Sunday, August 27, 2006

Mini Safari!!

Here's a pic of us on Safari ... it's not proving straight forward to add images to something we've already written ... so we're going to add them as a new post!! - enjoy!! Friday night we went out for dinner with a few friends to an Ethiopian restaurant right opposite our compound (it was the end of the week and we were shattered!!) It was great food and really cheap ... we'll be going there more often!! - it's even cheaper than going to the supermarket and doesn't require cooking or washing up!!! We had a day out yesterday ... we went out to Lake Naivasha on a mini-safari with some other friends!! - first on a boat trip (tiny boat!!!) amongst a whole load of hippos ... who were more interested in sleeping than in us!! And loads of different wierd and wonderful birds!!! Later on we went to Crater Lake Game Park, where the only predators are snakes ... so we got out of the car and wandered around right next to 10 giraffes and a dozen zebra!!! ... before you ask ... yes, we took photos ... it's not straight forward to get them on the blog though!!! Watch this space, they'll be coming soon!! Back to 'work' tomorrow for us both!! ... it's becoming a real routine thing now!!!

Friday, August 25, 2006

Hangar Photos!!

As promised ... some pics!! ... well just 2 for now anyway!!! Here's Mark 'posing' by the Ethiopian aircraft he has been working on this week!!! Mark with Oscar ... cleaning screws!!! - tough work eh?!! Oscar has been telling Mark what to do this week!! We promise to add more soon ... when we've taken more!!! - have a good weekend!

Wednesday, August 23, 2006

End of Week 1!!

Firstly ... we apologise for our picture-less blog!!! - basically we've not taken any photos yet!!! - we promise to get our acts together some point soon!! And for those of you who don't know what MAF is ... it's Mission Aviation Fellowship!! We're now into more of a routine ... and had quite a relaxing weekend as well which was much needed after a hectic first few days!! Mark's been working on the engine of a Cessna 210 and has helped service an Ethiopian Cessna 208 Caravan (for those that want to know ... or can make sense of the code!!) He has had a lot more hands-on work the last couple of days and so has enjoyed it a lot more! - He's also getting to know the guys who he's working with a bit more which is making work easier! One highlight was being taken to lunch by another mzungu (white man!) to the Palais ... where he tucked in to a meal of beans, cabbage, something green and flavoured water with chapati and ugali all for the rip-off price of 40 Ksh (Kenyan Shillings) ... there's about 135 Ksh to the pound!! Jenny's now spent a couple of days in West Nairobi School ... it's so American it's almost painful!! (sorry to all our US buddies!!) but the staff are nice and it's good to see the other side of education available in Africa! She's also spent a day in the New Life Home orphanage ... where there are 51 children from babies in incubators to toddlers (they move on to another orphanage when they are approx 3 or are fostered or adopted!) - the kids are gorgeous and love being cuddled and just playing together! Thanks for all your comments and emails about the blog ... we'll be on again at the weekend! - maybe even with the odd picture or 2!!!

Saturday, August 19, 2006

Getting Acclimatized!!

Well ... we've survived our first week here!! On Wednesday ... we were introduced to nearly everyone in the MAF hangar where Mark will be working and took a little stroll around the area we're living in ... sussing out the shops ... where believe it or not, the supermarkets were bigger than those at home ... and you can even get a bunkbed with your weekly shop!!! On Thursday ... Mark started work in the Hangar ... leaving for work at 7.15am ... he was not impressed!! He is the only non-Kenyan member of staff working on the shop floor!! - Jenny visited the school she will be working in 3 days a week ... it's an amazing international school ... looks more like a holiday resort!!! - and then went into town material shopping with some of the other MAF wives!!!!! On Friday ... Mark (after another early start!) had another long day in the hangar ... which included sitting in one of the aircraft (that he had been working on) for a ground run! - Jenny went to the MAF ladies meeting in the morning (another MAF wife past-time!!!) and moved into the guest house where Mark has been since the start (there wasn't enough room for both of us when we arrived!!!) We've met loads of great people ... and every evening this week have been treated to a home cooked meal by a different MAF family as part of the 'welcome' hospitality while people find their feet ... we're on our own now and so visited one of the mega-supermarkets to stock up!!! Hope you're all well ... we'll be in touch again soon!!

Wednesday, August 16, 2006

WE'RE HERE!!!

Hi there, just wanted to say that we have arrive in Nairobi and are just settling in to the MAF guest house. We'll both be finding out exactly what we'll be doing tomorrow (Thur 17th Aug). Will post again when we know more. P.S. I know Jen isn't a Beckwith just yet ... but it won't be long!!