Ah ha thought we had forgotten you!!

Bet you all forgot about me as its been a bit long since last blogged!! In my limited time on the internet I’m afraid facebook gets precedence and also reading mammoth admin emails from Dad which need dealt with . But I am happy to say that Sara and I are still here, safe, happy and settling in well. Life in Uganda continues to fall into place and our network of contacts and friends is developing. The weather has started to pick up now and is showing us its more expected side with quite hot and humid weather which unfortunately brings with it the mossies, which as we are living fairly near a large swamp, are troublesome. In all my years of travelling to Uganda I have boasted as I have had few bites……I am making up for it now!! So never heed the advice any of you who feel you do not need anti-malarials in Kampala….it would be a very silly health choice. But I will get off my soap box now and tell you about what we are up to. As you all know I can talk so whilst a lot has happened I will try to remain focused so you don’t need a coffee break to complete reading!!

Sara and I are well settled and life is gradually regaining the homely clutter! We were fortunate and were able to move into our house very quickly and its really lovely….I might struggle to leave it after my time! Uganda is proving to be just as I expected….including good and bad points. Although the bad points are things that just need getting used to. Its actually quite strange how once you start to live with them they just become a way of life and therefore no longer a problem!! One example is the absence of a washing machine and the need to hand wash the most incredibly dirty things in a bucket. However overtime, the elbow grease increases, the sun shines brightly and before you know if the Daz effect on once orange school socks become their original brilliant white!! However whilst hanging out the washing this AM, it is best not to wash by candle light at night where the illusion of not needing so much elbow grease is given! Another one is time keeping. Now, you know the phrase that ‘the man with the key has gone’? well that hasn’t changed! Just this morning I got up and got Sara out to school early (she starts at 8am so don’t worry I didn’t send her off to an empty school!) so I could attend a meeting in the hospital at 7.30am. At 8am I was still sitting with no sign of anyone!! So I left to walk up to another meeting in the VSO office and found myself dawdling at quite a snails pace, happy and relaxed as ever!! And I just thought, that’s just how life should be…..chilled and not hurried. Its maybe something we should all do.

All else good- we are eating well and staying well. Although Sara has experienced her first attack of ‘Kampala belly’ where for a few hours bless her she didn’t know what end to aim at the loo first and I had my first experience with a family of tics, but hey all part of the overall experience!! We have both bounced back with no lasting effects. Sara is enjoying school well and although it involves a slightly different…..how shall I put it….clientelle of student, she appears to be very happy and has made some lovely wee friends especially one particular VSO family who have been amazing to us and without them settling in would have taken much longer!. We have been out to Kkalwe a few times which has been lovely. In a good old drum beating and dancing ceremony last weekend Sara and I were officially adopted as village members and I have made the first steps to set up a mums and todds group to which 40 mums and todds arrived!!! Should have seen that one coming. So anyone wanting to send stuff, little person toys, books etc would be great for them to use during the group.

I started work on Monday and have been warmly welcomed by all the staff of IHK. It certainly a very different Ugandan set up to what I have worked in before with a lot of great things going on. I will be working a lot in a supporting a really super midwife called Beatrice who has so much passion and motivation for what she is doing so its so reassuring that a lot of the suspect practises have actually been highlighted!! Anyway gotta go….more next time. And I got a hint today. Looking forward to getting my first letters….HINT HINT! But if anyone wants to send s out parcels or stuff for me to take out to the village or schools please address to me but FOR C/O SAM LULE, VSO UGANDA, PO BOX 2831, KAMPALA. He collects all our post from the post office but if a parcel is not addressed care of him it means I have to trek into Kampala centre (not a joyeus experience) as I need to show ID. If addressed C/O him then he can collect for me.

Keep prayin for us and miss everyone but not the weather!!

2 days gone already!!

well everyone does it feel like Ive been away 3 whole days and 2 here? Time so flies when your havin fun. And are we havin fun! i wish I could describe how being here makes me feel. Suppose it justs feels like hoem...what more could I ask for. Sara and I have had an extremely full but brilliant 2 days here. Yesterday we were collected from Kampala by our good friend Shadrach (from Kiwoko for thise of you who know that connection) and his family Norah his wife, Esther his daughter, now Sara's bezzie mate! and Enoch. After a treat of pizza in Nandoes it was off to Goshen. Now anyone who visits Uganda should visit here. This was a childrens home that was built by Shadrach some years ago and now houses 37 children ranging from 8 years to late teens I think. What an incredible home of happy people who put us Westerners to shame when I see how well they all work and live together. They are fully self sufficient in that they grow some of their own crops, farm pigs (which came in useful at xmas!!!! They so love having visitors and everyone is made to feel so much at home.

We had a brief overnight visit to Kiwoko where we caught up with more friends of old, Beth, Maama Bess to name a few. Then after a peaceful (well as peaceful as night time in the bush can be)we headed back to Goshen where we spent the morning participating in the buzy life there as they all buzzed round doing their chores. Am so looking forward to spending time there especially as Shadrach has been building a school with bricks made by his own fair hands! Its now ready to start and in enrolling children for starting in Feb. Am very much looking forward to the grand opening which I have been honoured with a personal invite to, an important day for Goshen.

But the most important part of the day was the long awaited reunion with my adopted mum and family in a little village called Kkalwe, aboout 30 mins drive from Luweero out into the bush. Those of you who know my wee sis Norah will know about this but shortened form is that she came to live in N. Ireland as a toddler and was adopted by my parents but also over the years we have had the honour of remaining part of her Ugandan heritage as we found and have continued to communicate with her beautiful mother Sarah. Its a wonderful relationship and in the Summer we all went out and Norah was reunited with her amongst great village celebrations So today we went visiting me ma!! and my gorgeous little brother Isaiah. The village is very lovingly guided by a great man of God called pastor Paul who keeps the village going in the right way and runs a school of over 500 children. Another must to visit anyone coming to Uganda!! As for Sara...she remains a true celeb there and it was so lovely to finally see her playing with lots of children as children are meant to play. She is now comatosed and exhausted having ran and laughed and chased all day.

As for food??.....we have eaten like queens and much as I am a real fan of traditional Ugandan food especially the matoke and Groundnut sauce, I have to say the digestive system struggles a bit!! You eat one meal and sorat feel you wont need to eat for another week...at least until the next banquet is laid in front of you! Language has also played a bit part today. I suppose as I will be here a while I might need to know a few words so we have ben getting esther to teach us some. Today I learnt how to say, whats that and leaf!! Both very useful in their context. Think we need a few more words though although a sound quite professional doing the old greetings and thanks and all that.

Well were very safely and skillfully returned to Shalom in Kampala by Shadrach and well here I am. Full of adrenaline and not wanting to go to bed!! But suppose I must...so I can do it all again tomorrow. Till next time....wabale ssebo/ nnybo

Happy New Year from Kampala!

This is going to be a really sort one coz my head is pounding after a long days travel but moreson excitment at the realization that there are no more sleeps....coz Im here wooohoooooo!!!! Cant believe it and more importantly I have wireless connection tonight!! How cool is that. It has been an incredibly hectic and very emotional few days that is sort of a haze now that I am here but as soon as on the plane as expected the stress hormones just seeped away!!! especially as we got upgraded to business....just because! How lovely. But will write more tomorrow and its very late and I so need to sleep. But just wanted to let everyone know we were here safe with not one travel hitch which is incredible. Sara and I celebrated New Years eve over a cup of tea and a pastry with Rachael who bless her had waited up for us arriving.

The sights, the smells the warm air and everything....heres to a great 2 years. I know we have our challenges ahead and when the adrenaline runs out and reality sets in it might feel a tad different but hey.....I got the most important power on my side....I will survive. Thanks to all my lovely friends and family who for the last few days have made such an effort to make my last few days so special. Chat tomorrow. Time for tucking up under our Mossie nets and lights out...my head hurts and happy new year to everyone x

2 more sleeps and 1 day of heartache to go!!

Well its only 2 more sleeps and 1 full day and Sara and I will be on our merry way! Its been a funny quite surreal couple of days full of packing, rubbish, bleach, paint and rather alto of heartache as the constant drip of goodbyes of closer people happens. but today one of the hardest things to do was to take my gorgeous wee man Woofy to his new home. God sent me at the very last minute the most lovely couple to have him and its so funny how God works in the the relationship with this couple started through a very painful experience for them but of which I had the true privelege to be a part of their lives through. To leave Woofy there today and to see how much he will be loved and how well settled he is there made a very difficult situation so much more bearable. But I have to be honest that I never expected the ache to be as much. He has been such an amazing and faithful companion and true friend to me and I love him to bits. but I know he will be so so happy. So I say the biggest thanks ever to the lovely people who are caring for him for me.

And now Sara and I are at probably one of my bestest ever friends house. A friend who means the world to me and knows all my secrets....my good and and bad points. Who has been there for me through everything, my happiness and mistakes nd loves me regardless. She always used to say to me about life....'Diane you only live once and yer dead along time!!' So its a wee bottle of wine with a wee bit of that bottled relaxing stuff, good meal cooked by her lovely hubby and our last wee get together for a while. more pain looms but hey....they'll still be here when I get back.

So friends, the countdown is really full flow now and the hardest day to come. The house becomes and cleaner thansk to my wee mummy and Dad! and Dear God give me strength but my goodness what treasures await me. Am off to enjoy time spent with special people.

Crikey only 4 more sleeps!

Well bloggers, I thought it was about time to give a wee update seeing as there are onlt a few more days to go. And waht an eventful time since I last wrote!! Xmas is over and the New year and indeed decade racing quickly towards us. Sara and have had a quiet but very memorable xmas and dipping the toes into the slightly more gut wrenching goodbyes of this whole process. Its a weird sensation because you so look forward to lovely meetings and seeing friends and family and then about half an hour before you are due to leave, the nausea sets in and you start breathing a bit faser as you go into a panic that you are going to end up in a crumpled heap of tears on the floor....pleading with them not to let you get on that plane!! Then you have huge hugs, a silent breakdown, get in the car and drive away. And all of a sudden a huge wave of relief flows over you and you know relax knowing there's another one done!

A month ago when I was telling friends how I was feeling, it felt like the move was this huge enormous mountain that had to be climbed, with loads boulders along the way that had to be conquered, but it still seemed like far away and really slow and hard work. Now with only 3 full days to go, the difference is incredible as all of a sudden, the boulders are less and I have reached the top and started in the runway to take off, its getting faster and easier but I have no longer got control. At last I have resigned myself to the fact that there is a very big power in control of this and I fully intend to sit back and enjoy the journey now and face the emotion as they come rather than anticipating them. God has opened this very wide door and everything has slotted into place even without all the worry I went through so what peace there is in knowing that this whole thing is not in my hands. A great friend yesterday during one of my intermittent breakdowns read to me Psalm 50 v15 'and call upon me in the day of trouble, and I will deliver you, and you will honour me'. Thats me sorted....Ive got my back up!! So option but to go with the flow!!

So Christmas gone and life carries on! And of course there will always be wee challenges....tonight after a lovely day out and more goodbyes, Sara and I had our first date with Fireman Sam when we came home to find our house filled with smoke and fumes but no fire. A visit form the firemen told us that our neighbours fire has a fault and the fumes from their fire were back flowing down my chimney and into my house!! But hey how cool, no damage, no fire, no-one hurt but all thrill of 5 firemen in your house!! have to say I was glad I had the excuse of an imminent move when they had to wade through my messy house trying to locate the source. Well am off to bed.....busy day getting stuck into the house. Will try to distract myself from the pain that will be when I take my wee doggie to his new home. Despite it being a heaven sent home with a wonderful couple, I dread it, will miss him terribly but he will be so happy.

Roll on Thursday!!

First of the big goodbyes

Tonight I experienced the first of my big goodbyes with lovely but a completely bonkers friends. In my last post I wrote about those faces that come into your life at certain times of your life and even though you may not see much of them, they make such a huge impact. Tonight I bid farewell to my friends at The Centre who I have had the real priveledge of volunteering with for a few years. In all the time I have known them they have never ceased to make me laugh at life (and myself although they did a good enough job at that!!) and it has been so lovely being able to spend time with them. And how intelligent!! Knowing that I am seriously limited to packing space (thanks to my carefully chosen selection of home comforts) they didn't buy me a big pressy but a 'Parcel from home gift voucher!!!' I so love it. basically what it is, is that they gave me a big laminated token personalised for me but when I get there and am in need of a reminder I am not forgotten, and need a few treats I am to send my order for home treats to them and they will send a parcel to me. I thought it was a brilliant idea and will so look forward to getting it. When I move into my wee house Im sure there will be no shortage of suggestions....BUT the best bit is they are going to try to come visit in the Summer. How cool is that?!! I did though get a couple of wee ks special personal gifts which have already been packed safely for transit and will have pride of place on my wall.

Have to say it was a struggle not to make a complete blubbering egit of myself. They didnt see my discreet deep breaths while they said their piece!! Had prepared myself well to hold off till I got in the car on the way home....ah cant let the side down now! Thanks so much guys and cant wait to see you all in Summer.

All falling into place now guys (but house still chaotic) but hey 2 weeks to go, loadsa time!!!!!! Anyway gotta go, work tomorrow, another day down!

18 days and counting

How strange does that sound!! Got back tonight from my final 4 day VSO predeparture training and am knackered....with a capital V!! (as in very!!) its amazing just how being on training like that makes it really hit home about the reality. Not that the tickets and injections etc dont make it realistic enough but when you actually sit down with a group of really lovely people of different ages, cultures, family backgrounds and personal circumstances who are all close to departing to an in credible number of different countries to do some brilliant roles, it hugely exciting to be a part of it knowing I will have contacts worldwide. But no matter what developing country they are going to, the fear, the emotion, the excitement, the plans and the massive step into a different world with painful goodbyes needing to be made. but moreso it has made me realise what an amazingly wonderful world this is with huge diversity of really interesting, kind and lovely people there are still for me to meet and be blessed by.

Over the years in my life, situations arise!!! Some are self inflicted and some we have little control over. Just like faces come and go in our lives and often its the faces you thought would be there for ever are actually the ones surprise you and drift away sadly but hey thats life. But you know.....those few faces who still hover and pop up smiling through thick and thin just when you need them, after years of stickability,(and you know who you are....yes you there.....)but also some relatively new faces, who accept you as you are and love you regardless are the faces that I will take with me and miss so much. BUT will look forward to returning to them. This weekend I met some incredible new faces and although I may never see them again, they have made a difference to me and I am not alone in this adventure of mine. I wish them every happiness and blessing and safe adventure.

So there you go!! The days are ticking away and I suppose Im just feeling there are some things need to be said!! bUt how exciting....the thought of all the new people who will become a part of my life in the future. Tis a big big world...live it and love it x