(Delayed because of big storms affecting internet!)

Two lots of good news:

Firstly, I’ve been meaning to put on this blog that the extreme heat 🥵 here that I read about and my 😃Ugandan friends told me about started to disappear the day after I arrived, thank goodness! There were tremendous night-time storms two days running and I was lying in bed firstly in Kampala then in Jinja waiting for the homes I was staying in to blow away!! The following day there were big trees down, rooftops blown off and I learnt when I are here in Nawanyago part of the roofs on two classrooms had blown away! But I have benefited so much from these storms as have everyone else as they can now start planting after four months of drought!

Dear Innocent had been concerned too and had built me a beautiful thatched shelter to keep me cool, called Gerry’s Plaza!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Secondly, amazingly, donations have been pouring in and I can now report that out of the 226 mosquito nets needed to reach the 1000 I only have 34 needing sponsorship! I am sooooooo grateful! Please, if you haven’t already donated this year please do! At £5 for each life saving net it really is money well spent. Thank you 😊 Happy Sunday from rural Uganda x

 

Yesterday I was just about to walk down to school when Innocent’s mum Judith called me back saying ‘What about your cock Madam Gerry?’ I hadn’t realised that for three days this poor cockerel had been waiting for me to decide its fateful day! Judith, Innocent’s mum, had brought it as a gift from the village community where she lives. She told me how ‘appreciating’ her community is of the mosquito 🦟 nets we gave them last year. There has been far less sickness and they haven’t had to find money for medicines and hospital bills. This is all the proof I need that you and I are doing the right thing! Asante sana! Thank you very much!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When I eventually left for school a group of children in Brain Trust uniform passed me going in the opposite direction. They got so excited calling out Teacher Gerry until their voices disappeared into the distance. Meanwhile I concentrated on navigating the rough road trying not to trip over rocks or sprain my ankle on the deeply rutted dry mud, and  at the same time watch I don’t get knocked down by boda biked whizzing by far too close for comfort! I suddenly caught sight of children following me and realised it was the same children as before, they had come back. They followed me all the way. I felt like the Pied Piper! As I was sitting chatting to Mr Charles he informed me that they had been sent home again because they didn’t pay their fees! I know this happens frequently in Ugandan schools, even the government schools expect them to pay for certain items. But if their parents don’t have money because the crops have failed then that’s it! There’s no ‘social’ in Uganda!

Very early this morning, it was still pitch black so must have been 5ish, there was a gentle knock at the door. I thought I was dreaming! But then another knock, this time louder and I heard Innocent responding with what must have been ‘Who is it’ and then the clanging of the heavy bolts and padlock on the metal door as he made his way outside. I thought there was some kind of emergency when I heard Judith’s and Betty’s voices too, and those of several other people. I was just trying to decide whether I should venture out to see if I could offer assistance when I heard lots of laughter so I stayed put! It had been the neighbours who had woken us to share in their excitement! It was only when I went outside this morning that I saw the 🐜 🐜 drying on sacking in the sun that I realised the flying ants had returned!

Judith explained that the season for their appearance is very short and happens after the drought season when the first rains come. The 🐜 s bury themselves deep in the ground when it gets too hot, make there way out when it cools down and then get eaten!!!

FYI There are three ‘flying ant seasons’, February, May and August/September (so I have been ‘lucky’ this visit!), though with the affects of global warming seasons are changing! These critters provide free protein to a much restricted diet for these people.

I first came across flying ants in 2002 when I first came to Uganda and I was living and working at Maria’s Care Children’s home in Kamuli. Just as last night I woke up to the sound of commotion, caused mainly by the deaf children’s excited squeals as they were non-speaking too. I grabbed my camera as was my habit back then,  still is (!) and ventured outside to find children jumping up grabbing something and diving on top of each other with obvious joy! I had a bit of a shock when one child thrust his hand in my face offering me the ‘delicacy’! I wasn’t persuaded but did promise myself I would try ants one day. At least my first taste had been of cooked ones!!

I delivered the first mosquito nets today to two destitute families. Thank you Caroline for sponsoring nets to celebrate your husband Andy’s birthday tomorrow and Elisha for sponsoring a net and some books for Brain Trust Nursery and Primary School, I will be buying the books soon.

Can you spot the child at the back? He is mentally disabled and screamed and hid when he saw my white face. His mum had come round to Innocent’s home yesterday asking me for help with her son as he cannot walk well, speaks little and is incontinent amongst other things. I found it so very frustrating again knowing that if he was in the UK he and his family would get so much help but here in Uganda the little I can do is offer the family mosquito nets but that pleased her as it’s the only help or any sort she has had!

Thank you Caroline! Happy Birthday Andy!

Innocent suggested I hide and he would take photos. I got some strange looks from the locals. They must have wondered what a Mzungu was doing lurking behind a home!

Morning all,

Gerry has sent me new material and photos for the two posts that have gone out so far. So please go back and have another look at ‘I’ve arrived’ and ‘Ants for Supper’.

best regards Norman