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Uncommon Assault

Part 4. The clinic.

2 of the most amazing people we met on our travels. Dr James and Dr Kate at the Eunice Memorial Clinic , Kalangala.

Highly qualified, intelligent doctors committed to improving the health and chances of people from poor and remote villages. In addition to diagnosis, treatment and preventative care, they still add more. There are knitted baby items offered, Dr Kate grows plants for complementary medicine, and, on top of all that, vegetables given free to those who need them.

But,

there is a big big problem with electrical supply. Everywhere we went on our trip, power was inconsistant and unreliable as was the internet. Whilst often difficult , power cuts are à serious matter in a medical facility. Imagine you travel pregnant across the island from your remote village. You have 1 opportunity during your pregnancy to have a scan to make sure your baby is alive and the cord isn't wrapped around it's neck. You arrive and the power dies, no scan and you return home, an impossible dangerous outcome.

Supplies are needed, batteries for backup power, solar panels, more medical equipment etc . I hope for their sake ,and those who depend on them, that they get them.

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Uncommon Assault

Part 3. Footballs ⚽

When we planned our trip we intended to fund all of it ourselves. Fortunately we have a few good friends who knew better and gave us a donation for the footballs we wanted to take. As a result we managed 2 balls (and a pump) each for 4 schools . What a joy to see how well these gifts were received ! I wish we could have taken more. At the first school we had watched a game played with a ball made from rags, it was no surprise to see big smiles when we handed over the balls. At another school both a girls and a boys team had been waiting for funds to buy a ball, brilliant to be able to give a ball to each team.

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More safari pics

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Uncommon Assault

part 2 Safari 2nd half of photos

[exactlychaoticcoffee]

Uncommon Assault

Part 2

Safari.

Some years ago I was working in Kenya. Whilst travelling around I saw some great wildlife and quite a few people "on safari" . I was watching some hippos in a pool when a small mini bus arrived , a few heads popped up above the zebra striped livery . Click click click went the cameras, heads down and off they went. I reckoned they probably saw more animals than I did ( failed to chance upon lions) but it just didn't seem right.

Fast forward to 2024 and I find myself popping my head out of a van ( thankfully no zebra stripes in sight) and taking pictures. I'm very fortunate to have had the opportunity to take a safari but it wasn't why I was in Uganda and, honestly, I still kinda feel the same way.

So here are some pics of some amazing animals , despite my previous comments, they were pretty awesome.

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Uncommon Assault.

My heart and body took a battering but my spirit was lifted

Part 1.

Let's start with the easy stuff. Hanging out near the equator brings on a few subtle but very real changes. Everyone always knows what time it is, "just look where the sun is" . Of course it's in pretty much the same place same time every day. Where we were there's about a half hour variation over the year. Missed the sunset? No worries you know it'll be back same time tomorrow. I was talking to a teacher from a school and we realised that although intellectually we knew that our days got longer and shorter while theirs don't, we hadn't thought about how it would feel.

Seasons, not a thing by the equator. Sometimes there's a bit more rain. A taxi driver asked what spring was. He really struggled to imagine all the new shoots and fresh greeneey coming through, not surprising when he sees lush green all year.

Temperature varied very little. 25 average daytime, 24 at night. When the sun broke through it was strong, I now know the UV index doesn't stop at 10. What I mostly felt was the humidity, personally I prefer my heat , like my wine, nice and dry.