It’s as if everyone has returned from a long holiday and the children are back at school, with traffic in Juba Town chaotic. Not the madness of Nairobi or Kabul, but for this part of the world it’s crazy. Up past the hospital, they now have Traffic Control wardens, complete with fluorescent vests, to move the taxi’s along who do their best to create road blocks wherever possible. Into this mix, the Chinese seem to have dumped a zillion motorcycles with new pilots weaving across the road as they try and balance on two wheels for the first time, grabbing at the throttle in panic, only to find this makes them go faster! All this the result of fuel being available. I don’t imagine my unmarked vehicle will stay this way for very long!

All the bits for the apartment arrived safely after their marathon travel. The cupboard looks spiffy with its couple of Villeroy & Bosch mugs, two tumblers and new ultra slick pan. The aroma from the fresh Nespresso coffee, heady.

Woke a bit after three and dozed until the alarm. It was cool for my jog, with my shoes absorbing the additional holiday weight without complaint. It certainly felt like my loop had got longer, and I was devastated to find it’s actually shorter than I expected when I measured it!

The work stoppage by local staff to protest at not being paid in USD pointed out a couple of key issues that I need to correct. One of which is more frequent meetings with the staff to update them on UN going's on, so they feel loved. Not something I have done on a regular basis and when I have the turnout has been less than spectacular. Still will schedule them and look at adding an incentive of tea and cookies to spark interest.

My washing remains a problem, as I now have a massive pile and don't seem to be able to get the housekeeping ladies to take it to the laundry. Of course with the EID holiday this weekend, by next week I will have nothing left to wear. A bother. A stop at the PX has ensured that even if I don't have any clean cloths, I will at least have wine for the weekend!

Going to look at taking one of the drivers and making him an admin person for Steve and I. We have had a number of complaints from partners about not having a focal person to communicate with when we are out. He has been doing a number of project planning courses in his spare time and has good computer skills. All good, so we will see how it goes.

South Sudan remains crazy, with over 100 large cattle herds transiting the country in what looks like a ‘land grab’. The seasonal entertainment to relieve the boredom of days watching the grass grow and waiting for the arrival of flood waters. That they seem freshly armed with an abundance of ammunition is a concern.

Dinner with Bo and Gerard at Central Pub. The early evening weather fantabulous. We chatted about the important issue of our various jogging routes around Juba Town. More complex than you would imagine given that there are only a dozen streets that are safe to run along. Bo went to an area of the city that I certainly don't know which we have called 'Bowanda'.

At the apartment, there is a party going on downstairs in the courtyard, which looks like it will be going on for some time!