Day 276 – Saturday 30th October 2010

Armorel was off to work this morning, but only on a half day. I was off early to have a day of building with Lucas. We are building a new shed / house for his chickens.

After a quick visit to the timber mill, we first ventured to a man to buy pork for lunch. We arrived a little early as they were just chopping the pig’s head off. We waited 5 minutes for our fresh bag of pork.

We had great fun designing and building this masterpiece, though it  was very hot work. You have to adapt to very different standards out here. Aesthetically anything goes, as long as it works and is practical. And of course with wood being in short supply and incredibly expensive you need to be very creative.

We didn’t quite finish, as we didn’t manage to complete the second storey.

Armorel had a relatively quite morning at work, with many patients taking a turn for the better. She was able to come and see the workman before popping into the market.

Tonight we had 8 for dinner and a movie!

Wonderful spaghetti and garlic bread was enjoyed before a film. An excellent way to finish a tough week!

Though there is plenty of washing up!

Day 275 – Friday 29th October 2010

We ventured off to work to see what fun and games we had in store today.

Armorel’s day was again very busy. They still have some very sick patients in and the member of staff who is a patient has gone downhill again.

I taught my first lesson and then waited for the staff meeting at 10am.

I still don’t understand why the head always has whole staff meetings in the middle of the day. It means of course that the students have no teachers from the start of the meeting until they go home. When I question such an idea I receive blank faces!

So the meeting was not very productive or pleasant. Firstly, my request for translation was met by annoyance and a very feeble attempt at keeping me informed. I still have no idea what agenda points 2-4 were about. I only knew what 5 was because I understood what they were saying and they were talking about me.

It’s hard!

So the problem is all about disciple, and the use of the cane. It is perfectly legal in Tanzania, but I am trying to get the school to think about other punishments and set new standards. My ideas were not received well, or objectively.I started to be blamed for colonisation and slavery, and when I managed to avoid that accusation it was because I was more superior and that they were just poor and uneducated.

I tried, but sadly their ears were shut.

I even got told that Christianity actively encouraged beating of children! I politely explained they must be following a very different God to me!

I don’t know what to do!

I escaped the meeting at 2:30pm, and sought comfort with a cup of tea. Armorel got home just before 6, exhausted and still not finished. She is working so hard!

We had a quick dinner at the Orion before heading home and crashing!

Day 274 – Thursday 28th October 2010

Off to work we go. This week seems to be going fast.

I spent the morning trying to write the English end of year exam, and by using as few pieces of paper as possible. I do feel sorry for the kids having to read ‘Mr John’s made up stories’ and then answer questions on them. It is the wannabe author in me.

The afternoon was spent teaching, and giving some advice on revision techniques. They didn’t quite understand the idea of a pneumonic.

Armorel spent the day on the ward, helping out the nurses, encouraging them and giving handy hints when drugs and obs were being forgotten. It is going be very tough to leave and hand it all over to the nurses. A big challenge!

This afternoon we treated the kids to our sporting prowess, with football and netball. There was a lot less bickering than normal, which was a welcome relief. Kids bicker so much more out here! It is unbelievable.

I have a meeting with the head tomorrow morning about discipline in the school. It is going to be tough!

The evening has disappeared with a short cowboy film and the next episode of ER, and now it is off to bed.

The wind is picking up too! Maybe another storm is on its way?

Day 273 – Wednesday 27th October 2010

The humidity broke in the early hours with an ear shattering thunder storm. Truly wonderful!

We then woke to a beautiful fresh morning and ventured into work.

Armorel was off to the village of Kilungu for their monthly mobile clinic. It was a quiet one this week, and she managed to see most of her patients by the early afternoon.

My day was also nice and relaxed. I taught all morning and spent the afternoon in town doing some bits and pieces. This included booking our internal flights out of Tabora.

Getting scarily close now.

We enjoyed an early evening stroll before sitting down to watch the Lion King with Zawadi and Baraka.

Day 272 – Tuesday 26th October 2010

There is not much room in a bed with a patient and their bandaged foot.

I did not sleep well, but amazingly Armorel is feeling not too bad. The leg cramps, and shooting pain started to ease at about 4am.

We hobble of to work.

We have been here 10 months but I still don’t get this place, and I feel so totally lost in some school policies and goings on.

Kids got caned today for ‘love relationships’. I thought they meant having sex, they meant holding hands! The staff didn’t agree with my views on this, and were quiet shocked I was so lenient.

The day got worse, and I don’t want to write my current thoughts and feelings. I need to process first!

Armorel had a good day and launched her new initiative, ‘Nurse of the Month’, in the hope to inspire and motivate the nurses to do their jobs. Let’s hope this helps encourage them to take vital signs and give the odd drug.

The rain was merely a preview. It’s getting even hotter and now its humid too!

Day 271 – Monday 25th October 2010

6 weeks to go!

Today I tried to explain and go through the English test with the students. Not easy, when the students who understand all that I am saying are the ones who did ok. We plod on.

The clinic was manic, with hundreds of patients. I arrived, had a look and hid in the office catching up on paperwork with the office girls.

Armorel is shattered!

We got home late and after a quick cup of tea headed over to Ruth’s. She was having a ‘We survived the weekend’ celebration. It had been a tough weekend for the staff as two patients had died.

We had a lovely evening, though quiet as everyone is so exhausted, and got home nice and early to continue with ER.

OOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWWHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Armorel has been stung by a scorpion!

It has now died, under my shoe, but what do you do!

After a small panic, doctor call and chat to local scorpion expert we relax slightly.

Though Armorel is in excruciating pain. She heads to bed with a wrapped up foot and plenty of ice.

We pray this heals quickly.

                                            Bad news?

Day 270 – Sunday 24th October 2010

Is it bad to have a day off church?

It was a special, all together service, and so we decided to have our own service at home with coffee and French toast. Thank you for the internet as we joined Rob Bell and his Mars Hill congregation in America.

We later found out the service lasted over 5 hours!

We have been treated by meals this week and we headed down the road to Jim and Margaret’s for a spot of lunch, and a play on a flight simulator Jim has on his laptop.

I crashed landed every time!

We enjoyed an afternoon rest and cowboy film and by the time we realised where we were, it was time for nature night and bed.

Day 269 – Saturday 23rd October 2010

I am having a day off!

Armorel is not!

She heads off after a lazy breakfast, and has a tough day. The patients on the ward are very sick, and she saw a large number of patients. Her day finished with a long meeting which had its mix of highs and frustrations.

I headed off to football, and I think I might get wet.

I didn’t, but had great fun. I seemed to have loads of energy and ran round like a headless chicken. Which is how I play all sports I agree. I scored a wonderful hat-trick, including a chest and volley from 25 yards.

Then at 1:47pm after a dozen rumbles of thunder, the heavens opened, and the rain began.

A 45 minute deluge. Have the rains began?

Tonight we headed out to say goodbye to another UK doctor, Sasha. It was a lovely evening, though my football watching was interrupted by a political broadcast. Just over a week until the elections.

Day 268 – Friday 22nd October 2010

There are certain occasions when you have to look at yourself in the mirror, and think hard.

Today was one of those days.

32 students got 0% on their English test.

Mainly because they left within the first 5 minutes without trying. Luckily, I did have a scattering of C’s and B’s to not become too downhearted.

Armorel’s job list today had her writing an emergency procedure protocol for the clinic. If an emergency comes into the clinic they shout “ABC” and the process is in full swing. You hope.

The ward has a number of very sick patients at the moment with very bleak prognosis’s. You can but pray.

Tonight we join a band of wazungu’s for dinner at Jay and Lyn’s. A feast of Indian curries and dishes.

I ate far too much!

but…some patients are on the mend!

Day 267 – Thursday 21st October 2010

Our days were long today.

The clinic was hugely busy, meaning Armorel’s timetable is slowly disappearing out the window. However, she did get to drain about a half a litre of puss out of a ladies groin. I have refrained from publishing a photo.

My day was packed full of preparing the students for their English Friday test tomorrow. I have made it a real challenge, and one they will have to think for themselves, something that does not come naturally to a generation of students taught by a lecture method.

After a hot afternoon of sports and games it was a night at home, with nothing to do.

Except start the final series of ER. Only 22 episodes to go!

Day 266 – Wednesday 20th October 2010

It’s another cloudy day, but no sign of rain yet. Jim had convinced me yesterday that today was the day.

He is wrong.

I continue to try and get the students to ‘analyse media’, which makes me laugh when half can’t even read the word media, let alone tell me what something means. However, they always have a couple of gems. When answering the question, “What opened in 2004?” from an article about a university opening in 2004, I got the answer the story!

Armorel had a day of organising and planning. She has now created a wonderful timetable of jobs and tasks, so that she manages to finish everything before we go. It is impressive.

Don’t tell her that I said this, but she’s already falling behind!

This evening we headed out to Lucas and Noelina’s for dinner. Have we told you that she is pregnant? It is so exciting, though we are so annoyed we miss the birth by two months. We had an evening filled with laughter and talk about chickens. Next weekend Lucas and I are building him a chicken shed!

Day 265 – Tuesday 19th October 2010

It’s off to work we go, on a cloudy day.

Rumour has it the rains are going to come early.

Any day now.

I struggle through my morning lessons, though I am now exhausted and seek refuge in the clinic.

Armorel is having a day locked in the dressing room, sterilising and organising dressings. She seems to have enjoyed herself.

I was saved by an afternoon power cut and managed to get in a little sleep before home time.

We arrived home and had tea and cake on the veranda with Jim and Margaret.

Very civilised.

Now it is time to try and organise our holiday. There are some wonderful places to stay.

Day 264 – Monday 18th October 2010

We decide work is not sensible for me today, though I am improving greatly.

I plan to go in tomorrow.

Armorel heads off early to the clinic and the rest of us stay and enjoy our books and some fresh coffee. Ken and Gill did some packing too.

Just before lunch Armorel came and picked them up and took them for a last clinic visit and a whistle-stop tour of the school.

It was then time to go. We continued our tradition of writing letters and cards for people back home in the airport lounge, and then it was time.

It has been so wonderful having Ken and Gill here. We are just so sorry the hosts weren’t the most active.

Fresh from the garden

Day 263 – Sunday 17th October 2010

I braved church this morning. I was meant to be speaking but passed on the baton earlier in the week. I was glad, even standing proved hard work.

Ruth had invited us, and some others, around for lunch so we soon were heading over. We had a marvellous feast, and wasted away most of the afternoon. It was lovely, and I managed to stay awake for all of it.

It was then time for a walk around the shamba. Well for everyone else. I came home to bed.

The building is going up quickly. I think Ken and Gill were a bit blown away by the scale. This is no small building project. Next are the windows.

This evening we have had a lovely relaxing evening. It is such a shame they go tomorrow.

Day 262 – Saturday 16th October 2010

Ken and Armorel headed out to visit a Compassion project this morning. The charity is a great child support and sponsorship charity that Ken is heavily involved in. They had a good, but long day, exploring the project and visiting a family at home. The project is very well run, with great success stories.

Gill and I rested at home, reading and chatting. I am still wiped.

This evening we headed out for a quiet meal, but didn’t stay late as I need the bed.

Day 261 – Friday 15th October 2010

Gill joins us as we head to work.

I last about 30 minutes.

I have had another test but still no malaria. The plan is to start me on some anti-biotic now. Maybe I have a virus?

I spent the rest of the day in bed.

Gill helped out with some filing and pill counting, whilst Ken kept me company for the day.

One of the very sick patients, a young child suffering from malnutrition died this morning.

A tough day for all.

Day 260 – Thursday 14th October 2010

I am not well.

Today is a bank holiday to celebrate the death of the country’s first president. Unfortunately, there are two very sick patients on the ward, and so Armorel headed in to work. One of the patients is a member of staff. She needs our prayers.

I stayed in bed most of today. I am wiped out.

This evening we headed out for dinner, which seemed long for me, and unfortunately the food wasn’t great. I need some sleep.

Day 259 – Wednesday 13th October 2010

We decide to head into work. Armorel is doing better than me.

I manage to struggle through my teaching but everything wipes me out. Had another blood test, still no malaria so it’s a little bit of a mystery as to why I am feeling like this.

Armorel managed to work most of the day, catching up and dealing with being off for a few days. I think the ward paperwork was a bit of a mess.

Today my aunt and uncle, Ken and Gill arrived. It is so lovely to have them here, but we feel so bad that we are both still ropey.

We’ve had a relaxing evening, chatting and catching up but we are both exhausted and need bed.

Day 258 – Tuesday 12th October 2010

It is going to be short tonight.

Armorel is continuing to recover from malaria but I have now been struck down.

No malaria on my blood tests but chromatin dots.

Supposedly they show that I did have malaria but it is being killed off.

Still doesn’t make you feel better.

Day 257 – Monday 11th October 2010

Armorel is staying in bed today. She is not feeling too hot at all. Such a shame as she was much better yesterday.

I headed into school for our last lesson in poetry and attempted to get the students writing some acrostic poems. We had a very mixed bag.

After a few jobs at the clinic I headed home early to the patient.

We crashed for the rest of the day watching some cheesy DVD’s about love in the mid west in 1850 or so. Good fun!

We both feel exhausted!

Day 256 – Sunday 10th October 2010

We both managed to sleep really well and Armorel is feeling a lot better, though has no energy, so I headed off to church by myself.

The congregation were amazed that I had managed to bring tea and cake by myself.

What a modern man I am.

Armorel managed to get up, and in her lovely special way decided to do the washing up. She isn’t quite normal is she, but it has finished her off and she is now back in bed.

I escaped out as I managed to get myself invited for lunch, and enjoyed a veritable feast, followed by ice cream and some rice krispy cakes. I was not expecting that!

This afternoon we have sat and read, and Armorel has slept some more. It is now time for our nature night and then early to bed.

Day 255 – Saturday 9th October 2010

Armorel doesn’t feel very well.

I head off early to the Shamba to check on the brick work. It is impressive. Annoyingly though, a combination of African timekeeping and disorganisation means I am late for football.

Luckily, even more African timekeeping means that even though I am 1 hour late, I am on time.

We had a good run around, but with numbers low and the temperature high we settled for some one on one fun games. I scored a beauty from 40 yards.

Armorel has malaria. Two parasites, so I win, but it has hit her much harder.

She has spent the rest of the day in bed feeling pretty rough.

Day 254 – Friday 8th October 2010

For me today was positive. The foundations at the farm are finished. The bricks are being brought down to the site by donkey’s and we are ready to start laying today.

Very exciting steps.

Armorel had a tough day. A 16 year old girl, who was 5 months pregnant, arrived at the clinic. She was miscarrying. Armorel helped to rush her over to the regional hospital and stayed with her for most of the process, until she was transferred to a ward.

This was probably the hardest experience Armorel has had since we have been here.

Tonight we are saying goodbye to Dr Dave and Bex, with a BBQ feast. We are really going to miss them, especially now that I am only white man on the football pitch.

Day 253 – Thursday 7th October 2010

With this heat today seemed to be even longer.

Armorel had three very sick patients on the ward, and so was kept very busy. One was a two week old baby with 50 malaria parasites, a case of congenital malaria, another was a man with stage 4 HIV, and also a women who had been sick for the last six months but no one knew why.

A tough day.

We continued with poetry at school, and had a good number of very good poems. They are all based around a simple pattern and only need you to use a noun, a verb and some adjectives. This was one of the better ones;

Elephant

Gigantic, Elephant

Grey, Big-eared Elephant

Walking Slowly Elephant

Wise Elephant

And one of the not so good ones....

Steven

Big Steven

Tall, Short Steven

Studying carefully Steven

Thin Steven

At least they understood the pattern.

Then it was sports and games, and the girls finished off their new netball court. Very impressive, and they loved playing on a court (of sorts).

Tonight we have enjoyed doing very little apart from staying cool.

Day 252 – Wednesday 6th October 2010

It was time for another trip out to the village of Mwakashindye today, so Armorel set off early.

I then tried to set off for work, but the joys of a flat tyre, made me a little late. I still managed to get to school in time to try and continue our learning about poetry.

                            The mobile clinic lab

We even started to write some short poems today. Maybe I will share some tomorrow?

My afternoon was spent in the bank trying changing some money for the clinic. As a white man I get such special treatment, and pretty much all the rules don’t apply. They have forms that need filling in and security checks to complete, but I bypass them all with one signature. I dread to think how long it could have taken.

I will miss this kind of treatment.

I then started driving home when one of the wheels started to fall off. Thank you to the man at the garage for failing to tighten the bolts up.

Armorel arrived home just after 6pm with a couple of others in tow. They had heard we had flapjacks!

This evening we have enjoyed chapatti, beans and salsa and a quick ER, and now we are going to attempt an early night.

Day 251 – Tuesday 5th October 2010

Another roasting hot day, with the temperature nearly hitting 40!

Armorel had been given the morning off and so I headed in alone this morning.

Lesson two on poetry completed. Though annoyingly the school wouldn’t let me photocopy any poems to hand out as we can’t afford the paper, so half the lesson was spent writing the poem out on the blackboard. I wish I had chosen a shorter one!

It is also not the easiest subject to teach to a class of 50, of which 90% are lost. I struggle on.

This afternoon, Armorel came and joined me at the clinic and continued with the essay and guest house preparation. I sat reading through the last months health insurance claim forms, all 553 of them to check for mistakes.

It was so enjoyable.

It was then home time, but Armorel escorted Mama Ndugu to the internet cafe for some more course time and didn’t get home till 7pm. We had a nice dinner, an episode of ER and are now hitting the hay.

It is still so warm!

Day 250 – Monday 4th October 2010

This week I am attempting to teach poetry to the students.

This is going to prove tough. The poems kind of lose their effect when you have to stop and explain every other word.

Armorel spent most of the day writing an essay. She is helping Mama Ndugu, lead nurse at the clinic, with her distance learning nursing course, and they have just discovered an essay is due by Friday.

We also helped get the guest house ready for a British couple, Phil and Elaine, who come out to Tabora every now and then to help with some building. We have stolen them for the farm, and building the houses.

This evening we have been very bad. ER got a bit addictive and three episodes later we headed to bed!

It is worrying what you get up to in your evenings!

Day 249 – Sunday 3rd October 2010

Armorel is speaking at church this morning, so after a quick run through we head off. The topic of the day is resisting temptation.

She does so well again, and gives such a clear message.

Today we are going to be hermits. We have resisted all invitations and are going to do nothing but sit, read and sleep.

Though by the late afternoon I am feeling restless and persuade Arms that we should catch a football game at the bar.

We have returned for our regular nature night and a spot of pasta and pesto. Thank you Arm’s folks!

My girls helping me with tea at church

Day 248 – Saturday 2nd October 2010

We both headed into work early this morning.

Armorel was heading into town for a bit of advertising. She and a team from the clinic, armed with leaflets and information, headed to the towns hotspots for a bit of clinic advertising. And I thought the clinic was already busy enough.

I headed to the farm to check on the progress of the building. It is slow work but the foundations are so nearly finished. I then headed home and off to football.

It was stupidly hot.

So hot that most of the kids chose to shelter under the trees rather than play, though there were some brave souls who joined me for a run around.

It is still as hot as we settle down for an evening film. It says 31 and its 9pm!

Day 247 – Friday 1st October 2010

It is seriously hot!

Amy and Ally fly today at 3:30pm.

We all head off to the clinic this morning. I teach a quick lesson and then we pop into town for the last few jobs, and more importantly checking the actual flight time.

As we suspected, 1 hour earlier than the ticket told us.

We headed back to the clinic for goodbyes and thanks before heading to the airport. They had no problems boarding, though we did nearly search Amy’s bag for a mouse!

Thank you so much for you friendship, help, support and being here. We love you!

A night at home, and a night alone. This could be weird; we haven’t had one of these for a long time.

BUT then the phone goes and we are heading out for dinner.

A 3 hour wait for food was not appreciated, so we are heading to bed even more tired.

Day 246 – Thursday 30th September 2010

Today was a long day.

We left for work this morning leaving Ally and Amy having a last lie in and relax before leaving us tomorrow.

I headed over to school to do assembly and then popped back to the clinic to pick up the keys and go and fetch Ally and Amy.

BUT, I got a bit delayed, having to put on my doctor hat.

A young boy arrived in the clinic with a broken arm and x-ray. He broke it 10 days ago, went to the regional hospital, had an x-ray and they then sent him home with nothing. Even I could see this break on the x-ray, and even more it was obvious to look at.

So I assisted / did the plaster cast. It is such a shame that the wait and lack of initial actions means his arm will never heal correctly.

I loved the chance though!

I then picked up Ally and Amy and we headed to the market to collect their new handmade clothes and some other bits and pieces.

They spent the rest of the day at the clinic, whilst I continued with my reading drive at school. They have been such a blessing to Armorel at the clinic and Amy’s nursing skills have been so beneficial. Thank you. Sorry about the photo, but Amy was very pleased with her sterile kit!

It was then time for Thursday sport and games for Armorel and me, whilst Amy and Ally were dragged off to help with some kids clubs. They had great fun playing ‘Duck, Duck, Goose’ and teaching them some classic English tunes.

This evening we headed to Faraja and Dixon’s house for dinner, and a last night meal for Ally and Amy.

Tomorrow will be a sad day.

Day 245 – Wednesday 29th September 2010

It was an early start and a visit to the village of Kilungu for the A-Team (Armorel, Ally and Amy), whilst I stayed at school trying to equip the students with a vocabulary that will enable them to read some simple stories.

They got very confused with the ‘Bangers and Mash’ books.

The clinic day was long with the team not arriving back until nearly 6pm. They seemed to have a great day, weighing and injecting hundreds of babies, and generally helping out on reception and dispensing drugs. 

Thank you.

This evening we headed out for dinner to say goodbye to Miranda who leaves Tabora tomorrow. It was a chilly evening with a strong wind blowing, though Amy and Ally did laugh at us as they sat sweltering in the heat.