Christmas in England

Hey! We are coming home for Christmas! Last minute change of plan. Got our tickets and will be back by the 16th December. Hope to see as many of you as possible. Love Cheryl & Chris

The week I almost died - twice

If I started the week with 9 lives I am down to 7! I was just sat the other night checking my emails when there was an almighty crash. I immediately fled with various scenarios playing in my head....had my computer screen exploded, did a gas lamp blow up or maybe we were being hailed with stones. When I peered cautiously back into the room it was covered in glass and where the skylight used to be there was a big hole. Carefully swept up but couldn't find any incoming missiles.

What made me think we were under attack?
Well, earlier in the week I had attended a local village court. A disgruntled member of the public had been threatening staff and even thrown stones. He didn't understand why he was not offered the guard job and violence seemed a reasonable retaliation. The village leader called the meeting and he made a public apology to our staff with a promise not to do it again. Everyone was still a bit jumpy and my immediate thought was - the stone thrower is back.

I had a good look round the building and couldn't see any evidence of anything being thrown. The more likely explanation was the builders who had been working up on the roof. I think they dropped something and it dislodged the glass which gradually worked loose then fell.... Just inches from where I was sat, shards of glass had wedged themselves deeply into the table and my computer screen took a nasty slash. I had been really lucky to escape without a scratch.

To add to the adventure we went away at the weekend to a place where you can snorkel. Its also famous for its great surf and big waves. Since the earthquake the coast line has changed and the whole island lifted a couple of metres. The coral is now lifted out of the water and means tip toeing painfully over the razor sharp coral.

Found a small inlet where it looked ok to get into the sea, away from the big surf. Once we were in we realised that the current was being funnelled into the narrow channel and there was no way to stop ourselves being mercilessly thrown backwards and forwards with each wave. I clung on to the rock as each wave hit, trying to keep my head above water. Me hands were being torn by the coral and I couldn’t hold on I smashed into Chris, holding on behind me.

Chris managed to swim out of the channel but the waves which looked small before we entered were towering above him. At this point I had been thrown onto an outcrop of coral and manage to catch my breath. The waves continued to pound the rocks making it impossible to stand up. With each wave the coral ripped into my legs and like skidding over razors. I screamed at Chris to come back in. Finally we hauled ourselves out streaming with blood from our scrapes.

Celebrating survival

Water and tigers

Having a great time in Nairobi. The place we are staying has great food, small pool and large garden...Got chance to go to Lake Nakuru game park. Bit like the one in Constant Gardener with all the pink flamingo's.

Its been good to meet other Medair staff from around the world. Heres a picture of the group.

We are a mix of backgrounds, nationalities and ideas - which makes for some good discussions & some misunderstandings. Had a day messing about in mud and water, putting together an emergency water treatment system.

Priming the pump, dosing the water and admiring our results!

In Kenya

So we weren’t chucked out of our house. Think we are safe for the time being. We are writing a new contract to make doubly sure though!
I am in Kenya for a week on a watsan conference. My team weren’t happy to have me away for a week but I left them in the safe hands of Chris so they couldn’t complain.

Its funny being back in Kenya after 3 years away. It was where we were evacuated to during my crazy Congo days. It’s also where me and Chris had our first weekend away together from the programme. Lots of memories…..

Just when you thought.......

.......it couldnt get any worse
It was the day of bad news and tough negotiation. Chris was welcomed at 9.0 with a visit from our landlady. She showed up on our doorstep with a policeman, a lawyer and the contractor who built the house. She was on the war path and was threatening eviction. She wanted money and we were the ones who were going to pay it! After two hours of tough negotiation, threats, emotion and finally compromise she left. We got a reprieve...shes not going to throw us out just yet. We are going to try and get a lawyer though.

Eviction??

At same time Jose, our logistician, was in discussion with our car hire guy. The drivers are fed up of staying in the hills of Lolomatua at the weekend and one of them mutinied. He got on a motorbike and drove 150km home. That left us without a standby driver in case of emergency; where we are without hospitals, doctors or emergency services.

Our local clinic

Meanwhile a local NGO came to meet Cheryl. They were one of 10 companies that had submitted an application to build one of our health centres. Before the second round of short listing, they received an ominous call. They were told not to bother turning up at the next round, as the contract would be awarded to a local contractor. When Cheryl called round a few more contractors she heard a similar story. People had been told it wasn’t worth continuing with their application….here jobs are awarded on what your family name is, how much power do you have. Its nothing to do with skills or ability to do the job.

Days like this you wonder is it all worth it? We are fighting the way things are done in this culture, belieiving that people are motivated by goodwill and that you can trust what people say.

We are OK!

At 5.10 this evening we felt an earth tremour which lasted a while but was not very strong. It was the effects of a large earthquake measuring 7.9 in South Sumatra. The map shows that it was over 600km from where we are in Nias. There are rumours of a tsunami but nothing is confirmed.

2 weddings and a feastival

Just back from a wonderful three weeks in England. Forgotten how good cheese tastes and how many lovely friends we have. It was a whirlwind of activity starting off with a classy wedding on the banks of the Thames and ending with a countryside ceremony in the hills of Lancashire.

Got chance to let my hair down with my friends from Burundi at the Greenbelt feastival (http://www.greenbelt.org.uk/) There was a even a group from Congo called Kanda Bongo Man to remind me of those butt shaking tunes.

It was three days of camping, portaloos and cold showers. I just didnt want too much luxury after my basic Indo living!

The wedding in Lancashire was lovely. We ate pies and mushy peas, crumbly Lancashire cheese and the bride put on wellies half way though for a trot round the Pendle hills.

We had such a lovely time back home just a shame it was over so quickly and we didnt have more time to spend with you.