Oil on Linen 40cmx50cm

Juba Adventures
31st Dec 12
After five months of being in the apartment, I finally connected the stove and found out how to switch it on, while ensuring that I didn’t gas myself. With a working stove and before the eggs I bought last week, and kept forgetting in the office fridge went bad, I decided to get an omelet sorted. I needed to wash the pan as it hadn’t been used and was very dusty. Then wash the plates that were in a similar state before finally getting the few bits needed. I used too much butter, if that’s at all possible in the world of Julia Child, carefully broke the eggs into separate mugs in case one of them was bad (another two dishes) opened the salt grinder, found the smelly cheese and the sharp knife to slice a few bits (another dish), searched for a fork to beat the eggs and eventually got the whole lot sorted. The cheese ensured that it was tasty and not just an egg things, as I didn’t have tomatoes, onions or any of the other bits. I will certainly do a repeat when the duka downstairs is closed, but otherwise I will happily walk downstairs and pay the three South Sudanese Pounds (50 cents) for an omelet and chapatti. With my cooking method there is no chapatti for the dogs!

Added an additional block onto my longer jogging route, which means it should be close to the targeted 8km distance. A tad difficult to determine as the network isn’t good enough for the phone app to work. It even has an undulation which is a tad trying for my lungs that have only been used to flat Juba Town. The people I pass along the road are encouraging, although there is more than one hint that my shuffle speed is totally inadequate.

Finished my last painting for the year, of a young girl from Lake State. A gentle undemanding painting, with the composition simplified from the one I started out with. I also took out the charcoal and acrylic that I have neglected since I have been in Juba Town which I will get started with as part of the New Year, 30 paintings in 30 days challenge.

I had Le Bistro to myself, other than the security detachment looking after the Ethiopian President, for a cappuccino and breakfast out under the umbrellas. Caught up on the pile of reading that had accumulated on my desk. Some important stuff that should have been dealt with ages ago, some bits that are still useful and a bunch that fits into the boring category. The cappuccino was such that you needed to hunt for the coffee, but the alternative is the ‘rocket fuel’ like Ethiopian brew that they make.

My strategic stock of wine has reached crisis levels, which will need attention before the New Year.

An electrical fire in the office to finish the year. Nothing dramatic.

May 2013 be amazing!

Happy New Year