So alot has happened since i last wrote....
Tina and Joe: Horrible home invasion involving being drugged and tided up but thank God that was it. Most things were stolen.... including my new GHD but the important thing is that no one was seriously hurt and that everything that was stolen is replaceable. They were both in hospital but were released and thankfully only felt tired. Although Tina doesn’t want to go back to her house... i don’t blame her, being woken in the middle of the night by strange men with pangas is pretty horrible and traumatising.
Christmas: Kenyan Christmases are very different to those in Australia... I’m glad i have experienced going out Christmas Eve with everyone from kisumu (ksm) and dancing till 5am then beginning to celebrate in line for a cab... well the Kenyan equivalent anyway. No presents are exchanged... except from me of course! But everyone is happy to spend time together and it was definitely fun! For most Kenyans the day revolves around food... dining times are referred to as ‘the main thing’, and people roam around looking for food. It was seriously like a pilgrimage from one house to another (it was all organised so we were expected) chasing food... not just a little food but a banquet, chicken, turkey, beef, goat, you name it, it was there. And it is considered rude to enter a house and not take anything to eat. So for the people who know me the best would know that I am very picky with my food, so this didn’t suit me at all, so I spent most of the day dodging plates of food and palming off ‘gifts’. The people here are the most generous people I have ever met. Even though most don’t have very much to give, they give without hesitation. It really is beautiful.
It was Ronnie’s birthday on the 25th also, which involved the traditional Kenyan custom of washing... pouring water (or beer because we were in a club) over him until he was saturated... very entertaining to watch but dangerous to be around when everyone gets involved! Luckily I was far enough away from him to avoid the mess. Tina’s friend from Nairobi was also with us on Christmas Eve and it was her birthday too but instead of washing her she got a cake... which fell to the floor and exploded when she was trying to cut it. Luckily (or unluckily) someone scraped it back together and amazingly it was all eaten! Even though I'm sure it had bits of glass and dirt in it! Horrible stuff!
Boxing day was a bit of a blur... there was food. There is always food. We travelled to Tina's rural home, out towards Maseno. The house is on an amazing piece of land, on the side of a hill looking over the valley. There was more food and alcohol. I spent the better part of the day chasing Sophie (Tina’s niece, aged 5) around the place and playing games with the kids. I was in my element. The difference in temperature is incredible. During the day in Ksm I seriously feel like I am melting, its disgusting, I sweat in the shower even if its a cold one, actually its worse if the water is cold because I feel hot when I'm out of it!, I sweat in bed, in the rain, all day and all night, everywhere I go I sweat! But during the night in the country it is freezing. I literally was wrapped in a woollen blanket and was still cold! But it is such a beautiful place!
The 27th was pretty much a blur as well, the group attended a graduation party for Doreen, now a fully qualified lawyer. We travelled in a convoy from town out to her rural home where I met the whole community basically and a professional goat man slaughtered a goat for us. I nearly vomited and everyone thought it was a hilarious game trying to get me to look at the body roasting over a fire not even 100m away from me. Doreen’s daughter is beautiful , she is 7 and agreed to come back to Australia with me, much to Doreen’s dismay! We returned to town and headed to Tamiez, the local club... less western than the others around which is precisely why I love it! It turned into an early morning trip home to sleep for a few hours before heading out again.
The next 4 days were even more blurred, there were 3 trips to the swimming pool, a number of lunches in town and down by the lake- the local fish is the best I have ever eaten and although it generally comes with a head there is more often than not someone around to help me dispose of it! Ambrose had the best pick of dining venues during the festive season, a little shanty by the lake, it looked pretty horrible but it had the best fish and atmosphere of anywhere I have been this trip.
New Years eve was pretty awesome, we spent the morning in town planning the day then disregarded most of the plans and headed for Hippo Point with some Kibao (think of the cheapest, nastiest vodka available in Australia then halve the quality and double the quantity and you have Kenyas really cheap vodka), snacks and a soccer ball and spent the evening with good friends, good music and the company of a family of hippos! I broke my thongs playing with the ball, which sucked but luckily I had my heels with me and I was getting changed to go out anyway so it was ok! We saw in the new year in Tamiez which was definitely an experience then headed to Mon Ami which made for an eventful night! Overall it was enjoyed by most and I didn’t have that bad a hangover the next morning!
I have been on a bit of an emotional rollercoaster lately. Probably a combination of nervousness because of what happened to Tina and Joe and because I have been missing home during Christmas. Regardless I must say I have been a mess, crying for no reason at all even when I am laughing it has often turned to tears... but luckily that has passed!
I spoke to my sister who sang to me to stop me crying. It made me cry more and for some strange reason it wasn’t because she can’t sing. Sorry sis I love u but neither of us were vocally blessed.... unless you count shouting!! I miss you and I miss the girls so much!
Every time i spoke to my mum i have cried.... even when i think of her saying “you’ve still got 2 legs and 2 arms so what are you crying about?” I miss you mum. I read some horrible jokes recently (my mum is the queen of finding the most terribly lame jokes on the planet and producing them at the perfect time so that they are kinda funny, a skill which I have not inherited!) These ones are for you mum!
Q: What did Adam say to his wife the day before Christmas?
A: Its Christmas, Eve.
And another care of my retarded brother-in-law
Q: What was the last thing that went through the grasshoppers mind before he hit the windscreen?
A: His bum.
I hope you enjoy them mum! I miss you and am looking forward to the stories about your cat in your letters! I love you!
I miss Jeff. It’s been so strange not seeing Jeff every day. He is my best friend so having to schedule phone calls doesn’t really make talking easy. But i miss him and I’m proud of him for coping without me.... almost. But i do miss him. Apparently he has been waterskiing lately, a sight which I cannot wait to see! And maybe even try... even though I struggle enough with walking! I love u hunny!
I miss Little Man. He has gotten so big since I left and I am really worried that he isn’t going to remember me. I have been playing with Tina’s little dog Jojo, kind of cute but mostly ugly and very hairy! But everyday he reminds me of Little!
I miss Cassie. That’s all I can say. I love you bitch.
And now I have finally unpacked my bags in the White house, mutumbu. Its been so long since I could just unpack and relax knowing that I am going to be here for a while. So I'm happy and relieved to be here finally!
Blink blink blink. I love u.
Love love love. I also love u
And i miss everyone else. xoxoxox
