Day 11 Saturday 24th

Sim and I decided that after 10 days work we deserved a day off. So it decided to rain. It's just like being at home. It rained however until 9:00 and then stopped just In time to enjoy a late breakfast on the verandah. Whilst I was clearing up yesterday's paper work, David (the gardener/handyman) came and asked if he could have lessons. I wasn't sure what he meant so after a few quizzical questions I discovered that I have the ability of a skewer. I ask questions that cut right through the meat. David says he has met many whites and none apart from me has this special gift. Could I teach him how to do it? Firstly it's a new one on me. Secondly how do you teach such a thing if its a gift. Thirdly I should probably explore this as I may have a business idea. In Africa It is perfectly acceptable to refer to a Blackman as black because he is. Equally to refer to me as a white or a mzungu, is harmless and perfectly acceptable. Well, I am white so it makes perfect sense to describe me as a white.  

After a leisurely morning we decided that the Internet at Mama Florence's was so bad that we should make an attempt to get it sorted. After all, this is how I make my living. After a little research we discovered that the router was sold to Florence just one and a half months ago. It cost her the equivalent of £100. She considered this a bit expensive but as she is trying to start a B and B business she needed to pay whatever it costs to get wifi as a selling point for her guests. I looked at the router and I recognised it as a router that i installed for a customer 8 years ago. It is actually about 7 years old and was sold to her as brand new just 5 weeks ago. I offered to go to the shop and insist on a replacement. Mama said 'This is Africa'. We went anyway because she had been ripped off and I was ready for a fight. We approached the seller and he agreed with every word that I said and immediately exchanged the router for a brand new, still packaged unit. As we left Mama was more than a little amazed and called it a miracle. She has never witnessed a shop keeper caving in so readily. In Uganda this never happens. Must have been something I said. Or my white skin. 

On our return to the house a lawn mower mechanic had arrived to repair the machine. The spark plug was damaged. I had inspected it a few days ago and pointed out the potential problem.  The 'engineer' stripped the machine down and announced that it was the coil and that he would require a certain amount of shillings to fix it. He came with no tools and no spares. Mama says this is the third mechanic to come and repair it. They all strip it down and remove a part and then ask for payment and then find that with the new part it still doesn't work. It seems that anyone can set themselves up as an engineer here and never carry tools or spares and then demand payment. Mama is used to paying them and then it still doesn't work. She says that she has to pay them anyway because they have worked for her and demand payment. I made it clear that i wasn't happy with the diagnosis and proceeded to cast real doubt on this man's efficiency. This time she refused payment strengthened I think by Sim and my presence.  Tomorrow, we will take David and mower to the Honda depot where we will be sure that it is repaired properly. 

This afternoon we went to watch some football and meet up with some old friends. 

Not a very exciting day and not many photos but it may be interesting to some.