Shortages

There have been various shortages in Nairobi since I've lived here...petrol happens every couple of months and is always a bit of a stress, but after a day or two the queues clear and we all realise sheepishly that there is petrol everywhere. Sugar is another one that happens quite regularly and they have to ration the number of bags of sugar people can buy. Why you'd ever need more than one bag anyway I am unsure of-but I don't have sugar in my tea nor do I bake-I have only bought one bag since moving here.

Rather concerning a few months ago there was a Diet Coke shortage. This was when my alcohol consumption was still not quite back to its healthy level so this was quite upsetting. Regular Coke was everywhere, but Diet Coke was missing from all the supermarkets and most bars. Tough times.

The current shortage is butter. Apparently Norway went through the same thing at Christmas and found it rather distressing. I thought I was just being clueless in the supermarket (things look different here, so I often ask just to check that I am actually buying what I think I am buying-has been some embarrassing incidences with lemons), but when I asked someone for help they reported the sad news. That was nearly three weeks ago. Prefer it to Diet Coke but it is strange. A friend owns a bakery here and has given up on making croissants!