Last month, in a sort of desperate “I-have-to -do-SOMETHNG” panic, I spent several days going through all of my closets, cupboards and action-packer trunks getting rid of fabric, clothes not worn for 2 years, saved notes and papers, dishes & small appliances.   I had not expected it to be such a huge relief but it really helped me get start climbing out of the rut I had fallen into. 

It has been raining quite a bit here so the farmers, plants, animals & birds are very happy.  My compound is looking green again and the bougainvillea hedges are going crazy!   On the downside, it takes days for my laundry to dry; the mosquito & fly populations have exploded; and riding to work or town on the back of a motorcycle in the rain is not a real pleasant experience.   On the other hand, my water tank is always full so no need to buy any. 😊

Since I moved into this house in 2003 there has been a problem with the window casings leaking when it rains.  For several years it wasn’t too bad and I procrastinated about having things repaired because

1) all my floors are cement so no flooring damage

2) I expected it to be very expensive and my funds are limited and  

3)I didn’t know any really good carpenters that I would trust to do a quality job. 

But these last 2 weeks I reached the end when in the space of 2 hours I mopped up 4 gallons of water--just from the dining room floor!     During this time, I was asked to meet with Jeremy, a former staff who now has his own business, and after the meeting I asked him if he knew any really good carpenters.  He said yes and put me in touch with Emmanuel; who came the following week to look at the job needed.   Emmanuel quoted me a very reasonable estimate of $400 to repair all 12 windows with a guarantee that they will no longer leak.  We will have to wait until the rains are over to begin but he says he will come with his whole team and they can have it all done in 1 week.    Also, it turns out that he is the brother of a woman I worked with when I was at Shimba Hills base18 years ago.  Small world.

Next week I have to bus up to our sister base near Nairobi for the National Leadership Team quarterly meeting.  Up on Monday and back on Thursday.  It is a 10-hour trip each way with a 20-minute stop midway for lunch & potty break.  Needless to say, by the time I get home Thursday night I will be kaput--probably for the whole weekend.