Raindance

We've not had running water for nearly three weeks. The people that came to drill our borehole a year ago pulled a fast one and didnt dig it deep enough (it happens a lot). You have to go at least 20 metres down to hit constant water, whereas our is about 5-10 metres. There was some rain last week, but not enough. Everyday I look at the sky for portents of precipitation, but the clouds remain impassive. The trouble is, once there's rain, the roof will start leaking again. Most houses in Abuja are jerry-built, and ours is no exception.

Meanwhile, the low-cost solar industry in Kenya grows apace - read this article on Timbuktu Chronicles. Why hasnt this happened in Nigeria yet? One thing that amazes me in Nigeria is that there is NO use of solar water heating. The houses of the rich and nearly rich always have electric-powered water heaters (most of the time, one for each bathroom). In a warm tropical climate this makes no sense at all. Why not have blackened radiator-like units on the roof linked in to the water supply? In the 30+ degrees environment of Abuja or Lagos this would provide constant hot water night and day.

Finally, all eyes should be watching the Ugandan elections. Is there going to be something resembling fair play, or has the pleasure of power secreted itself so deeply into Museveni's cranium that Besiege's supporters will not have a chance? There are obvious parallels with Nigeria - Uganda being up until recently a model African State thanks to its reform programme, then a returnee comes home, firing off dreams of eternal rule in the incumbent. We dont have the returnee bit (yet?), but we do have people dreaming of decades in power..