Thursday 27 September 2007

Signed and sealed

Huzzah! We have signed the lease. On Monday we will be moving into a beautiful home - 4 bedrooms, wooden floors throughout, gorgeous shady porch overlooking a gorgeous shady garden with a banana grove and two avocado trees... the cynic in me suspects that the plumbing and electrics must be shocking, so good is the place.

The whole process has been lengthy and tedious. There is a tendency in Africa towards the bureaucratic, which can be solved by palm greasing. But, good people that we are, this is not an option for us. So many things cost more and take longer. Anyway, we're there now.

Up next is the process of furnishing the place. This is exciting. In Kenya, custom made furniture is cheap - it's the store bought stuff that costs a packet. Of course 'custom made' doesn't mean 'artisan quality'. The process involves carefully examining a wide range of items usually on the side of a surburban road, dodging potholes and the odd goat, to find a carpenter whose work meets with your approval and then negotiating hard over design, delivery date and, of course, price. We should have our first delivery on Monday - can't wait.

Our freight has made it to Mombasa so far which is heartening. Alas, there is a botteleneck at the port and we will still have to wait a few weeks for delivery. But we're getting there...

45 comments:

Annie said...

Congrats! Enjoy settling in.

Misssy M said...

I am going to Kenya next year on a school trip.

Am I going to be standing by the roadside weeping over lovely furniture because I can't fit it in my suitcase?

Your new house sounds great...btw.

BetteJo said...

Can't wait for the pics! There will be pics, right?

Kim said...

That's wonderful! So glad you found a lovely place.

Four bedrooms. Hmmm. Are you thinking of giving Bambi a sibling?

Jen Miller said...

Such a lot of work resettling... Good luck from Dominica!

Iota said...

Ooh lovely. Hope the belongings aren't delayed too long. It doesn't feel properly home till they arrive.

The Good Woman said...

Thanks Annie

Misssy, if you are to be in Nairobi, please drop me an email.

There will be pics Bette Jo! There will be pics!

The Good Woman said...

HI Kaycie. Thinking about it yes. Given the altitude adjustment however, that's, um, all we're doing about it!

Thanks Jen - all luck is appreciated.

Hi Iota. You're right, home is where my paintings are...

Anonymous said...

hurrah hurrah hurray, you're back! house sounds heavenly. enjoy. hope your container gets to you quickly. meantime, stay safe and settle quickly.

Anonymous said...

Gosh, you must be feeling so relieved. A new start.

Crystal xx

lady macleod said...

Huzzah! You are safe and arrived! I am so happy to hear from you, and you sound well and happy. Sounds as if you are settling in nicely. I shall await photographs of all the new furniture and environs.

I'm very glad to have you back.

James Higham said...

Keep us posted and post pics.

The Woman who Can said...

How exciting! I'm rubbish at haggling though, I shouldn't be allowed anywhere that you have to haggle...

belle said...

Oooh I've not read your blog before but I just loved this entry! I had a wonderful holiday in Kenya in the days before my children arrived and I can't wait to see your promised photos and to follow your progress. I'll be back!

Daniele said...

Congrats! The house sounds lovely. Can't wait to see some pictures.
And decorating!! how I love that part of moving. Enjoy. Hope your belongings get to you quickly and smoothly.

laurie said...

how exciting all this is! it sounds wonderful. do you have high-speed internet yet? can you post pictures?

Pig in the Kitchen said...

oh you sound so CALM! Have you not got stress eczema and itchy scalp? And a drinking habit that starts at 1130? You're more of a broad abroad than me!
Congrats on the move, and do give us full culturally intolerant rants won't you?
Pigx

debio said...

Ta Daa!

Keep us posted as you discover all the little idiosyncrasies of your new home.

Sparx said...

Hey! You're back posting regularly, fantastic! It does sound amazing, I have to say - how has the variable weather been treating you?

dulwichmum said...

Hip hip hooray you are back! Yes indeed, please keep us posted, and you do so sound calm!!! Does the sun still fall from the sky like a stone at sunset? I love Nairobi and enjoyed visiting Karen Blixons coffee plantation. How romantic!

Elsie Button said...

Wow it's great to have you back blogging Yay!! i didn't even realise you were back til now doh! great to hear you are getting sorted. Look forward to hearing more...

Anonymous said...

Pictures? Pretty please?

Kim said...

There is an award for you over at my place.

Gwen said...

Congratulations - it sounds lovely.

Sally Townsend said...

It's a shock at first isn't it moving from such extremes ? good luck in your new home.

Mzungu Chick said...

Don't tell me - your container's still in Mombasa and you're sitting on cardboard boxes in the living room as the carpenter's run off with your cash and hasn't been seen again?
Missing your instalments - can't wait till you're all sorted and up and running again.

Anonymous said...

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Anonymous said...

y2k8Uz Thanks to author.

Anonymous said...

zAYdkS Hello all!

Anonymous said...

Magnific!

Anonymous said...

Nice Article.

The weegees said...

At last!!!!!

DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HO IMPORTANT THE "THE" WORD IS!!!!!!!

I've been googleing "good woman" in the hope of contacting you ... only to be presented with a variety of, how shall I put.....eye opening, but interesting (dont tell the neighbours) websites .. Anyway i've made contact, glad you've landed safely, let me know where you are, as its 'you know who's' Birthday soon and Amy Anna would love to send something over.XXX ( the kisses are for KT)

Anonymous said...

actually, that's brilliant. Thank you. I'm going to pass that on to a couple of people.

Anonymous said...

Please write anything else!

Anonymous said...

Nice Article.

Anonymous said...

Helloooooooooo - anybody out there? hope you're Ok and settled and computer arrived. I'm in Nbo in Nov. Perhaps I can buy you a drink to say welcome back to Africa.

Anonymous said...

Magnific!

Anonymous said...

Nice Article.

Anonymous said...

actually, that's brilliant. Thank you. I'm going to pass that on to a couple of people.

Anonymous said...

FOi3NF Magnific!

Anonymous said...

Youth Club Association- Volturara
Giovanni Palatucci
VOLTURARESE NEWSPAPER
Monthly Information

The Volturarese Newspaper, after the discovery of the unpublished
Picture, Which is
Volturara Irpina ( AV ) article, after being transmitted by the BBC
program and the
Italian mass media about the new appearance of the Monster of Loch Ness
( Scotland)
Necessary needs to inform the whole world that the Holland Painter and
engraver
M.C.Escher had already painted and announced the new reappearance,
recalled by the
Black Man without a Face.
And with what has been written above, with peaceful intentions:
1) either Escher had seen personally the monster of Loch Ness while he
was wandering
about;
2) or Escher believed that the monster of Loch Ness really existed and
thats why he
did the drawing.
This work of art is dated 01.18.1949.
The Handwriting consultation is made of 51 pages and has been sworn and
registered at
The Court of R O M E in the date of august 4 .2006. This is a big
discovery for the
World of art. The Republic power of Attorney,of Avellino is
even occupying about
This case, interested has for the Policeman who is the owner of this
Picture. Holland denies
The existence of this unpublished Picture without seeing it or
examining it .
Honour and glory to Escher, the Loch Ness Monster,to everybody Irpine
and the national
And international Mass media that will publish this HISTORICAL EVENT.
The Association President
Michelangelo MARRA
Internet :
http://www.romanzieri.com/archives/001204.php
http://www.ladysilvia.it/magaView/news/8885/arte
http://www.amicidellapolizia.it/html/arte.htm
http://www.ladysilvia.it/magaView/news/7869/arte
http://otrale.blog.tiscali.it/dg2044158/
http://iprovinciali.splinder.com/archive/2005-06?from=10
http://www.ladysilvia.it/magaView/news/7662/cronaca
http://www.irpinianews.it/DaiComuni/news/?news=19596
http://notiziario-volturara.blogspot.com/
http://telegolfonews.blogspot.com/2007/07/n-e-s-s-u-n-o-n-e-p-r-l.html
http://www.fimservice.it/pdf/pol_dic06.pdf
http://www.topix.com/forum/uk/glasgow/T57GHE4ASMMLSB9FN
http://fr.dada.net/video/1311677/nessie-the-dragon/
http://www.horrormagazine.it/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5312
http://www.fimservice.it/pdf/pol-lugAgSet07.pdf
http://www.napoli.com/stamparticolo.php?articolo=13464


http://www.topix.com/forum/uk/glasgow/T57GHE4ASMMLSB9FN

http://it.dada.net/video/1311677/nessie-the-dragon/

http://7deadlysinners.typepad.com/sinners/2006/01/memento_mori/comments/page/2/

http://7deadlysinners.typepad.com/sinners/2006/01/memento_mori/comments/page/2/

http://blog.infinito.it/?p=535

http://www.ladysilvia.it/magaView/news/8885/arte

http://www.tvblog.it/post/6673/studio-aperto-giorgio-mule-e-leredita-di-giordano

http://iprovinciali.splinder.com/archive/2005-06?from=13

http://saffronandpepper.blogspot.com/2007/09/la-glasgow-di-charles-rennie-makintosh.html

http://www.ladysilvia.it/magaView/news/7662/cronaca

http://www.ladysilvia.it/magaView/news/7869/arte

http://notiziario-volturara.blogspot.com/2007_06_01_archive.html

http://www.casertanews.it/public/articoli/200710/art_20071011044227.htm

http://zarro.blogspot.com/2007/09/cinaavvistati-6-mostri-di-lochness.html

http://hardrockcafeforli.blogs.it/index.php/hardrockcafeforli?disp=comments

http://www.fimservice.it/pdf/pol_marz07.pdf

http://www.horrormagazine.it/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5312

http://www.romanzieri.com/archives/001204.php

http://www.fimservice.it/pdf/pol-lugAgSet07.pdf

http://www.fimservice.it/pdf/pol_dic06.pdf

http://www.irpinianews.it/DaiComuni/news/?news=19596

http://www.amicidellapolizia.it/html/arte.htm

http://www.fimservice.it/pdf/pol_gen07.pdf

http://www.fimservice.it/pdf/pol_marz07.pdf

http://londonabove.blogspot.com/2007/05/found-nessie.html

Anonymous said...

Youth Club Association- Volturara
Giovanni Palatucci
VOLTURARESE NEWSPAPER
Monthly Information

The Volturarese Newspaper, after the discovery of the unpublished
Picture, Which is
Volturara Irpina ( AV ) article, after being transmitted by the BBC
program and the
Italian mass media about the new appearance of the Monster of Loch Ness
( Scotland)
Necessary needs to inform the whole world that the Holland Painter and
engraver
M.C.Escher had already painted and announced the new reappearance,
recalled by the
Black Man without a Face.
And with what has been written above, with peaceful intentions:
1) either Escher had seen personally the monster of Loch Ness while he
was wandering
about;
2) or Escher believed that the monster of Loch Ness really existed and
thats why he
did the drawing.
This work of art is dated 01.18.1949.
The Handwriting consultation is made of 51 pages and has been sworn and
registered at
The Court of R O M E in the date of august 4 .2006. This is a big
discovery for the
World of art. The Republic power of Attorney,of Avellino is
even occupying about
This case, interested has for the Policeman who is the owner of this
Picture. Holland denies
The existence of this unpublished Picture without seeing it or
examining it .
Honour and glory to Escher, the Loch Ness Monster,to everybody Irpine
and the national
And international Mass media that will publish this HISTORICAL EVENT.
The Association President
Michelangelo MARRA
Internet :
http://www.romanzieri.com/archives/001204.php
http://www.ladysilvia.it/magaView/news/8885/arte
http://www.amicidellapolizia.it/html/arte.htm
http://www.ladysilvia.it/magaView/news/7869/arte
http://otrale.blog.tiscali.it/dg2044158/
http://iprovinciali.splinder.com/archive/2005-06?from=10
http://www.ladysilvia.it/magaView/news/7662/cronaca
http://www.irpinianews.it/DaiComuni/news/?news=19596
http://notiziario-volturara.blogspot.com/
http://telegolfonews.blogspot.com/2007/07/n-e-s-s-u-n-o-n-e-p-r-l.html
http://www.fimservice.it/pdf/pol_dic06.pdf
http://www.topix.com/forum/uk/glasgow/T57GHE4ASMMLSB9FN
http://fr.dada.net/video/1311677/nessie-the-dragon/
http://www.horrormagazine.it/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5312
http://www.fimservice.it/pdf/pol-lugAgSet07.pdf
http://www.napoli.com/stamparticolo.php?articolo=13464


http://www.topix.com/forum/uk/glasgow/T57GHE4ASMMLSB9FN

http://it.dada.net/video/1311677/nessie-the-dragon/

http://7deadlysinners.typepad.com/sinners/2006/01/memento_mori/comments/page/2/

http://7deadlysinners.typepad.com/sinners/2006/01/memento_mori/comments/page/2/

http://blog.infinito.it/?p=535

http://www.ladysilvia.it/magaView/news/8885/arte

http://www.tvblog.it/post/6673/studio-aperto-giorgio-mule-e-leredita-di-giordano

http://iprovinciali.splinder.com/archive/2005-06?from=13

http://saffronandpepper.blogspot.com/2007/09/la-glasgow-di-charles-rennie-makintosh.html

http://www.ladysilvia.it/magaView/news/7662/cronaca

http://www.ladysilvia.it/magaView/news/7869/arte

http://notiziario-volturara.blogspot.com/2007_06_01_archive.html

http://www.casertanews.it/public/articoli/200710/art_20071011044227.htm

http://zarro.blogspot.com/2007/09/cinaavvistati-6-mostri-di-lochness.html

http://hardrockcafeforli.blogs.it/index.php/hardrockcafeforli?disp=comments

http://www.fimservice.it/pdf/pol_marz07.pdf

http://www.horrormagazine.it/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5312

http://www.romanzieri.com/archives/001204.php

http://www.fimservice.it/pdf/pol-lugAgSet07.pdf

http://www.fimservice.it/pdf/pol_dic06.pdf

http://www.irpinianews.it/DaiComuni/news/?news=19596

http://www.amicidellapolizia.it/html/arte.htm

http://www.fimservice.it/pdf/pol_gen07.pdf

http://www.fimservice.it/pdf/pol_marz07.pdf

http://londonabove.blogspot.com/2007/05/found-nessie.html

Anonymous said...

Video youtube NESSIE loch ness. Unpublished painting date 18.1.1949 MC ESCHER

http://it.youtube.com/results?search_query=nessie+volturara&search_type=

Anonymous said...

I enjoyed your article; it was very exciting. Do you have T1 internet (high speed internet) where you are located?

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