are very young and make me feel very old. Things that they do that make me feel old include the boys throwing water balloons at the girls and the girls not wearing enough clothing on chilly evenings. (Or warm evenings) A few of them like to jog around the ring road at dusk, and it makes me tut-tut that they could get eaten or gored by some creature. But here is the thing. It brings out the evil in me. I really want to hide behind a bush and then LEAP out at them with a ROAR. Even thinking about it I am giggling in a mini-me kind of way. See, you can feel old and still be completely juvenile.
The African Jungle
Recently our dining chairs were re-upholstered with a lovely giraffe print. Our couch is currently covered in some hideous palm tree sort of thing and we are going to get it re-upholstered too. I really want to do it in a zebra print to go with the giraffe. It is a large couch and it could be REALLY bad. There is a part of me, (perhaps I have some Mob wife in my heritage) that just wants a zebra covered couch. Emma and I can pretend to look at it through the binoculars, or pet it like we are in a zoo. I could make some fluffy lime green throw pillows to go on it. OOooh, I LIKE that!
Progeny
I think our Dikdik has had a baby. There was another family around but they never responded to my calls. Today I saw a family of dikdiks and when I called the female took a few steps towards me but didn't come any closer. We did think she was awfully fat for a dikdik, but had put that down to the banana peels we had been feeding her during Emma's dinners.
I decided that the size of my belly needs massive reduction and so I banned chocolate from the house. This has been a massive failure the size of... well of my belly. As I sit here I have in my mouth an empty spoon. What was in it? Nutella. I have raided all forms of chocolate in our house to get my fix. I even baked brownies one night. This is a lesson to me. Give up something else. And please - until you have played ring-a-rosie with Emma sixty-eight times in a row, don't tell me to get more exercise.
Boo
There is a group of students studying at the Center at the moment. They are very young and make me feel very old. Things that they do that make me feel old include the boys throwing water balloons at the girls and the girls not wearing enough clothing on chilly evenings. (Or warm evenings) A few of them like to jog around the ring road at dusk, and it makes me tut-tut that they could get eaten or gored by some creature. But here is the thing. It brings out the evil in me. I really want to hide behind a bush and then LEAP out at them with a ROAR. Even thinking about it I am giggling in a mini-me kind of way. See, you can feel old and still be completely juvenile.
The African Jungle
Recently our dining chairs were re-upholstered with a lovely giraffe print. Our couch is currently covered in some hideous palm tree sort of thing and we are going to get it re-upholstered too. I really want to do it in a zebra print to go with the giraffe. It is a large couch and it could be REALLY bad. There is a part of me, (perhaps I have some Mob wife in my heritage) that just wants a zebra covered couch. Emma and I can pretend to look at it through the binoculars, or pet it like we are in a zoo. I could make some fluffy lime green throw pillows to go on it. OOooh, I LIKE that!
Progeny
I think our Dikdik has had a baby. There was another family around but they never responded to my calls. Today I saw a family of dikdiks and when I called the female took a few steps towards me but didn't come any closer. We did think she was awfully fat for a dikdik, but had put that down to the banana peels we had been feeding her during Emma's dinners.
The Ants went marching two by two... Hurrah! Hurrah!
For months we have been plagued, literally plagued, as in, like a plague on our house, by ants. So many ants, millions, nay gagillions of ants. They have even been coming in through the cracks in the walls and floors of the house.
This is how bad they have been:
- When Emma has a cracker and is walking around the house eating it - you can hear them chanting: Crumbs! Crumbs! Crumbs! Crumbs!
- K, after cooking dinner one night, said to me: with all these ants around it's best just to cook with a lot of black pepper.
- They were in the fridge!
- anything left in the kitchen not immersed in water became immediately black instead of green/yellow/etc.
- We have not been able to give Emma milk at night because the ants climb INSIDE her bottle or sippy cup.
- If Emma spills food down her front, we have to change her clothes because the ants will climb her to get to it.
I instituted some house rules. Emma eats outside or in her chair and nowhere else. Dishes are immersed in soapy water immediately. All food products go into tupperwares. The drain in the back of the fridge where the ants were coming in is corked and released only periodically. All cracks in the house are gummed up with caulk.
Then at last some rain came. Oh blessed heaven, the ants have left! But, don't heave a sigh of relief yet! They have been replaced with beetles! Thin ones, thick ones, black ones, red ones. Ones as fat as your thumb! Beetles that click, beetles that clack and beetles you find in your bed! Also... beetles you find in your food. It's much harder to pretend; "oh my, that was a crunchy piece of black pepper dear!"
This is how bad they have been:
- When Emma has a cracker and is walking around the house eating it - you can hear them chanting: Crumbs! Crumbs! Crumbs! Crumbs!
- K, after cooking dinner one night, said to me: with all these ants around it's best just to cook with a lot of black pepper.
- They were in the fridge!
- anything left in the kitchen not immersed in water became immediately black instead of green/yellow/etc.
- We have not been able to give Emma milk at night because the ants climb INSIDE her bottle or sippy cup.
- If Emma spills food down her front, we have to change her clothes because the ants will climb her to get to it.
I instituted some house rules. Emma eats outside or in her chair and nowhere else. Dishes are immersed in soapy water immediately. All food products go into tupperwares. The drain in the back of the fridge where the ants were coming in is corked and released only periodically. All cracks in the house are gummed up with caulk.
Then at last some rain came. Oh blessed heaven, the ants have left! But, don't heave a sigh of relief yet! They have been replaced with beetles! Thin ones, thick ones, black ones, red ones. Ones as fat as your thumb! Beetles that click, beetles that clack and beetles you find in your bed! Also... beetles you find in your food. It's much harder to pretend; "oh my, that was a crunchy piece of black pepper dear!"
Sunday, March 27, 2011
And a good moo-ning to you too Sirrah!
It has been so dry around Mpala that the ranch's cows have come down to the Center and our house to graze. This has been a fabulous opportunity for Emma to learn about cows and she is fascinated and excited each time they come through and has even learned to moo in a deep voice just like they do.
Yesterday they came through the yard slowly, crunching the grass and lowing almost mournfully. Emma and I dashed out as we do and sat in the comfy chairs to watch them go by. Presently the Askari who tends them came past the front of the porch where we were sitting. He was startled by us and looked askance in our direction but kept going. He collected the cows around the side of the house and while doing so kept looking our way. Then he moved across the driveway to the cows there but still kept looking at us. I was starting to wonder if perhaps he had not seen many mzungu (white) women and children and what was so fascinating about us.
Finally the cows and the staring Askari moved off and Emma and I sat in silence for a while looking at the view. Then it hit me. We were sitting in silence. For about half an hour we had been mooing in ominous tones, at the tops of our voices and with great gusto! The poor Askari - never mind mzungu... maybe just nuts!
Mmmmmmmmmmooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
Yesterday they came through the yard slowly, crunching the grass and lowing almost mournfully. Emma and I dashed out as we do and sat in the comfy chairs to watch them go by. Presently the Askari who tends them came past the front of the porch where we were sitting. He was startled by us and looked askance in our direction but kept going. He collected the cows around the side of the house and while doing so kept looking our way. Then he moved across the driveway to the cows there but still kept looking at us. I was starting to wonder if perhaps he had not seen many mzungu (white) women and children and what was so fascinating about us.
Finally the cows and the staring Askari moved off and Emma and I sat in silence for a while looking at the view. Then it hit me. We were sitting in silence. For about half an hour we had been mooing in ominous tones, at the tops of our voices and with great gusto! The poor Askari - never mind mzungu... maybe just nuts!
Mmmmmmmmmmooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Belly Buttons and Umbilical Cords
Recently Emma has become even more obsessed with belly buttons, lifting everyone's shirts to see if they have one, what shape it is, and how fast they can suck in their belly when it is exposed to view. She also lifts her shirt to show you she has one too and pokes her bony little finger in as far as she can to whichever button is closest.
She still likes to put her finger in mine as she nurses to sleep. This slight discomfort gives me more than ample time to contemplate something I really would not think about at all. And truly, it is possible that belly buttons are in fact profound.
Of course our entire being exists because of our Mother and her body's ability to grow a human being, complete with passions, happinesses and toenails but here on each of our bodies is a very specific spot that, if we take a moment, reminds us of all that.
No matter your relationship with your mother or how grown you are, you can always put your finger in your belly button and remember that you reverberated with her heartbeat, bounced in each of her steps and had her love flowing down the umbilical cord and into you.
She still likes to put her finger in mine as she nurses to sleep. This slight discomfort gives me more than ample time to contemplate something I really would not think about at all. And truly, it is possible that belly buttons are in fact profound.
Of course our entire being exists because of our Mother and her body's ability to grow a human being, complete with passions, happinesses and toenails but here on each of our bodies is a very specific spot that, if we take a moment, reminds us of all that.
No matter your relationship with your mother or how grown you are, you can always put your finger in your belly button and remember that you reverberated with her heartbeat, bounced in each of her steps and had her love flowing down the umbilical cord and into you.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Emma update
I taught her how to play ring-a-rosie today and she loved it, especially the part where I fall down. It's a slippery slope though, because, as with all things energetic, she wants to play again and again. So I have to get up and fall down about a hundred times before we can move on to another game.
Her words are increasing but mostly she babbles in a language indistinguishable to anyone except her. She can say the following though:
Mom, Dad, cow, cat, there, hi, bye, where and an impressive array of animal noises. These include pounding her own chest and hooting like a gorilla, raising her fists like a boxer and growling like a lion and going bltthhhttt like an elephant.
She loves to play hide and seek, and likes to make you hide with her. This sometimes means that it is she and I hiding behind a door with no-one looking for us. We usually stand for a while, looking through the gap between the frame and door and then jump out at no-one. We were doing just this the other day when I heard her going blthtt like she had something in her mouth that was bad. When I looked down she had her finger on her mouth and was trying to say shhhh. Too cute!
Her words are increasing but mostly she babbles in a language indistinguishable to anyone except her. She can say the following though:
Mom, Dad, cow, cat, there, hi, bye, where and an impressive array of animal noises. These include pounding her own chest and hooting like a gorilla, raising her fists like a boxer and growling like a lion and going bltthhhttt like an elephant.
She loves to play hide and seek, and likes to make you hide with her. This sometimes means that it is she and I hiding behind a door with no-one looking for us. We usually stand for a while, looking through the gap between the frame and door and then jump out at no-one. We were doing just this the other day when I heard her going blthtt like she had something in her mouth that was bad. When I looked down she had her finger on her mouth and was trying to say shhhh. Too cute!
Look around, this is your hometown
Driving around Nakuru I felt I was in a surreal time-warp. Knowing that these were the roads my parents (and I) travelled over 30 years ago. Each building held a possible conversation, a possible meeting, each grocery store could be a place where my mother chose what she would make for dinner. I had few details of where and what they did in Nakuru so the possibilities for connections were endless.
In a way this was good, it allowed me to just absorb the town, to revel in the feeling of strangeness and to try and imagine my parents as young adults with a new baby living in this place.
As a town it is no different from any of the others we have seen in Kenya with terrible drivers, red dust and brightly coloured advertisements every which way you look. So I allowed my imagination to roam free. Here was a clothes shop where Mom got the red and white nightgown she wore 'til the holes in it were so big it no longer provided warmth. Here were the offices that Dad went to visit clients in. Here was the Chemist my grandfather worked in, etc. etc.
It was in the midst of one of these reveries that K and D got very excited and pulled off into a neighbourhood, following signs for the Nakuru War Memorial hospital. We passed a funeral procession, and parked. Here was something I did not need to imagine. Here I was born. Here was a piece of me, of my lore. Perhaps it was my imagination run amuck but I did feel something, something like home, something like the comfort of a place well loved. I also added something new to who I am, here I visited the place of my birth with my husband, and child and best friend.
In a way this was good, it allowed me to just absorb the town, to revel in the feeling of strangeness and to try and imagine my parents as young adults with a new baby living in this place.
As a town it is no different from any of the others we have seen in Kenya with terrible drivers, red dust and brightly coloured advertisements every which way you look. So I allowed my imagination to roam free. Here was a clothes shop where Mom got the red and white nightgown she wore 'til the holes in it were so big it no longer provided warmth. Here were the offices that Dad went to visit clients in. Here was the Chemist my grandfather worked in, etc. etc.
It was in the midst of one of these reveries that K and D got very excited and pulled off into a neighbourhood, following signs for the Nakuru War Memorial hospital. We passed a funeral procession, and parked. Here was something I did not need to imagine. Here I was born. Here was a piece of me, of my lore. Perhaps it was my imagination run amuck but I did feel something, something like home, something like the comfort of a place well loved. I also added something new to who I am, here I visited the place of my birth with my husband, and child and best friend.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
A Crisis of Identity
Conceived in Belize, born in Kenya, raised in Namibia, British passport, in love with an American and lived there for the last ten years and most importantly my child is American, South African mother and British Father. I have in my blood, Irish, English, German, Malaysian, and Hottentot. With all of these names and places to define who I am I have ended up being none.
Growing up in Namibia I was never Namibian because I was not born there and my passport was British, I was reminded of this by people who liked to tease me but I chose to be Namibian in spite of the passport and in spite of the birth. It was the place I was, so how could I be anything but? If I chose one of the others I would always be yearning to leave and never be home. And so, emotionally, I clawed my way into a place where I stood up and claimed the dunes and the cold sea and the sun and the winter wind and made them into the things I loved and longed for.
Then I went to England, and Cape Town and America and always I wished to be back in Namibia, back where I belonged and back home. But now over time the balance has shifted. Many people I knew have moved away, the country has moved on and I have not been there to keep up. My accent has changed, and so has my perspective and those left behind take every pleasure in reminding me of it all. If I ever was Namibian, I can no longer claim to be so.
So now in my soul is a space, a place where who and what I am is blank but also like a puzzle just dumped out of its box. It isn't something that should be so and I must decide. Shall I fill it with everything or will I be able to finally belong to somewhere and some identity alone. Some place that will make me feel like I am home and I will always be home?
Tomorrow, I am going to Nakuru, place of my birth. I hope to stop at places that my parents and grandparents lived and worked, places I visited as a small child. I hope to fill in one more piece of who I am and make clear some of the confusion and loneliness I feel, at least by givng images to stories and places I have heard of throughout my life.
Growing up in Namibia I was never Namibian because I was not born there and my passport was British, I was reminded of this by people who liked to tease me but I chose to be Namibian in spite of the passport and in spite of the birth. It was the place I was, so how could I be anything but? If I chose one of the others I would always be yearning to leave and never be home. And so, emotionally, I clawed my way into a place where I stood up and claimed the dunes and the cold sea and the sun and the winter wind and made them into the things I loved and longed for.
Then I went to England, and Cape Town and America and always I wished to be back in Namibia, back where I belonged and back home. But now over time the balance has shifted. Many people I knew have moved away, the country has moved on and I have not been there to keep up. My accent has changed, and so has my perspective and those left behind take every pleasure in reminding me of it all. If I ever was Namibian, I can no longer claim to be so.
So now in my soul is a space, a place where who and what I am is blank but also like a puzzle just dumped out of its box. It isn't something that should be so and I must decide. Shall I fill it with everything or will I be able to finally belong to somewhere and some identity alone. Some place that will make me feel like I am home and I will always be home?
Tomorrow, I am going to Nakuru, place of my birth. I hope to stop at places that my parents and grandparents lived and worked, places I visited as a small child. I hope to fill in one more piece of who I am and make clear some of the confusion and loneliness I feel, at least by givng images to stories and places I have heard of throughout my life.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
A con at governmental levels
Recently we received a parcel from Emma's Great Grandma. It was two very cute little dresses, originally wrapped in pink tissue paper. When K picked it up from the Post Office he was told the following little story and then charged a fee for the package.
When international packages come in, apparently Customs is allowed to charge an import duty. To deduce the amount that this duty should be, a customs official opens the package in front of a postal employee, unwraps any gifts and assigns value to the gifts. Then they charge you some percentage of that value. Yes... that's right... they OPEN the package and UNWRAP the gifts. All sanctioned by LAW. I love this country, where even postal theft is governed.
I wonder, do they read the birthday card too? I am now tempted to have someone send me ribbed condoms and body chocolate and write salacious things in the card. Would that be 50 shillings? Or would that be free?
When international packages come in, apparently Customs is allowed to charge an import duty. To deduce the amount that this duty should be, a customs official opens the package in front of a postal employee, unwraps any gifts and assigns value to the gifts. Then they charge you some percentage of that value. Yes... that's right... they OPEN the package and UNWRAP the gifts. All sanctioned by LAW. I love this country, where even postal theft is governed.
I wonder, do they read the birthday card too? I am now tempted to have someone send me ribbed condoms and body chocolate and write salacious things in the card. Would that be 50 shillings? Or would that be free?
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Emma Update; dance with me darling, sweet and slow
Since she was born we have danced with Emma. Keir dances with her to Opera and Banjo music and I dance with her to 80's music and powerful female artists. Recently when you put on the music while holding her, she will grab your free hand and wave it around to indicate that it is time to dance. When you oblige she giggles, hums and asks to be dipped by throwing herself backwards while you twirl around the room.
You Little Beauty!
When you have read all the books written by a favourite author you can only read them again. But when you started reading their books as a teen and have been reading them for 15 years it's possible there are books you haven't read, or books you have forgotten that you read. Sometimes you think you discover one of these, dusty on your mother's bookshelf. There is an excitement at the familar grouping of letters in the author's name, coupled with the unfamiliar grouping of letters in the title. Perhaps you savour the book, not opening it for a few days, just letting your eye get used to the cover. Finally you settle down, snuggle up and open it. But oh! The terrible suspicion that creeps upon you by page 23. "Don't I know this character?" By page 100; "I do know this plot" by page 212, I recall the ending. You have two choices. Accept that you have read it and enjoy the prose once more, or set it down, unfinished but remembered.
I recently found what I thought had to be one of these. On a bookshelf in the dining hall at Mpala. A graveyard of books where "good" books are quickly snapped up and others grow ever dustier and infested by spiders, mice and other scurrying creatures.
Surely, surely, I have read all Elizabeth George's novels? Page 23 came and went, followed by page 100. Now I am in the deliscious excitement of letting her pull me towards the great reveal at the end, all the while amusing me, educating me and entertaining me. What a pleasure her words are, and how delightful to find new aspects to Tommy Lynley's character.
So now, having put my own words down and shared my find, I will return to the soft pages of my paperback and Ms. George's enlightening diction.
I recently found what I thought had to be one of these. On a bookshelf in the dining hall at Mpala. A graveyard of books where "good" books are quickly snapped up and others grow ever dustier and infested by spiders, mice and other scurrying creatures.
Surely, surely, I have read all Elizabeth George's novels? Page 23 came and went, followed by page 100. Now I am in the deliscious excitement of letting her pull me towards the great reveal at the end, all the while amusing me, educating me and entertaining me. What a pleasure her words are, and how delightful to find new aspects to Tommy Lynley's character.
So now, having put my own words down and shared my find, I will return to the soft pages of my paperback and Ms. George's enlightening diction.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
follow-up
Since I posted this I have had confirmation from my Mother that the tragic story about Cina and her violent beau was true.
Emma Update
She is really learning how to control the world around her, which includes K and I. She now takes one of our fingers and leads us around, showing us things and getting us to play with her. She has also started helping me with packing away things instead of just unpacking. Her conversation also sounds more and more like she knows exactly what she is saying and it is only us who don't. She will repeat the same "sentence" again and again trying to tell us something and we try and guess what it is she is saying from her body language.
She has started a really strange thing while she nurses, which is to put either her finger or her toe into my belly button. It is so uncomfortable but she is most insistent that this is the way things will be now. I am quite curious as to whether other babies do this, or what her reason is for it. Is it just that it is a perfect big-toe sized hole?
Her memory is also lasting longer as we logged onto Skype with her aunty and uncle and she nearly climbed into the computer in her excitement at seeing them. The last time she had seen them was three weeks before.
She has started a really strange thing while she nurses, which is to put either her finger or her toe into my belly button. It is so uncomfortable but she is most insistent that this is the way things will be now. I am quite curious as to whether other babies do this, or what her reason is for it. Is it just that it is a perfect big-toe sized hole?
Her memory is also lasting longer as we logged onto Skype with her aunty and uncle and she nearly climbed into the computer in her excitement at seeing them. The last time she had seen them was three weeks before.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
cucumber sandwiches anyone?
Today we availed ourselves of a friendly Mpala babysitter and went out for a couple of hours. We played tennis and then had a picnic on top of the Landy at a spot called Hippo Pools.
The tennis courts are up at the original Ranch house which is kept as a place to house VIP guests. It is kept up as it was when it was the home of the white Kenyan ranch owner and fits the bill of a colonial home perfectly. Think "Out of Africa" with shaded porches containing comfortable wicker furniture and sweeping lawns sloping out into the view of Mount Kenya.
The ranch's tennis courts are clay, which I have never played on before. (Actually, if I am honest I have never played tennis at all. I have, on many occasions, batted and swatted and even heaved at a tennis ball with a tennis racket, on a tennis court) The red clay is reflected beyond the court into the savanna which surrounds it, and as you lob the ball up for a serve Mt. Kenya is framed behind it. Quite a venue.
K and I thoroughly enjoyed tooling about on the court and he even made me do some real warm-up exercises. Then we settled in for a "game". Within minutes we abandoned the game and decided to just try and manage to hit the ball to one another. This was quite effective as K is fast enough to run about and catch most of my forehand. My backhand sent birds, dikdiks and monkeys outside the courts scurrying. After a while we decided that we would hit the ball to each other twenty times and then go and get lunch. Then we decided we would hit the ball to each other fifteen times and then go and get lunch. Eventually we decided nine was a little bit like fifteen and left.
Hippo pools is a spot where the Ewaso Nyero river makes a big loop and creates a still pool with a broad bank perfect for Hippos and crocs to pull themselves out of the water. Well, actually just one croc. The bend in the river has created a floodplain where incredibly tall fever trees grow. These are acacia xanthophloea. They are trees with a bright green bark on trunks that grow straight up and tall, and their branches spread out in a thick fan high above. They are graceful trees and their presence at Hippo pools makes it the perfect spot to sit and watch the wildlife and birds. After our exertions we enjoyed our lunch of avo and tomato sandwiches and felt completely vindicated in finishing a whole bar of chocolate.
The tennis courts are up at the original Ranch house which is kept as a place to house VIP guests. It is kept up as it was when it was the home of the white Kenyan ranch owner and fits the bill of a colonial home perfectly. Think "Out of Africa" with shaded porches containing comfortable wicker furniture and sweeping lawns sloping out into the view of Mount Kenya.
The ranch's tennis courts are clay, which I have never played on before. (Actually, if I am honest I have never played tennis at all. I have, on many occasions, batted and swatted and even heaved at a tennis ball with a tennis racket, on a tennis court) The red clay is reflected beyond the court into the savanna which surrounds it, and as you lob the ball up for a serve Mt. Kenya is framed behind it. Quite a venue.
K and I thoroughly enjoyed tooling about on the court and he even made me do some real warm-up exercises. Then we settled in for a "game". Within minutes we abandoned the game and decided to just try and manage to hit the ball to one another. This was quite effective as K is fast enough to run about and catch most of my forehand. My backhand sent birds, dikdiks and monkeys outside the courts scurrying. After a while we decided that we would hit the ball to each other twenty times and then go and get lunch. Then we decided we would hit the ball to each other fifteen times and then go and get lunch. Eventually we decided nine was a little bit like fifteen and left.
Hippo pools is a spot where the Ewaso Nyero river makes a big loop and creates a still pool with a broad bank perfect for Hippos and crocs to pull themselves out of the water. Well, actually just one croc. The bend in the river has created a floodplain where incredibly tall fever trees grow. These are acacia xanthophloea. They are trees with a bright green bark on trunks that grow straight up and tall, and their branches spread out in a thick fan high above. They are graceful trees and their presence at Hippo pools makes it the perfect spot to sit and watch the wildlife and birds. After our exertions we enjoyed our lunch of avo and tomato sandwiches and felt completely vindicated in finishing a whole bar of chocolate.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Emma Update
It is a joy to watch Emma growing in leaps and bounds daily. She lovesto fogure out stuff, especially real stuff rather than toys. She puts lids back on bottles, opens cupboards and drawers, tips up her sippy cup and presses buttons.
She also "talks" on the phone. She loves few things better than to put your cell phone to her ear and walk around, having a chat with someone. She has long conversations which are mostly one-sided and holds one hand out to the side, fingers splayed. What is really funny is that when the phone actually rings she looks at it in horror and gives it to you to take care of the annoying person who dares to talk back.
She has just this week started to love her stuffed animals. She has a number of them and has mostly ignored them. This week she has been carrying two favourites around with her, snuggling them and talking to them. One is a Frog who is bigger than her, named Prince Charming and the other is a soft hound dog named Bond. She adores it when you take all three of them on your lap and cuddle together.
She also "talks" on the phone. She loves few things better than to put your cell phone to her ear and walk around, having a chat with someone. She has long conversations which are mostly one-sided and holds one hand out to the side, fingers splayed. What is really funny is that when the phone actually rings she looks at it in horror and gives it to you to take care of the annoying person who dares to talk back.
She has just this week started to love her stuffed animals. She has a number of them and has mostly ignored them. This week she has been carrying two favourites around with her, snuggling them and talking to them. One is a Frog who is bigger than her, named Prince Charming and the other is a soft hound dog named Bond. She adores it when you take all three of them on your lap and cuddle together.
A Tall Tale?
When I was young my maternal grandmother had a maid who always wore a cloth over her face. She wore it to cover the lower part of her face but her eyes were always kind above it. The cloth made it very hard to understand what she said and her voice sounded raspy, as if she had been smoking since she was as small as I was then.
Her name was Cina and one day I got up enough courage to ask Granny Hazel why Cina wore the cloth. The tale went like this. When Cina was young she was incredibly beautiful with a rosebud mouth and a small pert nose. She had many suitors but eventually she started going with just one very handsome young man. They were well matched and she cared a great deal for him but of course there was a fly in the ointment. Her beau was incredibly jealous of Cina and suspicious of any man who had contact with Cina. One day they went to a braai of a mutual friend and Cina's boyfriend saw her flirting with another friend of theirs. Cina's boyfriend flew into a rage and took up the woodchopper sitting next to the braai. He first chopped at the flirty friend and then swung the chopper and sliced off the front of Cina's face.
Cina tried various kinds of surgery to reconstruct her face but was left with terrible disfigurement and much scarring.
I was utterly horrified at this story and have thought often of it, the details remained very clear in my mind as I grew up. It is only now though that I have examined the tale and thought that it has the resonance of a tale rather than a true story. Do people truly have rosebud mouths combined with pert noses? Is it possible to cleave a persons nose from their face with a woodchopper? My Grandmother always told very good stories and now she is gone I am left to wonder forever if this is just a story, or true and tragic.
Her name was Cina and one day I got up enough courage to ask Granny Hazel why Cina wore the cloth. The tale went like this. When Cina was young she was incredibly beautiful with a rosebud mouth and a small pert nose. She had many suitors but eventually she started going with just one very handsome young man. They were well matched and she cared a great deal for him but of course there was a fly in the ointment. Her beau was incredibly jealous of Cina and suspicious of any man who had contact with Cina. One day they went to a braai of a mutual friend and Cina's boyfriend saw her flirting with another friend of theirs. Cina's boyfriend flew into a rage and took up the woodchopper sitting next to the braai. He first chopped at the flirty friend and then swung the chopper and sliced off the front of Cina's face.
Cina tried various kinds of surgery to reconstruct her face but was left with terrible disfigurement and much scarring.
I was utterly horrified at this story and have thought often of it, the details remained very clear in my mind as I grew up. It is only now though that I have examined the tale and thought that it has the resonance of a tale rather than a true story. Do people truly have rosebud mouths combined with pert noses? Is it possible to cleave a persons nose from their face with a woodchopper? My Grandmother always told very good stories and now she is gone I am left to wonder forever if this is just a story, or true and tragic.
Tru Dat
Our cistern sprung a leak. When the tap is turned on water poured from it in a pretty arc like one of those boy cherubs peeing artfully into a fountain. Our plumber came along to look at it and said that it was fine. After I showed him how to turn the tap on and allowed the leak to flow, he played his hand in the water appreciating the cool on his fingers for a moment. Then he proclaimed; "It is broken" and left. We haven't seen him since.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Emma Update
She is just a walking fool! Last Monday she decided it was time and suddenly released her grip on the table, chairs and bath and struck out into the spaces of the house. We were so thrilled and watched her with tears in our eyes. True to her social form, she walked mostly towards people, giving the Mpala folk as much of a thrill as she did us.
On Tuesday and the rest of the week she changed her mind and decided crawling was easier. On the weekend she gave it another go and has really taken to it. She walks most places and has found that it is most convenient when you need to carry things. It is so convenient that she is carrying around hilarious items, like the trash can and laundry basket, both of which are far too large for her.
Her walk is a little shuffle, where each knee bends awkwardly and the foot crashes to the floor to be dragged a little ways. It sounds like we have a very tiny zombie careening around the house. She has little control so sort of aims herself in the direction she wants to go and gets faster and faster as she goes along 'til she falls against the couch, your legs etc. I think her right leg is stronger than her left as she tends to pivot on that leg and so quite often just wonders in circles around a room. We managed to post a couple of very short videos on the picasa site - if you don't have the link, email me.
On Tuesday and the rest of the week she changed her mind and decided crawling was easier. On the weekend she gave it another go and has really taken to it. She walks most places and has found that it is most convenient when you need to carry things. It is so convenient that she is carrying around hilarious items, like the trash can and laundry basket, both of which are far too large for her.
Her walk is a little shuffle, where each knee bends awkwardly and the foot crashes to the floor to be dragged a little ways. It sounds like we have a very tiny zombie careening around the house. She has little control so sort of aims herself in the direction she wants to go and gets faster and faster as she goes along 'til she falls against the couch, your legs etc. I think her right leg is stronger than her left as she tends to pivot on that leg and so quite often just wonders in circles around a room. We managed to post a couple of very short videos on the picasa site - if you don't have the link, email me.
Monty Python was wrong
My Mother's shower in Namibia is the kind that makes you sing. Volubly and for the entire glorious time it takes you to get clean. I sang "gone fishing", "cheek to cheek", "morning has broken" and a favourite - "the bright side of life". It is HOT, there is pressure, the light shines in through the window, and the towels are fluffy and dry.
There was nothing to sing about in this evening's shower. It was the opposite of a singing kind of shower. It was a shower in which songs run down the drain and into Grevy Houses' septic field, never to be heard again. You won't even be able to find their lyrics on Google.
The water trickles, nay, it oozes from the nozzle. It is lukewarm, not cold so that you can complain with pride about having a cold shower. The parts of your body which stick out of the water (ie: most parts) are vulnerable to dive bombing and large mosquitoes. The water is weak-tea coloured, leaving you in doubt as to whether you are actually getting clean. The last and final insult is that here is another country where towels do not dry from day to day, but instead are clammy to the frail and beaten and bitten skin.
There is no bright side of life to this shower. Monty Python should go take a hike.
There was nothing to sing about in this evening's shower. It was the opposite of a singing kind of shower. It was a shower in which songs run down the drain and into Grevy Houses' septic field, never to be heard again. You won't even be able to find their lyrics on Google.
The water trickles, nay, it oozes from the nozzle. It is lukewarm, not cold so that you can complain with pride about having a cold shower. The parts of your body which stick out of the water (ie: most parts) are vulnerable to dive bombing and large mosquitoes. The water is weak-tea coloured, leaving you in doubt as to whether you are actually getting clean. The last and final insult is that here is another country where towels do not dry from day to day, but instead are clammy to the frail and beaten and bitten skin.
There is no bright side of life to this shower. Monty Python should go take a hike.
Ups and Downs
Mpala has given me a pavlovian response that is interesting to note. Sitting at the computer this evening I heard the crack of branches outside. I sprang up and raced from window to window trying to see the elephant. Usually the sound of cracking branches means that somewhere there is an elly browsing. Today it was the sound of the Askari building the fire for our donkey boiler so that we could get hot water. I was momentarily saddened that there was no elephant but quickly bouyed by the idea of a hot shower soon to come!
Friday, November 12, 2010
The Ordinary amidst the Extraordinary
Elephants visited us again this evening. This time early enough for Emma to be awake and see them. They moved in from the ring road and munched their way around the house, feeding on trees, grasses and our last houseplant - evicted from the house for being a spider hider.
The Elephants had no fear of being close to the house and we could see them really clearly, so clearly that I was afraid they could see us inside the house and would get upset, but luckily they did not seem bothered by us.
After watching them for about 20 minutes Emma became bored and it was getting to the time of evening where she is irritable and almost ready for bed. I realised I was going to have to bath her. It seemed strange and irreverent to do such a mundane activity as a bath when the house was surrounded by at least 25 elephants. She splished and splashed happily oblivious to my ponderings and discomfort. It was also disconcerting to put the lights on so that she could have her ten minutes of quiet play and reading before bed. Turning on the lights made us visible and the Elephants out in the darkening dusk hidden amongst the bushes.
Emma nursed and then I swung her to sleep in my arms, humming Hobo's lullabye and listening carefully to the swish and crunch of grass being torn up and eaten just outside the bedroom window.
The evening and the visit ended with K and I playing a game of speed scrabble at the dining table, tete-a-tete, while listening uneasily to a tummy, a very large tummy, rumbling somewhere outside and close by.
The Elephants had no fear of being close to the house and we could see them really clearly, so clearly that I was afraid they could see us inside the house and would get upset, but luckily they did not seem bothered by us.
After watching them for about 20 minutes Emma became bored and it was getting to the time of evening where she is irritable and almost ready for bed. I realised I was going to have to bath her. It seemed strange and irreverent to do such a mundane activity as a bath when the house was surrounded by at least 25 elephants. She splished and splashed happily oblivious to my ponderings and discomfort. It was also disconcerting to put the lights on so that she could have her ten minutes of quiet play and reading before bed. Turning on the lights made us visible and the Elephants out in the darkening dusk hidden amongst the bushes.
Emma nursed and then I swung her to sleep in my arms, humming Hobo's lullabye and listening carefully to the swish and crunch of grass being torn up and eaten just outside the bedroom window.
The evening and the visit ended with K and I playing a game of speed scrabble at the dining table, tete-a-tete, while listening uneasily to a tummy, a very large tummy, rumbling somewhere outside and close by.
Sunday, November 07, 2010
New Friends
Each day towards the evening our new friends arrive at the house. Mostly they sit in the tree and look sideways at us but occasionally they come closer.
The most friendly is a chap I have named Deckens as he is a Von Der Deckens Hornbill. He is the one who taps on the windows at ungodly hours. Although recently Emma has claimed all the ungodly hours for herself and 6am is considered a lie in. Deckens has a wifey who I have uninspiringly named Vonder. He also has two buddies and their wives who all hang around in the trees being hopeful. I have been rewarding their hopefulness with handfuls of muesli but they are too shy to come and get it off the porch and they wait until Em and I have retreated indoors.
Of course the problem with Deckens and his entourage is that Spiro is taking inspiration from him. Yesterday while we sat having lunch admiring our partially completed fence he came along with two pals and ventured with his backup onto the porch, clearly hopeful of crumbs. I had a stack of stones handy though and quickly sent them packing. This week it will be my mission to trap Spiro and transport him elsewhere before he teaches bad manners to all the local squirrels. I do feel twinges of guilt about this as, yes he is quite cute and also it was another human who taught him his bad manners but it must be done before he climbs inside anyone else's pants.
In the vein of new friends, we have taught some of the Mpala permanent researchers how to play scat, and I think they are addicted already. This bodes well for the long evenings that we have left in Kenya.
The most friendly is a chap I have named Deckens as he is a Von Der Deckens Hornbill. He is the one who taps on the windows at ungodly hours. Although recently Emma has claimed all the ungodly hours for herself and 6am is considered a lie in. Deckens has a wifey who I have uninspiringly named Vonder. He also has two buddies and their wives who all hang around in the trees being hopeful. I have been rewarding their hopefulness with handfuls of muesli but they are too shy to come and get it off the porch and they wait until Em and I have retreated indoors.
Of course the problem with Deckens and his entourage is that Spiro is taking inspiration from him. Yesterday while we sat having lunch admiring our partially completed fence he came along with two pals and ventured with his backup onto the porch, clearly hopeful of crumbs. I had a stack of stones handy though and quickly sent them packing. This week it will be my mission to trap Spiro and transport him elsewhere before he teaches bad manners to all the local squirrels. I do feel twinges of guilt about this as, yes he is quite cute and also it was another human who taught him his bad manners but it must be done before he climbs inside anyone else's pants.
In the vein of new friends, we have taught some of the Mpala permanent researchers how to play scat, and I think they are addicted already. This bodes well for the long evenings that we have left in Kenya.
Emma update
Man she is adorable! I know I am biased but seriously, there is nothing else this cute! Even the baby elephant that came through last week is not this cute.
She is cutting two new teeth, soon she will be sporting four on the bottom instead of two. The left one has broken through and about a quarter of it is showing. Emma's favourite toy is once again the crochet hook and the drool runs down it while she chews on it and pulls the hook part against her gum.
Most exciting is how hard she is working on walking. She took two steps from the bath to the sink on her own during the week and K and I were thrilled and held our breath while she did it. Then today she took three steps, falteringly from a chair into open space but fell down. She did try again later and again fell down but I really think it won't be long now 'til she is motoring around on her own. Thankfully, they are in the process of building a fence around our porch so we will be able to spend more time safely outside in the cool air looking at all the birds (and squirrels).
She is cutting two new teeth, soon she will be sporting four on the bottom instead of two. The left one has broken through and about a quarter of it is showing. Emma's favourite toy is once again the crochet hook and the drool runs down it while she chews on it and pulls the hook part against her gum.
Most exciting is how hard she is working on walking. She took two steps from the bath to the sink on her own during the week and K and I were thrilled and held our breath while she did it. Then today she took three steps, falteringly from a chair into open space but fell down. She did try again later and again fell down but I really think it won't be long now 'til she is motoring around on her own. Thankfully, they are in the process of building a fence around our porch so we will be able to spend more time safely outside in the cool air looking at all the birds (and squirrels).
plumbing
Well the Monday following our amusing plumbing, the boss man turned up to look at the loo for himself. He took one look at it and figured out what the problem was and then within five minutes had fixed it and fixed the other running loo. Totally spoiled my fun with the other chap and his cohorts.
Thursday, November 04, 2010
Revenge is sweet
Same night as the squirt gun incident. It's 1:36am and all are asleep. Ratatatatatttatt! Spiro on the roof again. Tatttatttatt! Emma stirs. Rattattat! She wakes! Ratattatt! I nurse her and she goes straight back to sleep. Rattattatt! No reaction. I call this a draw. Spiro 3 - 2 Tasha still.
En Guarde!
Emma and I were sitting on the porch feeding the birds. We had five hornbills, three males and two females, two male weavers and one female, a host of sparrow weavers and a morning thrush. We also had Spiro. He ducked and wove his way down the branches and then snuck down the trunk and across the ground. As soon as his feet touched the porch I squirted him with my water gun. SPLAT!! *insert evil and even maniacal laughter* He ran back the way he came and kept on going! ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Tasha 2 - 3 Spiro ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!
Monday, November 01, 2010
Baridi
Priscilla has a horror for all things cold. I have told you before of how she is always inspecting Emma and telling me how she needs socks and shoes and a jacket and hat, indoors. Well we got socks and she now wears either those or shoes and generally a jersey since it has been chilly in the mornings.
I have now introduced a whole new "crazy Americans" or possibly "bad parent" for her. Emma is getting new teeth, the next two on the bottom are coming through and we are in full combat pain mode. One of our most effective tools are the frozen chew toys. I took one out of the freezer and gave it to Emma. Priscilla watched me closely, then grabbed the toy and felt it. She gave exclamations of horror; "Baridi! Baridi!" Baridi is the Swahili word for cold. I pantomimed that it helped with the teeth but she just kept telling me, repeatedly, how cold it was. I decided to exit stage right and took Emma with me, chewing on her icy toy. Leaving Priscilla to shake her head in dismay.
I have now introduced a whole new "crazy Americans" or possibly "bad parent" for her. Emma is getting new teeth, the next two on the bottom are coming through and we are in full combat pain mode. One of our most effective tools are the frozen chew toys. I took one out of the freezer and gave it to Emma. Priscilla watched me closely, then grabbed the toy and felt it. She gave exclamations of horror; "Baridi! Baridi!" Baridi is the Swahili word for cold. I pantomimed that it helped with the teeth but she just kept telling me, repeatedly, how cold it was. I decided to exit stage right and took Emma with me, chewing on her icy toy. Leaving Priscilla to shake her head in dismay.
All is peaceful. The birds are playing in the grass, the dikdik are grazing at the edges of the driveway and Emma and I are watching it all. Spiro stalks us down his tree, twitching from branch to branch 'til he is in our faces. Then he flicks his tail arrogantly as if you say ne, ne, you can't get me. I use my new found weapon - a baboon bark. Usually it stops Emma from sticking her fingers in plugs and it chases off the monkeys. This time it's an impressive bark, it holds all my aggression towards this rat with a fluffy tail. The dikdik flee in terrified bounds, the birds take to the skies and Emma's bottom lip first trembles and then parts to emit a wail which is followed by heart-rending cries. Spiro laughs at me and saunters back up the tree. Tasha 1 - 3 Spiro. Botheration!
Saturday, October 30, 2010
and for this week's entertainment...
Our toilet has not been working. For three days now a chap has been trying to fix it. On the first day he came in with a plastic bag of things, set the bag down on the floor, put one hand on his hip and scratched his head while gazing dolefully into our cistern. He did this for about ten minutes. The he carefully laid out all the items in the bag on the floor. These were mostly tools and bits of plastic usually associated with the ball cock that makes the cistern refill. Then he put his one hand on his hip and gazed dolefully at his equipment. I was becoming concerned at this point that I might be more qualified to fix my cistern than he was. Eventually he went to work.
Within minutes he came back and asked me if we had a hammer. I gave it to him but was puzzled as to what he planned to do with it. Thankfully he just added it artfully to the items laid on the floor. Then he asked me for a spanner - a 24 or a 23. We did not have that and so he went to fetch it.
45 minutes later he returned with the spanner and after, yes, some hip, scratch and doleful gazing he returned to work. At the strike of 12 o'clock (lunchtime) he came and declared it fixed! I said great and flushed. Something plastic flew up into the air and water fountained out of the hole left behind. He scratched his head and said he would come back tomorrow.
Tomorrow held much the same hilarity except the water gushed out of the bottom of the cistern. And on day three the same. On day three he brought reinforcements. First one other person came and scratched their head and then a third. I am now truly impressed by my toilet. It must be so complex and cunning to still not be working. Tomorrow is Sunday but I look forward to what Monday brings for us and the plumber.
Thank goodness we have a second loo in the house or this would not be amusing in the least.
Within minutes he came back and asked me if we had a hammer. I gave it to him but was puzzled as to what he planned to do with it. Thankfully he just added it artfully to the items laid on the floor. Then he asked me for a spanner - a 24 or a 23. We did not have that and so he went to fetch it.
45 minutes later he returned with the spanner and after, yes, some hip, scratch and doleful gazing he returned to work. At the strike of 12 o'clock (lunchtime) he came and declared it fixed! I said great and flushed. Something plastic flew up into the air and water fountained out of the hole left behind. He scratched his head and said he would come back tomorrow.
Tomorrow held much the same hilarity except the water gushed out of the bottom of the cistern. And on day three the same. On day three he brought reinforcements. First one other person came and scratched their head and then a third. I am now truly impressed by my toilet. It must be so complex and cunning to still not be working. Tomorrow is Sunday but I look forward to what Monday brings for us and the plumber.
Thank goodness we have a second loo in the house or this would not be amusing in the least.
Ellies once more!
We have been back at Mpala for less than a week but have had many elephant sightings! The herd has been hanging around for the last couple of nights making trouble in the neighbourhood. They pulled the pipes off the walls of the house next over from us so we are even more appreciative of our shower than ever.
Two nights ago K and I were preparing for sleep when we heard the unmistakable crunch crunch of something with extremely large teeth eating trees. We hopped out of bed and there right outside our window were a couple of elephants. The moon is full and we could almost pick out flea bites, we were that close. One moved around the house and we followed to the spare room where we had not closed the curtains. We both felt very exposed standing in our pyjamas at the window with the elephant a body's length away but thankfully, with concrete between us. The last didn't prevent the thrill of terror that went down our backs when he froze, glared at us and waved his trunk threateningly. We stood as still as possible and tried not to breathe until he decided he had given us a proper scare and carried on with his munching. He wasn't a large elly but nonetheless filled the window and it was both a relief and a disappointment when he moved off into the underbrush.
Two nights ago K and I were preparing for sleep when we heard the unmistakable crunch crunch of something with extremely large teeth eating trees. We hopped out of bed and there right outside our window were a couple of elephants. The moon is full and we could almost pick out flea bites, we were that close. One moved around the house and we followed to the spare room where we had not closed the curtains. We both felt very exposed standing in our pyjamas at the window with the elephant a body's length away but thankfully, with concrete between us. The last didn't prevent the thrill of terror that went down our backs when he froze, glared at us and waved his trunk threateningly. We stood as still as possible and tried not to breathe until he decided he had given us a proper scare and carried on with his munching. He wasn't a large elly but nonetheless filled the window and it was both a relief and a disappointment when he moved off into the underbrush.
Make Love Not War
Turns out that that is what the ghecko's were doing. Jack is maybe Jackie in fact, as we have come back to many wee jacks and Jasons prowling our walls for tasty treats. Also Jack(ie) and Jason are now inhabiting the same curtain without howls and crashes as before. Unless... and dare I suggest it? Jack and Jason are more forward thinking than many Kenyans and have simply adopted the bairns in the month we were gone?
Warmth from unexpected places
Making the bed together with someone is ritual like. Opposite each other with a pattern of mirrored movements somehow makes me feel bonded to the person across the sheets. The flick and smooth and pat and tuck while you talk of something else always warms me. It is something that spans across all bridges, recently for me; sex, age and language. Each person brings to the bed making their own life as it has been. Priscilla tucks the sheets in tight against spiders. For Keir it is all unnecessary since you are just going to mess it up again anyway but he does it because he loves me. For my Mom the pillows are decorative, above the duvet and handy for leaning against to read before the afternoon nap. As a parent there are so many things where perspective has changed, and now I look forward to standing across from Emma and seeing how much of each of us she will bring to this small daily piece of life.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Close encounters of the porcine kind
On Friday an old friend's mom picked us up and took us to our first petting zoo. There were Alpacas, goats, cows, rabbits, guinea pigs, geese and ponies. All came rushing to the fence to be fed and we could steal a touch. The scariest was edging past the male Ostrich who was fluffing his wings in our direction and giving us the (beady) eye in a very unfriendly manner. On the other side of the walkway from the Ostrich was an Emu. Emu's are well known for their aggression and he was doing his level best to rid us of our eyes as well. Between the Ostrich and the Emu someone is going to come a cropper.
The highlight of the trip for me were the warthogs. We walked up to their pen but they were hiding somewhere and we couldn't see them, so I called; "sooeeee, here pig, pig, pig" and they came running! It was amazing to be able to touch their rough little snouts as they pressed against the fence. It's like stroking fine gravel that is slightly wet and they made little "ungh! Ungh!" noises of content when scratched behind the ears. Emma couldn't get enough of them and with some trepidation I let her touch them too.
The highlight of the trip for me were the warthogs. We walked up to their pen but they were hiding somewhere and we couldn't see them, so I called; "sooeeee, here pig, pig, pig" and they came running! It was amazing to be able to touch their rough little snouts as they pressed against the fence. It's like stroking fine gravel that is slightly wet and they made little "ungh! Ungh!" noises of content when scratched behind the ears. Emma couldn't get enough of them and with some trepidation I let her touch them too.
Thursday, October 07, 2010
Another maybe first word?
It's possible that Emma is saying "Oh Look!" It's a lot like the "kitty cat" where she could have said the word but it could also just be that she is miming our sound. This afternoon she woke up from her nap, looked at the cat, pointed and said very clearly "oh look!" Then she looked at us to make sure we were paying attention and said it again, still pointing. Also - just a photo of her enjoying outside with her Uncle. Lulu is under the bush to the right of them.
Sunday, October 03, 2010
The New Outdoorsman
Emma is going to be an outside kind of gal. Whenever she is fussy, all one has to do is go outside and she settles, even just a quick walk up to the gate of the complex will settle her. The wind in her hair and the sun on her face makes her so happy. While I was hanging washing the other day I put her down on the grass which is a bit sparse and dry. Which is perfect for a small person to play with dirt, stones and sticks. She gets such a kick out of wondering around the garden looking in hiding places for the tortoise. Her Uncle has declared that Emma has named the tortoise "Lulu". She also named the bushes, trees and birds Lulu but apparently most especially the tortoise is Lulu.
Where are the wild things?
Emma has taken to growling when she is playing with us, or when she wants you to play. This morning Granny was lying on the couch. Emma spied her from the other side of the couch and cruised along 'til she reached Granny's feet, growling all the while. Then she grabbed Granny's big toe and bit down... luckily just in play but the growling was too adorable. With all these teeth we are going to have to play close attention when Emma goes ggggrrrrrrr gggrrrrrr.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Emma Update
Emma is babbling away in her own language all the time. The other day at two in the morning when she lay between my Mother and I while we hoped she would go back to sleep her words were: "Lordy, lordy, Lordy." In her carseat she cries repeatedly; "Ehhhhhhhhhh" and when she sees the cat she says perfectly; "Ittickya At" Which we translate for her into kitty cat. She will sit on your lap and have long conversations where only she understands the story and she loves to sing along with "how much is that doggy" and "jingle bells".
She also stands on her own a fair amount, and of course cruises around holding onto furniture. Walking is not far away and she gets quite a thrill from holding your fingers and walking, especially if you are chasing the ittickya at.
She also stands on her own a fair amount, and of course cruises around holding onto furniture. Walking is not far away and she gets quite a thrill from holding your fingers and walking, especially if you are chasing the ittickya at.
Friday, September 24, 2010
Ugh!
My Mom's cat was playing with this behind the curtains: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scolopendra_gigantea
I went into a Mothering frenzy and beat it to death with my flip flop, much to the cat's dismay. (It was a good toy) Then I looked it up online and it turns out that I could have preserved it and sold it on ebay for 18 pounds! Then I read further and it turns out that the thing hunts and eats birds! Now I stalk around with my flip flop close at hand all the time. *shudder* We didn't have bird eating centipedes in C'ville!
I went into a Mothering frenzy and beat it to death with my flip flop, much to the cat's dismay. (It was a good toy) Then I looked it up online and it turns out that I could have preserved it and sold it on ebay for 18 pounds! Then I read further and it turns out that the thing hunts and eats birds! Now I stalk around with my flip flop close at hand all the time. *shudder* We didn't have bird eating centipedes in C'ville!
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Home again, home again, jiggedy jig
Well my radio silence this time has not been due to Mpala's terrible internet, or Emma's neediness but rather a much happier event. My Mom and I have been plotting and pulled off, a surprise visit to Namibia. My sisters had no idea I was coming until I walked up and said hi.
It is so wonderful to be home, although the first thing that happened was that I was sick enough to be hospitalized. Thankfully only for an afternoon but it was trial by fire for one sis and my Mom as they had to take care of Emma who was most displeased with no Momom. I was just grateful that it happened here and not at Mpala where I would have been an hour from the nearest doctor, let alone nurse and IV drip!
I have been getting Emma (and myself) back into a routine and just relaxing with my family which has been a kind of heaven. Nothing beats your mother's cooking does it? Strawberry pudding, pineapple pie and veggie lasagne... mmm. I haven't even thought about Spiro in a whole week!
It is so wonderful to be home, although the first thing that happened was that I was sick enough to be hospitalized. Thankfully only for an afternoon but it was trial by fire for one sis and my Mom as they had to take care of Emma who was most displeased with no Momom. I was just grateful that it happened here and not at Mpala where I would have been an hour from the nearest doctor, let alone nurse and IV drip!
I have been getting Emma (and myself) back into a routine and just relaxing with my family which has been a kind of heaven. Nothing beats your mother's cooking does it? Strawberry pudding, pineapple pie and veggie lasagne... mmm. I haven't even thought about Spiro in a whole week!
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Oh the torture!
We were home at Mpala for just 3 nights and we were determined to see Ellies. Each whisper, crunch and harrumph outside had us scanning the trees with our torches but to no avail. Naturally, we were told on the morning we were leaving that they had come through late in the night. So do we stay up late in hope? Or just presume that as we are there for a year eventually we will see them so regularly that we will be bored, as promised before we moved here?
Touche, my Dear.
It's 5am and not yet light. Spiro positions himself on the tin roof above the bedroom and scratches the back of his ear with his foot. Tap, Tap, Tap, Tap, Tap, Tap. Emma stirs but goes back to sleep. Tap, Tap, Tap, Tap. I get up, fetch the hard juggle balls and throw them at the ceiling. Spiro goes silent and waits. I get back under the mozzie net and snuggle down. Tap, Tap, Tap, Tap, Tap, Tap, Tap, Tap, Tap, Tap, Tap, Tap. Emma rolls over and says; "let's play!" Spiro 2 - 1 Tasha. Nuts!
Wednesday, September 08, 2010
a week in Nbo
In Nairobi one can do many things, one can risk one's life and limb daily on the insane roads, one can go to the movies, one can wheel and deal at the market or one can touch a giraffe's tongue.
We have done all of these this past week. The best strategy with being on the roads seems to be to grip some part of the car and shut your eyes tightly. This applies to the driver as well. Mutatus, people, bicycles, heavily laden and leaning to one side trucks all act as though they are the only vehicle on the road. The result is a calamitous mess. Bush gardens move aside... for bowel loosening, adrenal gland stimlating excitement, visit Nairobi.
Last week Keir bravely babysat and D and I went to the movies. So exciting for me! I got to sit in the front seat of the car! I haven't done that in months! Then the A-team was excellent! A fabulous shoot-em-up movie. When I got home Keir was at the door with Emma to greet me. She yelled in excitement and literally leapt out of his arms. Poor Daddy. Maybe I am a little more fun than I thought?
On Sunday we went to the market to buy a few gifts. The British side of me really struggled with the pulling, chatting, and pushiness that went into the sales. Each person on the market has the same goods to offer so it comes down to who can make you pay attention and stay at their stall. I am so used to quiet and impersonal shopping of the USA that it was too hard to make a decision and I ended up only buying one scarf, and that cos D was buying some!
We have done all of these this past week. The best strategy with being on the roads seems to be to grip some part of the car and shut your eyes tightly. This applies to the driver as well. Mutatus, people, bicycles, heavily laden and leaning to one side trucks all act as though they are the only vehicle on the road. The result is a calamitous mess. Bush gardens move aside... for bowel loosening, adrenal gland stimlating excitement, visit Nairobi.
Last week Keir bravely babysat and D and I went to the movies. So exciting for me! I got to sit in the front seat of the car! I haven't done that in months! Then the A-team was excellent! A fabulous shoot-em-up movie. When I got home Keir was at the door with Emma to greet me. She yelled in excitement and literally leapt out of his arms. Poor Daddy. Maybe I am a little more fun than I thought?
On Sunday we went to the market to buy a few gifts. The British side of me really struggled with the pulling, chatting, and pushiness that went into the sales. Each person on the market has the same goods to offer so it comes down to who can make you pay attention and stay at their stall. I am so used to quiet and impersonal shopping of the USA that it was too hard to make a decision and I ended up only buying one scarf, and that cos D was buying some!
Emma update
3 of the 6 teeth have broken through so we are halfway there! Her favourite toys are things that are not toys but are sharp and metal, like keys.
Emma's fun the past two weeks has been figuring out how to hold more than one thing in one hand. Once she got it right she was all about it and quickly worked on getting larger things in one hand.
She has also started saying Ugh! and sometimes throws her hands up over her head and says it. Maybe in imitation of our disgust over the stinkbug eating. She has also added other ggggh sounds to her vocubulary, so that she sounds permanently grossed out by something.
She has really got the hang of the high five and I am now teaching her to wave hello and goodbye. She had hello this morning but just can't figure out goodbye, she is usually too distraught that whoever is leaving.
Emma's fun the past two weeks has been figuring out how to hold more than one thing in one hand. Once she got it right she was all about it and quickly worked on getting larger things in one hand.
She has also started saying Ugh! and sometimes throws her hands up over her head and says it. Maybe in imitation of our disgust over the stinkbug eating. She has also added other ggggh sounds to her vocubulary, so that she sounds permanently grossed out by something.
She has really got the hang of the high five and I am now teaching her to wave hello and goodbye. She had hello this morning but just can't figure out goodbye, she is usually too distraught that whoever is leaving.
Monday, August 30, 2010
You little stinker!
We had stinkbug invasions in Charlottesville. So much so, that we decided we could not beat them and should just accept them, and started calling them Sheildbugs instead. Well we thought we had left them behind. Doesn't it seem fair that if we have leg climbing squirrels, we should be safe from the smaller, stinkier pests? Well here we are in Nairobi, and there is a stinkbug. Just one, but let me tell you, where there is one, more will follow. Last night it was hanging around the sink waiting to commit Hari Kari in the dish water.
This morning Emma was motoring around the kitchen as she is wont to do while we make breakfast. We suddenly caught sight of her face, which was pulled into a contortion of disgust while drool was rolling down her chin onto her pyjamas. I immediately inserted my pinky finger into her mouth to see what disgusting thing she had found on the floor. Yep, you guessed it, the stinky, stinky and now masticated bug! UGH! UGH!
This morning Emma was motoring around the kitchen as she is wont to do while we make breakfast. We suddenly caught sight of her face, which was pulled into a contortion of disgust while drool was rolling down her chin onto her pyjamas. I immediately inserted my pinky finger into her mouth to see what disgusting thing she had found on the floor. Yep, you guessed it, the stinky, stinky and now masticated bug! UGH! UGH!
Emma update
I was zerbetting Emma's tummy the other day, making her laugh with a wide mouth and lo and behold! 6, yes 6! teeth are breaking through her top gum. Poor girl, no wonder sleep is a thing of the past.
Quiet behemoths in the night
I was cooking dinner and needed a plate, so I went into the other room and there in our front yard were Elephants! They grazed so silently, like grey ghosts in the after dusk light, that I almost missed them. I grabbed Emma and switched off the lights and we stood at the window and absorbed the munching, sighing and huffing sounds.
There were all sizes, from tiny babies to grandmothers that blocked out the moon rising behind them. They had no fear and came almost onto the porch to reach the sweet grass growing under our downspout. The herd moved slowly, taking what they wanted as they went past the house and into the bush. This is supposed to be a common occurence and it really makes living at Mpala a priviledge.
There were all sizes, from tiny babies to grandmothers that blocked out the moon rising behind them. They had no fear and came almost onto the porch to reach the sweet grass growing under our downspout. The herd moved slowly, taking what they wanted as they went past the house and into the bush. This is supposed to be a common occurence and it really makes living at Mpala a priviledge.
Battle won, but not yet the war
Spiro flicked his mangy tail at me from a tree outside the open dining room window. I said; "bring it on babe" and banged on the window glass. He ran away. Tasha 1 - 1 Spiro.
Home is where the heart is
I was reminded that I had written about the house but it was lost, so most of you don't know the juicy details. It has two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen and a great room. All the rooms are large and airy with cement floors and wood ceilings. The furniture is sparse but adequate and mostly solidly made of pine.
One of the bathooms is just a loo and you have to put your foot against the door to keep it closed. The other is a full bath with a shower. The water is heated by solar power and as it has been unseasonably rainy we only have hot water at lunchtime before the thunderclouds roll in, and then only enough for one person. K and I have been trading off lunchtime showers on every other day.
The water is either from a borehole or is rainwater. The rainwater we boil before we drink and the borehole water is filtered as it has a high TDS (total dissolved solids.)
We do have a fridge with a tiny freezer but have to prepare food mostly from canned or fresh as the power to the house goes out from 10am til 6pm and then again from 10pm til 6:30am. The stove is gas and works really well. Everything bakes much faster that in ovens I have had previously so you have to watch carefully. Also the oven only has hot or not so hot as temperatures...
We have already claimed the house as our own, hanging the Velvet Elvii and spreading the mexican blanket over the couch.
The best feature of the house is the verandah. It is wide and the full length of the front of the house. There are two comfy chairs or a table to sit at. The view is outstanding, looking over hills green with acacias and then the foothills of Mount Kenya in the background. On clear days you can see the Mountain herself. You can often see Giraffe and Zebra in the distance. I am looking forward to putting some railings around the verandah so that I can hang out there without chasing Emma off the edge into the grass.
One of the bathooms is just a loo and you have to put your foot against the door to keep it closed. The other is a full bath with a shower. The water is heated by solar power and as it has been unseasonably rainy we only have hot water at lunchtime before the thunderclouds roll in, and then only enough for one person. K and I have been trading off lunchtime showers on every other day.
The water is either from a borehole or is rainwater. The rainwater we boil before we drink and the borehole water is filtered as it has a high TDS (total dissolved solids.)
We do have a fridge with a tiny freezer but have to prepare food mostly from canned or fresh as the power to the house goes out from 10am til 6pm and then again from 10pm til 6:30am. The stove is gas and works really well. Everything bakes much faster that in ovens I have had previously so you have to watch carefully. Also the oven only has hot or not so hot as temperatures...
We have already claimed the house as our own, hanging the Velvet Elvii and spreading the mexican blanket over the couch.
The best feature of the house is the verandah. It is wide and the full length of the front of the house. There are two comfy chairs or a table to sit at. The view is outstanding, looking over hills green with acacias and then the foothills of Mount Kenya in the background. On clear days you can see the Mountain herself. You can often see Giraffe and Zebra in the distance. I am looking forward to putting some railings around the verandah so that I can hang out there without chasing Emma off the edge into the grass.
Uhoh!
There was a vervet on our verandah! Quite a big boy. I promise he won't go up my trousers. Heck, he could WEAR my trousers! He did go into the bathroom while we had the window open and door closed, so we know he is going to be a problem. Grrrreat.
Priscilla
Priscilla is the domestic who comes each day to clean. When I first heard that we would have a maid, I poo-poo'd the idea. After all, what else am I going to do with my day right?
The first day she came, she cleaned the floors. Then she did it the next day too. Washing floors is my absolutely most dreaded chore and she does it every day! What Heaven! What Bliss! She also washes the dishes and our clothes. That is really all that she does but wow, it makes a difference. No housework hanging over my head! No worries about what Emma is going to pick up from the dirty floors. (including Ghecko, mouse and squirrel poop) What is amusing is how now everyone has to take their shoes off at the door. You can imagine that the average Kenyan man is not so keen on that. It makes Priscilla giggle when I ask them to.
On the other hand, she has some definite opinions on how Emma should be raised. She has four of her own and we met three of them the other day. Firstly, Emma does not wear enough clothing. She should have a balaclava, a jersey, and jacket, socks and shoes. It's really hard to explain to someone who doesn't speak English that Emma is used to much colder climates and that the weather here is just balmy to us. (jeans and t-shirt most days) I have broken down however and unearthed shoes because I will agree that the cement floors are chilly. When Priscilla leaves I usually take the extra jersey off though as Emma gets red in the face and grumpy.
Emma already adores Priscilla and gets excited when she hears her voice at the door. Crawls speedily over to see her and then won't come back to Momom. Just one more person who is more fun than me, it's something I am getting used to.
Priscilla is the source of the name for my arch-nemesis. She can't pronounce squirrel as she speaks mostly Turkana and Swahili. Squirrel comes out as "Spiro". Spiro was a character in the Gerald Durrell books I read avidly as a child, (and still give me great entertainment as an adult) so it seems appropriate to name him that. My second choice was Voldemort.
The first day she came, she cleaned the floors. Then she did it the next day too. Washing floors is my absolutely most dreaded chore and she does it every day! What Heaven! What Bliss! She also washes the dishes and our clothes. That is really all that she does but wow, it makes a difference. No housework hanging over my head! No worries about what Emma is going to pick up from the dirty floors. (including Ghecko, mouse and squirrel poop) What is amusing is how now everyone has to take their shoes off at the door. You can imagine that the average Kenyan man is not so keen on that. It makes Priscilla giggle when I ask them to.
On the other hand, she has some definite opinions on how Emma should be raised. She has four of her own and we met three of them the other day. Firstly, Emma does not wear enough clothing. She should have a balaclava, a jersey, and jacket, socks and shoes. It's really hard to explain to someone who doesn't speak English that Emma is used to much colder climates and that the weather here is just balmy to us. (jeans and t-shirt most days) I have broken down however and unearthed shoes because I will agree that the cement floors are chilly. When Priscilla leaves I usually take the extra jersey off though as Emma gets red in the face and grumpy.
Emma already adores Priscilla and gets excited when she hears her voice at the door. Crawls speedily over to see her and then won't come back to Momom. Just one more person who is more fun than me, it's something I am getting used to.
Priscilla is the source of the name for my arch-nemesis. She can't pronounce squirrel as she speaks mostly Turkana and Swahili. Squirrel comes out as "Spiro". Spiro was a character in the Gerald Durrell books I read avidly as a child, (and still give me great entertainment as an adult) so it seems appropriate to name him that. My second choice was Voldemort.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Emma update
Emma is enjoying the really large space we have and is fully making it hers. We have set up two shelves of a bookshelf that comtain her toys and books and she has the best time unpacking them each day, like each toy is a whole new discovery. She also makes up little games for herself. She puts a toy on the shelf, then moves to stand on the side of the bookshelf and reaches around grunting like it is really hard to get the toy, peeking now and then to see how close her questing hand is. In the afternoons she likes a snack, a piece of apple or some cheerios in a bowl. Those she turns into a game too, but mostly it's a Momom game; "look Momom, I dumped all my cheerios on the floor, now you have to pick them up so I can do it again."
She is really close to standing. Quite often she will be leaning against a chair or the bookshelf and will let go to transfer a toy from one hand to another without noticing she is balancing on her own. She has also tried to stand up in the middle of the floor from downward dog, but so far these just result in faceplants and crying. I am teaching her to high five and it sets us both giggling. Me cos she really doesn't get it yet and her because she likes the little slap against her palm and my giggles. Then there is the opposite side to her, the dark side. At nearly nine months she has assessed that when we are having dinner, this is the best time to stick her fingers in the plugs/outlets. She spies it from a distance, crawls as fast as she can over there and pulls herself up on the wall. Then she looks back at our disapproving faces with a wicked, wicked grin and touches the outlet. She knows "no" and has chosen to ignore it. A swift smack on the hand had zero effect (maybe she thought I was high fiving with vigour?) So we hold her hands down against her body to make her stop. Anyone who has seen us try and horseshoe her into a carseat or stroller knows that Emma does not like to be restrained. So for the most part this is working. At least until we are trying to eat again, and she feels neglected.
She is definitely enjoying having me around all the time and has become super clingy. Crying when I leave to pee in the morning, even though she has Dadad, who, let's face it, is way more fun that I am. She is completely uninterested in the Dik dik or the birds and I can't wait for a Leopard or Lion to meander through our yard and see if she says "Kitty Cat!" as she was trying to hard to do at Grandma and Grandpa's place before we left.
She is really close to standing. Quite often she will be leaning against a chair or the bookshelf and will let go to transfer a toy from one hand to another without noticing she is balancing on her own. She has also tried to stand up in the middle of the floor from downward dog, but so far these just result in faceplants and crying. I am teaching her to high five and it sets us both giggling. Me cos she really doesn't get it yet and her because she likes the little slap against her palm and my giggles. Then there is the opposite side to her, the dark side. At nearly nine months she has assessed that when we are having dinner, this is the best time to stick her fingers in the plugs/outlets. She spies it from a distance, crawls as fast as she can over there and pulls herself up on the wall. Then she looks back at our disapproving faces with a wicked, wicked grin and touches the outlet. She knows "no" and has chosen to ignore it. A swift smack on the hand had zero effect (maybe she thought I was high fiving with vigour?) So we hold her hands down against her body to make her stop. Anyone who has seen us try and horseshoe her into a carseat or stroller knows that Emma does not like to be restrained. So for the most part this is working. At least until we are trying to eat again, and she feels neglected.
She is definitely enjoying having me around all the time and has become super clingy. Crying when I leave to pee in the morning, even though she has Dadad, who, let's face it, is way more fun that I am. She is completely uninterested in the Dik dik or the birds and I can't wait for a Leopard or Lion to meander through our yard and see if she says "Kitty Cat!" as she was trying to hard to do at Grandma and Grandpa's place before we left.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Things that go bump in the night
Every night since our arrival we have heard the ominous and intimidating "whoop whoop" of the hyenas. Through the night you can track them as they move closer and then further away from the house. Mpala's director told us not to leave the house in the dark and wild zebras couldn't make me step off the porch when the hyenas start their evening's chorus. In fact, we lock the doors at sunset and don't open them again til sunrise. It feels silly to be paranoid but if my not so smart German shepherd figured out how to open unlocked doors, why not a hungry, (and in my demented mind; slavering) hyena?
Also, something is occupying the space between the roof and ceiling. I think actually a few somethings. There are squeaks that are likely bats, scritchings that could be birds and one really annoying, bouncy, thumpy thing which I think may be my arch nemesis.
Also we have a number of geckos occupying the spaces behind the curtains, pictures and dressers. They are at war. It is not a silent war. Who knew that they could even make noise? Let alone this much noise! Hissing, cackling, thuds and crashes abound each time Jason (the biggest, fattest one) faces off with one of the others. As far as I am concerned, there is no reason for his aggression, there are certainly more than enough bugs to go around!
Also, something is occupying the space between the roof and ceiling. I think actually a few somethings. There are squeaks that are likely bats, scritchings that could be birds and one really annoying, bouncy, thumpy thing which I think may be my arch nemesis.
Also we have a number of geckos occupying the spaces behind the curtains, pictures and dressers. They are at war. It is not a silent war. Who knew that they could even make noise? Let alone this much noise! Hissing, cackling, thuds and crashes abound each time Jason (the biggest, fattest one) faces off with one of the others. As far as I am concerned, there is no reason for his aggression, there are certainly more than enough bugs to go around!
sightings
A small bull Elly on the road in.
Impala also on the road in - appropriate
Dik dik, which they call Diki diki here. A couple of pairs live around our house and we see them all the time.
squirrels. grrr.
Zebra and giraffe who are slightly different from the one's we are used to.
Thompson's Gazelle, which are like sprinboks on steroids.
Goats and cows.
Many birds which will have to wait to be identified 'til we have a bird book.
Impala also on the road in - appropriate
Dik dik, which they call Diki diki here. A couple of pairs live around our house and we see them all the time.
squirrels. grrr.
Zebra and giraffe who are slightly different from the one's we are used to.
Thompson's Gazelle, which are like sprinboks on steroids.
Goats and cows.
Many birds which will have to wait to be identified 'til we have a bird book.
The case against tight jeans
Today I had a squirrel in my trousers.
The chap who had the house before us was one of those people who thinks it's cute to feed wild animals. This included vervet monkeys, hornbills and a tree squirrel. The latter let me know earlier in the week that he should be admitted through the kitchen windows into the kitchen by tapping on the windows. When I denied him his entry he took it upon himself and has been coming in through any open entrance to the house. I have been keeping everything closed up except for the room we are in but today the maid opened the windows in the kitchen and then proceeded with her work in the rest of the house.
So I walked in on the little rotter digging through the trashcan and instead of exiting through the windows he ran for the first dark place he saw; my pantleg. He went straight up my calf, around my knee, where he had some difficulty, then up the back of my thigh, over my butt, up my t-shirt and out my sleeve. Leaving a trail of scratches, but thankfully no bites. All the while I was screaming my head off and leaping around trying to get my button and zip undone.
Thank goodness I a) have lost a little weight due to the lack of ice-cream, pizza and Chinese food and b) have been wearing the same trousers for four days so the blighter could make it up, up and over to escape finally out the back door between K's startled feet. I can't imagine what would have happened if he had encountered elastic, or a belt at the waistline.
It has taken me all day to recover from the fright and I am glaring pointedly out the windows at any and all squirrels. But I think he probably received as big a shock as I did and will not be back for a while. When he does return however, we will be ready for him. With a live trap so we can take him far, far, far away.
I also live in fear of the return of the vervet monkeys. Imagine one of THOSE in your trousers!
The chap who had the house before us was one of those people who thinks it's cute to feed wild animals. This included vervet monkeys, hornbills and a tree squirrel. The latter let me know earlier in the week that he should be admitted through the kitchen windows into the kitchen by tapping on the windows. When I denied him his entry he took it upon himself and has been coming in through any open entrance to the house. I have been keeping everything closed up except for the room we are in but today the maid opened the windows in the kitchen and then proceeded with her work in the rest of the house.
So I walked in on the little rotter digging through the trashcan and instead of exiting through the windows he ran for the first dark place he saw; my pantleg. He went straight up my calf, around my knee, where he had some difficulty, then up the back of my thigh, over my butt, up my t-shirt and out my sleeve. Leaving a trail of scratches, but thankfully no bites. All the while I was screaming my head off and leaping around trying to get my button and zip undone.
Thank goodness I a) have lost a little weight due to the lack of ice-cream, pizza and Chinese food and b) have been wearing the same trousers for four days so the blighter could make it up, up and over to escape finally out the back door between K's startled feet. I can't imagine what would have happened if he had encountered elastic, or a belt at the waistline.
It has taken me all day to recover from the fright and I am glaring pointedly out the windows at any and all squirrels. But I think he probably received as big a shock as I did and will not be back for a while. When he does return however, we will be ready for him. With a live trap so we can take him far, far, far away.
I also live in fear of the return of the vervet monkeys. Imagine one of THOSE in your trousers!
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Arrived
We are here at Mpala and settling in. Of course there are bumps and bruises to deal with, very limited internet, and for four terrible days, no phone either. I have written a few posts offline but of course the computer ate the document somehow. So just keep checking back, when we get internet sorted I promise I will be a regular poster.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
airports, airplanes and country of my birth
There is something otherworldly about the small piece of Nairobi that I have seen. Perhaps it is that all the scenes are like from a movie, the tall olive-green trees in a haze of dust, the transition from dirt to paved to dirt road, and the ubiquitous basket seller on the side of the road.
D's apartment is high up, looking out over the tops of the trees and I can hear the cars going by and the people speaking in a foreign language below us. It is a place of calm to drink tea and recover from 24 hours of travel.
We got in last night, very late after stopping through Brussels and Bujumbura. Emma was an angel and slept through most of the first flight and part of the second. She was definitely overtouched and tired by the end - as were we. We seem to not be too tired today as we all woke up this morning fairly fresh and Emma at least has napped. Now we are planning how to get out to Mpala and I almost wish we were staying here to watch the boughs of the huge Eucalyptus lean back and forth against the kitchen window.
There is something incredibly familiar about the smell here. It's acrid in the back of your throat but sweet in the nose.
The air is chilly, and Emma is unused to wearing this much clothing, each time we do her diaper she rails against putting trousers on, but man is she adorable in her little sweater. My brain is a little foggy and I feel like I could write a hundred little things about being here so will stop writing now, except to say that I adore parquet flooring.
D's apartment is high up, looking out over the tops of the trees and I can hear the cars going by and the people speaking in a foreign language below us. It is a place of calm to drink tea and recover from 24 hours of travel.
We got in last night, very late after stopping through Brussels and Bujumbura. Emma was an angel and slept through most of the first flight and part of the second. She was definitely overtouched and tired by the end - as were we. We seem to not be too tired today as we all woke up this morning fairly fresh and Emma at least has napped. Now we are planning how to get out to Mpala and I almost wish we were staying here to watch the boughs of the huge Eucalyptus lean back and forth against the kitchen window.
There is something incredibly familiar about the smell here. It's acrid in the back of your throat but sweet in the nose.
The air is chilly, and Emma is unused to wearing this much clothing, each time we do her diaper she rails against putting trousers on, but man is she adorable in her little sweater. My brain is a little foggy and I feel like I could write a hundred little things about being here so will stop writing now, except to say that I adore parquet flooring.
Monday, August 09, 2010
You can Choose to be Embarrassed.
Emma, my mother in law and I went to the National Gallery the other day. Emma was awake for the whole trip through and was thoroughly enjoying the people watching in the French artists' exhibit halls.
When we got to the photographs of and by Allan Ginsberg, she decided that people watching was for the birds and it was time to be involved.
In public bathrooms that echo she has tested out her voice with a short, sharp and repeated "eh?" She loves to hear the sound it makes and listens to her question come back to her with pleasure. This is what she was doing in a large room in which people were taking themselves, the photos and the commentary written by Ginsberg very seriously. I found it highly amusing but didn't want to be the obnoxious parent who can't see that their child is annoying other people who want to be serious. To be honest, and maybe this is just my plebian self, but I agreed with her. The photos certainly warrented an "eh?" and the echoes were more fun too.
When we got to the photographs of and by Allan Ginsberg, she decided that people watching was for the birds and it was time to be involved.
In public bathrooms that echo she has tested out her voice with a short, sharp and repeated "eh?" She loves to hear the sound it makes and listens to her question come back to her with pleasure. This is what she was doing in a large room in which people were taking themselves, the photos and the commentary written by Ginsberg very seriously. I found it highly amusing but didn't want to be the obnoxious parent who can't see that their child is annoying other people who want to be serious. To be honest, and maybe this is just my plebian self, but I agreed with her. The photos certainly warrented an "eh?" and the echoes were more fun too.
Headspace
The first leg of our journey is begun. The house was packed up and cleaned and all our worldly possesions are in a 10x10 storage unit. Minus 6 suitcases worth. Of course, as we were trying to fit everything into the truck, we were feeling very much like it would have been better to give most of it away. I realised how little attached I am to most of the things I put in boxes.
You never do know when nostalgia is going to poke it's thorny little head into your plans though. After a conversation with my sister I now wish I had packed my one remaining porcelain doll into a suitcase instead of a box.
This week of limbo is giving me time to adjust to the idea of where we are going and what our daily lives will really be like. Will I be able to walk outside in the nighttime and watch a heavy rain coming down, or will I then be sharing a porch with whatever large and potentially predatory creature decided to use it for cover? Will I be able to write this blog during the day or will I have to wait 'til the electricity comes back on in the evening? The hardest part for my personality is letting these thoughts flow out of my body and out into the world unanswered. I am counting the sleeps to when we walk in the door and see how we will live for the next year.
You never do know when nostalgia is going to poke it's thorny little head into your plans though. After a conversation with my sister I now wish I had packed my one remaining porcelain doll into a suitcase instead of a box.
This week of limbo is giving me time to adjust to the idea of where we are going and what our daily lives will really be like. Will I be able to walk outside in the nighttime and watch a heavy rain coming down, or will I then be sharing a porch with whatever large and potentially predatory creature decided to use it for cover? Will I be able to write this blog during the day or will I have to wait 'til the electricity comes back on in the evening? The hardest part for my personality is letting these thoughts flow out of my body and out into the world unanswered. I am counting the sleeps to when we walk in the door and see how we will live for the next year.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Beach Ho!
Today we are leaving for the beach.
The house remains in a state of disaster with piles of sorting, empty, half full and even some full boxes and doors shut against the cats. Today the goal is simple - clean and pack for the beach. This should be attainable, but we'll see if the ETD of 2pm becomes a reality. We seem to be running about 45 mins late for everything these days.
Emma slept with us from about 1 til about 4 so I am tiiiired. I have to work out a way to not fall asleep while she nurses in the middle of the night. She is in such a happy mood this morning I can't resist watching her work out what is the most dangerous thing in the house and how can she get to it to chew on.
The house remains in a state of disaster with piles of sorting, empty, half full and even some full boxes and doors shut against the cats. Today the goal is simple - clean and pack for the beach. This should be attainable, but we'll see if the ETD of 2pm becomes a reality. We seem to be running about 45 mins late for everything these days.
Emma slept with us from about 1 til about 4 so I am tiiiired. I have to work out a way to not fall asleep while she nurses in the middle of the night. She is in such a happy mood this morning I can't resist watching her work out what is the most dangerous thing in the house and how can she get to it to chew on.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
darn tootin'
We've got tickets!
After these very short flights to Wisconsin we decided we needed to buy Emma her own ticket. That way we can have not only a teensy more room, but somewhere to put the carseat so that we can lay her down and also a full luggage allowance for her. Which while attempting to avoid the boxes today I did a small assessment of the sheer tonnage of toys, books, clothes and other acoutrements this little girl has. I don't think K and I will get to use her luggage allowance for any of our stuff.
After these very short flights to Wisconsin we decided we needed to buy Emma her own ticket. That way we can have not only a teensy more room, but somewhere to put the carseat so that we can lay her down and also a full luggage allowance for her. Which while attempting to avoid the boxes today I did a small assessment of the sheer tonnage of toys, books, clothes and other acoutrements this little girl has. I don't think K and I will get to use her luggage allowance for any of our stuff.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
procrastination
I am so unwilling to face the boxes that I cleaned the kitchen and am now contemplating doing the bathroom. I wish it would sink in that we have just under a month before we arrive in Nairobi airport but I can't seem to make the whole trip real.
Friday, July 02, 2010
amputee
You'll be happy to know that the toe will not have to be removed. In fact the toenail was taken off in a very disappointingly undramatic visit to the podiatrist. But My wonderful husband took me for a smoothie afterwards cos I was so brave.
Due to the move I am beginning to have that amputee feeling, like I am slowly being cut off from my life here, and in particular from my friends. I have said goodbye enough times in the past that I know it is never really goodbye in our digital age. That doesn't save me from this strange feeling of being slowly distanced from the people here. Each experience is filled with the "for the last time" emotions. This is the last time I will sit in the garden with J. This is the last time I will go to the movies with these girls, this is the last time I will sit on this porch and drink this perfect cup of tea. I must not allow these to be sad moments though but rather, and in a very cheesy way, happy moments to hold close.
Due to the move I am beginning to have that amputee feeling, like I am slowly being cut off from my life here, and in particular from my friends. I have said goodbye enough times in the past that I know it is never really goodbye in our digital age. That doesn't save me from this strange feeling of being slowly distanced from the people here. Each experience is filled with the "for the last time" emotions. This is the last time I will sit in the garden with J. This is the last time I will go to the movies with these girls, this is the last time I will sit on this porch and drink this perfect cup of tea. I must not allow these to be sad moments though but rather, and in a very cheesy way, happy moments to hold close.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
moving forward
So we had movement today. No letter but at least info from the person who ultimately signs the letter. This means we are for sure going to Kenya. In a fit of excitement I filled the dining room table with things to pack and then instantly lost the desire to pack them. This means that there are many more places for Henry to perch, sleep on and climb into. Tomorrow I hope that motivation will return.
Incidentally, I must be addicted to sugar. All I have been able to think about all day is ice-cream.
Tonight Emma had a long evening nap and was ready for bed at 8:20 but just couldn't focus on nursing. I decided it was perfect timing for the sleep training and put her in her crib and then stood with her and shushed til she fell asleep, my hand on her belly. The beginning of this was a little rough as Oleo was determined to get in on the action and wailed and cried outside the door but once K had dispatched her with some kibble Emma fell sound asleep. I am very curious to see if she wakes in an hour and a half as she has been doing.
In other news, my toe which I dropped the cat flap on may be gangrenous.
Incidentally, I must be addicted to sugar. All I have been able to think about all day is ice-cream.
Tonight Emma had a long evening nap and was ready for bed at 8:20 but just couldn't focus on nursing. I decided it was perfect timing for the sleep training and put her in her crib and then stood with her and shushed til she fell asleep, my hand on her belly. The beginning of this was a little rough as Oleo was determined to get in on the action and wailed and cried outside the door but once K had dispatched her with some kibble Emma fell sound asleep. I am very curious to see if she wakes in an hour and a half as she has been doing.
In other news, my toe which I dropped the cat flap on may be gangrenous.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
legs akimbo
Well so much for my last idea of blogging about Emma. The whole deal with Emma is that I either have no time for blogging or am too tired to blog. Blerg!
At any rate - we are moving to Kenya. Or so it seems. The official letter still hasn't arrived but we have been proceeding as if it has. Until last week, we got to the point where we have done all that we can do to be ready. Boxes have started piling in the lounge, creating a throne from which Henry can observe us superciliously. Passports have been checked, and in the case of Emma, requested at the PO.
Just an aside here... how fabulous is this country that you can get your passport at the POST OFFICE! "Yes Ma'am, here is your document that opens up the whole wide world for you, will you be needing some stamps today?". No Home Affairs, and best of all, no surly, disgruntled Home Affairs employees. Postal workers are not famed for their cheerful dispositions but they make Eyore look more like Tigger when stood next to Home Affairs personnel.
Enough digression. We are stymied, stopped and halted and so many more words that I am not going to bother to type. Until that letter comes in the mail we cannot finish packing, book flights, find a house, or decide what is happening with the cats. I have been having nightmares about being in a car driven by someone else, about to crash while a tsunami slowly unfolds on the horizon.
Shoo. Just typing this is making me stressed. Good night
At any rate - we are moving to Kenya. Or so it seems. The official letter still hasn't arrived but we have been proceeding as if it has. Until last week, we got to the point where we have done all that we can do to be ready. Boxes have started piling in the lounge, creating a throne from which Henry can observe us superciliously. Passports have been checked, and in the case of Emma, requested at the PO.
Just an aside here... how fabulous is this country that you can get your passport at the POST OFFICE! "Yes Ma'am, here is your document that opens up the whole wide world for you, will you be needing some stamps today?". No Home Affairs, and best of all, no surly, disgruntled Home Affairs employees. Postal workers are not famed for their cheerful dispositions but they make Eyore look more like Tigger when stood next to Home Affairs personnel.
Enough digression. We are stymied, stopped and halted and so many more words that I am not going to bother to type. Until that letter comes in the mail we cannot finish packing, book flights, find a house, or decide what is happening with the cats. I have been having nightmares about being in a car driven by someone else, about to crash while a tsunami slowly unfolds on the horizon.
Shoo. Just typing this is making me stressed. Good night
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Baby stuff
So there have been requests to start blogging again. On thinking about it, this seems like the perfect venue to be all baby all the time. I do try not to be so the rest of the time in order to preserve some part of my brain not related to being a mother. Also this way people can choose to hear all about Emma, and also watch me slowly lose complete control of my life and mind. They can also choose not to. It'll be like Bridget Jones' diary but hopefully less pathetic. Ooh but maybe with a little Colin Firth.
K just remarked how we get to choose to do one fun thing each day. Today he took the cats to the vet and I had a couple of gf's over for afternoon chat and snack. OK - so his thing was less fun than mine but on Monday he gets to play basketball and I get to have a driving lesson, so fair's fair.
Emma snacked all day, so I guess this could be one of those growth spurts where she is hungry all day. She seems to have this weekly. Looking forward to the Pediatrician on Tues so she can tell us if it really is a growth spurt or just a day where she feels like a little of this and a little of that.
She does this thing that I love where when she has had enough of a breast she throws her head back, releasing the nipple and making a lip smacking noise. Then she stretches her arms far above her head like she scored a goal. What is it they say? Laduuuuma! Maybe K will get a soccer player after all.
Day two of waking up planning to wax my legs.
K just remarked how we get to choose to do one fun thing each day. Today he took the cats to the vet and I had a couple of gf's over for afternoon chat and snack. OK - so his thing was less fun than mine but on Monday he gets to play basketball and I get to have a driving lesson, so fair's fair.
Emma snacked all day, so I guess this could be one of those growth spurts where she is hungry all day. She seems to have this weekly. Looking forward to the Pediatrician on Tues so she can tell us if it really is a growth spurt or just a day where she feels like a little of this and a little of that.
She does this thing that I love where when she has had enough of a breast she throws her head back, releasing the nipple and making a lip smacking noise. Then she stretches her arms far above her head like she scored a goal. What is it they say? Laduuuuma! Maybe K will get a soccer player after all.
Day two of waking up planning to wax my legs.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Saturday, April 11, 2009
BFF
If it weren't for the fact that I am still finding bits of cat hair in orange and black attached to bits of cat skin around the house when we have been out, I would think these two were thawing towards each other.
Scones for breakfast!
My friend J gave all the crafternooners this recipe. It takes a total of half an hour to make and the scones are delicious! I used self raising flour instead of regular and was rewarded by fluffy scones. I also used half a teaspoon of cinnamon and craisins instead of currants. J is right that this is a dangerous recipe, far too easy to make, far too easy to enjoy. They apparently freeze well but I would have to make a double batch as this batch didn't last past breakfast.
The recipe: http://inediblog.blogspot.com/2009/03/dangerously-easy-scones.html
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Daisy
My latest office mate. She came in touch-sensitive so that she would nip everyone who tried to touch her, but after hanging out in my office for a week she has become a little snuggle bear. She is a pit bull mixed with some boston terrier, and with that mix it's no guess why she likes to climb up on my lap and look adoringly up at me while I work. Too sweet.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
can't believe our eyes!
Well Oleo wouldn't even sit on someone's lap for the longest time. She also detests Henry. Tonight Henry was having a nap on K's lap, as is one of his most favourite things, when Oleo climbed up, mushed K's belly till it was satisfactorily soft, and laid down right next to her orange arch nemesis. We were dumbfounded and I had to share. I know our Irving Str. roomies will be dumbfounded too.
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
Ice storm
I have always thought that a fresh snow was incredibly beautiful but had never taken the time to think about how ice could be the same way. After an overnight ice-storm the other night it took us twice the amount of time to walk to the bus stop because I had to keep stopping to admire. I also took some pics, but again, on my cell so just not great photos - they don't do the ice justice at all.
scaredy cat
This evening Henry had me in stitches. He is apparently deathly terrified of stink bugs. There was one crawling around on his cat condo and he just kept backing up and around as the stink bug got closer and closer. His little fluffy face was so funny as this teeny wee thing invaded his space. By the time I got around to taking the photo the bug had made it all the way around and Henry was studiously ignoring it.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
another puzzle
There are so many, I have a new vanity plate almost daily to ponder.
YTRYSI
Is it a name? Girlfriend of the Russian mob in C'ville? Or is it something about Why try? Why Try says I?
YTRYSI
Is it a name? Girlfriend of the Russian mob in C'ville? Or is it something about Why try? Why Try says I?
Thursday, December 11, 2008
more vanity plates
I saw these in the same Panera Parking lot:
OHBLADI
OHBLADA
They weren't next to each other, but it can't be coincidence.
OHBLADI
OHBLADA
They weren't next to each other, but it can't be coincidence.
Tuesday, December 09, 2008
Monday, December 08, 2008
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