On arriving at Patrick’s he got Charles and I to sign the Visitors Book, just about obligatory wherever you go in Uganda!

Then took us into the workshop where his ladies group had made all those fempads I distributed recently. There were only a few in attendance today as it is still the Christmas school holidays. But those who were there were busy on their sewing machines making fempads and other items such as children’s clothes. I thanked them for their efforts and told them of the gifts of scarves many of you had donated. They were extremely pleased 😀! Patrick and his wife and partner in the school, Kevin are to give the remainder the girls theirs when they return.

We discussed the fact that the Mark 2 fempads, renamed ‘Gerry Pads’ by Innocents mum, I think it was, should be longer, wider and with more layers for greater absorbency. The project is in its early days and with Innocent looking into getting a local lady, Rose, in Nawanyago involved and Patrick and Kevin keen to improve the design with their group, I’m sure we’ll get it right in the end.

Work over, I was able to enjoy the company of this lovely family, Patrick who I’ve known since my first stay in Uganda where is was Warden for the boys at Maria’s Care and I was living and working in the school there. His wife Kevin I met when my family all attended their wedding in January 2008 followed by meeting their first born Gerry Mukisa  in November that year. I was very honoured she was named after me. By-the-way, Mukisa means Blessed!

Kevin had cooked a lovely meal, helped by the older girls I’m sure, and afterwards all the children laid on the entertainment! It was brilliant watching them dance to modern Ugandan music and reminded me so much of my daughters when they were young! The youngest Shalom was hilarious, at only a year she was copying all the movements and expressions of her older siblings. It was a very happy few hours with them before Charles and I headed for the airport which is where I am now, writing this!

The girls were thrilled with their gifts

Trying the scarves on for size

With Patrick

And me and some of the family

Not sure if you can spot him but Patrick was picking the avocado!

Patricia, named Amazing Patricia at birth collected the Avocados as they fell. They’re now in my case!

Gerry Mukisa has grown a bit since 2008!

And I’ve grown a bit older! X

Charles my talented taxi man took this photo

And gave ‘swings’ to the youngest children

Just look at the delight on Shalom’s face!!

Still over an hour and a half to go!!

Well that’s all for now. I’m going to change into warmer clothes before they open the gate for my flight to Brussels. I will see you there! X

I was up early and finished my packing when no one was around, or so I thought. When I did open my door they were all up too just sitting quietly with sad faces. Even little Norman seemed to sense something different.

Everyone kept asking to help me but I had made sure I was well ahead of them as I was feeling sad too and would have got all muddled up!

According to Innocent Charles my taxi man had been here since well before dawn having travelled from Entebbe during the night. He was asleep in his vehicle. I decided to let him sleep on as it was another long journey we had ahead of us.

Innocent produced the hymn sheet from his Thanksgiving Mass, sat down beside me and started singing one of the two hymns I knew. It was so moving but also cruel as he knew it would make me cry!! He encouraged me to join him which was even worse, then recorded it! He said he wanted to keep it to listen to every day. The rest of the family joined in the singing and after a while a weary smily Charles appeared at the door.

After he had a spot of breakfast he packed the taxi then time for family photos we were off, a sad group waved me off and going through the village and trading centre people were waving and calling Madam Gerry, even the boda men! It’s lovely being part of the community of Nawanyago.

I got Charles to stop outside Fazie’s workplace/home as I had promised the family, especially the two daughters Edronha and

Edretinha, who almost bowled me over, that I would say goodbye and caused my tears to start again!

I’m ok now that I’m on the way. I just now want to get home!

It’s turning out be an interesting journey so will catch up again soon!

Will miss this gorgeous little monster!

The big boys always want their photos taken near vehicles, particularly Alex who is car mad!

My husband ‘Big Norman’ told me to make sure I don’t smuggle jackfruit, pineapples or little Norman home!

Just left Patrick’s (re fempad group), straight into Ugandan fog – thick dust and smoke! Terrible here! Most evenings it’s like this apparently! So bad for people’s health! Thank goodness Charles taxi has air con! Next stop airport and will be sending update. See you later!

There is a sad atmosphere in the home today which adds to my thoughts that today is my last day with this lovely family . Early tomorrow morning I start my journey home. I shall miss being here so much so must make the most of today. I’m off with Innocent to harvest and bring home fresh produce from the surrounding area. Should be fun! BYW I’ve checked customs restrictions and am taking note! Don’t want to be detained when I get to Manchester especially I’m looking forward to my first hug in a while from my hubby Big Norman! BFN

11.15 – I’m sat in the shade on a sack of potato leaves, feed for the animals, watching Innocent and Alex dig for sweet potatoes for me to bring home. They are very different from the sweet potatoes we have in the UK. Edith the owner of the land , the lady who has renamed me Mirende Gerry meaning peace, told Innocent that I should sit with her while they walk down the hill as it’s steep, ground uneven and the grass and plants are very high. Well, when I got out of bed this morning I said to myself that I was going to make the most of my last day here in this beautiful country where I feel so at home and in particular this village where everyone greets me warmly. It will be another 15 months before I return, and besides that I will be sat down for hours and hours tomorrow so exercise is definitely good preparation for that! So I didn’t take her advice, I had my sun hat on, my full water bottle over my shoulders so off I went following Innocent. Alex and Paul were way ahead of us. Ok I did take it very carefully and take advantage of Innocents outstretched hand when the going got a bit difficult once or twice but, even carrying the heavy hoe, I made it and I think I impressed Innocent! He said it’s because I’m a tough bird! He reckons I told him my hubby called me that!

The heavy rains and floods before Christmas had affected the potato crop here badly and Innocent is having difficulty finding some for me. I keep saying not to worry but he is determined, that’s Innocent!

Before we headed down here Innocent had already cut down a great hand of matoki, letting me select it, and several small hands of the delicious sweet bananas. My cases are going to be full!

A few hours later we were back home after going to the trading centre for other supplies eg my water! The only problem with my little excursion this morning was that I got covered in Black Jack thorns! I purposely wore shorts instead of a dress but the grass was so high and hiding lots of the BJ plants! It took me, Judith and Paul ages to pick them all off and they went halfway up my t-shirt!

Alex searched for sweet potatoes

Father Christmas gets around!

Innocent and

Ho ho ho!

The other ho ho ho carrier!

A bag of sweet potatoes all dug for me but I won’t be bringing them all home!!!!

There are a few hands of matoki in that truck!

Four pineapples, one for today and three for bringing home!

Ever since I came to Uganda in 2002 I have always fancied having a go at peeling matoki, the hard savoury banana that is steamed in banana fronds, mashed and eaten nearly every day. It might ‘only be a banana ‘ but it has a reputation for being very difficult to peel and I’ve seen ladies in Kamuli market peeling it for people who don’t want the mucky hard job themselves! I now know first hand why matoki has that reputation because I helped Betty peel some this afternoon! They are so hard and sticky! My hand really aches afterwards but I wasn’t going to let on to Betty!

When we had finished peeling, young Paul appeared with the cooking oil and proceeded to pour it on my hands! I was to rub it on the sticky black stains but they wouldn’t come off! Then a scourer type cloth was given to me but it was still a while and a lot of scrubbing before my hands turned Mzungu colour again! I’ve seen people using the dry soil or sand to remove it sometimes and that would have been the next thing to try if the scourer hadn’t worked!! And the boys got hold of my phone and recorded the event! The photos and video are rather hit and miss but they loved doing it and it’s keeping them amused as they keep looking at them again and again! Here are some of them!!

Every day shoes go ‘missing’ here and the culprit has been caught on camera now!

Norman has a liking for knives too but no one seems to worry too much about it! He often picks up food as he goes past too!! I will miss that little man!

Another shoe going walk about!