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Published: January 11th 2008
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Woooo hoooo we’re off to see the Gorillas… I secured the last 2 permits for the dates we are traveling.
I am also now loaded with a cell phone: if anyone wants to say they called Uganda here it is: +256 775544668
O’Leary’s is an Irish pub right next door to Athina Club house where I am staying and the night before last I was awoken from my deep slumber by some blaring music- GRRRR...... once I got over the grumpy urge to march over and tell the to TURN IT DOWN! I realized it sounded like a live band and although they were doing covers they sounded pretty damn decent. So that’s where I headed last night.
‘Wednesday night live music- Thursday night quiz night’ ewwww I am not sure I’ll stick around for the quiz.
I enjoy a T-bone steak at the bar and busy myself by scribbling in my diary and politely answer the questions of the bar boys.
I have hardly finished my meal that a young African boy sits down next to me and explains that he has two years left at school and that he wants to sign up for
the quiz. I tense up: ‘Ah well why don’t you sign up then’
‘No, we need to be in a group’
‘Yes, I suppose 2 isn’t much of a group’
‘I am going to look for a group, if I find one, you join us?’
Much encouraged by this I smile and say ‘maybe’
My brain is already figuring out my exit strategy when I am accosted by Mr O’Leary himself, a tall, bright, Irish chap who insists I join his team of two. The game stars before I have a chance to reject the offer and we're off. I put myself in charge of being the scribe.
I enjoy it far more than I imagine and my 2 man team soon turns into a team of 14 by the end of the two hour game. We start off slowly but by the end the questions and answers all merge into one and I can’t hear anything so I make up the answers as I go along.
The team is an interesting one:
Aldo the ex-British military who is now into bomb disposals and has already lost a leg doing this job in
Lebanon.
A couple of CEOs of varying African companies.
O’Leary the pub owner, who isn’t called that but Declan Peppard- when he isn’t owning his pub he runs a travel agent and assures me he will look after my travel needs.
His ‘honey’ Tracy isn’t really called Tracy but Something Exotic (can’t remember the first half)-Vinessina which I think actually suits her much better.
Barrie and Karen Cambridge - she's a lot of fun by night and a pilates intructor by day.
Henry the South African who does a fab job when challenged with a 'beer downing' face off.
Ernesto the cheerful Mexican who has done an MBA and invites me to a traditional African wedding the next day: ‘It would be such a unique experience’
I ponder his words and remember all the folkloric scenes I have seen in the Ivory Coast and Kenya. I reply “this is your first time in Africa isn’t it?”
“Yes” comes his enthusiastic reply
I politely decline the invitation- in Spanish 😊
Half way through the evening the Don Perignon comes out and we seem to be toasting my return to Uganda. The flow of bubbles doesn’t
stop and as the winners of the quiz we are offered a number of indeterminate shot which seem to go down rather easily.
I slip into social butterfly mode and I am off. Erica, the American compare is doing a fine job at persuading me to go to a night club but I decline because I am enjoying the company of these fine, characterful folk far too much and the salsa music has started! Arriba!
I take a moment to look up at the star lit night, I appreciate that I am in a t-shirt, flowing skirt and warm- I feel deeply content. I crawl into bed at around 2am. Well nearly... the gate was locked, the night watchman was sleeping so I started climbing up the gate feeling like a teenager sneaking back in, and just as I am debating how to get over the spikes at the top of the gate the night watchman lets me in.
Mmmmm I snooze until I am woken by the sound of tropical birds and children from the neighbouring school chanting:
‘good morning to you
Good morning to you’
And the teacher begins her class with :
‘ And how old are you?’
In unison the answer comes: four, three, I am three.... my sister is five (one pipes up proudly).
Tomorrow I am being picked up by Godfrey; I am off to the orphanage- New Hope
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Dj ronnie
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lovely article
Its a must be place in kampala,very lovely place ,come again