memorablemeanders.blogspot.com

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Update on the English patient

and other happenings this week.

Earlier this week, I posted about Grant having malaria and an emergency trip to the clinic. The medication worked within 48 hours and he's fit and well again. By his own admission, he also had excellent private nursing care! He also thanks everyone of my blogger friends who sent get-well wishes.

Our house seen from the bottom of the garden
The bottom of our garden. I love this spot

On Wednesday morning, after checking that Grant was comfortable (the first tablet had already started working and he was less feverish than the night before) I went shopping in Eldoret. The company driver, Zephania and Johan collected me shortly after 7 and we began the strenuous journey up the [almost] perpindicular mountain along a tortuous, rutted gravel road with two dozen hairpin bends and hundreds of corners.
Once again we saw Colobus monkeys although when I was close enough to this one to photograph it, the bright morning sunlight behind the animal didn't make for a clear photo

Once we hit the tar road, we met other traffic. And as always in Africa, when you have a vehicle you use every inch of space. This Toyota Landcruiser was so overloaded that one tyre was almost flat (see rear right wheel). As for safety, what safety?


It always fascinates me how everyone in Africa makes use of the humble shopping bag. The men above are off to work and carrying their lunch and personal belongings in the green plastic bags. In South Africa these shopping bags are called "Checkers". A large supermarket chainstore called Checkers, which opened in the mid-60s, was one of the first retail business to use these shopping bags. In a short while, South Africans were referring to these bags as Checkers bags. In colloquil South African they're known as Ama-shekkus. Unfortunately, now forty years later,  these bags are also known  Africa's national flower as the continent is littered with them!

When we arrived at the supermarket, a vehicle pulled into the parking bay next to ours. It was Borrie and his wife, had also came to shop for their monthly supplies. When you're in the city, it's very exciting, to meet up with people from the valley even though you'd all seen each other in the lane earlier that morning! Bunch of strange people, expats. LOL!

After we'd all finished shopping, we had lunch at an Indian restaurant in downtown Eldoret. I love Indian cuisine and this particular eatery has about four pages of vegetarian options in their extensive menu!

Borrie, our neighbour and his wife, Theresa who returns to South Africa tomorrow. I was just getting used to having another woman on camp! Borrie is a keen birder and last night the four often stood in the lane and dicussing what birds we're hearing and seeing. As I said, crazy bunch, the lot of us!

We had a lovely lunch, and then it was the long journey back down the mountain to the valley below. 

Grant had improved markedly when I got home, especially when he realised I had brought a doggy bag from the Indian restaurant! 

I hope you're all having a wonderful weekend. I know I am!

12 comments:

  1. So glad Grant is better. I remember when malaria meant a long recovery and people never really got rid of it — it would come back again a few years later, and then again and again. I hope that's no longer the case.
    Sounds like you had lots of fun, and that restaurant with pages and pages of vegetarian choices is perfect for you. There's a new Indian restaurant not far from our big shopping store (Costco) and when my stomach feels up to it, I want to try it.
    Hi to Grant, hugs to the cats (especially Shadow, but I can't leave Ginger out).
    Luv — K

    Kay, Alberta, Canada
    An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel

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  2. Hi jo, So glad that Grant is better. Sounds like the medicine is FABULOUS.....I'm so glad to hear that.

    I complain about some of the roads around the mountains when George and I go waterfalling. Bet our roads are better than some you ride on over there, even though I complain alot about ours... ha

    Have a great weekend.
    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  3. Glad Grant has recovered. Your long drive for shopping is just as interesting as mine. The Indian food sounds good. None of that around here.
    I really like your house and garden.

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  4. Thank God for modern medicine!

    So many interesting pictures from one trip to town.

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  5. Hi Jo - glad to hear that Grant is recovering - as you well know, Malaria is the pits ...

    ... yeah, I've lived in 'mining towns' my whole adult life an know all about the strange characters you talk about ... I'm probably one of them myself ... :)

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  6. I'm so glad Grant has recovered from malaria, just make sure to keep taking things a little extra easy the first time!
    Warm greetings from Zinder,
    Esther

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  7. I don't think I would like that ride to the shops. Expats have to make their own fun and friendships mean a lot. It sounds similar to when we lived in P/NG.
    Glad to hear Grant has recovered.

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  8. That's a real adventure to go shopping with you !
    I am used to these fully packed vehicules in Morocco, Egypt and Turkey it's exactly the same picture !

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  9. I'm so glad to hear that Grant continues to do well.
    Nice that you were able to get out for shopping and a good lunch.
    Interesting about the "Checkers" bags!

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  10. SO glad he's Better!! That is such Scary stuff!!
    hughugs

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  11. Oh, wow, Jo, this is the first I've read about Grant having malaria...today is Sunday June 5th. I'm so glad to hear he is recovering quickly.

    I had to laugh when you mentioned African workers using plastic grocery store bags to carry their lunches. I take my lunch in one of those, too! I think it's because we have so many of them and it's easy to grab one.

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  12. Whoa! NO - I DO NOT WANT ANY OF THAT MALARIA! Had it once - and once is enough for me. So glad to learn that Grant is better, even before i knew he was sick. Oh how I envy you sitting down in that Indian restaurant in Eldoret. Love their food.

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