Changing seasons

I was giddy with anticipation all day. We knew it would happen. This week uniforms change from summer to winter, timely as ever. Gone are the gingham dresses, now it's stiff blazers and ties. It was only a matter of days.
Yesterday was as good a day as any. The clouds rolled over and darkened the sky, and as the last of the pupils were leaving the school an almighty crash filled our ears.
I felt like I should do a welcoming dance, tap my feet to bring in the rain. To ask it to stay a while. To bring the temperatures down. But this is not Africa. The storm brings back vivid memories and fills my mind. It sounds like I am back in East Africa, waiting out the storm in my classroom, waiting for the hour of rain to pass before I go, listening to the hustle and bustle of people heading for shelter, but we are far from the lush land of the pearl.
We don't really need it here. The farmers aren't waiting for it to come, we don't rely on it. People can't really cope with it here. Roads aren't build for rain and 4x4s are certainly not meant to go through those puddles here. No.
But all that banging and crashing was for nothing. It didn't come. Just sprinkled us with hope and dirtied the cars.
We don't need the rain. There are not many trees to drink it up or animals that are thirsty. Why have water? There is oil instead, buckets of the stuff. But I want rain. I want the temperature to drop from 33 degrees to 23 degrees by Saturday morning, only rain will do it, is that too much to ask in November. I am going to dance for that. If not for the weather, at least for a good run. My first half since Lewa (that seems a long time ago!!). I won't be spotting zebras and giraffes on this run, that is for sure, more likely to be counting fast-food restaurants-that is a good game actually!?

Beware! Ex-matatu driver

I know I have blogged about the weather (and driving) a LOT recently...but I am British.So...

If you have seen the news recently, you are aware that parts of Kenya have had an awful amount of rain. Yes, the farmers needed it for a while, but the thirsty land cannot cope with it. Never mind that it is now taking people an hour and a half to make 15 minute journey here in Nairobi, but there have flash flooding in Hell's Gate National Park, killing a church group.

The downpours are amazing and it can last all night. Thunder so close and loud that car alarms are set off. And skies that turn green with the lightening. (The only place I have seen better lightning shows were in Panama City-it was like watching a firework display there!)


Its natural to feel a bit frightened in thunderstorms. But my good friend and running buddy here, was telling me of their journey back in a taxi, when the driver, who obviously did not like storms, took his hands off the wheel to and put his head in his hands when he saw a flash of lightening. Probably not the best plan as the car was still moving..quite quickly too! (I have been asking some of the local staff at school if he thought the lightening was some kind of spirit...but everyone is in agreement that it was just a crazy driver...good to know!)

But, I am not letting the weather 'rain on my parade' (having a good term so far...it is ONLY week 2 though!) and I managed to go out for a run in the drizzle before the storm arrived this evening. Happy days!

PS- Of course it rains in Uganda too, it rained when we were staying in Fort Portal (no surprise there then) but after the most beautiful hot day so we welcomed the rain that gave us the time and opportunity to have a warm bath...and then a swim in the lake!

PPS- I just had to get my askari (guard) because I think my little coastal cottage (!) roof is going to collapse...I no longer have leaks...just a slight downpour. My askari wasn't sure what I expected him to do...me neither really...just sharing I guess!

sunny days

The days take a while to heat up, but by lunchtime I am blocking out the noise around me, dishing out the lunch in silence, the heat giving us all (not just me, surely!) a short temper.Trying not to take it out on those around me...but it's hard. By 4pm, all remaining energy has been sapped from me, but being 'on show' at the end of day car-park duty requires a bit of a smile, a wave and a word or two.

Friends and I talk of our time living in Kuwait, the smell of the heat and the burning hot steering wheel. It's 10 degrees Celsius cooler here, in Nairobi. But being British, we like to have a wee moan occasionally and the weather is the topic of conversation.

Another difference here to that of the heat in the Middle East, is that it cools down at night, right down. Cool enough to forget how hot it gets. So cool that in the mornings we spend break complaining that our toes are still cold and repeatedly reminding ourselves to leave a cardigan in school.

The red dust streets need watering, to make those on the school-run happier. More able to breathe and see where the school gates are. The idea of that waste does not sit well with a lot of people. Most of us are happy to wait until the rains find us. They have reached the coast and some parts of Tanzania. It won't be too long. Apparently, the rains may arrive as soon as Friday.

Ants cover my flat, in the search for a water. My taps run dry most of the time, so they are out of luck there, but they have found their way to the inside of my kettle and the toilet...clever leaders they have. 

Reason 6 for living in Kenya

After literally 5 weeks of rain. The seasons have changed. The sun makes everything better.

Happy Holidays!

Coming to an end

Winter is arriving in Cape Town. There are three seasons per day at the moment. I sat in the sun by the beach this afternoon and now I am sheltering from the rain one hand moulded round a steaming cup of tea. I came unprepared for this, even though I was warned; my cardigan is not enough, I need warm leather boots and a coat. My fingers, toes and nose are cold. Time to go back home to Uganda, I'll tell you my tales from there.

Stories and snapshots to come.

Storms

I spent Friday night watching an electric storm move closer and closer, we had to close all the shutters bar one, left open for our viewing pleasure. We moved on from wine and drank whiskey wrapped in blankets and pashminas. Storms are great, like that, when your inside.

This morning, after getting up at 6.30am (yes, on a Sunday morning!) my long run was rained off. My buddy and I gave up after one km and went and sat in my car. I spent longer putting on my Vaseline than I did actually running. We waited in my car, deciding what to do. Storms aren't so great during a run. Bugger-our last long run before the Two-Oceans was ruined. We waited some more, then went for breakfast. Then the sun came out, just long enough for a rainbow to arc over Kampala. I think the ugly backdrop made the rainbow even prettier.

Hoping for a dry and cool morning in Cape Town next Saturday.

Storms and signs for tomorrow

It rained last night. Not much, just enough to tease us.
The heat of the day was then postponed, for a short while, a welcome relief to my morning run.

The sun did come out though, with its heat. Sweat was dripping through my dress at the shop. Now, only 5 minutes later, a storm is brewing. With that, before it rains, winds that whip up the dry, red dust, reminding me of the sand storms that I experienced in Kuwait, the days of seeing only a red sky.

I pass people dressed in their Sunday best, rushing to where they need to be, anticipating the rains. Not wishing to spoil their white shirts and recent hair weaves.

I sit in my lounge, the windows are shut, but the frames don’t fit all the sills and there is more than a bit of a draft. My many notes-to-myself are flapping, my hair blows into my face and doors bang shut.

The power will go off soon.

Will the rains come? Maybe the storm will blow over us, making us wait for a week or so more.