Ten days to go

The last week has been somewhat hectic.    I've checked my innoculations; got air tickets; my visa for Kenya has come and I've tried out doxycycline (anti-malarial) again.   Last year I tended to feel sick after taking it, but put that down to Nigels porridge (!) ... but having had it a couple of mornings, have decided I ought to forgive Nigel, for I felt sick again !   I'm going to see the nurse again on Tuesday and ask about malarone instead of doxy.   If the worst comes to the worst, I'll have to stick with doxy.   I've checked at the office to see if I can borrow a medical kit which will save me buying sterile syringes, etc., and various drugs.   My mozzie net is OK, no holes.    My spare bed is getting covered with piles of stuff to take, including bags and bags of childrens clothes and bra's ! 

I've made contact with Joan, the bereavement counsellor who is also going to be in Kisumu at the same time as me ... she is training African women to be bereavement counsellors for children and adults who have lost someone to HIV.   It will be interesting to have long talks with her.  We are both staying in the same place.

Also, Pat who started the Covenant Orphanage and school we visited last year will be there and I've arranged to visit her and give her the collection of childrens clothes I have.    Bra's in sizes from minute to double jumbo will also go with me, to the Pandipieri womens clinic where I'm sure they will find new owners.

Later this week, we are having a special meeting with Nigel, myself and David, the CEO of Hands about the PALUOC project  which we worked on last year, and questions I will need to find answers to.   We have had a report from Paul, but it poses more questions than it answers !

I'm starting to get quite excited !   This isn't going to be a safari in the usual tourist sense, but more of a working holiday, in a place I love.   And as its snowing outside as I write this, certainly a bit warmer !   You can see why I don't go out in July !

Children like these are the reason I'm doing this ...