8 August - 1st Motorbike Ride at 71!!

Wednesday 8 August – Morning was spent visiting the baby unit at the orphanage. I played my usual role of climbing frame sat on the floor whilst Mum and Dad sat in chairs and read stories, played with toys and nursed the little ones. No photos on this visit whilst the kids got used to the new arrivals – sorry.

In the afternoon my Mum at 71 had her first ever ride on a motorbike. I decided to take Dad on the back of mine and put Mum on a piki (motorbike) taxi in the belief that the professionals would be safer than me!! 4.5km of dirt road later and Mum had survived the feeling of complete fear and being “completely out of control”. I think the piki man may have had a few broken ribs from my Mum’s tight grip.

We were visiting the Kibe’s my adopted Kenya family (refer many previous blog posts). The oldies received another very warm and excited welcome from the whole family at the mud hut shamba which is home for 5 generations of the Kibe’s in 5 houses.

First to Jane’s house for Chai and then shortly later my Mum was helping in the kitchen and my Dad was being given a tour of the farm and guidance in coffee growing, avocados mangos etc. 

Later Mum was helping Cu Cu (the 102 year old grandmother Kibe (sat in the middle below)) to sort out beans which involved first beating the dried bean stalks that were in a pile on the ground on top  of sacks. 

 Little Carol was pleased with the toy Mum had brought!

This gets the beans out of the pods. Then the sacks are used to collect the beans which are then sifted via a basket top. They are flicked into the air and any bits/stalks blow away in the wind with the beans staying in the basket lid – well at least that is the plan!! Mum was actually very good and quickly got in to the swing of it.

A feast later and lots of chatting and we called another motorbike for Mum. This time she was waving to people we passed etc so obviously feeling quite safe!!