Mathematics was never my favorite subject in school and neither did I perform very well in that subject but over the years mental arithmetics, I have discovered, keeps me sharp and in a good frame of mind. In my vocation as a banker numbers shall inevitably come up whether it be cash, interest rates, foreign exchange rates, fixed deposit rates, business targets etc. Because our lives have now become completely automation driven from cash counting, to calculations, to system posting to deposit and loan conversion tables, to foreign exchange monitoring, to shares trading etc fewer and fewer people now calculate their figures manually.In golf also you are always counting something from the number of strokes you have made to tallying up the final score for yourself and the person you are marking and how can I forget the bet money with the various permutations of computing bets!
While admittedly square roots, sine, cosine and tangents are all alien things that are irrelevant to the ordinary mortal I know that these are an important part of someone's day to day job but not for me!! Why someone had to force us to learn these equations is beyond me upto today but I am sure a good living is made by those with the predisposition for these things. I am however now mentally able to calculate the acres in a hectare, the square feet in square metres, the litres in a cubic foot, the yards in a metre, kilometers per hour in miles per hour, the miles per hour in kilometers per hour, the amount of dollars/pounds/euro in Kenya shillings and vice versa etc.
I have counted bumps on the Thika Highway between Nairobi & Nyeri and a bit of useless triva for whatever it is worth is that believe it or not there are over 100 bumps including those annoying rumble strips along that 141 kilometer road from Naivas on Thika Road to Nyeri Town. 24 of these bumps are between Skuta as you approach Nyeri town and my house on Baden Powell Road a distance of probably 6 kilometers. Whether these bumps add any longevity in years to the people of Nyeri or are just an inconvenient drag and fuel expense to motorists may never be know because no one is sure why they had to be so many bumps in the first place.
To keep myself awake as well as to ease off on the gas pedal on some of my journeys usually while alone, I often count the number of Toyota vehicles folowing each other in a single file (excluding trucks,buses and motor cycles) be they Prados, Proboxes, Hiluxes, Hiaces, Mark X's, Corolla's, Allexes, Allion's, Surf's, Caribs, Crowns, Mark II's etc. The most at any one count have been a staggering 35 proving that Kenya is indeed Toyota country followed a distant second by Nissan! In the heavy commercial category, Mercedes Actros seems to be the clear runaway leader based on my experiences along Mombasa Road where these behemoths rule the highways while in the delivery van category Mitsubishi takes the prize!!
So there you have it, a little useless trivia to use as you please for whatever it is worth from the number of bumps along the highway to Nyeri to the dominant numbers of vehicles in different categories on our roads!
Monday, 22 June 2015
Tuesday, 16 June 2015
This beautiful country called Kenya – A golfers perspective (Part 2):
We left for Nandi Bears later that evening after the presentation and dinner at Kitale Club. It is a distance of 130 kms through Eldoret and Kapsabet through tea country. It was night time so we didn’t see much though we went on partaking of our drinks along the way trading general insults and dirty stories that only men can do all through the journey until one by one we dozed off fitfully to awake on arrival in Nandi Bears Club at midnight greeted by cold highland weather and a bar full of members finalising their golfing event of the day at the 19th hole on conclusion of a big tournament earlier. The club has limited and quite rudimentary accommodation facilities so only 5 of us were to spend the night at the club with the majority spending the night at a hotel in the nearby Nandi Hills town.
The next morning we arose bright and early from a somewhat fitful sleep with accusations of some getting lost among the tea plantations when answering the call of nature and calling their wives to rescue them from the Nandi Bear when they couldn’t find their way back to the room while others clutching onto their roommates in a bid to ward off the cold thanks to the generous whiskey and beer bought by the appreciative members of the club who were aware of our arrival and had scheduled a casino game the next day. Breakfast behind us and our colleagues’ arrival at the club from the hotel another day of golf beckoned.
Nandi Bears Club is one of those clubs that is beyond description because one cannot do justice by describing it because seeing is truly believing! It is a beautiful club set atop a hill with the 9 hole golf course spread out around you and below you. The view across the Nandi Escarpment is breathtakingly beautiful across the green tea plantations as far as the eye can see. The golf course and surroundings are perpetually green on account of regular rain that falls in any tea growing region around the world. The designers of the course seem to have got it right first time and due to the hilly terrain you are mostly playing your ball above or below your feet which can be quite daunting if you are not used to it. The course has a lot of indigenous trees and bushes resplendent in their majestic canopies that sometimes overhang the golf course making a shot tricky but nonetheless the thick spongy grass makes it a joy to play on.
All the tee positions for the 1st and 2nd nines are placed differently giving you a different perspective to the course with the 5th and 16th holes leaving little margin for error on your tee shot because of the impossibly small window to thread your ball through. Despite the daily rain storm that last upto 30 minutes for which play was delayed as people took shelter in the little bandas scattered around the course, the majority managed to finish play on this delightful course. Presentation over, a late lunch partaken off and winnings shared out among the predominantly Nandi Bears winners and a drink from the captain we were on our way for the last lap of our four course golf weekend to Kericho Club via Kibos a predominantly sugar cane growing region in Kisumu County.
It seemed that we always left for our next destination in the late afternoon meaning that we never got to view the scenery of our beautiful country during the day and it was on this leg that it was suggested that on our next tour we would be leaving for our next destination in the early morning so as to get to see our country, get to the next club in the late morning and then play golf before going to bed and then leaving the next morning for our next club destination an idea that was supported by the majority on this tour.
We got to Kericho town at 10.00 pm after an uneventful drive and checked into our hotel rooms whereupon those wishing to do so were free to go to bed while the adventurous ones went out on the town for some night time sightseeing. The hotel where we were to spend the night is a family themed hotel on bed and breakfast basis and serves no alcoholic beverages. The management however has no objection to you partaking of the stuff in your room so long as you do not disturb the rest of the guests. It’s called Sunshine Hotel and is located along the main road and 3 minutes’ drive from Kericho Club our venue for our final day of golf. It has a great ambience, good rooms and reasonable prices and the food is also good.
The next morning having partaken of a hearty breakfast and our bags packed and loaded onto the bus we set off for Kericho Club with some choosing to walk the short distance to the club. Kericho Club is a beautiful 9 hole golf course and like all the clubs we had visited thus far is perennially green and located in two sections where you cross a busy tarmac road to get to the other side. It also has room facilities next to the main club house. A casino inclusive of lunch was on the cards and in progress on the day that we arrived and we decided to enter it in addition of our own bet.
Being right in the centre of Kericho town, the golf course abuts residential and commercial areas of town and can be quite noisy when compared to Eldoret, Kitale and Nandi Bears relative tranquility. In addition the out of bounds on the golf course is a distinct reality given the proximity to the adjacent tarmac road and the commercial and residential areas surrounding the course as mentioned.
The golf course itself is more or less of a flat topography but with some serious roughs and tree groves that can be hazardous to those unable to stay on the fairways. It is cleverly built with hidden greens and bunkers that you cannot see on your approach until you literally fall into one. During our visit they were in the process of changing their greens to bent grass greens and hence some of the holes were played on temporary greens.
The last hole – No.9 or No.18 – is the signature hole for the course and features a water hazard that must have been designed by a comic at heart because it faces the club house and therefore all shots onto the green if too crisp have the potential to send members scampering for cover. Naturally this means that many approach shots onto the green are played with caution inevitably ending up in the drink. A total of 7 balls from those in the tour found their way into this hazard with at least four being from the drop zone alongside the water hazard. So near yet so far was a euphemism that was to ring loud and true for some who dropped valuable shots on this hole!!
Kericho also rains a lot at about 3.00 pm and as the clock struck this hour it came down in buckets and this time for a good hour continuously and furiously with accompanying winds and thunder but luckily we had all finished our round of golf. We are told that they tend to start competitions early to avoid the daily dose of rain in the late afternoon though the well-drained soil tends to clear the puddles quite quickly. So having partaken of the late chemsha meal, showered, changed and with a drink in the system it was time to leave only to discover that there were some amongst us who had played a good round and were amongst the casino winners forcing up to wait for the cash to be dished out and delaying our departure to 5.00 pm or so.
Our weekend of golf was over just like that. It had been a huge success and had accomplished our objectives of playing at 4 different courses, getting to know one another, cementing lasting bonds of friendship and knowing hitherto unknown things about people. We tried to accomplish this by getting people within the group to play golf with others within the group, sharing accommodation facilities where necessary and with different people each night and having meals and a drink together. The laughter, the jibes, the swearing, cursing and insults were on the way back to Nairobi less restrained then on the way to Eldoret so comfortable had people become with one another and the writing was on the wall that (not if but when) we should do the trip again in future.
Our drivers on the trip were part of the group and had been excellent in the execution of the duties choosing to remain sober when it was their turn to drive the next day while the rest made utter fools of ourselves in the bus. The return trip though Sotik and Narok took us the better part of 5 hours to Limuru Club where elated we disembarked packed our stuff away in out cars, had dinner and then left for our respective homes exhausted but elated to have been part of the first Western Tour.
Friday, 12 June 2015
This beautiful country called Kenya – A golfers perspective (Part 1):
We have a beautiful country people, truly remarkable in all the sense of the word. From the rolling plains, to the awe inspiring mountains and hills, to the wonderful beaches of the coast and the rift valley lakes and mighty rivers flowing across our grassy landscapes, we have it all and then some.
To the ardent golfer it is a paradise waiting to be explored and with 40 plus golf courses scattered across the country you are well and truly spoilt for choice. As a by the way did you know that Kiambu county has the most golf courses in any county in Kenya? They are at least 8 in total so count them and prove me wrong!
We started this group called Western Tour a few months ago, Easter time to be precise. It was conceived by a quintet of four and was contrived as comprising a group of golfers of similar mindedness and as being an all-male extravaganza so that we get away with the shenanigans that man can only get away with without the raised eyebrow of a disapproving madam! The intention was to take advantage of one of the long weekends and see how many golf courses we would be able to play at in the Western parts of Kenya over that weekend where many in the group had never played before.
So thanks to social media a Whatsapp page was set up and with invites sent out to the lucky 15 (I am not sure of the criteria used) the details of the trip unraveled with heated but genteel discussions on the likely courses to play over the long Madaraka Day weekend over four days as well as the bets to be in place and the winning percentages – 40%, 30%, 20% and 10% comprising sides and overall.
The group comprising mostly of Limuru Club members included the young in age, the young at heart and the silent but deadly. Tipplers were well represented, infact in the majority, with a scattering of teetotalers for good measure. The final decision was to play at Kitale Club on the Saturday, Nandi Bears Club on the Sunday and finally Kericho Club on the Monday before making our way back to Nairobi. It was also agreed that if we could all somehow manage to leave in our shared transport early enough, we would try and squeeze in 9 holes at Eldoret Club on the Friday that we were departing.
So the big day with the attendant excitement finally arrived. Sadly one of the participants had to cancel at the last minute on account of ill health otherwise it was a full house of 12. We were using common transport, a 15 seater bus and were leaving from Limuru Club at 7.00 am in retrospect an ungodly hour since it is at least a 30 minute drive from Nairobi where most of the group stays meaning a 6.30 am departure time from home. We were finally able to leave by 8.30 am with two of the group planning to catch up with us in Eldoret later in the day by their own means. It looked like we would in fact be able to make it in time to play 9 holes in Eldoret.
And we did make it to Eldoret by 2.30 pm after a smooth ride despite a few commercial and toilet breaks on a great road all the way from Nairobi. The last time I used the route was two years ago when the section between Salgaa and Eldoret was under construction and very slow going on account of the muddy by pass roads and the slow moving trucks. This time it was smooth sailing all the way!
The Great Rift Valley areas of Burnt Forest to Eldoret sped by in all its splendor and immaculate in its greenery being the rainy season and it was difficult to imagine that this had been a scene straight out of a horror movie after the post-election violence of early 2008 and the attendant murder and displacement of hundreds of innocents in an orgy of arson and decapitations.
Having arrived in Eldoret hungry but cognizant of the lateness of the hour we decided to take to the course and then order for a late lunch/early dinner as we turned at the nine hole break – it was decided that we play the whole 18 holes – and then head to Kitale in time for bed. Eldoret Club is a very well appointed family themed club and with a picturesque 9 hole golf course with beautiful vegetation and exquisite flora and fauna – snakes included as we watched a grass snake slither its way on No. 1 green! It is also bisected by the Sosian River across several holes, a raging torrent in the wet weather and a magnet for errant golf balls as some of the group found out the hard way. The course is also interspersed with drainage ditches to carry any rain water after a heavy downpour into the river so various hazards await the new and nervous golfer. It also has accommodation cottages which we learnt are very popular over the weekend with out of town guests from reciprocating clubs around the country.
After our golf game, a relaxing shower, some drinks over light banter and sharing of the bet money and dinner we finally left for Kitale Club at 10.00 pm to cover the 65 kilometers section of our trip where we arrived at 11.30 pm in time to catch up on the tail end of a party in honor of visiting golfers for a tournament the next day. Having checked into our well appointed rooms, those with the strength and determination to do so went back to the club house to continue with their merrymaking as the very few clever ones decided to call it a night while the die hards went to a nearby local lounge bar for a night on the town.
Our Kitale Club tee off times had been agreed in advance and were on the official draw and the first four ball was to commence play at 10.30 am. Little did we know what awaited the majority of us that had never played Kitale golf course before, the dreaded ‘dongas’. Had we known of these evil monsters lying in wait for us we would all have slept earlier ready to tackle these beasts while in a fresh state of mind. A ‘donga’ is a deep natural depression in the earth that over years has been formed through erosion by running water as it finds its way to the nearest river to empty itself. It becomes a natural hazard where you lose a stroke (or two) should your ball find its way in there with many of us falling victim to these beasts.
To add insult to injury, the fairways are quite narrow and lined with a thick forest and bushes where god knows what lurks so being on the fairway particularly on the first nine is a must though easier said than done. Also the par 5’s………all six of them are long and difficult and a torment to those who are not long hitters as are some of the par 3’s where a driver is required but is no guarantee that you’ll even make the green. Kitale is a golf course not for the faint hearted but is full of green riverine trees and bushes and verdant flowers reminiscent of a tropical forest all against the juxtaposition of Mt. Elgon silhouetted in the distance!
Part two of this amazing weekend shall follow shortly………….!!
To the ardent golfer it is a paradise waiting to be explored and with 40 plus golf courses scattered across the country you are well and truly spoilt for choice. As a by the way did you know that Kiambu county has the most golf courses in any county in Kenya? They are at least 8 in total so count them and prove me wrong!
We started this group called Western Tour a few months ago, Easter time to be precise. It was conceived by a quintet of four and was contrived as comprising a group of golfers of similar mindedness and as being an all-male extravaganza so that we get away with the shenanigans that man can only get away with without the raised eyebrow of a disapproving madam! The intention was to take advantage of one of the long weekends and see how many golf courses we would be able to play at in the Western parts of Kenya over that weekend where many in the group had never played before.
So thanks to social media a Whatsapp page was set up and with invites sent out to the lucky 15 (I am not sure of the criteria used) the details of the trip unraveled with heated but genteel discussions on the likely courses to play over the long Madaraka Day weekend over four days as well as the bets to be in place and the winning percentages – 40%, 30%, 20% and 10% comprising sides and overall.
The group comprising mostly of Limuru Club members included the young in age, the young at heart and the silent but deadly. Tipplers were well represented, infact in the majority, with a scattering of teetotalers for good measure. The final decision was to play at Kitale Club on the Saturday, Nandi Bears Club on the Sunday and finally Kericho Club on the Monday before making our way back to Nairobi. It was also agreed that if we could all somehow manage to leave in our shared transport early enough, we would try and squeeze in 9 holes at Eldoret Club on the Friday that we were departing.
So the big day with the attendant excitement finally arrived. Sadly one of the participants had to cancel at the last minute on account of ill health otherwise it was a full house of 12. We were using common transport, a 15 seater bus and were leaving from Limuru Club at 7.00 am in retrospect an ungodly hour since it is at least a 30 minute drive from Nairobi where most of the group stays meaning a 6.30 am departure time from home. We were finally able to leave by 8.30 am with two of the group planning to catch up with us in Eldoret later in the day by their own means. It looked like we would in fact be able to make it in time to play 9 holes in Eldoret.
And we did make it to Eldoret by 2.30 pm after a smooth ride despite a few commercial and toilet breaks on a great road all the way from Nairobi. The last time I used the route was two years ago when the section between Salgaa and Eldoret was under construction and very slow going on account of the muddy by pass roads and the slow moving trucks. This time it was smooth sailing all the way!
The Great Rift Valley areas of Burnt Forest to Eldoret sped by in all its splendor and immaculate in its greenery being the rainy season and it was difficult to imagine that this had been a scene straight out of a horror movie after the post-election violence of early 2008 and the attendant murder and displacement of hundreds of innocents in an orgy of arson and decapitations.
Having arrived in Eldoret hungry but cognizant of the lateness of the hour we decided to take to the course and then order for a late lunch/early dinner as we turned at the nine hole break – it was decided that we play the whole 18 holes – and then head to Kitale in time for bed. Eldoret Club is a very well appointed family themed club and with a picturesque 9 hole golf course with beautiful vegetation and exquisite flora and fauna – snakes included as we watched a grass snake slither its way on No. 1 green! It is also bisected by the Sosian River across several holes, a raging torrent in the wet weather and a magnet for errant golf balls as some of the group found out the hard way. The course is also interspersed with drainage ditches to carry any rain water after a heavy downpour into the river so various hazards await the new and nervous golfer. It also has accommodation cottages which we learnt are very popular over the weekend with out of town guests from reciprocating clubs around the country.
After our golf game, a relaxing shower, some drinks over light banter and sharing of the bet money and dinner we finally left for Kitale Club at 10.00 pm to cover the 65 kilometers section of our trip where we arrived at 11.30 pm in time to catch up on the tail end of a party in honor of visiting golfers for a tournament the next day. Having checked into our well appointed rooms, those with the strength and determination to do so went back to the club house to continue with their merrymaking as the very few clever ones decided to call it a night while the die hards went to a nearby local lounge bar for a night on the town.
Our Kitale Club tee off times had been agreed in advance and were on the official draw and the first four ball was to commence play at 10.30 am. Little did we know what awaited the majority of us that had never played Kitale golf course before, the dreaded ‘dongas’. Had we known of these evil monsters lying in wait for us we would all have slept earlier ready to tackle these beasts while in a fresh state of mind. A ‘donga’ is a deep natural depression in the earth that over years has been formed through erosion by running water as it finds its way to the nearest river to empty itself. It becomes a natural hazard where you lose a stroke (or two) should your ball find its way in there with many of us falling victim to these beasts.
To add insult to injury, the fairways are quite narrow and lined with a thick forest and bushes where god knows what lurks so being on the fairway particularly on the first nine is a must though easier said than done. Also the par 5’s………all six of them are long and difficult and a torment to those who are not long hitters as are some of the par 3’s where a driver is required but is no guarantee that you’ll even make the green. Kitale is a golf course not for the faint hearted but is full of green riverine trees and bushes and verdant flowers reminiscent of a tropical forest all against the juxtaposition of Mt. Elgon silhouetted in the distance!
Part two of this amazing weekend shall follow shortly………….!!
Wednesday, 20 May 2015
Lessons learnt from my amazing round of golf:
I am now playing my golf of handicap 6 thanks to a famous victory one fine Saturday afternoon at Limuru Country Club in the Standard County Golf Series where I emerged overall winner out of a field of almost 200 golfers. My photo recieving the winner's trophy even appeared in the local dailies as a factual confirmation that I had done it and the many congratulatory messages both from my golfing and non golfing friends suggested that they were mighty proud of my achievements!!
Non golfers stop right here as the jargon is about to flow fast and furious!! Every year I assign myself a handicap target to achieve in my golf. The lower the handicap you want to play off the more difficult it is to attain that target because you need to spend more time on the chipping green and putting green simply because the sharper your short game around and on the greens is the easier it shall be for you to score points, play better and avoid expensive mistakes……………something that all golfers are well aware off!!
However many golfers do not assign themselves an annual handicap target so they go on playing tournaments and friendlies hoping to shoot a good score and play a great round and somehow reduce their handicap by sheer luck which is mostly a fallacy since if you need to get somewhere you need to set yourself a target and then consciously work towards achieving that target. Many golfers also go straight from the changing room to the tee and do not warn up or do any practice which is a big disservice to their golf game………and handicap.
My handicap target for the year 2015 is a modest 5 handicap (down from 7 handicap at the start of the year) which is quite achievable given that many of my scores while playing of handicap 7 have been mainly within my buffer zone of 34 stable ford points or 74 stroke play points hence my handicap did not vary much for over a year within handicap 7 or 8. My analysis of my game made me realise that playing two handicaps better was well within my reach and all I needed to do was find out where my mistakes were and correct them.
So on that amazing Saturday, having studied and analyzed my game and having figured out where I was going wrong and determined to prove that I was right in my analysis, I shot an amazing 13 pars, 1 birdie and 4 bogies for an amazing 75 gross points and 40 stable ford points with a 1st nine of an excellent gross level par score and three dropped shots on the 2nd nine. As someone commented, if it were a professional tournament I would have qualified for the second round based on my score of +3!!
Common mistakes amateur golfers often make thus retarding their ability to reduce their handicaps include too much body and foot movement during the swing, over or under clubbing, taking your eyes off the ball, cutting your swing particularly when chipping, using too much strength, the wrong grip and posture, the wrong attitude, using the wrong length of clubs for your height, opening the club face on the strike etc. As they say, "golf ne thwingi"
!!
My mistake was somewhere within that general mix of mistakes that I have mentioned above. However, details are not important given that everyone has a unique style of swinging, putting and yes even temperament and they are the only ones who can accept and correct their mistakes so as to improve on their handicap.
While I am happy with my achievement during such a big tournament, I still have a ways to go to get to handicap 5 (my actual handicap is 6.2) and I need another big win of 40 stable ford points or better (or 68 gross or better on stroke play) to achieve this which is not impossible, after all I have shot a round of 42 last year off handicap 8 and emerged overall winner in another big tournament having dropped only two shots in the process.
So that was that and I look forward to accomplishing my amateur golfing handicap target of 5 for the year 2015 as golfing to me is a way of life and an important source of exercise and a healthy lifestyle and needs to be given the respect that it deserves.
The people you team up with in your four ball also play a big role in sharpening your golf game when you are playing well so kudos go to the guys (you know yourselves) who played with me on that Saturday because they were supportive of my efforts, did not offer unnecessary criticism or advise and let me get on with my game and at my pace even when I fumbled on those three strokes on account of nerves!!
As for the non golfers who choose to read to the end.....poleni sana if I lost you somewhere along the way, but you had been warned!!!Just decide to take to the course and see what all the excitement is about golf and you'll be hooked.
Thursday, 14 May 2015
Cheating Death
A few weeks ago I almost went to keep my maker company, which tells me that I shall live to a ripe old age as I have always intended to. It all began like all incidences innocently enough!
Tired after a hard day’s work during which I had skipped lunch on account of the amount of work I had to push through my desk that day, I stumbled home more hungry than tired. It was one of those days where my house help doesn’t visit so no dinner had been prepared. So it was me to prepare my dinner this evening or have a date with my maker on account of starvation.
Now one of the lesser known skills that I possess is that I am a great cook particularly anything meat related and I constantly experiment with all kinds of ingredients and condiments both fresh and packaged. I have even told my colleagues at work that one of the reasons that I don’t invite them over for a meal is that once they taste my cooking they shall seek permanent refuge in my house to the chagrin and annoyance of their husbands, boyfriends, wives and girlfriends!
Today I had some pork chops that I was going to dry fry in a frying pan with onions, tomatoes, dhania and other secret ingredients (every chef has a secret recipe only known to them) and then add a dash of soy sauce at the last minute for the darkening of the meat and as a final flavoring. No “pilau Njeri” or that goulash so loved by my tribes’ mates comprising potatoes, meat, peas, carrots, cabbage and boiled maize thank you! All went according to plan and half an hour later I sat down to feast on a delicious dinner of pork chops and pasta.
Soon sated and the dishes cleaned I decided to retire to my sanctum sanctorum (which doubles up as my bedroom, my study and my TV room) to catch up on some reading and watch TV but not before filing the now blackened (soy sauce does that) frying pan with water and then leaving it on the stove to heat up so as to make the job of washing it up later easier after all the goo had dissolved in the hot water. Half an hour later I smelt something strange in the air but dismissed it as probably a neighbors cooking. A few minutes later I noticed smoke in my sanctorum only to realise that the cause must be the long forgotten frying pan warming on the stove.
Rushing into the kitchen I almost passed out due to the thick smoke emitted by the now dried our frying pan making visibility in the kitchen almost nil whereupon I stumbled blindly to the kitchen windows which I threw wide open as well as opened the backdoor for the smoke to dissipate after which I went and put off the stove and rescued the now useless frying pan whose non-stick bottom had melted and was the source of this thick clearly carbon laden smoke.
By now this carbonaceous smoke had spread to the rest of the house mainly to my bedroom which is next to the kitchen and so I had no choice but to also open all the doors and windows in the house to try and get some flow of air circulating to push out this deadly toxin of smoke that now permeated most of the house. Strangely in all this drama none of my neighbors appeared any the wiser to my misadventures that night which I can only conclude was due to the fact that I never panicked and did not start screaming wildly. Two hours later with all the smoke now cleared from the house, the possibility of asphyxiating in my sleep only a lingering thought and all back to normal save for a lingering smell of something burnt………...and the frying pan relegated to the outside verandah to be trashed the next day I went to bed.
Now, imagine for a moment that I had fallen asleep before I had realized that I had left something heating on the stove, there would have been only two outcomes, death by carbon monoxide poisoning or death from being burnt alive had the frying pan then heated up to an extent that it triggered a chain reaction of an exploding gas cylinder with the attendant mayhem.
The grim reaper came calling that day and my date with my maker would have been sealed save for the good luck that caused me to stay awake long enough to realise that all was not well!
Expect me to be around for a long, long time folks……!
Tired after a hard day’s work during which I had skipped lunch on account of the amount of work I had to push through my desk that day, I stumbled home more hungry than tired. It was one of those days where my house help doesn’t visit so no dinner had been prepared. So it was me to prepare my dinner this evening or have a date with my maker on account of starvation.
Now one of the lesser known skills that I possess is that I am a great cook particularly anything meat related and I constantly experiment with all kinds of ingredients and condiments both fresh and packaged. I have even told my colleagues at work that one of the reasons that I don’t invite them over for a meal is that once they taste my cooking they shall seek permanent refuge in my house to the chagrin and annoyance of their husbands, boyfriends, wives and girlfriends!
Today I had some pork chops that I was going to dry fry in a frying pan with onions, tomatoes, dhania and other secret ingredients (every chef has a secret recipe only known to them) and then add a dash of soy sauce at the last minute for the darkening of the meat and as a final flavoring. No “pilau Njeri” or that goulash so loved by my tribes’ mates comprising potatoes, meat, peas, carrots, cabbage and boiled maize thank you! All went according to plan and half an hour later I sat down to feast on a delicious dinner of pork chops and pasta.
Soon sated and the dishes cleaned I decided to retire to my sanctum sanctorum (which doubles up as my bedroom, my study and my TV room) to catch up on some reading and watch TV but not before filing the now blackened (soy sauce does that) frying pan with water and then leaving it on the stove to heat up so as to make the job of washing it up later easier after all the goo had dissolved in the hot water. Half an hour later I smelt something strange in the air but dismissed it as probably a neighbors cooking. A few minutes later I noticed smoke in my sanctorum only to realise that the cause must be the long forgotten frying pan warming on the stove.
Rushing into the kitchen I almost passed out due to the thick smoke emitted by the now dried our frying pan making visibility in the kitchen almost nil whereupon I stumbled blindly to the kitchen windows which I threw wide open as well as opened the backdoor for the smoke to dissipate after which I went and put off the stove and rescued the now useless frying pan whose non-stick bottom had melted and was the source of this thick clearly carbon laden smoke.
By now this carbonaceous smoke had spread to the rest of the house mainly to my bedroom which is next to the kitchen and so I had no choice but to also open all the doors and windows in the house to try and get some flow of air circulating to push out this deadly toxin of smoke that now permeated most of the house. Strangely in all this drama none of my neighbors appeared any the wiser to my misadventures that night which I can only conclude was due to the fact that I never panicked and did not start screaming wildly. Two hours later with all the smoke now cleared from the house, the possibility of asphyxiating in my sleep only a lingering thought and all back to normal save for a lingering smell of something burnt………...and the frying pan relegated to the outside verandah to be trashed the next day I went to bed.
Now, imagine for a moment that I had fallen asleep before I had realized that I had left something heating on the stove, there would have been only two outcomes, death by carbon monoxide poisoning or death from being burnt alive had the frying pan then heated up to an extent that it triggered a chain reaction of an exploding gas cylinder with the attendant mayhem.
The grim reaper came calling that day and my date with my maker would have been sealed save for the good luck that caused me to stay awake long enough to realise that all was not well!
Expect me to be around for a long, long time folks……!
Wednesday, 6 May 2015
In the nick of time:
Recently I have come to the realization that I got out in the nick of time! I got out in the nick of time from Nairobi due to my being posted to Nyeri early last year because it is apparent that things traffic wise have deteriorated quickly into what may be called a mini crisis of sorts in Nairobi our capital city which has been my working environment for many years.
People, of whom I am a witness as I leave Nairobi for Nyeri at 5.30 am on Monday morning, now routinely, leave home as early as 4.00 am so as to avoid the perennial traffic jams plaguing all the roads into the capital city. It is better after all to get to work early and then read your newspaper in the car or office then cool your heels in a traffic jam for two hours. Having been called to Nairobi for a series of meetings some weeks ago, it took me a good 1 ½ hours to my chagrin to cover a distance of 12 kilometers to my meeting a period which would ordinarily see me at Karatina at 7.00 am on Monday morning.
Things in Nairobi must be (as we used to say back in the day) ‘elephant’ because the decision by the county government to team up with the Central government recently to come up with strategies to unlock the gridlocks on the capitals roads and tame the day long traffic jams in Nairobi was long overdue in coming. At this rate it’s no wonder that all negative things associated with slow moving traffic like snatch and grab attacks by thugs either walking or on boda bodas is on the rise as are incidences of traffic policemen out to make a quick buck pouncing on unsuspecting motorists who have failed to buckle up (does one need to buckle up in 30kmph traffic?), are transacting business or are explaining to someone on their mobile phones why they are late for that all important meeting.
I am not entirely sure that the initiative to remove the five roundabouts along Uhuru Highway shall have the needed results given that past initiatives including installing traffic lights and CCTV cameras don’t seem to have worked at all in alleviating even a small amount of the problem. Millions have been spent on worthless initiatives that have resulted in zero progress. It would make more sense if the by passes were completed faster and then the heavy commercial vehicles rumbling along our highways would be forced to use these routes and decongest the traffic along Uhuru Highway which has to some extent been achieved along Thika Road during off peak hours.
But then again save for my wife and daughters and my brothers and their families who live in traffic choked Nairobi, I have little sympathy to the whining and cursing I see on the various social media forums by those inconvenienced Nairobians because “rudini counties” is my rallying call going forward!!
People, of whom I am a witness as I leave Nairobi for Nyeri at 5.30 am on Monday morning, now routinely, leave home as early as 4.00 am so as to avoid the perennial traffic jams plaguing all the roads into the capital city. It is better after all to get to work early and then read your newspaper in the car or office then cool your heels in a traffic jam for two hours. Having been called to Nairobi for a series of meetings some weeks ago, it took me a good 1 ½ hours to my chagrin to cover a distance of 12 kilometers to my meeting a period which would ordinarily see me at Karatina at 7.00 am on Monday morning.
Things in Nairobi must be (as we used to say back in the day) ‘elephant’ because the decision by the county government to team up with the Central government recently to come up with strategies to unlock the gridlocks on the capitals roads and tame the day long traffic jams in Nairobi was long overdue in coming. At this rate it’s no wonder that all negative things associated with slow moving traffic like snatch and grab attacks by thugs either walking or on boda bodas is on the rise as are incidences of traffic policemen out to make a quick buck pouncing on unsuspecting motorists who have failed to buckle up (does one need to buckle up in 30kmph traffic?), are transacting business or are explaining to someone on their mobile phones why they are late for that all important meeting.
I am not entirely sure that the initiative to remove the five roundabouts along Uhuru Highway shall have the needed results given that past initiatives including installing traffic lights and CCTV cameras don’t seem to have worked at all in alleviating even a small amount of the problem. Millions have been spent on worthless initiatives that have resulted in zero progress. It would make more sense if the by passes were completed faster and then the heavy commercial vehicles rumbling along our highways would be forced to use these routes and decongest the traffic along Uhuru Highway which has to some extent been achieved along Thika Road during off peak hours.
But then again save for my wife and daughters and my brothers and their families who live in traffic choked Nairobi, I have little sympathy to the whining and cursing I see on the various social media forums by those inconvenienced Nairobians because “rudini counties” is my rallying call going forward!!
Friday, 3 April 2015
In memory of those killed in the Garissa University attack.......!!
This couldn't be happening!! I had posted on my Facebook page about 70 innocent lives having been lost in a massacre in a University in Garissa as reported on the 7.00 pm news. Barely 2 hours later, the death toll had risen to a staggering 147 so far.
This massacre of 147 innocents at Garissa University could have happened at any of our universities, colleges or schools spread across Kenya. As a father of a university student I am shocked to the core that so many young, aspiring, bright Kenyans have lost their lives so needlessly.
We shall never know how many of those killed so callously would have turned into brilliant surgeons, engineers, economists, accountants, bankers, designers and so on their dreams shattered and no more through a cowardly bullet or a suicide bombers vest.
Today I dedicate this blog to those innocent students and others who have lost their lives in Garissa and I reproduce comments by my friends as they condole with those who have been bereaved.
_______________________________________________________________
We need to pray.... Go down on our knees and pray for our beloved country Kenya. Our hearts weep for the needless loss of innocent lives.... 147 lives snuffed out, and for what?? My son asked that we pray for God to not let those "bad men" come to Nairobi... and when we said our prayers he was specific "God, please do not let those bad men come to our school or to Nairobi"...
I wanted to curl up into a small ball and weep for my country, but I know there is more power when we are on our knees. When we stand in the gap on behalf of our land.... let us come together and pray even as we mourn with those who have been affected by this vicious act... let us pray for our leadership, our president and his deputy, and our armed forces as they come out in defence of our country. Let us pray that God would grant them wisdom, and equip them with every good thing that they need to fight this monster called terrorism, to defend us.
For those who have lost their loved ones, that God would grant them grace, peace and comfort during this time. That the souls of those who were slain would rest in eternal peace.
And let us pray for ourselves, for the wisdom to know that our security starts with us, that we can make a difference when we take responsibility for our security, and the grace to take up that responsibility without excuses. Kenya is you and me.... let us light a candle for the 147....
-Annie Kirumba, Nairobi, Kenya
'Lord as I watch and enjoy this sunset I pray for the families in Kenya that have been affected by the attack at Garissa Univ and ask for A PEACE that passes all understanding!!! Amen!'
-Katuu Mwanzia Alleyne, Barbados
Today we lost 147 innocent Kenyan Citizens mostly students.May Wahe Guru rest their souls in peace. May He protect us and console the families of the hurt and departed. POLE CRY MY BELOVED COUNTRY CRY.Then rise in unity
- Rajesh Mahan
He will swallow up death forever! The Sovereign LORD will wipe away all tears. He will remove forever all insults and mockery against his land and people. The LORD has spoken! (Isaiah 25:8 NLT. Dear Lord, on this sad and distressful day, this is our Prayer. Come to our rescue and protect us from evil men and evil spirits. In Jesus name, Amen.
- Sam Atandi
So many senseless deaths in the Garissa massacre in eastern Kenya - hatred can never be justified as a belief system... Violence dehumises the perpetrator more than it does the [innocent] victim
- Mugendi K M'Riitha, Cape Town
With my colleagues we came to console our colleague xxxxxxxxx who lost her daughter.
-Snr. Njeri Mungai
1. If you must share images of blood and bodies do not tag me and do not share with me using any platform #OneKenya
2. My sincere condolences to all those who lost loved ones as they sought a better future for themselves and Society #OneKenya
3. Let the Police Recruits report to college. Sometimes, a Nation must choose to be progressive & reject unnecessary pauses #OneKenya
4.There was a major improvement in the coordination of rescue efforts today #OneKenya
5. To those who survived and got injuries, to you I offer a sincere prayer and best wishes for a speedy recovery #OneKenya
6. To You, (you representing each of us), my challenge is that you heed the timeless call to respond to Terror with courage, unshakable resolve & optimism,do not flinch #OneKenya
7. Finally, O God Of All Creation, Bless This Land and Nation #OneKenya
-Dennis Itumbi
Numb. Just numb
-Waruguru Wa Kiai
Day 1 of Bible verse challenge. May the Lord watch over our country Kenya
-Jackie Kitulu
147 dead!!! I condemn this al shabaab terrorists! Shame on you!! Why attack unarmed children? YOU ARE COWARDS AND DESERVE TO DIE EXTREMELY PAINFUL DEATHS #GarrisaAttack
-Margie Syekonyo
God help us! Garissa Siege. 147 confirmed dead. Too painful to bear. God Almighty come to our rescue. This is tragic and a big loss to this Nation.
-KNUT, Nyeri
No one was meant to die this way....very sad indeed....
-Tejinder Rihal
May their souls find peace n salvation .
-Jessica Pattni
As we remember the Garissa massacre by these cowards may we be more vigilant n lrt nobody put a wedge btwn Xtians n Muslims in Kenya.
-Karungo Njoroge
It's a sad day in Kenya. 147 young people have been robbed of their precious lives. #GarissaAttack #PrayForKenya http://t.co/r8eRlRY7Oi
-Isaac Kalua
A very sad day for Kenya. Garissa University siege ends and the death toll rises to 147 people. May their souls rest in eternal peace and may the Almighty grant those poor families all the strength they need to come to terms with this horrific, heinous, criminal and wholly barbaric act of terrorism. Our condolences and prayers go out to all affected
~ Alliance Reallty
Condolences to the families who lost loved ones..
-Margaret Muthio Mbaluka
Today I weep for our beloved country, and for the unborn child. May the Most High have mercy on us, as we mourn the senseless massacre of innocent lives in Garissa.
-Larry Kimani
Day 20... As we pray for Kenya let's stand on this verse
2 Chronicles 7:14 if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
-Njeri Muturi
Have a Blessed Easter. May God grant us peace even as we pray for and mourn with our Kenyan families in Garissa
-Mugo Gath
My heart goes out to the families of our children in Garissa. Jehova take over this situation.....In prayer...very sad indeed!
-Ndutz Flo
They will Never Win! Together in grief
-Gatonye Mukami
147 lives lost, I am stunned and lost for words! My heart goes out to all those who lost their loved ones and wish the injured a speedy recovery. A sad day indeed for Kenya.
-Ali Mwangola
Praying for Kenya. Praying for world peace.
For those who lost their lives in Garissa, may your souls rest in eternal peace.
And for your families and friends, may the Lord comfort you.
Terrorism needs to end already!
-Eva Kubai, USA
More than double the Westgate toll and 223 still missing. It's a sombre start to Easter. I agree with the President's order, however illegal, to get on with the police recruitment. He must also dramatically upscale the resources available. Including offensive air cover, (giving the IG control over KWS helicopters is a start but even KWS often has to hire private choppers, a sign that they are not well resourced). When will you save your people? O Lord of mercy, when?
-Joe Gichuki
In the middle of this tranquility and peace that I find myself in, let me take a moment to condole with the families of the victims of the brutal and cowardly attack on #GarissaUniversity. May God grant you peace and understanding.
-Munene Patrick Mathenge
Oh My God.. 147 lives lost in the #GarissaAttack.. My heart in pain... God see us through.. And giv my president courage to keep leading from the fore front.. And together we shall conquer... Peace Peace Peace....
-Ngatia Thuku
Worse than West gate.
My friend says "The hue and cry will be negligible though....Garissa is not Westgate".
I pray & cry now as I did then.
Amen. Amen.
-Caroline Mutoko
Its deja vu all over again.Yet more senseless killing of innocent people. Prayers for our country!!!
-Mary Angela Mwangi McCorkle, Atlanta
Very tragic
-Rosemary Wainaina
Woi.... Pole sana to my fellow beloved Kenyans.
-Lillian Covington,Chicago
Very sad indeed. Innocent lives have been lost. Sad day for Kenya.
-Moses Karanu
Tragic
-David Mambo
Dangerous trend
-Fred Odhiambo
Shocked beyond comprehension.
-Nicholus Mureithi
As my heart grieves with the families who have lost their loved ones united in grief over this tragedy, may these prayers together with those of the other millons of people across the world grant us the peace our country so desparately needs AMEN!
This massacre of 147 innocents at Garissa University could have happened at any of our universities, colleges or schools spread across Kenya. As a father of a university student I am shocked to the core that so many young, aspiring, bright Kenyans have lost their lives so needlessly.
We shall never know how many of those killed so callously would have turned into brilliant surgeons, engineers, economists, accountants, bankers, designers and so on their dreams shattered and no more through a cowardly bullet or a suicide bombers vest.
Today I dedicate this blog to those innocent students and others who have lost their lives in Garissa and I reproduce comments by my friends as they condole with those who have been bereaved.
_______________________________________________________________
We need to pray.... Go down on our knees and pray for our beloved country Kenya. Our hearts weep for the needless loss of innocent lives.... 147 lives snuffed out, and for what?? My son asked that we pray for God to not let those "bad men" come to Nairobi... and when we said our prayers he was specific "God, please do not let those bad men come to our school or to Nairobi"...
I wanted to curl up into a small ball and weep for my country, but I know there is more power when we are on our knees. When we stand in the gap on behalf of our land.... let us come together and pray even as we mourn with those who have been affected by this vicious act... let us pray for our leadership, our president and his deputy, and our armed forces as they come out in defence of our country. Let us pray that God would grant them wisdom, and equip them with every good thing that they need to fight this monster called terrorism, to defend us.
For those who have lost their loved ones, that God would grant them grace, peace and comfort during this time. That the souls of those who were slain would rest in eternal peace.
And let us pray for ourselves, for the wisdom to know that our security starts with us, that we can make a difference when we take responsibility for our security, and the grace to take up that responsibility without excuses. Kenya is you and me.... let us light a candle for the 147....
-Annie Kirumba, Nairobi, Kenya
'Lord as I watch and enjoy this sunset I pray for the families in Kenya that have been affected by the attack at Garissa Univ and ask for A PEACE that passes all understanding!!! Amen!'
-Katuu Mwanzia Alleyne, Barbados
Today we lost 147 innocent Kenyan Citizens mostly students.May Wahe Guru rest their souls in peace. May He protect us and console the families of the hurt and departed. POLE CRY MY BELOVED COUNTRY CRY.Then rise in unity
- Rajesh Mahan
He will swallow up death forever! The Sovereign LORD will wipe away all tears. He will remove forever all insults and mockery against his land and people. The LORD has spoken! (Isaiah 25:8 NLT. Dear Lord, on this sad and distressful day, this is our Prayer. Come to our rescue and protect us from evil men and evil spirits. In Jesus name, Amen.
- Sam Atandi
So many senseless deaths in the Garissa massacre in eastern Kenya - hatred can never be justified as a belief system... Violence dehumises the perpetrator more than it does the [innocent] victim
- Mugendi K M'Riitha, Cape Town
With my colleagues we came to console our colleague xxxxxxxxx who lost her daughter.
-Snr. Njeri Mungai
1. If you must share images of blood and bodies do not tag me and do not share with me using any platform #OneKenya
2. My sincere condolences to all those who lost loved ones as they sought a better future for themselves and Society #OneKenya
3. Let the Police Recruits report to college. Sometimes, a Nation must choose to be progressive & reject unnecessary pauses #OneKenya
4.There was a major improvement in the coordination of rescue efforts today #OneKenya
5. To those who survived and got injuries, to you I offer a sincere prayer and best wishes for a speedy recovery #OneKenya
6. To You, (you representing each of us), my challenge is that you heed the timeless call to respond to Terror with courage, unshakable resolve & optimism,do not flinch #OneKenya
7. Finally, O God Of All Creation, Bless This Land and Nation #OneKenya
-Dennis Itumbi
Numb. Just numb
-Waruguru Wa Kiai
Day 1 of Bible verse challenge. May the Lord watch over our country Kenya
-Jackie Kitulu
147 dead!!! I condemn this al shabaab terrorists! Shame on you!! Why attack unarmed children? YOU ARE COWARDS AND DESERVE TO DIE EXTREMELY PAINFUL DEATHS #GarrisaAttack
-Margie Syekonyo
God help us! Garissa Siege. 147 confirmed dead. Too painful to bear. God Almighty come to our rescue. This is tragic and a big loss to this Nation.
-KNUT, Nyeri
No one was meant to die this way....very sad indeed....
-Tejinder Rihal
May their souls find peace n salvation .
-Jessica Pattni
As we remember the Garissa massacre by these cowards may we be more vigilant n lrt nobody put a wedge btwn Xtians n Muslims in Kenya.
-Karungo Njoroge
It's a sad day in Kenya. 147 young people have been robbed of their precious lives. #GarissaAttack #PrayForKenya http://t.co/r8eRlRY7Oi
-Isaac Kalua
A very sad day for Kenya. Garissa University siege ends and the death toll rises to 147 people. May their souls rest in eternal peace and may the Almighty grant those poor families all the strength they need to come to terms with this horrific, heinous, criminal and wholly barbaric act of terrorism. Our condolences and prayers go out to all affected
~ Alliance Reallty
Condolences to the families who lost loved ones..
-Margaret Muthio Mbaluka
Today I weep for our beloved country, and for the unborn child. May the Most High have mercy on us, as we mourn the senseless massacre of innocent lives in Garissa.
-Larry Kimani
Day 20... As we pray for Kenya let's stand on this verse
2 Chronicles 7:14 if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
-Njeri Muturi
Have a Blessed Easter. May God grant us peace even as we pray for and mourn with our Kenyan families in Garissa
-Mugo Gath
My heart goes out to the families of our children in Garissa. Jehova take over this situation.....In prayer...very sad indeed!
-Ndutz Flo
They will Never Win! Together in grief
-Gatonye Mukami
147 lives lost, I am stunned and lost for words! My heart goes out to all those who lost their loved ones and wish the injured a speedy recovery. A sad day indeed for Kenya.
-Ali Mwangola
Praying for Kenya. Praying for world peace.
For those who lost their lives in Garissa, may your souls rest in eternal peace.
And for your families and friends, may the Lord comfort you.
Terrorism needs to end already!
-Eva Kubai, USA
More than double the Westgate toll and 223 still missing. It's a sombre start to Easter. I agree with the President's order, however illegal, to get on with the police recruitment. He must also dramatically upscale the resources available. Including offensive air cover, (giving the IG control over KWS helicopters is a start but even KWS often has to hire private choppers, a sign that they are not well resourced). When will you save your people? O Lord of mercy, when?
-Joe Gichuki
In the middle of this tranquility and peace that I find myself in, let me take a moment to condole with the families of the victims of the brutal and cowardly attack on #GarissaUniversity. May God grant you peace and understanding.
-Munene Patrick Mathenge
Oh My God.. 147 lives lost in the #GarissaAttack.. My heart in pain... God see us through.. And giv my president courage to keep leading from the fore front.. And together we shall conquer... Peace Peace Peace....
-Ngatia Thuku
Worse than West gate.
My friend says "The hue and cry will be negligible though....Garissa is not Westgate".
I pray & cry now as I did then.
Amen. Amen.
-Caroline Mutoko
Its deja vu all over again.Yet more senseless killing of innocent people. Prayers for our country!!!
-Mary Angela Mwangi McCorkle, Atlanta
Very tragic
-Rosemary Wainaina
Woi.... Pole sana to my fellow beloved Kenyans.
-Lillian Covington,Chicago
Very sad indeed. Innocent lives have been lost. Sad day for Kenya.
-Moses Karanu
Tragic
-David Mambo
Dangerous trend
-Fred Odhiambo
Shocked beyond comprehension.
-Nicholus Mureithi
As my heart grieves with the families who have lost their loved ones united in grief over this tragedy, may these prayers together with those of the other millons of people across the world grant us the peace our country so desparately needs AMEN!
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