Ouch

Grrrrrrrrr so annoyed with myself. Got to the schools fine, they’re quite nearby and the mud paths to them not too far from main road. Anyway, on my way back thought I’d take a look at one of the coffee plantations which is signposted down a dirt track, apparently 5km away. I had gone a little way when I noticed a group of rehabilitation prisoners (they wear blue rather than pink pyjamas) tilling the soil there. Not quite sure what they were doing but it meant I had to weave around them, avoid the piles of mud they were making and generally concentrate on keeping the bike upright. I thought wet mud was bad but piles of dry are just as slippery. So I continued. The prisoners were as usual very friendly saying hello as I passed or nodding at me. All was good. I’d been going for a good 20 mins though and I still couldn’t see any signs of a factory. I knew that I didn’t have too much petrol so probably ought to turn back soon. As well as this, the dirt road had turned into a sandy (and therefore very slippery) track-I was losing confidence…Shortly after, I had lost control - going too fast downhill, I panicked, braked hard and slid, trapping my left leg under the bike. I managed to lever the bike off me-there was some leaking of petrol but I think this was just because it had been tipped-and carried on until I saw one of the prisoners. I asked if there was a shorter way back to the town but he said no, I’d have to go back the way I came. Just then one of the blokes from the district office came zooming round the corner with someone on pillion and asked how I’d ended up here. I said I’d just got a bit lost. I didn’t have the energy to explain and was just relieved he could guide me back. I knew I’d probably have to go back the way I came but following someone else made it feel a lot easier…I think I’ll leave the excursions for a while.

Back in the office, my leg is killing. Have only just looked at it - there’s a nasty gash and a fading bruise (from an earlier slip up) has gone a deeper shade of purple…Boo :0(

Still, nothing broken, it's a lovely day and I met 'my' tailor on the way to work today who told me my top is ready. So after a bit of skype, I'm off to see what he's created. I'm not really sure how it'll turn out. I didn't do the whole traditional dress thing, because while Rwandan women can carry off the tight tops and puff shoulders, I prefer to stick with what I know. On Tuesday, I showed him an old top to copy and after taking my measurements (didn't know you needed that many), noting them down on some scrap paper he said it would be ready, Friday . How good is that ?