TV dictates...unpredictable!

So, just last Saturday, my little daughter, Miranda "directed" me to switch channels from cartoons to news, that was quite impressive...then...

And now, just yesterday, my wife, Miriam, tells me how after I had left home for work, she and the children went for breakfast, and as is- the TV was turned on..and the deal? Your guess is as good as mine- Cartoons! Nonetheless, Miriam felt in order to do a peek of the news channel, however, no sooner had she got the remote control to change, than the same Miranda "assured" her not to "put on her news"!!! Pow......what a slap.

Ultimately, my wife was taken aback, and for that moment, simply let the cartoons be..Unpredictable is the word, and yet God empowers each one of us to handle different pressures, to accommodate those around us. Well, I guess TV programming should just not separate us, unless each member of the family has his/her own TV stowed away somewhere.

Blame nature or sub-standard equip or local dealers?

It was like any other Sunday evening at home- preparing myself for the work week i.e. getting clothes ironed, shoes cleaned...however, yesterday was to prove a shocker.

Ironing was done, in between bouts of electricity surging on and off; the time was about 6.30pm, and I was on the back veranda cleaning my shoes, when all of a sudden a loud blast hits across the car- parked slightly close by.

My first impression was that a neighbour's child had tossed a rock over the wall into our compound and it had gotten my car as an unfortunate target. I quickly rushed to see what had just happened. My wife, our 2 daughters, the neighbours present also came to check out the cause of the loud blast. The whole rear screen had contracted and expanded over the years due to weather factors (rain, sunshine, humidity etc) and finally given way...- apparently on its own, without any intervention of rocks or nearby playing kids...One of the adult neighbours had, on hearing the blast, immediately climbed up the high water tank to get a peek over the neighbour's wall. Finding: the neighbour's wife was "solo" in her compound, perhaps knitting a mat or something of the sort, none of their kids was present.

My 2nd impression was: File a police statement? Motor insurance? However, that neighbour who had scurried up the water tank, guided me to the local garages and gave me advice against our popular car dealers...shocking to learn that some imported cars get their front and rear windscreens swapped by the car depot dealers i.e. the car dealers swap the original front and rear windscreens (by pure silicon- glass) with fake glass, mainly composed of water and loose silicon elements. This was my unfortunate fate...

The thought of coughing up money to replace the rear windscreen at such a time as this...I'm preparing "dead-lined" school fees for my P.1 daughter, I am a 3rd time recent "Sekawere", then home upkeep, now this? Thanks to my wise wife, we agreed to rest our case with God and continue trusting for His bountiful provision...our decision was to go ahead with the finances for our daughter's school fees and leave the car repair issue to God...And so, even right now, Monday morning as I sit in office, I reflect and wonder what God's plan is for our car- perhaps a better one is on the way?

And yet, as human as I am, I sit back and wonder whom or what to blame it on- nature or sub-standard (perhaps non ISO certified) equipment, or squarely our local car dealers?? Well, take your pick, but beware..next time it could happen to you!

Umeme switch tech.....

And so Xmas 2011, boxing day, are over, and I can report with confidence that for once, during the holiday that I have been able to take time off work and relax at home, Umeme categorically "out-shone" and surprised all of us by keeping on...90- 95% of the time.

However, the new year 2012 rolled in, and it was back to work for most of us. Contrary to my earlier belief and confidence, it is apparent that the non-load shedding during Xmas was outright "temporary" and a "slip of switch"!. No sooner had the new year started than the power outages resumed, in some instances for over 48 hr intervals. And so, the average tax paying, nation building Ugandan resident ultimately finds it difficult to pay allegiance to the likes of Karuma, Bujagali or even the more down-to-earth valley dams for electricity, feeder water etc...

The Umeme switch technician remembered to wake up from his Xmas break, and resumed keeping the power grid switch "OFF"....

Definitely, thumbs down!!!

Spongebob Squarepants or Al Jazeera?

It's so amazing the way a child takes a stand and "dictates" the control of "television programming" in the home. My 2 daughters, Abigail (6 yrs old) and Miranda (2.5 yrs old), appreciate the fact that, though they can operate the TV remote control themselves, they will still ask either their mum or myself to change the channel for them, to whichever they want...

The norm these days (well, actually has been for the past couple of months) is that the girls get to watch their cartoon channels for the greater part of the day, and then enter Miriam and I at about 5 or 6pm- for the series/entertainment/reality/news channels etc...Nonetheless, we still do come in time and again mid-way thru' the children's programming, to catch a bit of mid-day news or a brief check on the different channels.

One such "programming" moment was in progress last Saturday evening- I thought I was doing the girls a favour- Abigail was off nearby playing with her dolls; Miranda was hanging with me though apparently not into cartoons at that time. To my surprise and utter astonishment, Miranda literally "directed" me to remove Spongebob Squarepants, and instead select "Al Jeera" (a.k.a Al Jazeera)....thank God the news item was not showing some gruel scene of an accident etc...

So, now I think, perhaps my girls will grow more interested in following news than myself at that age!! And yet, we grown ups can still watch a cartoon or two, and share a laugh.

Xmas '11 Hols and then back to work...

Wow, for the first time in almost 2 years I was able to secure leave and actually enjoy the Xmas holiday with my family. For the job role that I hold, I have to provide consistent and continual financial, administrative and logistical support to clients running various health programs. 2011 registered in my books to be the most hectic of work years to date, with so many changes happening- both within and away from the work place. I just couldn't afford to "pretend" to stay in office thru' Xmas, otherwise it would mean "Burn-out"!

Thank God, I was able to take off 5 paternity days, early Dec.11, following the birth of my cute baby son, after which I resumed work and delayed-not in applying for annual leave thru' the Xmas season. It was granted and the rest is history. I had a swell, fantabulous time with family and friends, and was actually able to adjust my waking up time to about 8.30am everyday. I thank God my girls were well aware that now daddy was not going to work- they let me sleep in til' late; no pitter patter or knocking on doors first thing in the morning...

And so, god saw us through the Xmas break and into the new year 2012..just had one day to count free, and then 2nd Jan.2012 was resumption of work!!! I almost failed to wake up because of the trend of just "sitting back and relaxing" for the past 10 or so days.

Nonetheless, I thank God that I've got a job to wake up to at 6am, and the best family to run back to at 5pm! There's a time to rest and a time to work. Whatever the challenge, there's nothing too big for God...and so we keep on nation building a.k.a working!

Highlights of 2011

2011 was a year of several antiques, mishaps, joys and celebrations...here's just a summary of what I can recall:

• Jan.11- our house help disappeared mysteriously, and so I had to make a dash for my LC Chairman's letter of authority that I'm an upright citizen and member of the Kamuli Kireka village, then I got a buddy cop, named William, who received my complaint and filed my statement- missing person;
• Feb.11- our eldest daughter, Abigail started Reception (Top Class) of Nursery and was so excited after the long Xmas '10 break;
• Mar.11- we receive the wonderful news that we are expecting our 3rd child, and so planning, reorganising, modifying- "kwegamba" changes were in order from the word "Go";
• Jun.11- our 2nd daughter, Miranda turned 2 years old and it was a fun moment, party time and all; then my Mzei called me up for an urgent appointment (impromptu) and the deal- we were blessed with a plot of land- amazing;
• July.11- we stepped up from "footsie" i.e purchased a beautiful family (7-seater) car;
• Nov.11- attended our Abigail's end of year concert and Nursery Graduation celebration at Time2Play Nursery and Day Care & Leisure Centre, Najjera; had a wonderful time; attended P.1 interview for Abigail at Hillside Naalya- she passed very well and got admission into P.1, for 2012;
• Dec.11- our maid who made a disappearing act in Jan.11 returned home- talk of prodigal maids! And our 3rd child, baby Mark Brendan was born unto us- the best Xmas gift ever;
• and we had the periodic birthdays, parties, cozy family moments throughout the year;
• work grew from strength to strength.

All things considered, 2011 was worthwhile; however, 2012 is here and we hope and are expectant of so much more of God's blessings.

Dec.2011- Introducing Mark Brendan

We are so thankful to God for His providence, faithfulness and love upon our lives...2011 was a wonderful year, and yet with the occasional hurdles...To wrap up the year, and in one form a birthday gift, we were blessed with the birth of our third child, our baby son, Mark Brendan...The hospital was smooth, the Mum, my adorable Bride- Miriam, was healthy throughout the pregnancy, was strong at that crucial moment and handled very well. And I was right there, holding her hand or rather- having my hand squeezed tightly!!!

We arrived at the hospital Sun.04/12/11 at about 3.30pm, and little Mark Brendan was introduced to this world at 6.50pm. Wow, amazing....God surely is in control, and we just cannot explain it...It's always a life changing moment that we can most times never find the words to explain, but simply say, "Thank you God". Come Mon.05/12/11 we were out of hospital...that's how strong and determined the Mrs is...not to keep hanging around hospitals like there's nothing better to get done! 

So we left for home, and the excitement of our 2 big girls- Abigail Benita and Miranda Bernice, having a little brother was so contagious...ofcourse with the occasional discomforts of child no.2 no longer being the baby but now a big sis. Nonetheless, the two are so loving and caring- they want to dress him up, they want to give him a bath or to be the ones delegated to calm him down when the occasional tummy discomforts arise...definately, Miranda and Abigail cannot wait for Mark to start walking and running, and talking, so that they have a growing playgroup.

Well, it's such a huge load to handle, and all I can say many a time is, "God, indeed you are good and your mercies & love endure forever.