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Published: November 10th 2008
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Another god night’s sleep and awake by about 6.30am. I drew up the rules and scoresheets for the tournament and took them along to reception to have them copied. Sausage, scrambled eggs, toast and coffee were the order of the day for breakfast and then it was out to the front of RVSC to await the minibus…. Would we have Davis??? 9.15 came and went. 9.30 came and went and then the bus arrived with… another driver. Off to Menengai Secondary School through the bustling back streets with our progress being marked by waving hands and shouts of “Mzungo!”
Menengai Secondary School is another National School and caters for about 1,200 students. They were ready for us and had even prepared lists of children to come to the sessions. Josephine, Frederick and Wycliffe joined us and, as the students strolled out at 10.15am RL (who was leading the morning session) had to vary his lesson plan and reduce the available time for the four rotations. I led the one-handed intercept and throw groups; worked very well and each group improved as time went by. Strangely though, the numbers increased and we soon ended with more than we had started with!
The children had barely any knowledge of the game but the school, which had demonstrated its commitment by sending 5 teachers on the course, will surely develop and integrate the sport into the curriculum. We ended at about 12.30 and rushed back to RVSC and thence to SweetMart for lunch. The school had asked if we could have the same children for the whole day and so I had to totally rethink my planned session. OK - three games based on the morning’s activities - Lord’s Game for Pull Shot / Front-Foot Drive with Cones / Multi-Bowler. Chip, who had only just about managed the morning session, did not make the afternoon one. We all had a great time and lots of fun was had by all. I led the HIV/Aids talk today and the demonstrations were accepted with amusement and smiles - a fun end to the serious messages.
Back in the minibus, once more, and we began to climb towards the golf club and then, ever onward, seemingly, along another dreadfully rutted and stony track, more muddy tracks, grassed and bushy areas, between sheep, goats and cows, past children playing and walking on their way back home
from school. Eventually, thirty minutes and eight kilometres later we emerged on the edge o Menengai (Many Gods in Kiswahili) Crater. This is the second largest and highest crater in the whole of Africa at 2,800m altitude, 12 miles across to the other side and with a steep drop of 480 meters to the heavily wooded caldera that was formed 200,000 year ago. Outside, to the west, we could easily see the nearing storm, rain falling and lightning flashes. Far below, to the east, was a small Maasai encampment with a flock of sheep/goats and herd of cows. Small charcoal burners’ fires and the lighter, less dense wispy rising sulphur floated and drifted steadily upwards. There was a large finger post (courtesy of Rotary) giving mileages to various major cities all over the world. Soon the rainspots began to fall and we scrambled back into the bus to descend the track once more. Mr MacAdam - Thank you - we are eternally grateful to you for inventing a decent road surface!
Back at RVSC and with the rain still falling I wandered up to Barclays for some more money and Zain top-up from the girls just around the corner.
Their service, sitting on the schools all day and punching the relevant numbers into various customers’ phones must be pretty tedious but, as ever, their smile is huge!
We met in the bar at 7.15pm and were introduced to the President of Rift Valley Sports Club. He bought us all a Tusker. All, that is, save for Chip who, despite being there in body, was still not fully functioning. The second beer downed and in walked the Club Treasurer (and owner of the two Shiner’s Schools). He bought us a drink as well! Very nice and generous of them both but they were both keen to get in their digs about us going to the university and schools to work with their students! Coincidentally, the treasure also owns Roots Academy where we are due to go tomorrow!
It was getting ever later but we still had to eat. We left Chip and went over the road to Gilani’s. The Magic Carpet room was ours again and a couple of Asian families were finishing their meals. The
curries arrived and, being very tasty, they were eaten quickly. We went straight back to the club avoiding the Ladies Night
at Coco Savannah!
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