Since I arrived here and told James we had raised some funds for Joy Clinic he has been busy sourcing materials because as it gets nearer Christmas prices will go sky high, delivery men will not want to work and worst of all there may not be bricks available as the dry season is taking a real hold now and to make bricks you have to have lots of water readily available.

So each morning he goes off early to the different areas where he might find what is needed. The good news is that he has managed to get enough just enough bricks to finish the main structure of the clinic, the small wards at the back and even better news the sister of a friend of mine owns a tipper truck and has offered it to us free of charge to deliver all the materials. We just have to pay the driver and for the fuel. So that will save us a few shillings!

The kitchen is now complete so meals can be cooked without the risk of the fire going out in the rainy season. The wood saving oven is working well too and uses so little wood and the smoke goes up the chimney not into lungs! Both the kitchen and the oven were great additions to St James financed in part by the parents.

Hambridge Hall looks and is amazing with its folding doors dividing it up into classrooms and the 200 desks many of you sponsored look very smart and ready for their pupils! We have employed a local man to paint your names on them. He has no work, a family to feed and school fees to pay.

Today he has been working on the desks all day and is coming back tomorrow to finish the job. We are paying him just 20,000 Ugandan Shillings, £5. James is also going to ask him to paint rings on some of the trees in Ugandan colours black, yellow, red. I’m not so keen, as I love the ‘natural’ look of the compound but Ugandans love to brighten things up for Christmas. I just hope the trees don’t mind!

Actually talking of trees, when I first arrived here this time and James was taking me around the compound I kept thinking someone was throwing stones on to the iron sheet roofs. It worried me but James didn’t seem to notice or was not bothered about it. After several incidents I had to tell him of my ‘discomfort’ but he just laughed.

The sound was of dry pods off a particular tree bursting and spreading their big seeds, some of which were hitting the roof tops! The other tree news is that James was quite sad when his Avocado tree had to be chopped down just as it was about to fruit. It was in the way of the clinic! He loves his flowers and trees which is why this compound is so beautiful, relaxing and shady.

Fatuma is looking after my every need though sometimes we get a little confused as she speaks and understands no English but is beginning to understand my regular requests though I think more through combination of mime and hand gestures rather than words. I bet by the time I leave here she will understand quite a bit of English. Fatuma had very little schooling as unfortunately a lot of Muslim girls in Uganda still don’t; the ‘boy child’ is the important one but not here at St James!

Livingstone, Leevi for short, is learning very quickly so that will be a great advantage when he starts school here in February. He is also very hard working and keen to learn. Single handed he cleans this big compound every day, feeds the chickens and takes the goats to graze. James is beginning to think he will make a very good farmer one day and in the meantime he will be taught everything he needs to know from the Master as he calls James!

Livingstone also seems to know when I have ‘visitors’ that need shooing out of my room particularly the chickens that want to escape Mickey but he always finds them! I’m looking forward to spending Christmas day with him here along with James, Grace and two of his friends. I am planning some surprises! I think first I will get Leevi to start painting paper and making paper chains with it!

I have just noticed through the holes of the lace table cloth my laptop is on, a tiny creature moving and on closer inspection it looks like a baby lizard! It is squirming around. Not sure what is best to do with it. He’s rather cute but doesn’t understand English either! I’ve not been bothered too much with critters this time around though on my arrival I thought I would be. There was a horrible smell coming from a big laundry bag I store my ‘bathroom’ equipment so I opened it with dread and many of the items had chunks out of them. A mouse or two had been nesting in there and it really stank!

I got Grace to take it outside and he and Leevi went through it. The mat I stand on when I step out of my baby-bath had been chewed up and taken inside my small jerry-can making cosy nesting material, my flip-flops had been redesigned, and everything else was nibbled and poohed on! The worst thing of all was that they had chewed around the plastic spout of my little kettle I bought specially to boil water for my early morning cuppa.

Everything was returned to me after cleaning but the kettle still stank and I thought there was no way of me ever being able to use it again BUT with a my old toothbrush and some Uganda ‘block’ soap and hot water eventually the smell disappeared and after boiling the kettle a few times I took the decision that it should be ok and it has been, now many cups of tea later I am ok!

James has assured me that there are no mice around now as he has a cat. I laughed when he introduced me to Mickey – he wasn’t much bigger than a mouse and to look at him he hadn’t caught any lately! He’s a lovely little kitten though and follows James around everywhere and when James is out he comes to me.

I love watching him amongst the chickens and goats as he plays with their tails and feathers. He’s not frightened of them and they seem to tolerate him. James is a real Doctor Doolittle. He befriends all the animals and talks to them gaining their trust and respect. Honestly he really does, it’s amazing! I will have to try and get hold of the Doctor Doolittle film and bring it to him next year! Jonny and Joy James’s grandchildren asked their Dada to name the kitten Mickey after their rabbit that got stolen.

James has also purchased two ‘guard dogs’ but they seem to be as soft as the kitten and they love James, though to begin with barked at me each time I went to the bathroom! They are tied up in the shade of a tree during the day and once I am in my room at night James lets them go. For a few minutes I hear them barking, I think with happiness of being free then they go quiet for the rest of the night hopefully doing their job if someone strange comes to call. It’s a good thing I have ‘en suite’ facilities as I would hate to chance my luck by walking to the latrine at night as I might find the dogs are angels in disguise!

There seems to be very few mosquitoes at the moment but I still take precautions as one bite can be so irritating. At dusk I bathe in cold water, surprisingly not too cold as I expected it to be straight from the borehole, just cold enough to make me jump when I pour the first jug full over my head! Then I cover my exposed skin with high strength insect repellent, 50% Deet which is horrible stuff and makes me choke but I know it is not worth the risk not to use it. It also melts plastics and synthetic substances so I have to be very careful to rub it in carefully and wash my hands thoroughly afterwards as in the past I have melted laptop keyboards, cameras, spectacle frames etc. No wonder it keeps mosquitoes at bay!

I still get tiny flies coming through my brand new treated mosquito net but they are harmless. As I type they are buzzing around my head torch and laptop screen. Actually not buzzing, they are silent! I occasionally squash one that gets a bit too annoying but most of them just disappear once the light source has gone off.

Today we have had a visit from one of the teachers who has 1 year old twin girls, they are so cute and don’t seem to worry about my colour. Aisha came specially to greet me and is staying the night as her home is a long way from here. When I went to bathe earlier they were wondering around stark naked except for their pretty beaded hair extensions. Oh the freedom of the young! I can’t remember if I told you that I cooled down one day under the running borehole – must send the proof!

James has changed his mind about painting the rings on the trees realising the money for the paint could be better spent. Thank goodness!

Before I finish I must tell you about an email I received from the Head of St Pauls Primary School in Poynton. I have added it below. I am sure Nora will not mind me sharing it with you. It certainly gave me a lump in my throat and brought tears to my eyes. I am so lucky and privileged to me involved in St James and to know all of you who have helped in so many ways.

THANK YOU!

***

ST PAUL’S PRIMARY HEAD
Marley Road, Poynton, Cheshire, SK12 1LY
Telephone: 01625 383040

‘Aspire not to have more but to be more’
Archbishop Oscar Romero

Dear Gerry and James

I am bursting with happiness as I write this email.

At the start of each of our Christmas performances I showed a PowerPoint presentation and I spoke to the audience to highlight the wonderful works that are going on at St James and I also listed the cost of the build for next stage of the new medical centre.

As a school, we have raised £407.66!

But the good news doesn’t stop there…

I was approached by a child’s relative yesterday who attended a performance and saw the PowerPoint and heard me speak…

He has said that he wants to donate anonymously, the difference between the money the school has raised, and the £750 needed for the next stage of the medical centre!

I have received a letter from him this morning confirming our conversation!

SO YOU NOW HAVE ALL THE MONEY NEEDED TO BUILD THE NEXT STAGE OF THE MEDICAL CENTRE!!!!

Although the gentleman wants to remain anonymous, I can confirm that he is not a wealthy man, but a man who has been moved by the good works you and Mr James are doing for the children and the community.

I shall get a school cheque to your husband as soon as possible for the school amount and then arrange payment of the anonymous donation once it has been received. Please ask your husband to make contact with the school so we can do this before we finish on Friday.

God is good! 🙂

My love and hugs to you all

Nora Armstrong-Boyle (Mrs)

I apologise for not being in touch since I arrived at St James. We have been so busy with one thing or another including just sitting, relaxing and trying to keep cool as now we are away from the cool breezes of Lake Victoria and the Nile the heat has intensified! Even James bathes in cold water several times a day and tells me it will get even hotter in January!

Each day brings visitors to greet me, many the parents of children who come to the school already and others who want their children to attend St James. Otherwise it is very quiet here with just James, Fatuma my ‘maid’ and ten year old Livingstone who has no relatives who want him and James could not find a foster home for him for the holiday period.

James was told he was lazy, disobedient and rude but I have seen no sign of this. With James’ fatherly love and guidance he has found a real home. He has had little education as no-one wanted to spend time or money on him but here he is learning fast and not just his ABC! James is training him to look after the chicken project in George’s Den and he delighted in showing me around.

The building has been improved for the birds with concrete floor covered in maize husks and plastered walls so no termites can enter. Most of the chickens were out and about, really free range but there were two hens sitting on large batches of eggs.

James will be selling some of the chickens over the Christmas period as he gets a good price and this applies to the goats too then he will buy more in the New Year when prices are low. So I hope those of you who have sponsored an animal won’t mind waiting for a photo until then!

The pigs are few at the moment as we needed to build a better sty for them which we have been gradually doing. Hopefully this will hopefully be completed by the time I leave with many new piglets moved in. No one likes to work over the two weeks of Christmas but James is making arrangements for the work to start on the piggery immediately afterwards. This applies to Joy Clinic too.

The roof is now on the two consulting rooms at the front of the building but we need to complete the delivery room and sickbay at the rear. Thanks to all of you who have contributed in some way big or small. I am always telling friends of St James, particularly children that every penny really does come out here and is spent very wisely!

Be back very soon I hope!

x

When I got under my brand new mosquito net last night I soon realised I was not alone. A critter that looked just like a cockroach was madly flying around and hit me several times in the face! I gave it several wallops with my hands, holding the net up and aiming it out and eventually I got rid of it!

But other than that I had a really good night sleep though when I first laid down I doubted that was going to be the case as the new mattress I had asked James to buy for me was rock hard and my back was aching but surprisingly I slept soundly so it must have been ok!

I did wake up briefly to take advantage of the internet which you may have noticed on the previous email but then went to sleep again until 9. James said he was beginning to worry about ‘his sister’ as I am usually up with the sun at 7.

It’s has been a wonderful day today, mostly peaceful and relaxing though I have had quite a few visitors. Teachers and people from the community came to welcome and thank me. I must pass on that thanks to you all!

There are now only the five of us here plus the animal – James, me, Grace, Fatuma my maid and Livingstone who has no relatives that are able to take him during the holidays so he is living permanently at St James. The compound is looking amazing and Hambridge Hall ‘very grand’ as James keeps saying. I will tell you about everything over the following days as it is getting late and I have to get up early tomorrow for the wedding. We leave before 8.

But first I must tell you about an incident today. Late this afternoon I had come in to prepare everything for tomorrows early start when I heard a loud buzzing and looked up to find a swarm of bees above my head! James had gone to rest as he is not too well at the moment so I called for Grace who came running in. He immediately took action instructing me to get out quickly and to stay well away then he disappeared for a few minutes.

I was wondering what was going on when he hurtled around the corner with Livingstone in hot pursuit both carrying dried banana fronds. Grace struggled to light the leaves with a match then the flames caught and flew up way high! He entered the room with the torch almost catching the door curtain alight, and then proceeded to smoke the bees out. Now and again he would come out for air and go to another area of the building.

In the meantime Livingstone had the job of being in the room on his knees using his bare hands to stamp out the little fires that kept erupting. I watched from afar and within minutes the most of the bees were out and the clean-up operation began. The boys with brushes and then Fatuma followed with water and cloth. By this time James had appeared and was wondering what was going on. I told him that his boys had come to my rescue and all was well. I really am looked after well here!

I will hopefully be back tomorrow night with news about the wedding. Even James has never been to a Muslim wedding to it should be interesting, long but interesting!

Bye for now!

When James asked me when I would be arriving at St James I had said lunchtime, 1ish. Alex and I were ready by 9.30 which is very unusual, and with the new Jinja to Kamuli road open we made it well before 11. Even the track to St James had been flattened though not tarmaced which was a great improvement to the potholed mud track of past years where I sometimes had to get out and walk and the children came and carried my luggage because vehicles couldn’t get through!

Because we arrived early the new big red gates were closed only leaving the pedestrian door open, so I went to open the big gates. As I was ducking my head (I have learnt through painful experience how small these doors are!) I heard and excited ‘Mum you’re here!’ Swinging his body down, up and sideways (hope you can visualise this!) he approached me and gave me the best hug, all the time chuckling with delight.

Sixteen year old Grace has been with St James right from when we first opened in 2008, he is now at senior school but spends his spare time here helping James. He has become so much a part of this family that he has been invited to James’ son Eric’s wedding on Saturday.

Once Alex had parked up and we had closed the gates again Grace walked with me to find James, his arms around my shoulders the whole time. If anyone is short of hugs do come to St James!

As I approached the office block where I knew James was because his pink crocs that are several sizes too small for him, were outside. I just called ‘Good morning Mr Mutyaba’. ‘Oh Gerreeeeeeeeeeeeeee’ came the reply. It was so good to see him again and to be welcomed home!

After sitting in his office for a while, Alex joining us, we got the few orphans still here to carry all my bags into the Library, my bedroom! I’m going to leave this now as the power is almost out and the sun is going down.

I will catch up with you tomorrow. x