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Thu 3 Mar
In the evening we go to Katy's house on the other side of town. A few old friends are around and there's some delicious food. Once again the Shuhada contingent arrives on the late-ish side and some of the other guests depart shortly after. Daniel is back (after two and a half months in UK) it is nice to see him again. He's a young, pleasant Englishman who first came here as a volunteer teacher several years ago. I don't know if he drank the water of the Nile but the saying goes that if you do you will never leave. Daniel somehow connects with the people he meets and it's not uncommon for Sudanese (in far-flung places) to ask after him. His legend may be attributable to his conversion to Islam about a year ago or it could be that he co-starred for sometime in the daily radio programme "What's Your Job?". By the time I arrived in Sudan last October Daniel was working for the UN World Food Programme organising, as he put it, a one-man task-force to improve the accuracy and relevance of logistical reporting from the field. Now he's just returned after an extended Christmas break looking like he's had more Christmas dinners than me, though I'm sure Sudan will soon reclaim him. It is also good to see a chap we refer to as Juba Tom. Another former volunteer who these days is based in Juba; working on the Juba Post. We're all envious that he sees the other Sudan, and can buy beer over the counter, but I get the impression he is pleased to be back in the big city with lights and shops and choice - so I guess Juba's not all roses.
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