Week 48 (17 – 23 June 2007)
Although Sunday was Fathers Day we decided to go to Brentwood Baptist Church anyway. We had arranged with Peter (our minister) that Andrea would be “interviewed” and that I might or might not join in. In the end, I did so that our report took longer than perhaps it should have done! Once we start talking about Ushindi it’s difficult to know what to leave out as there is so much to share. But little and often is probably better. We really appreciated seen friends again and were given such a warm welcome that it made it difficult to leave again. I think the leavings are certainly not getting easier and probably harder each time. There are so many ways that we are being encouraged – such as the person who prays for us every time they pass our house, which is nearly every day! Our “last” Sunday lunch was with Andrea’s Mum (so we’re stuffed again!). We haven’t seen all the things, including wool, wool and more wool that we have collected in one place because Andrea left her things in Romford and I left mine in Winchester. We’re grateful for everything that has been collected but just don’t know how much we will get in, even with an extra luggage allowance. We also managed to sort out Andrea’s Mum’s internet connection before we left – this has been trial of it’s own for several months so we’re glad to be of a little help in the process.
Our return journey to Winchester was OK with no car parking on the M25. We caught up a little with Mum and Libby before tea then took the opportunity to do the last e-mail check at Greenhill Road. I also experimented with the blog and uploaded some pictures successfully. So perhaps I’ll have another go from Arua. Words are fine, but pictures are better.
Monday was set aside for packing and it was good to be able to set everything out in order of must take and might take if there’s room. In the end, nearly everything went in – except some books and of course, some wool. But we should be taking even less of our own things back on future visits so should have plenty of room for the wool. It’s probably unwise to say that because the wool collectors might now go sheep rustling to augment their supplies! We are grateful really – or at least the students at Ushindi will be. The next thing is to increase the number of chess sets. Next time!
Brian kindly drove us to Staines to see Robin and Carolyn. We have known them for over 30 years and have tried to visit annually. Since they moved from Birmingham and we moved to Uganda we’ve seen them twice in six months! It was great to see them again and we appreciated their hospitality, especially as Robin took us to Heathrow at 5am on Tuesday morning.
Our journey was via Amsterdam with KLM and was straight forward and the waits didn’t seem as long as on other journeys. We got our cases in Entebbe fairly quickly and met up with Lawrence, our taxi driver. But, he was also waiting for some others and when they arrived he realised he couldn’t get us and our luggage into his taxi so arranged another one for us – after we had been waiting for 45mins! We both got bitten while we were waiting too. Well, TIA (This Is Africa)! We eventually got to Lyn’s flat at about 8.30pm (UK) or 10.30pm (Uganda) and went to bed fairly soon after.
On Wednesday we eventually stirred on at around 8.30am (UK) but that’s 10.30am in Uganda. Intelligent people here get up early so …. It still took us a while to work out even simple things as we were more befuddled that usual but eventually started getting ourselves organised for a rest! As there is electricity (in the afternoon) we are taking the opportunity to search the internet (Andrea) and write the blog (James). I guess we’re getting more knitting patterns or maths problems. How exciting! I’d better be careful because one day Andrea will actually get around to reading the blog and I’m SURE they’ll be useful.
I managed to publish a blog entry on Thursday (Week 47) so at this stage I’m not too far behind. Christine Oliver (AIM Member Care) visited us for coffee and to catch up on the last month. She listens well and is one of those people who encourages you to talk. Then we rushed off to town – well to get a lift from Godfrey and the Matoke Inn car. We went to the Logogo Mall which has two main supermarkets of a very un-African, but familiar, nature. Unfortunately we had quite a while to wait for Godfrey to return for us so reluctantly had a coffee and chocolate milkshake. It can be a hard life in Uganda sometimes. We did our packing before tea and just as I was putting the last few things in the case the power went. Don’t try packing a suitcase in the dark or by torch light. On the other hand that might make it easier for some! Why did I suddenly think of Richard?
Alarm clocks should be banned. 5am is a ridiculous time to get up, or just think about getting up. Lawrence collected us at 6am on Friday exactly as planned and even though there were road works on the way to Entebbe airport we arrived at 6.45am and went straight thought the security check. We shouldn’t have gone through as the check-in desk wasn’t open but no-one checked which flight we were boarding. The flight was fine, direct and on time and we got talking to Chris from New Zealand who was going to be working for a month near Ushindi, buying land for an orphanage or school for one. We were met by Pam and reunited with our car and post. After 5 weeks I was getting a bit concerned about starting the car especially as the rain in Arua had been heavy. It started first time. It NEVER starts first time normally! After some shopping we returned to Ushindi and only got stuck in the mud once. Road-surfacing has been carried out and when its wet it’s very very slippery. That is the new mud surface not the smooth tarred roads elsewhere. We received a warm, if subdued welcome and weren’t overwhelmed as can happen sometimes in African societies. I was very grateful for that. We joined the School assembly at 4pm and were given a further welcome. I brought greetings from home and got a cheer and round of applause when I mentioned Laura, Lisa and Matt. Later the whole school were invited to stand for a moment of silence in memory of my Dad. It was a very touching gesture and one I won’t forget.
We spent most of Saturday tidying and sorting. I felt obliged to continue book sorting therapy. John and Brenda (neighbours) came for a meal in the evening and it gave us a chance to catch up with a few things. We hadn’t realised that tomorrow (Sunday) is their first wedding anniversary.
Our return journey to Winchester was OK with no car parking on the M25. We caught up a little with Mum and Libby before tea then took the opportunity to do the last e-mail check at Greenhill Road. I also experimented with the blog and uploaded some pictures successfully. So perhaps I’ll have another go from Arua. Words are fine, but pictures are better.
Monday was set aside for packing and it was good to be able to set everything out in order of must take and might take if there’s room. In the end, nearly everything went in – except some books and of course, some wool. But we should be taking even less of our own things back on future visits so should have plenty of room for the wool. It’s probably unwise to say that because the wool collectors might now go sheep rustling to augment their supplies! We are grateful really – or at least the students at Ushindi will be. The next thing is to increase the number of chess sets. Next time!
Brian kindly drove us to Staines to see Robin and Carolyn. We have known them for over 30 years and have tried to visit annually. Since they moved from Birmingham and we moved to Uganda we’ve seen them twice in six months! It was great to see them again and we appreciated their hospitality, especially as Robin took us to Heathrow at 5am on Tuesday morning.
Our journey was via Amsterdam with KLM and was straight forward and the waits didn’t seem as long as on other journeys. We got our cases in Entebbe fairly quickly and met up with Lawrence, our taxi driver. But, he was also waiting for some others and when they arrived he realised he couldn’t get us and our luggage into his taxi so arranged another one for us – after we had been waiting for 45mins! We both got bitten while we were waiting too. Well, TIA (This Is Africa)! We eventually got to Lyn’s flat at about 8.30pm (UK) or 10.30pm (Uganda) and went to bed fairly soon after.
On Wednesday we eventually stirred on at around 8.30am (UK) but that’s 10.30am in Uganda. Intelligent people here get up early so …. It still took us a while to work out even simple things as we were more befuddled that usual but eventually started getting ourselves organised for a rest! As there is electricity (in the afternoon) we are taking the opportunity to search the internet (Andrea) and write the blog (James). I guess we’re getting more knitting patterns or maths problems. How exciting! I’d better be careful because one day Andrea will actually get around to reading the blog and I’m SURE they’ll be useful.
I managed to publish a blog entry on Thursday (Week 47) so at this stage I’m not too far behind. Christine Oliver (AIM Member Care) visited us for coffee and to catch up on the last month. She listens well and is one of those people who encourages you to talk. Then we rushed off to town – well to get a lift from Godfrey and the Matoke Inn car. We went to the Logogo Mall which has two main supermarkets of a very un-African, but familiar, nature. Unfortunately we had quite a while to wait for Godfrey to return for us so reluctantly had a coffee and chocolate milkshake. It can be a hard life in Uganda sometimes. We did our packing before tea and just as I was putting the last few things in the case the power went. Don’t try packing a suitcase in the dark or by torch light. On the other hand that might make it easier for some! Why did I suddenly think of Richard?
Alarm clocks should be banned. 5am is a ridiculous time to get up, or just think about getting up. Lawrence collected us at 6am on Friday exactly as planned and even though there were road works on the way to Entebbe airport we arrived at 6.45am and went straight thought the security check. We shouldn’t have gone through as the check-in desk wasn’t open but no-one checked which flight we were boarding. The flight was fine, direct and on time and we got talking to Chris from New Zealand who was going to be working for a month near Ushindi, buying land for an orphanage or school for one. We were met by Pam and reunited with our car and post. After 5 weeks I was getting a bit concerned about starting the car especially as the rain in Arua had been heavy. It started first time. It NEVER starts first time normally! After some shopping we returned to Ushindi and only got stuck in the mud once. Road-surfacing has been carried out and when its wet it’s very very slippery. That is the new mud surface not the smooth tarred roads elsewhere. We received a warm, if subdued welcome and weren’t overwhelmed as can happen sometimes in African societies. I was very grateful for that. We joined the School assembly at 4pm and were given a further welcome. I brought greetings from home and got a cheer and round of applause when I mentioned Laura, Lisa and Matt. Later the whole school were invited to stand for a moment of silence in memory of my Dad. It was a very touching gesture and one I won’t forget.
We spent most of Saturday tidying and sorting. I felt obliged to continue book sorting therapy. John and Brenda (neighbours) came for a meal in the evening and it gave us a chance to catch up with a few things. We hadn’t realised that tomorrow (Sunday) is their first wedding anniversary.
posted by J & A McAdam at 4:37 AM
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