Mushy like matoke

I've just returned from an inspiring 10 days on the Ugandan island of Kalangala. The Tacticaltech folks have pulled it off again - bringing together about 140 people from around Africa and world to share their experience of free software and open content. As with my Tajikistan trip, I made some very special friends in those 10 days - possibly lubricated by the large helpings of Ugandan beer I was forced to drink. Most nights were spent listening to Ugandan music on the beach, watching the local troupe of dancers shaking their booties in a very interesting display that left me in agony the next day when I realised that I'd practiced just a little too hard. I learned so much - about the fact that I hate birdwatching and trekking with those bloody twitchers who find the flutterings of even the most pathetic looking creature facinating. I learned about the many ways that you can serve talapia and about the longest that you can go without bathing before people notice. More importantly, I learned that I have so much more to learn about people - that they can pleasantly surprise you, and that if you throw out a couple of love bombs, there's no end to what you will get back. Yes, that's my mushy moment, but I'm feeling surprisingly mushy. Mushy mushy like those great helpings of green bananas that Charles, Peace and Skola served us every day. What a great start to the year.