Greetings.
.
If you inexplicably smelled something good being grilled about a week ago, I may have the explanation. Grab a couple of napkins, forget the silverware, and pull up a chair.
.
As I was driving from Nairobi to the property early this morning, these two were doing the high wire thing under African skies.
And one of our neighbor's cows was half way through this woven plastic bag by the time I got there.
We had finished the phase of the work that required lots of guys, and it was one of the string of Kenyan holidays in October, so it seemed like the right time for a feast. Gilbert bought a goat, one of the few fat ones left in this very dry time.
And suggested that we bring it to the kitchen site to slaughter it. A ceremonial first meal prepared there.
Gilbert's son, David, his first, and the goat's last, ride.
Forty five minutes later.
Forty five minutes later.
Parts were grilled, some stewed, some saved for those not there.
The mountain of white stuff is ugali, the maize flour staple, and the greens are sukuma wiki, a kale-like plant whose name means "to push the week."
We ate, drank soda, ate some more and then sat.
You may recognize the last bit of the BRC, now the BBQ grill. Evans was attending to his favorite, best called Athi River oysters, I guess.
Exhibit "A"
We struggled to our feet briefly for this shot.
I was amazed at how the guys took to David. They all wanted to hold him and talk to him.
Huntington had a little forehead time with D.
.
It rained last night.
.
David
Posted on October 19th, 2008 by david
Filed under: Recent News
i believe i’ll have the nyama choma combo plate, supersized. and hold the oysters. thanks much.
martin
Dave,
Wow!…some compaction and feast. What a time! Can’t wait to see the next phase.Hope we see you around Christmas.
Ed
I’m still laughing at that misfit yellow compactor — and you spring this goat-fest on us? After walking it out in front of us and the kids like it was Mary’s little lamb?
By the way, is that yellow compactor still spewing and grinding somewhere in the middle of the night? There’s only so much oil left in the sub-Sahara, I’ll let you know.
Chris
Martin,
The incomparable one and I shared a plate of nyama choma last week with Mrs Masa and another couple. Finally the legend took physical form. He asks continually after you, and still looks very smart in his pressed shirts.
David
Thanks Ed,
The feast was more fun than the compacting, but they both had their charm. I’ll see you soon. Cioppino (sp) at Greg and Susan’s!!
David
CL,
It’s a good thing Mary’s little lamb wasn’t around that day or we would have eaten it too. It was a hungry crew.
The “Yellow Submarine” as I came to think of it, is, I would imagine, busy making things flat and hard, and increasing Kenya’s oil dependency in the bargain as it rattles along.
DWS
wow, first-hand confirmation of a mrs. masa! she’s like norm’s wife vera. give them all a hearty habari for me.
caption for the photo from 10/22:
“area muzungu devours boy’s halloween candy”
claims, ‘i needed something sweet after i ate your pet goat.’
Martin,
I didn’t know they delivered The Standard all the way to San Diego. And I thought that unfortunate and misunderstood candy incident had been…dealt with.
But fair is fair. I’m recaptioning the incriminating pic.
D