Sunday 31 July 2011

Why is God Laughing?

..good bok by Deepak Chopra.. recommend it. Polished it off this morning ( Sunday ).
Now trying to write a proposal for Vodacom for the school, Kind Heart Africa..
stumbling over it...

Saturday 30 July 2011

Kind Heart Africa

I made a FB page.. please feel free to like it!

Ludacris

Is in Tanzania.. and last night ( Friday 29th ) I was invited by my lovely friend Anita to go for dinner with her and him at the owner of Clouds FM for dinner. How lovely. I couldn't go as I forgot I had other plans..
dying to hear how it went! When I was out at the Kempinski last night I bumped into Abby ( looking really gorgeous ) and she was off to meet them all later.. Ludacris in the house partying at Runway.

I bet Simone was grumpy.

Ludacris is here all weekend, so maybe if I lose my weekend virgintiy at Runway ( I've only ever been on Thursday's & Wednesdays ) I will get to see what all the hoo hah is about. People love him here!
Dunno though, as I am off to Bongamoyo now for the day with John Hudson, a colleague of lovely Victoria's. He's off back home to Ireland tomorrow after a lengthy stint working out here for Diageo as a consultant.

Looking forward to visiting the island as I have heard good things! Factor 50 on. Slapped on.

Kessie

Is Graham's new driver. He is 46, married with 2 kids, both girls, one is at school in Nairoberry, the other is here. His wife is a chef and works nightshift at the Piccolo Hotel.

This is his first new job with National, after spending 9 years driving an Irish family - The O'Driscolls round Dar Es Salaam.

I gave him one of the lovely little meditation books that Panna gifted me. They have met and can speak with each other in Swahili. He was very quiet to begin with but as Kessie and I have spent a week together he's coming more and more out of his shell. He had flu earlier in the week so I sent him home with some Lemsip as he had a fever, he felt better then next day, so hurrah for Lemsip.

I told him about the project we are doing here with Kind Heart Africa and how I was looking for sponsors.. he only goes and calls his old schoolmate to see if she could help. She works a The Vodacom Foundation!?

Amazing and we got a meeting, in which he came to it with me. Now have to work up a proposal to send to them on Monday.

I offered to do his CV, so we are doing that next week and the other night when I went to the Kempinsky  ( to people watch, use their high speed wifi and have a hot chocolate ) to do some work
I suggested that he join me for a coffee. He had never set foot in the Kempinsky. Locals just don't do that or have access to the means to do it.

Anyway, he decided not to come in and after an hour sent me a text to say Miss Heather, may I join you.
I am coming to get you I texted back in a Davina McCall stylee as I walked to greet him at the entrance. WOW. He was gobsmacked, speechless.

We sat down, he loves my mac book pro - had never touched one before, we ordered coffee and a hot chocolate, he choked at the prices. Then he noticed a lady outside, she's famous, she's on Bongo Star Search. Que ??

I googled her and sure thing, the woman outside ( drinking champagne and johnny walker ) was on my screen in google images wearing the same outfit she had been pictured in, she's like the danni minogue of popstars, only older and not as stylish. Anyway! I asked Kessie if he'd like an autograph, which he did and so off in search I went, sorted. She was very personable. Her name is Rita Paulson. Her manager chatted away quite the thing, had been to Glasgow and loved my accent.. anyway, I thought bugger it, I'll ask for a pic, so before you know it, she's draped herself over Kessie in the bar at the Kempinski. Ha!
He asked for the receipt for the bill as a keepsake. I've still to send him the pics but now as I have a USB stick as gifted to me by Shay, I can put them on that.

Just an average night in Tanzania!

Gas

So, I visit the Movenpick Hotel here rather a lot as the Sasatel internet connection we have at Upanga is so flaky. Also, as this is a big hotel, they have a big generator so when there is a powercut you don't feel it as much. Anyway, there is a hair salon here, called Jazz and the guy who owns it is Gas.

He is from Beirut -which he tells me is amazing and I should visit there with my European passport.

We had a coffee and shared stories of why we're here, what we like to do, where to go, etc.
He used to live in Congo and has a brother still there, his other brother here runs the salon.
I had my first blowdry there the other day - too darn hot for a blowdry but I was feeling a bit skanky and if truth be told I just wanted someone to play with my hair. My ex bf was a hairdresser and as well as making my hair look fab he was also pretty good at playing with it and sometimes its those little tokens of affection that you miss most.

Anyway, sit me down in a chair for an hour and I will interview you - I love finding out about people and Gas is quite a dude. His father is the Lebanese Diplomat here in Tanzania, Gas has 2 salons ( one local ) and another opening soon. He also deals in diamonds and wait for it has 5 jumpy ( he means bouncy ) castles that he rents out to people. Quite the entrepeneur. 

He finds my accent funny and sometimes doesn't get it but on the whole I think he does.
He did a fab blowdry, 30 000 TSH ( VERY expensive for here ) and it was worth every penny as I felt great and enjoyed looking at out of date Hello and Ok! Mags purely for the pictorial nonsense that was featured. Donald Trump in his home with his poseur of a wife, etc.. so so so far emoved from everything here. Anyway, as I paid my bill, he asked if I had time for a coffee. Yes, I did.

So we had a coffee, chatted further and I told him about the Kind Heat Africa School, he offered to sponsor it. I am going to send him a document and see if he sticks to his word. Part of the culture here, the unfortunate part is that people have a tendancy to make big promises and then not deliver..

He asked me out to dinner but I explained I already had plans to meet Shay. Another time perhaps.

Lost in Transalation

So last night I went to the Kempinsky Hotel to meet with Shay. I met him earlier in the day.
34 year old Israeli dude who runs an indoor and otdoor marketing and advertising agency specialising in promotional materials. I was 40 mins late for the meeting ( unlike me as I choose to be punctual ) anyway,
we need his help for the project that Sarah and I are working on. I instantly liked him, tonnes of energy, funny, direct, helpful and full of advice. Tanzania and Africa are differerent to any other countries as this is the developing workd and I sometimes forget that. Everything can take way longer than you either hoped or expected it to.. i'm learning the art of patience and letting go and at the same time display the tenacity and energy to see things through.. I am results focussed and I'm getting there!

Anyway, we had a good meeting, showed him my dog Charleee - she's my screen saver, he also loves dogs adn we shared a few personal titbits of information, as we'd said our thank you's and goodbyes I was walking out the frint door when he shouts Heather and gies me 2 little gifts. Firts of all delighted to receive the gifts ( not one bit two ) and when I got into the car I opened them, only the 2 things that I need right now - a USB stick and a keyring with a powerful torch. : )

He's looking to hire a sales manager, so I sent him my CV, that was a bit weird, haven't done a CV in a loong time.. anyway sent it and then he emailed back to see if I'd like to meet him for a drink at the Kempinsky later. I said yes.

So, he had his Thai massage and we met around 9.30 and went foer sushi ( delicious ) in the Oriental restaurant where we chatted for about 3 hours, then went upstairs for a drink. He is hilarious, has a very contagious laugh and was very open and honest about his life here, his relationship ( I guessed he had a spanish girlfriend ) don't ask me how and he told me something that blew me away.. I won't share too much as it doesn't seem right.

Anyway, before we met I had emailed him to suggest that he research and patent a mini tennis bat ( the size of a ping pong bat ) that you can carry in your handbag. There is already a full sized tennis racket available that zaps the mossies with an electric shock. I am getting a bit fed up of them now as I am covered in bites, even though I am taking all the precautions anyway, as I was just about to walk into the hotel, I sent him a text that said "please tell me this is an mboo free zone"

He then proceeded to ask me as we sat down for dinner, as he was laughing his head off that what I had meant. I said mboo (mosquiotes ) hahahahahahaha. Mbu is the correct spelling for mosquiotes but in order for me to learn the lingo I write things phonetically.. Mboo means 'dick'.

So I sent him a text saying please tell me this is a 'dick' free zone. Methinks that will come in handy at some point! Slightly embarassing but oh so very funny especially with his infectious laugh!

I was excited about the prospect of some male company and in my head had deemed it a sort of 'date'. I twas Friday night after all and I don't usually go to swanky hotels of a weekend.. soit was even better
as we got on like a house on fire, we share lots of the same interests and I told him about my friend Susie Pearl and all the wonderful things she does and how she lives her life, he calls her Amazing Susie and even looked her up on facebook and said "wow she has such a positive evergy, look at her smile. Indeed.

I think I have a new friend. No bull, just upfront good chat and a few giggles. I'm also hoping that perhaps he'sll be able to help me find some paid work. He knows everyone, Dar is a bit like Glasgow, sprawling city geographically and everyone knows everyone else. He told me something I already know, I am not going to meet a 'good guy' in a club. No siree. For now I am to just do my own thing.

I got in at 2am. Talked out and very happy to have met such a kindred spirit.

Friday 29 July 2011

The Sunday Mail

My friend Billy Sloan, the legendary Billy Sloan is leaving the newspaper today after decades of writing some of the best interviews with musicians, artists and popstars that have ever been written.

He is leaving with a heavy heart and he will be sorely missed, not just by his colleagues but by the millions of people who have read his column over the years..

He's my pal too and I love him and I also know what its like to have to leave a job that you really love..
truth is its you never see it like a job, yes it pays some of the bills but that's not why we do it, there are way more secure and financially rewarding jobs out there, we do it for the love of it.

Also thinking of a few other lovely people who are leaving the paper today..
Everything comes to an end and its a new chapter.. all good and perfect as it is in this moment.

Am also chuffed that a piece I wrote will appear in this Sunday's supplement - fitting and I hope Billy
takes me up on the offer to join me for a wee holiday here in Tanzania..

The Guest List

Thursday 28th August, Chanika, Tanzania
10.30am

Currently sending invites out now.. anyone from the UK want to come ??
Let me know and I'll put you on the guest list..lol! x

Thursday 28 July 2011

A Lovely Story - Wednesday 27 July

A Lovely Story - Wednesday 27 July

So, the thing that made me laugh and then cry was this today..

I spend a while sitting under the tree at the temple, its 90 years old
and is the biggest tree in Tanzania. I don't so much, just read or sit and listen to the leaves - its a beautiful tree and its so calming and comforting listening to the swish of the leaves.
It also is reported to have a healing effect.  Anyway, I  was there today after a manic day in traffic, it rained ( hurrah ) and my head was busy
with lots of ideas and things to do.. so after sitting for a bit, Panna arranged for me to  got a lift from one of his friends as it was raining heavily at this point.

I left one of my bags in the car - phone, keys, laptop, camera, wallet.. Don't know what I was thinking ( or not ) Panic!!!!!!!
Only realised when I get to the front door..
I turn round, run down 13 flights of stairs which I had just walked up ( power cut )  and here is this fellow smiling with my bag..
"Do not worry Ether" he said, "I am Sri Lankan, even if $1million I return to you."

I hugged him and then sauntered back up the 13 flights sobbing and smiling at the same time.

Even though the networks crash all the time, we have power rations - every second day no electricity at all and the traffic is mental.
its all ok. Just as it is.
Hapana ta tiso ( no problem )

Thursday 28th July - a busy day!

Thursday 28th July - a busy day!

Got an introductory meeting to the Vodacom Foundation and a pitching to them on Monday to see if they will support Kind Heart Africa - amazing, so very excited!!
Met my friend Eskado Bird - she is going to be huge.. she's the most hip, cool, fresh young designer I have ever met. She wroites poertry, makes music and is so superbly strong it is amazing
I am sort of mentoring her though I like to think we just talk and hang out. We are planning to do an event called The FABRIC of Africa an event
at a disused airfield - Fashion Art  Business Recycling Innovation Culture - a runway show showcasing the best of African talent. We were deciding on her final logo today and it is so cool
I can't tell you. Sometimes I wish my friends were  just here for a coffee and a natter and you could have a wee look at what I'm doing and give me the thumbs up and a wink and a smile!

Also, I want to do a book fpr the Kind Heart Africa School. Already I have had some really great funny, clever, inspiring, silly, sad stories, poems and things from people.
I want to get 365 one for each day of the year. What do you think ? Wish I speak to a pal from home!
Its draining sometimes speaking with the locals as I have to concentrate super hard on understanding what they say and my Swahili isn't up to conversational level yet!

Am back on the 2nd October. Its really wonderful and I am working with Sarah on this big launch and I am loving it, coming up with ideas, briefing designers,
booking talent, sourcing prizes - we're doing a luxury pop up boutique sale - its never been done here in Tz. There are so many opportunities and the people make me melt.
They are so kind, they NEVER complain, they smile like they mean it and they always want to laugh. Magic.

Mboos

Mosquitoes - 29th July

Panna told me this morning, mosquitoes in Tanzania are  not like any other country, they are professional.
Aye. 12 bites on my arms this morning. Nice.
Bought Baygone ( as in begone ) off in search of something to ward them off, something super strong as the mozzies
here are used to most chemicals - they're not afraid to bite, said Panna.

Too blimmin true.

Tuesday 26 July 2011

Power

Tuesday 26th July

We have one day of power and none in the evening..then no power the next day and power in the evening... you can have power but you need a generator and that costs 4 times as much fuel wise than electricity, so not everyone can afford to have one. I fear for small businesses and places that really do require power - shops, hospitals, doctors.. you get the picture!

Presently I am at Sarah's beautiful home, composing emails in the sweltering heat ( even though its raining slightly ) but as there is no power there's no internet or fan for that matter.. you'd think at this rate that I'd be losing weight like billio..
nope I think my body is holding onto every darn ounce of fluid to keep me rehydrated... yuk..

Off later this avo in search of power .

Pics of First Kind Heart Africa Project

https://picasaweb.google.com/pannasekara/KindHeartAfricaHomeForStreetChildrenInTanzania?authkey=Gv1sRgCKa9z7SmhrK3Nw#

links to the project i am working on KInd Heart Africa

http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/tanzanian-street-children/

Monday 25 July 2011

'My' Buddhist Monk

I'd been trying to find the Buddhist Temple here in Dar for about 3 weeks.
There are no real reliable maps here - a la the A to Z. If someone were to come up with such a plan, then I'm sure they'd make a mint or a fair few TSH!
There are signs for businesses and buildings but the ones that are off the main road are the most difficult to find - hence my challenge in trying to locate the Buddhist Centre.
I just wanted to visit it, as it was recommended to me by 3 locals who all live in London, apparently it is a beautiful space. 3 separate taxi drivers
and on foot on more than 4 occassions and it still evaded me.

Then one day last week I found it!
It is beautiful and has an ancient Sri Lankan tree under which you can meditate or just sit. Its shletered from the sun and its cool and breezy.
I instantly felt at home.
I was given a guided tour by a Sri Lankan man who visits there everyday to meditate, he is here on business.
I explained to him that I had always wanted to learn to meditate as my dear friend Susie Pearl and her partner Dill practise the art of TM.
Russell Brand also meditates, as do more than a few successful people I know. A peaceful mind would surely do me the world of good!

The kind gentleman passed on the numbers of the Monk who runs the temple. We spoke - well sort of, he thought I was calling from Mombassa..
I was trying to explain that I was calling from his centre. Anyway.. we arranged to meet the next day.

Pannasekara is his name and he is the Chief Buddhist Monk in East Africa. He is 46, fit as a fiddle, has an awesome smile and a contagious laugh.
He is the epitome of a laughing Buddha, though there are no roles of fat on this fine specimen.
I waited for him for 3 hours on the day we were to meet. It only felt like half an hour as I was invited to drink tea, sit barefoot under the tree and read a book.
All of the books are given to you free, all that is asked is that you pass the book onto someone else who might like it when you are finished.
I read one in a whole sitting, a little daily meditation number. I'll list some of my favourites in my next post.

When we met, we sat for another 3 hours just chatting. He asked me to tell him my story. He explained that he is like a Doctor and in order to treat me properly
he must fully understand my symptoms.

Where do I start, well after a fewlaughs, a few language barriers and more than a few incidences of pins and needles ( I'm not used to sitting for 3 hours in a cross legged position )
then came the tears. In summary - divorce, loss of love, loss of my home, anxieties over my career and what to do next. Worries about money and where to live and what to do when I return to Scotland..
I also told him of the frustrations of trying to get into a place here to do voluntary work - one which wouldn't go bust, promise the world of opportunity and then not deliver and also to find a place
where I wouldn't have to pay an agency a fee of $250 of which none of the money went to the charity. Lots of students come here for a fortnight, pay a whopping fee for the privelage of staying with a family and teaching them english.
I want to do something more grass roots and for longer, as the plan is, if all going well, to fly home on the 2nd of October.

Pannasekara ( I now call him Pannacotta affectionately ) explained that he had a project where he was in desperate need of help.
BTW this dude has been to 50 countries, speaks 5 languages and has met more Presidents and Dignatiaries than you could shake a stick at . ( Can't think of a funnier comparison as its so darn hot and i can hardly concentrate!
I left Pannacotta armed with books, a blessing, a chant to meditate and a big smile on my face. YIPEE!!!!!!!!

I had found what I was looking for.....

My first meditation ( sort of )

My first meditation would be :

I wish to feel peaceful and happy. Repeated over and over and over.
Its so hard to try and calm a busy mind.. one which has always worked overtime.
I also have tons of energy and I haven't been expending it as much as I'd like.

So, I begin and I try and am only managing it for about 5 mins before my mind starts wandering and my thoughts
drift too... hope mum and dad are ok, i hope my dog is well and happy and oh man, I have to pay that huge tax bill
and i'm owed money by my ex and blah blah blah....

This isn't going to be easy.. then when have I ever taken the easy option. Never.
And so, the learning begins..

Jeima

Jeima is my friend at The Waterfront, Slipway.
We call it my office, as I seem to spend an inordinate amount of time there - from early morning, through sunset and on til late in the evening.
Atmed with my book (s) , sunscreen and shades, she's served me more than a few scores of stoneytangaweezee and coca lights.
She's seen me read and heard my take on all of my books so far ..

Screw It Lets Do It
Catherine Deneuve's Diaries
A New Earth
The Secrets of Life
Don't Sweat The Small Stuff
Mr Nice
Stories I Only Tell My Friends
Billy
and a few more I can't recall at this time..

In return, she tells me what she's been up to, about her family and of course teaches me a few new
phrases in Swahili.. some of my favourites from her are...


chakoola chema - have a good meal
hakuna ma ta tiso - no problem
mimi - I
wewe - you
namee zuri sana - I'm ok too

She always finds me a good table and looks after me.. she also has great taste in accessories and a good sense of humour, so I look
forward to being at The Waterfront when she's on shift!

The Italian Stallion..

The Italian Stallion. Well sort of.  He is shorter than me at 5 ft 6. He has beautiful hands. I love beautiful hands.
He is 40 ish, worked all over, loves Rome, has been here in Tanzania for 7 months, works like a trojan running Runway and also the new bar that the owner
Samanter has on Zanzibar. I was a fool. He invited me out on a catamaran for lunch ( if I'd gone I would have met Abby - that's ok as I found her myself ),
he invited me to the opening of the new bar on Zanzibar and I didn't go. I wish I had.

I was told he had a reputation as a ladies man. Maybe he does, maybe he doesn't. He does have an amazing smile, he hugs me like I'm a long lost lover and I make him laugh.
His English isn't great, so I am teaching him a bit, throwing in the odd curve ball - "stop being a wido simone' .. "widow?" no.. WIDO as in wide as the blimmin clyde!

He never lets me pay for a drink, always chats to me and who cares if he's a ladies man. He's not my man, so why should I care?
He seems to be working ridiculously long hours - between Runway here in Dar and the new bar on ZZ. He has no time to himself
and is always rundown. I don't know how long he will last here. He doesn't seem too happy.

His body is incredible ( we are friends on FB ), he is extremely fit and has some stunning tattoos. He loves sailing and fishing and has a cute
wee jack russell called Matilda. Sghe stays on ZZ. I'd like to meet her.

His twinkly eyes tell a story. He's had many jobs, used to be party mad and now doesn't drink. Like most Italians I've met, he smokes
like a chimney and loves his coffee. He calls me my love.. though it sounds like my loaf. Ho hum.

He has a byootiful friend, half Irish, half Italian who lives here in Tanzania and she is heading to Glasgow later this summer to study at
Glasgow Uni. He was delighted to ask me if I would help his friend.. of course.. and before you knew it, there I was transported in my mind back to
Glasgow and that little flat I shared with Fitzy, right next to the Union. Gulp. Must not dwell on the past. Yes!! I said when can I meet her and I will
do as much as I can to help your friend..!!

We swapped stories on tattoos and our ex partners. His ex was so OCD that it was driving him crazy, so they split.
He asks about Charlee every time I see him - he looks at all her pictures on my Facebook. He also likes to
make me squirm by puling up some of my publicity shots - ahh you are a muddle. Model no, muddle - probably yes.

I hope to see him when he's not working at Runway. I like it there but no longer drink and unless I am maybe djing
or hanging out with Anita, Sylvia, Abby and their friends then I feel like I could be spending my time more wisely.

I did once have breaskfast ( strong coffee ) with him at the Protea Hotel - he was inbetween apartments - its an ongoing saga as he as a carazee landlady.
He drove me back to Upanga afterwards on his moped. I refused lifts before home from Runway as he didn't have a helmet for me. He took my bag - which
had everything of any importance to me... laptop, camera, phone, perfume, books, and put it between his legs and told me to "Ever ( my name ) squuze tight"
I did and it was a mental ride back home, not least for the fact that the traffic here is nuts and we're on a mpoed and there are goats and vans and bajjaj and
cars everywhere going fast and bosh! my bag spliis on the road.. a 4 x 4 narrowly avoided it. The perfume bottle ( am on my last one ) survived - phew
..mosre importantly laptop and camera .. all in one piece. The scratches on the laptop now have their own story..

I just sent him a text "do you want to have dinner with me ?'" if he's in the same time zone as my other non Brit friends, then I will probably get a response on
Friday. It's Monday 25th today......

Sarah Scott

Is a new friend. She is 30's, kooky, divorced, was born in South Africa and has a Scottish father and SA mother.
She has a wicked laugh, sparkly green eyes, a maughty tattoo with a great story and is pretty spiritual.
She's also got a cracking figure and a super cool wardrobe. She has her own production company which
does events, makes films & TV shows. I was destined to meet her and thanks to Abby that happened!

She used to be a major party girl and then slowed right down, went into her recovery phase and came out the other side
older, fitter, healthier, more spiritually aware and more creative. She has a house in Zanzibar which she rents and also
a flat here in Dar, she's been living in and out of Tz for more than 12 years now and has loads of friends. Well, she corrects
herself, she had loads of friends and now a few friends and many accquaintances. I know how she feels.

My friends circle is much more close and valuable to me now. The ones whom I treasure the most are the ones
who were there for me, all of the time. People like Lorraine, Jerry, Fiona,  Vicky,Alison, Angela, Niki, Lisa, Susie & Guy.
We all have our own stuff going on and from time to time choppy weather and high seas rock your ship
and that's when you need a strong friend to support you. In my time I have had lots of fair weather friends.. the ones who
take take and take and forgot that you too might need a little extra help once in a while. I also didn't fully appreciate just how much
real friendship counts. I used to think I could get by on my own and i'd only let people in so far.. meantime I had been cultivating
fake friendships with timewasters, toxic and terribky selfish. T in the Park - ooft, how many times have I given away tickets
( as part of my fee ) and not even had a thank you. I tolerated it and I now see that I made a huge error of judgement.
My responsibility, not theres..

I enjoy my time with Sarah, she's got some cracking projects on the go and she's asked me to help her and she wants to pay me!
So much in the past, I went out of my way to help some people and they took the p, rather I allowed that to happen.
That was then and this is now.

Gotta get a visa sorted and get my power point presentation skills back up to scratch.. the ideas are flowing again which
is great as I went a bit numb for a while and my confidence took a blow back in Glasgow as nothing was happening fast enough or
as fast as I would have liked... I realise now that that is all ok.. If things had worked out the way I wanted them to on the work front,
I wouldn't be here where I am right now, loving being in Tanzania and meeting all sorts of interesting people that I believe I was destined to meet.
Who knows where I will end up, I am so grateful that I've met Pannacotta, Abby, Anita, Sylvia, Victoria, Easkado Bird..

Sarah has invited me to her home for lunch this week. She has a cook and she says its a beautiful place, very spiritual and she thinks I will love it.
I think she might be right.

Victoria

s Graham's flatmate. She's in her 20's very pretty, from Uganda and works at Diageo at the Serengeti Brewery Company.
She loves Big Brother, The Kardashians, reading managment & leadership books and adores her role as a graduate training working at The Brewery.
She is from a very close family and has 2 sisters and talks ofter of her friend Elsie. Elsie also works with her, in IT and picks her up everyday to go to work.
I've never ever seen Victoria cook and she hardly ever goes out. She spends a lot of time on Facebook and she watches any DVD
that I pass onto her.

She calls me 'my dear' and we've gotten into the habit of leaving notes for each other and hanging out.  now that Graham is climbing Kilimanjaro we
spend girlie time together.. chewin the fat on the usual.. She's like me, in that neither of us read the news, so we don't discuss horror stories..we chat about
life, love and all that jazz. I've started passing on some of my books to her and she's currently loving Screw It Let;s Do It by Richard Branson.

I've suggested that we go out for dinner one night this week and she's up for that and she's also offered to cook us a Ugandan meal. I am up for that!

I hear her going to work every morning at around 7.30am, she is always immaculately turned out and has great taste in perfume.
She wears Carolina Herrera's 212. It is divine.

Last night we watched her friend Elsie's favourite TV shows, as her TV was on the blink. We drank tea and ate biscuits and laughed at the judges comments.
This time last week she was ill in bed with Malaria +++ which is pretty bad. She couldn't eat, had a very high temperature but was cold and was on strong meds.
I tried to help by giving her lots of fluid and vitamins and she had many visitors from her work - all bearing gifts and good will. She's a popular girl at work!
Very glad to see her back on form, she's been craving apples as she loves them but the sores in her mouth have prevented that.. she did manage the odd Hula Hoop
that i offered in her direction, so things must be on the up!!

Sarah - Project 1

So, last week when Sarah and I met at the Movenpick Hote; and witnessed the GOD amongst men that was Per, she told me about a project she'd like me to help her with for NBC.
I forgot to mention Per. Sarah was mid flow, chatting away when I looked across the cafe to the main reception area of the Movenpick where my eyes fell upon one of the most
beautiful men I have ever seen. So much so, I said " Sarah, stop. Look at that man." We both did.

He was tall ( i was later to find out half Tanzanian half Dutch ), with blondish dreads, slim, in denim knee shorts, grey t, raybans, rucksack... He didn't walk, this dude was gliding.

Ahhh.. I know him! He was chatting up Abby at Runway, wait I will find out his name.. she texted a friend and his name is Per, he used to be a crazy party animal and now he's calmed down
( * is it me or is there a recurring theme here ? )

I could not take my eyes off him. Bugger was that Sarah was facing him and I was craning my neck to watch him He waved and Sarah waved back.. he was coming over!!!!!!!

We were introduced, I managed a 'hello' rather pathetically and that was it.. I just sat back down and listened.

Anyway, that was Per.

Sarah and I got back to our conversation which was about her pitch that had gone into her client on Friday. It sounds awesome. Right up my street - an event for a bank.
I came up with a few ideas and she liked them. Fingers crossed.

Its now a week later, I am in the same hotel at the same time ( no Per ) and she's just sent me a text to say that the client has approved her proposal.
YES!!!!!

Now going over to her home at 1pm for a celebratory lunch and brainstorm. Ya dancer!

Quentin & Dengue Fever

I have never met anyone by the name of Quentin. I consider it to be rather posh. I know of Quentin Crisp and other than that the only
other person I have met with a ridiculously posh name is a guy called Twysden that I kissed one night in London after a chance meeting
at an event in Ibiza when I was working with Done & Dusted and Twysden's then flatmate Ian Stewart.

Anyway, Quentin is from South Africa - tall, single, tattooed 33, works in IT and drove up to Dar from Capetown with his friend Paul who has
a family and a Catamaran here. Its called the QT. Anyway, we met one night at The Waterfront when I was meeting Abby & Sarah.

I had been waiting an hour and a half for Abby ( not knowing she was with Sarah ) and when I found them, he was cadging a ciggy from Abby.
I'd seen him the night before as I was watching the sunset and reading my book and he was cuddling a jack russell that was being preyed on by a local cat.
At one point, I was about to get up and offer to go and take the dog for a walk - to let everyone in the bar get peace from the cat's screeching, to destress the dog and also because I love dogs and miss
walking Charlee. For whatever reason I didn't go over. It seems now that the universe had intended that we meet again.

Anyway, we got chatting as Abby & Sarah were catching up, not having seen each other for ages.
The night wore on and on and his chat was pretty good. He, like me was finding it a bit hard in Dar to meet people and he was sleeping on the boat, so
had to always make sure there was a ride out to the QT. Abby & Sarah left and we stayed on. He told me about his project called In Search Of..
and we had a few laughs. He kept asking 'Dude, what are you doing with your time?" I told him about the frustrations with time, people wanting to promise and deliver everything and then not..
ie the deaf & blind school, which in actual fact - that falling through was a blessing as I was ill for almost 2 weeks with what seemed to be malaria or dengue fever and couldn't have done it anyway.
It was not meant for me.

Thanks to Graham and a borrowed malaria testing kit, it wasn't malaria and thanks to the non appearance of the rash that is characteristic of dengue fever, I went on to find out that my lack of appetitie,
restlessness, inability to sleep and general sick feeling was down to anxiety. A doctor told me that last Monday. I'm not surprised I was suffering from anxiety!
Try filling 8 hours + per day, 7 days a week reading or doing stuff in a foreign country in a city that has constant powercuts, English is not the primary language, you hardly know anyone, the culture
is pole pole ( slowly slowly ) and you're bursting with energy to do stuff and then of course you inevitably have too much time on your hands and you start thinking about stuff.. bad stuff.. stuff from the past and worries for the futire..

Anyway, I explained to Quentin that I was learning the art of patience and reading like a ninja. He didn't get it. He is an adrenalin junkie and leads a very fit, outdoorsy lifestyle in Capetown.
I guess if we all lived there, we would liove that lifestyle too!? Even at the time, it was frustrating, I am grateful for all of those days spent pouring over some great reads.

Afterwards we met Mani and her sister and their friend D. All from Dar, they work in London I think - work chat never came up - and we hung out and enjoyed some local specialities.
They were great company and Mani and I will keep in touch.. too many laughs that I can't remember for some reason...must have been something in the air.
We sat til about 3am, the bar shut at 12 and sat and talked and listened to Indian music on D's laptop and revelled at how bright the moon was on the waves.

I won't say too much about what happened afterwards with Quentin. All I will say is that I was a fool, too kind and rowing myself out on a boat to give him a gift from my favourite littel store at Slipway and money
was way and above the call of duty. I felt I did what was right and in turn he acted like a first class tit.

The universe conspired to make me laugh later when I saw him that afternoon in a cafe where I was sat reading. He waved over and said
"Hey Heather, I'll call you later!" I hollered back 'Hey Quentin, you don't have my number!" and went back to my book. The gay Dutch tourists next laughed out loud.
The QT is still in the harbour.

Sunday 24 July 2011

Swahili .. its getting better!!

More new words..

naomba usbiri - please wait
cho eeko wapi - where is the loo ?
ndim - lemon
mkooki - javeline
oona taka tenna - i need more
safi sana - very good
mboo - mosquito
mmbozee - goat ( I will definitely not be eating goat! )
nyama yang ombay - beef
nako penda sana - i love you ( not sure if I'l be using this! )
jikoni - kitchen

The News

I don't watch it. I don't read papers or gossip magazines so I am mostly oblivious to all the horrific and shocking news that is taking place..ignorance is bliss..that may be selfish but I am protecting myself.
I use Facebook to contact my friends and have just clicked on my home page and its filled with jokes/comments - positive & negatives on the news that Amy Winehouse has died and something horrific has happened in Norway. I missed all the NOTW guff and it reinforces my exoeriences in that bad news sells.


I want to hear good news. Please!  

The Tusker All Stars

Is the East African version of Pop Stars and its brilliant!
Its supported/created by Tusker ( a beer ).
Judges are superb and critique in English..
Haven't a clue what the wannabees were singing but they look great
and there's lots of chemistry bubbling up..

I don't think my pay as you go mobile phone will let me vote!
I'm watching it with my Ugandan flatmate Victoria and her Kenyan friend Elsie.
Alpha from Rwanda is our favourite male soloist at the mo.

Electricity permitting, this is what we do on a Sunday when Victoria is in!!

Powercuts

Every day now without fail we have them.. that means.. we have no :

traffic lights, lifts, etc
it affects hospitals, airports
everyday things we take for granted.. the internet, tv, street lights
cooking facilities, a/c, the fridge...and all the other things that are tricky in the dark..

at first it was a bit of excitement, if it happened in a restaurant we'd all be oohing and aahing when it went off and on, now it is every single day and its having a crippling effect on the country's economy. Small business have to close as diesel fuel for the already expensive generator costs 4 times more than eplectricity.. it causes major traffic chaos and makes life harder for everyone..

yesterday we had power at my friend sarah's house, she had no power in the evening, this afternoon we had no power, it calme back on at 6pm. it is crippling small businesses and driving everyone a little bit crazy..the country needs serious support for with its hydro elctricity programme..

I never thought I'd say this, please can we have some rain..?

Amy

So sad to hear of the news of Amy Winehouse's passing through her addictions.
I saw her many moons ago when she played a gig at Cottiers Theatre in Glasgow.
Colin Beattie, my friend and mentor saw her brilliance before millions and booked her on a number of occassions. I've also interviewed her and she wasn't drunk. 

From my personal experiences, the definition of addiction for me is an illness.
I have friends whom have died through being unable to manage their illness.. I also have friends
who won't admit to being addicts because its a label and not a particularly pleasant one.
I won't name names, I love my friends too much.. between them they are addicted to :


shopping, chocolate, red wine, eating, overeating & subsequently puking,  fighting with superiors, unavailable men, gambling, cheese, feeling bad, adrenalin sports, feeling fat, unloved, etc, etc


I tackled ( and continue to )  my own additctions with the help of a very special friend and proffessional and self discipline with my
For me, it was my thinking that me down, take control of your mind and you cannot become addicted. I've read several hundred books on the topic and my friend Susie Pearl is an incredible mrntor and here in Tanzania I have discovered a great friend in the form of Pannasekara, a Chief Buddhist Monk. He's passed onto me some amazing literature and is teaching me to meditate.


Amy's legacy will always be here great lyrical mind and spiritual soul. I wish she'd had her own personal Buddha or Susie Pearl or any of my special girlfriends. Sometimes though, you have to make it on your own and its a lonely journey.......

Sunday 3 July 2011

Kilimanjaro

I'm not a huge fan of hills. I have done Ben lomond with my dog Charlee and since I am here it would seem appropriate to at least attempt Kilimanjaro. I'm not as fit as I should be..going to the gym should be helping.. Apparently if you smoke or have asthma..you can cope with the altitude better. 

You can hire everything you need here, however I guess your own clothes, boots, sleeping bag and water bottles would be better and more enjoyable to use.

I'm going to check in with Andrew Fairlie and see how he got on when he climbed it with a team from HIT Scotland.

Me doing it will depend on which of my friends can do it/are up for it.

Tennis

Watched Wimbledon Men's Singles Final..dreams do come true..go Djokovic.

Homesick

Properly homesick..missing my dog, my pals, irn bru and friendly faces..feeling very far away..
also a bit rundown..coughing and sneezing,,,

Kulwa

is my 28 year old Tanzanian friend. He is an electrician and part time model.
He doesn't do Facebook. He does work out, loves Barcelona and wants to improve his english.
He models part time and has been doing this for about 8 years. He can earn on average 300 TSH per session. He is gorgeous. His family are from Dodoma ( the capital ) and he lives here with 2 room mates.

He teaches me a bit of Swahili, I teach him a spot of English.

Might have to introduce him to some new music though.. he likes :

Michael Bolton ( I quite like him too )
Celine Dion
Whitney
P Diddy
Snoop
Kanye West
Beyonce
Jermain Dupre ( ? )
J Lo

I'm going to burn him a CD of some Scottish artists and some bootlegs featuring some of the tracks above..

new words..

Managed to lose my little Swahili book, so will have to invest in a new one.. and will be adding in the following new words and phrases which Kulwa and Fatma taught me :

(spelling might be a bit off )

nzurisana - very good
samahani kwa koochey lay wah - sorry I am late
hapana ta tiso - sorry I am late
sahmahkey - fish
chipsy - chips
kuku - chicken
keetambah - hanky
youko wapi fatma - where is fatma?

30mph

..on a moped and my bag falls off.
mac book pro ok, prada perfume ok, camera and ipod all ok.. amazing...
i won't be on a moped again any time soon methinks..

Mac Book Pro

..I love it..though my motherboard is damaged so I have to use a remote keyboard and the most annoying thing is that the screen is a bit wonky and I can't comment on people's postings on my wall or their walls on FB. Means that any communication on FB walls is strictly limited : (

There is an i store here - well it looks like one, unsure if its the real deal so will just have to live with the set up as it is.

Found out the other night that I have 8000+ tracks on itunes and a lot of them are guff!
I can feel an edit coming on..

Tanzanian Talent

Met an Irish 20 year old bloke the other night called Justyn Mackay and he's pointed me in this direction..

http://www.tht.co.tz/

Very interesting...

Richard Branson's Top 10 Tips..

..which I am applying to ecomunky as I prepare to launch a new campaign here..

* you've got to challebge the big ones
* keep it casual
* haggle ; everything is negotiable
* have fun working
* do the right things for the brand
* smile for the cameras
* don't lead sheep, herd cats
* move like a bullet
* small is beautiful
* be a common regular person

pretty basic advice.. does it work..?

Very Good Advice...

A friend ( wise and successful one ) sent me this little ditty and I like it a lot!

"Focusing our attention incessantly on matters that disturb us, keeps us disturbed. 
Our obsession with our problems leaves no room for their solutions. 
However, we are only powerless in the face of difficulties if we choose to be. 
We are always free to search for the good, which is lost in a tangled situation. 
We can be certain that our progress in life is equal to our capacity to let go of our problems and move ahead with the momentum of a positive attitude.

All too frequently, we fail to recognise opportunities for growth and success because we have chosen to be trapped by circumstances that are beyond our control. 
We may not realise this but we are never tied to problems. 

Solutions are always within our grasp. 
However, we must let go long enough to gain a responsible perspective on the situation."

Richard Branson

Richard Branson

Have just powered my way through Screw It Let's Do It.
Thoroughly enjoyed it and am about to share it with my friend Eskado Bird ( aka Zia ).
Getting quite into the swapping books and DVDs activity!
Would recommend his book - its a manual with lessons in life and business and a terrific story
of Branson's incredible achievements.

One passage in particular struck a chord.. It was from Nelson Mandela's 1994 inaugural speech when he was elected President.
He said :

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate, our greatest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is
our light not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be famous, brilliant, talented, gorgeous?
Actually, who are you not to be, you are a child of God, and your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing
enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, like children do.
We are born to make manifest  the glory of God within us. And we are let our own light shine, we unconsciously give people permission
to do the same, As we are liberated by our fears, our presence automatically liberates others".