Week 105 (20 - 26 July 2008)

Andrea's Mum's garden

Laura was discharged from Exmouth hospital on Sunday morning in time to be back at her flat by lunchtime. She survived my cooking but it may have delayed her recovery. Adam visited in the afternoon and that cheered Laura up considerably! We had a good time chatting on Monday and Tuesday as we walked around Exmouth for a bit and did some things in her flat. It was a relaxing time and a chance for Laura to recover without having to do everything on her own. I returned to Romford by early Tuesday evening and Laura went to stay with Adam’s family.

On Wednesday, our neighbours in Arua – Anne and Allan Lacey – visited. They are back for a month only. It was great to catch up with their work in Arua and our friends. It was the hottest day we’ve had so far here and were able to sit outside, just as we do in Arua. They brought news of the school and letters from students but we found these hard to read as we realised how much we miss being with them.

Thursday evening was fine so our home group barbeque went ahead as planned. The cheesecake was memorable! The company wasn’t bad either. It make me realize how fortunate we are to have such kind friends in both the UK and in Uganda.

Friday was a bit different – but not with regard to our friends! Andrea and I went swimming, with Gill Golding, at the Brentwood Centre. It was an hour for adults only and the pool was split into lanes fast, medium and slow. Andrea wanted a very slow lane two as she floated on her back and kicked her legs just enough to make some progress and Gill and I “kept guard” alongside. It cheered her up enormously and Gill and I also had an opportunity to realize how unfit we were. As it was the Goldings 27th wedding anniversary (and our 28th in a week’s time) we decided to go out for lunch at a local, very pleasant venue which had benches outside. The following day, Gill and Steve were going to Jersey with her parents to celebrate their 60th anniversary. We’ve some way to go yet!

Saturday: As if this wasn’t already a “busy” week we went knitting and “painting” in the morning then to another barbeque at Ruth and Nigel’s home in the evening. This was for the Mid-centurions i.e. over 50’s, but not a strict age restriction – just even more friends we’ve known for a long time along with some newer ones. Andrea’s new medication seemed to be working so much better that I could hardly get her to leave at 11pm!

Week 104 (13 - 19 July 2008)

Our new friend, Tabitha, was dedicated this week and we had a tea afterwards to catch up with older friends. It was great to be able to celebrate her sister, Eleanor’s, recovery from a heart operation. On Tuesday we heard that our daughter, Laura, had been taken into hospital in Exmouth with Quincy, a very painful throat infection. We didn’t know which hospital but eventually tracked her down. We owe her friend, Charlotte, a huge thank you for taking care of Laura and visiting her when she was at her worst. Especially when she should have been training for a London to Paris bicycle ride to raise money for Christian Aid.

I (James) drove down to Winchester on Thursday evening and then to Exmouth on Friday morning. I was able to spend the afternoon with Laura in hospital and she had only just got her voice back when I arrived. So I missed the best bit! Her experiences of not being able to talk were interesting – people seemed to whisper or make signs to her or even stop talking altogether not realising that her ears and eyes were fine! She didn’t have her laptop at first and her mobile battery died so she felt really cut off. Must be a message there somewhere. She stayed in hospital on Saturday and was initially disappointed but then realised that eating hospital food rather than her Dad’s “cooking” was probably safer.