"I find it hard to go to sleep
sometimes. I feel it’s sort of a waste of time, sleeping, when I could be
reading or living. But then, dreaming is a sort of living, I suppose. I
often have an exciting time in my dreams, more so than in my ordinary
life. Sometimes in the middle of a dream one of the cats wakes me (chasing
and killing something usually) and I get frustrated by the interruption.I
usually forget an interrupted dream. Why is it so difficult to remember
dreams? A dream isafter all, an experience, part of life, and I feel
cheated if I can’t remember what happened to me in the night.
Last night there were two birds.
One was a little white owl sitting quietly on top of the book shelf in my
room. The other was a miniature rail, buff and apricot coloured with black
sharp beak, black legs and wide spread long black toes. It became scarlet
and emerald, and stepped carefully across my books, as if they were water
lily leaves. I think there is a bird called a Jesus bird – because it
looks like it’s walking on water. It might have been one of those.
My own room: I do like it.
All my babyhood is on the top shelf of the large book case: faded and worn
Teddy, who has never had another name; Panda, from a trip Daddy made to
Germany; Nightie Dog, that used to be Mum’s and has a zip in its tummy for
pyjamas; several knitted toys, including Noddy, that Grandma made for me.
He’s very old and his colours have faded but his bell still rings on the
end of his night cap; and Rena Wooflie, my favourite, a soft stuffed girl
dog with checked dress and apron. Mum bought her for me in Mombasa the
very first time we went to Africa, because I had lost my cuddly comfort
blanket on the journey.
I love Rena Wooflie and
she has to come with me to hospital.It’s
for her sake, not mine. She gets lonely, as she doesn’t talk the same
language as Panda or Teddy or Nightie Dog. Rena Wooflie and I speak
Swahili together.
Jambo - hello
Abari?
– how are you?
Msuri
– good
That’s all I know really but I
do still have a phrase book so I could in theory learn some more.
Paka
- cat
malaika
– angel
kuku – fowl
simba
– lion
nyuki
– bee
kidege
– a little bird
Kufa tutakufa wote – as for dying, we shall all
die."