R and R

Mountain Man is exhausted. But with a week vacation ahead he is running out of Ethiopia for some R and R.

Let's see if he returns next week.

I Want It All

We have a new problem. We have no water again and the delivery truck is required. The only problem is the water-tanks are on the roof and need electricity to pump it up.

Somehow we manage to survive till almost 1pm where i am dining opposite the school in The Pavilion cafe. I hear the eruption from across the road as my secretary calls my mobile simultaneously. Electricity and filled water tanks at last!

I finish lunch quick, and rush back to my desk to finally get on with some much needed admin work, but alas no Internet. You never get it all in Addis.

Powerless

A second day without power. Teachers were unable to send worksheets for homework, couldn’t print planning for planning sharing at the staff meeting and yours truly can accomplish very little. 

Power To The People

The school still has to truck in it’s water every other day. Recently my school went almost an entire week without paper. The next to go is the power. Not a power-cut please understand, fortunately they are far more infrequent than in my apartment. It’s become a daily occurrence at Sunshine Residents. This is non-payment of an electricity bill.

My Secretary reminded Ato Sin twice last week informing him there was Birr 1,100 outstanding. Ethio-power arrive at lunch-time to cut the power.

I call Ato Sin who informs me that a payment was made of Birr 55 last week. I ask him to get this fixed as soon as possible, but no-one seems to know where the office is. The Photocopy Maintenance Man shows up but can’t do anything as does Head Records Officer who can’t access the computer.

Who knows how long it will take to reconnect and how much they will charge for their reconnection fee?

Whole School International Day

show-stoppers at International Day

After many agonising PTA meetings, today marked the first whole - school International Day.

After another Addis storm last night, by 8am the rains’ end, and i pick up Ginger Warrior and Miss J and head over to the venue – a garden site close to our Secondary compound.

We’re the first to arrive on site and it’s difficult to know where to start. Anyway, i find a box of flags and begin tying them up to a variety of tents. PTA turn up some 45 minutes late and i am more than happy to let them sort out the rest of the stuff.

The turnout is great, better than we could have hoped, and of course all my kids steal the show with dances, songs, words of wisdom and drama performance. Parents lap it all up. For some unknown reason, and certainly unplanned  i end up as Master of Ceremonies which means i have no time for food, drink or even photographs, apart from a few snaps.

It’s been a long but very satisfying day, and many parents thank me for the event. I try and a palm it off to the PTA, but word must have got out that i instigated the event. Dr F, the PTA Chairman looks on forlornly, but i go over and congratulate him for finally getting his ass into gear.

Mountain Man cuts a rug with the Grade Twos in his authentic shalwar kamiz