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Showing posts from November, 2014

Of Unfathomable Mind Blocks

I received a tweet last week that left me crippled with guilt.   A self-proclaimed ‘ardent reader’ declared that I hadn’t updated my blog for ten days (sadly true), that he was ‘down on his knees’ (not sure if he was literally or figuratively speaking), and basically pleaded in the most endearing way that I get my arse in gear and write something (of course he was too much of a gentleman to put it that way, but I think that’s what he meant). Much as things have been stupidly manic at work, I know that is no excuse for not putting down at least 300 words on some topic or other.   There has been A LOT going on:   what with nude pictures and beloved comics accused of sexual assault, not to mention THAT maid video, you’d think I’d have plenty of material at my disposal   to yap about. But I’ve been in the grip of a mind-block so severe it has literally taken my breath away. I’ve tried everything- chilled music, exercise, sitting in silence, reading my favourite books, ever

To Be Tactfully Honest...

Ugandans are known the world-over as friendly, humble people. We welcome you to our homes, we hate to offend, and we are willing to share the little we have. You get the general picture.   We are nice people. I was recently reminded that Ugandans also have a tendency to be somewhat tactless.   Some might argue that they simply aspire to a level of honesty that most people tend to avoid, but I beg to differ. Let me explain. I recently bumped into a distant relative I hadn’t seen for a while.   I was dashing around the supermarket, trying to grab some essential ingredients as I was making a special meal for the boo that evening.   As always, I had my iPod on full blast, so I didn’t notice the lady calling my name across the aisle until she actually came up behind me and tugged on my braids.   (I mean, really? Hair-pulling?   So low).    Now she had my attention, I had to deal with the extended greetings,   questions about my family, the farm, my job and wheth