Holiday in Arusha!

Today was a public holiday here in Arusha. Not only did most of the general populace take a break but it appears the electricity supply companies also decided to take a holiday from providing power. I had a meeting arranged this morning but apparently the guy who was meant to see me also decided to take a holiday and I was left standing outside an empty office for an hour or so. I was due to move in with an African family but, I guess, they were on holiday too.

On the upside it's sunny here and at least some of the beer providing establishments remained open which, as a proper Brit abroad, I took advantage of and let me assure you one thing the Tanzanians do do well is make beer. According to my German friend this is a throw back to when there was a German presence out here.

Of course he's never tried quality British beer and has no idea what the brewers at Carling and *Tennants have got to teach our Tanzanian cousins.

There is a mini ecosystem developing in my room and whilst at the last count I was defeating the cockroaches that scuttle across the walls, floor and desk, nine to zero, the ants are thriving on my veracious culling. Yin and Yang I suppose? The holiday is over tomorrow for myself and the ants and it really begins for the cockroaches. I am once again scheduled to leave my 'hotel' and move into my new home. I have a feeling that life with my new family will not be any more luxurious than my current existence and have been assured that where there should be a nice clean lavatory there will, instead, be a hole in a small room you don't want to spend any time at all. Maybe my time would be better spent working for a charity to introduce Western WCs to Arusha, or in pest control, or maybe not?

*For those unfamiliar, with such fine beverages, special attention should be paid to the Flagship brew aka Tennants Super. Enjoyed by down-and-outs the length and breadth of our great nation