Sometime ago now of course, preparing for departure from Nairobi at night, somewhat cold(ish) to the point that we were actually wearing our uniform jackets. Asked the Tower for the surface conditions and was told that the temperature was 28 (C) !! At that temp and altitude we couldn't get a 747 airborne for Uganda, never mind Rome. Stn.Mgr. suggested we visit the tower to confirm, and we climbed up to be greeted by a cold African wearing an army greatcoat, a balaclava and gloves with the ends of the fingers cut off.
What's the temperature, we asked ? "28 deg. Suh." he answered, and pointed to a little wooden thermometer hanging on the wall over an electric heater that he had taken up to keep warm. We asked him what he thought the instruments on the console were for, and just got a shrug and a repetition that the temperature was 28. We noted the temperature, 10c and altimeter setting and left him warming his hands. I kid you not.
On another occasion at NBO we had been in and out all week with a wind favouring runway 24 (is it ? memory?) and there was no apparent difference in the weather pattern that night, but on that departure the tower was giving 06 as the duty runway without the wind direction also included. A landing aircraft complained of significant tailwind on landing, and suggested that ATC change the duty runway. We were cleared to taxy to 06 for departure - what to do ? Does one deliberately disobey an ATC instruction ?
Answers on a postcard - and I'm admitting nothing.