rinsed… again!

I bought a little charcoal burner for cooking on.  The problem is that the petrol here is so dodgy everything is covered in soot and I think my little burner is going to see a premature end.  Besides which it was meant for boiling water fast, not letting things simmer.

It was pasta night, though sadly no wine.  I think I could probably buy some dodgy stuff in Yumbe, but being both majority Muslim area, and a ‘dry’ compound (the non-Muslims are mainly super-conservative Christians) it’s not really an option.

So whilst the pasta was simmering away a couple of the guys came over to find out what I was cooking (and express there surprise that I was actually cooking!).  We had a little chat and then one, our Physio-Therapist, who is very keen on all matters health, said he wouldn’t go to UK (or the West) as he wouldn’t like the food; it wasn’t natural and healthy, like here.  Yes, I agreed, there is too much processed food in the West.  Agreeing, he then offered that stroke and hypertension were major issues in the West, related to food.  There is not much arguing with his reasoning.  But it’s when he said… “You have to be careful what you eat, especially at your age.”  FFS, thanks!

And to make it worse, it was actually my birthday!  Many happy returns, huh?  It was that which sealed the deal though; as an impulse buy at the airport on the way in, I got myself an illicit bottle of Cognac.  It finally got opened…