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

Its been great being with Alex for a few days. I’ve known Alex since 2007 though he remembers meeting me when I first came to Uganda in 2002 which is likely as I met a lot of children at Maria’s Care, the children’s home and attached school where I got my first experiences of Uganda. Maybe in another email I will share a little more about my Uganda family/ies.

There are other people living within the same compound as Alex and the two youngest were hiding behind a wall when I saw them. I knew they couldn’t be afraid of my colour as there are a lot of whites living and visiting Jinja. They were just a little shy but I soon made friends with them and then I couldn’t get rid of them for a second! The minute I came outside they were at my feet never asking for anything just wanting to watch every move I made! Can be a bit disconcerting sometimes!
The little house where Alex stays is unfinished but liveable in. The room I slept in was on-suite with a shower but it is not connected properly so drips water out of the wrong place, when the water exists that is. So we bathe as I do at St James, standing in a big ‘basin’ pouring water from a jerry can, which is fine by me!

There is also a small basin but with a great chunk out of it as if it had been dropped before installing. The toilet is a western one but with no seat and the ballcock needs adjusting regularly to prevent the expensive metered water seeping away!! The rest of the house is ‘comfortably’ furnished and has electric power intermittently. Many people in Uganda start building houses then run out of money but they still rent them out at a cheaper rate in this condition so as they get the little rent in they will earn money for completion, eventually!

My family and friends sponsored Alex and his brothers through their education. Alex gained four A levels and decided he would like to start a small tour company called Joyful Uganda Adventure. I am very pleased that his tours to the Ugandans National Parks including to see the mountain gorillas have been successful, as well as doing smaller driving journeys like taking customers shopping in Kampala, to the airport and me to St James.