Thanks to those who sent birthday greetings to my friend, Altu. It meant a lot to both of us.

I got to eat a late dinner at her restaurant and see her for a little while. Her husband was there and we got to talk and laugh as Africans do… they enjoy conversation and friendship so very much, and I’m all for it!

I made Altu a homemade spice cake with pumpkin sauce, and four of us ate it after the restaurant closed. (Those four would be Altu, her hubby, her brother-in-law Charles, who works for her, and me.) It turned out even better than I expected. Yum.