In Uganda now.

Tired of the hustle and bustle of the Big city, I decided to take a 3 month sabbatical and travel round the world. The term, 'round the world' is overrated. What springs to mind is a journey to all continents, all countries of the world. What it actually means, is a journey of approximately 7 or more stops to pre-selected destinations like Johannesburg, Australia, New Zealand, Oceania, bits of Asia, Los Angeles and New York - hardly representative, hardly 'Round the world'
Thought I'd start off by going home! Uganda
Big Mistake!
Coming to Uganda isn't exactly a vacation! Especially during the school holidays when scores of parents are looking for SCHOOL FEES! To make it even worse I decided to travel at the end of the month when salary has almost dried out!
'Summers', the term used for Ugandans who come back to visit, are supposed to be loaded! When a family hears that their long lost son and daughter is returning, they send off a shopping list to 'good ol Moneybags' and start planning the itinerary of things they have always wanted to do but could not afford. This is all well and good if Moneybags has been planning and budgeting for the trip several months in advance, but in this instance, Moneybags, showed up with very lean pockets. The only way to manage the situation was to not tell them I was coming - hence no shopping list and scrape together a few small inexpensive gifts for immediate family ONLY. And then was up front "It's the end of the month, I have NO money on me, I have to budget for my 3 months round the world trip, so cannot spend on luxuries!"
So far the trip has been ok. Couldn't have timed it better. When I got here, I learnt that my eldest brother's graduation was the next Tuesday and he'd got a First Class honours degree in BA Education! The very first in our family - so we are all sooo proud! He's a real success story, having dropped out of University aged 20 years old, and then not knowing what he wanted to with his life for the next 12 years! Real proud
I went with my parents for his Graduation ceremony, and cheered loudly when his name was read out for the first time, and then the second when he went to get his First Class degree plaque! Unfortunately for me, within a 2 minute window, I fell prey to pickpockets who took my wallet containing all my credit and debit cards, driving licence, travel insurance card etc
I was gutted! Had to go to the police station to make a crime report. Got there...

to be continued...

Indian Wedding

Honestly the amount of energy I expend on this guy...

I cancelled the Saturday date because something 'more important' came up - actually it WAS more important - helping Emily shop for her wedding dress!

TEXT MESSAGES RECEIVED...

Saturday 20:51
Just heading into town to bar for B-day party. Lay your news on me. al x" notice the "x" (kiss) at the end of text
21:51
"At bbq with very good mates!" - notice no "x" at end of text
Sunday 00:37
"U very succinct"
Monday 00:11 - a day later
"Combo of sheer xhaustion from wed'g dress shop'g, loads of bbq meat and wine. Hope you ok? Have a great week! K "
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Monday 07:43 morning
" "
Monday 17:03 evening
";-p"
Monday 23:26
"Hi Ms Succinct! Yeah I am good thanks. Hoping for job interview this Fri. Sounds like you are having fun! x" notice the "x" is still there
Tuesday 00:02
"Hey hope it works out 4 u re job. Said a prayer 4 u. I'm buzzin! Y'day I literally SAVED THE DAY!
Tuesday 00:09
"You up late! Ta for prayer. Did you save someone?"
00:16
"U up late 2. I found Emily's WED'G DRESS at a DISCOUNT! We'd spent all Sat looking and not finding - frustrating!" oh no, I'm getting too wordy... just can't help yourself Kim can you?
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Tuesday 09:26
"Sounds like you are soooooo involved in dis wedding! Are you getting married?
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No reply from me! Ha!

You've got to admit - he does make good reading!

Libraries were created for people like me!

I just can’t read a book twice. I forget titles, but never a good story. Many times I’ve picked up books with interesting titles or pictures on the cover, only to discover that the story is beginning to sound “oddly familiar”. Ohhh! That’s because I read it 5 years ago! Interest suddenly evaporates and I just can’t get back into it!

Most of my fellows ‘Bookies’ have built up vast libraries, which they add to daily. At the rate at which I read, which is roughly a book a day (or up all night depending on how gripping the story is), if I were to buy each book I read, it would have a detrimental effect on the feng shui of already cramped flat! Don’t get me wrong, I have SOME books, but their sole purpose is to impress visiting ‘Bookies’ – “Uhh, let’s see what you’ve got...‘Catch 22'...'Nelson Mandela’s autobiography'… Wow!"

I love Libraries!

One of the major factors that convinced me to settle down in London was the 'Library'. Unlike back home Uganda, it was such a pleasure to borrow not just one book but… TWELVE; and take them home for 3 weeks!!! Glorious!

But like all things, Libraries aren’t perfect! That chart topping Bestseller, which you’ve JUST GOT TO READ TODAY has been reserved by a gazillion people! To further prolong the agony, some slow reader is holding up the line. (Is anyone feeling me?)
Maybe Libraries should introduce a “Fast Readers Club”, with queue jumping privileges… after all; we are the ones who give them the most ‘business’. We should be rewarded for our loyalty!

The only down side to being a fast reader is: -
Scenario 1
Halfway through your train journey you realise that you’ve made a serious miscalculation and the book that you were hoping would last the whole trip is swiftly coming to an end…
Scenario 2
You’re just about to finish reading the first book in a Trilogy and realise that the second book is on the “Gazillion-Maddeningly-Slow-Readers Reserved List” and Mr Slow Poke's still got it…

So what does one do? Sit and stew until next year to find out how the story ends…

Well fortunately us Fast Readers have discovered the world of “Bookstores”. One has even gone so far as to have inviting signs in the windows that say, “Stay a while!”

Bookie Heaven!

You can go in, take a book off the shelf, curl up in considerately placed comfy sofas and drink a coffee! So long as you don’t mark or fold the pages, you can while away many a glorious hour absorbed in your little world!
And you don't have to buy the book!
How cool is that???