We stayed with volunteers in BD with nice apartments and I looked forward to a nice hot shower (my first in about two months!) So there I was, steaming water flowing, head shampooed up and then… the water stopped. I managed to find the taps to get a little water to get the soap out of my eyes, and then I waited, planning to use a bucket of water in the bathroom, but after about 5mins I heard some guys downstairs start the pump for the water tank and a minute later the water came on again, and I had a luxurious shower at last.
On Christmas day there were 11 ferengi round for Christmas dinner. We had fish in sauce and quiche that one of the volunteers had made, along with lemon rice and lots of different prepared veg. There was also Canadian salmon on biscuit starters. The nationalities of the ferengi were: 5 Dutch, 2 Canadian, 2 English, 1 Indian and 1 Swede.
On the other days, we bought lots of food shopping (I bought biscuits, sweets, jam, honey, peanut butter, syrup and tins of hotdogs and tuna – healthy stuff then!) I also bought some other bits and pieces like mugs, and had some photos developed. Göran bought some jeans from the m
arket, which was fun. Apparently the style is flared at the moment. Check out the picture which shows his flower-power roots!
We also walked around the edge of the lake which was good, and fended off the usual barrage of peo
ple asking u
s
if we wanted to buy stuff, go somewhere on a boat or taxi, give them money or bread etc which was not so good. And we had a pizza one night.
During the stay, Judith’s drains blocked and every time someone from upstairs used water, brown, smelly water came into her kitchen and through into the living room. At one point there were little 1cm worms in the water as well. We used some caustic soda and eventually the problem seemed to be fixed.
On 28th December, almost one year to the day I went last time, we went to visit the island monasteries on
Today, getting a Bajadge (three-wheeled taxi,) the driver started with 30 ETB (white-skin price), but using my limited “I’ve been here a while” Amharic, I eventually got him down to 5 ETB to get us to the bus station. This is the usual thing that happens in many places, although a 600% mark-up was a good one!
On the way back to Gilgel the minibus stopped for a priest who came on and blessed people and let them kiss his cross. For this honour they paid one birr. I said in quite a loud voice: “God is free in
The college car collected us at the end of the asphalt road and drove us back home, which is so much nicer than getting two buses.
Betting
Me and Göran have been placing a series of one-birr bets. In the house it has mostly related to when and for how long the power will be out and will someone be burning the grass around the houses as we walk home.
On our BD journey, the bets were:
- We will leave between 3-5 local time (Göran won)
- The driver will play the Amharic version of Staying Alive from his favourite tape both ways (Göran won, he played Sudanese music both ways, no Staying Alive.)
- There will be a power cut of over 5 minutes on Christmas Day in the apartments (I won, it was only a minute on that day)
- There will be some kind of live animal, such as a chicken, on the back of the car when we drive home, like last time. (I won, there were no non-human animals.)
- We will stop for more than 10 minutes in Chagni. (I won, we stopped for 12 minutes to wait for, and collect the college Dean.)
So overall, I am up one birr!!!!
Food cache
My current canned food situation after having a delivery from
Tuna 28
Sardines 2
Beef Luncheon Meat 6
Chicken Luncheon Meat 14
Pork Luncheon Meat 16
Corned Beef 7
Pork Franks 16
Chicken Franks 12
Chicken and Beef Hotdogs 3
Total 104
This means that I can survive here until 12th April on one can a day!!!!
Day 400 and New Year
New Year’s Eve is my Day 400 in
Happy New Year to all of my readers.
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