64 is the new 40, right?

One starts to get young at the age of sixty.~~Pablo Picasso

We are always the same age inside.~~Gertrude Stein

How old would you be if you didn't know how old you are?~~Leroy (Satchel) Paige 

I have copied the quotes above and these words below from my Writing.com website. 

This e-mail heading tickled me: 


64 is the new 40, right? (also my post title today)

Most of the time, I don't feel any different than I did at forty.

Or do I?

Mmm...

Smarter? I think so. Happier? Absolutely! Feeling more accomplished? Definitely. 

Would I want to go back and be forty again? 

No. 

I just want to 'know' as I once felt, that there was this l-o-o-o-o-ng stretch of time reaching out beyond the horizon to do all the things I still want to do.

But there isn't. I am aware, now, of the fact that that 'immortality' I felt once upon a time is a myth, that there is a final page and it won't matter if I've finished the chapter or not.

There is a sort of visual (or perhaps, mental) filter overlaying life these days. I don't allow things to blur. There is a peculiar clarity and nuance to what I experience. Things in general, are clearer, bolder, louder. Emotions and feelings are more intense. There is contentment over stress; acceptance of my lot in life and my place in it. There is appreciation that while I may not have everything I always thought I wanted, I have what a need. I love and am loved; this pretty much means that I do have it all! 

This is just one of the 300 plus sunrises I encounter in a year 

HAPPY THURSDAY EVERYBODY!

My life these days

Towards mid-May I was a little absent from Blogger due to submitting an article to an adventure magazine. I always have photos to support my articles. As I sent my photos and writing to the editor early on the morning of the 12th, I phoned him and told him that I'd sent my contribution for which he thanked me. While traveling back from Cape Town a week later, I had a frantic phone call from the same editor; he had in his possession my photos but WHERE was my story. I knew I'd sent it but couldn't confirm it as I didn't have my laptop in the car with me. It would have been too late that night when I got home to re-send the story so the editor asked me to submit my story again next month.

Meanwhile the provincial newspaper did a "Focus on Marquard" feature. The newspaper editor wrote about several businesses in town but when she wanted information on the retirement center the sisters and admin manager said they wanted me, Jo, to do the feature. 

Which I did. 

With photos. 

In order to get mood photos I spent the whole day at the center. (I came home at midday and returned after lunch) When you take photos of people in their rooms or bachelor flats or homes, it's not a five-minute session. No, you sit and chat and get them to relax. Then you ask them if you can photograph them, for instance, one resident, Annetjie, was having breakfast on a tray in her flat. The time was 7am and I commented that she looked like a queen - she was already dressed and made up for the day. 

Annetjie enjoying her breakfast 

At the frail care section, I took a photo of a carer helping a wheelchair bound patient with her knitting. When I approached them, I realized that the carer didn't know how to knit at all. The 90 year-old patient, Anna, whom I've known for years, asked if I would cast on stitches for her. She wanted to knit coat hanger covers. I cast on 22 stitches and showed Anna, but it wasn't enough. I eventually showed her what 32 stitches looked like and she was happy. Then she asked if I'd knit the first row! I had visions of standing there for the rest of the morning knitting Anna's coat hanger cover! But this is what it's all about in a retirement center. The residents, especially the elderly, just love attention. 

A  carer helping a patient to knit (or so I thought!)

The retirement center has two qualified sisters  - Christa and Luette and an assistant nurse, Ms Killian. The latter seems to have been here forever; a spinster she's known as Killies. 

Ms Killian AKA Killies is on duty 12 hours a day, every day of the week. Here she sorts through the files in the frail care nurse's station

Maxi Azar is approaching her 90's. She's the widow of one of the three founders of the retirement center. She's my MIL's immediate neighbor

 Patients are wheeled into the garden regularly. Here an elderly patient has been brought out while my MIL can just be seen exiting the door to come and sit in the sun as well 

The newspaper required photos of the outside of the two bedroom homes 

Here I showed homes with garages for those retirees who still drive and want to lock their vehicles up securely

I photographed the interior of Rina's home, which image was chosen for the advert!

The article as it appeared in the newspaper

I'm linking to Our World Tuesday here

HAPPY TUESDAY TO YOU ALL! 

Learning curve

I was on the receiving end while on holiday in SA. Not only did I get a new helmet; I also had my phone upgraded, bought a new laptop and a new camera.

With my South African cell phone contract; I was due for an upgrade which my daughter-in-law, Amanda arranged even before I got home. Since my first cell phone (which was the size of a brick) in 1997, I have always had a Nokia. So it was rather strange to say goodbye to this type of phone after 17 years. My new Smartphone is Samsung 5 and although I'm still learning all about it and its many features, I don't know how I ever did without it! 

My new Smartphone  - so smart it almost makes my tea

When Amanda did the upgrade in the city, she snapped the children 

and loaded the photo on the front (you can see shadows of pappa and mama in the background!) 

Two years ago I needed a new laptop and bought an Ultrabook. With a 12 inch keypad, it was small, compact, and the best was I didn't have to travel with it in a computer case. It had a sleeve so I could slip it into my backpack which makes all the difference when you go through several airport security checks several times in one journey. 

It was getting old and very slow;  I asked my son, Angus to look for a new computer for me. The Ultrabook had increased in price: almost double what I paid in 2012, so Angus sent me the specs of an Acer Notebook, 14 inch keyboard but still carried in a sleeve. And the price was still the same as my original Ultrabook. 

Voila! 

This neat little machine has so many features and programs but with Angus helping me online and on WA, I'm getting the hang of it. My friend, Gattina from Writers Cramps has assisted me as well. 

The best news is that within a week Angus sold my old Ultra book and I recouped half the new Notebooks purchase price. 

Acer Windows Professional 8.1 - fast and furious! LOL! The screen responds to touch

A week before we went out on leave, I noticed that the battery cover on my camera was not closing properly. When I checked, I saw I was unable to insert the memory card completely. Looking even closer with the help of a torch/flashlight, I realized that a small spring had broken inside. I was still able to press the memory card down carefully and then quickly close the battery flap, so holding in it place. 

When I bought the camera, a Canon Powershot SX50HS in February, I didn't receive a power supply with which to connect the camera to the computer when uploading photos. It had a place for this external supply, yet there wasn't one. Instead I had to remove the memory card, insert it in a port on my laptop and upload the photos. Afterwards I'd remove the memory card from the computer port, insert it into the camera, and close the cover. Unfortunately I take so many photos that I repeated this operation almost daily and obviously wore out the spring below the memory card. 

While in SA, we took the camera to a recommended camera repair shop; they were unwilling to open it as it's still under guarantee. The technician suggested we return it to the shop where we bought it and ask them to send it back to Canon for repairs. That way I'd avoid perhaps having to pay exorbitant prices for the repairs. Only problem was although I always keep my purchase slips this was back home. I'd only be able to return it on our next leave.  

While in our favorite department store later that day, I thought I'd look at the price of a new camera. The shop assistant brought out the latest model: Canon Powershot SX60HS! I hadn't even heard of this model. Grant had followed me to the camera counter and when he saw me looking at a new one, he said, "Just buy it, Jo." Now how can a lady resist such an order? 

My new camera 

We'd already left the shop when we realized that it, too didn't have an external power supply for uploading photos. So Grant went into a computer shop, showed them my camera and the place in which you can insert this supply and promptly bought me one. 

I only started using the camera once we returned to Tanzania. It is also quite complicated (I love using the manual function for my bird photos but still have not mastered setting this one properly) but I am getting used to it. While at the Malaika Hotel on Lake Victoria, I was playing around with the features when suddenly the I was asked on screen: "name this camera" and a qwerty keyboard popped up on the screen. I named the camera "Jo's Photos" and when I pressed the function wheel again, images of a cell phone and a computer screen appeared on the camera screen! It has a WiFi feature on it as well, so you can transfer images straight from the camera to a cell phone or the computer.

This camera has WiFi

Mobile Device Connection

Unfortunately there is no manual so I'm having to learn using this camera by trial and error.  

So all that remains now is for me to start posting really good photos on my blog! 

I'm linking my post to Our World Tuesday which you can visit by clicking here.

Here's wishing you all a wonderful Tuesday! 

I've tried and tried...

... with little or no success!

For ever so long, I've tried without success to make my header photo fit the top of my blogger page. No matter how I shift the margins or what template I choose, the photo is "squashed" on the left top of my blogger and doesn't fill the whole space. 

What am I doing wrong?
 
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! 

I hope you're all having a wonderful weekend.

From Notebook to Ultrabook

 On the left of the picture is my new Ultrabook with my faithful Notebook on the right

In May, I ordered a new "laptop", the lightweight and compact Acer Ultrabook from my son, Angus in South Africa. I actually bought the machine myself using the money I'd made this year from writing articles and editing/typing up an important document for the Client.  Our friend, Wessel, kindly brought  my new computer up to East Africa for me. However, I never got a chance to change my documents and other paraphernalia from my two-year-old Notebook so I trundled the Ultrabook (still in its box!) and my notebook back to SA in September. Back home, our daughter-in-law, Amanda transferred everything from the old to the new machine and set also up my e-mail. 

The new Acer Ultrabook is lighter, smaller and more user-friendly for someone like me who has likes to takes her computer on trips across the continent! Now I don't have to unzip the computer case, remove the laptop and place it in a separate tray to go through the security screen at the airport.The Ultrabook fits into a padded sleeve and is small enough to fit into my backpack. Not once on the whole journey from Johannesburg to Dar Es Salaam and from Dar Es Salaam to Mwanza did I remove the Ultrabook! Bliss.

It has its cons too: there aren't enough USB ports, so if I have to use my printer (which I brought back from SA as well), I have to unplug the mouse and work with the sensor pad to perform that task. It also doesn't have a CD drive, so I bought an external drive. I believe there is a gadget which called a multi-USB, so I will soon be looking into this possibility.

Meanwhile, I am getting used the smaller keypad and enjoying my new Ultrabook to the full! 

I hope you're all having a wonderful weekend.

Back in Bloggerland!

I have never been so remiss at posting on my blog as I've been this week. Please, dear friends and blog readers, forgive me. I have been ultra busy with an editing task for which I will receive payment. Whoo-hoo! In order to finish the assignment by the deadline of 5pm on Tuesday 8 May, I just put my head down, went through the long [95 page] legal, technical and historical document with a fine-tooth comb. Afterwards changed it on the computer.  For two days I didn't open my mails, I didn't visit blogger, I ignored Skype, I kept my Smartphone and its detraction hidden! Yep, I just worked at this job!

I can honestly say that it was one of the most intense missions I have ever undertaken! However, it was good for the old brain cells to really work and... I look forward to receive my reward!

(Now where did I save that invoice template? LOL)

Meanwhile, I had to keep an eye on my labour of love over at the Guest House. The new chef arrived on Tuesday morning, and although he knows how to cook and works incredibly fast and neatly, he has to be shown how we produce meals for nine hungry miners from diverse cultures. He is a fast learner, and of course, working alongside Salome, an excellent cook, already seems to be part of the team! 

Uh-oh. I been trying to upload images, and suddenly it's not happening. I'll post photos of James, the Guest House Chef in due course. Until then, I hope you're all having a wonderful week. 

On a deadline

Above is a South African travel magazine which I received while at home recently

In May last year  South African Pet Travel Agency, Global Paws, Johannesburg,  asked me to write an editorial alongside their advert in a travel magazine. Of course, having already had quite a bit of experience with taking pets from one country to another, I agreed. My sweet friend, Kay of Alberta kindly edited the story for me. It ultimately appeared in the "Winter" edition of the magazine. I was not at home to buy it but the chief consultant at Global Paws sent a copy on to our address in Marquard. 

Inside the magazine was an editorial I had written on pet travel

At the moment I'm working on a deadline on a story for an adventure magazine in South Africa. I've been writing for them since January 2011 and thoroughly enjoy the experience. The sub-editor of this magazine also sent me copies of the magazines in which my stories appeared. (Due to weight restrictions in my luggage on the plane, I left these at home!) 

So for now it's back to my document to continue my story...

You can read about other people's worlds here

The long and winding road

Some of you may know that for the past 18 months I've been writing articles and stories for various South African magazines. One such magazine I write for, recently forwarded me my first fan mail. I've copied and pasted the e-mail from the person in yellow here below .

"I was handed a South African magazine today by a friend who had spotted the article, "The long and winding road". He had noted the name "Eldoret" in the article, and knowing that I come from that area, thought that I might be interested. It sparked off many memories for me, as I know the road which Jo describes, one might say, intimately, as my sister, who still lives in Eldoret used to work at the mine in the valley (fluorite being the mineral mined), and, in fact met her husband there. We had a farm not far from the top of that road, and we could drive to a viewpoint a little farther along the same escarpment, and look straight down on the mine workings which are situated in a branch of the Kerio Valley. I still have old black and white photographs taken from that viewpoint, long before the mine started!

I would dearly love to know how you came by this article!! Call it sentimentality or what you will, it was a blast from the past looking at the lovely photographs in the article. Is there the remotest chance that you could maybe fill me in on how you came by the article? Better still, I would love to be able to contact Jo Hedges."

*************

If you'd like to read my story, The long and winding road, as it appeared in the magazine, please contact me via e-mail; I'll send you the PDF. Although the magazine is accessible via the Internet, it takes a while before the latest articles appear online. One of my previous articles ("Au naturel or not?") which appeared in November, can been read here.

I replied to the person who wrote back immediately and said he has many stories and photos which he's offered to share with me. I've been trying to delve - rather unsuccessfully -  into the history of the South Africans who arrived in Eldoret in the early 1900's; I also searched in vain for material regarding the valley where we spent the best year of our expat lives.

In Kenya I came across a magazine called "Old Africa" which has stories and anecdotes about the first settlers (farmers, entrepreneurs, professionals, missionaries) in East Africa. I hope to be able to do something with my new online friends' stories and photos in due course. I will keep you updated.

BTW the man and his wife live in South Africa now. Ironically they stay in the same town where Grant and I grew up, went to  school, married and had our first son! When they moved from Kenya, East Africa to the Natal Midlands in South Africa in 1978, Grant and I had just moved east to the Zululand coast. They lived next door to Grant's parents and he remembers them well, especially as they all served together on the Anglican church council in town.

Have a wonderful week and stay safe and well.

Blessings

Jo

Special Gifts

I'm sorry I've been so tardy at commenting and also taking ages to reply to mails. I'm here, I promise (cannot go anywhere!) but I've been busy with a story (not an article) for the adventure magazine which accepts my pennings. (Sorry, perhaps "pennings" is not a word; I'm using prosaic license here!) My story was about our Harley Davidson which we rode for five years until we bought a BMW motorbike. It was a real story, a true story about me and Grant. Many, many years ago, (in 1971) as a young lad, Grant sold his motorbike (a 1961 Velocette) to buy me an engagement ring. Thirty-one years later, we were still married and happily so. It was at this stage of our lives that we decided to buy a bike! A Harley Davidson.

My dear friend, Sue posted the photos while she was in Johannesburg a few weeks ago. This morning I completed the story and submitted it by e-mail. It will appear in the magazine in January 2012.

(Now it's nose to the keyboard on the weekly submission of stories for a farmer's magazine in SA)

All photos bar the middle right and the last one is of me and Grant with/on our Harley. In the last photo, our older son, John is riding the Harley , with a young girl on the back. It was in aid of a Christmas dinner at to the retirement village in our hometown. The photo above it depicts our 12-year-old Siamese cat, Chip, who  loves to sleep on motorbikes

Now to the heading of this post. One of the regular Christian newsletters that I received this week, really made an impact on me.

Read on...

It doesn’t matter how old we get, we all love receiving gifts. Even those of us who have seen many a Christmas come and go, still get excited by gifts and watching others opening the gifts they receive.

Sadly, the snake in the garden has raised its ugly head in this paradise too. Bigger and better has become the norm and receiving has become far more important than giving. Perhaps we should take a different view of gift-giving.

In the Scriptures we read of a whole range of gifts which are intangible but of immense value to believers.

The gift of a pleasant attitude


If dissatisfaction has become your default facial expression and negativity has become your trademark, it’s time to start spreading the pleasant aroma of God’s love in your life. It doesn’t come in an aerosol can but from a heart filled with gladness over God’s gift of life.

The gift of kindness and tolerance


It’s not easy to love everyone who crosses you path and a critical attitude makes it difficult to accept people for what they are. We seem to be addicted to negativity. Isn’t it time to cast negativity to the wind and learn to enjoy the wonderful variety of people in all colours, sizes and shapes who are all part of God’s creation.


The gift of laughter


Laughter makes the world go round and yet it’s so hard for us laugh without reservation. Next time, instead of moaning every time you hear “Jingle Bells” in the shopping centre, enjoy the kids’ laughter in the toy store. Laugh with people and not at them. Joy is one of the gifts of the Spirit, so use it in abundance.

The gift of listening


Make time to listen to someone who needs an ear. Listen with care and with an open mind. And without watching the clock.

The gift of hospitality


Today people are extremely protective of their privacy. We will invite to our homes those whom we decide are fit for our company. But Christ thought nothing of putting his reputation on the line by having dinner with the outsiders and the outcast. Hospitality is high on the list of Christian virtues. Paul challenges us to: Share your belongings with your needy fellow-Christians, and open your homes to strangers. Romans 12:13

The beauty of these gifts is that you can hand them out all year round and not just at Christmas time.
The Bible mentions the abundant gifts of the Spirit. Read Romans 12:9-21 from top to bottom to make your gift list for the year. You would be surprised by the treasures you will find there.

My gift to you all at the early stage of Christmas, is God's richest blessings.

Jo

Chef's Table Competition

I'm rather late with my Tuesday post as I have quite a lot to say. If you're interested, read on!

Some of my readers will know what I'm talking about when I mention Nakumatt. It's a large supermarket chain in East Africa. You can buy almost anything in Nakumatt: all your groceries, meat, dairy, bread and fresh vegetables and fruit. You can also buy most household appliances: fridges, freezers, washing machines, toasters, kettles, irons, cake mixers and blenders, food processors, hairdryers, sandwich toasters. They have computers, printers, cell/mobile phones, dvd players, telivision sets, radio/sound systems. Anything. Upstairs you can buy beautiful patio furniture, any and all furniture for indoors, soft furnishings (curtains, cushions, bath towels, bedlinen, carpets, etc). A large range of clothing is available for babies, toddlers, men and women.  Again, anything! There is a stationery section stocking all office supplies, a magazine and softcover book section; a hardware section stocking anything to do with DIY, repair and building. You get the picture!

Nakumatt has also an in-house lifestyle magazine called Smartlife. It appears quarterly and I always pop the latest one into my trolley when it comes out. Something people don't know about me, is that when I read a magazine, I read it from cover to cover, starting at the very first page. (I love those glossy perfume or cosmetic adverts on the inside cover and next two pages of women's magazines, don't you? Especially when they use "older" models like Andy McDowell and Mary Steenburgen showing how well Oil of Olay anti-wrinkle moisturiser works!) Next I read the editor's message.  I peruse the masthead (I learnt to do this because of the many article queries I pitch to magazines) and then I continue to the readers' letters and so on.    

This is how, in the latest Smartlife magazine, I came across the page on the "Chef's table", an article on a celebrity chef in Nairobi and his signature dish. (Yes, I read his biography and the menu depicted right there!) On the next page I spotted a smaller bar with a photo of people enjoying a meal while this same chef looks on. Reading a letter from a reader (who appeared in the photo with her husband), I saw that she'd won a competition: a meal served by this chef at an upmarket restaurant in the city. Just below that was a sidebar showing a competition whereby you can e-mail your favourite recipe (starter, main course or dessert) to the magazine and stand a chance to be a guest at the next Chef's Table.

I submitted my Bread-and-butter pudding and a week later, the PR lady from the magazine phoned to tell me I'd won! Grant and I would be feted at a three-course meal cooked by the Executive Chef of the Sarova Stanley Hotel in Nairobi. 

This hotel has been in business since 1903. It has had as visitors, many an international film star, (Clark Gable, Gregory Peck, Grace Kelley, Ava Gardner); authors, (Ernest Hemmingway, Beryl Markham, Karen Blixen, Elspeth Huxley);  a famous statesman, (Winston Churchill) and explorers, Henry Morton Stanley after whom the hotel is named and Samuel Baker who, with his wife,  discovered the source of the Nile. It also played host to Chief Scout, Lord Baden-powell who spent his last years in Kenya and is buried in the shadows of Mount Kenya. You can read all about the Stanley Hotel here.  (I hope to do a complete post about this historical and long-standing hotel sometime)

The meal itself was superb. Chef Godfrey Ouda, who cooks for the president on occasion, joined us at the dinner table. He's been with the hotel group for a quarter of a century and regaled us of tales of the old Stanley and chefs (mainly expats) at whose elbow he learnt his trade. He said humility is one trait necessary to make a good chef! He also explained the hierachy of a large hospitality kitchen. The Sarova Stanley has five kitchens which is staffed with 90 people!

The other guests at the table were two managers from Nakumatt holdings, Annette and George, the PR lady, Sofia and a team of professional photographers. The latter kept clicking away, while positioning white screens and umbrellas while we tucked into the delectable courses Godfrey presented.

On our way to the dinner. As it was at a 4* (some say 5*) hotel, we bought some semi-smart clothes. I bought my last LBN (little  black number) in 1990 so Grant bought me a new one for this occasion with silver top, shoes and bag to match. He also had new trousers, blazer, shirt, tie and shoes

On arrival at the Sarova Stanley, the doorman, David welcomed us 

 Due to the recent bomb scares in the city, we were subjected to a thorough security search just inside the lobby

Our dinner took place in a private room depicting photos of Lord Baden-powell and his wife all along the walls. The hotel also promotes it's rooms, conference facilities and other services on a large screen

Executive Chef Godfrey Ouda holding court!

As this dinner was also to laud and promote Godfrey and the Sarova Stanley, the photographers had him posing under the lights and screens

The food was tastefully seasoned and beautifully presented. The starter comprised of Traditional Smoked Salmon, Lemon Horseradish Foam on a cushion of Fennel and Apple shavings. (Did you know that the chef names the dishes on the menu?)

The vegetarian option was a Vegetable Terrine with Lemon Horseradish Foam on a cushion of Fennel and Apple Shavings (The sprig of thyme on both these plates, just made the dish!)

The next course was a duet of authentic soups. Mine was a cup of mushroom soup and another of tomato consomme - delicious. The others had lobster bisque and tomoto consomme which they all pronounced delicous as well! These were served with a Bread basket of Freshy baked rolls and a trio of flavoured butters: garlic, tomato and lemon.

The main course was Chicken a la Kiev on a bed of Basil mush (which I found out later was potato mash!) served with a Sherry Sauce. (Photo above)

The other option was Dry Aged Fillet of Beef Medallions with Yorkshire pudding and Green Peppercorn jus. Both dishes were served with Steamed organic Kenyan Roots (I spotted brussel sprouts and carrots) in a potato chip basket. We ladies wanted to know from the chef how these were made. (They use a wire basket which fits into another wire basket, lined with potato shavings and then deepfried) Grant loved the beef and Yorkshire pudding but left his vegetables claiming he had too much on his plate!

The vegetarian main course was Panneer (cheese) and butternut cannelloni with Arrabiata Sauce

The dessert was Godfrey's masterpiece. It was called Death of Chocolate. Nested Milky chocolate Mousse with Berry Coulis. Every part of this dessert was edible and TDF*!

 Driving through the city centre after a wonderful meal at the Saraova Stanley Hotel in downtown Nairobi

Note: TDF* = To die for!

For more other people's worlds around the globe, click here

Guest Blogger Post

Today I 'm   priviledged to appear as a guest blogger on Under the Tiki Hut blog by writer Carol Kilgore. I enjoyed writing this story. Thank you, Carol for affording me this experience and exposure.

The reason why...

...I've not visited many blogs and commented recently, is that I've been ill.

When I arrived in South Africa early in September, I felt ill with flu-like symptons. Having just returned from three months in East Africa in rainy season, my doctor treated me for malaria. The medication worked while we were on our bike trip to the Cape but a week later back in Kenya, I started to feel ill again. I went to the clinic and was tested positive with malaria. *Sigh* A four-day course of meds and still no improvement. I returned to the clinic last Tuesday where Jo-Anne, the sister-in-charge, said she'd like to send me to Eldoret Hospital for  further tests.

Eldoret hospital is very modern and totally efficient

On Wednesday morning Grant drove me up the mountain to Eldoret Hospital.  Once I'd seen the doctor in his rooms, he sent me across the hospital courtyard to the laboratory. Here a blood sample was taken and I was asked to return in an hour-and-a-half.  Grant needed to do business in town but we were back within time for me to collect my results. I took them back to the doctor. He looked at the sheet and anounced that I had Salmonella: enteric fever (typhoid). As I wash all my vegetables with water to which I add disinfectant and only drink purified water, all I can think of is that I ingested the germ while brushing my teeth with raw tapwater.  Ewgh! The doctor wrote me a prescription for an antibiotic which I took across the courtyard, to the pharmacy this time. We drove back down the mountain to the valley and the camp. I started on my medication and took it easy for the rest of the week.  

By Monday morning I felt 100% better and as you can see by my recent posts, I had a rather busy week. All good and well. Except that I woke up on Thursday morning with rather sever pains in my joints. I also felt dizzy and wobbly on my pins. I asked Grant to please send a driver to take me to the clinic, which he did.

At the clinic, Jo-Anne checked my bloodpressure, took my temperature, listened to my heart and peered down my throat with a light. (For the latter, she didn't have a torch so she borrowed a collegue's cell phone!) She did a blood test which showed postive malaria strains again. Exhausting all her options, she suggested I go to Eldoret Hospital and see the doctor again.

Grant, who was in the middle of a huge project, arranged for Zephania, a company driver to take me to Eldoret. Of course, the road up the mountain was as bad as ever;  I felt battered and bent by the time we reached the tarred section leading to Eldoret.

Once again, the hospital was the epitome of efficiency and within minutes I was sitting opposite the doctor in his surgery. He said he was surprised to see me walk in; he expected me to be carried in on a stretcher as the managing director of the mine had phoned ahead and said I was very ill, and could he please do extensive tests to see what was wrong.

Once again, I walked across to the laboratory, had blood drawn and told to return in an hour-and-a-half for the results. I returned in time and took the results back to the doctor. He went through the sheet of strange facts with me explaining everything in detail, sweet man. He said I was recovering from the typhoid and my bloodsugar was a bit low. Other than that, he said I obviously did too much too soon and needed to go home and REST until I felt better. He prescribed painkillers for the pain and a course of vitamins.

I woke up yesterday morning feeling a little better, but not all that energetic. So I did what the doctor prescribed: I stayed in bed for most of the day.

Thanks to everyone with whom I have e-mail contact and knew I was ill, for your concern, prayers and encouragement. I believe that I'll feel better in time.

Jesus healing the lame, deaf and blind

On another note: Just before we went out on leave in September, the dean of the writer's college through whom I did a journalism course last year, wrote and asked if she could interview me. Today I opened their website and found this link on their blog. Reading the post has motivated me to get well and get going!  (The Lord in all His wisdom knows that I want to get well again so that I can continue with my many writing projects!)

I hope you're all having a wonderful weekend.

Weekend of writing, cats, socializing and relaxing

I have so much to tell about the day/s leading up to the weekend but I've run out of time. I hope to post my news tomorrow. On Saturday morning I was out in the garden with Shadow who had climbed the frangipani tree next to my office window. When I looked again, he'd crept to the topmost branch and next minute had leapt onto the roof. He'd heard the squirrels who nest in between the roof and ceiling and thought he could get to them, which he couldn't. When he realised life wasn't too exciting up there, he came to the edge of the roof and peered down. Immediately he began to meouw and look at me as if I should get him down. I fetched the cookie jar and shook it. This is the way I call all my cats back home and Shadow learnt the signal very quickly. However, no matter where he ran to, there were no branches close enough for him to take a chance.  

By this time Ginger had heard the cookies being shaken and came running to me. He looked up and saw Shadow and meouwed at him. It was as if he was saying: "Hurry and come down, else I'll never get my cookies!"

I think I'll wash my face to cover my embarrassment!

Help! The ground is so far away

Oooh, I can't look! He's gonna fall!

Thinking, if I had a long ladder, I could climb up and try to entice Shadow off the roof. No-one in the lane has a ladder and then I remembered seeing two ladders behind the security hut, while I had been birding there. I ran down to the security gate and asked the guard to bring one of his ladders to my house. As we walked back to the house, he asked me if my small cat was stuck on the roof. Then I remembered he was Hillary, the man who brought the little kitten to me ten days before!

Back at the house, Shadow was still up on the roof. (why wasn't I surprised?) Hillary placed the ladder against the roof and held it while I climbed up. When I peeped over the top, Shadow was nowhere to be seen. He's very nervous of strangers and this was no exception. We left the ladder against the roof and walked around the house to see where Shadow had got to. When we got to the back patio, we saw Shadow around the corner to  the front door. He had descended the ladder!

That little exercise took up a good few hours of my Saturday morning!

I managed to finish my articles and they should both be with the editor this week.

We had another social function at the Guest House. A South African was doing a survey here and the MD wanted us to join him for a barbeque. No second invitation needed. Sue and I were the only two women and while the men stood around the barbeque (in true South African style) we sat on the veranda and chatted.

Management has erected an electronic scoreboard with news about the mine, safety tips and of course, soccer scores. This morning Sue and I will take her gardener and Stanley  plus some hardy plants along to the mine offices. We're going to make a garden on the heaped soil behind this sign.

Weekend of writing, socializing and birding

The weekend was rather packed with work, socializing and relaxing. Theresa, (mine manager, Borrie's wife) who's been visiting for a week, flew back to South Africa this morning. I decided to send high resolution photos for my two articles with her. She'll post them in Johannesburg this week. I spent Friday and the whole of Saturday copying, editing and captioning photos which I later burnt onto two seperate discs. I managed to finish at about 4.30 on Saturday afternoon, placed them in an envelope, attached South African currency for postage, and took it next door to Theresa .  

Hoping to ripen lemons which I pick from a tree in my garden, I have them lined up in an east-facing window in my kitchen. I love the different shades and textures of green and decided to photograph it

On Saturday night Nico and Sue invited the expats to the Guest House for a braai (South African barbeque). Chef Wheatcliffe and assistant-chef Caro put on a fine spread of salads, garlic bread, a vegetarian quiche and a selection of grilled meat. It was good to unwind with friends and for Theresa to get to know the other people on camp.

On Sunday morning, Grant and I went birding. We tried a different route and we weren't disappointed. 

Apart from a variety of birds, we spotted a lifer (more about these later this week) and learnt something new about the White-bellied Go-away-bird. We saw four of these birds in a tree above the road. One flew down to a muddy puddle in the road ahead of the vehicle. When I downloaded the photos, I noticed that the bird I'd photographed in the tree had a dark-coloured bill and the one on the road had a pea-green bill. Checking up on my Birds of Africa book, I read that the male has a black bill while the female's bill is green.

White-bellied Go-away-bird male (black bill) 

The White-bellied Go-away-bird, female (green bill)

A different photo

Back home I made lunch (roast and vegetables) and a dessert. I decided to make a different pudding from the previous few weeks. A Bread-and-butter pudding. Years ago I learnt to make this dish  from Grant's paternal grandmother, Nan. Four decades on I still use the same recipe although I added a sauce which makes this dessert dizzyingly sweet and rich.

Nan's Bread-and-butter pudding

Nan's Bread-and-butter Pudding

Serves 4 - 6

Spread 8-10 slices of stale white bread with butter and apricot jam (I leave the crusts on)

Place face-up in an oven proof baking dish

Sprinkle a handfull of raisins on top

Beat together 2 eggs and 2 cups of milk

Pour over the sliced bread

Bake at 180 for 35 - 40 minutes until crispy (It should rise up)

Meanwhile melt 250g butter and a cup of brown sugar

Add 2 tablespoons of water and 1 teaspoon vanilla essence

Remove pudding from the oven and pour the sauce over it
Serve hot with cream or ice-cream

Enjoy your week, everyone!