It has been quite a while since I last blogged which is really quite a shame. Following the operation around Easter time that had also meant I couldn't go swimming during the Zanzibar Easter holiday I had also been unable to run for a few months. But by June I was back running again with the Nairobi Expressway Half marathon and then the Lewa half marathon again and regular runs since then - though maybe not as much as 5 times a week nowadays as I have decided to limit the punishment on my knees and hip and also do more alternative forms of exercise for the rest of the body (in particular I am a big fan of Ring Fit Adventure on the Nintendo Switch). Today being a public holiday and with Andrea and the kids already in Germany for the holidays I have had a relaxing day running, walking and eating in Karura Forest.
We also go walking a lot - usually on Saturday's when the kids go horse riding (which they really enjoy and are really getting good at, with cantering and small jumps too), and also with the kids together on Sundays (the kids also have to take the dog for a walk). The short rains in October and November were quite relentless which was good for the country, but they are mostly over now (at least in Nairobi) and now we are into the hottest and driest part of the year for the next few months - it really is wonderful weather.
Though I didn't go on holiday over the August break, we did go away for a few days in Half-term to Kilifi, the place with the private secluded beach that is nice and safe, whilst also having water sports activities - scuba diving, wind surfing, kayaking, and the doughnut (not much sailing this time). We also stopped by Mombasa on the way, including a trip to the Wild Waters waterpark which is pretty decent and worth a half day at, and to the wonderful Bamburi Forest Trails in Haller Park, where aside from the walking/running/cycling paths there is also a Parcours course (it is just very sweaty)!
I have also travelled around a bit for work - to Eldoret for the Devolution Conference, to Mombasa for work, and back to China (a whirlwind trip taking in Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen/Dongguan in a week). It is always nice to get back and to try to find some time to pass by some landmarks, hutongs, tourist sites etc and see what is changing (or not). And going with Huawei is normally nice with some great meals and interesting visits to factories, exhibition centers, labs and the like.
Leah had her ninth birthday party, this time at Maji Magic (Maji is water in Swahili) - which is an inflatable adventure playground on a lake with slides, swings and other things. It went very well without any injuries or break downs by anyone. Leah's most exciting aspect of being 9 is that she is one year closer to being 10 when she can scuba dive in the sea. We also went up to Central Kenya with my dad for a weekend to go rafting again, this time also doing some fun mountain biking nearby (and do a "moonlight walk" that left late and was mostly in the pitch black....).
Otherwise there have been the usual activities at School (fireworks night, pantomime, Christmas fair) and this year we entered Lucy in a few competitions at the Shaggy Dog Show, though unfortunately she didn't win. The kids have continued with their piano and drums, and for Hannah, regular Chinese lessons. They're frequently coming to the office to eat in the Chinese canteen for dinner, and doing well at school (although not so well with their teeth - braces are being made).
We've invested in a pizza BBQ, but of course only used it once; finally banged a lot of nails in to hang pictures up on the walls of the apartment, and had the air conditioning fixed in the car, something that only took an hour, and should have been done years ago. But better late than never. Leah has got into a reading phase (I remember Hannah had one a few years ago too), though that doesn't mean any less interest from her or Hannah in watching TV (or for Leah in particular, playing computer games). Both (especially Hannah) are into using whatsapp to communicate with their friends a lot, but so far not too much social media (though still some youtube or instagram here and there).
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