Another full and interesting day delivering more nets and all the fempads. Neither of them enough and never will be, but to those who receive you are all such a blessing to them as they are both life changing, yes even ‘just ‘ for five reusable sanitary pads!

Today we headed for a little village called Nawantumbi only 20 minutes drive from Nawanyago but deeper inland.  Innocent thought we ought to put some more fuel in the car as, without a fuel gage we have no idea how much we have remaining. FYI There’s no speedometer either! I do love Uganda!! I turned off the ignition like we’re always advised, (though no one does in Uganda!) but then couldn’t turn it on again! The key wouldn’t budge! I fiddled as much as I dare, thinking the flimsy key was likely to break, then handed the problem over to Innocent, as I often do and, yes you’ve guessed it, his fiddling succeeded! I think I’m just too gentle with the old vehicle!

Our journey today soon had us on rough track again but nothing like previous deliveries, thank goodness! We were delivering nets to the homes of all the pupils from a tiny but growing school called Good Luck Junior School. We called on many homes on the way to the school, all extremely poor but their occupants equally friendly and welcoming. If we came across any teenagers we offered them the fempads. Innocent didn’t hesitate to help me explain how they work, panties in hand (bought new from local shop, not a pair of my big knickers that had my lovely friends in stitches the other day!)

I think the day is described better in photos from the newest born baby (3 weeks) to the oldest lady I’ve ever met in Uganda, 100 and still looking after her grandchildren and great grandchildren, so here goes. Hope you enjoy!

By-the-way I’ve been sending most photos of individual net donations out to their sponsors so many won’t be shown here. Thanks to everyone by-the-way. Amazing effort, we’re almost to the 700 nets sponsored this time when I originally only put in an order for 400!

First family to receive nets

I kept eyeing that gorgeous baby!

And yes I succumbed to his gorgeous little 3 week old face!

Cheers went up when I kissed him!

Mum came chasing the car with two avacado!

Mum and 12 year old daughter were the first to receive fempads after I demonstrated!!

My team! All kitted out with Poynton Football Club strip, donated a few years ago but only just managed to bring it out!

Jackfruit are growing enormous this year with all the heavy rains!

Traditional welcome and thanks. I used to feel awkward but it is just their way. I do feel humbled though as they are amazing people who I admire.

Shy but grateful for their fempads. Rags or even dried natural materials is the norm.

Definitely pleased!!

In the kitchen

Nets and fempads! Innocent tells me that young village girls are so desperate for pads they are bribed by older boys who then take advantage of them later on. Which often leads to pregnancy in children young as 12 and you see children with children!

Just gorgeous!

Kobe and Kaiden gave a bag of ‘dinky’ cars to give away. Boys and girls loved them!

They ran to the cool of the shade to play.

This husband and wife, he was disabled, were a pleasant surprise to me, they physically showed affection for each other. Sound strange? Well I’ve never witnessed it before in Uganda.

Real happy love birds. They told me they had been married 25 years and were in love, so cut! It made me feel a little homesick for a hug from my hubby! Only only one week until I get one!

My friend Fazie, also disabled, joined him and his wife for a photo. So many smiles and so much love 💕 I felt quite soppy!!

Thank you 8 year old Joy for your special gift. These two little girls and their mum have no money, not one penny, but at least now they won’t get bitten by mosquitoes as they sleep.

Good Luck Junior School

I could only just stand up!

Ibrahim the head teacher, opened this little school to educate those children who would have no chance otherwise. A good caring man. The children even want to come to school during the holidays

The school office is part of his and wife Oliviers home. Two teachers sit with me.

Marton Primary in Macclesfield supplies the nets for many of the children at Good Luck

No one goes hungry in the jackfruit season

My knickers and fempads demo!

The men got very excited when I gave them ‘new’ shirts – my hubby had a sort out before I came toUganda! There was lots of laughter all around as they tried them on!

Norman your shirts will enjoy being in Uganda !

As word got round about the fempads we were followed buy young women and girls begging that we should please give them some too. They were desperate for this luxury. Some said it wa better than food!!

All the teachers and others say Asante sana for their fempads, they were so excited!

Gifts for me of two avocado even before she gets nets for her family

One happy lady!

The pick-up up was getting filled up with all the gifts! I though Innocent might have to walk home!

I thought this lady must be the oldest person living in Nawantumbi, she was born in 1925. I gave her a shawl that had been donated, she loved the feel of it

At 95 she was still looking after her son who attended Good Luck Junior.

Then I was introduced to this lady who had lost her sight and she was 100! Very usual for Uganda !

These two ladies were so excited about meeting me then kept laughing as their photo was taken!

Ibrahim and Innocent in the school office, exercise books behind. Ibrahim bought me delicious sweet bananas!

Instructing the parents how to look after their nets. Still amuses me how the ‘boys’ chose to wear the Poynton Football Club strip so they looked like ‘my team’!

On the school notice board!

‘If you can’t get what you want try to love what you have.’

‘It’s the teacher that makes the difference not the classrooms’

‘The roots of education are too bitter but the fruits are sweet.’

‘If you want to succeed:-

BELIEVE where others doubt’.

WORK where others refuse.

SAVE where others spend.

STAY where others quit.

And you will win where others lose.’