Mug glorious mud!

Afternoon all,

Whereas July & August at home are traditionally the warmest driest months of the year, the reverse is true here in Kenya; unless of course you are on the coast where it seemingly remains a balmy 30+ all year round. Here in the centre the temperature is down to the low to mid teens and it rains. It rains a lot. We live in a district called Gathuki-ini: “Gathuki” comes from the latin word for mud, and “ini” meaning more mud. All this is playing havoc with my mountain training.

However I do have 3 full and free weeks ahead of me to get into peak condition (!) as last Thursday we broke up and all the children have drifted off home. I recall the days we broke up as a mix of excitement and loss. The sense of unbridled delight at the infinite expanse of freedom that stretched before you was tempered only by the sense of completion, of something coming to an end,… for me sadness at the thought of friends you wouldn't see for the summer or or indeed again. One of my best friends at school was Melissa Lloyd, I have not seen her since we left school in the 5th year. I wonder if the children here feel the same way. Is that “last day at school” feeling universal? Is it the same the world over?

Finally:
i. You may have heard we have a referendum this week…if it all kicks off, you certainly will hear of it. On the 4th August is the national vote on the proposed new constitution. We are hoping for the best but fearing the worse. Recent experience (post election violence in 2007) is still fresh in the minds and tensions are quite high. I’m off to hide in the forests of Kakamega until it all blows over.
ii. The 18th International Aids Conference in Vienna has asked countries to consider a ‘no-sex-month’. Kenya is considering it as a less inexpensive method to slow down the spread of HIV and maintain the current momentum which has seen a drop in new infections. Researchers argue that, since newly infected people have the highest transmission rates to their partners, an abstinence period would disrupt the infection chain.
iii. Kenyan firms are apparently making a killing from the piracy plaguing the Indian ocean and the seas around the horn of Africa. Kenyan law firms, security-, aviation- and shipping companies have found a lucrative business acting as the links between the pirates and the representatives of hijacked ship owners facilitating negotiations and payments.
iv. The price of tea at the Famous Cafe in Murang’a has gone up 50%! (10 to 15 shillings)
v. James’ prayer before dinner this evening was particularly memorable. It went like this: “Lord thank you for the food we are about to partake, may it feed our bodies and minds to do your bidding. Thank you for the day, thank you for taking Matt to Murang’a and back and thank you for our football match, although it ended in disarray when the opposition disputed our second goal…Amen”. I couldn’t prevent myself laughing out load.

Love to all,
M