Settling In

Kampala is starting to feel a bit more like home. I've got a flat organised, just waiting for the landlord to do some redecoration and cleaning. Two of us 'new' volunteers have flats in the same block so we are able to work together to get everything sorted, which is great. Tomorrow is Saturday and we are going to visit and measure for curtains etc.

Yesterday we went to the furniture market with another volunteer who was ready to buy the furniture for her flat. It was a totally new experience for me! There is a big field by the side of the road with row after row of furniture laid out for sale. This is the best place in Kampala for buying wooden furniture but you need to be able to haggle, preferably in Lugandan. One of the VSO staff came along with us and did a fabulous job of getting good prices for the items needed. We plan to go again next week once we have the keys so that we can get what we need. I think we both now have a good idea of what we are looking for. The flats are completely empty so we need everything, bed, dining table and chairs and 3 piece suite.

As well as the wooden furniture we also need soft furnishings like curtains and bed linen. And then there's the gas hob and kitchen equipment. We plan to visit various shops recommended by other volunteers over the next few days to start to pick up what we want.

I've been having a few quiet days as I've not been feeling too well. I think it's the total change of everything combined with a bacterial infection. So I've been on antibiotics, no wonder I feel tired.

The VSO office and garden and the garden at the guest house have been a haven of tranquillity. It's lovely to sit outside in the shade with summertime temperatures as the UK heads towards Autumn and Winter.