January 2013 Sunday David is late. BUT he calls to explain. Which is marvellous. We set off to Uchumi for a massive household shop at 11, pick up Kibe and head to Ruai. The children unexpectedly meet us at the grain store in Ruai village. There seem to be a couple of extras (children) but Read More…
2017 November
Monday Things are not looking good. I have felt like Death Has A Bad Headache for most of this week. Spent yesterday in bed until the fragrant Sarah Chew arrived bearing enthusiasm and a bottle of cooking brandy. I demurred as I still had someone somewhere sticking pins into the head of a voodoo doll Read More…
February 2017
FRIDAY As you all know, the lead up to this trip has been … a bit fraught. However HTC Health come through today with a huge delivery of kids’ cod liver oil. Adults’ clo, glucosamine sulphate and boxes of krill oil chewies. Which even SOUND like they could make you superhuman. So we are much Read More…
Diary June 2016
27 April Seventy one young people are currently in training in Kiambu on a local authority scheme. They are getting training in masonry, electrical work, painting and decorating and other useful, saleable skills. SEVENTY ONE of our young peeps. We got the fees for these courses waived, which is amazing and all Mama Biashara had Read More…
2015 September. Goodbye Rebecca xxx
It is Sunday and I am feeling ridiculously sorry for myself. Don’t panic, you have not missed Friday and Saturday it is just I have decided to give this diary a little introductory bit. I have washed my hair (I can highly recommend Toss Liquid Laundry Detergent, gives a lovely soft feel) and cleaned the Read More…
2014 December : Toby Stokes the Juice man
A huge thank you to the excellent Toby Stokes, a whizz with a Z1, as creative in the kitchen as he is with his facial hair And unbelievably generous when he finds good fortune. Thanks to The Tobester there are 80 – yes 80 – young men will be rescued from the streets of the Read More…
So Far This Christmas Season
So far this Christmas Season we have had one ring and one pendant stolen and many many many soapstone pieces chipped, cracked or minus a vital part. Is it wrong to be MAma Biashara and want the people who do this to BURN IN HELL ? IS it ? Anyway, last diary from last trip. Read More…
November 2012
Wednesday 7th November Well smack my bottom and send me to the naughty step but I owe BA a huge apology. But Willie has triumphed over Dick in the air. Check in lovely, no one even blinked at my stupidly overweight bags and no one sniggered at my rose printed wellies (better to wear than Read More…
September 2012
FRIDAY Note to self : must learn to cultivate friends with enormous hatchback cars in London. Tired arguing with taxi drivers about the amount of luggage I carry. Virgin are, as always, a joy at check in. One of my bags weighs 32kg but the lovely lady smiles and sticks a “LUDICROUSLY HEAVY” warning sticker Read More…
June 2012
Kenya Diaries June 2012 WEDNESDAY An interesting lead up to what promises to be an interesting trip. The Mama Biashara Emporium is still closed. And so our primary source of income is drier than the proverbial nun’s chuff. But in the way that has become familiar for those who work with Mama B, other sources Read More…