Festive season

I haven't been in upbeat mood in the past fortnight, what with my niece Magret falling sick to extent of being admited and placed in ICU with life support machinery and transfusion. Thank God she's (as I write this post) already out of hospital and recuperating in Mamba Komakundi.

Countdown for Christmas has began, though. Saturday was Tanzania Mainland Independence 45th anniversary, and I found myself in Vingunguti hunting for a goat to buy. The art of bargaining for a goat deserves its own post, so I'll not delve deep into that now.

Sunday 10th--like the previous Sunday--was feverish with activitiy as Lutheran churches in different parts of Dar-es-Salaam were holding Confirmation ceremonies. This tsunami of extravaganza must have contributed a point of a percentage in global warming considering all gas for vehicles ferrying all stuff here and there; and the firewood and charcoal roasting all those goats. Most of us found ourselves in difficult situation as to whose party we'll attend and whose not.

I chose to give company to my cousin David, who was also my best childhood friend. His two boys, Mathew and Timothy were confirmed that day at the Kimara Temboni Lutheran Church (a building of ugly, square simpleness a cathedral should never be). The church site is adjacent to his own place, a magnificient dacha with beautifully landscaped undulating grounds. We went there and blew the afternoon with booze and food. Our nephew, Jimmy, also had his love child confirmed that day so it was a three-way blessing.

That was not the end of story though. David's brother Julius had prepared a grand dinner at a suburb club in Msasani called Anabella in honour of confirmation of his son, Obrey. The ceremony had taken place in the Azania Front Cathedral earlier during the day.

By the time I left at about midnight riding my bike, the action was just starting.