introducing the staff

Here we have Theoniste and Deo who are the night guards - they work as a team together, and can spend hours chatting even thought they work together 5 nights a week for 13 hours at a time from 18.00 - 07.00 (they each get 1 night off)

Clarisse is our femme de menage or domestique - she works from 08.00 - 16.30 and cleans for us, haggles with veg man, irons etc etc, I'm teaching her some cooking too


Evariste is the gardener, he has 8 children, and wears flip flops even for dangerous work.


We have a regular day gaurd Emmanuel who is currently on leave. Will take photos later

More update

Apparently we had another quake this morning, around 6.00, but most people, like us, where asleep and didn't notice a thing. Yesterday night there was a quake as well, almost the same level as the earlier one. We didn't notice, however the neighbours kitten did. We woke up because the guards were banging the bin (we ought to buy a bell). The guards heard a cat and were afraid one of our got out. Our kitties were right outside our bedroom, so we were happy, they were a bit confused that we were up and didn't want to play. We looked for a couple of minutes where the catnoise came from, but couldn't find it, so decided to go back to sleep.


A completely different subject. Bush is coming to Rwanda. He probably needs to be seen in Africa, before the elections. So he spends a few days in Africa (ao Ghana, Benin, Tanzania and Rwanda). He will probably make some very smart remarks like "These people need not be so poor". In any case, he comes here Tuesday and so some CIA people already arrived to check the situation etc. Some roads will probably be closed, but everything is secret. Hopefully they will close the road so I can't come to work. But it is more likely they will close the road while I'm at work. Anyway, no news really, as we don't know anything.

Lon Pitt

I am a star.

A few weeks ago my colleague got a call if he new any blond Europeans. Someone is making a film and they need a Swedish UN soldier. Of course his first reaction was: "Lon is the best", I mean, that should be his first reaction. He did ask why they didn't try the Swedish embassy first, apparently a strange suggestion. Anyway, one thing let to another, I did two auditions and tried on the uniform. The uniform trousers are far to small, but you don't notice that because of the jacket and the big boots. During the audition the director told me, my accent was too British, so I blame Hazel.

Tomorrow I will be on the set for the shooting. My fee is nominal, but I expect a big return in the sales of merchandise; who doesn't want a Lon action doll?

this Lons costume fitting

If you ask nicely, Haze might put a photo on the blog. You can order photo's via our blog, signed ones are extra.

O yeah, the film is called "Les zones turquoises" and I will be playing the role of the gate keeper. A small role, but of course essential for the film. It is about a reporting during the genocide. He seeks protection from the UN. In the mean time the UN watch powerless while horrible things go on just outside their gates. I expect it might be a bit like "shooting dogs" or "hotel Rwanda". Anyone who hasn't seen either of this films, should at least watch one.


Lon as a soldier - sorry is blurred





















film set

Footware

..I don't know if its true, but I've heard that there is a local ordinance which makes it illegal to be barefoot, and flip flops are frowned upon. In any case most people have shoes on - certainly in Kigali

most kids and lots of adults wear a locally produced plastic shoe which comes in a variety of bright colours - these are pretty cheap to buy at around a dollar

men on the other hand - especially the smarter kind of men favour a chisel toed style which often seems to be a size or two too big


women tend to wear either a comfy open shoe, or ridiculous heels which must be hell to walk up and down hills in. Will keep trying to photo the evidence.

No wonder I get funny looks wandering round in my crocs

Update 3 - Butare

Butare is a bustling university town, and on the way are two artisanal studios where you can watch some Rwandan handicrafts being made (and also buy at good rates)

We visited the pottery at Gatagara which is still run by the Twa people, who make up just 1 % of Rwandas population, and traditionally are potters







and the tinnery near Butare where objects are cast in tin and hand soldered and polished
mould in sand


rejects waiting to be melted down again



soldering
polishing

I forgot to take a photo of the shop area - but will add after next visit

shop of shiny things

Update 2

we have also visited Kibuye on lake Kivu which was serene and tranquil despite its bloody past - with a breathtaking journey there, and we were all struck by the number of people walking up and down the hills carrying loads to and from markets or towns.


local beehives

we did get a bit lost - I wonder how?
mm..coffee


Lake Kivu

Update 1

We've had a busy time in the past few weeks

had great fun at the market


Live turkey - of course






we've also gone for walks and drives around Kigali and had the chance to meet some budding Beckhams





can you spot Lon?

and have sampled many Rwandan delights (and not so delightful dinners) - by far the favourite all-rounders are brochettes garni - fish, beef, or goat kebabs served with salad and chips.

Some photos courtesy of Mum & Bill

Kigali rocks

...literally, we were sitting round after breakfast this morning, when I thought I had a twitch in my bum, because my chair was rocking, mum was sitting on a wall and also jumped up. It turns out we have just experienced our first earthquake . Quite unnerving for a Sunday morning, but no harm done - here at least, though it looks as if the death toll is rising.

We have been busy visiting Kibuye and then recovering, will update with photos etc soonest. Promise.