The Adventures of Epi

Well, Epi has had a very exciting week this week. Firstly, she was supposed to be taking me to a big donor meeting on monday and tuesday this week. I was taking minutes so had to be there early at 7am. Unfortunately, she clearly doesn't like early mornings and didn't start on monday morning. Thankfully, a kind person gave me a lift and i took my first moto ride on tuesday morning. It is quite shocking but in 2 months here, i hadn't taken a moto. Motos are motorbikes which work as taxis. You sit on the back and are given a helmet (they are well regulated by the city council). It is actually very fun and not as scary as i thought it would be...plus only 50p to get to work (i laugh at you London communters paying almost £4 a day).

Wednesay morning, Epi had recovered from her mood and started no problem. Saturday she had an exciting job to do. I bought the frames for my sofas a few weeks ago, and have been meaning to go and buy the cushions to transform them into the heavenly comfort they should be when i got home from a long day at work. So, Saturday afternoon, the team of Rhoda, Epi and myself went to the furniture market to get some cushions made to size. I am really learning to negotiate, and enjoying it also, plus trying to do it in my broken French is always amusing for those watching also. Epi helped to transport the cushions home. However, in all the excitement, my brakes started to play up a little - slightly scary experience. Actually, i had been driving with the handbrake slightly on - so absolutely nothing wrong with Epi's brakes, just her stupid mzungu driver.

Saturday evening was Jon's Goat Roast housewarming. Although, it turned out to be a Pig roast at his house in Nyamirambo (muslin part of town - spot the irony!). Yes, a whole pig was roasted on a spit over an open fire. It was a fun night but after my previous collision with a Matatu (minibus taxi) in the area, Epi did not come with us. Her final adventure of the week was after church this morning. Her engine chugged to a halt going up one of the many hills in Kigali - had run out of petrol. Numpty. Thankfully we were within sight of a gas station, and again my french was very useful in asking for a jerry can full of petrol to help the stupid mzungu get Epi moving again. problem solved.

I do seem to do very silly things, but i think the real talents comes in being able to solve the problems. And frankly, it makes life more interesting. Getting everything right all the time would be quite boring and i quite enjoy laughing at myself.

That gives you a snippet of my week, I am currently sitting on my very comfy sofas suffering from a very comprehensive cold - which i should note i have received very little sympathy for from certain people (you know who you are). I am more and more appreciating the lovely bunch of people I'm getting to hang out with here.

Since its the start of advent, here's a little passage which has reminded me why it is so exciting.

"The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death ^[a]
a light has dawned."
Isaiah 9:2



ps. in case you are utterly confused - Epi is my car.