I’ve Found It!

All my life I’ve had a skillful ability to lose things – just ask my mum. it’s actually a small miracle that the nice Shaeffer ballpoint pen she bought me to bring to Addis is still in my possession despite several attempts to lose it, usually redeemed by my clinic nurses. Well I lost a key recently. It was for a store room in the clinic that contains some medicines that we can dispense to my patients. One busy Friday morning I ran downstairs to the store room to grab something and absent-mindedly popped the key into my pocket rather than leaving it in it’s usual secret location for others to use. I realised I had it when I returned to my consulting room and made a mental note (obviously in temporary memory) to take it back later.

Eighty days have passed since little Assema was born to Haaile Michael Yacob (Phil’s taxi driver) and his wife Bezuaye. Recently Assema was christened in an orthodox church in his neighbourhood. We were invited to the christening celebration held at her Grandmother’s house. As ever the journey on a Saturday morning was eventful and took longer than anticipated. We passed long queues at meat souks as many people were taking their last opportunity to buy meat ahead of three days of fasting. I’m told it is to remember the three days and nights that Jonah remained in the belly of the big fish. Rich and poor queue together. As orthodox they consider it essential (even if the poor cannot afford meat usually at other times).