Miscellaneous jottings

All the children came back to school last week so we have been busy with school stuff and mostly trying to keep out of the way while everything settles down.  So no theme for this post - just some miscellany.

We pulled into Don’s service station in Lyantonde for fuel on the way home from Lake Mburo on Sunday.  It feels like the 1950s here sometimes and a good example is the service station.  Each pump has 2-3 attendants who wave you in, fuel you up, do your windscreens, check the oil etc.  At Don’s the woman filling the tank teased me about putting diesel in and we had a bet about how much a full tank would cost.  Several of the others came over for a chat (“where are you from?  where have you been? where are you going?) and Jenny decided that she would take a photo of them (and me) in their Don uniforms.  They were good fun!  This is an example of the little things that happen that make us glad we came.

Check out the fuel price - 3440 UGX for Unleaded is $1.25/l Australian.  What is it in Hamilton at the moment I wonder?

My birding spot at school continues to be productive even though the kids are back.  I spend an hour down there each morning - mostly concentrating my attention on one particular small tree.  I don’t know what species it is but it is possibly a remnant from the original forest.  In any case, every bird passing through seems to pop into it for a while and I have had some exciting species.  Best was Honeyguide Greenbul (a lifer) but I’ve also had Plain and Slender-Billed Greenbuls, Red-headed Malimbe, Yellow-spotted and Double-toothed Barbets and Olive Sunbird.  Every day something new!

Yellow-spotted Barbet

Red-headed Malimbe

Plain Greenbul

Olive Sunbird

Woodland Kingfisher

Double-toothed Barbet

Honeyguide Greenbul

We have had our compound to ourselves for 3 months but now we have neighbours.  Last week a woman with a house girl moved in to #1 (we are in #2).  So far we haven’t seen or heard much of them and they don’t seem to have a car.  Then today a family have moved into #3.  Mum, Dad and 3 boys.  It will be good to have people in the compound for security but we have enjoyed the peace - hopefully that won’t be affected too much.

We also had a visit from some of the neighborhood goats a few nights ago.  I think Askari Richard was wondering if he could get them to eat the grass but not the trees.  They haven’t been back.

Some of the children (and a couple of teachers) had fun with a big parachute thing.

Science Teacher Godfrey (my favorite teacher) was thrilled to receive his new laptop on Monday from the science faculty at Jenny’s old school Baimbridge College in Hamilton.  I have lots of sciency documentaries that I am slowly introducing him to.  He will be a critical thinker by the time I have finished with him.  He is loving the first series of Cosmos!

CEO Annabelle (centre) with Teacher Emily and Teacher Jenny on Wednesday showing they haven’t lost their primary school skills - preparing some signs for a photoshoot of the new truck School For Life has bought with a generous donation.

On Friday our car was used to teach the P5 class all the parts of a car (part of the English course).  It had all the necessary bits.

Saturday we drove into Kampala for supplies and to pay a deposit on a lodge booking (for gorilla tracking).  Some insane drivers - imagine a very busy roundabout where no-one ever gives way.  I used my horn at one point - very rare for me.

Today we had plans to buy a guest bed but we just couldn’t be bothered!  We stayed home, made bread and pumpkin soup and did some cleaning.