Honey on the hill

What a sweet day - Oh Layne  - try to beehive! 😁

As colleagues and I climbed Mount Ngulot, the rain only sprinkled -- mercifully, perhaps even forgiving us for daring to hike on the Mara during the rainy season. There have been countless days of rain mother nature so unrelenting and seemingly angry in her revenge for the environmental atrocities so carelessly committed throughout the world. Is this revenge? - or likely there is a more scientific explanation. I spose the later but as I increasingly lean toward Buddah's teachings - and can't help but think there is a karma angle to all this. Fuck the Nameste - climate change due to environmental degradation is a reality we all have to own.

Mother nature being cheerful that morning allowed the team of 10 to enjoy an awesome climb to the rocks that tower above the community we serve in the middle of the Mara. Along the way - we stopped to look at a  traditional beehive - somewhat modernized with aluminum sheeting but very cool and similar to the way it's been doing it for many many years. And a grand view of the lands that gave us the Lion King. Welcome to pridelands.

The weather has made our response efforts for Covid19 tricky at best.  As previously mentioned, the government in their efforts to contain the virus have understandingly imposed movement restrictions making it tricky. For instance - how do you get a journalist out to tell the story? While necessary - there is a dark under belly presented as border guards "cash in" on the opportunity. Questa e la vita!
That said - WE - the org I so proudly work for - and colleagues who share the responsibilities - continue to find ways around all obstacles in our path -- both figurative and real. Below are a couple shots from this week.

....all the while resisting the urge to "floor it" as the water reaches up the doors.

This is the road on April 25th ... earlier in the year we lost a landcruiser at this crossed.

I'm not sure when we came through here on Friday but it was within a few hours of the collapse - tricky business indeed.

Sunny dreaming of chasing cats

Chasing cats - Sunny is driving

I can't tell the story related to the picture beside but promise to do so someday. There are ears everywhere but just let me say that the freedom to criticize institutions in North America, Europe etc. is a luxury often lost on those who come from these far more democratic politically stable countries.

I'll come back to the story related to this picture at some point - but let me say it was taken in the hall of a Nairobi police station and I was there as "the good guy" but feeling all the while that things could go horribly wrong if there was a misunderstanding or an errant word passed across my cheeky lips.


Many people chose not to go to the Popo with a complaint  -- a reality appreciated by the criminals who ply their trades throughout this country.  One might say  to me - if it's so hard - and you don't like it -then leave. Well -- fair point. But just maybe talking about it helps shine the light of truth and justice that can lead to a better world for the good people of this beautiful land. A land mostly of Milk and Honey.

Thanks for reading ....Layno!!

A little shaggy - but is that a big deal?

An entirely new perspective.

Exceptional cup of coffee in hand I glanced out the window and furrowed my brow noting the garbage was still there from last week. As I ran my hand through my hair perplexed, I suddenly realized that my mane while indeed a pretty shaggy afair was unlikely to be trimmed any time soon, Should I take up the challenge myself? Is that a good idea? Hmmm  - I need a different perspective on what is now important. Time to reshuffle the deck of priorities and adjust my thinking. Vanity has certainly shifted downward... way down!

So what's important in this Brave New World  and I use that famous book title as I recall it vividly from my youth. (Thanks again Mom for helping me develop my love of reading.)  Early in my life I remember reading the book and thinking  - will the world always be as I know it? And if not - how will it be different. I think Covid has answered that question for me.

 The battle will be won with small deeds of both self-preservation interspersed with selfless acts of others. Never has there been a global movement so synchronized. As Aldous so insightfully noted in that wonderful text 80ish years ago:


"Most human beings have an almost infinite capacity for taking things for granted"

 ... but may no longer be the case Aldous. Maybe you are not so smart after all!

Road Blocks and Perspiration

WE is intent upon continuing our work in Narok county to ensure that we do the best we can to protect these fine folks from the ravages of Covid19. As mentioned previously, this is both from an awareness and treatment perspective. Over this last week, we expanded our program to prepare for counselling services as well as adding body bags to the next Medical goods requisition as they too may be required. I cringed as I read about the situation in Equador where bodies are in the streets for days as they reel with the near inability of the health care system to respond in a meaningful way.

That will NOT be the case where WE are serving!

So imagine our collective horror as the government announced a complete shut down of all movement between counties in Kenya. Yikes - how do we move medical supplies, food and people to the areas where we work? The answer -- creative planning with fluid interpretation of the rules and regulations. So cleverly disguised as an assistant driver (know here as a turn boy) we approached our first inter-county roadblock with a fair amount of concern. The interrogation process that ensued was a fairly intense ordeal and as I answered my final question I felt the sweat drip down my back. Waved on we prepared for the next 5 roadblocks we were to encounter and practiced and perfected our real life our game of Charades. The work continues!

The day ends as dusk captures the days on the Mara  over our housing complex.

Above and beside are my new accommodations as we are doing our best to minimize costs associated with operation to ensure we maximize the funding for the response. Unlike my fancy Nairobi accommodations, this is not exactly the Hilton, though comfortable and peaceful. Meals are simple but prepared fresh by Henry who always greets you with a big smile and hearty good morning.

Electricity and internet are luxuries that are more unpredictable than a Donald Trump policy on Covid response. What a moroon .... or is that moron?

Hehe - like a dumb and dumber remake ...not if - when .... :)

The roads change daily wit hth rains - each time you pass its a new adventure.

Even Lucky and Sunny are bored with the Covid lock down...  having taken ownership of the couch. I took away their remote though. Too much TV can be bad for dogs.

Thanks for reading .....Layno!!