Just another manic Monday

Dropping off the Self-Loading Freight at Dadaab

Alarm clock at 6am. 6.10 coffee, thanks to the timer I've rigged up to the coffee machine. 6.25 my colleague Ben knocked quietly on our door and we drove up to the MAF hangar at Wilson Airport, arriving at around 6.45.

My flight today was to Dadaab and back, and our three passengers (otherwise known as Self-Loading Freight) had already checked-in.

I did my preflight check on the aircraft and noted the weather and NOTAMS. Happily today the cloud was high overcast and although hazy, good enough visibility for a VFR departure without delay. So I taxied down to customs at around 8am and the aforementioned SLF loaded themselves. Two hours later we were in Dadaab where they unloaded themselves and were met by the ubiquitous white Toyota Landcruisers with HF whip antennae (pictured above). All three passengers work for organisations continuing to address the huge humanitarian crisis still present in the refugee camps at Dadaab.

We then picked up one returning passenger and headed back to Nairobi and were back in the hangar by just after 1pm. After signing off the flight paperwork ("the flight ain't over till the paperwork's done"), I grabbing a chapati & samosa for lunch and then took care of some further admin in the hangar. At 3.30, the end of our duty periods, Ben and I drove home.

On the way we noticed an interesting sign on the back of one of the matatus (right). You may know that a matatu is a pseudo-public transport minibus. They are privately owned but operate on various routes throughout the city. Given the way they drive, it is the other road-users who really need our prayers.


And then finally, Katie and the boys decided that for supper we should all go out for a bit of Chinese food as we didn't have much in the house. The 'For You' Chinese restaurant is just around the corner and they have good, inexpensive Chinese food and more importantly a bouncy castle, trampoline, table football and swings.

Top tip No.1: let the kids play before the food arrives.

Top tip No.2: maybe avoid menu item number 16 (left).