Happy 25th D :)

Had a lovely couple of days. On Sunday D and I took a walk down to Nyarutarama, the big swimming pool and tennis court. I went for a good long swim whilst he sat and drank beer and read a book poolside. He's currently reading Titanic Express, a book which Jo dropped off when she came to visit Shue. It's all about Charlotte Wilson, the VSO in Rwanda who was shot in 2000 on a bus (of the book title) to Burundi. Everyone who's read it, including D, says it's very tough because of the subject - it's written by her brother.

Anyway, the exercise was fantastic after so much bed rest. Afterwards, we adjourned to the café and had a big meal before walking back up the hill to home, via a shop selling cat baskets! Huzah.

Monday was D's 25th birthday. I put some balloons around the door in the morning, then popped to town during the day and did the present thing. It was really hard. There's just nothing for men in this country - no proper gift shops. You can get flowers and jewellery for women, but for blokes...? Even wrapping paper and cards are in short supply and usually poor quality - lots of 'May the Lord bless and protect you on this day' crap. I ended up buying one of Apollo's cards from the office - a banana leaf handmade one, much better idea.

I'd had a bit of a natter with the girls on Saturday after the meeting. We decided that the main present was going to be driving lessons and the test. The centre is just up the road from our house. You buy a bulk set of lessons which takes you up to your first test. I've just been offered more writing work, so I can afford it. Compared to what you'd pay back home, it's very good. It's one of those skills - if you have it here, it really helps you.

I drew a little cardboard car as a gift certificate :) The rest were just yummy things to eat like Chocolate Eclairs, Romany Cream biscuits and simsim (sesame seed balls). Also a USB mouse for the computer so that he can do more graphic design. The cherry on top was splashing out on a bottle of very nice South African Shiraz (Tall Dog).

Instead of going out for a meal and letting other people cook for him, D really wanted to stay in and cook for himself. He did this huge meal! I thought it was my birthday! Steve came over to share it with us and I provided the birthday cake. It was a really nice evening. We finished off with Ugandan Sherry in little sherry glasses. I'd bought those, and wine glasses, up the road. Real luxury as we usually drink wine out of plastic peanut butter jars ;) Actually, we don't usually drink wine.

It was seriously nice. D doesn't have any family and had to live on his own from a very young age. For most people here, birthdays aren't a big thing, but especially for him. I was really happy to be a part of it.