It's the running water ...

That's the amenity. Not the running for water

as I am trying to depict in the picture above.

There are no taps or fawcetts here. It's lugging

gallons of water daily that's the rule. This

is where a bicycle is a handy 'mule'. (Poetry)

Usually once a day I take my bike to the pump

which is about a quarter mile away. The pump

has a big spoked wheel that takes between 55

to 60 turns to fill up the plastic jerry can. After,

it is strapping it to the back of the bike and off

to the house.

Some people strap two jerry cans across the back

and others have an old fuel drum on a two wheel

carrier. I am not sure of the volume but it's heavy

when full.

This is the way to stay in shape without the need

to go to a gym. People here are solid and in great

physical condition.

It is about 50/50 Muslim and Christian here and

last Monday was the last day of Ramadan. I did

a half fast during the month. I didn't eat but I

did drink some water. I did the full fast twice

when back in Senegal.

I did lose a few pounds but actually feel better

than before. Maybe a little cleansing doesn't 

hurt.

It is again the slow time so I am using it to fix

a few things around the maternity building. One

'little' project was to fix the three baby cribs. All

were missing bolts and as a result some of the 

metal got bent and distorted.

I just don't feel that a newborn's first impression

should  be that of a shaky world. It took a bit 

of hammering and bending ... plus cleaning but

now the kids are getting a solid bed to start out.

It's also malaria time and the people are coming 

to the clinic because of the increased mosquitos.

It's the rainy season and the mosquito that transmits

the malaria uses water to lay it's eggs. Something

between 50 to 200 at a time.

The strategy is sleeping under the mosquito nets.

But they basically come out between dusk and 

dawn and it's the time between when the people

are out and about that's giving the mosquito the 

opportunity.

It's a challenge to prevent malaria as a result.

So going to make another trip for water there's no

one at the well and I'll be ahead for tomorrow.