One more step....

I little thought when I chose the song 'One more step along the world I go' at my retiring service from All Saints, that two and a half years later I would be taking yet more steps.  This week I opened a bank account in Kigali!  It's a very modern branch and you do everything via ipads as you go in.  Such fun!

Had a great day yesterday; Marilyn came down from Busasamana on Wednesday  so I was able to pick her up and drive into town.  I parked at the top of City Tower, in daylight, so good, and a guard directed me to reverse park!  Had to leave the windows open but that was ok.  Then to Kigali Heights to get our Ugandan shillings, light lunch at Java House followed by icecream from the Italian shop....yum!  Then to Masaka for the afternoon class, the sisters were delighted to see Marilyn again.   Then in the evening to our local Japanese restaurant and an excellent dinner.

I'm not teaching today so a nice relaxed day at home getting ready for the weekend away, also tarting up for the reception with the British High Commissioner this evening for Her Majesty's birthday......looking forward to a g and t or maybe a Pimms!

In the garden at the Residence

The Pimms, followed by  Hampshire sparkling white wine most enjoyable.  Nice eats also, fish and chips, scones and sticky toffee pudding to mention a few items.

23rd.June.
Another week flown by!
Last Saturday I collected Marilyn who had spent a few days in Kigali,  and took the road to get out of Kigali and head north, except it didn't and I ended up at the American Embassy!  So had to retrace steps and take another route....the main road is closed at present. Poor Marilyn had to read the map...I was dreading getting through the district I call 'little Bagdad'  but we actually managed to find our way....only took 1 hour!
So drove to Musanze in Northern Province making good time, and enjoyed a relaxing afternoon.   We asked for a cold beer and they took ages bringing it, but it was very good when it came.  After dinner, which was in a 'dry' establishment, we asked for an alcoholic beverage to be told they didn't sell it as it was a church owned hotel.  We realized then that the staff had gone out and bought bottles in the afterenoon and as we wanted cold had put them in the freezer.   Good service!
I had tried to open the bonnet of my car unsuccessfully to check the water etc and when pushing it shut the grill in front of the engine fell out!  Fortunately, as I drove it rested happily on the cowcatcher in front of Little Sprout. And our friend's mechanic fixed it for me.

Sunday morning up early and went to English service at the cathedral while Marilyn went to the RC cathedral, but we'd both been given the incorrect start times and had to leave halfway through as due to leave for Uganda at 8.30....only to learn Eric the driver going to be half hour late...we were not best pleased!

But it was a nice day and we enjoyed the drive to Lake Bunyonyi in Uganda, getting through immigration very quickly.  

First sight of Lake Bunyonyi

I always say when we cross from Portugal into Spain that everything appears different immediately and it's the same here as you leave Rwanda, houses, animals...lots more cattle in Uganda, and litter.....Rwanda is very very clean, the road from the border was excellent though, so a tick for Uganda there.  It took about 2 hours to get to the car park on the Lake, the last half hour on dirt road.

We parked and caught the motorised canoe to our resort, we had planned to paddle a canoe but that would takeat least 50 minutes and we were hungry and thirsty.  So enjoyed the boatride to Boonyi Amagara eco resort.  It was splendid; Marilyn and I shared a deluxe 'geodome' open on one side, we could lie in bed looking at the lake...it was great.   Eric our driver wasn't relaxed about it he was nervous of animals in the night!  
There were loads of birds around, wish I'd had binos, including several different humming birds.

More crested cranes foraging for grubs

Very thankful we decided not to paddle our own canoe!

One of the geodomes seen from the lake.

The eco shower and loo

The interior of our geodome

View from bed

The food was very good, staff excellent.  Someone in the resort had a very English sense of humour displayed in notices and on the menu.  For example one item was an 'i crepe', the latest offering from  'Apple' .......(apple and cinnamon crepe!)

Sadly we could only manage one night there and returned to Musanze Monday afternoon, then took Marilyn back to Busasamana....the community members gave me a resounding welcome back!  Great to see them again.   Received an email from Marcie who went to Canada last Saturday for a conference , saying our gate guard had been arrested for stealing!!!  So, after driving back from Musanze on Tuesday morning I had to go to the police station to identify our property.  The police asked if I'd like to see him, I said would they arrest me if I hit him....they laughed.  Anyway I left him in custody to reflect on his behaviour, unfortunately he didn't reflect very well as he's saying that the police are lying!!  They released him yesterday and he arrived at our house this morning showing no contrition, so i took him and his  belongings to his mother.  I have to discuss the matter with Marcie as soon as she returns after the weekend.

Today is umuganda so I stayed in the house doing domestic things, am going to try roasting in the new cooker this evening....if it is not a success I shall potter to the Japanese.

Trying to catch up!

Another service which ran 20 minutes over time.  Why don't the frocks up front keep an eye on things and omit things if necessary.

Anyway, have had a good week, no teaching i the morning, and finished Paddington, and the Sound of Music with the sisters in the afternoons.  I took Friday off as the traffic is so bad that day .  However I did work hard each morning on lesson plans for the next few weeks.

The house is coming along, still no hot water but the sun is warming the water in the the tank which is on top of the latest project of the owner, so morning showers are not too bad.

The ceiling light in my bedroom

Putting the water tank up

This week I've been driving Sprout everyday and managed to locate the lights and drive back from KH  (what we residents call the new Kigali Heights, probably because there is a large KH on the building)  We had dinner there one evening which was very good at the Java House once more.

I took myself to City Tower quite early Friday morning hoping I could park without a hassle, the guards kept trying to make me reverse into tight spots, 'no, no, I'm going up?  I cried.  Eventually found an easy spot.....guard running alongside me!  Went in a little crooked but guard said ok.  He pointed out open windows....they won't shut always....so I shrugged and he looked after Sprout  till I returned.  

Those of you on FB will have seen that I spent yesterday by the pool at the Gorilla Golf hotel, had the place to myself which was great and enjoyed swimming for the first time this year.  An ice cold Primus, avocado salad and chips, very good....and I watched Saturday Kitchen!
If you imagine coming back from the pool, turn to face away from pool, there is a garden below then the boundary, a road ....and our house the other side of the road.


There is a huge project at the cathedral, pic below.  The old meeting room has been demolished and a multi use building will be started soon.

Marilyn is coming to Kigali on Wednesday for a little R and R, then Saturday I'm driving us to Musanze where we I shall bless the land and the build of his new home for Eric, our friendly tour operator, then to 5 Volcanoes for dinner all being well.  The next day we're going to Uganda, at least Marilyn is as she has an East African visa.  I've been told I'm ok as I have a Rwanda ID card....I hope this is so.

All for now....back after our adventure into foreign parts.

A few challenges along the way

Well, what's life without a few challenges!  Although these were not unpleasant and involved attempting to furnish the house.  

So, used to driving Sprout into the city now, not as scary when I'm more in control as much as possible...but....Marcie and I went to City Tower first, which involved parking in the multi storey car park, first though security....open bonnet...?how!  Anyway got through that.   And managed to park.  We didn't see anything we liked so walked around the block to have a look in 2000 Chinese shop.....just to have a look.  But bought loads of stuff all too heavy to carry back to City Tower, so I had to walk back to City Tower, try to find the car and then drive to 2000 in Friday Rush hour traffic.  

Saturday was umuganda so a morning in, then we got a taxi to take us to a lovely furniture shop, gorgeous stuff make by local artisans, so we ordered what we needed and more.  Unfortunately will take a month, so I'll be sleeping on the floor.  Then to the Union Trade Centre for fridge freezer and mattresses and Marcie's bed, so she'll be ok.

Then to Kigali heights for Marcie's bank, I had a delicious chocolate ice cream from the Italian ice cream shop which is growing in popularity daily. 

Sunday After church we drove to the house to measure up for curtains etc. the electricity was on so we had a look at all the lights which the owner has put in, my bedroom light is rather astonishing full of bluish LEDs, I'll try to take a pic.
We went to the Gorilla Golf Hotel for lunch by the pool, I'm going to see the manager to negotiate a special rate for daily early morning swim when I come back.

Now nearly at the end of another week, June first today and we should have had the key....the house is not in too bad a state but the cooker isn't installed yet, and the garden area is now a bomb site as JB the owner decided to make some alterations!

We are moving in tomorrow, I'm desperate for hot shower and hairwash! I'll spend the weekend there, but whilst teaching will probably stay in the community during the week.

I've been driving frequently to my local printer in Masaka, I like to give handouts to the students, now whenever I drive past the lads all pile out and wave.  and some of the locals indicate they'd appreciate a lift so I invariably have a passenger as far as Masaka.
The children run out and wave and those at school call 'Good morning'