Week 76 (30 Dec 2007 - 5 Jan 2008)
On Sunday we gave a brief talk with pictures to our church in Brentwood. It’s always hard to know what to put in and even more difficult to know what to leave out so I think we were a bit longer than intended. My sister, Libby found the notice of an AIM meeting in 1937 illustrated with lantern slides in a book which belonged to my great Aunt. So how much has changed in 70 years? We ran out of time at the end of the service – we can’t speak to all that we would wish. Maybe next time.
Monday was a sad day. Not just the end of 2007. But Laura set off for Exmouth and an hour later Richard left for Manchester. We’re not sure when we will see them again. I think that’s the hardest part of what we’re doing. I hate goodbyes. So perhaps it was right that we didn’t “celebrate” in a big party in the evening. We spent a relatively quiet time with Steve and Gill. For Christmas, Steve bought Gill a game. Not just any game but “Wii” (pronounced “we” or “wee”). Basically it’s an interactive computer game suite and to play the “sports” like tennis you have to actually swing the controller just like a racquet. The bowling even “copied” the errors we have on an actual bowling alley. It was such good fun that although we stopped to watch the London firework display, we then forgot time and finished our tennis tournament around 2.30am! Buy that stage, Andrea was Wii-zeeing with the effort!
On New Year’s Day we set off again for Selsdon to see the rest of the Elcome family as we didn’t really have time to chat at the wedding. Days like this always seem to end too quickly. We’ve known Hannah and Abbi since they were born and can’t believe they are in the final year at Manchester University and doing A-levels. Pity we didn’t have time to have a pizza and watch a film with them – one of our most enjoyable recreational activities before we left for a hotter climate. And the Christmas eve knickerbocker glories are missed by everyone!
And just in case you think we were going to have a rest, Ian (Andrea’s brother) and Pat spent Wednesday with us in Romford. We had another Christmas lunch – not that we’re complaining! It was great to see them again too.
For a change we visited the dentist on Thursday morning. Our previous appointment was cancelled but that didn’t stop me getting treatment. Our dentist is from South Africa and understood our problems in finding suitable dental care in Uganda. We then visited our house in Geary Drive for the first time since July 2006. Our tenant is also from South Africa although we haven’t met her yet. The house looks much better that when we were living there and we have agreed to let to her for a further year. It was a bit sad seeing our comfortable furniture and familiar fittings – but not as hard as I expected. We stopped briefly with two groups of neighbours before heading off to get our hair cut. And a “booster lesson”. We cut each other’s hair in Uganda – and Paula is suitably impressed while having no worries about putting her out of business! And we still weren’t finished. We have been in contact with Sawyers Hall College so called in briefly. We knew all but one of the senior team and it was great to see how things are improving.
We should have been resting on Friday. Instead, we were packing again – both to return things to the storage and the cases. We left after lunch but stopped at Starbucks Lakeside for coffee and to meet Gareth. We both worked with him at Sawyers and last saw him about 2 years ago in Chafford Hundred school. He taught Andrea many things about managing student behaviour and in a way, we wanted to say thank you.
And now our last full day in the UK for a while. On Saturday morning Mum and I went to the crematorium to see the stone and plaque for Dad’s memorial. It is very fitting and in the summer the roses around it will look wonderful. We sorted our some of his clothes later and then started the “big pack”. Why can we not take all we wish to? Why are the cases either too small or too heavy? How do you decide what is essential and important? We have some things, especially for children, that we can’t get in Arua – so do we leave them out instead of some of our clothes or, worse, books? At least we started early and have an evening to reflect. At lunch time we got a message that our neighbour at Ushindi, Lillian, had just given birth to a second son - after about 16 hours in labour. We’re off to Libby and Brian’s now to have our last “play” on broadband internet, upload the blog and of course to spend some quality time with them too! We also managed to check in for our flight and print our Boarding Passes - in the comfort of someone elses' home! This technology is a bit mind blowing.
Monday was a sad day. Not just the end of 2007. But Laura set off for Exmouth and an hour later Richard left for Manchester. We’re not sure when we will see them again. I think that’s the hardest part of what we’re doing. I hate goodbyes. So perhaps it was right that we didn’t “celebrate” in a big party in the evening. We spent a relatively quiet time with Steve and Gill. For Christmas, Steve bought Gill a game. Not just any game but “Wii” (pronounced “we” or “wee”). Basically it’s an interactive computer game suite and to play the “sports” like tennis you have to actually swing the controller just like a racquet. The bowling even “copied” the errors we have on an actual bowling alley. It was such good fun that although we stopped to watch the London firework display, we then forgot time and finished our tennis tournament around 2.30am! Buy that stage, Andrea was Wii-zeeing with the effort!
On New Year’s Day we set off again for Selsdon to see the rest of the Elcome family as we didn’t really have time to chat at the wedding. Days like this always seem to end too quickly. We’ve known Hannah and Abbi since they were born and can’t believe they are in the final year at Manchester University and doing A-levels. Pity we didn’t have time to have a pizza and watch a film with them – one of our most enjoyable recreational activities before we left for a hotter climate. And the Christmas eve knickerbocker glories are missed by everyone!
And just in case you think we were going to have a rest, Ian (Andrea’s brother) and Pat spent Wednesday with us in Romford. We had another Christmas lunch – not that we’re complaining! It was great to see them again too.
For a change we visited the dentist on Thursday morning. Our previous appointment was cancelled but that didn’t stop me getting treatment. Our dentist is from South Africa and understood our problems in finding suitable dental care in Uganda. We then visited our house in Geary Drive for the first time since July 2006. Our tenant is also from South Africa although we haven’t met her yet. The house looks much better that when we were living there and we have agreed to let to her for a further year. It was a bit sad seeing our comfortable furniture and familiar fittings – but not as hard as I expected. We stopped briefly with two groups of neighbours before heading off to get our hair cut. And a “booster lesson”. We cut each other’s hair in Uganda – and Paula is suitably impressed while having no worries about putting her out of business! And we still weren’t finished. We have been in contact with Sawyers Hall College so called in briefly. We knew all but one of the senior team and it was great to see how things are improving.
We should have been resting on Friday. Instead, we were packing again – both to return things to the storage and the cases. We left after lunch but stopped at Starbucks Lakeside for coffee and to meet Gareth. We both worked with him at Sawyers and last saw him about 2 years ago in Chafford Hundred school. He taught Andrea many things about managing student behaviour and in a way, we wanted to say thank you.
And now our last full day in the UK for a while. On Saturday morning Mum and I went to the crematorium to see the stone and plaque for Dad’s memorial. It is very fitting and in the summer the roses around it will look wonderful. We sorted our some of his clothes later and then started the “big pack”. Why can we not take all we wish to? Why are the cases either too small or too heavy? How do you decide what is essential and important? We have some things, especially for children, that we can’t get in Arua – so do we leave them out instead of some of our clothes or, worse, books? At least we started early and have an evening to reflect. At lunch time we got a message that our neighbour at Ushindi, Lillian, had just given birth to a second son - after about 16 hours in labour. We’re off to Libby and Brian’s now to have our last “play” on broadband internet, upload the blog and of course to spend some quality time with them too! We also managed to check in for our flight and print our Boarding Passes - in the comfort of someone elses' home! This technology is a bit mind blowing.
posted by J & A McAdam at 10:22 PM
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