Trees fire and a distinct lack of power and water

Well hello everyone.

I'm writing this on Thursday at about 10pm, but we won't have the internet switched back on again until tomorrow so I'll post it then. We had a bit of excitement this evening. Just as the sun was setting and we had started to put lights on just after 6, we heard a crunching crashing noise, a bit of a crack, and then the lights went out and our power went. So Hannah and I headed upstairs to see if we could see what had happened from the window and met Dave who said that a tree had fallen. We went outside and found that a tree had indeed fallen and taken some of the cables with it. We're still curious as to why the tree fell, it wasn't the slightest bit windy, but apparently that just happens sometimes. Anyway, one of the cables nearer to our building was leaning against a tree which was then catching fire. We went back in to sort out what we were going to do for food and stuff, and cooked communal rice to save on water, and then all washed up together for the same purpose. The water is run by a pump y'see, so with the electric being off there was also no water, so we had to use the emergency supply from the jerry cans. Anyway, as we were washing up a fire truck turned up to put out the tree that was luckily only very slowly burning, and about an hour ago (9.30) we got power back so I was able to carry on sorting out my photos.

So that was our excitment. Now I'll try and remember what we did yesterday. Ah yes, after a morning of boredom we went to do the flotation. This didn't work hugely well. We spent about half an hour filling up the oil barrel which was our home-made flotation tank, and then about an hour trying to figure out how to work it properly without losing anything. We finally figured it by the end of the day, but then in the evening at the house we ran out of water. So we were lacking until this morning when the tanks had filled up a bit more. We decided to leave the flotation for today to let the water be replenished.

So instead Dave and I played with bones from Kilwa in the store-room. We had a bit of a giggle, as usual, I think it must have something to do wth the dust levels in that room, it makes us go slightly loopy. But it was interesting. I know nothing about human remains so he was doing some identifying while I wrapped and labelled. We were unwrapping these bone frags from a site that had been dug, we think in the 60s, but everything was so poorly labelled, and what was labelled was wearing off or in terrible handwriting so you couldn't tell what it was. It was wrapped in newspaper from 1965 mostly, which was very interesting to read headlines and little snippets of news. Apparently there are diamonds on the moon. Oh yes.

So yes, that was fun with foil. Then this afternoon we all had a trip to the doctors. The guys had their 2nd cholera drinks and I had my first, and I also had my meningitis jab. The doctor made me look at it, which was a bit annoying, and very lucky that I couldn't actually see the needle sticking in my arm otherwise I probably would have fainted. I really hate people who think it's just cos I don't like looking at it. I really wouldn't mind if doing so hadn't made me faint in the past. Silly. Mind over matter my arse. It probably has something to do with why I get travelsick. Which, btw was the other bad thing about going out. We were taken there in the landrover, which has two long benches in the back. I was sat clinging on to the sides as we hurtled through the streets weaving in and out between cars and going over countless speedbumps. I felt so ill by the time we got there, and convinced I was about to die the whole way. But I think that may have been a bit of a combination with the fear of getting an injection in a little office in Kenya that made me so bad. On the way back I sat on the other side where Dave had managed to open the window for me, it was a lot quicker (less traffic) and there were hardly any speedbumps so I didn't feel quite so bad. In fact the clinging on while weaving through traffic was actually quite exciting.

Anyway, then Dave and I had the pleasure of getting together the stuff from the store cupboard that we will be taking to Sudan on Monday. This gave us fun with climbing around on shelves, looking at ancient equipment, and me being smug when I found a load of stuff that we were looking for where Dave had just looked unsuccessfully. Once we were sure we had everthing set we called it a day a little early, and came back to the house. I did the rest of my washing and hung everything out, even though it was already getting late. I'm hoping it won't rain tonight so that it'll be okay and finish off drying tomorrow. The attachee who left just before I arrived left a bag of clothes, which Hannah had already pilfered a few things from but told me to have a look. So I did. There are a couple of quite nice casual shirts, although they are quite well worn, which I have been wearing open over my tops to cover my arms, but they're a size 8 I think, which is tiny, so I'll know if I lose weight while i'm here by if the nice shirts fit! But don't worry mum, I am eating properly, just healthily! Lots of rice and vegetables.

Anyway, time for bed methinks. I finished reading Twilight in 3 days, and now am going to have to look for the following books while I'm here. Very addictive, if a little trashy. I was tempted to read some Austin next as there is a great collection on the bookshelves down here. Mansfield park is the only Austin though, but War and Peace, Moby Dick, Far from the Madding Crowd, Tess, but I just couldn't resist picking up Thor Heyerdahl's The Kon-Tiki Expedition. Should be a giggle. Otherwise I might start with the Tempest as I've been curious to read it properly ever since my failed attempt to watch the operatic version at the Royal Opera House with Tamsin.

Anyway, I seem to have babbled on again. Hopefully tomorrow I'll get some photos up, otherwise this is going to get really boring. I do wonder if anyone actually makes it to the end.....?