Island Hoppers

On the Safari Walk, you see the animals in large enclosures.
But on Crescent Island, you wander among them.
As you can see, Neesee couldn't wait to get started.

Followed by Gerro, hot on her heels.
No surprises there, for those of you who know him.

Leaving Susanna. To agree pick up time with boatsman.
Which maybe is a surprise for those of you know her?
Susanna and punctuality? Not a frequent combo, eh?
Guy

African Appearance

They made it. Hurrah!
Our daughter Cherry & her family got here a few days ago.
And we're LOVING every minute of having all 4 of them around.
Here's Neesee. Emerging from a play sculpture.

One inch at a time.

Until ... free at last!

Then sliding all the way to the bottom. To start all over again.
The simple things, eh?
Guy

Dads & Daughters

Just 3 and a half days to go. Until these 2 arrive.

And with them, the other 2 that this 2 have made.

Too cryptic? Sorry. What I'm trying to say is ...

On Wednesday morning, Cherry & her hubby Stephen arrive.

And included in their baggage will be Anise & Harriet.

Better known as Neesee and Harry. My grand-daughters.

Cherry spent 5 months here in 2005 with Susanna.

For Stephen & the 'little ladies', it is their very first visit.

You have no idea how excited I am!

Think they're a bit excited too?

Guy

Dad's Dessert

We have an American-style diner called Java House here.
It's just added this brand new dessert to its revised menu.
As it happens:
(1) my dad's name is Roy, and
(2) he LOVES custard.
So maybe Java House launched this pudding with him in mind?
Anyway, I've told my dad he needs to come back to sample it.
SOON! Are you listening, dad?
Guy

Curiosity (Nearly) Killed The ...

So Raphael takes off in my car. And leaves me with his van.
I go back under my acacia tree. To hide from the overhead sun.
And then I get a most unexpected visitor. A curious zebra.

He leaves his herd, grazing along the other side of the road.
Strolls across the highway, narrowly avoiding the traffic.
For an idea of the risk, please see the picture above.
And all of this, to take a closer look at me.
Never had this experience in Scotland!
Guy

Car Doctor Calling

The AA man was called Raphael.
And he fairly lived up to his name, which means "God heals".
As it only took him a few minutes to cure my poor sick car.
Although he wouldn't let me drive off in it straight away.
As he wanted to take it for a test drive first.

So for a little while, Raphael disappeared with my car.
And I was left alone in the lay-by with his.
Guy

Where Would We Be Without ... ?

That's my 21 year old car. Last Saturday. Going nowhere fast.
I was travelling from New Life Nairobi to New Life Nakuru.
Got as far as Naivasha. When the poor old girl overheated.
Forced to pull off the road. But thankfully, found this lay-by.
The sun was directly overhead. So I hid under an acacia tree.
Took this photo. And waited for ...

the AA Kenya van. And the AA Kenya man.
That's him, standing on two cans, to reach the radiator.
Thank God for the AA!
Guy

Chapati Champ

Twice a week all the men at New Life meet over lunch.
Office staff, drivers and groundsmen. All round one table.
We pray together. Study the Bible together. And ... eat together.
This is my plate of beans, lentils and cabbage from earlier today.
What you can't see is my favourite piece of the lunchtime puzzle.
The thick, warm & ever so slightly greasy chapati!
Guy

Little Boy Blue

That's Susanna's finger.
Getting a big grip. From a little boy.
I love all the shades of blue in this picture.
Not sure who took it (wasn't me). But I love it!
Thought you might too?
Guy

Sunny Side Up

Solar water heating panels are going up on our roof just now.
Thanks to a wonderful UK donor.
Talk about a gift that will keep on giving.
Our calculations project that our power bills will be cut in half.
This year. Next year. And every year thereafter.
We are so thankful that the panels are going UP.
And the bills are coming DOWN.
Guy

That's Justice For You

On Tuesday evenings I attend a small home Bible study group.

I really like it. And I really like the people in it.

One of those people (all good friends of mine now) is Justice.

Justice is a Principal Judge here in Kenya. Better watch myself!

That's him above. Looking very pleased with himself.

And the reason for that?

We were celebrating - with some style - his 60th birthday.

Another 6 years and it will be me!

Guy

Emmy's Escapades

We love our volunteers here at New Life.
Some cross the street to help us.
And some cross the seven seas.
Among the latter, Emmy is one of the chief.
That's her above. Cuddling one of our cake-ified kids!
Emmy's made lots of trips over the past 8 years.
And has just finished another 2 months' stint here.
During which time she visited all our homes.
Did some ground-breaking work with our older kids.
And helped us develop our volunteers programme.
Guess she's gone home for a well-deserved rest?
Until next year!
Guy

Anyone For Cricket?

Or should I say "grasshopper"?
But can never say that without thinking of David Carradine.
And the 1970s TV series, "Kung Fu".
Those were the days!
Guy

Our Soulful Son

Final shot (for now) of our newly-turned 11 year old son.
Looking his soulful best. So proud to be his "baba"!
Guy

Predator & Prey

Later the same day, this 'crazy' cake was concocted.
You can just about see the birthday boy lurking behind it?
Like some sweet-toothed predator poised to pounce!

And a few seconds later, we catch him.
Teeth bared. Ready to strike.

Please spare a thought for the poor unsuspecting victim though.

Seen here in extreme close up. Blissfully unaware.

Just moments before the 'kill'.

Guy

Our Boy's Bi-rrrrrrr-thday

Yes, we really do get some cooler months here.
Especially in Nairobi where we are a mile above sea level.
And Levi's birthday falls right in the middle of them.
So this is what his 'birthday suit' looks like here!

In the UK, Gerro used to get the winter birthday.
And Levi used to get the summer one. All reversed now.
Didn't stop Levi ordering an ice-cold milkshake though!
Guy

Graduation Grins

And I thought Levi had a big smile!
But this whopper belongs to CJ, Clive & Mary's youngest son.
And the reason for his Mombasa-to-Uganda grin?
His graduation from West Nairobi School.

CJ wasn't the only one smiling that day, of course.
His proud parents seem almost as happy as him, don't they?
And we were there too - and grinning also.
Well done, CJ. Good job!
Guy

Beasts, Birds & Boats

Oh, a (not so) little something I forgot to mention.
To get to the island, you first have to get through the hippos.
And when you are this close to these big beasties,
your boat suddenly feels very small and vulnerable.
And when the pilot tells you not to make any sudden moves,
and one of your sons is Gerro (who can't sit still),
then your boat feels particularly small and vulnerable!

Worth all the anxiety though.
Because the hippos are not the lake's only residents.
They share their home with these big, beautiful white pelicans.
And you can get so close to them, you can almost touch them.
Before they take off. In spectacular fashion!
Guy

Skull & Crossbones

Stepping off the boat onto Crescent Island, this is what I saw.
A skull. Bobbing under the gangplank. Boys' faces were a sight!
Later on, walking round the island, we came across these.

Guess every skull must have its crossbones?
But can you picture the boys' faces at this point?!
However, they soon got over their initial shock.
And kept a few for room ornaments.
You've been warned!
Guy

Crescent Island Critters

Long legs. Long neck. Big brown eyes.
Must be Susanna, right? Well, normally, yes.
But on this particular occasion, no.

And yes, we really got THIS close to these wonderful creatures.
And it was on foot. And it was without a guide!
So when you come to see us, insist that ...
we go walking on Crescent Island.

Just like a certain young boy & his mum are doing here!
Guy

Where The Wild Things Are

And here is Dan at Lake Naivasha.

Looking a little like a hairy Highlander with his makeshift "kilt".

We got a small boat across Lake Naivasha to Crescent Island.

And wandered freely among the wild animals there. 

Wildest of all? Dan, Susanna, Levi & Gerro. Silhouetted here.
Framed by a suitably sinister-looking tree.
Guy

Dan's Day Off

We did work Dan pretty hard.
Which, strangely, he seemed to like?
But we did also give him the occasional day off.
Here he is, for instance, on a decidedly dodgy viewing platform.
Looking out over the Great Rift Valley.
On our way to Lake Naivasha.
For a great day out.

Susanna was pretty wary about stepping onto this platform.
As I think her "petrified" smile gives away?
Guy

Dan-Tastic

Dan, our 20 year old nephew, came to stay a few weeks ago.
He's a veritable giant of a man these days. But a gentle giant.
As these pictures illustrate so well.

Unless, of course, he's arm wrestling this tiny tot?
Guy

The "Eyes" Have It

I've heard people talk about "eyes the size of saucers".
But now I know whose eyes that comment was made for.
They're utterly irresistible, aren't they?
Guy

Kenya Calling

My home from home.
The place you're most likely to find me.
At my sunny desk. In the PR office's bay window.
Where I get to see everyone. Coming & going.
So ... when will I get to see you?
Soon, I hope!
Guy

Stealing Kisses

My baby.

With one of our New Life babies.

Both adorable.

 

And if I guess if Susanna is stealing kisses from her baby ...

then I can steal a kiss or two from mine?

Guy

Warm Welcome

Want to know what happens when a new baby arrives here?
Well, a name is chosen & given. Always a fun task.
Photos are taken & filed. Ready for their hoped-for parents.
Footprints are also recorded & kept. For the same reason.
And somewhere in all this, a nice warm bath is always given.
No exceptions. Even when, like this little one ...
you're not sure how "nice" it really is?
Guy

Tartan Treasures

Talking of pearls (see previous post), here are two more.
But these two are "tartan treasures".
Spotted here in their natural Highland habitat.
Against the beautiful backdrop of Balmoral Castle.
Yes, it's our grandson Lucas.
And our grand-daughter Anise (aka Neesee).
Oh, how we miss them!
Lucas was here last January with his mum Lauren.
Neesee is making her first visit this October.
She's bringing her mum Cherry & dad Stephen with her.
And also her younger sister Harriet (aka Harry).
We can't wait!
Guy

Pre-Primary Pearls

New Life covers Kenya from east to west.
From our Kisumu home on the banks of Lake Victoria in the west.
To our Lamu Island learning centre in the east.
Surrounded by the Indian Ocean, it can only be reached by boat.
But it is well worth the wobbly passage across the water.
Because when you disembark at the other side ...
some little, living Indian Ocean New Life "pearls" await you.
Here are a few of them.
Guy

Milky Moment

Our babies might get treated to chocolate eclairs in Nairobi.
But there is a very different reality elsewhere in Kenya.
This girl lives in one of Kenya's drought-stricken regions.
Close to one of our "bush" school & feeding programmes.
Her eyes seem to be smiling, don't you think?
As she peeps over the brim of a very large mug of milk.
May she enjoy many more!
Guy