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

Another box ticked

Well blog readers!! I had completely forgotton I had started this blog hence no posts for a while!! Im currently in Birmingham in the VSO training centre doing my last set of training and ticking another box before my departure! The best thig about these training courses is that firstly I get to be an adult for a whole 4 days and also it actualy makes it all very real. The first day we arrived dealt with the icky stuff like, runny tummies, safety issues and things to do and not to do in terms of keeping healthy and indeed alive...which I have to say made the mind boggle a bit.

Yesterday I found a bit.....mmmmmmhhhh....I suppose made me wonder its relevance in my crazy maze of a brain at the moment but overal made a few important points.But today was great. realy settled in and good gritty subjects like dealing with conflict and things like dealing with bribery etc.....was great fun but taught a good lesson.

So just tomorrow to go now and then home for the last a mad dash to packing up life here oh and xmas!! Nearly forgot about that. All VERY real now, Ican nearly feel the sun on my back and taste the pineapple. So friends until the next exciting installment...toodle pip and waybale nyo!!

Time trundles on towards the Big day!!

Well everyone, how exciting is this and how clever am I?!! Instead of gazing zombified at Facebook having cold sweats at the thought of all I have to do over the next few weeks I decided to do something.....mmmmhhhh.....creative! So I have mastered setting up a blog. For those of you dont know whats happening in the life of Sara and I and why I should think that my life is an anyway special enough to need a blog, well, its not to abnormal at the moment but in just over 3 weeks our lives are set to change very dramatically. Because at 7.20am in New Years Eve she and I will be climbing the steps of a big plane to leave our beloved Irish shores for for the dusty heat, matoke and amazing people of Kampala Uganda for 2 years (ISH!!!) So our life I can guaruntee will become incredibly exciting and worth reading about....I hope.

Emotions are running extremely high as Sara and I prepare our life here for leaving behind for a while and I have to be honest and say that I never imagined that certain aspects would be so so difficult and even painful. Its strange because we are so looking forward to the life, challenges and experiences that await our arrival and we have a real sense of peace about what lies ahead, but it doesnt make the parting any easier and the wonderful friends and family who have been so instrumental in my sanity during my planning......and you know who you are!!! I will forever be so thankful to you and the support and love they have given us through the often painful panic but also enjoyed our excitement of planning. Oh yes and still waiting patiently for someone lovely to just arrive on our doorstep to rent our house!!

So for those of you who dont know the facts, I am going to be working as a midwife and nurse/ midwife tutor in the International Hospital in Kampala Uganda, under the representation of VSO
(Voluntary Services Overseas). Sara starts her new school in Rainbow International School in January but we are so looking forward to maintaining our already existing very priveleged relationships in Kiwoko Hospital and Kkalwe village, a little rural village in Luweero where I have very special friends which you will all indeed hear lots more about. So this is just a wee taster to set the scene. Watch this space for next installment of our chaotic departure plans! Anyone who can spare me a free hour at anytime just to help me get sorted with the house will be gratefully accepted.