4th March continued – There was a long, bumpy and dusty ride from the school to Kamuli. The boys in the back were enjoying the bumpy ride, I was hanging on tight! I wondered why Peter hadn’t gone on the main road. I soon found out as we pulled up at the side of a little home. I just followed his lead and was soon greeted excitedly by a lady who couldn’t be anyone other than Peter’s mum! They have the same bright smiles and infectious laughter! She rushed into her house to get her Gomez hardly getting it on before she returned! I held it up for her for a photo or two! Peter hadn’t been home for a few months and hadn’t told her we were coming. I did recall him mentioning he would like mosquito nets for his mum and Dada but hadn’t realised visiting her was on his mind, but I’m glad we did! His mum and Dada were so pleased with their mosquito nets. Thank you.

Peter helped his mum out with a few heavy chores then we made our way through bushes to an elderly lady sat on a mat, his Dada, grandmother. She had very weak eyesight but knew it was Peter. These little additions to our schedule often happen but I don’t mind, it adds to the enjoyment.

As we left Peter’s old home we passed flooded fields many of rice. You see people now planting rice as the wet season has just about arrived.
Another surprise happened when arriving in Kamuli we pulled up outside a cafe and shop. Peter said he wanted to say hi to his aunt. The aunt who made my friend Moureen’s wedding dress and the Gomez my family wore at her wedding! I met Moureen when we taught together at the adjoining school at Maria’s Care where I first started life in Uganda.🇺🇬 Peter knew I would enjoy going down memory lane! It meant a lot to me that he was so thoughtful.
I quickly realised that the cafe was the one where my friend Godfrey used to provide me with delicious takeaway meals when I was at Maria’s Care, even when torrential rain was pouring down I would get a hot meal and an ice cold Nile!
I suggested we all have a cold soda while we were there, though Peter reminded us that we would have to be quick as we had an appointment at Central College to visit the youngest brother Emma.
I entered first and who should be sat at a table, it was Godfrey and his lovely wife Miriam! What a day this was becoming!

Fortunately I didn’t have too long to wallow in my sadness as we pulled into the Kasozi primary school that Mike, Bosco and Paul attended for a short while. They discovered while chatting that Peter also went there when he was young!
The school at that point was not of a very high standard but from what I saw yesterday it’s certainly improved. Peter comes from a poor home so his uncle Godfrey started sponsoring him through his education just as we did with the boys under Godfrey’s guidance.

We were there to deliver 50 mosquito nets at the request of Bosco and his OB’s & OG’s! A group of past pupils had formed an association and has been gradually improving facilities and equipment at the school like books and pens, and Bosco is a member.
Of course we had to sign the Visitors book and have the obligatory tour of the school before we took part in presenting the nets. I spotted a child’s t-shirt that amused me, it said Sorry I’m late I had to put shoes on!

4th March

Today was a very difficult day though a few nice surprises along the way. Family photos were requested with a very special one. We tried to copy the first photo we ever had taken, in 2008 when my family met the Kasenke family. I had the same dress on and was sat beside ‘little’ Paul! Little did we know what was ahead of both families on that day!
After a few minutes of fun and games with the photos it was time to say goodbye. Firstly to Mum Monica as the boys were coming with us. It was very upsetting for us both. She had been in such a bad place when we first met and now she is a proud loving mother and an active member of the community. I didn’t think she was going to let go of me when we hugged farewell. My tears escaped, though her sadness showed in her whole demeanour, almost as if her body had lost all strength.
It seemed the whole community came out to wave me off. Many I’ve known longer than Monica who wasn’t at the home when I first got involved with the family. I will miss them all.
Mike, Bosco, Paul and young Christopher travelled with us until later. Tap on photo to open fully. X

3rd March. I hope you are managing to stay with me during my marathon posts from Uganda 🇺🇬! There really is so much I want to share with you.
For instance, I was sat on the ‘shade’ eating my breakfast of black tea, breakfast granola bar, g-nuts, bananas and pineapple this morning when I became aware of people waiting on chairs in front of me. Now this is not unusual here, people are always calling round. Then I heard Bosco’s voice and realised he was treating patients a few feet away! He offers his help free of charge be it general health issue or basic dentistry. Today he was mostly pulling teeth, with no anaesthesia! These people often don’t have any help so when the word gets round that he’s at home people make the most of his help.
There was time for a group family photo too as one of their three sisters had called. I never know if they are ‘sisters’ as I’m often called that too! 🤗

Sunday Lunch
Meals always start with one of the boys serving me, then everything stops for a prayer of thanks. I always enjoy the meals in Uganda though my portions are a quarter of everyone else. They have an eat today in case there’s nothing tomorrow mentality. I tend to eat more at lunch than supper as supper is served so late. Yesterday’s lunch was particularly nice having been given a chunk of chicken breast with only little bone. Often the birds are a bit straggly, tough and you often find splinters of bone on your plate! I commented on this and the boys started laughing. ‘You know that big cock you admired?’ Yes I had just eaten the big white cock I had been sat beside each day!! This morning there was no cocker-doodle-doo!

I ate pumpkin leaves for the first time, they were delicious! 😋

Sunday – Had to abandon my duties this morning as it was so so hot and no shade anywhere. We did about 50 nets but then I got the boys to bring me home and they carried on without me. They’ve just got back. At least it gave me a chance to catch up with you, and I’m not lonely with all the goats, chickens and other critters for company! They occupy the best place around for connecting to the internet!!

Sunday 4.15 pm – I’m having a rest on my bed trying to summon up some energy for our last big delivery of nets.
I had quite an emotional couple of hours earlier with the family. We were sat in the only bit of shade talking old times and laughing so much as is usual for us. It was an ideal time to give them the gifts I had for them. Photobooks full of memories! We have shared so much, not always good, in fact quite a few tears from time to time, but we have always worked together to overcome problems. We remembered the earliest days when mum Monica wasn’t here as she had been chased away from the home by uncles who wanted the land after her husband Christopher died, leaving the children to fend for themselves. The first photo in each of their books is the one taken when my family and I had come to Uganda for my friend Moureen’s wedding and Alex the eldest of the brothers who I had met at the children’s home had been invited too. He asked if we would visit his home and that was the start! The smallest child in the photo is Paul, that tall handsome guy who’s just left uni as a medic!
Each photo in each book was poured over with recollections coming thick and fast. We sat there for over two hours. I couldn’t have chosen a better gift.
Afterwards mum held my hand, head tipped towards mine and through the boys told me of her love and gratitude for me, my family and friends who have helped her family. She believes we will always be family and that we will be together again one day. Each of the boys followed with words of what our relationship has meant to them, even Mike who struggles with his English but makes up for it with his wonderful smile.
They joked that they weren’t going to let me go home to Dad Norman and that now my name is Namugele I belonged here!
Sorry Norman! 😘

I’m lying under my mosquito net writing this, thinking just what a lucky person I am! I can hear the party atmosphere continuing, not understanding a word of what is being said but it doesn’t seem to matter. I’m going to miss these wonderful people and this wonderful country! X