Quynn.JPG

godchild.JPG
Originally uploaded by joodmc.

Here i am with my first godchild, Quynn Morrison (daughter of Tanya Maxwell Morrison and Mike Morrison. She was just six weeks old. We went up to Limuru for the day and had a lovely coffee at the Kentmere club. But it was pretty chilly.

I'm still in Nairobi but leaving this evening to Manchester to see Lisa Greenop (Chisholm) who is also expecting her second - babies everywhere.

Varsity Alumni rugby game.JPG

Varsity Alumni rugby game.JPG
Originally uploaded by joodmc.

It felt like I'd stepped back 20 years watching rugby on the upper field at RVA. Too bad the view of the rift valley was too foggy.

class of 87.JPG

DSC01312.JPG
Originally uploaded by joodmc.

went up to my high school, Rift Valley Academy in Kijabe this weekend for the centennial celebration. Of the class of 87 there were only three of us, but was great to see Chris and Brent - hard to imagine its been 19 years since I saw them, lots more grey hair (and less hair) on all sides, but other than that, they were still pretty much as I remembered them.

We had dinner on Kiambogo porch.

Well, am back in Nairobi and wrapping up my consultancy with Pact. It was an amazing trip and I'm sad its over, but I will be back next year I'm sure. It was really sad to say bye to Mary and the other people at the Kapoeta camp.

mango sellers.JPG

mango sellers.JPG
Originally uploaded by joodmc.

still can't get over the fact that the women smoke pipes.

sinking sand adventure.jpg

sinking sand adventure.jpg
Originally uploaded by joodmc.

One of our last visits was to a village called Lauro, where there is still a fair bit of unrest (we had to take a separate vehicle of SPLA soldiers for security). Enroute I decided to cross the river on foot.

But I stepped in the wrong place - and got sucked in - Lemmy, the driver was farm-boy to my Buttercup impression. Fortunately didn't see any ROUS. Gave everyone a pretty good laugh though.

When we arrived in Lauro we heard that there had been a fight between the Didinga and the Toposa the day before and people were really edgy. A couple days later, when we sent vehicles to pick up participants for a training workshop the Toposa blocked the vehicle and wouldn't let it pass into Didinga territory. The situation is still pretty tense.

Toposa children.JPG

Toposa children.JPG
Originally uploaded by joodmc.

this beautiful girl and baby were in Paringa village in North Kapoeta. The baby didn't like me much unfortuantely.