Uganda Television shows in the 80's

When I have time to twiddle my fingers my mind goes into flash back mode--to my childhood. These particular memories get tickled when I have to seriously screen and re screen what Mich watches. 

Gone are the days when the mere mention of cartoon sufficed--when you knew that it was something for the kids to watch and it was safe.

This is where my love for UTV (Uganda Television) back in the 80’s gets rekindled.
I would rush home from school to watch “Clue Club” “Blue Falcon and Dog Wonder” and “Scooby doo”, any body identify?

Ok, what about Electric Company and Sesame Street? Yeah, I knew that would be more familiar.
There was even a time I thought if I happened to land in Germany I would find my way “Pappenheimer” taught us basic German phrases.

Then when the tapes were over and UTV had overly repeated them and finally got ashamed they brought “Peter and His Toy Box”. Oh! that was fun, he showed us how things like rubber, glass, and wood were manufactured and used (imagine, I can not find these guys on the internet).

But nothing beat the Alvin show with the Chipmunks and Clyde Crush-cup, absolutely hilarious. It would never have worked without Alvin’s character. I learned songs like “oo ee oo ah ah … wala wala bing bang”.
“Felix the Cat”, was phasing out by the time I got to watching TV regularly but I remember the theme song “Felix the cat, the wonderful wonderful cat…”.

It is official now, I am from another generation but that’s just fine with me.

Did you get to watch “The Bear, The Tiger and The Others”?, the Flintstones? Pingu?
Clown Ferdinand?
Then there were some Asian cartoons that moved in the most interesting manner (like they were about to fall) and the stories where killer.

“101 tales” about a princess who slept forever and someone told her stories in the hope that she would awake or something.

I also watched “The Danny Thomas Show” you probably don’t remember that one.
Any one remember “Logan’s Run” or “Daktari”?
I presume Daktari is Doctor in Swahili; with ‘Clarence’ the cross eyed lion and a monkey called ‘Judy’.

After “Amawulire gagano nga basomerwa Golooba oba Fred Kasozi” (news in Luganda) we had “Kyeeswa” yeee!!!, just kidding I never sat down to watch the man, but I hear he was quite funny. (Never to be found on the internet though :-)).

“Telematch” was fun, we always took sides with the teams playing and woe unto you if your team lost.
“The Lucy Show” was really entertaining, I remember watching it with my parents (one of the few they sat through).
“Didi’s Comedy Show”, pretty much speaks for itself--non stop nonsense.

One thing that baffled my dad was how at specific times everybody showed up in the sitting room, when it was time for news we all remembered we had things to do. As soon as news was over, we were back faithfully.

He didn't know that it was illegal to miss “Different Strokes” - the world don't move to the beat of just one drum; “The Jeffersons”- moving on up to a deluxe apartment; “Sanford and Son” always having the big one (heart attack); “Good Times”- with clap "kid--dynomite"; “227”- there is no place like home, unless of course you were extremely sick ICU style. We had near fights when someone forgot to call someone else for the show, it was that serious.

So after several failed attempts to get “these young people” to listen to the news, daddy gave up.

Soon we were back for “Hawaii Five-O”, "Twilight Zone", "The Beverly Hillbillies", "Top of the Pops” and “Studio B”.

We kept our fingers crossed wishing that the TV anchor would not come and say something like “Good evening viewers, we are sorry …” That would just kill. Those were times one was tempted to call UTV station to give them a piece of ones mind. To think we didn't have other TV stations to turn to, absolute stress right there--trained our little hearts for life's disappointments.

If we were lucky and the tapes were not lost or misplaced, we got to stay up for features like “The Old Fox”, “Palmers Town”, “Another Life”, “Golden Years”, “Inspector Derrick”, “Riviera”.

When the worst came to the worst we had “James Last” music.

Those were the days.

A moment of silence please.

Thank you.

I wonder if kids of today would take a fancy to Clue Club and so on, if not, why? Is that a silly question? 

I guess I am officially old school because I can’t quite click “Power Rangers”, “Wow Wow Wubbzy”, “Dexter’s Lab” (I’m sorry but I don’t), “Power Puff Girls” oba what.

Growing on me?

On Mich’s birthday we met some neighbors as he played in the compound, he told anyone willing to listen – “It’s my birthday today”
“Oh, my! Happy Birthday! How old are you? What are going to do? What did your parents get you? Are you going out to dinner?”
“I’m five years old”, is all he’d say, didn't bother to answer the other questions, were they too many? Did they fly over his head?, I don’t know.

I got talking with this lady who was child sitting a friend’s 8 year old daughter. This girl (I forget her name) was apparently the best golf player of her age in the area, I thought wow! Golf at 8?!, back in the day Simon and I would run through the golf course shielding our heads with our bags lest a golf ball found a good landing spot on top of us.
Then the lady went on to ask me what games Mich plays, “err …anything fun, whatever” I shrugged my shoulders, I mean he is still a kid right?.
Then she says, “this would be the perfect time for him start golf training, he is the right age. My son started when he was 3”, and I’m smiling and saying wow! (I personally think golf is boring).
She says “but if he likes soccer he can start that now too, this is the best time”
Enough with the pressure, where I come from kids just play everything and anything, - tie banana fibers together make a ball and play, knot strips of grass together and skip, ati professional training at 3 or 4 years of age? What’s that?
Can a little person read and ace his exams? That is all that counts, you don’t waste time and money on games.

Later her husband joined us and Mich did his thing, “It’s my birthday”
The cycle begun again, “how old are you?” “what game do you play”, at this point I was thinking oh no! not again.
But you know, I'm thinking it would be nice to get him into something fun, playing a musical instrument maybe, like the piano or guitar. Oh my goodness! then I would end up being a real ‘soccer mom’ running from this rehearsal to the next.
Is this American lifestyle starting to grow on me?

You know what this reminds me of? - the time I first came into America.
I was advised to pack as little as possible with the notion that I would get everything I needed here.
With the excitement of travel and the knowledge that I had a toddler I was careful to heed the advice.
America after all is the land of our dreams, it has everything in abundance. The latest fashions, the most sophisticated electronic gadgets (from Japan), it’s the home to most celebrities, in fact the streets are so clean one doesn't have to wash clothes or bathe often :-).
They have amazing food, cuisines from around the world are fairly represented in the “American kitchen”. I just needed a few clothes that would tide me over the first few months and I was half right.
I was so wrong about the food, for the first weeks I thought my son and I were slowly going to die of hunger. Not that we were broke and couldn't buy any thing,- there was plenty of food, all kinds of food as a matter of fact but nothing familiar. The bakery aisle in the super market was filled with all tribes of bread but non that caught my fancy. The milk was a whole other issue - 1 percent, 2 percent, ¾ percent, whole milk, half milk, one was certainly spoilt for choice, but that would only be true if I was familiar with the choices.
Where I come from, there is milk period.
You go to the market and you get diary milk, or nido for those of you.
I haven’t even mentioned how I couldn't find blue band. I found carrots, tomatoes, green paper and onions of all colors but no matooke (plantains) or sweet potatoes, there was no millet flour or curry powder, there was no dodo, ebo, buga or nakati but they had collard greens and broccoli - greens I had never tasted. I thought, you know what? This is the end of me.
Quite apart from that, I was intimidated by the huge super markets and felt like someone stepping off a spinning wheel when I walked out the door. I had to be quick because I had a toddler to feed and a husband who was busy getting accustomed to his school schedule. Not to mention the times I wanted the house to cave in on me because I was afraid to venture outside – this in the crazy summer when it was too hot to stay outdoors or indoors for that matter. We lacked air conditioning you see. Philadelphia summer gave hot a whole new meaning.

I promised to bring all the foods I wanted from home when I had a chance. My shopping consisted of bare necessities (my version) for a Ugandan living away from home..
Banana chips, Simsim balls (sesame seed), -oh!nothing tastes as good as our local simsim or g-nuts. Millet flour for porridge and kalo (millet bread), cassava flour for kabalagala (banana pancakes).
By the way, did you know some people here have no idea what passion fruits are , never seen, never heard of - “mu life eno!” as one of my friends likes to say.
Unfortunately I couldn't carry nsenene (grass hoppers), deep fried tilapia – Ggaba style, dripping, sizzling pork “ne bigenderako” from Zanzi , luwombo, katogo... that is not to say the thought never crossed my mind.
But what am I saying?
This second time here, I don’t miss home food that much (self denial?), I’m more accustomed to what is available – Zucchini, Artichokes, kumquat, that kind of thing.
I never imagined I would get to this point, is the American lifestyle growing on me or what?

Splendour of the King

Fantastic day today.
A beautiful, beautiful day.

I took some pictures along the way.
God be praised, is all I will say.

Officially Mapengo

He suddenly sprung out of his chair-

"Mummy, my tooth is out"

"Really? how did it happen?"

With the cutest, toothless grin I ever saw he said, "I just kept turning it around and around with my tongue".

So, that's how it happened.
I was just laughing at myself - by the time losing a tooth becomes a thrill then you know parenting is something else.

With all the special days popping up these past weeks - what with the valentines party, his birthday, he got invited for a party this weekend... I couldn't quite make the whole tooth fairy thing work. He is not big on it anyway and since we still have candy around the house, it served well for the occasion. I didn't even try to add the mystic aspect, but we will see, still have 19 or so teeth to lose right? atleast he knows we rejoice with him.

Hello Love

I attended the Hello Love Concert featuring Chris Tomlin and Israel Houghton last night.

Woooooo!!! now that was some really fine stuff in there.

Israel Houghton got us off to a real good start, he pulled out "I am a friend of God", "I am not forgotten","Lord you are good" then sprinkled a few new songs here and there. I was dancing and singing like my life depended on it. But the crowd was not coming up to par, they were just not getting into the groove. Perfect surround sound, great music, musicians all in sync, I could literally feel the vibes under my feet, you know?!

Somewhere along the way Israel figured they probably didn't know him, so - rewind, start again, my name is Israel ...

I couldn't believe it. Here I was working up a sweat and people were still standing?, were we listening to the same music?.

Anyway I decided not to look around, thank God the place was dark so I was able to really get jiggy with it and not have people looking at me like I had gone crazy. My neighbors did give me space though.

But I still don't have an excuse for the crowds reaction.

Second half, Chris Tomlin came on stage and people cheered, whistled, clapped, shouted, I thought "hmmm, they were actually waiting for Chris huh?". When he did his first song "we will sing sing sing" they went back to just standing and a few people at the front had raised hands. That's when I thought "these guys have got to be kidding me", I was almost hitting the roof at this point and screaming my lungs out. The music was awesome, the songs were familiar, the lyrics where up on the screen, what?, people what?

My conclusion?, worship artists should invest in travelling and doing all their concerts in Africa, Uganda in particular. At least back home we know how to express ourselves, dance, dance, dance - ok if you can't dance, jump, I know a lot of people who get away with it.

Again I decided to chill the people and do my thing, forget about my surroundings, concentrate on Him and worship Him, that's what I paid for ain't it?

I loved that Chris would start the songs and let the crowd carry on, it felt like a worship session, that blessed my heart.

We sang, "God of this city", "Indescribable", "How Great is our God", "Let God arise", "Jesus Messiah", "Your grace is enough", "Amazing Grace" and many more

After a while we sat down and Chris shared what he'd been up to and what God had placed on his heart. He talked about travelling the world on the Passion tour and was more than glad that he didn't forget to mention Uganda.

Then he talked about a song he recorded with the Watoto. Yeow!! that's when I begun swelling in my chair. I almost screamed at that point but "diggi" was killing me. He went on to say he'd called Mercy the choir director, and showed a video clip of the kids, at this point I was half the size of the auditorium (at least in my head and heart I was). He talked about having a chat with Louie Giglio, who said he had just come back from a conference at which he met the founders of Watoto - Gary and Marilyn Skinner. Now I was bursting, I wanted to scream, "that's my pastor your talking about".

Chris mentioned a fundraising tour called "One million can do something now" and how they want to come and build sustainable villages for Ugandan refugees and homes for former child soldiers in Gulu, I was thrilled.

It's wonderful to see what God is doing through the Watoto, never dreamed it would get this big, looks like it's getting even bigger and that's awesome for the orphans, the displaced kids of Gulu, for KPC, for Kampala, for Uganda, for Africa, for the world.

Just when I thought I couldn't take any more, Israel and Chris came back on stage to sing their last song, then waved good bye as they went off the stage.

Two seconds later they were back and we had a good 5 minutes jam session before they run off for good.
I heaved a sweet sigh of satisfaction, picked up my bag and headed home.

The Birthday Boy

It was a pretty calm day.
Got up about 6:30am.
The birthday boy woke up to a happy birthday duet by his dad and I.
He was really excited, he said " I have been waiting for this day a long time". Turns out he had done his own decorating in the middle of the night so my balloons added to "his" touch. He had paper strings placed around his bed.

That was about all the peace we had that morning before...

"mummy, where are my power rangers?"

We got him some really nice clothes but I hadn't wrapped them (my bad), then he says "mummy they are supposed to be wrapped", now I'm thinking what have I got myself into? little boy can't settle, is not too thrilled about the clothes ...

I was tempted to start the "in our days" talk, but we had a whole day a head of us, so I told him to have fun at school and that we would be passing by.

Sam and I had planned for him to celebrate the day with his friends at school and Ms. Dee was in on that.

We showed up at 10am. The kids were all excited except the birthday boy. "Mummy, mummy, did you bring the power rangers?" "mummy..."

"Mich relax, you will get your presents at home, you are not allowed to have presents at school because all the other kids will want to take them"

That seemed to settle things for a bit, then it was "mummy, mummy, can I come home with you?" "mummy I want to go home now"

We haven't even shared the cup cakes or sang happy birthday at this point. Meanwhile his friends are eagerly waiting. I'm thinking, this is getting really embarrassing.

We finally get to sing for him, eat some cake and before he could start "mummy, I want to ..." I said "Ok Mich, have a nice day, see you later" I gave him a big hug and we were out the door.

I was a little flustered that he was so jittery, wasn't grateful for what we had done and then wanted toys so he could show off.

Ok, so I take some blame for not teaching Mich to be grateful with what he is given - how ever small the gift, even if it's not what he dreamed.

After musing on this a bit I realise other factors come in to play.

1 - Going to birthday parties where parents out do themselves with all sorts of presents for their kids (young fella begins to think he can have flying monkeys)

2 - Issues with trying to fit in and be cool, you know?!, getting liked by the other kids, (oh why would kids be having pressures so early? he has a whole life of that a head of him).

3 - It's just a crazy era to be growing up in, let alone being right here ( this is when I really miss home)

Whatever happened to the days when just drinking a soda made it all exciting, or getting a dress, a packet of biscuits?

He finally came home and found his presents on his bed. Then he said "This is the best day I have ever had. Mummy you are the best mummy in the whole world. Daddy you are the best daddy in the whole world".

Shortly after that he was looking forward to his 6th birthday and telling us all the things he would like. That is when I lost it and we had a serious talk about being grateful, now he only mentions the things he wants when we are saying the grace.

You get it all

Mich celebrates his 5th birthday tomorrow and it seems like he's in a hurry to hit some targets before he shows all fingers of one hand.

For a while there school was like a horror story but things a looking up now.

Yesterday, straight from school, bag still on his back he said "mummy 't', 't', 'in' - 'tin", I was thrilled, finally he is beginning to understand how words are created.
A week ago he said, mummy, you know what?, "a consonant and a vowel put together make a blend". Yeee! thumbs up Ms. Dee, you are doing a great job.

He told his Dad "reading is easy", but fell back on that one, every time we tried reading together he got really frustrated.

Anyway, lately his favourite bed times stories have been "Elmo's alphabet" and "Eating the alphabet". Noooo!, I kid you not.

Mich loves stories, long stories, stories that go on and on and keep him captivated to the tale until "the end" or "and they lived happily ever after".

There have even been times his head was heavy with sleep and I've thought, phew! no story tonight, then as soon as I lay him down he says "mummy we haven't read a story", (shoot!)

I respond "Mich, you are really tired, we will read it tomorrow" (absolutely wrong move), he will sit up like he was never sleepy in the first place and demand his story.

So, moving from that to "A" is for Apricot, "C" is for Corn? some one pinch me.

Last night I was so eager to watch American Idol, I made sure dinner was ready, we ate and Sam kindly put Mich to bed.
After reading a story, praying and saying goodnight we kept hearing crushing sounds from Mich's room, I brushed it off because he is known to use that to get attention.

When Sam walked into the room a little later, ah!!

The wall was covered with miniature ink prints of Minnie mouse. Aaaaaaarrrrrgggghhhhh!!

He had a session with his dad then I sat him down and explained why what he had done was wrong, that decorating the wall with stamps of Minnie mouse wasn't exactly cool. He seemed surprised that we were not pleased, he was just trying to make his room look good. I'm hoping that we shall not be discussing something like this again, at least he seemed to understand that.

Raising a child takes a lot of wisdom, so where as this was so wrong and we can't get it off the wall, it was a first time.

Yep, with parenting you get the whole package, the good, the bad and the ugly.

And now we try to clean up the mess, which I suspect is going to take a long time.

In the village

"There is no night so dark, so black as night in the country"

When I step out of the house without a light, night wraps his arm around me and draws me into his pitch black belly.
At full moon the village is illuminated by her rays, the stars dotted across the sky mirror the majesty of an awesome God.
The magical glow worms darting, on the grass, in the air, on my shoulder – now I see them, now I don’t. Just when I think I have figured out their path they disappear, it's fascinating.

I hear animals conversing in the dark, the owl hooting in the distance, birds tweeting goodnight. Sounds of the chicken, roosters, turkeys and ducks fluffing their feathers as they each look for a cozy nook in the tree.
The drunken man's gibberish soliloquy as he stumbles home after an evening of ajon drinking with friends.

Ah! The sounds of the night.
I drift off to sleep in a world where silence takes centre stage.


5 o’clock in the morning, the roosters across the village dutifully crow – “coco-lio-kokooooo arise and shine, a new day is upon us” and the turkeys clucks “kulukulukulu, true true true, it’s getting bright indeed”
The sheep and goats bleat as the care taker tugs them along to be tethered in the bushes.
The cows raise their voices to say “good mooooorning”.
Ochan makes a clicking sounds with his tongue as he lures the cow to the milking shed. He pats her back to calm her down then he ever so gently but firmly draws milk from her udder into his bucket. Her tail hits his face from time to time as she swipes insects off her back. She enjoys the stroke of his fingers, it soothes her once aching udders.

I tried to milk a cow once but never got more than a few drops into the bucket.

The smell of fresh cow dung whiffs up into the air, as if to remind me that I am in the country.

The villagers get up at the crack of dawn and head straight to their gardens, weeding, digging, planting or harvesting, depending on the time of the year.

Grandma says 6 o’clock is the best time to plough the land, it’s the coolest time of day and the fresh morning dew softens the soil.

8 o’clock grandma is sitting at the entrance of her hut churning milk in her favorite gourd.

I relish the sound that it makes as she shakes it to a rhythm – chachung, chachung, chachung.
Later she emerges from her hut with eritey, a local tray.

She strides through the kraal and the neighborhood looking for fresh dang. When asked to help, Simon and I giggle and scamper away.

See, dang is the glue that holds her tray together, it seals all the holes so her millet grains don't filter through gaping holes.

10 o'clock the villagers and farmers, return carrying their hoes, sticks, sickles and pangas each one peeling away from the crowd as they reach their respective huts, they wave to the rest who have a longer distance to cover.
Time for breakfast, a few leftovers from last nights supper, roasted or boiled cassava, g nuts, sweet potatoes and a cup of milk, black tea, porridge, water, oranges, mangoes.

God of My Days

You awaken my heart
From slumbering
Meet me in mourning
And you speak to my grief
You're the light in my darkness
The delight of my eyes
The hope of the daybreak
When the sun's slow to rise

I trust that every moment's in your hands
You're the God of my days
The King of my nights
Lord of my laughter
Sovereign in sorrow
You're the Prince of my praise
The love of my life
You never leave me
You are faithful
God of my days

You unveil my eyes
Help me to see
The arms of my Father
Encircling me
You're a constant companion
I am never alone
Your love is the banner
That's leading me home

My eyes are on You
My hope is in You
My faith is in You

My eyes are on You
My hope is in You
My faith is in You

By Gateway worship

The Val' party

You know? I found out that valentines day is sweet after all, (quite apart from all the candy), it's a fun day in children's lives.I have decided that it's best enjoyed in pre-k and kindergarten after that things take a different turn.
Mich had a valentines party at his school today, you should have seen his classroom. It was decorated with all sorts of cute things, balloons, flowers, candy, red ribbons, candy, oh and candy :-). Mich said "mummy on valentines day you get so many candies, you can't even eat them all in one day". True, I nodded to that.
All the kids were dressed in red except my main man (too much maalo on our part), thankfully he didn't notice, he was really excited about the day.
Mich got some interesting presents, I thought they were creative, cute and curious.


This one for example was from one of the boys in his class, thankfully there is nothing more to it.

This was another one from a boy. Interesting... they are just pictures right?

Happy Valentines

Preschool, pretty girls and valentines

I didn't hear much about this day until I was at University.
Over here it fits right in there with Christmas, Easter and Thanksgiving

I remember how during my first year on campus the place would go into a buzz as the day drew near - people praying for cards and flowers, others making sure things were good between them and their boyfriends. Me trying to fit in but not really getting it because I didn't have "a" boyfriend but had boys who were my friends.

I shared a room with a girl who took this day a little too seriously, she sat up all night "val" eve waiting for the clock to strike midnight hoping that her boy friend would show up with flowers, or else . So while some of us tried to get some sleep she was checking the clock and talking away.

Guess what?! it struck midnight, 10 passed, 20 passed, and there was no knock at the door. After a while she calmed down, figured this dream wasn't going to come true and resigned herself to sleep.

On the d-day, there was lots of talk about who had received flowers, who was still in waiting, who had broken up, who had chosen to "cut" lectures, who fell sick, the whole shebang.

My dear roomie finally got her bouquet after a whole day of nerves and then we had to sit quietly in the case of those who didn't.

Mich brought home a circular with the names of all his classmates, apparently he is supposed to write a val card for each of them.

People, he is only 4, what will he be learning by the time he is in grade school? Am I becoming old school already?
What is the concept here? I get the idea of appreciating your classmates and all but you should have seen his frustration when he was signing cards for kids he barely knew. I explained to him how all his classmates are special and that it would make them feel good (plus we have to abide by school rules).

I was at a loss for words when he said "only the pretty girls get cards", then he mentioned names of the girls who were pretty and the ones who were not. Obviously I had several questions - where did you get that idea?, who makes for a pretty girl? who doesn't? eish!!!

What I wonder about is whether it's a day for celebrating friendships? a day for lovers? a day for secret admirers? a day to state intentions? all of the above??

Is it supposed to go both ways? or is it just the guys giving the ladies? (but giving a guy a bouquet is just wrong).

Does it depend on the crowd? say for example;

If you're in kindergarten - your classmates, teacher and parents

In high school - your crash

In college - your date, some one you secretly admire

Work - making your intentions known

Married - your spouse, or in some cases someone you secretly admire

Maybe I should research this whole Valentines day thing but I must say who ever thought it up/ created it/ whatever, would be happy to know that things go crazy around this time every year.

Oh by the way in case you were wondering, to my shock and surprise I did get a Valentines card that first year on campus and only figured out the sender 3 years later.

Heart to Heart

Church was just the best today.

It's nice to walk into church and say hello to people, give hugs, handshakes, smiles that kind of thing. Since I'm still a newie I'm taking it slow but it's just great having all these people rushing over to say hello. It's clear they are not doing it out of duty but genuine concern.
I like that after the worship we get to greet our neighbours. Which reminds me of what that felt like in KPC, I actually believe people prayed that Pastor Gary/Chris/Julius would not say "turn around and greet your neighbor". The times I was not in the choir I sat around some people who kept their eyes glued to the pulpit, kinda like they had neck trouble.
Then it was like they didn't hear when the pastor actually said turn and greet your neighbor, but maybe it was just me.

Okay, I was telling you about service today. So I walked in feeling a little distant from God, my prayer was "Lord, draw me close to you".
Ann (the worship leader) did a number that reminded me of my backup days in the choir with my girls - Sheila, Edna and Flash, sweet memories.
Now, that was like song number two, song number three was "Lord Iam amazed by you", I really got in and was telling God how amazed I was.
Right there, at the moment God and I had a conversation that went somewhat like this,

God-"are you really amazed by me?"
Me - "ye..",
God - "if you are then what's all the fretting about?, is it to say I can't?"

See, Sam and I are facing a pretty tough situation right now and I must admit there has been doubt, fear, wondering how we going to pull through this, thinking maybe we dreamed too big and out of God's will.
These questions stopped me in my tracks.
Wow! I get the point Lord, I do.

While I was still getting my head around that, song number four "Be still" literally opened the taps, memories of Nziiza came flooding back - I was undone.

And then we sang "How Great is our God", my, my! absolutely powerful.
The the pastor wrapped it up for me by preaching a sermon entitled "No Loss is Too Devastating For God" and then this video of Derek Redmond.

Okonkwo

I just finished re reading one of my all time favourite books by Chinua Achebe - Things Fall Apart.

Quite apart from the thrill of recalling the events in Umofia and Okonkwo's life, it was a fun trip down memory lane. Back to secondary school, literature class, the discussions, arguments and essay writing ...

Coming across names like Ezeulu, Obierika, Ikemefuna was like stumbling upon old buddies .

Hey, Unoka, I remember you, Okonkwo's dad right? boy was Okonkwo ashamed of you, you're probably the laziest man he ever knew. You just liked to party didn't ya?!, I hear you were most blissful drinking, playing your flute and dancing with the locals.

Obierika, man! you represented the epitome of friendship, the way you stood by Okonkwo when he had been exiled to Mbanta ( his mathez home) was really commendable.

Uchendu, you were one dry fellow, you didn't mince your words around your nephew Okonkwo. As you knew how to rub salt in a wound?!, but I guess it was sawa because then Okonkwo sobered up and faced his situation like a man.

Ikemefuna, things were tight for you, I mean first they grab you from your home (no fault of your own), they take you to live in a different village, then the man you ended up calling father (Okonkwo) killed you just like that.

Looking at Okonkwo, it seems that even though he despised his dad's laziness, and worked mighty hard never to be associated with such "fakeness", when it came to their demise, they both died miserable men. Unoka died an old, poor man with a lousy reputation - Okonkwo hanged himself.

Is it that the very thing we loath in our parents is what becomes our destiny some how?

Happy Birthday

You turned 69 today, how awesome is that?!
I thank God for keeping you around this long and pray that He grants you many more years of good health.
It was great talking to you this morning, I felt the emotion sipping through the waves.
Thanks for the reassurance that all will be well because you know a good God who never lets His children down.
I was glad to hear you say, "this too will pass, life has ups and downs", you have been there and came through just fine. It was comforting.

I now find tears rolling down my cheeks just thinking about you.
We have been through some pretty tough times these past few years, sometimes I wonder how you kept your sanity because they were extremely dark for you in particular.

I remember quite vividly the day I knelt down in my room almost 25 years ago, praying and asking God to please find you and mom before He called you home.
I'm thrilled that He did.
He answered my prayer, I didn't know when it would happen but I kept praying.

Thanks for looking after mom and all 6 of us, you certainly set a good example of what a father ought to be.
Thanks for making sure we got a good education.
You introduced us to the wonderful world of books for which am forever grateful.
You made it a point to buy the latest LP's and cassette tapes, that was so cool.
Your taste in music was great, how else we would have stumbled on all time musicians like Bee Gees, Shalamar, Lionel Richie, Billy Ocean, Kenny Rogers, Michael Jackson, Donna Summer...
You encouraged us to bake and bake we did, I can still recall the time you bought the Ken wood mixer and baking dishes, it was exciting.
I never knew a man with a worse temper, by the way what happened with that? I mean I don't see it much any more.
Love the souvenirs you brought home from your world travels.
Did you know that my love for pets came from you?
I remember how you emphasised the benefits of waking up early, well I still struggle with that, sleep is sweet.
We know how to watch out for each other because you taught us that many times family is all we got.
The importance of being a friend?!, it's not so much what you say but how you live it out before us, the message is loud and clear.
Mummy is always number one.

By the way Mich was happy talking to you this morning. I informed him of your birthday a few days ago and he marked it on the calender with a smiley face.


The reason the smile is crooked is because you are a grandpa (talk to Mich).

Thanks for being the best, I'm glad you made Jesus your Lord, I wish you many more happy days and may God bless your every waking moment.
Love you

Me

Will the center hold?

We all feel the pinch... pinch?? Sting certainly captures the emotion better and it's humbling.
These people who start expensive avoidable wars and those trading in invisible cash have really done us in(my explanation for the financial crisis).
Ok may be we were Living the dream and then some but reaaaalle, things have never been tighter. Chinua Achebe's book title "Things Fall Apart" doesn't even begin to describe the chaos up in here.

I started smelling smoke when Oprah gave out some pretty odd favorite things this past year. CD's, treasure boxes, gift baskets, a nice book to read, she even encouraged swap parties where people exchanged items instead of buying new ones.
Now I know y'all Ugandans would be going gaga on this stuff, seeing as gifts at Christmas or any other time of the year are like Nsenene (grasshoppers) in June.
What you don't get is that, Oprah's favourite things in 2007 left me smitten, floored, speechless. Oh! how I wished I had a fairy god mother who would show up and wave me into her audience with a magic wand.


Scrabble - the best game ever. Standard mixer, I like baking so this would look good in my kitchen.

A camcorder would definitely make blogging so much more

HDTV Refrigerator with Weather and Info Center from LG Electronics??, soft sigh. How could one person get all these things for free?

But today my friends, today, it's a different story.
America and the world at large (ripple effect) is going through a crazy time.
People are losing jobs like a plague, we are learning to cook instead of eating out, switch off the lights, take the bus, ride the bicycle (the car is reserved for emergencies). Two or more families staying together isn't such a bad thing after all, unplug gadgets that are not being used, learn to layer on clothes we ain't gonna run up our heating bill. Businesses are closing, items are on sale, and coupons are a sweet sound to the ear, ok you are getting the idea. Obviously some of these things go with out saying for some African Ugandans like me who regard some of these pleasures as sinful. This is probably the worst recession since the Great depression (1929 - 1939).

This ad just about puts things in perspective

I watched the inauguration of America's 1st black president in the comfort of my home.
Now I get to feel the recession/crunch in my home and pocket.

Mapengo already?

Last week Mich picked up an apple to eat and gave up on it before I could say "when".

He nibbled a bit and put it a side, when asked why he'd lost appetite so soon he said, "I tried eating it from this side but I wasn't biting, then I tried it on this side and I wasn't biting". He was basically trying to use his molars to bite into the apple.

I did a dental check and found out that my baby, my little boy, my cutie pie, is about to lose his first tooth.

Childhood memories came flooding back, I recalled the fun Simon and I had shaking loose teeth until they came off.
Simon was the crazy one, he once tied a loose tooth with a piece of thread and attached the other end to a door nob, and... I leave you to figure out the rest.
My elder brother Peter lost a tooth while munching on his bread one morning, I don't quite recall if he found it or just discovered it was missing - meaning he swallowed it :-).

Emphasis was placed on the importance of presenting evidence and informing adults once a tooth was out because they were the middle men between the little people and the rats/mice. You wanted to obey that rule because otherwise you risked missing the gift.

Speaking of mice and teeth, I'm wondering whether I should do the whole tooth fairy thing with Mich. For starters it's not true, but it's lots of fun for the kid. I remember my imagination running wild just thinking about this rat that travelled from miles away carrying a present on it's back because he had been informed I had lost a tooth.
Several years later I figured it out, I don't think I was disappointed but again, it's not truth.
I'm thinking of just letting Mich know that I will give him a little something for each tooth he loses but then I might inspire him to knock them all out so really..., advice anyone?

The part I didn't like was being called "mapengo", a Swahili word for toothless.

But wait!, Mich is only 4 years old, how is this happening so soon? Isn't this supposed to happen at 6 or 7 years of age?
But on the other hand, it makes sense, this is the same boy who started teething at 4 months. You can imagine my shock when I set him to breastfeed and the fellow was sharpening his incisors on me.
4 months people! what ever happened to 6 months, 1 year, you know, like the books say?
At the same time my insides feel like jelly - my baby is growing up, before I know it he will be a teenager, a college grad, a husband, a father, a grandfather eh! this is getting spooky.
How do you describe the state of being exhilarated, anxious, hopeful and elated all in one word?

Parenting is an amazing package, full of surprises, ups and downs, In's and outs and everything in between.

Desperately desperate

If music be the food of spiritual growth, play on,
Give me excess of it; that ...

Unlike Orsino I have not and do not want to reach the point of surfeiting.

In about two weeks Chris Tomlin and Israel Houghton will be in Dallas for the Hello Love tour. These guys are on my list of favourite musicians, so I'm certainly excited and looking forward to attending the concert.

Being a christian artist must be quite humbling because even though we love the musicians we are not in it primarily for them but for what they can do. They are mere talented people who God has chosen to use, so we gather to ultimately give Him the praise.

Oh! but what really gets my adrenaline going is seeing a man passionate about God, a man desperately desperate (as I like to put it).

A man who puts all dignity a side and says "I have got nothing to loose, Jesus, it is me and you". I listen to groups like Mercyme, Casting Crowns, and guys like Jeremy Camp and oh my goodness the lyrics to their songs are inspiring and then they sing like their lives depend on it. That really gets me going. It's clear that they are giving their all, their very best and yes, that is what God desires of us in all areas.
But something about music and singing takes things to another level.

I appreciate the depiction of helplessness in this picture and I like that it is a man, women know how to get to this point naturally but no so for most men. The display of emotion, not only with the passing of a loved one or a business deal gone bad but a desperate need for his maker, now that is something to behold.