New Year's Day

It’s New Years Day and i’m heading up to my school office. I have been in every day since arriving in Addis less than three week agos and it feels more like three years. 

It’s not so bad in the office for it is the only place where i have Internet access, for my dongle still hasn’t shown up for access at home. And there is certainly plenty of work to do.

I have walked to school for fortunately my shitty 20 year old Toyota won’t start and i hope they can justify getting me a replacement car. Hopefully something  that actually has a functional steering wheel and can get me out of the overloaded car-park in less than 15 minutes.

The walk takes me less than 20 minutes - but i do have very long legs, so it may well take you somewhat longer. 

It's 6.15 in the dawn light up towards Bob Marley Circle along the main road, before taking an unsealed dirt track up to the school, which in rainy season (which it is), is just alot of uneven mud.

A local chappy is celebrating New Years Day the traditional way in Ethiopia – the killing of a sheep.

I quickly snap the sight with my 2^nd hand reallybloodysmart-phone and he is bloody angry with me – shouting and scolding. I apologise profusely saying i’m a very new arrival, and it was an unusual and interesting scenario for a Londoner. Fortunately and surprisingly, he is very quick to forgive. We walk up the track together discussing Premiership football and Arsenal Football Club in particular, and depart best of friends. 

Sheep prices have reached some 400% increase over the lead up to the holiday.

Walking back from the school on the same track at twilight, the pathway is littered with sheep skulls – it looks like a scene from a horror movie.