The weather is very dull today and that in a way describes how I am feeling now. Dull and uninspired, kind of depressed but I am reading Rich Dad, Poor Dad for some inspiration. In some very clear ways , I have so far seen a picture of myself in some financial aspects the book attempts to tackle. I am three quarters done and probably by 2am tonight I should be done.
I have been in Entebbe since Sunday when I had hoped to return to Tororo by last Monday morning. Much of my time has been spent with Emmy who has been quite a handful. Today, though, I am out and about in Kampala catching up on a few things. It has been raining here since morning and it has been quite a bit to around but somehow I have been able to do all that I had on my schedule.
The village has catching up with me occasionally despite being more than 200km away from home.Some of the agricultural projects that I iniated recently in my backyard have gone terribly wrong and the folks in charge just give a break from the calls announccing this and that number of chicken have so far died.
As much as I had not intended to stay long in Entebbe, at least I needed a break from the activities and concerns in the village. But the bad reports have continued to flow unabated. The other day, to keep the call s to a minimum, I told one of my assistants that just let the chicken die because not all will die, for every business there is a loss and a profit column and there is a risk. If we wont risk, them we wont move, fo it is said that in life there are risks and the greatest risk of all is never taking any risks. Some of my folks suggested treturning the chicken back to seller but unfortunately they were sold to us on non-returnable basis. And in any case I am still hopefull that something good will come out of the project anyway. Thity per cent of the stock may die but ther will be lessons to be learned and more calculated risks to take.
If I were to listen to all the advice the folks around me give, I would never ever make any move in life. Every body wants to play it safe. Every venture that I suggest has an element of risk and nobody around me feels comfortable taking any risks not realizing that living itself is a risk. If we fear to fall we wont walk and if we fear to die we may not as well live.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Friday, February 5, 2010
Small Things & Good Manners
I have read it somewhere that good manners consist of small things we do. That is similar to what the Lord Jesus Christ said about being faithful in small things as prerequisite for being faithful in that which is much, bearing in mind that any tow things that are similar are not the same. Another person said that it takes more courage to be faithful in small routine chores than to risk one’s life in a moment of spectacular danger.
It is not rare, though, to hear somebody say ‘Even that small thing” instead of saying sorry when they have transgressed or offended someone. I wonder if the Bible classifies sin as small and big sins.
Anyway, the book says that sin is transgression of the law and if break the law in any place, you have broken the whole law; that in effect implies that sin is the same all through – there are no small or big sins.
It seems therefore to me that the attitude we hold towards small things manifests itself in big things too. If we cannot be grateful for little things, it is very likely that we won’t be grateful for much that we are given. If for instance you cannot see anything to be grateful for in you current circumstance e.g. single life; like I have heard it said “I will be happy when I marry or when I get rich or get a big job”, then you might be in for an illusion. There are a lot of small graces in every life to be grateful for – remember a grateful heart make the soul glad, like some wise man put “You cannot say that a man who is enjoying life is unsuccessful.”
I was on a bus to Lira one hot afternoon and the bus was pretty full that some passenger hardly had any where to hold on to as the bus hit potholes on the various road diversions. Suddenly the bus came to a stop and a male passenger crashed into a lady passenger, touching her breast. The young lady was perturbed by the incident as she said to man “How come you are not sorry for what has just happened?” The man simple kept quiet and that angered the lady even more and she said that the man had sexually harassed her by touching her breast. Well, she consoled herself by saying that the man lacked good manners because he did not say sorry and some passengers on the other hand thought it was a small thing worth ignoring. The lady though went on to say that people who don’t say sorry are very likely not to say thank you and that is a symptom of bad manners.
Friend, I do not know about you and your surrounding but from what I have observed I my own every day interaction in corner of the world, the lady’s comment on sorry and thank you seem very much to be synonymous with either good or bad manners and small things do matter. It they do not, let somebody jump the queue next time you are at the bank or hospital preferring them. I bet you will think they are selfish and bad mannered.
It is not rare, though, to hear somebody say ‘Even that small thing” instead of saying sorry when they have transgressed or offended someone. I wonder if the Bible classifies sin as small and big sins.
Anyway, the book says that sin is transgression of the law and if break the law in any place, you have broken the whole law; that in effect implies that sin is the same all through – there are no small or big sins.
It seems therefore to me that the attitude we hold towards small things manifests itself in big things too. If we cannot be grateful for little things, it is very likely that we won’t be grateful for much that we are given. If for instance you cannot see anything to be grateful for in you current circumstance e.g. single life; like I have heard it said “I will be happy when I marry or when I get rich or get a big job”, then you might be in for an illusion. There are a lot of small graces in every life to be grateful for – remember a grateful heart make the soul glad, like some wise man put “You cannot say that a man who is enjoying life is unsuccessful.”
I was on a bus to Lira one hot afternoon and the bus was pretty full that some passenger hardly had any where to hold on to as the bus hit potholes on the various road diversions. Suddenly the bus came to a stop and a male passenger crashed into a lady passenger, touching her breast. The young lady was perturbed by the incident as she said to man “How come you are not sorry for what has just happened?” The man simple kept quiet and that angered the lady even more and she said that the man had sexually harassed her by touching her breast. Well, she consoled herself by saying that the man lacked good manners because he did not say sorry and some passengers on the other hand thought it was a small thing worth ignoring. The lady though went on to say that people who don’t say sorry are very likely not to say thank you and that is a symptom of bad manners.
Friend, I do not know about you and your surrounding but from what I have observed I my own every day interaction in corner of the world, the lady’s comment on sorry and thank you seem very much to be synonymous with either good or bad manners and small things do matter. It they do not, let somebody jump the queue next time you are at the bank or hospital preferring them. I bet you will think they are selfish and bad mannered.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
A New Day Has Come
It is a new day, a new life, a new challenge and an opportunity for me to turn my life around. I was finally handed ,y dismissal letter from the New Vision Printing and Publishing Company. It was dismissal without pay with effect from November 24, 2009 even though it took them nearly another week to hand over the letter to me.
Well, I am on the street now and I am certain of what the future holds for me but I am certain, though, that God holds the future and I can rest assured that "All things work together for good to them that love God and are called of his purpose." - Romans 8:28. Joseph was put in a pit, sold, put in Jail but his dream never died and he finally said to his brothers that they meant for evil but God meant it for good ... Genesis 50:20. I believe that nobody can curse the one God has blessed; so will it be for me in Jesus' name. Amen. As it is said that the darkest hour is just before dawn, the sun will rise and shine again for me.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Still Here Waiting
It is nearly two weeks now since I was suspended from work and have been therefore formally unemployed. I have spent much of the two weeks back home in the village doing some simple farm activities and beautifying where I live.It has been quite a quiet time for me with few telephone calls but with a busy schedule of physical activities that ranged from slashing, planting, jogging, weeding, sawing, painting, trimming and sweeping. Sometimes I gazed at the moon or the rain when it interrupted my schedule. I hardly went to town except two occasions to read mail. I have also had time to take care of my dogs and re-organize the position of some things in my compound like the dog pen, garden seats and lights. I have been handicapped by finances though; on some of the improvements I had planned do on the cottage ahead of the Christmas holiday that will see Emmy and the expectant mother home for two weeks.
Finding casual labor around the village has also been quite difficult and I have had to do much of the work at home single handed. I have employed my nephews a few times but they are just unfocused and unreliable; always having one program or the other of their own that causes inconsistency in reporting to work. Their way of work just does fit with my style neither my schedule.
They seem to have forever to do some of these earthly chores. I wish they could just begin to appreciate the value of time. To them, the saying that time is money seems to be too remote and neither have they considered that tomorrow will soon be yesterday and they will be older than they could imagine. Look at me! My whole head is nearly grey now and it seems like yesterday when I was a boy just like them. Sometimes, I look at my son and imagine that I waited too long to get him into this world. It should been much earlier when I was still with plenty of energy and “time.” Well, I have lots of catch up to do for him now. Anyway, I have been told by some colleague or former colleague if you take it that I have already been sacked, that New Vision tends to handout dismal letters at end of month rather mid, just like resignations tend to take same pattern.
I came over to Entebbe yesterday expecting to hear from the New Vision today but the day is nearly up and yet to hear a thing as far my fate is concerned. Anyway, I have been told by some colleague or former colleague if you take it that I have already been sacked, that New Vision tends to handout dismal letters at end of month rather mid, just like resignations tend to take same pattern.
If no communication comes through today, I might travel to Lira tomorrow morning to pick up some of my personal effects and move on with my life instead of living in limbo.
Finding casual labor around the village has also been quite difficult and I have had to do much of the work at home single handed. I have employed my nephews a few times but they are just unfocused and unreliable; always having one program or the other of their own that causes inconsistency in reporting to work. Their way of work just does fit with my style neither my schedule.
They seem to have forever to do some of these earthly chores. I wish they could just begin to appreciate the value of time. To them, the saying that time is money seems to be too remote and neither have they considered that tomorrow will soon be yesterday and they will be older than they could imagine. Look at me! My whole head is nearly grey now and it seems like yesterday when I was a boy just like them. Sometimes, I look at my son and imagine that I waited too long to get him into this world. It should been much earlier when I was still with plenty of energy and “time.” Well, I have lots of catch up to do for him now. Anyway, I have been told by some colleague or former colleague if you take it that I have already been sacked, that New Vision tends to handout dismal letters at end of month rather mid, just like resignations tend to take same pattern.
I came over to Entebbe yesterday expecting to hear from the New Vision today but the day is nearly up and yet to hear a thing as far my fate is concerned. Anyway, I have been told by some colleague or former colleague if you take it that I have already been sacked, that New Vision tends to handout dismal letters at end of month rather mid, just like resignations tend to take same pattern.
If no communication comes through today, I might travel to Lira tomorrow morning to pick up some of my personal effects and move on with my life instead of living in limbo.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Today
Today is another day for me here in Kampala. It has been a cool calm day and I have met quite a few interesting people since I started off from Entebbe in the morning.
I took a motobike taxi from home to the commuter taxi stage for Kampala in Entebbe town and the rider charged me seven hundred shillings instead of the usual one thousand. At another taxi stage in Kampala, I was conteplating buying a sweet for myself to while the time on my way to head office to meet the Human Resource Manager and my supervisior but a lady who sat next to me bought two sweets and gave me one. What a coincidence and kind act in the morning. We were heading to same direction but she alighted before my destination.
I went along with my supervisor to meet the human resource manage who presented me with a letter to sign and told me that I am to appear before the disciplinary committee for a hearing tomorrow at 2pm following report by audit dept on the accident my official car was involved in. My supervisor was asked to be around but he declined saying that he will be starting hsi leave tomrrow. He instead asked his deputy to stand for him. I too was asked to come along with a representative e.g a lawyer to witness the hearing. I have decided, though, to go it alone and let justice take its course.
Our meeting with HR manager was pretty short and I went out to town to do some window shopping as I mused about what the future holds for me after the New Vision. Talking about the future,; a preacher on a local TV station preached about change on his early morning show called Insight for Living. He quoted that popular saying that "The future has the tendency of arriving an annouced or too soon." The other memorable thing he said was that human beings have a natural tendency to resist change yet change is good even if it comes in bad circumstances. He also quoted Roman 8.28 as word of encouragement to believers in Christ who might be apprehensive of cahnge. I was encouraged by the preacher's words and my positive attituted was strengthened and was quite prepared for the day.
I very well know that the letter that I was given today is a prelude to my being shown the exit from the New Vision after 13 years of faithful service. Thank God, thugh, that the future has come to me while I am wide awake and I welcome the change even though I am not certain of what will be. However, the change may come along with tough times ahead but I am certain good will come out of it all.
I took a motobike taxi from home to the commuter taxi stage for Kampala in Entebbe town and the rider charged me seven hundred shillings instead of the usual one thousand. At another taxi stage in Kampala, I was conteplating buying a sweet for myself to while the time on my way to head office to meet the Human Resource Manager and my supervisior but a lady who sat next to me bought two sweets and gave me one. What a coincidence and kind act in the morning. We were heading to same direction but she alighted before my destination.
I went along with my supervisor to meet the human resource manage who presented me with a letter to sign and told me that I am to appear before the disciplinary committee for a hearing tomorrow at 2pm following report by audit dept on the accident my official car was involved in. My supervisor was asked to be around but he declined saying that he will be starting hsi leave tomrrow. He instead asked his deputy to stand for him. I too was asked to come along with a representative e.g a lawyer to witness the hearing. I have decided, though, to go it alone and let justice take its course.
Our meeting with HR manager was pretty short and I went out to town to do some window shopping as I mused about what the future holds for me after the New Vision. Talking about the future,; a preacher on a local TV station preached about change on his early morning show called Insight for Living. He quoted that popular saying that "The future has the tendency of arriving an annouced or too soon." The other memorable thing he said was that human beings have a natural tendency to resist change yet change is good even if it comes in bad circumstances. He also quoted Roman 8.28 as word of encouragement to believers in Christ who might be apprehensive of cahnge. I was encouraged by the preacher's words and my positive attituted was strengthened and was quite prepared for the day.
I very well know that the letter that I was given today is a prelude to my being shown the exit from the New Vision after 13 years of faithful service. Thank God, thugh, that the future has come to me while I am wide awake and I welcome the change even though I am not certain of what will be. However, the change may come along with tough times ahead but I am certain good will come out of it all.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
My Times
I have been away from work for eight days that I spent doing other kind of work at home in the village. Put another way; I have on a short leave or vacation as our American brethren would have it.
I took a break at the peak of investigations into my car accident amid a lot stress and it has been good for me so far that I had that break from work. I have been able to quite a bit in the village in preparation for my retirement or sacking, whichever comes first. I have also had time to do a lot of physical exercise in doing task like weeding my garden, sawing wood, pushing the wheelbarrow full of soil and manure. Naturally, there has been some time spent with my parents, neighbors, friends and dogs. I have had lots of time too with the radio listening favorite programs on the BBC and local Fm stations. I did not miss a day too with my Bible and had one Sunday to preach the word of God.
My sleep often came fast and in one stream. The moon was shining bright nearly all the nights that I spent home that created a routine for me of taking a walk around the compound with the dogs before going to bed.
I often walk up early by 4.30am, stretched, prayed, read my Bible, took some porridge, brushed and got started with my day's schedule. I did some jogging before setting about work in the last three days home in preparation for the MTN Kampala Marathon due on November 22nd.
I reported back to work in Lira today, having left Tororo by bus yesterday. It has been quite a day for me at the office with lots of story being told to me by various folk around about the investigations by the audit department into my car accident and rumors of my imminent sacking and lots of intrigue. Well, that to me is a settled matter because I have passed the worrying or guessing stage many miles back and I am on to the future after The New Vision with or without the sacking or the pardon.
I have one of the senior auditors attempt to block my transport refund but in vain, reportedly because I crashed my official vehicle. I wonder if that is standard practice or official policy in the New Vision? Well, today too there has been a hold up of my petty cash voucher by one of the auditors who investigated the accident. I wonder if that too has to do with the accident or does it portend worse for me at the New Vision?
Anyhow, I will traveling to Kampala tonight at 12.30am by bus for the monthly sales meeting on Thursday morning. I hope to spend Wednesday afternoon and evening with my family and travel to Tororo Friday afternoon or Saturday morning to follow up on some of the work I left pending. I am likely to travel back to Lira on Sunday afternoon depending on what the management of New Vision has decided about my fate following the car accident and the subsequent investigation into by the internal audit department.
I took a break at the peak of investigations into my car accident amid a lot stress and it has been good for me so far that I had that break from work. I have been able to quite a bit in the village in preparation for my retirement or sacking, whichever comes first. I have also had time to do a lot of physical exercise in doing task like weeding my garden, sawing wood, pushing the wheelbarrow full of soil and manure. Naturally, there has been some time spent with my parents, neighbors, friends and dogs. I have had lots of time too with the radio listening favorite programs on the BBC and local Fm stations. I did not miss a day too with my Bible and had one Sunday to preach the word of God.
My sleep often came fast and in one stream. The moon was shining bright nearly all the nights that I spent home that created a routine for me of taking a walk around the compound with the dogs before going to bed.
I often walk up early by 4.30am, stretched, prayed, read my Bible, took some porridge, brushed and got started with my day's schedule. I did some jogging before setting about work in the last three days home in preparation for the MTN Kampala Marathon due on November 22nd.
I reported back to work in Lira today, having left Tororo by bus yesterday. It has been quite a day for me at the office with lots of story being told to me by various folk around about the investigations by the audit department into my car accident and rumors of my imminent sacking and lots of intrigue. Well, that to me is a settled matter because I have passed the worrying or guessing stage many miles back and I am on to the future after The New Vision with or without the sacking or the pardon.
I have one of the senior auditors attempt to block my transport refund but in vain, reportedly because I crashed my official vehicle. I wonder if that is standard practice or official policy in the New Vision? Well, today too there has been a hold up of my petty cash voucher by one of the auditors who investigated the accident. I wonder if that too has to do with the accident or does it portend worse for me at the New Vision?
Anyhow, I will traveling to Kampala tonight at 12.30am by bus for the monthly sales meeting on Thursday morning. I hope to spend Wednesday afternoon and evening with my family and travel to Tororo Friday afternoon or Saturday morning to follow up on some of the work I left pending. I am likely to travel back to Lira on Sunday afternoon depending on what the management of New Vision has decided about my fate following the car accident and the subsequent investigation into by the internal audit department.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Enroute in the North
I am in Gulu tonight on an end of the month debt collection trip in my sales territory. I left Lira this morning with an accountant from head office in Kampala who came along with a vehicle from credit control department driven by one of the pool car drivers. So, I am not at the wheel today.
My car is still in the garage for repair following the accidentit was involved in more than two weeks ago. There has been a lot controversy over the circumstances of the accident, especially who was at the wheel at the time of the accident and I have been through a bit of questioning by the audit department that may or may not lead my sacking. Well, I have taken it in stride and chosen to work normally despite the stress it is fanning up.
I have covered so far a quarter of this four day journet that will take me through at least five major towns and districts of northern Uganda. We left Kitgum this afternoon having arrived from Lira at about lunch time and we hope to leave for Adjumani at about 10am tomorrow, from where we shall proceed to Moyo and cross over the Nile to Yumbe, on to Arua.
By thursday, we should have covered Nebbi, Pakwach, Oyam and Apac. Hopefully, we shall be back to Lira on Friday where I hope to get on the bus home to Tororo as the accountant and the driver get back to Kampala.
My car is still in the garage for repair following the accidentit was involved in more than two weeks ago. There has been a lot controversy over the circumstances of the accident, especially who was at the wheel at the time of the accident and I have been through a bit of questioning by the audit department that may or may not lead my sacking. Well, I have taken it in stride and chosen to work normally despite the stress it is fanning up.
I have covered so far a quarter of this four day journet that will take me through at least five major towns and districts of northern Uganda. We left Kitgum this afternoon having arrived from Lira at about lunch time and we hope to leave for Adjumani at about 10am tomorrow, from where we shall proceed to Moyo and cross over the Nile to Yumbe, on to Arua.
By thursday, we should have covered Nebbi, Pakwach, Oyam and Apac. Hopefully, we shall be back to Lira on Friday where I hope to get on the bus home to Tororo as the accountant and the driver get back to Kampala.
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