Juba Adventures
4th January 13
This part of Juba Town on New Year’s Eve was fairly quiet, with the aircrew doing their best to see the sunrise. I think they made it to about 3am as usual. At midnight there was a great deal of small arms fire and a few fireworks before hands were required to hold beer bottles or such. Interesting that the newspaper comments on the shooting raised the question of the number of weapons still in private hands and the impact this has for security, however, the condemnation was for wasting ammunition that may be needed to protect the country.

On my jog, sunrise services at some of the churches was in full swing, and the motorcycles ferrying the fresh bread rolls were zipping along deserted streets.

My painting has been very demanding, with the charcoal uncontrollable, and the painting a day taxing. I didn’t get the tonal aspects that I think are key to using the medium and I will need oodles (10,000 hours??) more practice. Did discover that the charcoal leaves a fine layer of dust that seems to get everywhere. Dark towels are a prerequisite and for those who walk around bare feet, it’s another reason (if another one is needed!) not to have white jogging socks!

A priority for this year, as is getting the bunch of half completed projects done I have littering my computer. I have started with sorting my Blog links, dodgy internet connections in the early hours of the morning.

Start of the New Year with some increased optimism in Juba Town after announcements by the President that they were willing to pull troops back from the border. With a bit of luck this will result in an agreement to get oil flowing and hence avoid the financial crisis the country is facing.
The minimal city services in Juba Town seem to have been on an extended holiday with the usually high levels of rubbish growing into Naples style heaps. Not pleasant and certainly something that the myriad of aid agencies operational in Juba should be able to sort.

Did the President bit at State House. Tie, jacket polished shoes and all. Fortunately the guy in front of me almost tripped over the loose carpet, so at least I was forewarned and didn’t take a dive.

Its mango season and tall poles lie on the ground below the massive mango trees around the city. The idea being to knock the mango off the tree before it falls and rots.