Monday 3 October 2022

Camping at Akagera


Lots of fun last weekend, camping at Akagera National Park in Eastern Province. Close encounters of the wild and wonderful kind.

Monday 19 September 2022

The Secret Garden

Last week I went to visit my friend at Bugesera Nursery (Instagram) about an hour south of Kigali. She has quite an incredible garden, so I thought I'd share.




Thursday 8 September 2022

The Cat With Nine Lives

 

A sad day, saying goodbye to my amazing car, Kitty. Many wonderful adventures had and memories made. But hopefully not the end of the road.

Monday 29 August 2022

Fun Month in Kigali

Hi guys.

So, I've mentioned my struggle before. I've been getting into videos more and there's only enough time in the day to write and edit or take videos and edit, I can't do both consistently. As I've spent several years blogging, and as Blogger itself is getting a bit blah (so many layout and template bugs it's horribly annoying), I've decided to post my latest video updates rather than write them all up.

So, here's what's been going on lately:



More about that hash:



And there's also been a lot of talk lately as a young woman, Liliane Mugabekazi, faces two years in jail for wearing a revealing outfit to a music concert. If you want to hear more about that, you can click here.

So, I know that people who have been following my blog might not be as interested in videos. It's certainly been a turbulent transition for me, as I've always preferred being behind the camera, but I think I'm settling into it now and, although there's a lot less writing content, it is fun to show you around my neighbourhood. Let me know what you think, what you'd like to see more of, and, if you wouldn't mind awfully, consider subscribing to the channel and liking the videos you enjoy. 

Tuesday 26 July 2022

Moto Journeys in Kigali

Hi guys!

I know I've been shockingly bad at updates for a long time, but I've been spending a bit of time videoing moto journeys around Kigali. It started with this trip:



And then people suggested other places to go.


So far we've been to Rebero, Nyamirambo and Gikondo.





Thought it would make a fun interim post. I try to upload in 4k but the internet can be a bit prohibitive, so the larger ones are regular HD. If you enjoy, subscribe to my channel and bookmark this page. I'll add more trips as they occur. 

Saturday 21 May 2022

Art and Kittens


I've posted in the past about talented Rwandan artist Daddy Ishimwe, who goes by the brushname Daddyisme. I was invited to hang out at a gallery the other week and finally got to see the original Black Mona Lisa, which is one of his most famous pieces. He's even made a rap video promoting the piece. The gallery is at 41 KG 601. It's open every day except Sundays, but there's no sign outside, so you wouldn't know it's there. Apparently it belongs to the guy who runs Envision cafĂ© up the road, which Daddy also painted. 







There are some wonderful pieces inside the gallery, such as this painting of President Kagame, entirely painted from tiny images of agaseki baskets (Rwandan peace baskets).

Selekarts


Biratonny
His art is inspired by his mother who
died in the genocide.

Bless__aine



Not sure of this artist's name?


Mugishapablo
I honestly thought this was a photo!



More of Daddy's art.


Background he painted for a TV show.
Based on the reed screens at Nyanza.


He is also working on a whole-room 3D exhibit where you feel like you're floating in space, surrounded by clouds. It's really amazing, but I can't share until it's complete.



Striking poses with Daddy and my friend Key.





Wire sculptures at the gallery.

Key - artistic pose
Artist _17_arts_


It was really nice to see some art as there aren't that many places in Kigali that have permanent displays. I'm not sure why they don't advertise it. Everything is sort of hidden away, so you wouldn't know it was there unless you knew one of the artists. 

In other news, I have a new kitten.



He still needs a name. Just can't think of a good one. Here come a gratuitous number of kitten pics...
















Aaah, yes, he is cute, but he is also a little shit.


He is pretty good at not shredding my expensive net curtains, but every now and then he gets excited and forgets.

Round up of other stuff:

Giant moth.



Had a lovely lunch at my friends' house, Pieter and Isma. Good to catch up as we hadn't seen each other in a long time. A lovely spread and a nice little garden where they are growing tree tomatoes (tamarillo). I did not know this, but apparently tamarillo only lasts for one season and then dies!





Had a beautiful, misty morning.





Popped over to CasaKeza to see the rabbits. 




I got all dressed up for my neighbour's wedding, but I'll write a separate post about that as I need to sort through the photos.

Went out for a lovely Indian with my friend Jan and Gerry. There's a new place up the road that look like a Mondrian. It's called Red Handi, at the top of the road from RDB going down to Nyarutarama Tennis Club, and the food is spectacular. We gorged ourselves on starters. 


Saturday 9 April 2022

Strange Rock on Idjwi Island


A few weeks back I did a video about a trip I took to Idjwi Island with my friend Maia. Whilst going through the photos, I discovered one I'd taken of a strange rock. I thought it might be some sort of carving, so sent it to the Trust for African Rock Art. It appears it might be Batwa hieroglyphs. The chair of TARA sent back some photos of Batwa rock art in Gabon, and the similarity with Knowth in Ireland really got me thinking about other rock art connections. 





Friday 1 April 2022

WAG Animal Rescue Shelter in Rwanda


The other week, I spent the day at WAG animal rescue in Kigali, to see what life is like for shelter dogs in Rwanda. Also, if you like the song on the moto at the beginning of this video, check out my cousin, Sali.

Sunday 27 March 2022

Gisenyi Weekend

 

Aaaah, the noise issue has been hilarious. And, by hilarious, I mean bloody painful. Apparently, just after I left for the UK, they stopped for a while. My neighbour said it had been really quiet. Then, about three nights after I got back they really went for it. My brain was bleeding out my nose. But, it seems to have calmed down again now. 

[Update: the day after writing this, they went all night again - it's like that scene in Walking Dead where Daryl gets locked in a cell by Negan and they keep playing Easy Street. Just when you think you can sleep again - you're wrong.]

Other than that, being back has been okay. You can hear me puffing and panting in that video, partly because I put on a stone whilst I was in the UK and partly because it takes about a month to readjust to the altitude. It really takes the wind out of you.

I turned 41 shortly after getting back. It wasn't a great birthday. Not because of the age, but I'd planned a meal with my friends and then the heavens opened. I mean, it was biblical. No one could go anywhere. What was worse was that I had no chocolate or alcohol in the house. I had a bottle of gin but no lemons or tonic. I couldn't go out to get anything. My friends Harris and Rob ordered a big bottle of whiskey, but because of the rain it couldn't be delivered. Then the electricity went out - taking the internet with it. Thankfully, a tray of cupcakes made it just before the rain started and a huge bunch of red roses from Solvejg.


Cupcakes from Harris & Rob




It wasn't great. But we made up for it a few days later. My friends took me to a lovely restaurant for a slap-up meal, and the flowers and booze arrived.




Cucina at Marriott Hotel



I also received a beautiful bottle of gin, with glasses to go with it.




The start of the year is major birthday season. There was mine, then Jo, Chantal and Solvejg. So lots of good food, booze and laughs. 



Hands down, the best cheesecake in Kigali.
From Marriott.

Also had a lovely welcome-home brunch at Solvejg's house. Cocktails provided by Chantal. Solv has a wonderful view of the city from her garden.






So, things are bumbling along. I've been experiencing a boom of creativity. Currently editing my latest novel and getting really into video editing. Using my YouTube channel for practice. So far I've done videos about food, travel and language. I'm playing about and trying to improve. I managed to smuggle a Blue Yeti mic home with me and it's amazing. I've got my first VO gig and hoping to do more recordings. I can't replace the day job yet, but it's fun and I'm learning a lot.