Thursday 26th September

I have a job.  Not a paid one, sadly.  And not one I was looking for, but Louise has been appealing for some time for a Kiwani club secretary to take over from her.   Cecil is on the board and committee of every civic and veteran organisation in Shawnee, and the Freemasons - and it runs Louise ragged driving him to all the meetings he has to go to.   Furthermore, she is not in the best of health and has been looking exhausted, so I stepped up to the plate - as they say here - and offered my services.

The District Governor is coming next Thursday to swear in the new board members and is bringing his secretary to show me the ropes.

The speaker this morning was someone from Shawnee talking about his recent trip to Cuba.  I took notes for a brief report in next week's bulletin, which I will give Louise tomorrow and hope it is satisfactory.   I have copied and pasted the report below.

Jim Smith gave us a Power Point presentation of his recent mission trip to Cuba, and it was an interesting insight into what has been a closed society for a long time.  He travelled with a group on a general religious licence and visa, which meant their travel was restricted to certain areas, and they could not stay in tourist areas overnight.

Life under the sanctions imposed upon them has undoubtedly been very hard for the people; there is for example, a desperate shortage of medical supplies, auto parts, and electricity.  There is no refrigeration at all, and it was seen from photographs taken after dark that lighting was very restricted.

Regulations have been relaxed since 2010.  Although many buildings are dilapidated  people can now own houses, and employ people – in restaurants for example – who are not family members, although 80% of the population work for the government.

There have been successes in education.  Music is one of the strengths of the people, as is the arts and games.  People were quoted as saying that they love their country, but the government is broke. 

What do you think of my foray into journalism, ha ha.    

Later in the morning I went to Communion at Emmanuel, then six of us had lunch at a nearby Asian diner.   I had to leave a bit early because - oh joy, oh rapture - a technician from the cable company was bringing me a new remote for the television.   I haven't been able since Monday, to pull up the guide to see what is on, or mute the annoying adverts.

My toe is a bit better.  It was obvious this morning that it was just one toe, it is so  badly bruised I am almost certain it is broken, but I went water walking this evening.