INDEPENDENCE

It's late, I'm tired and the internet connection is running slowly so this may not be my best blog so far (and I suppose I should also mention that I am feeling grouchy for some unaccountable and irrational reason so that probably has something to do with it too).  I am going to cover two main things - the Ugandan Independence Day (UID) celebrations that we had at school on Friday (after a day off on Thursday, so I it was really only a 3-day week - so no reason for grouchiness there), and also a quick photo look at a walk I made around down town Kampala yesterday morning whilst I was waiting to get my car alarm fitted before we venture to the more lawless lands North of Kampala in a couple of weeks time.

The UID celebrations were really good fun, if a little chaotic, although that is no less than I have come to expect - none of the rigour and carefully planned routines of Smallwood Manor here!  I am not saying that with tongue in cheek either as one of the things that I am coming to realise is just how much I took for granted over the last few years!

All the children, and the staff, were encouraged to come in National Costume, or at least in Ugandan colours of red, yellow and black if they couldn't manage the costume (although not everyone in the staff room entered fully into the spirit of the occasion).  This made for a colourful gathering and the day started with a parade around the school before getting together in the dining room (I say room, it only has one wall and a roof so it is more of a open-side shelter really).  After that we had a morning of vaguely nationalistic activities - bead making, mask making, African dance and games.  The masks ended up more like Aztec masks, and the games turned out to be dodge ball (Andy our PE teacher tried to convince me this was a genuine Ugandan sport in ancient times, but when I questioned him more closely about the possibility of it involving throwing spears, or live crocodiles to test warriors courage he backed down and admitted it was just what the kids had asked him for) however, all in all, in was a great morning.

We were really lucky to have the Ugandan national African children's choir in school and they had 
everyone involved in performing and singing

Here  I am getting down with my class, whilst sporting my
traditional Kanzu (kindly obtained for me
by one of my parents).

Martin, our secondary English teacher, shows off his prowess as a
hunter of big game as well as punctuation

What was Neville, our new Principal, thinking?
Something I find myself asking more and more recently!

Our Year 9 and Year 10 students gave us a terrific performance
of 'Wavin' Flag' as a finale

This fine member of our student body is in my Film Club.
Fortunately he is not as dangerous as he appears.

After lunch we had our assembly in which each class contributed a local song or dance that they had learned.  I was very proud of Y5 who had actually written their own performance poem celebrating the things that were important to them about Uganda, and had even set it to their own rhythm in music tech lessons.  If you want to hear a short excerpt then I have uploaded a video clip of one of our rehearsals on my Facebook page.

The Year 5 performance in full swing

After school were all invited over to our Head of Primary's house for 'sundowners and supper'.  It was a fun evening which finished the day off well.  As I said, on Saturday morning I had to be up early to take Lucy across town to get an alarm system fitted.  During the hour or so I had to wait (it took a bit longer than anticipated as the garage discovered they required a specialist tool and had to send out for one which took a bit of time.  The tool in question was a drill!) I went for a wander around the Bombo Road and took some photos of the local life.  I am always careful to ask permission before I take a picture and am rarely disappointed.  However, on this occasion I was refused by two traffic police, which is a shame as they are a sight to see - especially the women. They are bedecked in spotless white boiler suits with berets and boots and are really quite impressive.  The female sergeant I spoke to was very happy to chat with me but was adamant that I couldn't take her photo whilst she was on duty, and she wasn't someone I was going to argue with.

Bananas are big in Uganda and this is about as fresh
as they come - straight off the trees into the market

Sadly, meat is not quite as fresh as the fruit.
This NOT where I buy my meat from!

I wanted to show this picture as it just seemed to illustrate how the
majority of Ugandans make their living - small, one or two
man businesses.  As was looking around Bombo Road
 I thought that it was probably pretty much how London
must have looked, say, two hundred years ago.

Now, for all that Uganda is way behind the UK in
many technologies, this is one area where they are
far ahead us.  Mobile money is cash put onto your
mobile phone, and then you can pay anyone just by
crediting their mobile account.  It is the way nearly all small
to middling bills are paid here.

I guess the owner of this magnificent property was just fed up with 
people coming up to him and making offers, so he felt the 
need to inform the public of his lack of desire to sell!

So that is the end of this week's blog.  Today has been a long day, with church at the Cathedral, followed by drama group rehearsals at the Mountain of Fire Ministries then back home for lesson planning etc.  It is now nearly 9pm and I need to get away from this computer, slump on the sofa with a small single malt and watch something meaningless on TV.  I don't know what I will cover next week, but I'm sure something will come to mind.  Oh yes, and for my kind and considerate (but occasionally pedantic) wife who feels the need every week to point out any errors of grammar and punctuation in my blog - please don't bother tonight as I'm too tired to care!