I think I am busier than I was in the UK, with my social life picking up and enjoying what Nairobi has to offer.
Having done two nights to the same place a couple of weeks ago, I then ended up going to the same bar/restaurant/club three nights in one week. The place, Brew Bistro not too far from my place was where Catharine and I decided to go out on our first Saturday night out - it poured with rain and we were on the terrace. Great food, cocktails and music and it was packed with mostly Kenyans but a few expats. The terrace had a canvas cover that just about held, but there were definitly leaks and the floor had to be squeegied regularly, but that didn't stop us having a good night out until the early hours. I guess that's what happens when you go out with a twenty something and we met a few new Kenyan friends.
Getting back into our building at 3 in the morning was not easy. Clearly our security guards go to bed and no amount of shouting or rattling the gates got their attention, so in the end with a helping hand I clambered over the gate and spikes with just a slight rip in my jeans and a couple of small bruises. Still no response, so I headed to the out building, careful not to wake them too suddenly and for them to come out with a big stick - so I made quite a lot of noise. But it took a lot to wake them and I ended up having to bang on the doors; eventually they came out sheepishly and opened the gate. So maybe not there to keep anyone out - but more just to open gates! I now ensure I have their mobile number so I can 'flash' them when coming back after 9pm. But they get paid so little (probably about £30/month), therefore they probably work two jobs so it's not really surprising they have a nap.
The other two times I went to the bar was on the following Tuesday and the Wednesday, and these were planned by others. Tuesday was in the posher restaurant part where I met up with Annie and Justin - so lovely to see them and we had amazing steak. Annie also handed over my speakers she brought out with her, a large jar of marmite and hello magazine! Seemed strange we were in a restaurant all together in Nairobi. The Wednesday was a girls night out with work, which was lovely to catch up with them outside the office.
I have also been downtown and tasted local cuisine at a Somali restaurant with one of the new friends we met at the bar, and we took in the local downtown scene on a Sunday afternoon. Very relaxing with families out enjoying the afternoon including a car park used for roller blading - sureal! I was of course the only Mzungu in sight but great fun meeting new people.
Catharine and I also entertained in the flat a bit last Friday evening cooking a meal and sharing a bottle of wine or two - one warm for the Kenyans and one cold for us!
Last weekend, I had a mini break within Nairobi and went to stay with Justin and Annnie in their really gorgeous place in Karen. It is my perfect African home, quiet, old, rustic and charming but so comfortable. Great company and good food and a lovley fire at night. As the area feels you are in the country, I went for a tough run up and down hills on Sunday morning- good to exercise outside and to realsie I could still manage it. As Annie's stuff had arrived from the UK, they had a bit of duplication so I vey gratefully received some bits to make my place more homely. When they dropped me off Sunday afternoon, I had sort of missed the real hustle and bustle of where I live and I think the traffic noise is now sending me to sleep!
This week, I met up with another friend of a friend at an Ethiopean restaurant. She is also on a career break from BT and working for a start up company working oon afordable solar power. We ate dollops of different stews placed on a tray covered in the bread type sponge they use to eat the stews. The bread is like a flat crumpet - full of holes, resembling tripe but tasting quiet sour. It is also served rolled up in a basket that just looks like you are being handed a flannel to wipe your hands. But very tasty once you get used to it.
Friday I took off work and braved getting my haircut. Unlike my pedicure which I went to a very local place (good, through job and cheap), I ventured to an expat hairdressers, but didn't have the top stylist but even so it was still not far from London prices but quite a good job and will probably go back. After the hair cut (matatu there and back which I still find fun as everyone is packed in - you think it is full yet they still keep stopping and more people pile in, never saying no to a potential passenger) but very efficient and cheap.

PS - photo has nothing to do with this blog but I had to post someething!