Kanyindo's Random Ramblings

It's no secret that I absolutely adore dogs. I brought my two puppies, Zsa Zsa and Pepper, from the farm in Kinoni to Kampala, right after New Years. It had been a long time coming, lots of preparation and visits to the farm from when they were born in August.  I was especially excited because their mother, Biscuit, has been with us since she was a puppy.  When she gave birth to a litter of 8 puppies, it was a real event in our family.  Our little Biscuit was all grown up! Biscuit. Just look at that face! I grew up with dogs being a part of the family, but until now, the responsibility was always with my parents as regards the vet, food etc. Now it's all on me. It was a bit daunting at first.  No sooner had the pups been in Kampala for a week and had their appointment with the vet, they fell ill, reacting to the vaccines pumped into their little bodies.  After spending a few days at the vet's (I had NO idea there was a facility in Uganda where d...

I'll never forget the day my brother Baingana was born. Not so much because I was going to be a big sister (finally!! Someone below me on the sibling food chain!!), but because I had won a bet with my Dad.  He bet on it being another girl, my sisters and I all bet it was going to be a boy. When we went to the hospital, I was a bit disappointed that we weren't allowed to see my Mum, but I soon forgot all about that when we were taken to the nursery where all the newborn babies were being kept.  Of course we weren't allowed in- my Dad just held me up to the glass and pointed at a baby in the corner (they all looked the same to me- wrapped in blue blankets, with only their little scrunched up faces showing, yelling like their lives depended on it), and said 'There's your brother.'' I was a little underwhelmed, to be honest.  I mean, why couldn't I go in?  I'd washed my face and hands before we went to the hospital.  I'd been so excited to see ...

It’s Day 4 of my Gratitude Week and I have to admit I’m feeling quite pleased with myself, in an extremely non-smug manner. Not that I didn't think I would make it this far.  One thing I've learnt writing these Gratitude posts is, once you start being grateful for the things in your life, it is so easy to find something to write about and be thankful for. Today’s Gratitude List is specifically about my sisters. I am the third of four children, the third of three girls.  (My brother is at the bottom of our sibling food chain and will get his own blog post another day.) Kaine, Asiimwe and I have a very unique relationship in that for most of our childhood, we were moving around the world due to my father’s job.  Aside from all the usual sibling squabbles- ‘’She’s wearing my sweater!! She pulled my hair!! She’s looking at me!!’’- we HAD to be friends because when you move to a totally new country, new school, you need people who have your back until you even...

This April will mark 2 years since my Dad passed away. I have to be very honest with you and admit that I'm not quite sure how my Mum, my siblings and I have made it this far. I've come to understand that grief is a very unique, personal thing.  Everyone will lose a parent, but not everyone will feel it the same way. Big Bang Theory actress (though I prefer to remember her from Beaches and Blossom ) Mayim Bialik lost her father a year after I did, and she put into words something I was struggling to. "For those of you who have lost a parent, you know how I feel. You tell me you do. For those of you who have lost someone else you were close to, you also tell me you know how I feel. But you don't. Because you're not me losing my Abba." Read the complete post here:  Mayim Bialik Mourns Her Father In Emotional Blogpost When I read that post, something clicked.  I had been struggling with condolence messages, the fact that some people were avoiding me...

I promised myself that I would write a Gratitude List post for every day this week. So far so good. But it's only Day 2 so I shouldn't get ahead of myself. Today's post is dedicated to my mother.  She brought me into the world and on many occasions has told me that she can take me out of it again.  There is so much I could say about her, but there simply isn't enough space.  So I will just have to keep doing it piece by piece. One of the many things I love about my mother is how straight-forward she is.  As a teenager I often hated how she would tell you exactly what she thought of your behaviour (much as you deserved a severe telling-off), and how it made her feel when you acted like a complete turd.  ''I am the only person in the world who will tell you the truth! Because I love you!'' *cue juvenile teenage eyeroll*. Ugh, I cringe when I remember myself as a teen. Now, as an adult, I cherish my relationship with my mother because we...

I usually hate Mondays, not for any particular reason apart from the fact that it's the day that drags me firmly out of weekend mode.  Lately I've been doing everything in my power to stay up-beat on this day, especially seeing as it sets the tone for the rest of my week. I made up my mind this weekend that I really need to start work on my Gratitude Lists, because I had let them slide a bit.  (That said, I'm going to try and write one every day this week.  Pray for me.) An incident this morning made me realise that I really should be grateful that my parents taught me manners.  Someone was very rude to me, and I had half a mind to put them in their place but then I thought- no.  Not today.  I am not the one. You might be wondering why I didn't stand up and tell them off, explain that their foolishness has no place in an office and that they should go take a long walk off a short pier.  Or perhaps dig into my vault of rather colourful language. ...

Can I start this post by saying I am so ashaaaaaaaaaaaaaamed it has taken me this long to write it?! I won't bore you with the whys and wherefores.  Just know I am sorry and will do better. So, I am still all a-flutter because the lovely  Sinawo Bukani  saw fit to add me to her list of nominees for this fabulous award.   I came across Sinawo on Twitter, where she was answering questions tweeted by @AfroBloggers  . Her answers intrigued me because she answered many in almost exactly the same way I would have done!  I checked out her blog, and her honesty and style just spoke to me. A kindred spirit!  It was a no brainer that I would follow her and become an avid reader. Thank you Sinawo! Now for The Rules part.  My nominees are as follows: Sinawo Bukani  Coz I swear we were sisters in another life or something. @TheRealLumpen  Because her posts are powerful and put me in the feeeeeeeels!! Ernest Bazanye  Beca...