A new car for Mr and Mrs O

Given our perception of life in Africa being very slow and very laid back, sometimes things can happen with astonishing speed. We often joke that Africans are relaxed about time until you put them behind the wheel of a car or dala dala (mini bus/death trap!) and then suddenly it’s all about ‘time is money!’ This speed with which things can happen has been our recent experience with buying a car here.
After our pre-Christmas experience of being robbed by the man who ‘bought’ our car from us, and nine months of waiting, we know now that we will never see the money from our dear old Landy and actually just need to get on with getting our own vehicle here.
Now bear in mind that there’s no auto trader here. The way it works is that you put the word out that you are looking for a car and they just turn up at your house. Bizarre, but that’s how it is. Well we hadn’t quite gotten to the point of putting the word out, so our team leaders worker/guard decided to take matters into his own hands. We had never spoken to him about our desire to begin the process, he just decided that enough was enough and we should get our act together (plus he will probably get some sort of fee for organising the deal!).
So on Tuesday I headed off into town early to do the shopping and banking and bits and bobs like that. I was just finishing when Rich called to inform me that some men had turned up with a car for us and could I come and have a look at it. So off I went back to inspect the car.
What awaited me was a Honda CRV (silver for all the rest of the girls out there – that was my first question!) in very good condition and way out of our price range. However, after some fierce negotiating the price of the car was reduced to well within our price range and a deal was made. Shocking. Unbelievable. I had not had the slightest thoughts of buying a car when I had woken up that morning, but there you go. That’s how it can be here sometimes and you just have to go with it.
Now we have to go to the cash point every day in order to withdraw the money for the car. No such thing as cheque or bank transfer here. Just cash. So in about two weeks time we should have been able to withdraw enough money and we may once again be car owners.
Our whole car saga over the last few months has taught us a lot about trusting that God is ultimately in control of all these things and that if he wants us to have a car he will provide the car and the means of buying it. We are so thankful for this and so many other ways he has blessed us since arriving on this Island.

Eating my words.

The general rule whilst driving here seems to be, every driver for themselves. This is particularly the case by the market in town where the daytime traffic and driving is unbelievable. Any side of the road will do as long as there is space, there are about a million bicycles, piki piki (scooters) and pedestrians at any one time and there's none of the politeness (ahem....) that we are used to on the roads back home.
I made this point to Rich this morning on our way down into town. I particularly emphasized the 'no give way' rule that seems to operate here. You just don't do it. If you want a chance to join the flow of traffic and get where you are going, you just don't give way because no one will give way to you (plus the fact that the traffic behind you will just go around you anyway so there's normally not much point in the exercise!).... or so I thought. Not half an hour after I had expressed this opinion I was forced to eat my words as a man very kindly let us out of a junction right in the middle of the chaos of traffic next to the market. I doubt it will change our 'every driver for themselves' attitude, but we were grateful to be let out!
(By the way, I told you it wouldn't take long for me to take over the blog...)

Apologies and a nagging wife...

First of all, let me begin by apologising for our slackness in updating our blog recently. We could give all sorts of excuses such as moving house and pants internet connections, but we are basically just slackers when it comes down to it. Sorry.

We do have lots of news and pictures to update the blog with. Some of the smart ones amongst you may have noticed that the usual author of this blog is not writing these words. In an effort not to be a nagging wife, I have instead offered my services in updating the blog occasionally. We shall see how long it takes me to take it over entirely...

Some of you may know that we finally moved into our own place about a week ago. It is so good to finally be able to settle a bit and know that we won’t be moving into another house in a couple of months. This has resulted in us being very busy in trying to get the house equipped and prepared for us to move into. Rich has virtually re-plumbed the whole house as all taps and toilets were dripping (by the way, these were all brand new and had just been installed by a fundi (not sure on the exact translation for this word but it is basically someone who is a ‘skilled’ worker... really??)) and we have given the whole place a good clean out with bleach and hydrochloric acid (pretty much the only cleaning products we can get our hands on here). We feel so blessed to have such a lovely house for us to live in here and God has provided a working fridge-freezer and washing machine which is just brilliant.

Rich under the kitchen sink

Less than a week after we moved into our new place we were visited by some friends from our home church in Winchester. Ed and Alex were on their way to Uganda and thought they would come and visit us and briefly experience some of the delights of this Island on which we live. Needless to say, we quickly got them to work at the school! (Be warned if you intend to come for a visit – you will be put to work!) Alex enjoyed welding on the roof and Ed helped to wire our computer lab, new skills for both of them I believe. Ed also helped Rich with his latest project: building a BBQ in our garden.

Alex using his new welding skills to put the roof up over the workshop area.

Ed helping to wire up the computer lab.

Ed and Rich building a BBQ at our new house.

Rich making a grill for the BBQ.

You will see from the pictures how the building work is progressing. The computer lab is coming on really well and has now had window frames put in, plaster on the walls, wiring put in, a roof and is ready for the floor to be laid next week. It is exciting to see how progress is being made and we are now trying to get to grips with how to go about opening a school and all that involves.

Friday morning chai break in the computer lab.

The walls for the classrooms, reception area and stores are all up to height now and the ceiling is being put in.

We have many exciting things to look forward to over the next couple of months including visits from both sets of parents as well as some friends who are coming to see us. We are so excited about seeing them all and sharing the experience of living in Africa with them all. Plus they have all very kindly offered to bring out supplies of chocolate, teabags and other miscellaneous items that we miss out here!