Belinda

 

We have a new member of our family… Belinda the goat.

She’s 6 months old, has small horns and is gradually settling into life in our household. Hannah was equal parts fascinated and intimidated when first approaching her, but now seems to be growing in confidence. Catherine, too, has found a surprising affection for our newest addition in our mu rugo (literally “inside the wall” – thus the home and garden). For a self-avowed “not-a-pet-person”, I think Belinda’s sociability and ability to convey emotion by bleating has come as something of a surprise!

The kids (human ones) have particular habits of falling asleep at the moment that can be quite cute – Hannah classically at the lunch table halfway through her meal, and William preferring to be close to one of us – in this case Mama typing on the computer…

Last weekend, we spent three days away at Kumbya by Lake Kivu with our friends the “French family” who are working as Catholic missionaries in our town. It was great to get away for a short break and to spend some time exploring each others’ lives, Christianity and family traditions. Their kids have now adopted the grace “God is Great” in English, sung with vim and gusto!

   

One of the many advantages of having children is that it does give you the opportunity to photograph sunrises!

When we got back, I had the pleasure of examining the final group of Interns for the year (Final year medical students) in Kigali on Tuesday – they acquitted themselves admirably and I was very proud of them in a proprietorial fashion. Each group this year has been better than the last, more proactive in their learning and organising and seeming to get further in understanding clinical medicine. I’d like to think my teaching has played a role in this, but it may well be just their maturity growing across the year. Here’s a photo of me with this final group, a UK Med Student and one of our postgraduates who has been learning gastroscopy from me:

I’ve also been invited to Kigali once a week to teach the specialist gastroenterologists there colonoscopy, which seems a promising development as it may open up fresh opportunities there. In addition, the General Director of the hospital here is raising funds for a new “National Cancer Centre” based in Butare and seems to think I’m going to play a leading role as the oncologist… not exactly my skillset or in my range of interests but we’ll wait and see what comes of it!

Finally a pic of our “Private Clinic” where only the wealthy can go – it costs $8 a day for a single room with balcony views over the Rwandan hills. Send me an email if you’d like to book a room for your next operation!