Uncertainty

There has been some uncertainty here this week. The leader of the opposition was expected to return to Juba on Monday and again on Tuesday and then again yesterday, but is yet to arrive. This has created a level of tension.

As a pilot's wife, I do worry about safety for Andrew. Thankfully, all has remained calm despite disruption at the airport due to added security. Life in the city is carrying on as normal. We are careful where we go. At times, we judge it safer to stay on the compound. Of course, that is not the case for our pilots who have a job to do. They are out and about each work day:

Although our days have been continuing without any drama, the nights this week have not.

On Tuesday night, I woke up at 03:30 to the sound of four gun-shots. I sat bolt upright and took deep breaths. It was quickly over and after my heart rate had calmed down, we eventually went back to sleep. It was "just crime" and not the start of any large scale fighting. That was a relief- but I feel sorry for anyone caught up in that event.

Again, on Thursday night, there were gun-shots. Thankfully, we slept through them. Our neighbours described them as a round of 6 shots, then a volley of about 15 shots. Again, it turned out to be "just crime" and nothing more followed. Still, it is unsettling, both to hear it or to hear about it.

I am glad I did not hear Thursday night's noise. It has been a tense and tiring week. One of the reasons I may not have heard it is because I now have to wear ear-plugs every night. Our house is recently surrounded on the 3 sides where we have windows by annoying generators.
The newest generator belongs to a brand new block of flats, which has just been constructed right opposite our bedroom window. The owner proudly told Andrew, "We are installing 2 generators which operate 24 hours". GRRRRRR!!! The other generators operate in the evenings and up to midnight- sometimes a little beyond. They are quiet in the day. But now we have CONSTANT mechanical noise and there is no escape... It sounds like a giant hoover and its sound pollutes the whole air around this end of the compound.

It is stressful.

The only solution I can see is to move to a different house, or to install double glazing. One of those choices is a major hassle. The other is major expense.
So now we have further uncertainty... To move? or to pay for double glazing on our bedroom window? ....We'll keep you posted...