Wide Awake

It’s just before 4am as I write this. The middle of yet another sleepless night. I have seen each hour of the night so far and it’s been like this for days now. The sleeping tablets (Amitriptyline) had limited effect and I have stopped taking them. Basically they made me drowsy but did not result …

Washed Out

A reflection on the past few days

The Boy in the Bed

In a ward of grumpy old men there was one who was much younger. Almost half my age (a little over 30) but looking half of even this. Severely disabled he did not speak, face mask to aid breathing up often removed with deliberate yet uncontrolled hands. Whatever his needs they were mental and physical …

One Year

A year ago I was living in Mwanza. In fact, though I did not know it at the time, this day (April 1st) would be my last full day in Tanzania. A year ago tomorrow we would be heading off for a holiday in Kenya. However, Easter is a moveable feast and as such has …

It never rains…

It never rains but it pours. This English idiom describes the fact that just when you think it can't get worse something else comes along to make you re-evaluate your thinking. Such has been the past 48 hours or so.

New Norm

The ring of the alarm. 7 am Morning comes too soon. On a good night I've been up twice. But sometimes thrice. Early hours ablutions. Within minutes they are up. Wife an daughter. Showers, hairdryers, dressed, breakfast out. The hustle and bustle of a typical morning followed by Silence. The house is quiet. Maybe another …

Rebuilding

Having been overseas for three years and having no intention of returning to Britain, it has been quite a shock to the system to be back here. Now, as we adjust to the reality, we are in the process of rebuilding our UK lives. Anita has secured her old job in Milton Keynes (in fact …

Full Circle!

We have returned. After three years we are back in MK. It seems like a lifetime and yet it seems like yesterday. We never imagined we would be back here on any permanent basis but here we are. God has a sense of humour.Anita starts work on Tuesday back at her old place of work …

Reunited

The photos tell it all. Picked up the family at Heathrow this morning - Reunited.

Change

Recently in Mwanza a group of expats and Tanzanian nationals have started up a group called Mwanza Storytellers. The aim is to allow people to share their stories on a chosen theme. So approximately once a month they have  gathered at the Yacht Club. Anita was asked to talk at the most recent (and her …

Term End

Today is the first day of the Summer Holidays for all my colleagues at Isamilo International  School. Yesterday they gathered to say their goodbyes and to pack up their rooms for the summer. The traditional leaving gifts were presented (a dressing gown made from local kitengi cloth). Throughout the week leaving parties have been had …

WPC: Bridges Across the World

From Europe, Asia and Africa. from rickety wooden planks, wobbly wired rope ladders, medieaval constructions to modern day. My contribution to this weeks weekly photo challenge:Bridge

Overbooked

The practice of overbooking flights and the consequences for those affected i.e. us

Flower Focus

One thing I am enjoying here in the U.K. has been the arrival of Spring / Summer flowers. Funnily enough the lack of seasonality in Tanzania means that flowers are quite sparse. The trees and bushes are in a continual state of bud, flower, seed, death but individual flowers are around for a short time …

A bit of birding …

.. and a bit more. When I was in Tanzania I really got into bird watching. The bird life around Lake Victoria is amazingly diverse and I don't imagine I will ever find the same diversity in the UK. Even so, during my recovery I plan to get back into the pastime - a chance …