All Creatures Great and Small

Once again I am sat in the dark as I write this…my miner’s lamp on my head illuminating the pages (I’m not really down a mine Ali :-). I wanted to swiftly follow the last post so rather than down tools and carry on tomorrow, I’ll push on.

At the end of the last episode, we left our heroes in Murang’a Town shopping for the raw materials for a rabbit hutch. On the list we had:
. Timber 8 pieces: Eucalyptus (for some reason I thought that only grew in Oz…something to do with Koalas no doubt) & Silk Oak – both just the ticket for outside I am informed
. Chicken Wire: 1 roll x 80ft
. Nails: 4kg
. Polythene: 5m
. Pad-bolts (padlocks to you and me): 6
. Hinges: 6 pairs 2 ½˝
. Iron sheet: 3m (we have this already)
. Plus a 20 amp fuse

- So where do we get all this from? I inquired of Benson,
- Follow me, he replied.

So I did. But I almost abandoned him on the threshold of the dubiously named “Kansas Joy Services”… you must admit the correlation between the name of the store and the 20 amp fuse we were looking for there is not obvious?! Anyway, they didn’t have any so we continued our trolley dash to “Kiwa’s Auto Hardware”… altogether a more reputably named store.

Kiwa’s Auto Hardware is a family run operation situated right next to the central bus stop. Mr. Kiwa himself was a very nice man whose expert assistance was only outdone by his ability to separate me from 1510KES in what seemed like a matter of seconds (nails, pad-bolts, hinges and polythene sheet). Mr Kiwa waived the 10KES, so pushing our luck, we asked him to watch out stuff while we went for timber; he graciously accepted. We continued on our rounds.

Now imagine my disappointment therefore when we approached the wonderfully named “Good Times Furniture” only to duck into Hega’s Timbers Merchants next door (I vow to return for lots of good times with furniture). Hega’s was exactly what they claimed to be and nothing more - a room full of timber and a till. It’s quite reassuring when you consider the stores that we are used to nowadays where supermarkets are banks, insurers, clothes stores, electrical retailers. I dare say if you suggested to Mr. Hega that he introduce a line of own brand ready-to-wear to compliment his 2x4, he’d escort you to the door personally. We purchased the necessary timber without being asked if we’d like to join his loyalty programme, and left it with him for delivery the next morning.

The only thing left by now on the list was chicken wire. Look no further than Umoja Sons Ltd, dealers in all types of hardware and building materials (and purveyors of fine chicken wire). A roll of 80ft cost us £25.

And with that the shopping was done.

All the materials were delivered on Tuesday morning, and everyday since has been taken up with constructing the most amazing rabbit hutch Murang’a has ever seen. As generally I am klutz with all things manual, I also am taking great satisfaction in helping Benson build it. My pride increases with every additional inch it reaches to the sky. I almost have a legacy.

This must be how Brunel felt.

The only other incident of note this week which I must tell you of occurred yesterday evening (Thursday). Every evening I walk to a neighbour’s house to pick up milk and at the end of the month we pay. Well, yesterday I arrived a little early and the lady of the house was just getting home so she instructed me to return in 30 minutes as she had to milk the cow first.

- Do you mind if I stay and watch? I asked
- No, you can milk if you like.

Never one to knock an opportunity to get close to cows, I accepted right willingly.

When the cow had been properly secured (neck and front legs to the front of the stall, the back leg next to where you are sitting to the back of the stall), I was given my first lesson in milking a cow. If you wish to get an idea of the technique, you can simulate it at home (steady now this is a family blog). Take your tube of toothpaste and turn it so the opening is downward (if you have the pump style one … why?). Secure the top somehow, or ask someone to hold it. Now with the thumb and index or middle finger, proceed to extract the toothpaste by sliding you fingers downwards down the tube. It is certainly a little harder than a cow’s udder, but you should get the idea. That’s it.

Now believe it or not, in spite of the cow’s best attempts to kick me, I got it first time. The only thing I need to improve on is my speed. And so, covered in mud and cow pat, I made my way home happily with the milk that I had extracted from the cow myself. How’s that for fulfilment?

I am going back tomorrow to try again, and this time with my camera.