I will try to create a soundscape for you. First of all imagine the time of day, 5:45 am and it is dark, the darkness you get when electricity is not wasted lighting deserted streets. There is a sliver of moon and the stars are there, but in a strange orientation for a person from the UK, so the plough is on its side and orions belt looks casually worn to one side! Then imagine about 80 Ethiopians in a school playground, on each side of a square there are 2-3 rows of about 8-12 people. Then the sound starts: “and; hulet; sost; arat”. Say it gently to yourself and you are counting to four in Amharic: “and; hulet; sost; arat” … “and; hulet; sost; arat”. Now imagine the soft rubber sound of shoes perfectly in rhythm, and then, in staccato syncopated form, the urging sounds from the self-declared leaders in the group “heh; heh; heh” exactly between the beats, perfectly punctuating the silent space between the counting. If you then imagine bodies moving sideways or forwards you should have a perfect image of the keep fit class I am lucky to attend while I am here.

I run home imagining I am Abebe Bikele or Haile Gabriel Selaiise!!