James and Gill

Following closely on from Thoms visit, we had Gill and James Allenby come out to see us at 10 days notice. It was a wonderful surprise and we had a great time with them here. They flew in via Nairobi, the final leg in a little 12 seater single prop plane, Mwanza-Bukoba. (Gill in the copilots seat)

We stayed in Bukoba, dining and breakfasting on the beach, (here is the sunrise they did not see!) and visiting the market, bank and airline office etc (all of which took 2-3 hours, most of it standing in a queue at the ATM) before setting off for home.

They slotted in to our way of life easily and well, bathing with a bucket, keeping the water filter full, and sitting in on clinics in the Hospital and outreach clinics, where they were put to work and where Daktari Jamsie was asked for advice….(Gill’s name was more of a problem for the Tanzanians. She ended up being called Gilla or Juliana!)
We visited the local sights, the Museum, an ancient Bahayan Chiefs House (Mushonge) hosted by the fulsome Mutashobya, also Kamachumu market for fabrics and Ndolage waterfall and escarpment. We went on a longish drive and picnic up to Lake Ikimba, returning via a small ferry over the swamp. We watched the sunset across the valley from “our rock” and they ventured to the dukas of Kagondo to buy tomatoes and eggs.

They were brave enough to venture into Bukoba, and back, on a daladala (24 in a minibus, and James is a tall man!) to shop and try the local food and drink. They were most appreciative of our small home, tolerant when my stove blew up and the car broke down (water pump). They ate my offerings from the kerosene stove and experienced a tow lift to Bukoba, Tanzanian style. (Our Rav4 attached to the Hospital Toyota by means of a home made rigid tow bar constructed from a piece of scaffolding and some reinforcing wire….visions of Rupert and Justus, the driver, disappearing back down the steep hills!).

We said farewell to them after a fantastic week of lots of news, talk, laughter and fun. We left them at the quayside on Friday night as they boarded the MV Victoria ferry for Mwanza, which was loaded with bananas, on their way to Zanzibar for a few days.
Next best thing to seeing them was their generous present of chocolate and delicious South African wine they brought with them! Bliss…