By Chris Duncan
Even when fire has done its very worst, one still has to resort to it. ~Nigerian proverb
It is Saturday evening and an eventful week is drawing to a close. This morning’s cookery class went well with them producing Cannelloni and Beef Stroganoff which were well received by those who know what these dishes should taste like. I am starting to see some positive changes in the food being produced by the kitchen.
We have finally found a source of decent bacon, I had several crispy rashers the other morning with some HP sauce for breakfast which was most satisfying, I have been dying for a plate of decent eggs and bacon for a while. Sourcing a quality product is not easy here in Port Harcourt.
We now have real jams and marmalade, Bovril and Marmite for those who enjoy these types of things as well as proper croissants and Danish pastries, frozen they well be but when baked correctly are quite acceptable. Our ones made in the kitchen here resembled rock buns. As usual they were well trained once but with the knowledge and supervision of the experienced long gone the final product has little resemblance to the original.
The Chinese Buffet seems to be taking off with last Thursday seeing a packed restaurant. Our weekly dinner program is settling down and drawing positive comments. We have quite a few long staying guests who have complained the menu is boring and repetitive and understandably so. Menu fatigue we call it.
Earlier I summonsed my driver to take me shopping, well hardly shopping but rather an excursion to the Spar for my monthly purchase of some chocolate and biscuits. The drive there was the usual dodgems, avoiding pedestrians and other obstacles as we roared along. Lots of military visible along the way.
The Spar was manic and then I realised that they had a Black Friday sale underway. The queues were painful as they snaked slowly forward. The cashiers could also do with a few lessons in social skills – the voiceless transaction as I call it. They never have change to the exact amount owing resulting in your change always being short but I suspect it is their little ploy to generate some extra income for the day.
The dry season is here, we have had no rain for several days now with the average day time temperature reaching 33°. Next to come is the Harmattan, a hot dry dusty wind carrying fine particles of sand from the Sahara Desert which will blow from now to the middle of March. An interesting weather phenomena, more of which I will describe when it arrives.
Outside I read and hear of several bomb attacks to the north east, all mindless and senseless. Here in Port Harcourt there was a fracas, youths of the same political party having a go at each other with weapons and a few deaths in an attempt to establish who would be the party candidate. It’s all so senseless but so African.
I have been doing some reading on Nigeria and now realise I am living in what was for a few short years Biafra. A period of madness, civil war, starvation and famine. It has helped me to understand a little of Nigerian politics – the divide between the north and south, the tribal divisions as well as the religious ones. I don’t think anyone will ever actually understand Nigeria.
Last Sunday whilst getting ready for bed there was a tremendous commotion in the vicinity of my apartment. So much so I thought the neighbours were having a serious altercation. Finally looking out the windows and seeing nothing I thought the noise came from elsewhere and climbed into bed.
My phone rang, the building is on fire I was told. Dressing quickly I responded, not forgetting my laptop and passport which I left at the bottom of the stairs.
On exiting my apartment a scene from Dante’s Inferno was playing out just meters from my bedroom.
A store room alongside the hotel was ablaze, the fire in control, flames penetrating the roof and consuming everything that would burn.
Somewhat concerned I witnessed the event unfolding as I assisted with directing the operation. Fire extinguisher after extinguisher was exhausted into the blaze. Here I observed every man on deck, a complete team effort as MOPOL, staff and security staff battled the fire.
The local fire service was summoned but by the time they arrived the fire was already extinguished. What is interesting though is that they arrived with a water tanker and a fire tender to tackle it. No fire hydrants here and I realised that in times like this you are on your own.
Well done to all, it was a scary experience, one I hope to never repeat.
The quarterly fire evacuation was held this week as per policy and heightened by last week’s scare so there was some urgency attached to it. Staff assembled within the time limits and a demonstration was held with the use of fire extinguishers.
A wheelbarrow was set up with pieces of cardboard boxes and fire extinguishers of varying types were to be demonstrated.
The cardboard was doused with petrol and the fellow who lit it was blown backwards, eyebrows singed no doubt. Not a good start to the training I thought. The first cylinder (co2) was selected, the removal of the tag and pin demonstrated and was then aimed at the now roaring blaze in the wheelbarrow. A loud blast was emitted from the extinguisher and that was all – no powder came forth.
The next one was selected, made ready for use and on squeezing the lever there was a loud bang – the hose had burst. Never mind, another was selected and the fire extinguished. Or so they thought.
As they turned their backs the fire erupted again so they put it out, turned their backs to continue the training and wheelbarrow flamed up yet again. This time they drew the last one, brand spanking new it looked, a foam one this time and aimed it at the fire and pressed the plunger. It did not trigger so here was another useless extinguisher.
The training team looked somewhat sheepish and embarrassed by this stage as the fire in the wheelbarrow continued to burn. I was not sure whether to laugh or cry.
Disappointed and concerned I was and I let them know. All the fire equipment had been serviced recently. Did they actually service these things or just stick a new label on and wipe them down?
There will be a lot of questions asked this week as this situation is quite unacceptable.
Not the most successful training I have ever witnessed, more like a circus but certainly highlighting a serious weakness in our systems.
Oh, the joys of working in Nigeria
