Malvern or Ngong?

The Malvern Hills and Ngong Hills are about the same height and share similar views on both sides. Both are venues for Sunday outings.

One requires an armed guard (Isaiah the policeman in this case) and has wild buffalo; the other has dogs off the leash, cyclists and MH Conservators.

At least one of these pictures is of Malvern, but can you tell which? (Let me know!)

It is said that the Ngong hills are shaped like the knuckles of a clenched fist and were formed by a giant, wandering along with his head in the clouds, who tripped over Kilimanjaro and grabbed the soil in his fist when he fell...either that or they are the dirt from God’s finger nails when he made the world. <<...>> <<...>> <<...>> <<...>>

Jacaranda at work

I.e., it is present at work...not it is doing work (isn’t English complicated?)

I do like the Jacaranda trees. Here is one in a courtyard at work; it may not be the best specimen around but it is amazing when surrounded by buildings. The trees flower towards the end of the dry season and then leaves follow. Many of them are planted in avenues and curve over the road very gracefully. As always click on the picture for a slightly larger version. <<...>>

Views from above

One of my early entries shows the main block of the Kenyatta National Hospital (10 storeys) but these views are from the 7^th floor.

I’m not sure what order they will appear, but one shows the hospital car park, bus terminus and a view towards the centre of Nairobi across a playing field belonging to the Nairobi Club.

The other shows the old King George hospital that is now used by the University, as well as  a few hospital clinics. My office is in the penultimate 3-storey block, just past the water tank (to the right of the palms). In the background (right) is a suburb known as Lang’ata and Wilson airport is more central in the background  (not really visible, just take my word for it). <<...>> <<...>>

Guaranteed 20 wives

My 4x4 Rav4 is 12 years old and has spent 7 of those in Kenya, so it’s doing well. I asked for a stick to be put on the front so I could tell where the front is in the bumper-to-bumper driving of rush-hour. What was produced was this multi-coloured light show!

When I went for petrol, the attendant admired the car while cleaning the windscreen and topping up the water (remember when that happened in Britain?) and assured me that if he had the car he would get 20 wives within a year; families would be so impressed they would sign up their daughters immediately! The morality of this, and the opinions of the women, were not discussed. <<...>> <<...>>

Pick-me up

Porridge is a common dietary item here, especially for the Kikuyu tribe. Hospital patients have porridge, often drunk from a cup, each day as a separate meal. I am intending to try making some, and thought this one might be appropriate in view of my advanced years, which around here get commented upon and respected a bit more. On the plus side, locals tell me I don’t walk like someone of my age!! <<...>>

Oops

On my route to work, one truck in trouble! The armed police let me take the picture and told me the driver had disappeared; probably a good job or he could be “behind bars”. This is a garbage truck but was fortunately empty at the time. Note the nice Jacaranda tree in flower behind the truck. <<...>>

Oranges and politics

Kenyan politics is often more about tribe and personality than about policy. Many politicians change party quite freely, or just start a new one.

Near my home is Orange House, HQ of the Orange Democratic Movement, the main opposition party headed by Raila Odinga. Don’t confuse it with ODM-Kenya, a break away party, or is it the ODM who broke away but kept the same name? Confused? So are the voters, the courts, and me. ODM-K wanted to claim the Orange symbol but the courts ruled they couldn’t have it, neither could they have an orange on the background of a map of Kenya. Instead they would have to use the symbol of a whole orange and a half orange to distinguish them from ODM who would continue to use the whole orange alone. Clear?

This system is meant to help illiterate voters recognise their chosen party on the ballot slip. Other symbols have included the banana (not being used this time), a cockerel (former President Moi) and a variety of other fruit and animals as well as abstract symbols.

Other parties include the Forum for Restoration of Democracy divided into FORD-People and FORD-Kenya. Guess the meaning of NARC, NARC-K and KANU, but remember that many of them are joined together in PNU, a new coalition designed to support the existing President Kibaki.

By the way, these oranges are “yellow oranges” to distinguish them from ordinary (green) oranges.

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Birds at the verandah

The Verandah is a very nice garden cafe which does good food and has a well-planted garden for watching birds. I spent Moi Day (10^th Oct) there in a very relaxed fashion. Some I can identify, the red-billed firefinches are fairly easy and the Bronze Mannikins are OK but others are harder. The black one with a few white/pink ruffled feathers may be an Indigo Bird, but which species? Having 3 books may be helpful but is apt to confuse! It doesn’t help that the names have changed over the years (did anyone tell the birds?). The Dark-capped Bulbul may also be known as the Black-eyed Bulbul but used to be known as the Yellow-vented Bulbul and had a different Latin name too. (Either way, you can tell which it is in the photos). The one that was surprised when it got out of the bath is the self same (choose a name) Bulbul. <<...>> <<...>> <<...>> <<...>> <<...>> <<...>>

 

Hammerkop and wagtails

A Hammerkop is nesting just outside my compound and was seen collecting materials from our grounds.

The pied wagtails look very similar to those in Europe!

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More notices at work

The lift won’t be used at any other time either!

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Nairobi or Venice?

In historic Venice, the Doges (Rulers) and their security services used informants a lot. In the Doge’s Palace there is a carving with an open mouth into which citizens could post anonymous notes accusing others.

Nairobi seems similar! There are opportunities in many places, including the hospital, to report corruption to the authorities.

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Electricity supply

The electricity supply here is mostly OK but everywhere gets occasional power cuts and sometimes there are planned cuts in the daytime to ration power on a rota basis. One of the problems the supply company has is the vast number of illegal connections in the slum areas. To solve this, the government have sent in the police and army to remove the connections (see photo) and are offering a cheaper form of legal connector. There were some fights when this first happened, but it seems to have gone quiet now.

To cope with cuts, and the voltage spikes on reconnection, I have surge protectors on anything that matters at home or work. <<...>>

Driving

I have yet to do a lot of driving here, having only just got a car. The rule seems to be, give way to Matatus (minibuses for public use) first of all, buses, second of all, and anything else you might actually hit. Matatus illustrate quantum mechanics perfectly. They can move from their present position to any other position without passing through the intervening space. They are liable to stop, start or move in any direction at any time without warning.

Learners are always clearly identified...and sometimes protected. <<...>> <<...>>