Despite being one of the smallest countries in Africa, Rwanda could never be accused of shyness in asserting itself on the international stage.

The posters on the walls at Scripture Union are new. Ebola, until now, has been a west African problem and if the news headlines are to be believed has been more or less contained.

The Scottish Spring has turned into fast-approaching Autumn in what seems like a blink of an eye.

Nyamirambo is a district on the south side of Kigali known for its Muslims and its poverty.

Once again, with another new year comes the annual back to school preparations: fees to pay, uniforms and books to buy, not to mention pens, pencils and geometry sets.

Sadly, we have to report two deaths in the house today.

On Monday the children here returned to school after the break, and so did I. Like the primary 1 and 2 classes I did not arrive until after lunch.

There are two words in Rwanda which the locals always recognise: amafaranga pfite. It means, loosely, there is no money.

It is now almost seven weeks since we have been home and any excuses for still acclimatising are fast disappearing into the mists.

We used to have an alarm clock but this is another of life's little routines that we appear to have left behind us. Not that we have any difficulty getting ourselves up and about in the morning.